Chapter 003: The Sorcerer's Yin-Yang Crown

Ji shook her head, "I haven't had a proper meal in a long time. There's too little oil and water in my stomach, and eating too much would actually be bad for my health."

When Ji Dong stopped, Yang Bingtian couldn't help but feel even more surprised; this child's mindset is truly quite mature! "Are you willing to share your story with me?"

Accompanied by the changes in Yang Lao, the temperature of the surrounding air is rapidly rising, and the rolling heat waves cause Ji Dong to see the scenery in front of him becoming somewhat distorted

"You? On what basis do you say that?" Ji Dong raised her chin, looking up at Yang Lao, yet there was not a trace of timidity in her eyes

Although these words came from a child of only eleven or twelve years old, due to the earlier fiery drink, Elder Yang had no doubts at all. Rubbing his hands, Elder Yang's expression shifted slightly, as if he had made a decision, and said: "Little brother, I won't beat around the bush with you. I hope to be able to drink the wine you concoct every day. I wonder if I have the honor to do so"

As for Elder Yang, he is also the primary subject of Ji Dong's observations. In order to first resolve the issue of basic needs, he naturally must have a means to do so. Given his pride and self-esteem as the God of Wine, he would never allow himself to become an ordinary bartender. Therefore, Ji Dong chose Elder Yang.

Long before the action yesterday, Ji Dong had already thought through his words. The more he said, the easier it would be to reveal flaws; saying less would be better. He never considered that his words would prevent Yang Bingtian from harboring suspicions, but what if there were suspicions? His goal was not his own identity

The room was bright and clean, quite tidy. It was not very large, approximately twenty square meters, and could not be considered luxurious, with only simple decorations. What caught Ji Dong's attention the most was the mural on the ceiling, depicting a vividly lifelike fire phoenix. The entire body was a fiery red, exuding grace and charm, with its wings in a flapping position, as if it were about to soar into the sky. The edges of the red pattern were adorned with gold, reminiscent of the red light he had seen emanating from Yang Bingtian before he lost consciousness. At that moment, Ji Dong realized that the light and shadow that had appeared behind Yang Bingtian earlier was indeed the fire phoenix.

Little brother, why are you in such a hurry

Old Yang exclaimed: "The cocktail you just mixed, 'Flaming Passion', is the most distinctive cocktail I have ever tasted in all these years. However, I am quite curious, since you possess this skill, why do you still ... ... "

Every day, Elder Yang would visit the Flames of Passion. With Ji Dong's keen perception, it was evident that this old wine connoisseur not only possessed considerable experience in wine tasting and a passion for fine wines, but also held an extraordinary status. His appearance today was not a coincidence; it was the result of careful and deliberate planning. Whether it was the route to infiltrate the outdoor bar or the timing of his remarks, everything had been meticulously studied by Ji Dong. Even his immediate departure after mixing the drinks was part of the plan, a classic strategy of feigning retreat to lure the enemy in.

Elder Yang was quite pleased with Ji Dong's surprised expression. He smiled slightly and said, "So, how is it? Do I now have the qualification to taste the fine wine you have brewed? Rest assured, I am not threatening you; I merely wish to inform you that I possess the ability to change your life. My name is Yang Bingtian, and I am the dean of the Fire Academy in the City of Fire, a Seven-Star Grandmaster of the Fire Element in the Five Crown Sun Diadem."

A hint of bewilderment appeared in Yang Bingtian's eyes as he said, "No wonder you don't know. Living by begging every day, you probably haven't encountered this aspect yet. Oh, what's wrong with you, little brother..."

If someone knows that they can make such judgments about alcohol and still succeed in mixology, they would probably drop their jaw in astonishment. Moreover, the recipes for cocktails are extremely precise. Upon entering a new world, one can adjust the proportions of the mixing ingredients based on their observations. Ji Dong is truly deserving of the title of God of Wine

Ji Dong was stunned; could this be magic?

Yang Bingtian smiled and nodded, saying: "First, let's eat something; your body is very weak."

Ji Dong looked at Yang Bingtian. After consuming two bowls of warm chicken soup, the comforting sensation alleviated some of his weakness, and he felt a bit stronger. He said: "There is nothing much to say. I come from a family that has a deep affection for alcohol. After my family was shattered, I ended up here. You want to know why I became a bartender, right? It's simple: it's a family tradition."

It seems that you are a child of misfortune

Slowly opening her eyes, the feeling of weakness did not completely dissipate with sleep. Upon focusing her gaze, Ji Dong discovered that she was lying in a strange place.

"Little brother, wait a moment." Ji Dong only felt a flash before his eyes, as a red shadow passed by, and Yang Lao had already blocked his way.

As he spoke, he raised his right hand, and the white crown atop his head slowly floated out, resting above his palm but not settling down. Instead, it rotated slowly above his palm. Ji Dong then saw clearly that on the nine triangular points of the crown, five on the front were embossed with flame patterns, while the four at the back were not. Could these five flame patterns be what he referred to as the five crowns?

Ji placed her hands on the table and said in a deep voice: "I do not need pity; you brought me back merely to have me mix drinks for you."

Ji Dong was not polite either; he picked up the empty bowl from the table, opened the clay pot, and without needing to look, he already knew it was a pot of chicken soup, as his nose had long since informed him of the answer

"You are awake." Yang Bingtian's gentle voice sounded. Ji Dong propped himself up and sat up. He saw Yang Bingtian sitting on the other side of the table by the bed. On the table, there was a clay pot, a plate of braised meat, and two steamed buns. Looking down at himself, he noticed that, at some point, the dirt on his body had been washed away, and he was dressed in clean clothes. The long-lost feeling of freshness made Ji Dong feel invigorated.

The piercing red light suddenly erupted around the body of Elder Yang, centered on him. Under his control, the red light surged only within a one-meter radius around his body. However, within a three-meter diameter, the air rippled and distorted like water waves due to this red light. A massive fiery red apparition appeared behind Elder Yang, resembling a large red bird, its fiery wings spread wide as if preparing to soar. The red light surrounding Elder Yang was also enveloped in a layer of golden edges, making him appear as if he were a celestial being descended from the heavens, with an invisible majesty that was the source of the pressure.

How fast! Is this the speed that humans can achieve? Ji Dong looked at Elder Yang in astonishment, convinced that Elder Yang's speed in just now was definitely faster than the hundred-meter champion from his original world. It is worth noting that his hearing is exceptionally keen; when Elder Yang called out, he was still several dozen meters away, and in the next moment, he was right in front of him. This was truly beyond his comprehension. However, from the change in how Elder Yang addressed him, Ji Dong knew that he had achieved his goal.

Ji understood the meaning behind his words. The pride that emanated from his very bones made him instinctively straighten his chest as he said: "Wine is an art; to measure it with money is to tarnish it. Even though I no longer have family, and despite having fallen to the status of a beggar, not everyone can drink the wine I make. Today, I offer it only because I see that you are also a lover of wine, and I do not wish for you to continue being intoxicated by that garbage."

Ji Dong said: "First, tell me what those changes on you were yesterday, and also, what is that magic master Yin Yang Crown?"

Indeed, after listening to Ji Dong's words, Yang Bingtian furrowed his brows slightly and scrutinized Ji Dong for a while. However, from the calmness that still carried a hint of pride and sadness, it was difficult for him to discern anything.

This time, Yang Bingtian was astonished; he widened his eyes and stared at Ji Dong as if he were looking at some kind of monster, saying: "You... you can't possibly not know about the Sorcerer Yin Yang Crown."

Looking at the frail figure before him, whose face was obscured by dirt and clearly suffering from malnutrition, Yang Lao still found it hard to believe that the earlier cup of wine had indeed come from his hands. However, the facts were laid out before him, leaving no room for doubt.

Ji Dong's body could no longer endure, having not had a proper meal for an entire month. Coupled with his already weakened state, the intense focus required during the previous cocktail mixing had nearly exhausted his strength. At that moment, as he was further scorched by the heat before him, his vision darkened, and he collapsed. The last sensation he felt was that his body seemed to be caught by someone, preventing him from hitting the hard ground.

Ji Dong pointed at the crown on Yang Lao's hand, somewhat dazed, and said: "Can you first tell me what this thing is? Also, what do you mean by that five-crowned solar crown, level seven master of the fire element? I don't quite understand."

Elder Yang met his gaze and said, "My only lifelong passion is alcohol, along with this and books." As he spoke, his eyes suddenly brightened, and an immense pressure that was beyond description was abruptly released from him. Ji Dong felt a tightness in his chest and instinctively took a few steps back

Yang Bingtian looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile and said, "So, are you willing or not?"

In a daze, unaware of how long he had slept, Ji Dong gradually regained consciousness. A rich aroma accompanied his breathing, stimulating his keen sense of smell. What is this...? The scent of chicken soup?

"Why don't you eat a bit more?" Yang Bingtian asked

Immediately above his head, a red light gathered, and an object resembling a crown appeared there, shining with a dazzling white color. The moment it emerged, it instantly became the center of Yang Lao and the aura he emitted, even the massive phantom of the fiery giant bird behind could not compare to it. The white crown looked exceptionally brilliant, with a circle approximately five centimeters wide below it, connected to which were nine triangular protrusions, each topped with a round ball resembling a ruby. On the front of the lower circle, there were three complete red pentagrams and one half pentagram, shining with the same brilliance as the red balls at the nine tips of the crown. Most striking was the flame pattern imprinted on the tips of the triangles, which seemed almost alive, undulating at the tips of the crown. Because this peculiar crown formed a circle, Ji Dong could not clearly see if each protruding triangle bore the flame imprint, but he could distinctly perceive that this crown-like object contained an extremely terrifying energy.

The reason Ji Dong sighed earlier was not only due to his current predicament but also for this body. In his previous life, he was tall and handsome, but in this life, he is not only quite small due to age but also this body is exceedingly weak. The cocktail technique "Three Suns Reflecting the Moon" that he just performed was executed after careful consideration to accommodate this body. For the Ji Dong of his previous life, it was merely a simple technique, yet today, using this body, he nearly failed. The three suns were achieved, but the moon was not; it can only be considered a barely successful attempt at control, of course, outsiders would not be able to tell. Moreover, this body is truly too weak. The cocktail technique "Three Suns Reflecting the Moon" that he just performed was executed after careful consideration to accommodate this body. For the Ji Dong of his previous life, it was merely a simple technique, yet today, using this body, he nearly failed. The three suns were achieved, but the moon was not; it can only be considered a barely successful attempt at control, of course, outsiders would not be able to tell.

It is so hot, so hot. Ji Dong only felt that the scenery before him was becoming increasingly blurred, and the sensation of heaviness in his head and lightness in his feet caused him to sway slightly. Yet, he still shook his head and murmured, "I do not know"

Looking at the food on the table, Ji Dong asked, "Are these for me?"

Ji Dong glanced at him and said, "The wine is ready, why aren't you leaving?"

Outside the Flame and Passion Bar, as a beggar in the guise of Ji Dong, he naturally could not indulge in tasting the drinks. Therefore, he could only observe, smell, and listen. Relying on his keen sense of smell, hearing, and sight, along with his experience as a wine god, he spent a full month carefully observing the aromas emitted by the bartenders while mixing drinks, the expressions and physical changes of the patrons after consuming different beverages, and the comments made in their conversations. By the end of this period, Ji Dong had grasped the flavors of most of the drinks here and compared them with those from his original world.

When Yang Bingtian caught Ji Dong's body, the strange phenomenon on him had already vanished. Sensing the weak bloodline within Ji Dong, he sighed softly and said, "This child seems to be a pitiful one. I just wonder how he, at such a young age, is able to concoct such peculiar cocktails. Could he be a fallen noble? Let's take him back first and discuss it later." With that, he picked up Ji Dong's body, moved his feet slightly, and in the blink of an eye, had disappeared at the end of the street.

Moreover, due to the intense focus during the previous bartending and the physical exertion involved, he now feels a strong sense of weakness, to the point where he is somewhat unsteady on his feet. An excellent bartender must possess a robust physique; otherwise, even the best skills cannot be effectively demonstrated. Ji Dong is currently facing this unfortunate predicament.

Yang Bingtian was somewhat surprised that although Ji Dong was clearly very hungry, he did not seem in a hurry while eating. He tore off small pieces of the steamed bun to put into his mouth, stopping after eating only half of it, and he had only a few thin slices of the braised meat. However, he drank two bowls of chicken soup. Although his eating actions were not as noble and elegant as those of the aristocracy, the natural movements gave a very harmonious impression.