Chapter 42: Why Is It You?!
Translator: OnGoingWhy Editor: Vermillion
Zhao Ruge had never smelled such a delicious wine aroma before. In front of this wine aroma, he seemed to have completely forgotten about the taste of the Bejewelled Nectar Wine which he praised as the best.
Xiao Xiaolong eagerly tore off the cloth cover of the wine jar and poured the wine into a cup as the pristine liquid created a swaying reflection. The wine aroma penetrated deep into his soul and he was involuntarily intoxicated as he deeply inhaled.
Picking up the wine cup, Xiao Xiaolong contentedly lifted it to his nose. As he sniffed the wine, his face was filled with an enjoyable expression. To a wine lover, a cup of fine wine was not inferior to the most beautiful woman in the world. They would let go of all of their vigilance and devote themselves to enjoying the taste of the wine.
As the liquid entered his mouth, it felt like ice crystals brus.h.i.+ng against his tongue as it flowed down his throat into his stomach. The coolness that it emitted made all the hairs on Xiao Xiaolong"s body stand on ends and gooseb.u.mps appeared all over.
In the split second when the wine entered his stomach, it was like there was a fire burning within his body. The warm feeling instantly gushed to the pit of his stomach, immersing Xiao Xiaolong in the coalesce of ice and fire.
"Oh~" Xiao Xiaolong"s face was flus.h.i.+ng red and had uncontrollably moaned just from a single sip.
"What a fine wine! It truly is a fine wine!" Xiao Xiaolong repeatedly praised. He poured the rest of the wine in the cup into his mouth and his eyes narrowed as if he had entered into a euphoric state.
When the three barbarians of Ouyang saw his behavior, they were unable to endure any further. The three of them filled their own wine cups and poured the wine into their mouths as well.
Within an instant, their eyes widened in surprise as all of the pores on their bodies relaxedly spread open and they felt a sense of happiness they never experienced before.
The three of them did not say anything and concentrated solely on drinking the wine. They were completely immersed in the rich mellowness of the Ice Heart Jade Urn Wine.
The mysterious man wearing the bamboo hat seemed to be faintly smiling as he watched their reactions. He took off his bamboo hat and revealed a handsome face that seemed to have been sculpted from marble.
Filling his cup as well, he was enjoying the wine by himself with an extremely satisfied expression on his face.
"Is the wine… really that good?" Zhao Ruge was skeptical. Even though his confidence was wavering under the impact of the rich aroma of the wine, he was still hoping that it was all just a facade when he recalled the outcome of losing the wager.
"They"re definitely pretending..." Zhao Ruge was starting to lose confidence.
If he had not tasted any of Bu Fang"s dishes before, he might still have some confidence. However, after tasting the Sweet "n" Sour Ribs, he already completely knew that Bu Fang"s culinary skills were very strong.
"Xiaolong, fill a cup for young master Zhao and fill a cup for me as well," Xiao Yanyu gently said.
Xiao Xiaolong was slightly startled as he sobered up from his captivated state, but he was slightly reluctant to obey his sister. There was barely enough wine for himself from the start and he still had to share with that sissy, Zhao Ruge… It was a huge loss for him!
The three barbarians of Ouyang were fast drinkers and had already finished the entire jar in a short while. Ouyang Di was even shaking the jar in his hands to try getting one last drop of wine.
Without even a single drop left, the three of them helplessly looked toward Xiao Xiaolong"s wine jar.
Xiao Xiaolong glared at the three of them and quickly hugged the wine jar in his arms. He first poured a cup for his sister, then poured another for Zhao Ruge and said, "Sissy Zhao, after drinking this cup, you should just obediently admit your loss and hand over the Spirit Gathering Pill to my sister. Since you"ve agreed to the wager, you should be willing to pay up!"
"I, I haven"t lost yet..." Zhao Ruge"s voice was getting weaker. He was in a daze as he looked at the pristine cup of wine. Then he lifted up the cup and sipped from it.
Xiao Yanyu lifted up the cup as well and lightly sipped from it while covering the view with her other hand.
As the small mouthful of wine entered her stomach, Xiao Yanyu"s skin that was fairer than snow instantly became blus.h.i.+ng red and a slight redness even appeared on her fair cheeks; her appearance was extremely adorable.
Zhao Ruge already had nothing to say. After tasting the Ice Heart Jade Urn Wine and drinking the Bejewelled Nectar Wine again, the latter was as tasteless as plain water. There was too much difference between the two.
The Ice Heart Jade Urn Wine was the true number one wine within the Light Wind Empire.
After finis.h.i.+ng the wine in his cup, Zhao Ruge had a painful expression on his face. He already understood that he lost the wager.
He had no choice but to hand over the fifth grade Spirit Gathering Pill.
He was originally planning to use this Spirit Gathering Pill to advance to fourth grade Battle-Spirit. However, he did not expect that he would actually lose it. Without the Spirit Gathering Pill, his breakthrough was far away once more.
Receiving the jade bottle that Zhao Ruge handed to her, Xiao Yanyu was extremely beautiful as she faintly smiled. "There"s no need for young master Zhao to be upset. Even though you"ve lost a Spirit Gathering Pill, you were able to eat Owner Bu"s Sweet "n" Sour Ribs. It was not a loss for you."
It was not a loss? How could that be possible? The Sweet "n" Sour Ribs could only fulfill his tongue"s desires, but the Spirit Gathering Pill was able to help him advance his cultivation level. Comparing the two, it was a huge loss for him! Unless… Owner Bu"s Sweet "n" Sour Ribs could help him achieve a breakthrough as well. However… how could that be possible?
Zhao Ruge was so heartbroken that he had difficulty breathing and had an extremely unsightly expression on his face.
Xiao Yanyu only smiled at that. How could a serving of Sweet "n" Sour Ribs cost fifty crystals just because the taste was good? If the improved Egg-Fried Rice could increase true energy within the body, then this Sweet "n" Sour Ribs would evidently be more effective. Zhao Ruge would soon experience that fact.
When that moment came, he would understand Owner Bu"s true abilities.
On the other side, Xiao Xiaolong had also finished his Ice Heart Jade Urn Wine. He was slightly intoxicated and a slight redness had appeared on his face that was as tender as a woman"s.
The three barbarians of Ouyang were still fine. Even though the Ice Heart Jade Urn Wine was really mellow, their cultivation levels were high and they were experienced drinkers. Their reactions were not as intense compared to Xiao Xiaolong’s.
Bada!
The crisp sound of a cup falling onto the table was not loud, but slightly startled everyone.
They all looked toward the source of the noise, Xiao Yanyu.
Xiao Yanyu"s expression, which was still gentle a moment ago, had suddenly turned slightly ferocious and grim. Her gaze was transfixed by the figure at a distance.
Xiao Xiaolong was not that intoxicated in the first place. When he noticed his sister"s expression, his tipsiness mostly dispersed. He followed her gaze toward the figure sitting at the table near the entrance.
That charming and elegant face that seemed to have been sculpted from marble...
"Why is it you!" Xiao Xiaolong"s eyes widened as he practically roared out.
Bu Fang, who was resting nearby, was immediately startled as he baffledly looked at Xiao Xiaolong. He did not seem to understand why the sissy suddenly became so angry.
"Why can"t it be me?" The hoa.r.s.e voice that was like sandpaper resounded around the store, containing a trace of coldness.
Zhao Ruge and the rest saw that handsome face as well and went into a daze. Then their expressions all changed into one filled with incredulity.
"You still dare to show up within the capital… Aren"t you afraid that father would find out about your location?
"My precious brother," Xiao Yanyu coldly said. Her voice that was like the song of birds contained a trace of killing intent.
Xiao Xiaolong was already at his limit as he stood up and true energy surged out of his body.
"Heart-rending Sword Monarch Xiao Yue! He actually dared to appear within the imperial city… Is he seeking death?!" Zhao Ruge and the rest were filled with astonishment.
Xiao Yue, the eldest son of Xiao Meng, was astonis.h.i.+ngly talented. At the age of ten, he had already become first grade and reached second grade by the time he was eleven years old. He was able to manifest true energy when he was thirteen and became Battle-Spirit at the age of fifteen. He became the youngest fifth grade Battle-King in the history of the Light Wind Empire at the age of eighteen. His future was looking bright.
However, tragedy struck three years ago when Xiao Yue became enthralled with the way of the sword and joined the Void Sword Pavilion. In order to become the master of a sword spirit of Void Sword Pavilion, he even used the blood from his mother"s heart as an offering. With a single sword strike to her heart, he sent his mother into a comatose state from which she had yet to awaken.
Xiao Yue was then beaten by the furious Xiao Meng to the point where he was vomiting blood and the true energy within his body had dissipated. In the end, he was rescued by the combined efforts of the three elders of Void Sword Pavilion. From then on, Xiao Yue deserted the Xiao family and became an enemy that they swore to kill.
Xiao Yanyu and Xiao Xiaolong could never forget the day when their mother had collapsed in front of them. Her blood splatter had dyed their eyes red and turned into an unforgettable hatred for them; a hatred toward Xiao Yue.
From that moment onward, Xiao Yue was not their beloved and esteemed elder brother any longer.