Chapter 107: The Sword Immortal’s Wine (Part Two)

The signboard of "Sword Immortal Wine" alone was enough to catch the eye. Yan Shan instinctively leaned in closer, drawn by a burst of pure fragrance. The aroma was natural and harmonious, blending floral notes with the scent of alcohol. It was as if a cold sword had gained a soul, like a woman dancing with her blade amid a sea of flowers—deadly within five steps.

“Excellent wine!” Yan Shan exclaimed loudly, applauding joyfully by himself.

A woman holding a ladle tapped the wine barrel, rousing the intoxicated Yan Shan from his reverie.

His eyes glazed with drink, as if he had already enjoyed several rounds, his gaze half-closed in contentment. But the interruption soured his mood, and the woman before him glared fiercely, as if ready to use him as a snack alongside the wine.

“I say, sir, if you want to drink, you must pay. What do you mean by lying on my wine barrel?” The woman spoke sharply, her tone fierce. She was slightly plump and stood a head taller than Yan Shan. Standing side by side, it was clear Yan Shan was the one being bullied. Her hair was tied up with bamboo chopsticks, and a faint red tint on her lips gave her a capable and spirited appearance.

“Where are you looking? A grown man like you lying on my wine jar in broad daylight—what’s that about?” She scolded him thoroughly.

It took Yan Shan a long moment to snap out of his daze, still captivated by her beauty, and he smiled sheepishly.

“Sorry, miss. The fragrant wine drew me in. I didn’t expect to end up here so suddenly. I thought it was no big deal, but seeing you made me realize how drunk I really am.”

The woman smiled awkwardly, tapping the rim of the barrel with a crisp sound.

“Enough with your smooth talk! Where did you find such a drunkard wandering around in broad daylight?”

Yan Shan stared intently at her, as if lost in his own world. His body felt light as a feather; wine and women were truly the devil’s gateways for men.

“My name is Yan Shan. May I ask your honorable name, miss?”

The woman was taken aback, unable to make sense of the man before her.

“Well then, if you’re not going to drink, why cling to my wine barrel? Move aside quickly or I’ll call for help!”

She turned as if to shout, but Yan Shan leapt forward and grabbed her, pressing his body close.

“Don’t call anyone! You’re enough.”

Suddenly flushed with emotion, his face and neck bloomed with a rosy flush like a blossoming flower.

The woman slowly lowered the ladle and met Yan Shan’s gaze. The shop was quiet early in the morning, with no other customers inside, just two assistants tidying up in the back. Seeing the trouble at the door, they started to approach.

“Yun Niang! What’s going on? Someone bullying you?” The assistant’s shadow grew nearer, making Yan Shan nervous and unable to move.

Yun Niang noticed his slight timidity, finding it somewhat endearing.

“Forget it, forget it. It’s just a customer in the shop, nothing serious,” Yun Niang responded with a hint of coquettishness to the two strong men inside. Only then did they return to their work.

Yun Niang turned to Yan Shan and said, “Since you’re here, you might as well try our signature—Sword Immortal Wine. This jar was just opened.”

The barrel was uncorked, releasing a potent fragrance that filled the alley. “How can one escape the net of heaven when the aroma covers the lane?” The scent wove like a spider’s web, trapping Yan Shan with no escape. A ladle scooped out the liquid, crystal clear to the bottom, showing it had been filtered many times—no ordinary brew. The wine gleamed a verdant green, elegant and refined, like a hermit who bore the world’s burdens without pride or shame.

Yan Shan took a sip; it was refreshing and smooth, melting softly on the palate. Unconsciously, he drank it all, revealing a satisfied expression, as if he were a celestial being.

Yun Niang’s teasing eyes were more potent than burning red lips, her elbow nudging Yan Shan.

“How do you like it?”

Yan Shan remained lost in the pleasure of the wine, unable to extricate himself. What he saw before him was Yun Niang’s myriad graceful expressions, making it hard to tell whether he was intoxicated by the wine or the beauty.

“So beautiful.”

Yun Niang looked puzzled, glanced at the wine jar, and shook her head with a smile.

“You must be quite drunk.”

Yan Shan nodded and bowed. Three or five customers passed by from the street, led by a child.

“Let me introduce you all! Up ahead is the famous Sword Immortal Wine of Pingkang Lane! Don’t miss it if you pass by! One step smells the fragrance, two steps taste the throat, three steps become immortal! Renowned far and wide across all of China.”

Yun Niang and Yan Shan laughed simultaneously. Yan Shan asked, “The child is very clever. Whose kid is so eloquent?”

“Paid to be here. We can’t afford many customers waiting around all day, so the child helps by calling out the business. That’s how we get customers,” Yun Niang said shrewdly and casually.

To Yan Shan, it was clear Yun Niang had a business plan in mind. Great achievements are not made overnight; running a shop in Chang’an was no small feat. Suddenly, the wandering man felt a desire to put down roots.

“Yun Niang, right? The customers are coming; I should leave so I don’t disturb your business.”

Yun Niang nodded, straightening up and preparing to greet the guests. Yan Shan took a few steps away, and Yun Niang watched his retreating figure.

“I’ll definitely pay for that ladle of wine,” Yan Shan called back, his eyes steady and bright.

Yun Niang nodded again as Yan Shan turned and continued on.

“You haven’t told me your name yet,” Yun Niang called after him.

Inside the Red Peace Residence, Xiao Zhi had just returned to his room when he saw Liu Bu Wen getting up as well, engrossed in studying something. Approaching, he saw it was a book richly illustrated with various images: demons, spirits, monsters, gods, and mortals—an endless variety.

“Oh ho, the scholar ignores worldly affairs and has begun studying the Classic of Mountains and Seas?” Xiao Zhi teased.

Liu Bu Wen’s face remained calm, but a playful smile appeared. He beckoned Xiao Zhi over to look, who approached with some doubt.

“Look, this book is extraordinary. It records prophecies and divinations. It’s said that whoever deciphers it will gain heaven’s favor.”

Xiao Zhi touched the scholar’s head, checking for fever, and lifted it repeatedly to inspect.

“I don’t see any fever or swelling. You don’t look hurt. What nonsense are you talking about in broad daylight?”

Liu Bu Wen realized it was futile to reason with a commoner—a regret for a man of letters whose pleasures no one could understand.

“Hey! Haven’t you ever thought about seeking something to improve your quality of life or to do something meaningful with your life?”

Xiao Zhi grew increasingly puzzled. “Meaningful? What do you mean by meaning?”

Liu Bu Wen patted Xiao Zhi’s shoulder, trying to infect him with enthusiasm.

“I heard Brother Luo say it—life’s meaning is to have something worthwhile in your life, something significant for yourself or others. People need to have some brilliance, right?”

The scholar’s words were hard to grasp. To most, working hard day after day was already exhausting; who had leisure to care about meaning or worth? Doing what one could and earning more money to enjoy life was the practical truth.

“Well, I won’t argue with you. Looking at these pictures is quite fun. What do they all mean?”

Xiao Zhi tried to change the subject to ease the awkwardness and get the scholar to talk.

Liu Bu Wen was genuinely interested, pointing to one picture showing a woman holding up five fingers to her head as the sky split open and ghosts appeared. The land was devastated, mountains of bones piled high, countless skeletons bowing before the woman.

Xiao Zhi spoke first: “Look at this picture—it feels like there will be a female demon in the future.”

Liu Bu Wen replied, “Exactly. What ordinary woman has such power? She splits the sky and earth, raises mountains of bones—past figures like Bao Si or Daji never achieved so much.”

Xiao Zhi was somewhat frightened; the image was eerie.

“If that’s true, shouldn’t we prepare in advance? When the demons appear, will we have time to run?”