Having just come from the stage of Heavenly涯臺, Jiang Wang naturally couldn’t drink in Huai Island. Who knows, someone might have poisoned him.

While the Drifting Sea Tower wouldn’t openly retaliate against Jiang Wang, there were bound to be many privately dissatisfied individuals. It’s hard to say who might act on impulse.

As for why he would go to Reclusive Winter Island, on the Chongxuan clan’s territory, to drink, and yet have Yan Fu pay for it…

One can only say that Chongxuan Sheng and Xu Gaowei are indeed birds of a feather in certain aspects.

Jiang Wang flew off the Heavenly涯臺 and left with his friends.

Although it was likely that few in all of Huai Island would look kindly upon them now.

But these people all had their own confidence and weren’t bothered by any of it.

Besides… Qi people were never very popular in Huai Island to begin with!

The group swaggered through the streets.

Only Xu Xiangqian lagged behind the group, winking at Zhao Wuyan from a distance and transmitting, “Sister Zhao, there’s nothing more exciting to see on Huai Island. How about we go experience the scenery of Reclusive Winter Island? We’ll wait for you on the island!”

His ardent feelings for Zhao Wuyan were never concealed and were practically known to everyone.

But he could completely understand. As a representative disciple of Dragon Gate Academy, Zhao Wuyan had her own considerations. It was understandable that she wasn’t willing to openly stand by Jiang Wang and oppose the Drifting Sea Tower. There was no friendship between Zhao Wuyan and Jiang Wang to begin with.

While many people felt Xu Gaowei was reckless and frivolous, and he himself didn’t disagree with the criticism, he was genuinely moved by Zhao Wuyan and was willing to respect all of her thoughts—except for distancing herself from him.

His friend’s life-and-death duel had just ended, and everyone was very emotional: fear, concern, admiration, joy… In short, it was complicated. They all crowded around Jiang Wang, patting him here and there, as if fearing he might be missing something.

Only he was indifferent.

While Jiang Wang was fighting a desperate battle on Heavenly涯臺, he was also fully focused below the stage, wishing he could weave a tapestry on the spot to cheer him on.

But as soon as Jiang Wang finished, he immediately put him out of his mind, his heart filled only with Zhao Wuyan.

As soon as he heard about going for a drink, the first thing that came to mind was that Sister Zhao had to go. Even the main character of the banquet, Jiang Wang, could not go, but Sister Zhao could not not go!

Of course, being as clever as he was, he wouldn’t just have one plan. After all, Sister Zhao had only agreed to give him a chance and hadn’t agreed to be with him yet.

The road ahead is long and winding… I must seek far and wide!

So, Zi Shu heard a voice transmission.

“Sister Zi Shu! The younger brother of the Twin Stars of Driven Horse Mountain has become famous in today’s battle. I’m afraid my peerless treasure sword can no longer conceal its brilliance…”

Xu Xiangqian first casually boasted about himself, looking very regretful, then said, “We’re hosting a banquet on Reclusive Winter Island, and we sincerely invite you to grace us with your presence. My brother Jiang’s mood has been quite volatile recently. He might have trouble controlling himself when drinking. That fat man named Chongxuan Sheng is someone who likes to frequent brothels and attract beautiful women. Who knows how many girls will be present then, and who knows if someone might take my brother Jiang’s ‘heart’. Alas, I am very worried about this.”

Finally, he changed the subject: “Putting all that aside, I want to invite you and your Sister Zhao to the banquet on Reclusive Winter Island. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for us to drink and get drunk together! May I have the pleasure of your company?”

Chongxuan Sheng provided the location, Yan Fu paid, and Jiang Wang was the main character. But Xu Xiangqian brazenly used “we” and made himself the host.

Winning a heart was described by him as taking a dog’s life.

But no matter what, the effect was very obvious.

Zi Shu’s eyes immediately lit up, and she turned to look at Zhao Wuyan eagerly.

Seeing this posture, Zhao Wuyan knew that Xu Xiangqian must have said something to her, and it was likely using Jiang Wang as bait again.

Both annoyed and amused, she rubbed Zi Shu’s little head: “Oh, you, you’ll be sold off one day! Hmm… We’ll go a step later, separately.”

Zi Shu automatically filtered out the first half of the sentence and nodded vigorously: “Sister is so kind!”

As long as they went, it didn’t matter much if they went a few steps faster or slower.

When Xu Xiangqian saw Zi Shu’s shining eyes, he knew things were settled. He turned back casually and followed closely behind Li Longchuan.

On Heavenly涯臺, where the fierce sea wind blew, no one could have a calm heart.

The victor called his friends and went to drink.

The loser died, his soul extinguished, scattered into flying ash.

And in the high sky, two voices were still conversing.

“Then it is settled. What do you think?”

“So be it.”

Two transcendent peak figures.

During these five days, they had engaged in meticulous communication and negotiation.

But they were discussing completely unrelated matters.

Their brief words were the shifts in the overall situation of the nearby island chain, and even the entire Eastern Territory.

The death of Ji Shaoqing, the growth of Jiang Wang.

They were just like the sea wind blowing over Heavenly涯臺.

They passed and were gone.

“Huai Xin, the overall situation at the moment is still to deal with the sea demons. We and Jue Ming Island can fight but not break. The Tower Lord knows your grievances, but Shaoqing himself accepted another’s life-and-death challenge, and the Tower Lord cannot go back on his word for him. Besides, this duel was fair, and everyone was witnessing it. And life and death are commonplace. There’s no reason why another’s prodigy can die and ours cannot.”

In a grand hall deep within the sect’s station, True Person Chongguang, whose face was like light, said.

He stood in the magnificent hall, his attitude gentle.

Gu Huaixin sat still in his seat, his face expressionless, saying, “Shaoqing’s skill was inferior. He died, and there is nothing right or wrong about it.”

His resentment was hard to dispel. The dignified First Elder, True Person Chongguang, had come to visit, but he hadn’t even risen to greet him.

However, having lost his beloved disciple, no one bothered with his disrespectful attitude.

True Person Chongguang sighed: “Strategy, bravery, diligence, talent, these are all important, but what determines how far a person can go is still their perspective. When that Jiang Wang first came to the island, I only thought he didn’t know the immensity of heaven and earth. However, from the Mist Realm to Heavenly涯臺, he did not retreat in the face of difficulties, he was not discouraged by setbacks, he did not complain about injustice, he never gave up, he never retreated. I have not seen all the famous prodigies of Qi, but those I have seen are not as good as him. Our Shaoqing…”

“I failed to teach my disciple properly.” Gu Huaixin interrupted his lengthy speech and looked up at him, saying, “Great Elder, you came specifically, not just to remind me of this, were you?”

“It’s not like that,” True Person Chongguang was not angered by his attitude, he only said, “You cannot tie him down all the time. The master leads the way, but cultivation is personal. You led him through the door, but his life ultimately depends on himself. To have reached this point is his choice. You have done what you could, and the sect has done what it could. I am just older by a few years, and I just want to persuade you… to not harbor resentment because of this.”

The ancient sword Shen Du confronting the Tiger Claw of Overturned Army, one cannot say the sect did nothing.

Otherwise, Jiang Mengxiong could have used his interference in the duel as an excuse to give him a deep lesson.

Gu Huaixin naturally knew this.

But he had to show resentment, and he had to show that it was difficult to dispel—although this method was not very honorable, at this time, it was necessary.

With Ji Shaoqing’s death, his lineage had no one of the younger generation to carry the banner.

He had already failed in his attempt to be promoted to Third Elder, and after this, the blow was truly immense.

He had to make the sect consider his emotions and compensate him for his losses.

Only then could he plan for the future.

“What is there to talk about harboring resentment?” Gu Huaixin said slowly, “Shaoqing was my direct disciple, the one I trusted the most. I watched him grow up, and now I watch him die. This is very good, very complete.”

(The clay sculpture chapter should have been posted last night.

When I was writing it, it was also done in one go, quite smoothly. So, considering the reading mood, there should have been an extra chapter last night, and I originally planned to do so.

But when faced with the choice of a new plot, I started to struggle again. To put it simply, I zoned out…

This resulted in only five chapters remaining in my drafts. I must keep at least four chapters in my drafts to leave room for refinement, because often, as I write, I discover better ways of writing, more interesting story developments. At this time, I will not hesitate to overturn previous ideas. Without at least four chapters in my drafts, there will be no room for maneuvering, only to continue along the inertia. I can’t quite tolerate that.

At the same time, I also need to save two more chapters to ensure that I don’t have to stop updating if there are any accidents. So, six chapters in my drafts is my safety line. Yesterday, I already broke the safety line, so I didn’t add an extra chapter in the end.

Consider me owing everyone a chapter. I will make it up at some point later.

That’s it, nothing else to say. Good night, everyone.)