Chapter 1234: Alcohol Gives Courage to the Coward
Upon his arrival, Yang Haoran made no deliberate effort to conceal the power fluctuations emanating from his body. Though not fully unleashed, they were easily discernible, merely not excessively strong.
It was precisely because the Night Watchers of this Death God Temple sensed the power fluctuations emanating from Yang Haoran’s body—specifically Spirit Power—that they swiftly rushed out.
However, while the Spirit Power radiating from Yang Haoran could not confirm his status as an Emissary of Death, it was sufficient proof that he was an agent of the Underworld Office. Yet, even with this, these Night Watchers showed no relaxation in their vigilance. Not only did they arrive quickly, but their numbers were also considerable. From this, it was evident that the Ancheng Underworld Division maintained a high level of alertness.
The Night Watcher who spoke to Yang Haoran was clearly their leader, and his very first words indicated that he recognized Yang Haoran.
Yang Haoran found this unsurprising. After all, he had visited this Death God Temple more than once or twice, and many of Xu Meijing’s Night Watchers already knew him.
“Heh heh, where is your Emissary of Death? ”
Yang Haoran asked with a smile. Before the Night Watcher could reply, a woman’s cold voice echoed from above the temple.
“I thought you had forgotten me entirely. I didn’t expect you’d still remember to come see me. ”
“Heh heh, it seems I don’t need to ask. Please take me to her. ”
The leading Night Watcher did not refuse, instead responding respectfully.
“Emissary Yang, please follow me. ”
As his words fell, the lead Night Watcher stepped aside and gestured for Yang Haoran to enter. Yang Haoran accepted without ceremony, stepping into the temple with a smile.
The other Night Watchers went about their duties, while the lead Night Watcher escorted Yang Haoran to meet Xu Meijing.
Had it been anyone else, without Xu Meijing’s direct order, the lead Night Watcher would never have dared to take Yang Haoran directly to her. But Yang Haoran was different, for Xu Meijing had long since instructed that if he arrived, he was to be brought to her immediately, without needing her prior consent.
The temple was desolate, with a pitifully small number of devotees coming to worship the Death God. This was a stark contrast to both Lecheng and Gu Mo City.
But then again, it made sense. For the common people of Ancheng, merely surviving was a struggle; most didn't even have a morsel of food. In such circumstances, even if they wished to worship the Death God, they lacked the means to do so.
In a short while, Yang Haoran saw Xu Meijing. He had been to this place before; it was where Xu Meijing held meetings with the Night Watchers, very secretive, somewhat akin to Lecheng’s former mysterious conference room.
After leading Yang Haoran to the location, the lead Night Watcher respectfully withdrew, leaving only Yang Haoran and Xu Meijing.
“Aren’t you busy? Why do you have time to visit me today? ”
Xu Meijing sat in the main seat, legs crossed, leaning slightly against the sofa. After a brief glance at Yang Haoran, she asked in a lukewarm tone.
Yang Haoran knew Xu Meijing was quite displeased with him. It had been a long time since he had visited her, and his refusal for her to visit him in Gu Mo City had also contributed to her annoyance. He fully understood her feelings.
Yang Haoran’s reason for not coming to Ancheng was that he genuinely couldn’t spare the time. He had to remain in Gu Mo City to oversee things, preventing anyone from causing trouble. If he left, and various factions or Spirit Mediums came to stir up chaos, he worried his still-growing subordinates wouldn’t be able to hold out for long.
As for why he didn’t allow Xu Meijing to come to Gu Mo City, it was because he didn’t want her to get entangled in his troubles. He could handle his own problems; dragging Xu Meijing into them would make him feel truly apologetic.
“Heh heh, I haven’t seen you in a while, but you’ve grown even more beautiful, and your skin is looking better and better. ”
Yang Haoran sidestepped the question. Instead of answering directly, he showered her with flattery.
“Cut the crap with me. You and I are both Underworld Officials. Don’t you know our physical bodies were already set the moment they were altered by the laws of heaven and earth? ‘More beautiful’ and ‘better skin’? Are you trying to coax a little girl? ”
Though she spoke this way, Xu Meijing’s tone noticeably softened as she said it. Even her facial expression changed, looking as if she wanted to laugh but was stubbornly holding it back.
“Heh heh, what you say is true, but what I say is also true. Because in my eyes, you truly are more beautiful, and your skin truly is better. Whether this is a fact or not, only my words count. No one else’s words matter, not even your own. ”
Yang Haoran said with a faint smile. Xu Meijing, who was already struggling to suppress a laugh, burst out giggling the moment she heard Yang Haoran’s words.
Seeing a smile bloom on Xu Meijing’s face, Yang Haoran inwardly breathed a sigh of relief. If Xu Meijing had kept a stern face the entire time, he truly would have felt immense pressure.
“Heh heh, I haven’t seen you in a while, and you’ve become quite the smooth talker. It seems you’ve been spending a good amount of time with some unsavory demons and monsters. ”
Though Xu Meijing’s words were a veiled criticism, they weren’t offensive to Yang Haoran, and he didn’t take them to heart.
“Heh heh, what would you like to drink? I’ll pour it for you. ”
Yang Haoran said with a smile, walking towards the liquor cabinet.
“Heh, you’ve got guts, truly making yourself at home. ”
Xu Meijing rolled her eyes at Yang Haoran. Though her words were blunt and her tone not very friendly, Yang Haoran knew Xu Meijing wasn’t serious. After all these years, he had long understood her personality.
“Heh heh, of course. ”
Yang Haoran replied with a smile, then took down two wine glasses. Without choosing, he randomly grabbed a bottle, poured two glasses, and brought them to Xu Meijing.
Though Xu Meijing was sharp-tongued and unyielding when in the right, she didn't refuse when Yang Haoran offered her the glass. Instead, she let out a disgruntled huff and took the glass.
“Heh heh, it’s been a long time since I came to see you, and I know that’s my fault. So, I’ll drink this glass as an apology first, and I hope you can forgive me. ”
Yang Haoran clinked glasses with Xu Meijing, then tilted his head back and drained the cup in one go. He drank cleanly, leaving nothing behind.
“Given your sincerity, I’ll forgive you then. ”
A smile appeared on Xu Meijing’s face. She didn’t refuse to drink, nor did she merely sip. Instead, like Yang Haoran, she tilted her head back and emptied the glass, not a single drop remaining.
“Since you’re treating this place like your own home, why be so stingy? ”
Setting down her glass, Xu Meijing said with a smile. Then, with a gentle wave of her elegant hand, the bottle of wine Yang Haoran had opened but left at the liquor cabinet was enveloped in a surge of Yin Qi and floated directly onto the coffee table in front of them.
Yang Haoran smiled, then picked up the wine bottle and refilled both their glasses.
“How have you been lately? Are things going well? ”
“Certainly not as well as you, but still pretty good. ”
The two drank and chatted. Such face-to-face conversation was far more detailed and comfortable than the brief exchanges over a Communication Talisman. Neither noticed the passage of time, nor the diminishing wine in the bottle. However, neither of them discussed the major events that had recently occurred in the Underworld Office, nor the upcoming selection of two Guardians for Jingling Continent.
Instead, they talked about what each had experienced and encountered since their last parting. Towards the end, they even spoke of childhood memories, both joyful and sorrowful.
Unwittingly, the two had consumed an unknown quantity of alcohol. While Yang Haoran felt a bit dizzy, he wasn’t yet drunk. Xu Meijing, however, had a lower alcohol tolerance than him and was already intoxicated, her beautiful face flushed with drink.
Nonetheless, neither of them used their power to maintain sobriety, as that would have defeated the purpose of drinking.
Another glass of wine went down. Xu Meijing put down her glass; her face was flushed with drink, and her upper body swayed, clearly completely drunk.
She leaned back against the sofa, first hooking a finger at Yang Haoran, then pointing to her own thigh, her face flushed with drunken amusement as she spoke.
“Come here, sit on my lap right now! ”
Xu Meijing’s words momentarily stunned Yang Haoran.
“Me? Sit on your lap? ”
Yang Haoran, now comprehending, asked incredulously, looking as if he couldn’t believe what he’d heard.
“What? You don’t want to? ”
Xu Meijing asked, her smile vanishing, replaced by a serious expression.
“It’s not that I don’t want to, it’s just. . . I’m a grown man, and for you to ask a grown man to sit on a woman’s lap, it. . . it just feels a bit strange, quite embarrassing. ”
Yang Haoran said with a smile, though his smile was unnatural, and his words became a little clumsy.
Xu Meijing, who had been feigning seriousness, immediately broke down and burst into laughter, thoroughly amused by Yang Haoran’s words.
“Heh heh, look at you, so spineless. You don’t even dare to sit on my lap. What good are you? If you don’t dare, then I’ll just sit on your lap. ”
As she finished speaking, Xu Meijing swayed to her feet. Under Yang Haoran’s disbelieving, somewhat expectant, and somewhat longing gaze, Xu Meijing truly plonked herself down onto his lap.
The moment Xu Meijing settled onto Yang Haoran’s lap, he jolted as if struck by lightning,
His body involuntarily trembled. This was his first time in such intimate contact with Xu Meijing, and for a moment, his heart pounded wildly like a startled deer, beating uncontrollably like a drum.
“Hmph, look at you, so weak. A man should act like a man. . . ”
Xu Meijing seemed to sense the electrifying change in Yang Haoran’s body, so she playfully teased him with a hint of disdain. However, before she could finish her sentence, the alcohol overwhelmed her, and she instantly passed out, collapsing onto Yang Haoran’s chest and falling asleep.
Yang Haoran dared not move a muscle, not even making a sound with his breath, for fear that any big movement would startle the little bird in his arms, causing her to fly away.
No, to be precise, not a little bird, but a tiger—a tigress, in fact. If he woke this tigress in his arms, he worried she would tear him to shreds without asking any questions.
After an unknown period, Yang Haoran’s emotions finally stabilized a little, but only slightly. Compared to his usual composure, it was a completely different matter.
He lowered his head to gaze at Xu Meijing, who was fast asleep in his embrace, gently tucking a strand of her long hair behind her ear. His heart, against his will, began to beat faster once more.
After only a few seconds, Yang Haoran felt his heart was about to leap out of his throat. He quickly shifted his gaze, coincidentally spotting the half-empty bottle of wine still on the table.
After a moment of hesitation, Yang Haoran seemed to have made a certain decision. He gently loosened one hand from around Xu Meijing, then grabbed the remaining half-bottle of wine from the table and, tilting his head back, gulped it down directly from the bottle.
At this moment, Yang Haoran’s attention was not on Xu Meijing at all, so he didn’t notice the faint smile that briefly curved her lips. However, this smile quickly vanished from Xu Meijing’s face as she suppressed it.
In the blink of an eye, the remaining half-bottle of wine was glugged down by Yang Haoran in one go.
Setting down the wine bottle, Yang Haoran gently placed his hand back on Xu Meijing. However, he didn’t act recklessly; he simply held Xu Meijing gently, his movements slight, as if afraid of waking her.
Other than that, he did nothing, seemingly waiting for something.
At this moment, he was indeed waiting. He was waiting for the alcohol from the half-bottle he’d just downed to take effect.
A moment later, the alcohol Yang Haoran had been waiting for finally hit him. Though it had only been a short while, it felt like an eternity.
Already feeling a little dizzy, the surge of alcohol made his head spin even more. In addition, he felt much bolder.
In truth, it wasn't so much that he became much bolder after the alcohol kicked in, but rather that he no longer acted as rationally as he did when sober. He wouldn't hesitate or overthink things; whatever came to mind, he would do, without processing it or considering the consequences.
At this moment, Yang Haoran was in roughly this state. He, who previously didn’t dare to look at Xu Meijing more than once, now dared to let his gaze fall upon her beautiful face again.
Just one look, and Yang Haoran felt his lips dry and his entire body grow hot.
After another brief moment, the alcohol’s full effect completely set in. Yang Haoran no longer suppressed his inner thoughts, allowing his true emotions to burst forth. He lowered his head and kissed Xu Meijing’s cherry lips.
As their lips met, both their bodies trembled slightly, and Xu Meijing’s body visibly softened at that very instant.
I still need to adjust. One chapter, ten thousand words, one chapter a day. My collections aren't growing, but shrinking. This work only received a small text promotion when it was signed, and none since. If I don't break it into more chapters for updates, then there will be fewer opportunities for it to appear in the update section, and naturally, even fewer people will know about it.
However, I will still strive to write ten thousand words a day.
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