Chapter 98: The Mysterious Honored Guest

The distinguished guest was short and stout, his figure round and plump. Adorned in pearls and jewels, his attire was dazzlingly extravagant. He swaggered in, arm in arm with a tall, strikingly beautiful female immortal, laughing as they went. The woman was a head taller than he.

This portly, diminutive guest looked exceedingly familiar. I studied his features carefully—wasn’t this Lord Gui’e of the Western Sea? All those enormous rings on his hands nearly made me fail to recognize him.

When dining at the Western Sea’s Crystal Palace, I’d already discerned from his well-fed appearance that this was no mere corpulence; he could never have deceived someone of my medical profession. Not to mention the traces left on his fingers from recently removed rings. The Western Sea, though not wealthy, had never lacked for support from the Nine Provinces, and Lord Spring Breeze was always attentive. Gui’e’s exaggerated display had seemed suspicious, so I’d come out to investigate. As expected, something was amiss.

“Haha! Sorry to keep everyone waiting,” Gui’e declared as he took his seat, still holding that glamorous immortal close. “Lord Spring Breeze suddenly took it upon himself to inspect the accounts for the seasonal allocations these past few days. It’s been a headache. I had to accompany him. Sorry for the delay!”

“Cousin, you’d best be careful,” the Octopus Immortal teased. “If Lord Spring Breeze finds out you’ve funneled all the bountiful harvests and teeming fish, meant for the Western Sea, into our private sea fields, won’t Dawn’s Hand roast you for seafood?”

Gui’e scoffed, “Nonsense! As long as we put on a good enough show, Lord Spring Breeze will still have to send us money. He’s soft-hearted beneath that stern facade—easy to deal with.”

How dare they toy with Spring Breeze and me like this! I’d already resolved to cut off Gui’e’s hands and feet to defend Spring Breeze’s honor.

“Speaking of putting on a show,” the Octopus Immortal continued, “our young friend Xue is a master indeed. Just the other day, he generously gave away a hundred and eleven gold leaves to help a greedy old widow among the destitute aquatic clans. Now the foolish immortals all hail him as a true philanthropist!”

“Is that so? The younger generation is to be feared!” Gui’e praised Xue Shan.

Xue Shan smiled modestly. “I don’t deserve such praise.”

The Octopus Immortal continued his introductions. “This is Xue Shan, eldest grandson of the old Sea Lord, the young prince. And this is Lord Gui’e of the Western Sea. The young prince spends most of his time abroad, but your father is well acquainted with him.”

“Oh, don’t mention his father,” Gui’e exclaimed, animated. “Just as stubborn as his grandfather! Takes the Sea Lord’s oversight authority far too seriously—never flexible. Who would have thought your family would produce such a clever mind as you? The old Sea Lord’s reputation is in jeopardy, haha!”

“We have only the Sea Lord’s residence, built by believers forty thousand years ago. No land or fields to leave behind. The Sea Lord’s household must eat, or how else could there be gold leaves to help out that greedy old widow and put on such a grand show? Don’t you agree, Steward Bai?” Xue Shan shot me a sly glance.

“Yes, yes!” I nodded, forcing a smile, all the while wondering what game Xue Shan was truly playing.

“We really must thank the new chieftain of the Sea Wolf Clan,” Gui’e said with a laugh, wrapping his arm around Xing Yan. “If that brash youngster hadn’t stirred up trouble, making a mess of the Western Sea, we wouldn’t have been able to pocket both the Celestial Realm’s subsidies and the support from every side, doing business with the Netherworld, and profiting from all angles, right, my dear?”

“Yes, whatever you say, my lord,” Xing Yan replied, half-reclining in his embrace.

“But brother, aren’t you worried the Netherworld will come after us?” asked the Octopus Immortal.

“What’s there to fear? The Celestial Realm has the Jade Purity Domain of Kunlun, and all those fools from the Nine Provinces and Four Seas are dying to defend it. For every one that falls, there are a thousand more to take their place. And what about that True God of the Great Sound? Isn’t it rumored that he’s here too?” Gui’e patted his chest mockingly.

“Quite right!” agreed the Octopus Immortal.

“And even if the Western Sea is truly lost, there’s always a seat for us among the lords of the Celestial Palace. The way has long since been paved!” Gui’e said conspiratorially.

“If such good fortune comes, you mustn’t forget your little brother,” Xue Shan replied.

“That will depend on how you handle today’s transaction,” Gui’e said, his eyes glinting slyly.

“However my elder brother wishes it done, I shall oblige. Everything is ready on the island; we’re just waiting for your goods,” Xue Shan assured him.

“Is that so?” Gui’e asked the Octopus Immortal.

“It’s true! True! The goods were brought ashore just now! Brother Xue is always quick and efficient!” the Octopus Immortal exclaimed.

“Transparent—truly transparent!” Gui’e beamed, delighted.

I was fuming inside. Others were fighting to the death on the battlefield, while these shameless scoundrels brazenly hollowed out the realm from within.

“Steward Bai, don’t forget—our elder brother has promised me,” Xue Shan said to me.

“That’s right! There’ll be plenty of benefits for Steward Bai too!” the Octopus Immortal chimed in.

“Grandfather Bai, have a banana…” Xing Qi, having tossed aside a half-eaten orange, now peeled a banana for me.

This woman again! Oranges one moment, bananas the next—wasn’t it just because she fancied the old man’s wealth? I was seething, tempted to flip the table, but then thought Xue Shan surely hadn’t brought me here merely to rope in another “greedy” old woman. Best to bide my time. I forced a playful grin, imitating Lord Spring Breeze’s roguish manner, and said, “Darling, I’d rather watch you eat this fruit. Eat up, eat well—here, have this big watermelon too. If I’m pleased, there’ll be gold leaves aplenty!”

“Ah!” Lord Gui’e slapped his thigh and roared with laughter.

Xue Shan’s smile froze as he glanced at me, clearly surprised by my unexpected performance. I met his gaze with my own awkward smile, thinking, “What’s so extraordinary about that? Why the fuss?”

“Elder brother, if it’s convenient, let’s get the goods moving,” Xue Shan said, sipping his tea.

“No rush, no rush. Let’s eat and drink our fill first, isn’t that right, my beauty?” Gui’e said, clutching Xing Yan.

“Come, pour the wine, more for everyone! Xing Qi, stop eating and pour for Grandfather Bai—there’ll be plenty for you later!” the Octopus Immortal ordered.

So they wanted to drink! Bracing myself, I raised my cup to join their toasts. I sensed trouble brewing…

After many rounds, most of the wine ended up with Xing Qi, yet I still drank a few cups, and the alcohol was beginning to take effect…

“Brother, you’re forthright! Go arrange for the goods. Come find me when you’re done. We’ll see to our business first! Come, Brother Xue!” Gui’e, tipsy now, called out.

Xing Qi, thoroughly inebriated thanks to me, clung to me, still eating durian—gold leaves truly worked wonders.

“Xing Yan, Xing Yao, Xing Qi, you accompany our guests to the inner rooms. I’ll go arrange the goods,” the Octopus Immortal said, rising.

Gui’e was helped up by Xing Yan, Xue Shan and Xing Yao seemed perfectly sober, but only Xing Qi and I—one dizzy, one drunk, with Xing Qi drunkenly clinging to me, and I too muddled to push her away, could barely stand. Gui’e chuckled, “Old Bai, well done!”

Three pairs made their way into three rooms. I tossed Xing Qi onto the bed, and she instantly fell fast asleep. I collapsed at the table to collect myself.

Judging by Gui’e’s impatient demeanor, and the intimate air between Xing Yao and Xue Shan, they were surely off to indulge in romantic pleasures. What on earth was this sickly young man plotting in bringing me here? Did he want an old granny to sample the high life? If so, at least find me a handsome immortal, not ply me with liquor until I’m this drunk!

Next door, a cacophony of clanging and squealing rose—the sounds of Gui’e and Xing Yan’s revelry.

I slumped over the table, the dizziness worsening. Staggering to my feet in search of water, I grumbled, “Poor service! Not even any water!” The door opened, someone entered with a kettle, and shut it behind them.

Through my blurred vision, I saw it was Xue Shan.

“You rascal, bringing an old lady here—shame on you!” I laughed, pointing at him.

Xue Shan, seeing the drink had loosened my tongue, said nothing, but poured me a cup of sobering decoction and handed it to me.

I accepted the cup and took a sip. “Thank you, young prince, for your thoughtfulness!” Rising to toast him, my legs gave out and I fell.

Xue Shan hurried to catch me, and most of the decoction spilled down his front.

“Are you all right, granny?” he whispered.

“I’m fine… I just can’t hold my liquor…” I felt my mind was still clear.

“I’ll leave now—just hang on a little longer,” Xue Shan said, closing the door behind him.

From Gui’e’s room came another round of raucous noise.

I drank two cups of the sobering decoction, but the din only worsened my headache. I staggered out in search of fresh air. Once outside the Star-Picking Pavilion, the sea breeze revived me somewhat, though my legs still felt unsteady, my mind at least regained clarity.

“Hurry! Quickly!” Though the voice was faint, my ears caught it.

“Do we really have to leave?” came a woman’s voice.

“We’re already on Lord Spring Breeze’s radar. Staying is too risky. While the money from the Sea Wolves is still here, let’s grab it and head for Leixia Marsh,” whispered the Octopus Immortal.

“And abandon our Euphoria House?” another woman objected.

“We’ve earned enough. In Leixia Marsh we can open another! That’s Tiande’s territory—no problem!” the Octopus Immortal replied in a low voice.

Double-crossing us? Trying to run off? Did they think I, the Lord, came here for nothing? With the goods and the money both present, none of them would escape! I leapt toward the voices. There, the Octopus Immortal, two tentacles wrapped around two large chests, was fleeing with the two women. I blocked their path, though my legs were wobbly and weak.

Hastily, I cast a chain-binding spell to restrain them, but they all revealed their true forms, slick with mucus and slippery beyond belief—the binding spell was useless.

An octopus, an eel, a squid—all three bared their teeth and lunged at me. I reversed my inner energy, summoned true fire, and burned off one of the Octopus Immortal’s tentacles gripping a chest. But as I mustered my power, the drunkenness surged as well, leaving me dizzy and unfocused. Desperately, I drew my newly forged Qingming Sword and engaged the three beasts. On any other day, dispatching these three would have been as easy as blowing out a candle, but under the influence, I was at a disadvantage.

Groggily, I dealt with the two women. The Octopus Immortal, enraged, regrew the burned tentacle and lashed out. I split my sword into eight flying nails, aiming to pin the octopus and leave a survivor. But my sense of direction failed me, my legs weak. The octopus, gnashing its teeth, attacked with all eight tentacles…

I stumbled back, tripping over a stone, and fell hard.

Suddenly, a flash of white darted before me. With lightning speed, someone formed a sword seal, directing my eight sword nails to pin the octopus to the ground, then sealed it with a spell. Those movements—so swift, so familiar!

“Master!” My heart leapt. Rubbing my eyes, I saw it was Xue Shan.

“Not bad for a sickly youth!” I grinned.

By now, the island was abuzz with shouts, torches flaring as water soldiers arrived.

“Have the ones upstairs been secured?” Xue Shan asked.

“All under control,” the soldiers replied.

“The octopus and the goods are sealed here. Wait for the Sea Lord and Lord Spring Breeze to deal with them!” Xue Shan ordered.

“Yes, sir!” the troops answered.

I hauled myself up, bracing against a tree, and laughed, “Well done, young prince Xue! Justice at last! Admirable!”

“Are you all right?” Xue Shan came to steady me.

“I’m fine… just a bit too tipsy… otherwise these three petty crooks…” I nearly toppled again.

“I’ll take her back. Report everything to the Sea Lord,” Xue Shan instructed an officer.

“Yes, sir.”

Xue Shan supported me down the mountain.

“Can you still fly?”

“No,” I replied, sheepishly.

“You’re drunk, True God of the Great Sound,” Xue Shan said calmly.

It didn’t register at first. “I’ve never been able to hold my liquor.” Then it struck me—I’d fallen into his trap. I laughed. “You’ve seen through me!” My legs gave way again.

“I can’t go on… so dizzy! You’d better go ahead. I’ll fly back in a while,” I said, utterly exhausted.

“If you try flying now, who knows where you’ll end up,” Xue Shan said, and carried me on his back.

“Don’t… don’t fly… I’m dizzy!” I felt the urge to vomit.

With no choice, Xue Shan walked on with me on his back.

Beneath the full, round moon, two figures moved slowly along…

Resting my head on Xue Shan’s shoulder, the night breeze caressed me. This night, this scent, this feeling—so like a lifetime ago, when after the Lantern Festival, drunk, I spilled wine all over my master, plunging Jade Purity Domain into chaos, getting my senior brother hurt, and my master had to carry me home…

Remembering how I’d just spilled half a pot of sobering decoction on Xue Shan, I apologized: “Sorry for dirtying your clothes with my drunken mishap today… let me serve you tea to make amends… I… I…” My tongue was thick and my words slurred.

Xue Shan’s body trembled, and suddenly he stopped in his tracks…