Footsteps sounded.
A fragrant breeze drifted by, and a woman walked in from the entrance of the courtyard.
The woman wore lavish clothes but was large and stout, with freckles on her face. She had small eyes, a large mouth, and dark skin, giving off a fierce impression as she stood there.
This...
The Ruyi Jade Spider blinked, disbelief in her eyes.
From the sound of her voice earlier, she seemed like a great beauty. How could she be so ugly now that I see her in the courtyard?
Seeing this fat and ugly woman, a subtle tenderness flickered in Ye Yunâs eyes.
He spread his hands, shook his head, and said, "I didnât say anything..."
"How is that possible? I definitely heard that you were going to brew..." the fat woman frowned and said.
"Oh, I was just speaking casually. Actually, I want to brew some... beer!" Ye Yun smacked his forehead and said with amusement.
"Beer? What kind of wine is that?" the fat woman raised her eyebrows, asking curiously.
"Hehe, itâs just an obscure hometown wine, not comparable to Nine Grades Shaohua. I was just speaking casually," Ye Yun smiled. "After all, since I wonât be able to leave in the future, I just wanted to reminisce a bit..."
"So thatâs how it is..." The fat woman frowned, looking down at her toes, seemingly lost in thought.
Ye Yun laughed.
This fat and ugly woman was actually a puppet he had created using Spirit God Soil and later gifted to Lu Linlang, which she had refined into her External Avatar.
At the time, this avatarâs cultivation base was not high; its main function was to deliver wine.
To deal with Yun Xiao, Ye Yun had given Lu Linlang a strategy. Lu Linlang operated in the open, attracting Yun Xiaoâs attention, while this puppet worked in the shadows, unnoticed, secretly delivering the wine.
This strategy never failed.
Of course, Yun Xiao, who was like Ye Yunâs shadow, couldnât always keep up with him. Most of the time, Ye Yun also avoided this little girl. After all, he hadnât been a good person in the past and had numerous confidantes; he couldnât let this girl Yun Xiao ruin his good times.
The Long River Envoy had just said that the Wine Fairy Lu Linlang was currently in secluded cultivation. And this puppet, her External Avatar, could move freely with few restrictions.
"Iâve heard... youâve brewed Nine Grades Shaohua. Can you show me?" the fat woman suddenly looked up and asked coolly. Her gaze was sharp, like two daggers shooting towards him.
"Who are you?" Ye Yun asked, feigning ignorance.
"I am the master of the Wine Fairy Palace!" The fat woman raised her chin, as proud as a black swan, the freckles on her face seeming to gleam.
"So itâs the esteemed Wine Fairy! My apologies for any rudeness! My apologies!" Ye Yun cupped his fists and chuckled politely.
Beside him, the Ruyi Jade Spider widened her clear eyes, looking at the fat woman incredulously, her mind in turmoil.
Among the Eight Great Immortals, the Painting Immortal was as beautiful as a painting, like a celestial fairy. How could the Wine Fairy be so ugly? Not only ugly, but also fat, with a face full of freckles and dark skinâshe was ugly beyond belief.
"I donât believe anyone can brew Nine Grades Shaohua. Since youâve already taken up residence in my Wine Fairy Palace, then demonstrate it for this seat personally!" the fat woman frowned and said coldly.
"Your wish is my command." With a gentle smile, Ye Yun picked up a wooden barrel and began to operate it in a practiced manner.
From time to time, he would direct the Ruyi Jade Spider to assist him, lest she become useless. After all, Ye Yun had told the Long River Envoy that his wine brewing required two people.
After observing for the time it takes half an incense stick to burn, the fat woman stretched out a delicate hand, shouting loudly, "Stop! Stop!"
"What is it, Wine Fairy?" Ye Yunâs eyes narrowed slightly, and he chuckled mischievously. His clumsy, amateurish techniques naturally couldnât escape the keen eyes of Lu Linlangâs External Avatar.
"Your technique is too poor, your ingredients are not carefully chosen, and youâre skimping on quantities! How can you possibly brew Nine Grades Shaohua like this?" the fat woman berated, her expression displeased. Her eyes were filled with deep suspicion.
These two clumsy fools, with their laughably inept methodsâhow could they possibly brew Nine Grades Shaohua? Was the Long River Envoy blind? Could he not even see this?
"Wine Fairy, the Lu Clan used your process and recipe for tens of thousands of years without success. This shows that method has already been eliminated. My brewing technique has innovated upon yours; you could say itâs a new brewing process I created myself. Now, if I use this technique, Iâm sure I can produce the ninth grade of Nine Grades Shaohua!" Ye Yun held a wine ladle, speaking with conviction.
"Nonsense!" The fat woman was so infuriated by Ye Yunâs words that her face turned pale.
"Wine Fairy, as the saying goes, âif you donât have a Diamond Drill, donât take on porcelain work.â If I couldnât brew Nine Grades Shaohua, how could I have possibly entered the Changhe Immortal Palace?" Ye Yun laughed again.
"Hmph!" The fat woman snorted coldly, her eyes narrowing slightly. She seemed to be contemplating something.
"Very well, then continue! This Seat wants to see if a fame-chasing charlatan like you can actually brew it!" After a moment of thought, the fat woman finally made up her mind.
I must personally expose these two swindlers!
"Excellent! Then please wait a little longer, Wine Fairy!" Ye Yun laughed heartily.
Seeing this External Avatar of Lu Linlang so agitated, he couldnât help but feel delighted. Although this External Avatar was subservient to Lu Linlang, it also possessed a degree of independent consciousness. He hadnât revealed his identity because he wanted to further probe the depths of the Changhe Immortal Palace and also wait for Lu Linlangâs true self to appear. As for this fat and ugly External Avatar, Ye Yun didnât consider her a woman at all, so naturally, he wouldnât have any special ideas about her.
Next, Ye Yun and the Ruyi Jade Spider, one large and one small, resumed their busy work. To make himself look more professional, Ye Yun deliberately overcomplicated things, adding many more raw materials than necessary and also making some adjustments to the process.
All these actions, witnessed by the fat woman, made her stomp her foot in anger.
"Despicable! These two big swindlers! I absolutely must expose them!" the fat woman seethed internally.
However, though furious, she restrained herself. She wouldnât make her move until the very last moment.
Time passed. In the blink of an eye, several Time Units went by.
"Itâs done!" Ye Yun placed one hand on the lid of the wooden barrel, then turned to the fat woman and said with a smile.
"Itâs done so quickly? How is that possible?" The fat woman quickly walked over, staring at the wooden barrel in disbelief.
Ye Yunâs pupils slightly contracted. "Of course, itâs ready. If you donât believe me, Wine Fairy, please inspect it yourself!"
Ye Yun removed his hand from the barrel lid, took a step back, crossed his arms, and watched with great amusement, anticipating what would happen next.
The Ruyi Jade Spider also hid behind him, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle her laughter. She, of course, knew the whole truth. Masterâs Sky Exterminating Phantom Eye was incredibly, incredibly powerful.
WHOOSH!
The fat woman grabbed the lid and yanked it open.
A unique aroma of wine instantly assailed her nostrils.
"This..." Smelling this familiar wine aroma, just like the ninth grade of Nine Grades Shaohua she had personally brewed, the fat woman froze. Her body was like a clay statue, fixed in place, unmoving. Holding the lid, her eyes stared intently into the barrel.
"Itâs... itâs really Nine Grades Shaohua..." the fat woman muttered to herself, her face a mask of shock.