Surprised? Lyan was certainly surprised. What kind of charm can make a noble give up a battle for a noble title and settle here? Even though Tory always smiles, heâs quite proud and arrogant. He wouldnât have moved to West Sun City if it hadnât truly impressed him.
âCome on, letâs go up,â Tory took the lead toward the building.
To Lyanâs surprise, Tory pulled out a small iron piece and inserted it into the gap of the door handle.
Click!
The door opened, and Lyan followed Tory inside and up the stairs to the 2nd floor.
Click!
âCome in, this is my home.â Tory walked in first, took off his shoes, and stepped through the door.
âOh! Okay.âLyan thought it was weird to have to take their shoes off when entering but followed suit. Walking barefoot on the smooth wooden floor is actually kind of comfortable. He scanned the room and found it quite exquisite. The walls were smooth and adorned with several paintings.
âWelcome back.â Toryâs wife also recognized Lyan and smiled gently. âWelcome to our home, Sir Lyan.â
âPardon the intrusion!â Lyan bowed.
âThereâs still some meat buns left from lunch, right? Heat them up and bring two bottles of wheat wine,â Tory said.
âOkay!â his wife responded.
Tory took a seat in the dining room and beckoned, âSir Lyan, come sit over here.â
âOkay.â Lyan sat at the table somewhat reservedly. He realized that this house was even more beautiful than Omarâs house.
âItâs a beautiful house, isnât it?â Tory asked,
âVery beautiful, even more so than many city lordsâ houses,â Lyan said.
âHahaha⦠I think so too.â Tory laughed heartily. He said mysteriously, âThere arenât many houses like this in West Sun City.â
âHuh?â Lyanâs eyes widened in surprise. âThere are more houses like this?â
âThere should be about 8 more of these kinds of houses, but you need connections to get them,â Tory chuckled.
âThey must be expensive, right?â Thinking of such houses numbering seven or eight, Lyanâs eyes gleamed with interest. Living in such a house would indeed be comfortable and simple.
âThey certainly are expensive. This house cost me five gold coins,â Tory nodded. He had spent most of his savings.
âSsssâ¦â Lyan sucked in a breath of cold air. Thatâs so expensive! I wouldnât even be able to afford it even if I sold myself. Wait, no, I might be able to if I sold my knightâs glory (knight armor and warhorse).n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om
âHere comes the buns, and the wheat wine.â Toryâs wife placed the items on the table and then headed back to the room, leaving the 2 men to their manly conversation.
âItâs worth it, no?â Tory scanned around the house. These days, he had been in a great mood, sleeping until he naturally woke up, going out for walks, buying lollipops, and eating buns.
âIt certainly is!â Lyan nodded in agreement as he thought of his fiance. If I have a house like this, maybe Liza will forgive him for missing the wedding.
âHere, have a meat bun. Itâs a delicacy exclusive to West Sun City,â Tory said, pouring wheat wine for both of them.
âBuns?â Lyan looked at the large plate of white circular objects on the table.
âGive it a try, youâll love it.â Tory picked up a meat bun and took a bite. Even though he had eaten them countless times, they still impressed him every time.
Lyan took a bun and after biting into it, his eyes lit up. This was the most delicious thing he had ever tasted.
âDelicious, isnât it?â Tory smiled. He felt like he had seen his previous self in Lyan.
âVery delicious,â Lyan said. He hadnât even finished the bun in his hand and grabbed another bun in his other hand.
âHey hey, leave one for me, I havenât had dinner yet,â Tory hastily grabbed one when he saw Lyan aggressively devouring the buns.
âYour excellency Tory, youâre as fat as a pig. Eat a bit less.â Lyan immediately entered his fighting mode.
âIâm fat? I didnât eat your food. Hey hey, donât talk with your mouth full, youâll choke,â Tory yelled dumbfoundedly.
âCough cough⦠Let me tell you, back when I was a knight, I was the number 1 at food snatching,â Lyanâs mouth bulged, chewing and speaking simultaneously.
Toryâs jaw dropped, and he stared dumbfoundedly at Lyan. Thatâs a skill? Why am I actually feeling a bit jealous?
âPhewâ¦â Lyan finished eating, and slumped into the chair, still holding onto a bun.
âGive me that bun.â Tory eyed the last bun ferociously.
âSure!â Lyan held up the bun and suddenly opened his mouth and sneezed. âAchoo!â
âHere!â Lyan handed over the bun covered in his saliva.
âYou⦠are something.â The corner of Toryâs mouth twitched, and he awkwardly retracted his hand. He had decided that the next time he bought buns, he would not invite Lyan over. He was just too aggressive in snatching food.
âThis thing called bun, is it really only available in West Sun City?â Lyan stuffed the bun into his pocket.
âYes! Only available in West Sun City.â Tory took a sip of wheat wine.
âSo I wonât be able to eat them anymore if I leave West Sun Cityâ¦â Lyan froze. How could anyone bear that?
âHehe⦠thatâs right. Leave West Sun City, and youâd have to gnaw on those hard bread,â Tory gloated. âA large part of the reason I decided to settle here is because it has delicacies that canât be found anywhere else.â
âThisâ¦â Lyan couldnât say anything. He was a bit tempted.
âI heard that Lord Liu Fengâs Drunken Night Restaurant is opening tomorrow. I heard that the food inside is even more delicious,â Tory licked his lips as he spoke, reminiscing about the lunch he had at the City Lordâs Mansion. Those were definitely the most delicious food in the world.
âDrunken Night Restaurant?â Lyanâs eyes sparkled for a moment.
âYou should go with me tomorrow. I heard that people are going crazy outside fighting over a few invitation letters. One invitation letter has already been sold for 15 silver coins, and the price is still rising, just for the qualification to attend Lord Liu Fengâs banquet.â Tory patted the invitation letter in his hand, which the City Lordâs Mansion had delivered to him earlier in the day. He had been extremely happy when he had received it.
âOkay!â Lyan nodded.
âLet me tell you, if you have the chance to dine at the City Lordâs Mansion, you will definitely say that you were born in this world just for that food,â Tory said, shaking his head.
âThat- isnât that a bit exaggerated?â Lyan asked, his eyes twitching.
âHmph! Thereâs a saying outside that all the worldâs delicacies are in the City Lordâs Mansion.â Toryâs eyes were shining.