Chapter 183: Longing Forest
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It had been two months since Lin Feng's battle with Black Demon. The crowds discussing the challenges of that day had grown fewer and fewer, and Heavenly One Academy had returned to its usual calm.
Everyone was cultivating on their own, striving to improve their strength. Nothing particularly special had happened.
At this moment, a figure emerged from the cultivation tower of the General Star System in Heavenly One Academy. He wore tattered clothes, torn in many places and extremely ragged. However, the people passing by looked at him with a hint of reverence in their eyes, without any trace of contempt.
This figure was Lin Feng.
He glanced at the sky outside. It was dusk, and a few red clouds drifted in the distance, very beautiful. But in this world of martial artists, few had leisure time to appreciate such scenery. Strength was the only thing that mattered in the martial world. With strength, one possessed everything; without it, one could only suffer bullying.
Lifting his steps, Lin Feng was about to head toward his residence when, at that moment, a figure flickered and appeared before him.
Seeing this person, Lin Feng's gaze froze slightly, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Lin Feng had seen this man before. That day at the Clear Heart Wine Tavern in the outer imperial city, he was the black-clothed man who had a close relationship with the tavern's owner, Clear Heart. Lin Feng hadn't expected to see him here, appearing right in front of him.
"Young Master Lin, my name is Nan Shan."
Unexpectedly, this man smiled politely at Lin Feng and nodded, introducing himself first.
"Nan Shan!" Lin Feng murmured, looking at him, and asked, "Is there something you need?"
"En." Nan Shan nodded slightly. His eyes no longer held the coldness from their first meeting but instead carried a hint of a smile. "I was worried that Young Master Lin would be in cultivation and wouldn't come out today. I didn't expect to be so lucky as to catch you."
Lin Feng grew even more puzzled. Catch him? So this man really did have something to do with him.
"Young Master Lin, my young master invites you to a banquet and specifically sent me to guide you. I hope you will follow me to attend this banquet," Nan Shan said politely. Lin Feng, however, was very surprised. A banquet?
"Who is your young master? Why does he invite me to a banquet?" Lin Feng asked doubtfully. Last time, he and Nan Shan had confronted each other, nearly coming to blows. Now Nan Shan was inviting him to some banquet, which felt strange to Lin Feng.
"Young Master Lin has met my young master. In the challenge two months ago, my young master personally attended and sat in the center of the viewing platform," Nan Shan replied, causing Lin Feng's eyes to narrow. "The Second Prince?"
"Yes, my young master is precisely His Highness the Second Prince," Nan Shan nodded slightly.
Hearing the affirmative answer, Lin Feng studied Nan Shan carefully. Nan Shan was one of the Second Prince's men. So the Second Prince knew about him, likely because of that encounter at the Clear Heart Wine Tavern.
"Could it be Meng Qing?"
A thought arose in Lin Feng's mind. Although his performance that day hadn't been bad, it wasn't enough to attract the attention of the lofty Second Prince. But Meng Qing had demolished the tavern that day, shaking the hearts of the crowd.
Yet, if the Second Prince was trying to win him over because of Meng Qing, why was he only inviting Lin Feng to the banquet now? That possibility seemed very slim.
"Why does he want to invite me?" Lin Feng asked.
"The Prince said that once Young Master Lin arrives, you will naturally understand."
Nan Shan replied. Lin Feng's gaze flickered uncertainly. After a moment of silence, he asked, "Do we need to leave now?"
Nan Shan looked up at the sky and said, "The banquet is probably about to start. If Young Master Lin is available, we should leave now."
"Alright." Lin Feng hesitated only briefly before nodding in agreement.
He also wanted to understand what the Second Prince's intentions were toward him.
As for safety concerns, Lin Feng wasn't worried. If the Second Prince wanted his life, it would be easy. There was no need for tricks.
In front of the Second Prince, Duan Wuya, Lin Feng was still just a small figure.
Nan Shan hadn't expected Lin Feng to cooperate so readily. Smiling, he led Lin Feng out of the ancient castle.
"Young Master Lin, I have horses prepared over there," Nan Shan said, pointing in a direction. There, two magnificent horses stood, very imposing, with slightly reddish double horns, very different from ordinary fine horses.
"Dragon Steeds!"
Lin Feng exclaimed softly upon seeing these two magnificent horses. Dragon Steeds were the finest of horses, more precious than ordinary demon beasts, incredibly fast. Ordinary horses could travel a thousand miles a day, while Dragon Steeds could travel ten thousand miles a day, more than ten times faster, even faster than Crimson Blood Horses.
"Yes, Dragon Steeds." Nan Shan took two steps, leading one Dragon Steed to Lin Feng, then mounted the other. Turning back, he said to Lin Feng, "Young Master Lin, I'll lead the way. Keep up."
With that, Nan Shan squeezed his legs against the horse's belly, and the Dragon Steed shot forward like a phantom.
Lin Feng mounted his horse and followed. Two shadows raced through Heavenly One Academy, drawing many gazes, quite dashing.
...
In the imperial city of Snow Moon Kingdom, if one were to name the most famous places, it would have to be the Snow Moon Imperial Palace and the City Within a City. However, there was another sacred place whose reputation was no less than that of the City Within a City.
The finest wine in the imperial city was Longing Wine. Drink Longing Wine, and you would fall into a longing dream.
And the only place that could brew Longing Wine was called the Longing Forest.
For most people in the imperial city, they only knew of the Longing Forest's reputation but had never set foot inside or tasted Longing Wine, because the Longing Wine in the Longing Forest was never allowed to be taken out. This was an iron rule of the Longing Forest. No one could break it, whether they were nobles or even members of the imperial family. Once they entered the Longing Forest, they had to abide by its rules.
This rule had never changed since the Longing Forest was established.
Rumor had it that the owner of the Longing Forest built it out of longing, and brewed Longing Wine for lovers.
Yet, for some reason, the Longing Forest seemed to have become a place to flaunt status. Only nobles of the imperial city were qualified to enter. Ordinary people could not set foot inside.
At this moment, Nan Shan and Lin Feng had entered the Longing Forest, but they did not ride their horses. In the Longing Forest, only walking was allowed.
Looking at the picturesque scenery before him, Lin Feng's mind became completely calm. Green bamboos surrounded them, small bridges crossed flowing streams, and the air was filled with a hint of rich, misty fragrance, making it impossible to resist.
It was hard to imagine that in the bustling imperial city, there could be such a pure land. It was somewhat similar to his teacher's Peach Blossom Forest, but here, there was an even more ethereal and mysterious atmosphere.
"What a wonderful place."
Lin Feng couldn't help but praise. In the bamboo grove, there were occasionally people drinking and enjoying themselves. Most of these people were of prominent status, but they carried no arrogance, because this was the Longing Forest. Perhaps the person they casually encountered had an even more illustrious status and higher position than themselves.
Nan Shan led Lin Feng along a winding path paved with green stone slabs, walking slowly forward. After some time, a lake appeared before Lin Feng's eyes, surrounded by bamboo and vegetation, dreamlike and illusory.
On the lake, there was a very wide pavilion. On this pavilion, there were many figures.
"This is the place. Young Master Lin can go directly over," Nan Shan said to Lin Feng with a smile.
On the lake, there was a long corridor made of red wood, leading to the pavilion on the lakeshore.
With that, Nan Shan turned around, his figure flickering slightly, and his back quickly disappeared. His task was complete; there was nothing more for him here.
Lin Feng's gaze flickered as he surveyed the exquisite lakeside scenery. The pavilion before him was just one of several on the lake. There were other pavilions, but none had people, making the entire lake seem somewhat quiet. Only from ahead came occasional sounds of laughter and conversation.
Lifting his steps, Lin Feng stepped onto the red wood corridor, preparing to head toward the pavilion. But at that moment, a figure flickered and instantly appeared behind him.
Seeing Lin Feng's disheveled clothes, this person frowned slightly and said softly, "Get lost."
Turning his eyes, Lin Feng raised an eyebrow and studied the young man. He wore an ornate long robe, his hair tied up, with a face like jade, a graceful young master. However, his face held a hint of coldness, and his gaze at Lin Feng carried a trace of contempt, his posture arrogant.