Xiao Yanxi's face changed. Her brows drew hard together, and the worry came out all over it.

If it had been an ordinary man, the Great Beginning Pavilion would not have cared. But the man who had said it was Liu Baiyi, the sword immortal. Who would dare take that lightly?

Ning Chen saw how worried she was, and his face was entirely serious. "Set your mind at rest, though. I've taken the whole thing onto myself.

I told Elder Liu the Great Beginning Pavilion was forced into it and gave up his whereabouts because there was nothing else you could do... I appealed to his feelings and moved him with reason, and Elder Liu has agreed to let the matter drop."

The relief came into her eyes, and gratitude with it. "Thank you."

Ning Chen smiled. "No need for that. The Great Beginning Pavilion was willing to lend you and the network to this prince... This prince will see you both kept safe."

Talking as they went, they came to the mouth of Peach Blossom Mountain.

A carriage stood waiting there. There was no wine in it.

Ning Chen went forward. "Elder, please get in... I'll drive for you myself."

Liu Baiyi didn't trouble to be polite about it. A touch of his toe and he was up on the carriage. He ducked inside.

His head came back out almost at once. "Where's the wine?"

Ning Chen smiled. "The Elder may be easy. The wine is coming."

Liu Baiyi made a sound and pulled his head back in.

Ning Chen drove the carriage himself, on the road to Xiuzhou.

Halfway there they met the Ning'an Army men Pan Yucheng had sent to buy wine.

Ning Chen had it put inside the carriage.

"Elder, that's ten jars to start you off... Once we're in Xiuzhou there's as much as you like."

That surprised Liu Baiyi. "Is this wine made in Xiuzhou?"

"Made in the capital, but it's sold in Xiuzhou." Ning Chen smiled. "More to the point, I worked the Immortal Dew out myself, and the trade is mine... So…