Next day, the new acquaintance... oh no, it was actually Sikong Du who brought people to the inn and knocked on Han Yu's door.

After opening the door, Han Yu first glanced at Sikong Du, then at the scholarly-dressed young man behind him, who didn't seem to be from the Palace Guard.

Turning sideways to let them in, Sikong Du started the introductions.

"Fellow Daoist, this is Fellow Daoist Bai Bufen, an outstanding disciple of the Purple Sun Sect."

Last night, after finding the cave and realizing that Black Robe had escaped, the group had already dispersed. Today Sikong Du was thinking of visiting Han Yu, and coincidentally met Bai Bufen.

After some pleasantries, Sikong Du found his impression of Bai Bufen quite favorable and decided to bring him along.

When it was Han Yu's turn, Sikong Du was at a bit of a loss. Firstly, he had hurriedly returned to the city before, and secondly, he had been busy with affairs the entire time, so he still didn't know Han Yu's name.

This was somewhat awkward.

"Fellow Daoist, I still don't know your name."

Sikong Du said with an apologetic smile.

Han Yu waved his hand, smiling lightly as he spoke.

"I am Han Yu, a wandering loose cultivator."

Loose cultivator? Wandering?

When did these two terms start being used together?

Sikong Du was momentarily stunned. He had originally thought this must be a genius cultivator from the Celestial Essence Nine Sects, who, at such a young age, had such formidable strength, and yet his True Essence was completely different, clearly walking a path unlike others.

How could such a person be a loose cultivator?

Not only did he not believe it, but Bai Bufen didn't either. According to Black Robe's words, he had seen the Divine Gaze Realm in Shuzhou City at most, and yet in just two months could beat a Divine Gaze Realm cultivator nearly to death.

Without sect support, how could that be done?

Could it be that his cultivation was picked up from the ground? Or did it fall from the sky?

"Brother Han is really humorous, I dare presume, though I'm older than both of you by a cycle, calling each other fellow Daoist is too formal for an old rough man like me, isn't that right, Brother Bai?"

Sikong Du no longer dwelled on Han Yu's identity, laughing loudly and waved his hand with great vigor as he spoke.

After the three of them sat down, Sikong Du explained the reason for his visit.

Firstly, he talked about the matter with Black Robe. Since Han Yu was also involved, and the person had escaped, he naturally had to be informed about it. The grudge between them went deep, Han Yu almost beat him to death. It's safe to say that the Corpse Refining Lineage would definitely be targeting him.

In response, Sikong Du clasped his fists apologetically, sounding regretful as he spoke.

"I truly apologize, I didn't expect him to escape, and now I'm afraid it will bring Brother Han a lot of trouble."

"It's nothing! I've already made enemies with the Corpse Refining Sect long ago, I can just take them on whenever they appear."

Han Yu wished someone would come to him every day to eat pills, best if he didn't have to go anywhere, and the Corpse Refining Sect would come to him instead.

Bai Bufen, hearing this from the side, twitched at the corner of his mouth slightly, secretly thinking to himself.

What big talk from a rash person, just defeating a Black Robe and he dares to disregard the Corpse Refining Sect, there will be times when he'll suffer.

The second thing, was coming specifically to express thanks.

To cultivators like Han Yu, who are warm-hearted righteous in the Cultivator Realm, the Imperial Court would either try to recruit them into the Fifth Tower, or give out rewards.

Previously, they were preoccupied with apprehending Black Robe, so there wasn't time to handle it, though now Black Robe had escaped, but it's a fact that Han Yu saved his life.

As such, it was considered an indirect disruption of the Corpse Refining Sect's conspiracy in Huaizhou Prefecture.

He didn't believe Han Yu's identity as a loose cultivator; he's most likely from one of the Nine Sects, so recruitment wasn't feasible, meaning they could only reward him through the Imperial Court.

Now, they are just waiting for the response from the Inspectorate, possibly there are rewards from the Guardian Bureau as well.

After all, he belongs to the Inspectorate, but he's doing the work of the Guardian Bureau.

"Imperial Court's reward?"

Han Yu rubbed his nose, this was indeed the first time he heard of this, why didn't Zhao Yulin mention this at the time? At least he helped him capture two major disciples of the Evil Path.

He didn't know that it was taken by Ling Wuce and given to Zhao Yulin, in the end, Zhao Yulin took the pills and couldn't get anything else.

"That's right, the Imperial Court favors cultivators like Brother Han who have a sense of justice, and has always had rewards for this."

Sikong Du laughed heartily as he explained.

After speaking, he glanced at the sky, then said.

"Though there's the matter of the Imperial Court, how about I host a banquet for a drink?"

——

In the largest restaurant in Huaizhou City, Sikong Du seemed to have notified them in advance. As the three arrived, a young servant came to greet them and lead the way.

Going all the way to the second floor, the noise significantly lessened, and they proceeded to a private room at the end.

The setting was quite elegant, and importantly, once the door was closed, outside noise was completely cut off.

After the three were seated, drinks and dishes were served quickly, during which a short and plump man came to greet Sikong Du, but was quickly shooed away by him.

Upon further inquiry, they learned that he was the owner of the restaurant.

No wonder the dishes were served so quickly; it turns out it's all due to the Guardian's influence here.

Sikong Du is the bold and hearty type, and before Han Yu could even pick up his chopsticks, a drink was already handed over.

The cup seemed to have vanished; instead, they each downed three whole bowls of liquor.

"We cultivators shouldn't drink like ordinary people; using a bowl is more straightforward."

He said this, immediately finished a bowl, and by the time he spoke again, his mouth was full of liquor breath.

Han Yu looked on strangely, muttered something, and downed a bowl himself before he even felt the burning in his stomach it was gone.

Bai Bufen hesitated slightly, but seeing the other two looking at him, he could only grit his teeth and drink the whole bowl in one go.

Damn it, we're all cultivators here, why drink at all? Can't we just eat?

Seizing a moment when no one was paying attention, Bai Bufen's face, momentarily flushed, was quickly subdued by him.

Han Yu was about to eat when another large bowl arrived.

"This bowl of wine is for Brother Han. If it weren't for your help, I wouldn't even be sitting here today."

Sikong Du raised the bowl sincerely, speaking with heartfelt emotion.

Han Yu could only set down his chopsticks, pick up his bowl again, and down it in one go.

Bai Bufen's expression changed slightly; it wasn't that he couldn't drink, but he couldn't touch it.

Had he not known the two had never met him before, he might have thought they were doing it on purpose.

Once again, two pairs of eyes were on him, so Bai Bufen could only grit his teeth and raise his bowl.

This time, his blush could no longer be suppressed; his chest gradually heated up, spreading through his whole body like ants biting, a dense and sharp pain.

Fortunately, he managed to endure it, keeping a forced smile.

But, Sikong Du filled up a third bowl, and this time he couldn't avoid drinking it.

"Brother Bai, so righteous and just, this bowl is for you!"

After saying this, he downed another bowl.

Damn it, can't I just not drink?

Bai Bufen's expression twisted; the Ghost Path Technique was eerie, its yin and cold didn't just affect the technique but his physique too, so he usually avoided alcohol.

If he drank, the internal heat would rise with the yang energy, making it unbearably torturous, like suffering a punishment.

Drink or not?

Not drinking might make him seem out of place.

He should've mentioned he couldn't touch alcohol earlier; having already had two bowls, saying anything now wouldn't be believable!

Drink!

To get closer to Han Yu, Bai Bufen forced himself, grabbing the third bowl with a sense of tragic determination, and downed it.

"About the fourth bowl…"

Sikong Du spoke again, and Bai Bufen's expression finally changed drastically; he covered his mouth and mumbled.

"I'll be right back."

He ran off quickly, darting out of the room.

"I meant the fourth bowl doesn't need to be drunk; let's eat first."

Sikong Du looked utterly confused at the open door, speaking mutely.

Han Yu had never seen someone so genuine; if you can't drink, can't you force it out with True Essence? Why endure it!

Just now, when the guy opposite him quietly lowered his hand, the smell of liquor had damn near doused his pants leg.

Sikong Du gave an awkward smile, hurriedly explained, "I have official duties later, just a token gesture."

Bai Bufen's head was already filled with hot blood, almost half of him ached wherever it went; the rush had scourged his entire body, now cutting like a knife.

After taking a dozen brisk steps, he couldn't help but push open the door of a nearby room and rush in.

Inside, a group was clinking glasses and cheering merrily, with several heavily made-up women interspersed among them.

Seeing Bai Bufen burst in unceremoniously, they all paused, surprised.

"Ghost Concealing Eyes!"

Bai Bufen weaved a sign, and the group acted as though they couldn't see him, continuing to drink.

Then he exhaled a long breath, and his body began to channel the extremely cold True Essence through his meridians to suppress the heat, then forced it out.

The wine vapors gradually flowed out from all over him, continuing for ten breaths before he took a refreshing sigh.

When he returned to the room again, Han Yu and Sikong Du were already eating and drinking liberally, with not a hint of alcohol on them, nearly making Bai Bufen grind his teeth to pieces.

Damn it, am I the only genuine one here…

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