Chapter 6, Brewing Wine and Passing on the Teachings

The old man with the green plums suddenly lifted the wine jar, took a gulp, exhaled a breath of alcohol, and then collapsed onto the ground, falling asleep.

The Qingzhu Recluse, with a glint of greed in his eyes, patted his belly and said proudly, "Just one pound!"

I respectfully said: "So it is Mr. Qingmei, may I ask what guidance you have? I apologize for any offense caused earlier, please forgive me, please forgive me"

I quickly memorized it, as it pertains to whether I can become a super expert and obtain the treasure that grants a higher status. How could I afford to be careless?

The recently frozen stream emitted a delicate sound, while the nearby trees were budding. If one listens carefully, one can hear the sound of green shoots slowly poking their heads out. The air is filled with a refreshing scent

The old man gently caressed the wine jar for a long time, and in pain said: "Just one pound?"

The elderly man with green plums reluctantly inhaled with his right palm at the mouth of the jar, and a stream of crystal-clear wine surged into the air, reflecting the silver moon above. He himself appeared ethereal and otherworldly, with long flowing whiskers, truly resembling a being from the realm of immortals

The elderly man, unable to contain his excitement, swiftly broke the clay seal on the wine jar with a single palm, pouring the pale blue liquid into a small wine pot. He gently placed the porcelain wine pot on the small stove, inhaling the aroma of the wine with a look of intoxication. With his eyes half-closed, he murmured to himself: "Truly, this is the two-hundred-year-old special brew of the imperial court, sigh, this flavor... hmm..."

I lamented a bit: "The old gentleman is indeed well-informed. The power of the swordsmanship I currently exhibit is only about thirty percent of its potential. Whenever there is a need for gentleness and subtlety, it invariably rushes down like a roaring wave, and what should be flawless sword techniques end up revealing numerous flaws."

Sitting quietly on a piece of blue stone slab by the small stream at the door, I am performing my daily routine, the practice of 'Surprising Dragon Qi' as taught by the old man, involving the operation of eighty-one small and large circulations.

Qingsong smiled with satisfaction, helplessly helping the drunken old Qingmei to his feet, and suddenly said coldly: "Do not trust Liu Xiexin; he is a trusted aide of Li Can, and he is not someone who seeks your cooperation for his own position. Even if you do not seek Tianmen, Tianmen will eventually seek you out. After all, Prince Ning is the most likely to become emperor. Li Can's ambition is evident to anyone, even a blind person, given the number of powerful connections he has made. Do not let them sell you and then count the money yourself." Even if you do not seek Tianmen, Tianmen will eventually seek you out. After all, Prince Ning is the most likely to become emperor. Li Can's ambition is evident to anyone, even a blind person, given the number of powerful connections he has made. Do not let them sell you and then count the money yourself.

I nodded: "Indeed, however, my cultivation is shallow, and I am unable to fully harness its power."

Qingsong spat and said: "That old fox Li Can, of course, has to find the person with the greatest chance of winning as his backing. Only the idiots from the Ghost Temple would casually follow a useless person." With a cold laugh, he supported Qingmei and left.

However, the lingering malevolence in my heart and the pervasive aura of killing intent throughout my body have truly troubled me for a long time

I was greatly astonished; while I was concentrating my energy, the flowers and leaves around me were swirling, and everything within three zhang entered my ears. Yet now, someone has approached me to within less than two feet, and I remain completely unaware.

I thought for a moment: "This must surely be a secret treasure of your sect. Are you really entrusting it to me like this? Or do you have some request of me?"

A group of fools ... I let out a cold snort. Speaking of which, the only one who seems somewhat reliable is Qingmei, after all, someone who insists on not mixing flavors while drinking is still a bit endearing

My goodness, I thought you had some good solution. I will absolutely not engage in something that is tantamount to suicide.

I nodded in astonishment

Although I felt an inexplicable desire towards the Fairy of the Cloud Crane, I did not dare to provoke her. After all, my current skills are only comparable to those of the Seven Swords of Lingfeng. While they are also top-tier experts in the martial world, they are still far from the likes of the Fairy of the Cloud Crane, Daoist Bing, and Master Huo. As for the martial prowess of the Elder Qingmei and his companions, I do not know. I only saw the weakest among the Three Qings, the Scholar of Qingzhu, sitting on a plum branch as thick as a candle, enthusiastically fishing all day long. However, compared to the Fairy of the Cloud Crane, Daoist Bing, and Master Huo, they are still worlds apart. I do not know the extent of the martial skills of the Elder Qingmei and his companions. I only saw the weakest among the Three Qings, the Scholar of Qingzhu, sitting on a plum branch as thick as a candle, enthusiastically fishing all day long. I only know that if I were to attempt that, not to mention how long I could last, at least that branch would break under my weight, let alone swaying leisurely on it while drinking heartily.

Is there anything better than flattering an elderly man with profound martial arts skills? Especially since drinking is not a sorrow for me, but rather a pleasure

Without noticing the flickering shadow or hearing the sound of the wind cutting through the air, the elegant young man stood before us with a pained expression, shaking his head and saying: "Leader Yang, if you swear not to reveal the heart technique from just now, I can treat this as if nothing has happened."

The old man Qingmei took a moment to calm his mind, glanced at me somewhat awkwardly, and complained, "Master has taken on three disciples, and this fellow is the most troublesome. Let's not talk about him; come, the wine is ready, let's savor it slowly." He took out two small celadon cups and carefully filled each cup to eight-tenths full.

The Qingzhu Recluse chuckled heartily, his palms held out in a gesture of openness, as a faint cloud of vapor cradled the flowing wine from the spring, gradually coalescing into a small pool of wine. After a moment, the Elder Qingmei ceased his actions, prompting the Qingzhu Recluse to complain, "Stingy, can't you spare a little more? At worst, I’ll bring you a whole barrel next time."

The place where I currently reside is a modest villa situated within a small plum grove. It is a two-story building comprising seven exquisite rooms, accommodating myself and the four charming maidservants assigned to me by Prince Ning.

The old man licked his lips and said, "If I weren't thinking about being able to drink the finest wine in the world at the Wang residence, I wouldn't be so diligent in coming out here." I chuckled; this old fellow is quite candid.

The entity within my body seems to be mocking me for only now realizing this fact. Is that so? Are you truly remarkable? You are still suppressed within me. That thing emanates a strange, pitch-black aura, laughing maniacally.

I suddenly saw that person's face clearly. When I hurriedly withdrew my hand, the sword energy was already beyond my control. Just then, that person lightly tapped a green branch a few times, and my sword energy instantly vanished without a trace. With a cheerful smile, he said to me: "Brother Yang, I have delayed your studies; it is the fault of this old man. Please do not hold it against me, do not hold it against me..."

The old man with green plums chuckled: "The young lad has just acquired a jar of fine wine. I heard from Steward Feng that the young master has an impressive capacity for alcohol, so I specifically came to invite you to conspire in a crime together"

I curiously ask: "Since that is the case, why did he only choose to collaborate with us now? If he has such ambitions, he could have sought out other princes long ago..."

The "Startling Dragon Qi" is unparalleled in its dominance, perfectly complemented by the Breaking Array Sword Technique, making it virtually unmatched on the battlefield. However, in the realm of martial arts, the Breaking Array Sword Technique appears somewhat crude. The old man unexpectedly acquired the "Spring in March, Butterfly Flying Sword Technique," which consists solely of sword techniques without a corresponding internal cultivation method. Using "Startling Dragon Qi" to propel the "Butterfly Flying Sword Technique" is akin to a burly man wielding a giant axe to perform the most delicate jade carving—both laughable and pitiable, evoking feelings of anger, annoyance, and resentment. The old man unexpectedly acquired the "Spring in March, Butterfly Flying Sword Technique," which consists solely of sword techniques without a corresponding internal cultivation method. Using "Startling Dragon Qi" to propel the "Butterfly Flying Sword Technique" is akin to a burly man wielding a giant axe to perform the most delicate jade carving—both laughable and pitiable, evoking feelings of anger, annoyance, and resentment.

The old man Qingmei, in a fit of rage, said with bulging veins on his forehead: "You bastard, do you think this is easy? This wine is only available in the imperial palace, and there are only three jars of it that have been aged for two hundred years. Prince Ning had to go through great lengths to bribe Master Li, the supervisor of the imperial wine cellar, to send me one jar. If you can find me another jar, I will bet my head against your wine."

My residence is less than 20 zhang away from the "Chengtian Pavilion" where Prince Ning resides, allowing me to reach him at the earliest opportunity. The accommodations that I arranged for Qingmei and others, both intentionally and unintentionally, encircle the "Chengtian Pavilion," which Prince Ning is quite pleased with. This way, if there are any assassins, it would be impossible for them to enter the "Chengtian Pavilion" without alerting us. The accommodations that I arranged for Qingmei and others, both intentionally and unintentionally, encircle the "Chengtian Pavilion," which Prince Ning is quite pleased with. This way, if there are any assassins, it would be impossible for them to enter the "Chengtian Pavilion" without alerting us.

The elderly man of Qingmei exclaimed: "Heaven and Earth are divided into Yin and Yang, thus nurturing all things. Humans are born from Heaven and Earth, and naturally possess the distinction of Yin and Yang within their bodies. The meridians of a person are divided into Yin and Yang, righteous and evil channels. If the internal energy flows through the Yang meridians, combined with the vigorous practice of the mind method, the natural result is the internal power you possess. When you establish your foundation, you must have rapidly propelled through the eighteen major energy centers in one breath, correct?"

I am astonished; the internal vital energy has actually manifested in a physical form, nearly equivalent to substance. How did they achieve this?

Suddenly, the old man Qingmei's expression changed, and he said fiercely: "The unwelcome guest has arrived." With a single palm strike, over a hundred faint palm shadows instantly enveloped the entire stone pavilion. A voice from outside shouted angrily: "You old fool, you have good wine but didn't invite me. I brought my own snacks, and yet you dare to attack me?" A faint sword energy rose into the air, instantly breaking through more than twenty palm shadows. A figure swiftly entered, albeit with a slight hint of disarray. That was the scholar Qingzhu, holding a greasy package in his hand.

Unknowingly, half of a jar containing at least 30 pounds of old wine has already been consumed. The old man, slightly tipsy, said: "Young man, judging by the way you unleashed your internal power just now, it seems to be a form of extremely vigorous and masculine martial arts"

I nearly spat out my drink in laughter; of course, such behavior is absolutely unacceptable, so I forcefully swallowed the wine in my mouth with my inner strength

The old man Qingmei asked strangely: "I heard that the little rascal Liu Xiexin said that when you killed the top-level assassin of the Fierce Ghost Temple, you used the legendary 'Butterfly Flying Sword Technique.' This, this, according to what I heard from my master, your internal strength seems quite unworthy of this sword technique; being able to exert even half of its power would be a blessing from heaven."

The Qingzhu Scholar snorted without speaking, his face displaying a greedy expression as he quickly ran off, holding a pound of liquor in the air.

The old man Qingmei proudly said: "Of course, if we are talking about martial arts, there are probably seven or eight people in the world who surpass me. However, when it comes to drinking, if I claim to be second, who would dare to say they are first? If anyone dares to claim that, I would strike them dead with a single palm."

I humbly and respectfully say: "I hope the esteemed elder will provide guidance."

Frenziedly whipping a maid, I coldly sneer. If it were five months ago, these maids of the royal residence would probably have looked at me with the same disdain as one would regard a mangy dog

Until March, on a warm spring evening when flowers were blooming, I, slightly intoxicated, pulled a young maid into my room. After experiencing the taste of a woman for the first time on her body, I was astonished to find that the roar of that monster gradually diminished, as if after being vented, it had fallen back into a deep sleep

Prince Ning was very pleased that I brought back that group of experts. After Master Huo demonstrated his extraordinary skill by turning a lush, double-embraced old pine tree into charcoal, he appointed Qingmei, Qingzhu, and Qingsong as the offerings to the Prince Ning's residence on the spot. Daoist Bing, Master Huo, and Fairy Yunhe were designated as my deputies, while the other several individuals became first-level guards of the royal residence. Furthermore, the best courtyards in the residence were allocated for their accommodation. Qingmei, Qingzhu, and Qingsong were appointed as offerings to the Prince Ning's residence, Daoist Bing, Master Huo, and Fairy Yunhe were designated as my deputies, while the other several individuals became first-level guards of the royal residence. Additionally, the best courtyards in the residence were allocated for their accommodation.

I humbly express my admiration with three parts flattery and seven parts earnest inquiry: "Indeed, it is so. The old gentleman truly deserves the title of the immortal in wine, his metaphors penetrate to the very marrow, and his insights are unassailable"

I sneered, not only do I distrust Liu Xiexin, but I also do not dare to place too much trust in our own. However, since everyone only wants others to see their masks, I am certainly happy to observe theirs. After all, pretending to be an ambitious fool brings me no loss. But who exactly is behind the Ghost Temple? This fellow did not clarify.

Irreversibly, I took the bodies of 4 maidservants. They seemed to willingly endure my lashings, for I hold a high status, for I possess good looks, and because I am the most favored person in front of Prince Ning.

Qingsong nodded slightly: "You have ambition, you have ability, and most importantly, you have luck. One cannot go against destiny. I also wish to prosper; I not only want to attain a respected position in the martial world, but I also want to bring glory to my ancestors in the court. Of course, I know I cannot adapt to the court's system, but you can. That is why I am giving you a chance; otherwise, it would be as easy as pie for me to kill you."

Nodding slightly, the old man Qingmei, in a state of drunken haze, said: "There is a method that can help moderate the true energy within you. It involves cultivating a type of internal skill that is extremely yin, cold, soft, and sinister, akin to the Demon Sect's Nine Yin Manual or the enchanting snow essence true energy from the Great Snow Mountain in the northwest. However, if you ultimately cannot merge the two types of internal energy together, then it will result in a 'bang' and your entire body will explode, sending you to the afterlife."

The old man with the green plum suddenly chuckled sinisterly: "The second method is to cultivate your internal energy to my level of vigilance. The principle of yin and yang will naturally resolve the issue, but it will take at least a hundred years. You certainly cannot wait that long. Therefore, we can only resort to the third method, which is more practical with books."

Indeed exquisite, the scent is crisp and elusive, as ethereal as the sound of a guqin carried by the wind in the dead of night

I nodded slightly: "I understand, and of course, I would like to have a partner as skilled as you."

With a cheerful smile, he followed the old man to the stone pavilion outside his "Woyun Pavilion". A small charcoal stove was already lit, and beside it was a large wine jar made of green porcelain with white floral patterns.

Indeed, as long as one possesses power, even the insults and trampling of others will be regarded as an honor by them

The elderly man guarding the green plum wine on the table exclaimed in exasperation: "You wretched thing that wastes wine. If you want to drink, just drink; but pairing wine with pig's head meat—can that still be called drinking? The flavor is completely ruined. You, you, you, you scoundrel, are ruining my fine goods again."

In a sudden turn of events, the energy surged wildly from my entire being, causing stones to fly, earth to crack, trees to topple, and water to surge within a radius of ten feet. I leaped into the air, executed a turn, and with my sword pointed, unleashed nine streams of sword energy, whistling as they pierced through the air.

The Qingzhu Recluse glared back fiercely: "One pound, I only want one pound, will you give it to me? If not, I will take it by force; no one will be able to drink!" I was almost dumbfounded; is this really the Qingzhu Recluse, feared by everyone in the martial world? Clearly, he resembled nothing more than a street thug or a rogue.

An aged voice suddenly spoke: "If you listen carefully, can you hear the sound of green shoots slowly growing? And the fresh scent in the air..."

The old man Qingmei stroked his head, poured a cup of wine, savored it carefully, and with blurred eyes looked at me and said: "From what Liu Xiexin conveyed to me, the scouts from Tianmen witnessed the condition of your swordsmanship. I can roughly deduce that the 'Butterfly Flying Sword Technique' requires an inner strength that is gentle, soft, resilient, and enduring, unhurried and calm, much like a light wine brewed from new grains in the spring water of March. Your current inner strength, however, is overly generous and impassioned, filled with killing intent, akin to the fiery liquor from the northern regions, which burns hot upon entry and rolls fiercely in the stomach. Your current inner strength is indeed overly generous and impassioned, filled with killing intent, akin to the fiery liquor from the northern regions, which burns hot upon entry and rolls fiercely in the stomach. It is truly a case of going south while aiming north, a significant distance apart."

The elderly Qingmei proudly stated: "If we transfer the existing internal energy to the yin meridians and use a new method to propel it, we will gradually cultivate a soft internal force. Even if your true energy is fervent and explosive, it will gradually dissipate that innate masculine energy, becoming calm and submissive. This is the secret that our sect does not pass on." After saying this, he recited a long list of meridian and acupoint names along with a brief exercise method of over three hundred words. This is the secret that our sect does not pass on." After saying this, he recited a long list of meridian and acupoint names along with a brief exercise method of over three hundred words.