AZI Volume 5 Chapter 1

"…"

"…"

Flexing their items in their hands, Long Hua and Mo-laoban seemed to have taken their eyes off each other, but they would still occasionally exchange a glare.

"555,000 NWDs! Going once, going twice-"

Raising his placard, which is labeled ten, Bai Wen calls—

"850,000!"

"…Uh."

"An increase of 295,000…"

The abrupt raise causes everyone who was bidding on the pot of cherry blossom wine to turn speechless.

"Ai, these fifth-floor tycoons…"

"I wonder how many excavation rights those guys will buy?"

Eventually, the podium is hammered, signaling Bai Wen's victory in this bid.

For practitioners, mortal realm currency truly isn't worth much.

In fact, the highest value mortal realm currency probably isn't even able to measure up to half the value of one spirit stone.

"…"

Setting his fan aside, and staring at the black jadeite flute in his hand, Long Hua thought—

(Ai, it's been a while since I've played a flute. I wonder if I still have the skills for it?)

Positioning the flute's embouchure hole close to his lips, Long Hua slowly begins to refamiliarize himself with the instrument by pressing his fingers onto the tone holes with a specific tune in mind.

"…"

Seeing the clumsy way in which Long Hua is handling the flute, Mo-laoban inwardly shakes her head.

(Long-shao, can you stop provoking elder sister?)

Thinking of this, Nuo'er heaves a sigh, while Mo-laoban wanting to confirm things once and for all, asks—

"Nuo'er, that guy is Bai Wen's new friend, right?"

"Indeed. His name is Long Hua. I tend to call him Long-shao."

"And he's also the thief that I'm looking for."

"Uh…"

Instead of answering, Nuo'er's expression turns awkward, as she replies—

"…Elder sister, it wouldn't do to demolish your own restaurant. Think of the workers' livelihoods."

Being reminded of this, Mo-laoban clicks her tongue.

Most of the workers at the Lan Si Restaurant were former residents of the wastelands. They were allowed into the city due to their employment here.

As for who these individuals had been—when they were residents of the Everlasting Spirit Realm, their practitioner life circumstances were somewhat similar to Yao Ying.

Generally speaking, these people were involved with infighting within their organizations of belonging, or personal enemies of theirs having placed a bounty on their heads to throw them into this world.

That being said, Nuo'er had originally wanted to send Yao Ying to work here. However, abruptly throwing a child into an unfamiliar environment with numerous strangers around, it didn't seem appropriate; hence, the Mirror Moon Café, a smaller setting had been selected instead.

...…

"Hmm."

Glancing at Long Hua—thinking that he is about to provoke Mo-laoban again, Bai Wen and Zhen Qing Huai can't help but look forward to it with bated breaths.

"…"

Seeing Zhen Qing Huai and Bai Wen acting like this, Zhen Rong shakes her head. But then again—

(It's been some time since big sis had laughed that much.)

Thinking of this, Zhen Rong raised a subtle smile.

"…"

Shutting his eyes with a solemn expression on his face, Long Hua blows into the flute lightly.

(I don't know if this tune will be able to reach you or not, shizun. However, an attempt should still be made.)

Just as Long Hua is about to play properly, Bai Wen waves his hand—constructing a sound containment barrier, which covers the entirety of this floor, so as to not disrupt the ongoing auction.

"…"

Leaning Shui Yue against her chair, Mo-laoban reaches for her cup with an expression of irritation on her face, while thinking—

(Demolishing this restaurant is out of the question, but… Just wait till this auction is over. When we meet again in some dark corner of the streets, I'll-)

Amidst these thoughts, Long Hua begins to play, causing Mo-laoban to halt the movement of her hand, which was just about to touch her cup.

"…"

Listening to the tune that is played by Long Hua, Mo-laoban's expression gradually softens.

"…"

"…"

The tune that comes from Long Hua's flute can only be described as tranquil—a soft tune that a person can easily fall asleep to, causing the three near him to shut their eyes.

(Hm?)

Hearing this archaic tune that contains a sense of yearning for both home and the people who are there, the Tai Xuan Emperor thought—

(A letter to Dao He Tian Xue? …Ai, I miss home as well—if home can still be called home.)

"…"

Heeding to the tune, Nuo'er draws in a subtle breath of air, and exhales before turning to Mo-laoban, whose right hand is completely frozen in the air without moving an inch.

"...…"

Closing her eyes, Mo-laoban fully immerses herself within the tune.

Are you well? I'm doing so-so, I guess?

Is everything stable on your side? My side is a bit… Complicated.

Is everyone on your side doing well? My side… I have no one that I can turn to. But I'll manage somehow.

I miss the days of our journey together; hence, I wish to meet once more.

I also miss the days of us being able to drink together; hence, the taste of cherry blossom wine is soothing.

When we last bid farewell…-

I wish to apologize once more for the way we parted; hence, "I'm sorry."

"…"

Reading the messages contained within the flute's tune, Mo-laoban parts her lips, and upon reopening her eyes, the tune ends.

"…"

"…"

As the others reopened their eyes as well, Zhen Qing Huai heaves a light sigh, and remarks—

"Long-xiong, you could make a living as an artist."

"…"

Slipping out of his trance gradually, Long Hua clears his throat, and spins the flute, while replying—

"Ai, my skills have deteriorated. If anyone back in my sect heard that just now, they'd be laughing their heads off while throwing pebbles at me."

Raising his right eye, Bai Wen asks—

"You were a part of a sect?"

"For a time. Dao He Palace, everyone in the sect was an artist of some kind. Musicians, painters, writers, sculptors, talents of all kinds really. Each and every one of them was handsome and beautiful; there wasn't a single ugly person in sight. After all, the vast majority of the people there were spirit foxes."

Regardless of the world, spirit foxes are extremely rare, and females of the species are highly sought after as a slave or life companion.

Raising an eye, Zhen Qing Huai says—

"Spirit foxes? Does that mean Long-xiong's beauty standards are based off them?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Long Hua answers—

"Hard to say."

"Lao Long, I'm kind of curious as to how you looked like in your previous life now. You said there wasn't a single ugly person in that sect, that includes yourself, right?"

"Piss off, who do you think I am?"

Asking this, Long Hua points to the fan on the table.

"Hahaha!"