Chapter 258: That Sissy, Had to Be a Man
Chapter 258: That Sissy, Had to Be a Man
Chen Changsheng had stayed here for several days. Life here was mostly very quiet and still. The only place that felt really cold and serious was probably near the Fortress Wall.
Chen Changsheng went there once or twice, then didn’t go again. After all, it was just Desolate Plain outside, nothing much worth seeing.
After he’d been here a few days, the words ‘The Song guy brought a Senior back from outside’ began spreading among this group of a hundred-plus people.
Because of this, Chen Changsheng would often attract several glances when he went out of the courtyard.
“Is that the Senior?”
“He doesn’t look anything special.”
“He seems quite weak and soft. Boring.”
“Can’t say that. Song Gudao’s never been wrong before. Maybe he really is a Senior.”
Chen Changsheng didn’t pay it any mind. He walked towards the Tavern by himself.
Usually, when he went, there weren’t many people in the Tavern.
Du A’niang spoke when she saw him arrive. “Mr. Chen, the same wine as last time?”
“Yeah, same as usual.”
“Alright.”
Du A’niang went to get the wine. As for the payment, she didn’t ask for it. Song Gudao had mentioned it specifically before. After she found out, she stopped charging Chen Changsheng for wine.
Chen Changsheng asked, “Why haven’t I seen him around lately?”
“Him?”
Du A’niang said, “Probably picking up newcomers. That’s all he’s been busy with these years.”
“So that’s it.”
Chen Changsheng poured himself a cup. Truthfully, the Snake Demon gallbladder wine was especially potent. Drinking a few sips now and then gave a refreshing feeling.
“I heard from Song Gudao that you’re the only Mortal in this city.”
“That’s right.”
Du A’niang said, “I’ve been here over four years now.”
“Don’t you… feel out of place?” Chen Changsheng asked with a smile.
“Out of place?” Du A’niang thought for a moment. “No. Don’t let them fool you, they’re all Cultivators, but many have no shame. They owe me so much for wine here. Up to today, not a single penny has been paid back.”
Hearing this, Chen Changsheng couldn’t help but laugh. He had witnessed it a few times these past couple of days. Du A’niang’s cursing was indeed fierce. She often silenced the drinkers.
But she only cursed fiercely. When they asked for wine, she served it. When they asked for meat, she gave plenty. This place had almost become the only spot for the hundred-plus people in the city to relax and pass time.
Just as they were talking, a soul-stricken figure walked through the door.
Thud.
Song Gudao stumbled inside. His face was a bit pale.
The moment he turned his head, he saw Chen Changsheng sitting at a table. He quickly pulled himself together a bit and called out, “Senior.”
Chen Changsheng glanced at him. “Did something happen?”
Du A’niang stood up and approached. Judging by Song Gudao’s look, she probably guessed something had happened.
“Wasn’t it quite quiet outside the city recently? Why…”
Du A’niang paused mid-sentence. “Who was it this time?”
Song Gudao lifted his head. He uttered, “… Rabbit Master.”
Du A’niang froze upon hearing that.
Then she started cursing.
“That useless sissy!”
Du A’niang swore, seeming especially furious. “I told them he couldn’t go! Had to insist on it! Now look! He didn’t come back!”
She cursed this one sentence, then choked up.
Du A’niang normally never stopped before cursing at least three or four times. Yet today, after only one sentence, she fell silent.
Song Gudao took a deep breath and raised his hand slightly. “Can I at least have two bowls of wine today?”
“Drink, drink, drink! You might as well drink yourself to death!”
Du A’niang cursed, but her voice faltered as she spoke.
When she turned to get the wine, she quickly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. After taking a breath, she acted as if nothing had happened and brought the wine.
Bang! Du A’niang slammed the wine jar onto the table.
Song Gudao forced a weak smile. “Thanks.”
“You useless woodcutter! All you know is drinking! Not even half the man Rabbit Master was!”
Du A’niang hurled another insult, then went back behind the counter.
Song Gudao tore open the seal on the wine jar and tilted his head back, pouring the strong liquor down his throat.
In just a few breaths, the whole jar was gone.
Chen Changsheng looked at him, then glanced at Du A’niang muttering softly behind the counter. He found it strange, but faintly, he thought he could understand why things were like this.
Song Gudao let out a long sigh, wiped the corner of his mouth, and slammed the empty jar onto the table.
Chen Changsheng asked, “It seems these past few days you weren’t in the Mortal World.”
“Went outside the city,” Song Gudao admitted.
Chen Changsheng nodded slightly. “There’s no one else in the Tavern. I’m just an outsider. If you have something upsetting you, you can talk to me. Matters aren’t easily forgotten just by getting drunk.”
Song Gudao looked at him when he heard this.
He was silent for a very long time and was slow to speak.
“I…”
Song Gudao sighed. “Better not talk about it.”
After hearing this, Chen Changsheng said, “It’s up to you.”
He didn’t ask further. He poured a jar of wine for Song Gudao, and they drank together at the table.
There was no conversation between the two of them. They just kept drinking.
When Song Gudao was quite drunk, he murmured, “Rabbit Master… he went to the Demon Realm as a scout. He…”
Chen Changsheng looked at him, but saw Song Gudao didn’t continue.
Song Gudao gave a bitter laugh, shaking his head with a sigh. “It was my fault. I caused his death.”
He only spoke halfway and said no more on the matter.
After gulping down the contents of two huge jars, he slumped drunk onto the table.
The sound of him hitting the table drew Du A’niang’s attention from behind the counter.
Du A’niang slammed the counter and came over.
“Song! If you want to get drunk, go do it outside!”
Seeing he had no reaction at all, Du A’niang spat slightly. “Damn it, I really owe you one.”
Saying that, she sighed and looked at Chen Changsheng. “Mr. Chen, could you trouble your honor to watch the Tavern for me? I need to get him home.”
Chen Changsheng nodded. “Alright.”
Du A’niang helped Song Gudao up. It was clearly difficult for a woman like her. Yet, she clumsily supported Song Gudao and walked out, step by step.
Staggering as she supported him, she cursed non-stop under her breath.
.
.
Chen Changsheng waited in the Tavern for about half an hour. The wine in his jar was almost gone when Du A’niang finally returned.
The Du A’niang who came back wasn’t full of the earlier swagger. Instead, she seemed lost in thought.
Seeing Chen Changsheng, she snapped back. “Anyone come just now?”
Chen Changsheng shook his head. “No one.”
Du A’niang nodded, then strode over to the counter.
She rummaged and pulled out an Account Book.
Du A’niang carefully flipped through it. On each page, several debts were crossed out.
Chen Changsheng said, “Seems quite a few debts are cleared. Doesn’t look like what you said before.”
Du A’niang pursed her lips. “Actually… none were collected…”
She found the page with Rabbit Master’s debts.
Then, she took a brush, dipped it in ink, and scratched fiercely at the name and the amount. She kept scratching until the entire area was blackened, unwilling to stop.
“This old lady’s debts… I’m afraid the day to collect them will never come. This bunch of heartless jerks! Have to force me to cross them all out before they’re satisfied, is that it…”
Du A’niang cursed, but her eyes turned red. A few tears fell onto the Account Book.
Chen Changsheng stood silently by her side. He tilted his head back and drained the last mouthful from his wine jar.
The normally fiercely cursing Du A’niang now trembled as she spoke, her voice mixed with falling tears.
“That sissy… had to go be a real man.”
“He should finally be… satisfied now…”