Chapter 476 - 219: The Song That Brings the Dawn
Chapter 476: Chapter 219: The Song That Brings the Dawn
The tea stall was a bit run-down, looking as if it had been open for many years.
Fang Shuwen took a quick look around and noticed a small courtyard not far from the stall. In front of the courtyard stood a well.
The tea stall’s young waiter drew water from that very well.
The water buckets were huge, and the young waiter carried one in each hand. Though they were filled to the brim, he walked with such a swift, steady gait that he didn’t spill a single drop.
It was clear this young waiter had some real skill.
This was hardly surprising, though.
For them to dare live in a place like this and run a tea stall, it would be hard to believe they didn’t have some skills to get by.
Fang Shuwen’s attention didn’t linger on them for long.
Upon entering the tea stall, the eyes of many patrons fell upon their group of three.
Such a rare combination of a handsome man and beautiful women was bound to attract attention.
But no one dared to stare... No matter how beautiful the two women were, the patrons would steal a single glance and then quickly lower their heads.
In the Jianghu, the more beautiful the woman, the more dangerous she was to provoke.
Stories of men being beaten to death for nothing more than a lingering gaze or a misplaced word were all too common.
Who knew who these two women were, or what kind of tempers they might have?
After sweeping his gaze across the tea stall, Fang Shuwen walked straight toward the Masked Man.
The Masked Man was holding a bowl of herbal tea, taking small sips.
He had lifted his mask so it hung halfway off his face, and he seemed to be peering at the bowl of tea through the air holes near the nose.
He didn’t even look up as Fang Shuwen approached.
Only when Fang Shuwen sat down across from him did he finally set down his tea bowl and say with a smile:
"This Well-brand Herbal Tea is a time-honored name."
"Care to try some?"
Fang Shuwen chuckled, amused. ’A man from the Eastern Domain, like me, being introduced to a local tea stall by someone from the Central Domain?’
However, he didn’t refuse. He nodded, and just as he was about to signal for the waiter, the Masked Man waved his hand dismissively.
"No, no, allow me. It’s my treat."
With that, he raised his hand and called out to the waiter:
"Three more bowls of herbal tea."
The young waiter came out with a hint of impatience on his face. He quickly swept his gaze over Fang Shuwen’s party of three before setting down the tea.
He turned and left without a word.
A waiter with some ability was naturally different from the ordinary sort.
He had a bit of an attitude.
Fang Shuwen paid it no mind. He calmly picked up his bowl and took a sip.
A refreshing sweetness mingled with the aroma of tea, invigorating his senses. He felt utterly refreshed and clear-headed.
"It really does have a unique flavor."
"Right?"
The Masked Man said with a laugh:
"Whenever I come to the Eastern Domain, I always make a point to stop by for a bowl of their tea."
"It’s a shame they’re closed during the winter and spring."
"If you could have a bowl like this in the dead of winter, I imagine it could quell any inner fire."
Fang Shuwen watched him quietly.
"Oh? You come to the Eastern Domain often? When was the last time?"
"About... twenty years ago?"
As he spoke, he tilted his head up slightly. Though his gaze was obscured by the mask’s tiny air holes, his eyes remained fixed on Fang Shuwen.
Fang Shuwen’s expression remained unchanged, but Miao Feichan looked slightly puzzled.
’Twenty years ago... By then, the Lingyun Sect had already relocated to the Central Domain. Why would the Masked Man have come to the Eastern Domain?’
"May I ask what business brought you to the Eastern Domain twenty years ago?"
Fang Shuwen’s voice carried a hint of suspicion.
The Masked Man quietly studied Fang Shuwen’s expression. Seemingly unable to find the reaction he was looking for, he smiled and shook his head.
"Perhaps I misremembered. Or maybe it was ten years ago. Or even three..."
Yu Yaoguang scoffed.
"With a memory like that, you might as well not have a brain at all."
Fang Shuwen laughed as well, seemingly amused by Yu Yaoguang’s jab.
The Masked Man started to laugh along... but before the smile could form on his lips, a palm appeared without warning right in front of his face.
The palm strike was impossibly fast, yet the Masked Man’s reaction was faster still.
Just before the palm could land, his body twisted into an exceedingly bizarre posture, evading the sudden strike. In a flash, he crossed thirty feet of open space, reappearing thirty feet away.
Fang Shuwen turned his head to see the man standing on one foot, arms crossed. The mask on his face was now back in place.
In that pose, he looked just like the great rooster on his mask, standing on one leg.
"Oh?"
Fang Shuwen was somewhat surprised.
As his Martial Arts grew stronger, he found that fewer and fewer opponents were worthy of his concern.
The number of people who could dodge one of his palm strikes was dwindling.
Fang Shuwen looked at the Masked Man, a wry smile on his face.
"What kind of Martial Arts is that?"
"Golden Rooster Stands on One Leg?"
The Masked Man let out a hearty laugh.
"This is the [Morning Book]."
"And what is the [Morning Book]?"
"The announcer of the dawn is a fowl of five virtues."
"Its crown is a mark of civility. Its spurs are a mark of martial prowess."
"Facing a foe, it dares to fight—that is courage. Finding food, it calls to others—that is benevolence. Keeping watch through the night, it never fails the hour—that is faith."
The Masked Man recited this with a self-satisfied shake of his head. It was the opening passage of the [Morning Book].
Fang Shuwen understood the reference, but he still found it amusing.
"It’s still just a chicken, isn’t it?"
"So what was that move you used to dodge my palm?"
"A rooster ruffling its feathers? Or a hen spreading its wings?"
"Wrong, all wrong! The technique is from the [You Hour Divine Movement Technique] within the [Morning Book], one of the [Three Flashes of the You Hour]. It’s called the [Startled Flight Flash]!"
"I see... A fine [Startled Flight Flash] indeed."