Yun Lian stood to the side, quietly watching the three of them, her eyes inadvertently drifting into a daze.
Were they… not in a master-disciple relationship?
The way they interacted with one another made Yun Lian feel a bit trance-like, a strange emotion welling up in her heart.
There was even… a hint of envy.
Whether it was in the strictly hierarchical Sacred Sect or the seemingly otherworldly but internally fractious Luoshen Cliff.
Even in the entire cultivation world, deceiving one another, internal strife, dragging others down, and stepping over heads to rise to the top were almost the norm.
Within a sect, every single word spoken had to be scrutinized syllable by syllable, considering whether it would be used as leverage by others.
In every action, one had to read faces and guess the intentions of superiors while remaining wary of everyone around them.
Even fellow sisters from the same sect might stab you in the back at any moment.
To fight for limited cultivation resources, for higher status, and to climb upward, people would use any means necessary.
Endless conspiracies and schemes were the unspoken rules that almost everyone had to follow.
Whether it was kinship, friendship, or the bond between fellow disciples, these things often appeared fragile and pathetic in the face of sufficient interest, easily trampled upon or exploited.
But looking at them, these few from the Hehuan Sect.
Between the senior brother and junior sister, there wasn’t the slightest suspicion or calculation.
Between the master and her disciples, it wasn’t a simple relationship of superior and subordinate; she could even mingle and laugh with them.
How kind, how friendly.
It was like…
A real family.
Yun Lian lightly lowered her eyelids, a flash of loneliness flickering deep within her gaze.
To her, the simple scene before her eyes was an unattainable longing.
However…
Yun Lian suddenly felt that Yun Xiu joining them was actually a good thing.
At least, she could live a very relaxed life.
Ling Xi’s steps were light as she led the way ahead.
“Senior Brother, this way! That inn is just a short distance ahead. I heard their Hundred-Herb Stewed Spirit Chicken and Eight-Treasure Qi-Replenishing Soup are unparalleled.”
Chen Yuyang and Tai Lingxuan followed unhurriedly behind the young girl.
At this moment, Tai Lingxuan was in a great mood, and Chen Yuyang was also in a leisurely state.
Before long, a magnificent seven-story pavilion appeared before their eyes.
A gold-plated plaque hung over the entrance, with three large characters inscribed upon it: “Qiweizhai.”
The building was crowded with guests, and the street outside was bustling with carriages and horses; business was clearly excellent.
This Qiweizhai was a secular property of the Pill Sect within Spirit Medicine City. Wealthy merchants and powerful officials of the mortal realm all took pride in consuming here.
However, the primary guests here now were the many cultivators who had gathered for the Pill Conference.
“With so many people, will there be any seats left?”
Seeing the lively scene inside, Ling Xi couldn’t help but feel a bit worried.
“I’m not sure.”
Chen Yuyang shook his head and intended to step forward to ask the manager.
However, before he could take a step, the manager spotted Chen Yuyang’s group, and his eyes instantly lit up.
“Oh my! Could this be Fellow Daoist Chen Yuyang! And this is… Sect Master Tai of the Hehuan Sect, please excuse my lack of manners!”
As the manager of Qiweizhai, having ears that heard in all directions and eyes that watched all sides was a basic skill.
In these past few days, the name being discussed most fervently in Spirit Medicine City was none other than Chen Yuyang.
This was the Chen Yuyang from the Hehuan Sect who had rejected the Bai family, rejected the Pill Sect, and rejected everyone else.
Naturally, the manager had paid attention to this and had observed the appearances of this youth and his master from a distance.
Recognizing them now, he naturally didn’t dare to be negligent and immediately stepped forward to greet them personally.
“The manager is too polite,” Chen Yuyang nodded calmly, then asked, “We would like to dine here. I wonder if there are any empty tables or private rooms?”
Hearing the request, the manager rubbed his hands enthusiastically and quickly replied, “Yes, yes! There just happens to be one Tianzi Baoxiang left upstairs. Everyone, please follow me!”
The manager personally led the way, bringing Chen Yuyang’s group to the seventh floor.
He stopped before the door of Tianzi Baoxiang Room A-2 and made a gesture of invitation.
After thanking the manager, the three entered the private room.
The room was spacious and bright with elegant furnishings.
A round table was placed by the window; with a slight turn of the head, one could have a panoramic view of the entire Spirit Medicine City.
After instructing the waiter to serve them carefully, the manager finally withdrew.
Taking the menu, Tai Lingxuan first handed it to Chen Yuyang.
Chen Yuyang waved his hand and passed it to Ling Xi, who already looked like she couldn’t wait.
Ling Xi took the menu, her eyes fixed upon it.
After looking through it, she pointed at the menu and looked at Chen Yuyang expectantly.
“Senior Brother, look, how about this Thousand-Year Snow Lotus Soup? And this one, it sounds delicious!”
“Order whatever you like.”
Chen Yuyang didn’t care much about what they ate.
This kind of atmosphere and environment was his primary enjoyment.
Having received Chen Yuyang’s approval, the little girl no longer hesitated and ordered seven or eight dishes in one breath, all of which were the most expensive signature dishes of the establishment.
Chen Yuyang looked at her and shook his head with a smile, letting her have her way, then turned to Tai Lingxuan.
“Master, is there anything you want to eat?”
Tai Lingxuan took the menu and glanced at the dishes that cost several top-grade spirit stones each; her brow couldn’t help but twitch slightly.
So expensive.
Though she thought this, Tai Lingxuan had already prepared herself to spend.
Thus, she casually ordered two light dishes that suited her taste.
Once the waiter bowed and withdrew, closing the door behind him, the room became temporarily quiet.
After a while, Ling Xi suddenly seemed to think of something.
Her eyes lit up as she leaned toward Chen Yuyang and lowered her voice.
“Senior Brother, what do you think that spirit wine tastes like?”
Chen Yuyang looked at the girl’s curious expression and raised an eyebrow.
“Oh? You want to drink?”
“Hehe…”
Ling Xi scratched her head somewhat bashfully and chuckled twice.
“I’m just… just a bit curious.”
Chen Yuyang thought for a moment and felt a bit of interest as well.
“What business does a child have drinking wine?”
However, before Chen Yuyang could speak, Tai Lingxuan couldn’t help but speak up first.
Her tone wasn’t harsh, but it contained a bit of a lecture and a warning.
Hearing this, Chen Yuyang smiled and said to Tai Lingxuan, “Master, we are in good spirits today. Just eating would be a bit monotonous and dull. Having a few drinks would actually be more enjoyable.”
“Yes, yes, Master!”
Seeing Chen Yuyang speak up, Ling Xi blinked her watery eyes and looked at Tai Lingxuan with a face full of anticipation, her voice carrying a hint of coyness.
“I’ve grown up so much and never even tasted wine! Just one small sip, really just one small sip, just let me taste it!”
Tai Lingxuan looked at Ling Xi’s expression and then at Chen Yuyang.
Thinking carefully, today was indeed a day worth celebrating, and it seemed there was nothing wrong with relaxing a little.
“Fine, I really can’t do anything with you two.”
Tai Lingxuan shook her head helplessly and finally relented.
“Then have the waiter bring a jar of the establishment’s best spirit wine. But remember, you are still young; you absolutely cannot drink much. Just a taste is enough, understood?”
“Thank you, Master! Master is the best!”
Ling Xi immediately beamed and replied obediently, “Don’t worry, Master, I promise I’ll only take one small sip and definitely won’t drink more!”
Tai Lingxuan looked at Chen Yuyang again and continued to advise him, “Mortal wine has almost no effect on us cultivators other than satisfying a craving. But this spirit wine is brewed using natural treasures and special techniques; the aftereffects are very strong. Even I could easily get drunk if I drink too much.”
“I understand, Master.”
Chen Yuyang nodded. Naturally, he understood this.
However, there was no need to buy the establishment’s wine if they were going to drink…
As he spoke, Chen Yuyang casually took out a purple-skinned gourd and placed it on the table.
“This is…”
Tai Lingxuan’s eyes lit up.
If nothing else, she immediately noticed the extraordinary nature of this purple gourd.
This thing seemed to be a sixth-grade spirit tool.
Using a sixth-grade spirit tool to hold wine?
Tai Lingxuan couldn’t help but be secretly shocked, but she immediately guessed that this wine gourd must have come from Chen Yuyang’s “father.”
“Senior Brother, what kind of wine is inside this?”
“If you ask me for a name, I can’t say. I obtained this jar of wine by chance.”
While explaining, Chen Yuyang glanced at Tai Lingxuan.
“Inside this wine gourd, there is an exotic beast called a ‘Jiuchong.’ If you put in the corresponding natural treasures, it will brew them into the corresponding spirit wine.”
As for what natural treasures he had once added, Chen Yuyang could no longer remember clearly.
Back when he was focused on alchemy, some treasures with slightly poorer quality, or those that were temporarily useless and couldn’t be stored long-term, were all tossed inside and transformed into spirit wine.
The wine gourd itself was also a significant spatial treasure; the inside was two-thirds full.
However, Chen Yuyang didn’t have a drinking habit; he only occasionally had a small cup.
The last time he drank was in his previous life, at least sixty or seventy years ago.
Before long, the waiter began to serve the dishes.
Once the dishes were all served, the waiter respectfully withdrew and closed the door.
Only then did Chen Yuyang reach out and unscrew the cap of the wine gourd.
There was a soft ‘pop’ sound.
The gazes of both Ling Xi and Tai Lingxuan converged.
The moment the cap was opened, an indescribable, exotic fragrance gushed out from the purple gourd, instantly filling the entire room.
The fragrance was extremely thick, yet it didn’t feel choking at all.
It carried a fresh scent of vegetation mixed with a mellow wine aroma, with clear and distinct layers.
Ling Xi was the closest and was the first to smell it.
Her eyes instantly widened as she hung her mouth open, her gaze full of heat.
Tai Lingxuan was likewise stunned by this exotic fragrance.
She had drunk many spirit wines, including many high-quality treasures.
But there had never been a spirit wine that could emit such an amazing aroma and charm.
Most importantly, the scent didn’t just smell good; it faintly carried a wonderful fluctuation of spiritual energy.
Just smelling it made one feel a wave of heat in their limbs and bones, and the spiritual energy within the body became a bit more active.
This scent alone made one unable to resist wanting to take a sip immediately.
Even her own non-existent wine addiction seemed to be hooked out at this moment, itching deep in her heart and threatening to break loose.
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