jdhmnovel Chapter 471 The Eight Drunken Immortals Cleverly Enter the Dark River, and the Three Straw Hat Ghost
Chapter 471 The Eight Drunken Immortals Cleverly Enter the Dark River, and the Three Straw Hat Ghost
The lobby on the first floor of the watchtower is spacious and bright, with elm wood tables and chairs so polished that they reflect images.
It was afternoon, and there weren't many customers. They sat in twos and threes, chatting quietly.
The air was filled with the crisp aroma of wine, mixed with a few faint wisps of sandalwood.
Su Zhe and his two companions chose seats by the window and ordered three pots of "Sangluo".
This wine is not particularly expensive, but it is excellent because of its pure and refreshing taste, making it a favorite among the drinkers at Diaolou Xiaozhu.
Su Changhe took a sip and smacked his lips: "This mulberry wine is not bad, but compared to yesterday's autumn dew white wine... it's practically just plain water!"
Su Muyu remained silent, simply holding her wine glass and glancing indifferently across the store.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the middle-aged man behind the counter, who was bent over calculating accounts—the man had long, slender fingers, neatly trimmed nails, and moved the abacus with a steady rhythm and long, drawn-out breath.
It seems that Tianqi City is indeed full of hidden talents, and the owner of this watchtower is no ordinary person either.
“Uncle Zhe,” Su Changhe lowered his voice, “Do you think Master Xie will really sell the Drunken Eight Immortals wine to us? I heard that this wine is the most treasured item in Diaolou Xiaozhu, and even wealthy merchants may not be able to get their hands on it easily.”
Su Zhe stroked his goatee, his eyes filled with confidence: "Don't worry, I have a way."
He paused, then suddenly said, "Do you know what interesting things happened in this watchtower in late autumn two years ago?"
Su Changhe asked curiously, "What interesting thing happened?"
"Back then, Master Xie's 'Autumn Dew White' wine attracted countless wine connoisseurs to the Diaolou Xiaozhu, all for the sake of tasting it!" Su Zhe's voice was not loud, but it clearly reached the ears of the two of them. "Coincidentally, a young man was traveling in Tianqi and came after hearing the news."
Su Muyu's eyes flickered slightly: "Uncle Zhe is talking about Baili Dongjun. I've heard about that too."
“Exactly.” Su Zhe nodded. “Bai Li Dongjun is only seventeen or eighteen years old, but he is already a well-known brewer in the martial arts world. He made a drinking contest with Master Xie. Master Xie brought out his signature Autumn Dew White wine, while Bai Li Dongjun brewed a unique wine called ‘Seven Cups of Starry Night Wine’.”
"Seven Cups of Starry Night Wine?" Su Changhe raised an eyebrow. "That's quite a mysterious name."
"The mystery lies in the wine itself." A hint of reminiscence flashed in Su Zhe's eyes. "At the time, the three wine tasters present, after tasting the two wines, all believed that the winner should be Baili Dongjun. The Prince of Langya was also one of the wine tasters, and he even broke through to the Free and Unfettered Heaven Realm because of it!"
Teacher Xie turned pale on the spot and remained dejected for three whole months before he finally recovered.
Su Changhe grinned: "That's amazing? What kind of wine can help someone break through a cultivation level? Baili Dongjun really has some skills!"
“He’s more than just a guy with a couple of tricks up his sleeve…” Su Muyu suddenly said.
Su Zhe gave him an approving look: "Mu Yu is right. The art of brewing, like martial arts, emphasizes both talent and arduous practice. Baili Dongjun's talent is indeed superior to Xie Shi's. But—"
He changed the subject, lowering his voice: "If Master Xie had used the Drunken Eight Immortals at that time, the outcome might have been different."
Su Changhe's eyes lit up: "Uncle Zhe means..."
“The Eight Drunken Immortals is Master Xie’s true trump card.” Su Zhe stroked his beard. “It’s just that this wine is too precious. The Diaolou Xiaozhu has rules that it cannot be taken out except on special occasions. If Master Xie had used the Eight Drunken Immortals to fight back then, he might not have lost to the Seven Starry Night Wine.”
As the three talked, the sky gradually darkened, and they sat there until late at night.
The patrons gradually left, leaving only a few tables in the lobby.
A bartender approached with a tray, a professional smile on his face: "Gentlemen, it's getting late, and our shop is about to close. Would you like to order some more food and drinks?"
Su Zhe, who had kept his face hidden under his bamboo hat, slowly raised his head, revealing a pair of sharp, restrained eyes:
"We want a pot of 'Drunken Eight Immortals' wine!"
The bartender's smile froze instantly.
He stood there stunned for a long time before stammering, "Sir... you're joking! Drunken Eight Immortals... we don't have that wine in our shop... are you sure you're not mistaken?"
"What, are you afraid we can't afford the drinks?" Su Zhe's voice was calm, but it carried an undeniable sense of pressure.
The bartender broke out in a cold sweat, stammering and unsure how to respond.
Just then, the curtain in the back room was lifted, and a figure slowly walked out.
Su Muyu glanced at them, a slight chill running through her.
The man was about forty years old, dressed in a grayish-blue long gown, with a wide nose and mouth, and bright, piercing eyes.
His steps were steady, his landings were silent, and his aura was as restrained as an ancient well – the carefree realm!
"Thank you, Master..." The bartender, feeling as if he had been granted a pardon, quickly stepped aside.
The man waved his hand, signaling the bartender to leave, and walked straight to the table of three.
His gaze swept across Su Zhe, Su Muyu, and Su Changhe's faces, finally settling on Su Zhe:
"These three distinguished guests are all unfamiliar faces, they must have come from afar. My Diaolou Xiaozhu has a vast collection of fine wines, but this Drunken Eight Immortals wine... is indeed not for sale to the public, please forgive me."
His voice was gentle, yet it conveyed an uncompromising resolve.
Su Zhe removed his bamboo hat, revealing a weathered face, and stood up to bow to the newcomer:
"My uncle and I have heard that there is a renowned winemaker at the Diaolou Xiaozhu (碉楼小筑), whose winemaking skills are not only first-rate but also highly skilled in martial arts. He is a reclusive master. I presume... that is you?"
A hint of surprise flashed in the newcomer's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure:
"You flatter me, sir. I am indeed thanking you, Master. However, I am far from being as powerful as you describe. Two years ago, in the late autumn, I was defeated by a miraculous young man... Let's not dwell on that!"
As he said this, a hint of resentment flashed in his eyes, though it was very faint, Su Zhe keenly noticed it.
"Don't be so modest in thanking your teacher!" Su Zhe smiled faintly, glancing around—only the three of them remained at the last table in the entire fortified building.
"That young man must have received guidance from a reclusive master to narrowly defeat you. In my opinion, in all the world, when it comes to brewing wine, no one can surpass Master Xie!"
He paused, then said earnestly, "If Master Xie had used the Eight Drunken Immortals technique to fight that young man back then, the outcome... would have been uncertain!"
Upon hearing this, Master Xie's expression shifted slightly; these words truly resonated with him.
That drinking contest in late autumn two years ago was the greatest shame of his life.
While "Autumn Dew White" is beautiful, it is not his masterpiece.
The Drunken Eight Immortals is the ultimate product he has spent ten years developing, but the Diaolou Xiaozhu has rules that this wine cannot be shown to others easily.
If he had taken out the Drunken Eight Immortals at that time...
"You flatter me, sir." Master Xie suppressed his inner turmoil and softened his tone. "May I ask what brings the three of you to the Drunken Eight Immortals?"
Su Zhe said solemnly, "I have an old friend who is addicted to wine and has been kind to my uncle and me."
"The reason we've come to Tianqi is to ask Master Xie to sell us the Drunken Eight Immortals wine, so that we can use this rare and exquisite brew to express our gratitude to that old friend."
These words were spoken with sincerity and flattery, which made even the usually wary Master Xie less suspicious.
He pondered for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I appreciate your kindness, sir. However, there are rules at Diaolou Xiaozhu. Zui Baxian is used to entertain distinguished guests and to cultivate relationships; it is never sold to the public."
Moreover, this wine is extremely time-consuming to brew; I can only brew a maximum of three jars a year, each weighing no more than ten catties. Truly… I cannot help you.”
Su Changhe was about to speak when Su Muyu gently kicked him from under the table.
Su Changhe understood, suppressed his words, but a look of disappointment appeared on his face.
Seeing that all his sweet talk had no effect, Su Zhe stopped beating around the bush.
He took out the five hundred-tael silver notes from his pocket, placed the heavy bundle on the table, and untied a corner—fifty ingots of snowflake silver gleamed coldly in the candlelight.
“This five hundred taels is for the shop’s wine money, and the remaining five hundred taels… is for Master Xie’s reward.” Su Zhe’s voice was calm. “After the matter is completed, there will be a greater reward. Please, Master Xie… fulfill the wishes of us three uncles and nephews.”
A thousand taels of silver were piled on the table; even in a wealthy place like Tianqi City, this was by no means a small amount.
Even an ordinary tavern's annual turnover wouldn't be more than this. And even in a small, fortified tavern, a thousand taels of silver would be enough to buy sixty or seventy jugs of Autumn Dew White wine!
Master Xie looked at the pile of silver, but his eyes remained clear.
He slowly shook his head: "A thousand taels is no small sum, but the rules cannot be broken! You three, please leave."
Su Changhe was getting anxious and was about to lash out when he saw Su Zhe suddenly smile.
That smile held a hint of cunning and a hint of understanding.
“To be honest, Master Xie,” Su Zhe said slowly, “our old friend who is living in seclusion is in Snow Moon City. Does Master Xie know who the city lord of Snow Moon City is now?”
Teacher Xie was taken aback: "Who?"
"It is none other than Baili Dongjun, who defeated you in a drinking contest at the fortified tower back then!"
……