With the intent to stir the pot, Lord Seventh sighed. “To think of the wealth and glamour of those years, now transformed so completely that I can no longer recognise them. Who knows what has become of the Moon-Gazing River, constructed upon heaps and heaps of rouge and powder, and all those magnificent and ornate buildings along it today? That year, during the crisis of the capital, you and I made an oath on the tower. If we lived to see long, leisurely days, we would not retire our cups before we were drunk. I have been waiting in Nanjiang for so long that the wine has grown cold, yet, an old friend does not even have the slightest intent to visit.”

Subsequently, he shifted the topic, a mischievous light flashing in his amorous eyes as he deliberately mentioned, “Zishu, you have broken with our promise to meet, but I have not. Until now, I still remember that you asked me to procure you a slim-waisted Nanjiang girl, and I have taken note of many. I am not sure if you…”

The Great Shaman coughed lightly, traces of laughter appearing on his aloof face. Zhou Zishu felt that he could stay here no longer, and stood up to slap his palm over his fist in a sloppy salute, saying hastily, “Ah…what’s that, Lord Seventh has just arrived in Dongting, and must be exhausted from travelling by carriage. We’ll not intrude any longer…”

Lord Seventh said, “Actually, we aren’t tired at all.”

Almost at the same time, Wen Kexing exclaimed, “What? A-Xu, you’ve even said something of this sort?”

The room descended into silence. The few of them stared at each other speechlessly, until Gu Xiang, who was more insensitive to the situation, suddenly patted Zhang Chengling, who was spacing out, on the head and lamented, “This is called ‘How well can you know another after a night of longing; be utterly ignorant as you sleep like the dead in spring’[4]. Little Chengling, I think we, the two of us, should go rescue Cao-dage. Every one of them only cares about fighting for a lover’s attention, and isn’t reliable at all.”

Lord Seventh laughed. “This little maiden doesn’t have to worry. You said that Cao-dage of yours is from the Qingfeng Sword Sect, so those strange people will not dare to do anything to him. Instead, if you hurry there without sufficient preparations, you will be cementing his guilt, and do nothing but cause more trouble for him--Zishu, only so little time has passed, and you want to leave? Sit for a while longer. As the ancients frequently lament, “There is no company to share the beautiful days of youth with”, you and I have met again in a rare reunion, but have barely reminisced enough about the past to fill a cup to the brim. Why are you so eager to leave?”