Chapter 42: Moonlight Wine - Double Kill

Chapter 42: Chapter 42: Moonlight Wine - Double Kill

Twenty days passed in a flash.

The next day, just as Xiao Chen was about to head down the mountain with eighteen bottles of freshly made Qi Nourishing Pills, he noticed red lanterns hanging everywhere on Bishui Peak.

"Junior Brother Xiao, you’re finally out! We all got together for Laba porridge the other day, and I didn’t see you."

Shen Siyue’s voice came from above. Looking up, he saw her standing in a poplar tree, tying a lantern with a Red Ribbon in her hands.

It was already late in the twelfth lunar month. The world was stark and barren, with only the occasional small clump of grayish-yellow grass tips poking through.

Dressed in a red gown, Shen Siyue’s bright eyes, pearly teeth, and skin fairer than snow made her look exceptionally captivating.

HUFF... Xiao Chen let out a long breath. Watching the "white smoke" of his breath dissipate quickly, he finally realized it was almost the New Year.

’Compared to how long the previous three years felt, this year has flown by.’

’Back in February, he was still on the Miscellaneous Peak, spending his days fetching water to irrigate the Spirit Fields.’

’In his free time, he would gaze at the distant Five Elements Peaks, dreaming that one day he, too, could become an Inner Sect Disciple and study the Dao under the Sect Elders there.’

’And now, he was actually standing right here on Bishui Peak.’

"Junior Brother Xiao? What’s wrong? You’re just standing there in a daze."

Shen Siyue leaped lightly, jumping down from her perch more than ten feet up in the tree, her robes fluttering.

But as Xiao Chen snapped out of it, he asked curiously, "Aren’t these tasks usually handled by disciples from the Miscellaneous Peak? How do you have the time to hang lanterns yourself, Senior Sister?"

He had hung his fair share of lanterns in previous years, covering everything from the various Outer Sect courtyards all the way to the foot of the mountain.

Shen Siyue gave a carefree smile. "I asked them for the lanterns. Cultivation isn’t just about burying your head in training; experiencing worldly affairs is a form of cultivation, too."

"That’s what Master taught me, though I don’t really understand it myself. But relaxing and having a change of pace once in a while does seem to help my cultivation progress."

"Anyway, enough about that! Come on, Junior Brother. Since you’re here, help me hang these six lanterns. Just hang them on your courtyard. Here’s to a smooth and prosperous new year for you!"

With that, Shen Siyue handed him the lanterns.

"Of course. And may all your wishes come true as well, Senior Sister."

Xiao Chen took them and leaped onto his roof. With practiced ease, he had all six lanterns tied up securely in just a Quarter Hour.

He glanced back and saw that Shen Siyue had only managed to tie two. ’If she were still on the Miscellaneous Peak, the steward would have definitely chewed her out for slacking at that speed.’

Xiao Chen pondered for a moment. ’Since it’s Elder Qi’s teaching, there must be some truth to it.’

So, he simply sat down on the spot and meditated, circulating his Magical Power for one Minor Circulation.

’Huh... my cultivation speed doesn’t feel any faster.’

’In the time this took, wouldn’t completing a Grand Circulation be more effective than hanging lanterns?’

’Forget it. I’ll head down the mountain to sell my pills and buy new Spirit Grass first. I can look into this sort of thing later when I have more time.’

When he arrived at the Marketplace, he found it had changed. Perhaps because the New Year was approaching, it was much livelier than usual.

The streets were especially crowded, filled with Loose Cultivators coming and going. Many new street stalls had popped up along the sides, giving it the feel of a bustling fair.

"Flying Swords forged from Cold Stone Ore, selling cheap!"

"Spirit Fruits from Hezhou! All kinds of elemental attributes, perfect for gifts!"

"Come take a look! Moonlight Wine, brewed from the waters of the Moon-Reflected Spring! Only ten Spirit Stones a bottle!"

Hearing this, Xiao Chen couldn’t help but walk over.

The Moon-Reflected Spring was famous throughout the Southern Domain; Quanzhou itself was named after it.

Even the aforementioned Flying Swords of Cold Stone Ore were a type of Water Element Flying Sword favored by Cultivators from Quanzhou.

It seemed a large number of the stalls belonged to Cultivators from Quanzhou who had fled to Li State for refuge and were now selling the local specialties they had brought with them.

Seeing Xiao Chen approach, the stall owner immediately greeted him enthusiastically. "Fellow Daoist, this Moonlight Wine is absolutely authentic. Look here, it even has the certification of the Yingyue Immortal Sect."

The stall owner pointed to the side of the bottle, where the words "Yingyue" were indeed engraved, with a pattern of a moon reflected in a spring below.

Xiao Chen had seen this design on the menu at Baiyu Studio. A three-tael pot sold for thirty Spirit Stones—a price no ordinary Cultivator could afford.

But this wine was not only just ten Spirit Stones—less than a third of the price—it also looked to contain at least a pound’s worth.

He wasn’t fond of drinking, but Spirit Wines often had unique effects that were beneficial for cultivation.

Since he’d stumbled upon it, Xiao Chen decided to try and snag a bargain. "Alright, I’ll take one pot."

"Coming right up!" The stall owner hurriedly put down his Wine Glass and bent over to grab the wine.

He moved too quickly and accidentally splashed a few drops of wine from his glass onto the hem of Xiao Chen’s Cloak.

The stall owner quickly apologized, "Oh, my apologies, sir, truly sorry about that. Here, let me wipe that for you."

Xiao Chen waved his hand. "It’s fine, no need. This Cloak is waterproof."

The stall owner breathed a sigh of relief. "You are most magnanimous. Here is your wine."

Watching Xiao Chen wave his hand and place the wine into a Storage Bag, the stall owner’s eyes narrowed for a moment before his smile grew even more fervent. "Take care now. We have plenty of this wine, so come back if you like it."

It was rare for the market to be this lively, so he wandered the streets for a while, waiting for the smell of wine on his Cloak to dissipate.

Only then did Xiao Chen leisurely make his way to the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.

Ge Changfeng wasn’t in today, so he still got the usual price of one hundred thirteen Spirit Stones for his pills.

This time, however, Xiao Chen added seven of his own Spirit Stones and bought twenty sets of Spirit Grass ingredients all at once. If not for the difficulty of preserving them, he would have bought even more.

The New Year was about to begin, and the Marketplace wouldn’t reopen until at least the fifteenth day of the first month.

The Li Huo Sect placed great importance on the New Year festival. In past years, even Servant Disciples were given time off from the twenty-ninth of the twelfth month until the fifteenth of the first.

Next, he bought his usual bottle of Qi Gathering Pills. Thanks to a New Year’s promotion, it was one Spirit Stone cheaper.

He then browsed a few newly opened shops, taking in the Quanzhou style, before finally leaving the Marketplace at dusk to return to the sect.

The journey from the Marketplace to the Li Huo Sect was over a hundred li long, involving three turns and crossing a small river.

For a Cultivator, this wasn’t a very long distance.

But after walking for some time, Xiao Chen frowned slightly. A cold wind howled past, and the surroundings were so quiet he could hear his own heartbeat.

A slender, masked figure stood before the small bridge ahead, exuding the aura of a Middle Stage Qi Refining cultivator and holding a Flying Sword.

At the same time, the sound of heavy running came from behind as another masked, heavyset figure caught up, revealing the aura of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

Xiao Chen formed the hand seal for the Earth Shield Technique while secretly activating the Magic Robe on his body with his Magical Power.

The sect-issued Magic Robe given to every Inner Sect Disciple was no mere decoration, but a genuine defensive magic robe that came with two layers of the Protective Golden Light Technique.

He glanced back. Although the person behind him was masked, his build was unmistakably that of the stall owner who had sold him the wine.

Xiao Chen clicked his tongue. "Tsk, for two fellow Daoists to be waiting out here, braving the bitter cold... surely you weren’t waiting for me, were you?"

The stall owner deliberately spoke in a raspy voice and cupped his fists. "Greetings, Fellow Daoist. The New Year is almost upon us, and my sister and I are a bit short on food and clothes. We were hoping to borrow some Spirit Stones from you to tide us over."

’Well now, they’re even polite about it.’ Xiao Chen actually smiled. "This is the first time I’ve seen someone ’borrow’ money like this."

The slender female cultivator in front, however, snapped, "Cut the crap! If you know what’s good for you, hand over your valuables and we’ll let you go. Dare to say no, and we’ll kill you and leave your corpse to rot."

Xiao Chen looked at her. "I just have one question. Was the wine real?"

The female cultivator answered impatiently, "Are you stupid? If I had real Moonlight Wine, would I need to be here ’borrowing’ money from you?"

Suddenly, Xiao Chen threw back his Cloak and tossed a Treasure Pearl into the air. A brilliant golden light immediately burst forth.

It instantly illuminated the surroundings, the blinding glare stabbing at their eyes.

Next, he cast a stream of Cyan Wood Spiritual Qi with his left hand, which transformed into a Cyan Wood Divine General to block the man behind him. With a wave of his right hand, his Evergreen Sword became a streak of Sword Light, slashing toward the female cultivator in front.

Of course, the Evergreen Sword was just a diversion. Xiao Chen’s real killing move was the most common, but also most effective, Fireball Technique.

CLANG!

Sparks flew as the Evergreen Sword was blocked, just as expected. But in the next moment, the female cultivator felt a sharp pain in her chest as a fireball exploded on the spot.

It ripped through her Magic Robe and even blew the black cloth from her face, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face.

In the next instant, the Golden Light Pearl fell from above, crushing her head like a smashed watermelon.

"Little Sister!" a heart-wrenching cry came from the stall owner behind him.

His cries turned to curses. "You actually killed a woman! Are you even a fucking man?! I’ll kill you and avenge my sister!"

As he spoke, he threw a Talisman that transformed into several vines, entangling the Cyan Wood Divine General. Then, he charged toward Xiao Chen.

Xiao Chen remained silent. He gripped the Evergreen Sword in his right hand and pointed with his left. "Go!"

The Golden Light Pearl immediately turned back into a streak of light and shot toward the stall owner.

The stall owner instantly pulled another Talisman from his robes, which transformed into a python that swallowed the Golden Light Pearl in one gulp.

But this delay gave Xiao Chen’s Evergreen Sword the opening it needed. It struck again, shattering the Earth Shield surrounding the man.

The stall owner, however, threw his own Flying Sword to block the Evergreen Sword.

He then lunged forward a few steps and spat out a Blood Arrow at Xiao Chen. "You animal, die!"

However, before the Blood Arrow could hit, another seemingly ordinary fireball appeared, instantly vaporizing the arrow. Its momentum unabated, the fireball then pierced through the stall owner’s heart.

"Your Fireball Technique... how could it..."

The stall owner held on for a single breath before falling stiffly to the ground.

He sent another fireball into the body just to be sure, confirming the battle was over.

Only then did Xiao Chen have the presence of mind to grumble, "With an IQ this low, you really shouldn’t be trying to rob people."

’The female cultivator was only at the Middle Stage of Qi Refining, making her the obviously easier target.’

’You always go for the softest target first, breaking through on the weaker side. Who cares if she was a man or a woman? Xiao Chen certainly didn’t.’

He picked up their two Flying Swords, along with forty-two Spirit Stones that had fallen from the man’s robes.

Xiao Chen then discovered that the stall owner had even been carrying a Storage Bag.

The Storage Bag had a Restriction on it, which would take time and Refinement to open.

And so, after hastily cleaning up the scene, Xiao Chen jogged all the way back to Bishui Peak and began to refine his new Storage Bag.