Chen Xu, with his keen ears, naturally had already heard all the various conversations in the first-floor lobby.

He had not expected that the Great Li's Splendor Record would spread so swiftly; he had just received the news in the afternoon, and by the evening, many people in the restaurant and similar places were already clearly aware of it.

Suddenly, a thought struck Chen Xu. He felt that the Sea of Literature, which had been calm for a while, seemed to have stirred slightly.

At the same time, the inkstone, which traversed the vast Sea of Literature like a small boat, also seemed to have grown slightly without him noticing.

The inkstone silently grew larger, and the Ink Pool invisibly deepened.

At first glance, the literary Qi in the Ink Pool had not increased, but in reality, its reserves had grown considerably.

The translucent Wu Hook floating above the inkstone also became more solid by several degrees.

Around the inkstone, mist drifted, sometimes visible, sometimes hidden.

It was the fog brought by "Flowers Are Not Flowers," appearing at times in the front, at times in the back, freely and effortlessly maneuvered.

The double-edged sword of the Great Li's Splendor Record, its drawbacks had yet to clearly manifest, but the benefits it brought were already apparent.

What Chen Xu didn't know was that, contrary to his belief that the Great Li's Splendor Record had spread widely, it was still only circulating among the upper echelons within the Yunjiang Prefecture.

Most people who could dine at the Zuanyu Building were unlikely to be poor.

Restaurants like this were often places where news traveled quickly.

For the Great Li's Splendor Record to become common knowledge among the public would still take quite some time.

The restaurant shopkeeper respectfully and warmly found a private room behind a screen for Chen Xu—

These so-called private rooms were not separate rooms but small elegant spaces partitioned by screens on the second floor of the hall.

The shopkeeper led Chen Xu to a private room by the window.

Seating in this private room, one would not be easily disturbed by the noise from the side, while still enjoying the street scene from the window, all without completely losing touch with the public space.

It was one of the features of the Zuanyu Building.

A high platform was built on the street outside the window, with colorful lights coming up as night fell. According to the shopkeeper, in a while, Hu Ji would perform the stomping dance.

The private room on the second floor was the perfect spot for viewing.

After the enthusiastic introduction, the shopkeeper did not linger, bowing and withdrawing, leaving the waitstaff to start serving dishes.

The waiter brought one jade plate of delicacies after another, coming in a line and leaving the same way.

The restaurant lights were lit one by one, with wind chimes ringing beneath the eaves.

A moment later, the sound of silk and bamboo, pipa, and drumbeats began downstairs.

As expected, Hu Ji came barefoot, lightly jumping onto the drum.

With a gentle step of her jade foot, the drum sounded like a storm, knocking at the heart.

In such prosperity and noise, with taverns of plenty and dazzling lights, the young Daoist Kongcan, accustomed to arduous cultivation in the mountains, hadn't seen such sights in years.

Had he truly seen such scenes before?

No, he seemed to have seen them before.

Having reincarnated several times, how could he have no insight?

But in reality, as soon as the drums started, Kongcan immediately leaned forward, sprawling by the window, craning his neck to watch the dancing Hu Ji below.

For a moment, he even forgot all the delicacies on the table.

Until at some unknown point, a faint, distant aroma of wine came, as if it had fallen from the sky.

Or as if it had collected moonlight, traversing through time and space, subtly yet suddenly entering Kongcan's heart.

Kongcan the young Daoist shivered suddenly, as if he had been whipped by the endless temptation, thunderously snapping back to his senses.

He quickly retracted his gaze from the window, heart pounding, glaring at Chen Xu and exclaimed, "Brother Chen, why is this restaurant so shameless?

To attract guests, they have that woman dancing barefoot. Isn't this using beauty to lure people?"

Chen Xu almost expected the young Daoist to mimic some old scholars and say, "What kind of propriety is this?" which would have been amusing.

But his old-fashioned phrase "using beauty to lure" didn't differ much from "What kind of propriety is this?"

Chen Xu held a white porcelain wine cup like jade, brought it to his lips, and lightly took a sip.

Savoring the wine in the cup, Chen Xu smiled slightly and said, "With the lights of restaurants, Hu Ji's singing and dancing, isn't such a scene evidence that my Great Li Dynasty is now at its most prosperous time?

Daoist Kongcan, since you are proficient in the arts of divination, you must be a man of the path.

How can a true man of the path easily be tempted by beauty?

If the heart is like floating clouds and flowing water, one sees purity in everything under heaven.

Only a mind lacking cultivation wit sees beauty as tempting.

Daoist Kongcan, you are distracted."

Poor Kongcan, a young Daoist of eight or nine years and also of eight or nine years mindset, but not entirely so, found himself a bit dizzy from Chen Xu's roundabout words.

He shook his muddled head, protesting, "You weren't tempted by beauty, then why were you staring at that beauty on the drum earlier?"

Chen Xu casually replied, "That was naturally because the beauty was very beautiful."

Ah, that one line revealed him.

Kongcan clapped his hands and said, "Ha, you see, I knew it, you were also tempted by beauty, weren't you?"

But then he heard a sigh, and Chen Xu said, "The beauty is really beautiful; it's real and true. Just like how this night's dark blue sky is beautiful, the lights of the long street are beautiful, and the breeze by the window is beautiful.

This table full of delicacies is also beautiful.

I know what beauty is and appreciate the beauty of all things; is it so wrong?

If Daoist Kongcan uses this to judge me as indulging in beauty, then this title of a lecher, I'll gladly accept."

Saying this, he raised the wine cup in his hand.

Lightly clinking it against the breeze from the window, he took another sip.

After this sip, the young Daoist Kongcan suddenly came to realize that the elusive aroma of the wine he had smelled was indeed from Chen Xu's cup.

His eyes lit up, and he said, "Such good wine, why not pour me a cup too?"

While saying this, Kongcan's back was somewhat stiff.

After all, he had lost in the exchange with Chen Xu, seemingly defeated in a philosophical discussion by a brat.

Having lost, he quietly shifted the subject, appearing slightly unwilling to accept defeat.

But Kongcan quickly consoled himself; the other party was obviously a young man, and he was just a child.

If the other party won, it was no real victory!

Kongcan had nothing to feel ashamed about.

Chen Xu seemed unaware of his little plot to change the subject, simply saying, "Daoist, are you ten yet? Not even ten; this wine, I'm sorry, but I can't let you drink."

Kongcan couldn't help himself: "I, as a Daoist master, how could I not be ten? I have the experience of ten ten-year cycles... cough, why can't I drink wine? I am indeed already ten, just looking a bit young!"

As soon as he finished speaking, there came a gurgling sound.

It turned out to be Kongcan's stomach rumbling, protesting for not being fed.

Kongcan's face flushed red, yet he heard Chen Xu say:

"Young Daoist, drinking on an empty stomach is not ideal; perhaps you should fill your belly first?"

As he spoke, the Food Cauldron Celestial Book opened at Chen Xu's side.

Just as Kongcan praised the good wine, the Food Cauldron Celestial Book prompted Chen Xu had received [Praise +500].

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