The path into the mountains was not as smooth as Ouyang Ye had anticipated. It was precisely because of this that he had not wanted to bring Lin Zong along, but Lin Zong had insisted, and he had no way to refuse. Resigned, he had to see through the path he had chosen.
By now, Lin Zong, following behind Ouyang Ye, was exhausted. However, to prevent Ouyang Ye from seizing an opportunity to abandon her, she could only drag her heavy legs and continue to follow.
In the city, Feng Qishi had searched many inns with Zhao Xiang, but without any success. Thus, to conserve their energy for later, Feng Qishi took Zhao Xiang to a tea house to sit down.
Immediately, a waiter approached their table with a warm smile and asked cheerfully, "Sir, what would you like to drink?"
"Just a pot of whatever is fine," Feng Qishi said casually, glancing at Zhao Xiang, who was looking dejected opposite him. He added, "We'll look again later, and perhaps we'll find it."
The waiter acknowledged Feng Qishi's words with an "Alright," and turned away.
Zhao Xiang propped his cheek with his hand, contemplating the fruitless search they had just experienced. He became distressed. "Do you think my parents didn't come here?" he asked, looking up at Feng Qishi.
Feng Qishi frowned. "They didn't come. What do you mean by that? And how did you get this information?"
"He told me," Zhao Xiang said, looking up at the waiter who was approaching with a tray, and then froze.
Following Zhao Xiang's gaze, Feng Qishi looked towards the waiter and asked, "What is it?" After asking, he turned his gaze back to Zhao Xiang.
Zhao Xiang said, "This is the only tea house here, right?" As he spoke, he withdrew his gaze and met Feng Qishi's eyes.
Relying on his knowledge of Jin Cheng, Feng Qishi nodded. "Yes, we only have this one tea house here."
At the same time, the waiter, having overheard Feng Qishi's words, said enthusiastically, "I can see you are a connoisseur, sir. Jin Cheng truly only has this one tea house." He placed the tray down, picked up the teapot, and skillfully poured tea into their cups. He continued, "We have a performance tomorrow. If you gentlemen are interested, you might want to come and see."
"Is that so?" Feng Qishi said, lowering his head to look at the steaming cup of tea. "In that case, please bring some refreshments."
"Certainly," the waiter smiled, picked up the empty tray, and turned away.
A moment later, Feng Qishi turned back to look at Zhao Xiang, who was staring intently at his teacup, and said in a low voice, "Your father must like tea a lot."
"How do you know?" Zhao Xiang asked, surprised.
Feng Qishi's lips curved. "The fact that you can ask me a question like this means you must have thought about your father's preferences," he said, glancing around. "However, I haven't heard of this tea house having guest rooms. And other inns..." He suddenly frowned mid-sentence.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang asked with confusion, "What's wrong?"
"Other inns..." Feng Qishi repeated. He picked up his teacup and took a small sip, then said, "Does your father particularly like drinking tea?"
Zhao Xiang nodded. "Yes, my father used to be in the tea business. Since then, he's particularly liked drinking tea, and it has to be good tea. Even the place he stays must have good tea."
"Must be good tea," Feng Qishi emphasized.
Seeing Feng Qishi's energetic demeanor, Zhao Xiang also became resolute. "Yes, must be good tea."
"Then this is easily solved," Feng Qishi said, suddenly standing up. He casually took out some silver from his pocket and looked at the waiter, who had just stopped by their table. "Please pack these refreshments for me. I'll be back later." With that, he placed the silver on the table.
The waiter smiled and responded, "Certainly."
Feng Qishi said nothing, glanced at Zhao Xiang, quickly moved around the table and chairs, and left.
Zhao Xiang didn't even have time to drink his tea before quickly following Feng Qishi.
The waiter, holding the refreshments in one hand and picking up the silver with the other, smiled. "He's truly generous." Saying this, he turned and walked away.
Not long after.
Feng Qishi led Zhao Xiang to stop before a secluded small courtyard. Zhao Xiang, completely bewildered, looked at the courtyard that had nothing to do with an inn and asked, "Mo Yun, this isn't an inn? What are you bringing me here for?"
"I never said this was an inn," Feng Qishi replied, walking up the steps and raising his hand to start knocking on the door.
Zhao Xiang looked speechlessly to both sides, then quickly walked behind Feng Qishi and asked, "What place is this?" A bad premonition filled his mind.
Feng Qishi remained silent, continuing to knock on the door.
Immediately, a lazy voice called out from inside, "Who is it?"
Upon hearing this, Feng Qishi finally stopped knocking and stepped back, looking at the uncle who opened the door and casually saying, "It's me."
Zhao Xiang was stunned.
The next second, the uncle looked at Feng Qishi's face and exclaimed, "General, why are you here?"
"Where is your master?" Feng Qishi asked directly.
The uncle said with a smile, "My master is inside. You've come at just the right time. My master is leaving tomorrow." He then consciously stepped aside. "General, please come in quickly."
"..." Feng Qishi crossed the threshold and entered without a word.
Seeing this, Zhao Xiang quickly followed. Just as he crossed the threshold, the uncle blocked him. "Who are you?" the uncle asked with an unfriendly expression.
Zhao Xiang frowned and looked at Feng Qishi's retreating back.
Feng Qishi said without looking back, "My person." Then he walked further inside.
Hearing this, the uncle's expression changed. He smiled at Zhao Xiang and said, "My master is quite cautious. Please forgive him." After saying that, he lowered his hand, walked around Zhao Xiang, and closed the main door.
Zhao Xiang was utterly confused. He turned to look at the uncle, said nothing, and then walked forward to follow.
In the blink of an eye.
Feng Qishi walked to the outside of the master's room in this residence, saying nothing.
Seeing this, the uncle stepped forward and gently knocked on the door, announcing, "Master, the General is here." After speaking, he turned back to Feng Qishi and smiled.
Feng Qishi's expression was impassive as he calmly looked at the door, still remaining silent.
Zhao Xiang stood behind Feng Qishi, suddenly unable to understand what Feng Qishi was trying to do.
However, while Zhao Xiang was still puzzled by this, a male voice called out from inside, "I know. Uncle, you may go down now."
"Yes, Master," the uncle nodded slightly, smiled at Feng Qishi, and walked away.
Zhao Xiang watched the uncle's retreating back. After a moment of thought, he suddenly felt that the voice from inside sounded familiar.
But who was the owner of that voice? He couldn't recall.
Just then, Feng Qishi looked back at Zhao Xiang and said, "You know this person."
"I know him too?" Zhao Xiang exclaimed.
Feng Qishi hummed in acknowledgment, then turned his head and urged loudly, "Hurry up."