"It's the strangest thing, da ge! I'm not sure how it works but Shi-xiong's much stronger than I'll ever be. Maybe that has something to do with it? I never thought to ask but it has nothing to do with the clams."

He smiles to himself, picturing Shi Qingxuan in mind.

"No one's more beautiful than Shi-xiong. No one. I'll introduce you soon. I want you to meet. He's really important to me. Every day is brighter and more wonderful when he's around. Even wine tastes better with him and I drink a lot."

Probably more than is healthy for Huaisang but with a mind like his, dulling his wits a little helps him get through each day a little more easily.

"There's monsters around, mostly outside the city. Or at least, there was. Sometimes they attacked the city itself. I tried to gather people to help fight them off but it didn't go over very well."