Chapter 147
Chapter 147: Wine
At the table, silence filled the air. Hu Rui An and the hemp-robed elder showed no intention of speaking to each other, quietly eating and drinking their fill.
Bored, Li Mu Sheng glanced briefly at the martial contest on the stone platform, then shifted his gaze toward the little girl in pink, who had barely paused in her eating since she arrived. She had nearly finished an entire roast chicken by herself.
“You’ve got quite the appetite, little one. Here, why don’t you polish off these roasted pigeons as well?”
With a warm smile, Li Mu Sheng set down a plate of golden-brown pigeons right in front of her.
Watching her eat with such gusto, like a tiny champion eater, Li Mu Sheng thought she could star in one of those eating videos on TikTok. It was certainly more interesting than watching the matches.
The girl in pink rubbed her belly, eyed the pigeons, then blinked innocently at Li Mu Sheng. “Can I pack these up and take them with me?”
Li Mu Sheng raised an eyebrow, feigning seriousness. “Where did you pick up such bad manners, child? Packing up food when there are still people at the table? Aren’t you ashamed?”
[If she packs it up, how can I watch the eating show?]
Hearing this, the girl paused, biting her lip sadly before turning hopefully toward the elder in hemp robes beside her.
The elder narrowed his eyes, gently patting her head with his coarse hand, but remained silent.
Hu Rui An watched the scene curiously, puzzled why Li Mu Sheng was teasing such a young girl.
Seeing Li Mu Sheng’s refusal, the girl in pink bit her lip determinedly, reached out to grab a pigeon from the plate, and continued chewing vigorously.
Satisfied, Li Mu Sheng nodded. Murong Xiao Ya opened her mouth, wanting to gently caution the girl as she noticed the child’s belly becoming uncomfortably round. But when her eyes drifted toward Li Mu Sheng, she shrank back timidly and said nothing.
“Is everyone enjoying our humble food and wine?”
The steward of Deer Slaying Manor returned respectfully, guiding a group into the lakeside pavilion where Li Mu Sheng was seated.
Among them was a kind-faced, middle-aged man who courteously greeted Li Mu Sheng and the others with a polite bow.
He appeared to be around fifty, with features like mountain peaks inked in delicate strokes. Dressed in a dark-blue robe, a short dagger adorned with a bronze deer head hung at his waist.
Beside him stood two others. One was a towering man with muscles like knotted roots beneath a robe dark as clouds. Blue tattoos decorated his thick neck, and his eyes shone fiercely, sharp as a tiger’s.
The other was a pale-faced scholar, slim and fragile-looking as bamboo. Though frail in appearance, he wore an indigo silk gown, and at his waist hung a large iron brush nearly two feet long.
When Hu Rui An saw the middle-aged man, his eyes flickered briefly but quickly concealed any reaction. He clasped his hands and spoke courteously, even changing his voice so convincingly that even Wu Shang and the others noticed nothing unusual.
“We were simply passing through and have disturbed your hospitality. Thank you, Villa Master Shen, for your kindness.”
The hemp-robed elder also nodded slightly toward Deer Slaying Manor’s Villa Master Shen Liancheng. “Your food is excellent. My thanks for your generous welcome.”
Smiling warmly, Shen Liancheng replied, “I’m glad you found it satisfactory.”
His gaze moved thoughtfully between Hu Rui An and the elder, adding politely, “My servants have informed me you two are distinguished martial figures. Forgive my rudeness, but I haven’t recognized your identities. May I ask for your esteemed names so we might become friends?”
Prepared, Hu Rui An promptly gave a false identity and explained that their group came from Jing Province, merely passing through to Sheng Province.
The elder in hemp robes was even more dismissive, only claiming to be a common villager without giving a name.
Seemingly unconcerned, Shen Liancheng engaged in brief pleasantries before instructing his steward to deliver a jar of “Spirit Deer Wine,” then took his leave.
Returning to his pavilion, Shen Liancheng dismissed his attendants and poured wine personally for the burly man and the scholar, asking softly, “Elder Bei, Sir Xu, what do you think of those two just now?”
The towering man, Bei Shi, snorted coldly, finishing his wine in one gulp. “Their strength is undoubtedly great, Heavenly Union experts indeed. But arrogant, secretive, and refusing to give their real names—they clearly don’t take Villa Master Shen seriously.”
The scholar Xu Qing Cang considered carefully, then said gently, “The elder in hemp robes is unfamiliar. I haven’t heard of anyone matching him in recent martial circles.”
“As for the other five, clearly the young man without Qi is the leader. Judging by their behavior, I’d guess they’re from the Great Li Court. However, their specific identities remain unclear.”
Bei Shi cast a disdainful glance at Xu Qing Cang. “People from Great Li? So what? Once they enter our Fallen God Peak territory, even dragons must bow.”
He squinted at Shen Liancheng. “Why bother with this unnecessary marriage competition? Our Young Peak Master is peerless. Isn’t he good enough for your third daughter?”
Xu Qing Cang shook his head gently. “Elder Bei, marriage is not child’s play. Although your Young Peak Master is outstanding, there are others in the martial world who may match or surpass him. Villa Master Shen’s contest is fair and proper.”
Bei Shi glared at Xu Qing Cang and sneered coldly. “Your general’s second son? Our Young Peak Master could beat him down in two moves. You weak little bamboo stalk, stop dreaming.”
Shen Liancheng quickly smoothed over the dispute, while Xu Qing Cang narrowed his eyes but avoided further argument.
…
Meanwhile, in Li Mu Sheng’s pavilion, the two youths, a man and a woman, brightened visibly when Deer Slaying Manor’s servants delivered the Spirit Deer Wine.
“This wine is exceptional—Deer Slaying Manor’s unique treasure brewed once every thirty years, rivaled only by their Deer Slaying Blade,” explained Hu Rui An, holding the brown jar. With a gentle shake, the mud seal shattered silently, and the cork flew away.
Immediately, a rich aroma filled the pavilion. Just the scent alone was intoxicating, leaving everyone enchanted.
Wu Shang and the others swallowed eagerly, staring hungrily at the wine in Hu Rui An’s hands.
Hu Rui An breathed in deeply, eyes closed in delight, then placed the jar back on the table. “Don’t rush—first, test for poison.”
Wu Shang quickly checked it with a silver needle, confirming safety before Hu Rui An nodded. “Pour a cup for the young master first.”
Wu Shang filled Li Mu Sheng’s cup generously. Li Mu Sheng’s eyes sparkled eagerly. “This wine truly seems special!”
He drained the cup in one swallow. The taste was crisp as melted spring snow and lingered sweetly, rich as autumn fruit. Li Mu Sheng immediately called for another.
Generously, Hu Rui An poured cups for everyone around the table. Only the hemp-robed elder waved a hand, declining politely.
No one pressed him. After all, less for him meant more for everyone else.
Murong Xiao Ya, drawn by the enticing aroma, lifted her cup to taste. Just then, the pink-clad girl suddenly spoke up, knocking Murong Xiao Ya’s cup away.
“Elder sister, little girls shouldn’t drink wine!”