Chapter 001: Flames of Passion

Old Yang nodded slightly and said to the little beggar: "I hope you can give me a surprise. Boss Zhao, provide him with the necessary ingredients, and I will cover the costs."

Five Elements Continent, Western Region of the Southern Fire Empire, City of Li Huo

A circle of guests has already gathered around the bar, all eager to see what this little beggar can accomplish. At that moment, the little beggar has picked up the bottle of wine in front of him and is pouring it into the cocktail shaker.

However, to everyone's surprise, the little beggar did not even glance at the gold coin. He raised his hand to point at the central bar and said proudly, "If you want to drink a truly fiery passion, let me go there and provide me with the necessary ingredients"

Listening to their words, the little beggar did not pause for even a second, turning and walking towards the central bar. The bartenders inside the bar naturally had no concerns about the sudden appearance of this child posing any threat to them; instead, they watched him with great interest and cleared a workspace filled with various tools. The bartender who had previously mixed the "Flaming Passion" mockingly smiled and said, "Little friend, do you need me to introduce you to the drinks here?" As he spoke, he pointed to the cabinet behind the bar, which held hundreds of bottles of various fine wines.

At this moment, several bartenders from the Blazing Flames have taken their positions, and the number of guests in the open square is gradually increasing. For them, this is the busiest time of the day

The waiter approached with some disgust, ready to pull him out, but Yang Lao spoke up: "Wait a moment." Without needing a signal from the bar owner, the waiter quickly withdrew his hand and looked at Yang Lao with hesitation

The young bartender could not help but ask: "Are you going to cook or mix drinks?"

The middle-aged bartender, who had just summoned the flames of passion, initially displayed a hint of astonishment. Gradually, this astonishment transformed into seriousness and earnestness as he observed the actions of the young beggar, nodding slowly. As a bartender, one must not only be fully focused during the mixing process but also respect the drink being crafted. This is not only a sign of respect for the guests but also for oneself. He noticed a glimmer of sincerity in the corner of the young beggar's eye, indicating that he had genuinely not been listening to their conversation but had devoted his entire being to the upcoming task of mixing drinks. Even for himself, it would be difficult to achieve such focus without deliberate effort. Yet, here was a child of only eleven or twelve years, a beggar, who appeared completely natural in his actions. Each step of his hand-washing process flowed seamlessly, as if he had been doing this for years. His demeanor was clearly not feigned; occasionally, he would glance at the bottles on the shelf, his eyes filled with a fervent devotion and passion. The details determine success or failure, and as a fellow bartender, the middle-aged man could discern a great deal from this simple hand-washing routine.

The bar owner frowned slightly and cast a stern gaze at a nearby waiter. Only then did the waiter notice the presence of the little beggar and hurried over, saying, "I apologize, boss, I didn't see him come in."

The Southern Fire Empire does not experience winter, therefore the nights here have never been quiet

The seasoned bartender at the Blazing Passion bar executed his movements with a fluid grace, and the aroma of the signature Blazing Passion cocktail immediately garnered applause and smiles from nearby patrons. Yang was no exception; he nodded at the bartender, and as his gaze fell upon the drink, a hint of eagerness unmistakably flickered in his small eyes

Old Yang said with some helplessness: "Apart from the unique fiery passion here, which is somewhat appealing, there is nothing else that attracts me."

Boss Zhao smiled ingratiatingly and said, "It won't take much; how could I let you incur expenses?" He waved his hand, signaling the waiter to take the little beggar over.

The older bartender glanced at him and said softly, "Say a few less words; didn't you see that Yang Lao is a bit interested in this kid? Otherwise, do you think the boss would let him in just because he was bored?"

Elder Yang's expression became serious as he said, "Little friend, honesty is the most important virtue in being a person. Do you understand?"

The time has reached evening, and the setting sun has left a splendid afterglow on the horizon. The city of Fire has become increasingly tranquil. After a day that was not particularly busy, people are beginning to enter their rest period, and various evening entertainment venues are also becoming lively.

The cocktail shaker, made of transparent white crystal, allows one to clearly see the color of the liquid inside during the mixing process. As the bartender shakes it quickly and skillfully, the red liquid inside the shaker dances up and down like a cluster of flames, creating a stunning visual. When that cluster of flames finally settles in the bartender's hands, the lid of the shaker has somehow opened. The bartender pours the dark red liquid into a martini glass, and with a flick from the nearby lamp, a pale red flame ignites above the liquid, releasing a rich aroma with a hint of spiciness that wafts through the air.

The bar owner regained his elegance, bent down, and whispered in Yang Lao's ear: "Then let him give it a try."

One portion of tomato juice, one portion of freshly squeezed lemon juice, one portion of Worcestershire sauce, one portion of Tabasco hot sauce, along with salt and pepper

The middle-aged bartender proactively presented a clean crystal decanter to the little beggar. The little beggar opened the decanter and took out the filter. A momentary daze appeared in his eyes, as if he were reminiscing about something.

Mr. Li Jiedong's brief thirty-two years of life experience was almost entirely intertwined with wine. His achievements are unprecedented. According to friends of Mr. Li Jiedong, he undertook risks to savor the finest wines from around the world, tasting the unblended, syrupy wines from the Han Dynasty, which ultimately led to his eternal slumber. The passing of Mr. Li Jiedong represents a tremendous loss for the global bartending and wine tasting communities. As of now, condolences have been sent from wine associations in thirty-seven countries.

The old man in the red robe had short, grizzled hair, a bulbous nose, and small eyes. He was of short stature and appeared quite unremarkable. However, the faint red glimmer that occasionally flashed in his small eyes seemed to possess a captivating power.

Old Yang also revealed a faint smile on his face, muttering to himself: "This is somewhat interesting"

At that moment, an unharmonious voice suddenly sounded from the side: "Is this even called good wine? It's just garbage." The voice was not loud, and it was slightly hoarse and weak, yet it did nothing to conceal the arrogance in its words.

Looking into the eyes of the little beggar filled with anger, Elder Yang was suddenly astonished to sense an undeniable strong confidence emanating from this frail body, along with an unmistakable pride. This was clearly just a beggar from the lowest strata of society; from where did his confidence truly arise?

In the Southern Fire Empire, Li Huo City can only be considered a medium-sized city, yet it is remarkably prosperous in all aspects. The stationed troops number only a mere two thousand, but the public security here is surprisingly good. The wide streets are spotless, and the surfaces of all main roads are paved with the Southern Fire Empire's unique dark red granite. Using this type of rock for paving not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also ensures durability; as long as there is no human damage, it can withstand hundreds of years of use without any issues. The surfaces of all main roads are paved with the Southern Fire Empire's unique dark red granite. Using this type of rock for paving not only enhances the aesthetic appeal but also ensures durability; as long as there is no human damage, it can withstand hundreds of years of use without any issues

The little beggar, with his hands clasped behind his back, said coldly: "Why not let the facts speak for themselves?"

"Can you mix drinks?" the bar owner and Yang Lao asked in unison, while the nearby waiter even snickered in disdain. It is well known that the profession of bartender is quite sought after in the Southern Fire Empire, but without the accumulation of time, how could one possibly become an outstanding bartender? The words of this little beggar only made people feel that he was speaking nonsense.

A flash of anger flickered in the little beggar's eyes as he shouted, "If I cannot, I will give you my life"

Soon, the glass of fine wine was delivered to Mr. Yang. He took the cup directly from the server's hand, took a light sip, and completely ignored the flames burning on the surface of the wine. With a long sigh, he praised the bar owner, saying, "Good, the Flame of Passion still has its flavor. After five years, it still keeps this old wine lover captivated. No wonder your business is so thriving here."

The bar owner waved his hand, signaling the waiter to quickly take the little beggar outside to avoid affecting the business. In front of Yang Lao, he also did not want to appear overly forceful.

The young bartender still muttered somewhat unwillingly: "Let's see how this little beggar makes a fool of himself later." He then turned and left.

The little beggar seemed to hear nothing at all, not even glancing at them. Though small and thin, at that moment, his back was straight, and the pride in his eyes intensified, even carrying a hint of fervor. Without turning his head, he stated his demands:

Yang Lao glanced at him, fully aware of the bar owner's intentions. He smiled and said, "Why not, young man? What good suggestions do you have? If what you say is right, this gold coin will be yours." Without any apparent effort, a shiny gold coin had already landed on the table. It is worth noting that the most famous cocktail at the Blazing Passion Bar, the Blazing Passion Cocktail, costs only one gold coin per glass. This single gold coin is enough to sustain a three-member common household in Li Huo City for a month.

Another young bartender curled his lip and said sarcastically, "Now even beggars dare to claim they can mix drinks. I really don't understand what the boss is thinking, allowing him to come here. Isn't he afraid he will dirty the bar counter?"

At this moment, the bar owner felt rather relaxed; in his mind, this was merely a bragging little beggar, not a plant from another bar

Mr. Li Jiedong is one of the most outstanding bartenders and wine connoisseurs in our country and even in the world. He has won the Fidelity International Bartender Competition championship five consecutive times, serves as the Honorary President of the International Bartenders Association, and is the founder of the Li Bartending Method. Additionally, he is an Honorary Director of the International Sommelier Association and the only recipient of the International Six-Star Diamond Award in the world. He is also the founder of the Six-Sense Tasting Method and is hailed as the foremost wine deity in the international arena

Old Yang frowned and said, "Can you really mix a cocktail better than this fiery passion?"

Quickly, various liquors are poured into the shaker in order, a strainer is placed inside, the lid is secured, and the shaker immediately begins to dance joyfully in the hands of the bartender

... ... ...

The boss smiled slightly and said, "Please wait a moment." As he spoke, he turned and snapped his fingers at the oldest bartender behind the central bar. The bartender immediately understood, took out a clean crystal cocktail shaker, and quickly began his first task of the day, which was also the most important task for him every day

An urgent news bulletin: Mr. Li Jiedong, a renowned master bartender and wine connoisseur in our country, passed away at the age of thirty-two after falling into a coma due to his obsession with fine wine. He had recklessly tasted a Han Dynasty wine that had just been unearthed, and after seventy-two hours of ineffective medical treatment, he succumbed to his condition

Blazing Flames is one of the most famous bars in the City of Fire, located alongside the main road in a prime location. Its primary color scheme, like most buildings in the City of Fire, is predominantly red, but it is a more vibrant shade of red. The tall two-story structure is not its greatest selling point; what attracts guests the most is the outdoor plaza in front of the bar.

The open-air plaza covers an area of approximately 500 square meters, with a circular bar in the center that has a diameter of 10 meters. Some of the most renowned bartenders from the Blazing Passion Bar come here every evening to mix drinks for guests. Even on rainy days, the plaza never lacks patrons, as a canopy that can be raised at any time to cover the entire open-air area is more than sufficient.

The little beggar stood up by himself; his face was dirty, his stature was small, and he appeared to be only around eleven or twelve years old. His unkempt hair seemed to have gone unwashed for many days, and he inevitably carried some unpleasant odors on his body

Despite everything, the little beggar remained seemingly oblivious, turning to the sink specifically set up at the bar for the center and began to wash his hands. He washed with great seriousness, first wetting his hands, which were covered in dirt, with water, then applying soap, rubbing his hands together, and meticulously cleaning each finger, paying attention to both the spaces between his fingers and under his nails, leaving no detail overlooked. He even cleaned his wrists thoroughly. The contrast between his clean hands and his dirty little face was striking. He washed with great seriousness, first wetting his hands, which were covered in dirt, with water, then applying soap, rubbing his hands together, and meticulously cleaning each finger, paying attention to both the spaces between his fingers and under his nails, leaving no detail overlooked. He even cleaned his wrists thoroughly. The contrast between his clean hands and his dirty little face was striking.

An elderly man dressed in a red robe walked into the open square. As soon as he stepped into the square, a smiling waiter immediately approached him, guiding him toward the center of the square, to a position closest to the central bar. The ten tables surrounding the central bar do not serve ordinary guests; they are all reserved for the bar's VIPs. Undoubtedly, this elderly man in the red robe is one of them, and his seat is perfectly oriented toward the street, at the prime table.

At this moment, Boss Zhao and Old Yang also approached the central bar. Upon hearing this, Boss Zhao's expression darkened, "Following his words, there is no sense of order whatsoever"

At this moment, everything happening here has attracted the attention of many people, and the words of the little beggar have piqued the interest of numerous patrons. Some have already begun to shout, urging him to give it a try

The bar owner hurriedly said, "Old Yang, what can a little beggar know? Don't let him ruin your drinking mood." The people of the Southern Fire Empire love to drink, and the bar industry is naturally extremely competitive. This owner was genuinely afraid that the little beggar might mention which other bar in the city has good wine, potentially attracting this esteemed guest away. It is important to note that Old Yang comes here to drink every day, and it is not just a matter of how much income it brings.

Hmm? The bar owner and Yang Lao turned their gazes almost simultaneously towards the direction from which the sound came. They saw a small, emaciated beggar, dressed in tattered clothes, squatting not far from the table. His gaze was fixed on the glass of "Flaming Passion," and his dim eyes were filled with disdain.

"Old Yang, is it the same as before?" A middle-aged man dressed in formal attire approached, elegantly bowing slightly to the elderly man in the red robe. Only the guests at the VIP table could receive the personal attention of the bar owner.

Old Yang's gaze fell upon the little beggar, and he said: "Little friend, you just mentioned that this cup of 'Fiery Passion' is not good? I wonder where you have seen a better wine; do share with me." The pursuit of fine wine can be said to be one of his greatest interests throughout his life

The bar owner smiled respectfully and said, "As long as you are satisfied"

After washing his hands, the little beggar casually took a bottle of wine from the cabinet, a position that was just within his reach given his height. When he turned back to the bar, the ingredients he requested had already been delivered. This indicates how long he spent washing his hands