Dusk Returns to the Ruined Building

A pot of wine, a fishing rod, a boat adrift on the gentle waves, meeting an old friend.

There is a river in Beimeng Mountain, a river that runs from north to south, which Shen Yichen knows, but the river is not on the side where they entered the mountain.

Shen Yichen and Yixuan arrived at this river by chance. Shen Yichen remembered that this river was called Biyuan River on the Yanquan map, and it seemed to lead north to Yingzhou.

Shen Yichen was unaware that this river was actually the branch of the Hanyin River that flowed towards Yanquan, but it had been joined by many smaller rivers to form the present-day Biyuan River.

Biyuan River flows directly to Luowu Ancient City, but boats cannot reach it because there is a very large waterfall after Beimeng Mountain.

Shen Yichen really didn't expect to run into an old friend on the Biyuan River, and this old friend was also somewhat unexpected, as it turned out to be Ning Menghuan, the sect leader of the Zixia Sect.

A few jugs of wine, enough to intoxicate myself, a smile spreads across my face as I dream of the past.

On the awning boat, Yi Xuan realized that he didn't understand Shen Yi Chen at all. After being together for so long, this was the first time he had seen Shen Yi Chen smile so naturally and happily.

They had gotten drunk together before, but Shen Yichen had never felt this relaxed before.

In reality, Shen Yichen and Ning Menghuan were not very familiar with each other, but Ning Menghuan had saved Shen Yichen in front of Jianying Yuyao Tower, and she had done so in front of all the martial arts people in Yingzhou. That was enough!

Or rather, that was enough to make Shen Yichen lower all his guard.

Secondly, there is another reason: Ning Menghuan is a woman, and Shen Yichen is naturally trusting of women. No matter how many times the black-clad Ji Xuanyan tricked him, Shen Yichen still couldn't bring himself to hate her.

Whether Ning Menghuan was drunk or not is unknown, but Shen Yichen was definitely drunk.

"Sister Huan, you came from Jianlai, do you know where Xixi is?"

"Everyone in Yingzhou says you're dead, so why are you here in Yanquan?"

"I want to go to Wulang Academy. I heard there's an amazing library there. What's it called again? Yixuan, tell me!"

"Tianyi Pavilion!"

Yi Xuan was pretending to be drunk. Although he had also drunk a lot of alcohol, he had Tian Xianglong.

"Yes, yes, Tianyi Pavilion, Sister Huan, I want to go to Tianyi Pavilion. I want to know what's going on in the world, I want to understand human emotions!"

Shen Yichen took a big gulp, patted his chest, and said:

"I need to understand myself better. I always thought that the martial arts world was just about riding horses, eating delicious food, getting drunk, and looking at beautiful women. No, no, there are conspiracies, human hearts, undercurrents, and killings here. Sister Huan, it's so hard for me, it's really so hard!"

Shen Yichen was drunk; he probably didn't even know what he was saying!

"Silly child, this is the true face of the martial world. When you're in the martial world, don't look at people's hearts, because how much of their hearts are genuine? But as long as there's wine in the martial world, that's enough!"

Shen Yichen and Ning Menghuan stood back to back, their eyes slightly narrowed, both quite drunk.

"Sister Huan, where's Xixi?"

"She came to Yanquan, but I really don't know exactly where. I'm still thinking about her."

"I miss her! How could I not miss her? There's a place in my heart that aches whenever I think of Xixi. Medicine is useless, and so is drinking!"

"When you're wandering the martial world, don't get involved in romantic relationships. How many of those who do return? Foolish child, your path will only get harder. But in this martial world, who doesn't fall in love when they're young?"

Ning Menghuan was laughing, a silly, dreamy laugh.

Yixuan looked at the two people and smiled.

"Sister Huan, what brings you to Yanquan?"

"For love, for the heart, for eternal youth!"

Ning Menghuan wasn't drunk; to be precise, she remained somewhat sober, wary of Yi Xuan.

Shen Yichen is still too young. He hasn't learned enough lessons, or perhaps he really wants to get drunk and let his heart be at ease, having suppressed his feelings for too long!

Shen Yichen stopped talking and continued to revel, because his heart was really aching, and some feelings and people were truly unforgettable.

Shen Yichen quickly lay down in Yixuan's arms and fell into a drunken stupor.

"Are you friends?"

"Are you siblings?"

"You two just met, right?"

"Aren't you suitable to be the older sister?"

Yi Xuan and Ning Menghuan looked at each other quietly, their faces flushed with intoxication, but it was clear that they were both clear-headed.

"My name is Yixuan, nice to meet you!"

"Don't hurt him, he's just a pitiful person tormented by love!"

"He told me that he had let go of all his feelings, but today I realized that he hadn't forgotten anything. He just hadn't met anyone he could confide in. Your relationship was very close!"

"Actually, I'm not that familiar with him. It's just that we have similar feelings. Perhaps this is the strange thing about people in the martial arts world. Some people just want to get close to you from the bottom of their hearts!"

"Senior, you should be more direct. You've all been hurt in love!"

Ning Menghuan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and said:

"My name is Ning Menghuan, nice to meet you!"

"Actually, he and I are not friends, we are not close, he doesn't know me, and I don't know him!"

"No, you're friends. I can tell you care about him a lot!"

"Does he even see me?"

Ning Menghuan withdrew her gaze, lay down, and after a long while, slowly responded:

"I don't know. Shen Yichen has changed. There's so much less in his eyes now, they're a bit empty, but there also seems to be something more, and it seems very determined!"

Yi Xuan lowered his head and stroked Shen Yichen's face, murmuring to himself:

What exactly have you been through?

Yi Xuan closed his eyes and leaned against the side. He wasn't asleep; he was thinking about the person in his arms, and he wanted to be closer to this person.

Outside the awning boat, the boatman gave a soft shout:

"Sir, please sit tight, the wind is picking up!"

Yi Xuan suddenly opened his eyes and looked outside. A cold wind rose and the river waves surged!

After a long while, Yixuan let out a soft sigh:

"Yes, the wind is rising over Yanquan, Shen Yichen, are you ready?"

Yi Xuan looked quietly at Shen Yichen in his arms, his heart filled with mixed feelings.

A small boat, sailing with the wind, swaying with the waves.

When Shen Yichen and the other two woke up, it was almost noon. The boatman woke them up because the boat could no longer move.

Shen Yichen and his two companions staggered ashore, reeking of alcohol.

Shen Yichen stretched lazily and muttered to himself:

"How did I get drunk again? That shouldn't be happening!"

"It's been so many years since I've been to Yanquan! Come on, I'll take you to eat something delicious!"

Ning Menghuan stretched out her arms and yawned.

Ning Menghuan is a beauty, an intoxicating beauty.

"Xixi!"

Shen Yichen was somewhat dazed again.

"Could Xixi be a prostitute too?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yichen shook his head, turned and glared at Yixuan, but said nothing.

"I heard that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion is going to release the Hundred Flowers Ranking. Your Xixi should be on the list, right?"

After Ning Menghuan finished speaking, she led Shen Yichen and Yixuan into the town. This riverside town was called Luan Kong Du, a rather strange name.

"Senior, what is the Hundred Flowers Ranking?"

"Call me Sister Huan, am I that old?"

Yi Xuan turned to look at Shen Yichen and stuck out her tongue.

Shen Yichen shrugged. He had sobered up. He hadn't expected to drink himself into a stupor with Ning Menghuan.

"The Hundred Flowers Ranking is a ranking of the most beautiful women in the world. It is divided into three rankings: the Youth Ranking, the Mortal Ranking, and the Peerless Ranking. The top three on each ranking, plus the most beautiful woman on the Hundred Flowers Ranking, are the Ten Greatest Beauties in the Martial World!"

Shen Yichen and Yixuan exchanged a glance; it was the first time they had ever heard of this.

"Sister Huan, the woman who is the most beautiful woman in the world on the Hundred Flowers Ranking is Ji Xuan Yan, right?"

"Yes, Ji Xuanyan has never changed since the Hundred Flowers Ranking was established!"

"Hmph, things might change this year. With the martial arts world in turmoil, how can the Hundred Flowers Ranking remain unchanged?"

Shen Yichen and Ning Menghuan didn't quite understand what Yixuan was saying, and neither of them paid much attention to it.

Shen Yichen was concerned about who would be on the Hundred Flowers Ranking!

"Youth Ranking, Mortal Ranking, Peerless Ranking, Sister Huan, are these based on age?"

"I don't know, probably. Nobody cares about these things; people are only interested in the beautiful woman!"

"There should be a list of handsome men in the world, that would be fair!"

"We're here! You two will definitely have a great time!"

Shen Yichen and Yixuan looked up and saw only one word: noodles!

Colorful flags flutter in the wind, while carriages and horses move in disarray!