Chapter 153 — Night Drinking
The Sword Questions the Heavens · Page 4 of 5
The next moment he stood within the tavern, and when he saw clearly what was inside, he could not help but start.
The tavern was a mess—pots, bowls, pans, and basins strewn everywhere, shards in heaps, the former tables and chairs jumbled about, and on the few that remained intact a thick layer of dust could be seen. Yet in this ruined tavern, on a table in the middle that was still more or less whole, sat a pot of wine and several cups, and beside it sat a youth dressed in bright silken garments. In the open space between him and Ming Li, a monstrous beast faced off against Xiao Hui, its aspect fierce and dreadful, its growl low with a hint of astonishment—none other than the vicious beast Taotie.
It was that mysterious youth Ming Li had met in the deep forest amid the wild hills that day.
Taotie stretched out its long neck and glared at Xiao Hui with four great eyes like bronze bells. But Xiao Hui's expression was no longer as tense as at first; rather, it seemed somewhat pleased. It chirped twice, grinned, and slowly stepped forward—it meant to pat Taotie's head with its hand.
Taotie gave a low growl, plainly not used to this gesture from Xiao Hui. Xiao Hui paused, blinked its three eyes, and walked two circles around the vicious beast's body, from left to right and from right to left. Taotie's long neck turned, following Xiao Hui's body this way and that, giving an occasional low growl, though the hostility in it grew ever less. Plainly this three-eyed spirit monkey had won a measure of fondness even from Taotie—though whether it was because Taotie rarely met a creature as gluttonous as itself, and so regarded it with special favor, was hard to say.
By now the youth had seen Ming Li as well. He sat without moving, but his expression too seemed to falter for a moment—plainly he had not expected to meet Ming Li here either. Yet he quickly recovered, smiled faintly, and nodded to Ming Li. Ming Li's astonishment was no less than the youth's, and his doubts about this mysterious youth's identity were now greater still. To appear in a tavern in such a dead and silent little town—the man's origins needed no asking; they were profoundly strange.
By now Xiao Hui had drawn near Taotie. Suddenly it opened its mouth in a grin, reached out, and patted Taotie's rough head. Taotie gave a low growl, its four eyes fixed on Xiao Hui, its look fierce; but Xiao Hui seemed not the least afraid—rather, it found the whole thing great fun, and patted twice more, producing an odd, faintly comical "puff-puff" sound.
Taotie seemed at a loss with the monkey. It snorted, as a man might give a helpless hum, then lay down and paid Xiao Hui no more mind. But Xiao Hui seemed to have taken a great liking to this queer-looking beast; it drew close to Taotie, poking and touching it here and there, altogether affectionate.
The mysterious youth withdrew his gaze from the two spirit beasts and looked at Ming Li, smiling. "They seem to be getting along well."
Ming Li nodded and smiled faintly as well.
The youth slapped the chair beside him. "We two must be fated, after all. Heaven is vast and earth is wide, and yet we meet again here. Why not come sit, brother, and drink a cup with me, and we can talk a while."
Ming Li glanced at Xiao Hui and Taotie, now huddled together—Xiao Hui's attention seemed wholly fixed on Taotie. He said mildly, "Very well." With that he walked over slowly, but instead of sitting beside the youth, he took another chair and sat on the opposite side of the table.
A faint smile lingered on the youth's handsome face. He reached out, took a clean cup, set it before Ming Li, filled it with wine, and said with a smile, "What brings you to this deserted, out-of-the-way town, brother?"
Ming Li did not answer. Looking at the youth, he said in a low voice, "And what brings you?"
The youth smiled slightly. "I was passing through and saw that a few cups of wine could still be found here, so I stopped to rest a while and drink alone."