Misty Rain of the Old Times

Chapter 798

As night deepened, the two walked arm in arm to He Hongyi's wine shop. It was already closed, and there were no lanterns hanging at the entrance, as it was dry and prone to fires.

"Ah Xuan, come on, come inside with me, let's keep drinking, let's drink until we're completely drunk," He Hongyi said heartily, waving her hand as she staggered as she leaned against Chen Xuan, looking as if she might fall over at any moment.

The two of them drank so much at Chen Xuan's house before, they must have been drunk. But at their level of cultivation, whether they were drunk or not depended entirely on their mood. Actually, it was quite nice to experience the feeling of being drunk occasionally.

Moreover, when you're 'drunk,' you don't have to think about so many things anymore. You can directly express many things that you usually dare not or hesitate to do, such as He Hongyi's intimate gesture of putting her arm around Chen Xuan's shoulder without any scruples after leaving Chen Xuan's house.

Alcohol is such a good excuse; when asked afterward, you can just say you were drunk.

Stopping his foot in front of the house, Chen Xuanhao declared with boundless enthusiasm, "Let's drink! Hongyi, you said you've collected quite a few fine wines; we must savor them!"

"Haha, that's right, I'll go open the door," He Hongyi patted Chen Xuan on the back and they staggered off to open the door.

Seeing her swaying, Chen Xuan teased, "Red-clothed, are you alright? You call yourself a master of innate cultivation? Do you need any help?"

"Don't look down on me. You've only had a little bit to drink. I'll get you drunk in a minute... This is my house. I've lived here for months. I can find the keyhole with my eyes closed," He Hongyi grumbled unhappily.

She quietly opened the door, and seeing that Chen Xuan hadn't followed, she turned around and teased, "What, scared? Or are you afraid that if you go back too late, your sister Qian Ning will make you kneel on the washboard?"

Hearing this, Chen Xuan glared and said irritably, "My wife isn't a tigress, she would never treat me like that. How about I sue you for defamation?"

"Are you getting impatient? Come on, what are you standing there for?" He Hongyi was overjoyed, holding onto the threshold with one hand and covering her mouth with the other, laughing so hard she was shaking.

With a smile, Chen Xuan pointed randomly and exclaimed, "We can't let such a beautiful moon go to waste. Why don't we go to the rooftop for a drink?"

“Alright, Ah Xuan, I’ll gladly oblige if you’re in such a good mood. But don’t point to the wrong thing, that’s someone’s lantern at their door, the moon is behind you,” He Hongyi said with a bright smile.

Chen Xuan waved his hand dismissively and said, "Who cares where it is? It can't run away. I'll wait for you on the roof."

"Okay, wait a moment, I'll go get some wine and food and come right away," He Hongyi waved casually and went into the house.

Because they had been drinking, the two of them showed no restraint whatsoever as a man and woman alone together, nor did they engage in the usual formalities of inviting others or visiting someone else's home. They acted as casually as good buddies who had known each other for many years.

As she entered the room and lit the candles, Chen Xuan looked around outside the door, grinned, and then leaped up. When he reached the height of the roof, he turned a corner and instantly appeared in a dark, secluded place.

Upon arriving, he shook his head, furtively surveyed his surroundings, then grabbed a large tree with one hand and lifted his shirt with the other. Soon, the sound of rushing water could be heard in the darkness.

"Alcohol is a good thing, but drinking too much can cause bloating and make me feel bloated."

Chen Xuan muttered to himself that the sound of water lasted for nearly five minutes before stopping, leaving a small puddle in front of him. Finally, he couldn't help but shudder and shiver, feeling much better.

After putting away his tools and straightening his clothes, he thought for a moment, then reached out towards the dark distance. A large ball of water flew over and enveloped him, along with a fragrant bath soap. In no time, he washed himself and his clothes thoroughly, drying himself with his true energy.

He has always maintained the good habit of washing his hands after using the toilet, but he just took a shower at the same time.

Drinking is so much fun! Hey, am I drunk or not? Okay, I am drunk.

Why take it so seriously? There's no need to take it so seriously. Life is about being a little carefree and having fun.

Feeling completely relaxed, Chen Xuan hummed a little tune and slipped away in a flash. He went to He Hongyi's roof and lay down leisurely, basking in the moonlight with his eyes slightly closed.

In a state between waking and dreaming, a faint fragrance suddenly wafted over, and He Hongyi's figure appeared beside him, still dressed in red under the moonlight.

Holding a tray in one hand and a small table in the other, she saw Chen Xuan lying there, unable to free her hands, so she lifted her long, embroidered shoe and gently kicked him, saying with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "Hey, seriously, Xuan, don't fall asleep right now!"

Actually, she had taken a quick shower and changed while she was back in her room, but there was no difference from before. The only difference was that the smell of alcohol on her body was almost gone, and she had a more natural fragrance.

Chen Xuan sat up abruptly as if startled, patting his chest dramatically and saying speechlessly, "Red-clothed, you walk so quietly! You suddenly appeared in all red in the middle of the night and almost gave me a heart attack!"

It was obvious he was up to no good. He Hongyi chuckled and said, "Stop talking nonsense. The food and wine are here. Didn't you see I was carrying things? Aren't you going to help out?"

Chen Xuan stood up and took the tray from her, saying with a smile, "Oh dear, it's so late at night, I feel bad troubling you with so much stuff... Well, I spoke too soon, you're really just offering a token amount."

The tray contained three dishes of snacks, a pot of wine, and two wine glasses; that was all.

He Hongyi, who was bending over and fiddling with the small table, said irritably without turning her head, "Where am I supposed to get you a feast this late at night? Spiced venison, cucumber salad, salted edamame, a pot of old wine—you'd better be happy."

"Tsk, this is hardly enough for anyone to eat, it's barely enough to fill a tooth gap," Chen Xuan muttered, putting down the tray after she set up the table, then plopping down to pour the wine.

That's what he said, but he actually knew that He Hongyi had carefully prepared all of this. It was even possible that during the months he was away, she would prepare such food and drinks every day, hoping for such an opportunity to be alone with him.

It's enough to know in your heart; there's no need to point it out. Being a little cheeky makes everyone feel more relaxed.

He Hongyi sat down on his other side, her hand supporting her cheek, her eyes still glazed over from being drunk. Whether she was truly drunk or not, only heaven, earth, and herself knew.

She didn't continue arguing with Chen Xuan, but quietly looked at the bright moon in the sky, her thoughts drifting away. She asked softly, "Ah Xuan, you've been to many places in Yuhua Kingdom, haven't you? How was it there?"

Chen Xuan, who was pouring the wine, looked up and saw that she had become quiet and somewhat lonely under the moonlight, unlike her previous carefree and unrestrained self. Seeing this, Chen Xuan said in a relaxed tone, "I have been to many places, and they are all pretty much the same, except for the differences in customs and language." "I see, I hope so..." She smiled and didn't say anything more, her expression somewhat lonely.

Understanding roughly what she was thinking, Chen Xuan handed her a glass of wine, trying to keep his tone light: "From what we've seen, relatively speaking, Yuhua Kingdom, located in the north, is in a much better position due to the disaster. However, it has still been affected, and some hardship among the people is inevitable. There has been a lot of turmoil in the court, but overall, things are still relatively good."

He Hongyi knew about the disaster relief situation in Jing Kingdom. Being in a foreign country, she couldn't help but worry about it, so Chen Xuan knew what she meant as soon as she opened her mouth.

Of course, she knew that the situation was not as simple as Chen Xuan had described. Even in a small place like Yang County, one could still learn about the situation in Yuhua Kingdom. Comparing the two, one could imagine what kind of life the common people of Yuhua Kingdom were living under the same disaster.

She smiled and nodded, saying, "That's good."

"Don't overthink it, Red Robe. We shouldn't dwell on things that aren't our concern. Otherwise, what's the point of having officials? Come on, let's drink," Chen Xuan said, raising his glass.

Unlike her previous heavy drinking at Chen Xuan's house, she turned around, raised her glass with her delicate hand, and lightly clinked it against Chen Xuan's for a small sip. After putting down the glass, she said apologetically, "I'm sorry, Xuan, I don't know why this happened. I hope I didn't spoil your fun."

"No, that's not true," Chen Xuan smiled and poured the wine again, then said in a teasing tone, "Red Robe, are you homesick?"

Her expression froze for a moment, then she quickly nodded frankly and said, "You figured that out?"

Before Chen Xuan could say anything, she looked at the bright moon in the sky and said as if talking to herself, "I've been growing up with my master since I can remember. She told me that she picked me up from the roadside. I've been practicing martial arts with her since I was little, and she taught me how to conduct myself in the world. As I grew up, my master grew old, and when my martial arts skills were just beginning to improve, she passed away. I was alone again. From then on, I've been wandering the world. So, Ah Xuan, you're wrong. I don't even have the right to miss home."

In just a few simple words, she encapsulated her nearly thirty years of turbulent life, filled with both fortune and misfortune.

Chen Xuan didn't offer any words of comfort, because he wasn't much better off himself and didn't truly empathize. Instead, he lay casually on the rooftop, gazing at the moonlight and calmly saying, "Home is where the heart is; wherever there are attachments, there is home."

“Ah Xuan, you’re right. I never thought about these things when I was wandering the world, braving wind and rain. Until I met you, I realized that I’m a very simple and shallow person. At first, I remembered you because you were good-looking. Later, when you saved my life, I was touched by your strength and reliability, and your carefree attitude when you turned away. Before I knew it, my heart was filled with you. It’s ridiculous that we’ve only met a few times…”

He Hongyi's words were full of tenderness. Having already expressed her feelings, she spoke frankly, looking intently at Chen Xuan. But when she saw him lying down, a hint of reproach flashed across her face: "Xuan, were you even listening to me?"

“Hey, I’m here. Come on, have a drink to soothe your throat and keep going. Talk more, I love to hear you,” Chen Xuan said, propping himself up and cracking jokes.

Seeing him raise his glass with a smile, He Hongyi couldn't help but laugh and drink in return, which immediately ruined the atmosphere. She couldn't help but chuckle and say, "Ah Xuan, no wonder you're so popular with girls. It's so easy and pleasant to be with you."

"Huh? Shouldn't it be that being clueless about romance makes girls dislike you?" Chen Xuan blinked, indicating his incomprehension.

Looking intently at Chen Xuan, her eyes were like water: "No, that's not it. I can't explain why, but I just can't help being attracted to you. What should I do?"

Under the moonlight, her pretty face seemed to glow, and a subtle fragrance lingered in the air. Chen Xuan's heart skipped a beat when she looked at him, thinking, "Red dress, please don't do this, I'm afraid I can't handle it."

However, he wouldn't dodge or run away, and looked her in the eye, asking, "What do you think of the woman in red?"

She was stunned. "No, Ah Xuan, how can you be like this? I've already said so much." She glared at him, a little embarrassed and annoyed, her red lips parted as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.

Just as they were staring at each other in disbelief, a series of curses and screams suddenly came from the darkness not far away: "Ouch! Who's so inconsiderate, pouring water in the dark like that? I slipped and fell, covered in mud! Wait, this is clearly wine! How much did they pour? It's such a waste! Don't give it to me! I'm the one who feels bad for it!"

The sudden sound broke the awkward atmosphere between the two. Hearing this, Chen Xuan looked away, feeling a little guilty. He coughed and said with a shifty gaze, "Um, who is it? Walking around at night without watching where you're going, and even tripping? Red-clothed, isn't that funny?"

How could he not feel guilty? He drank so much at home, and even when he secretly relieved himself, the water smelled strongly of alcohol. He deliberately chose a secluded spot, and it's unbelievable that someone still managed to run into him.

He Hongyi opened her mouth, but forgot what she wanted to say. Looking at Chen Xuan suspiciously, she asked curiously, "Xuan, what are you feeling guilty about? It's not like you......"

"No, I don't know anything about what happened. I came upstairs to wait for you after you came in," Chen Xuan interrupted, his gaze darting around, as if he knew nothing and it was none of his business.

It was a complete cover-up. Seeing him like this, He Hongyi knew exactly what was going on. Her cheeks flushed and she chuckled, "Even if you're in a hurry, couldn't you have found a more secluded place?"

To cover up his embarrassment, Chen Xuan quickly changed the subject, saying, "Come on, let's keep drinking. We can't even finish a single pot of wine. And believe it or not, I'm suddenly finding myself getting more and more sober!"

He Hongyi rolled her eyes at him, then covered her mouth and laughed so hard her shoulders trembled. She couldn't help but spill some wine when she raised her glass.

"Hey, Red Dress, just laugh if you want to. I can tell you're holding it in." Chen Xuan simply gave up and said, "Whatever."

She quickly waved her hand and said, "I wasn't holding it in! How could a girl like me... no, I took care of it at home. Ugh, never mind!"

The more she tried to explain, the worse it got, so she simply lowered her head and pretended to drink.

Picking up a piece of spiced venison and putting it in his mouth, Chen Xuan chewed slowly. Then, as if remembering something, he looked at her curiously and asked, "By the way, Hongyi, has anyone upset you lately?"

"No, why is Ah Xuan asking that?" she asked, puzzled, as her attention was diverted.

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Xuan said frankly, "It's nothing. It's just that when I came back today, I noticed a trace of killing intent lingering on you. I guess I was mistaken."

Upon hearing this, He Hongyi smiled calmly, put down her wine glass, and said directly, "Actually, Ah Xuan, you're not mistaken. I did take action during this period, but I hope you will believe me, Ah Xuan. I absolutely did not kill innocent people indiscriminately."

Nodding, Chen Xuan said nonchalantly, "It's alright, I trust you. There's no need for that. I'm not an official, so why would I think you're meddling? I often think about doing things like upholding justice and eliminating evil, but I'm just too lazy to do it." (End of Chapter)