Ying Bokong, as expected of one of the foremost Grandmasters of the age, remained astonishingly composed, his body rooted like an ancient stone, yet a blush he could not suppress crept across his usually expressionless face. His eyes flickering, he lifted a wine cup, slowly bringing it to his lips, hesitating for a breath before tilting his head back and draining the vessel completely!

A sensation of utmost clarity and richness flowed down his throat. Ying Bokong silently circulated his profound Xuan Qi, clearly, profoundly feeling the fine wine travel to his core. He was then startled to realize there seemed to be more wine in his mouth; he swallowed again in confusion, finding the cup still not empty, so he swallowed a third time… The legendary Chinese fine wine—as the folk saying goes, even after three swallows, the fragrance lingers in the throat!

As Ying Bokong savored the sensation, an unbearable, fierce, raging fire suddenly ignited within his Dan Tian, instantly searing through his limbs and bones, burning through every single blood vessel, every single meridian!

In that instant, Ying Bokong felt his blood surge, as if every strand of his hair was threatening to stand on end. He forced his Xuan Gong into furious circulation just to avoid publicly disgracing himself, but the searing heat within his body continued to flow, continued to burn, continued to batter and rush left and right!

If an opponent or a battle had been present at this moment, Ying Bokong felt he could challenge even Yun Biechen, the foremost figure in the Divine Xuan realm!

“Magnificent wine! This is truly the greatest wine under heaven!” Struggling to suppress the urge to roar aloud, Ying Bokong strained to hold himself in. Finally, unable to contain it, he let out a muffled roar that seemed to emerge from his very throat, from the depths of his soul. Though low, the sheer excitement in the sound was unmistakable to everyone present.

“This is a wine for true men!”

Having downed his cup, the Prince froze, utterly stunned. After a long moment, he seemed to rise in a daze, drifting back around and settling down with a strange buoyancy. After quite some time, he lowered his head, staring at the empty cup in his hand, silent tears tracing paths down his face. “Only today do I realize… my previous decades were truly lived in vain…”

Suddenly, he sprang up, leaping out with vibrant energy, his arms slicing through the air with powerful, resonant arcs. He wanted to speak, but words failed him. After a few explosive, bouncy movements, he returned to the table and sighed, a sound like a moan. “What a wine… ahhhh…”

Song Shang’s body began to tremble uncontrollably. He still gripped his wine cup, yet he had not taken a sip. But seeing the reactions of the Prince and Ying Bokong, there was no need for further demonstration; he knew then that he had lost.

Lost, without the slightest doubt!

But this time, especially at this very moment, he was filled with incredible elation—excited by his defeat, overjoyed by his loss! To be vanquished by wine of a superior standard, though defeated, he felt no regret! Moreover, he was mere moments away from experiencing the taste of this truly ultimate fine wine himself!

In this instant, Song Shang held no thought of victory or defeat; he approached his own cup with the reverence of a pilgrim, tasting the peerless spirit in his hand with utmost piety!

As he drank it down in one gulp, Song Shang clearly felt his soul dancing, his very consciousness singing. Every inch of muscle, every single meridian, every drop of blood in his body was trembling in blissful relaxation, murmuring in exquisite contentment…

After a long pause, Song Shang’s eyes suddenly welled up, and a low whimper escaped his throat. Tears pattered into the white jade cup, and his cries grew more agonizing until, shaking uncontrollably, unable to form coherent words, he suddenly collapsed onto the table and wept uncontrollably.

“I… I… I… to taste such magnificent wine today… my life is complete… To have the destiny to savor such a beautiful vintage, I, Song Shang… die without grievance…”

Old Song San pounded his fist against the table surface again and again, then beat his own head, tearing at his hair, howling, “My entire first half of life… I lived it for the dogs…”

Jun Mo Xie stared, utterly dumbfounded, a chill running down his entire body, gooseflesh erupting everywhere.

It wasn't that he hadn't seen men cry before. Nor had he never seen a man weep. But the man weeping before him still delivered a profound shock to Jun Mo Xie! This was a man well past fifty! A master at the intermediate level of the Heavenly Xuan realm! And a notorious assassin whose name inspired terror! And he was weeping so heartbrokenly over a mere cup of wine?!…

Then he looked at the Prince, staring blankly, resembling someone afflicted with epilepsy. Ying Fukong’s face was the color of ripe dates, seemingly turned into a statue.

Was it necessary? It was only wine, after all. Jun the Great Killer had severely underestimated the potency of Chinese fine wine! Since Da Yu first distilled sorghum liquor, it had undergone five thousand years of maturation. Countless people had gone mad, frenzied, or possessed for the sake of this single word: "wine." Wine manipulates men, like poetry, like a painting, like an immortal dream, like intoxication, like mist, like lightning! Generation after generation, the art of brewing had been transformed countless times.

Jun Mo Xie possessed the complete technique, so brewing seemed easy to him, but he had overlooked the fact that he stood upon the foundation of five millennia of Chinese civilization, upon the shoulders of countless giants!

The sum of all those who had participated in the reform of wine, throughout history, standing one upon another, would surely exceed the height of Mount Everest three times over!

The brewing process mastered by Young Master Jun was the result of five thousand years of relentless refinement! Though seemingly simple, how many successive, poignant, and heroic efforts had the ancestors poured into these few simple steps?

In this alternate world, which could not compare to ancient China, to suddenly taste modern Chinese fine wine…

What kind of impact was this? This was simply… indescribable…

Old Song San’s Xuan Qi cultivation had already reached the intermediate level of the Heavenly Xuan realm, placing him among the world’s supreme masters—an altitude difficult for ordinary people to grasp. Yet, he himself placed little value on it, having reached a state where he cared for "nothing but wine." If he hadn't dedicated almost his entire life's energy to liquor, his martial achievements would certainly not have stalled at this level!

Old Song San had felt moments of profound realization due to his obsession with wine, but amidst his musings, he felt a quiet satisfaction, confident that among the current generation of wine connoisseurs, his attainment in the way of wine was already consummate. Always self-assured and proud, he was now suddenly confronted with a wine infinitely superior to his own!

How could Song San merely be shocked?

In this moment, Jun Mo Xie in his eyes was far beyond what could be described as a towering mountain; he was impossibly grand, impossibly majestic. This youth was simply the incarnation of the 'God of Wine'!

Heavens! Such marvelous wine truly existed in this world! And someone existed who could brew such wine! If this person wasn't a God of Wine, who could he be?

To completely defeat a person in their most cherished domain! This was equivalent to shattering Song San’s life’s pursuit! It collapsed his spiritual pillar!

The small tavern fell silent. After a long interval, the four exchanged glances. The Prince spoke first, his voice still bearing the echo of the previous excitement. “Today’s drinking contest…”

Before he could finish, Song San interrupted him. “I am ashamed! What contest is there to speak of? My wine, compared to this young master’s brew, is just as he said before—trash! It has absolutely no qualification for comparison, not even an iota. I, Song Shang, have traveled the world, yet never knew such a wine existed!”

Song Shang’s voice grew increasingly fervent, growing louder and louder. “I, Song Shang, am thoroughly convinced!”

Saying this, he stood up, his eyes blazing with fanaticism. He walked before Jun Mo Xie, suddenly bent his knees, and knelt down solidly. He struck the ground heavily with his forehead. “Master above, please accept this disciple’s bow!”

Jun Mo Xie hastily stood up. “This…”

The Prince and Ying Bokong exchanged looks!

After a considerable pause, Ying Bokong finally stated, “A wager is a wager! For Song Shang to take this young brother as his master, given the young brother’s brewing skill, it is no disgrace, nor any humiliation!”

The decision was final!

Jun Mo Xie pondered for a long moment before finally smiling, his demeanor suddenly relaxed. “Very well. Since that is the case, Old Song San, you may rise. I accept you.”

What was this?

Who said miracles don't happen? Wasn't this exactly like a pie falling from the sky? The Prince had initially viewed the event as a joke, fully expecting Old Song San to renege. Could such a formidable Heavenly Xuan expert, one of the world’s leading assassins, actually become a disciple based on a casual bet made by the other party?… That seemed far too frivolous!

Taking a master was a momentous decision for a lifetime!

One must realize that in this current era, the five cardinal relationships—Heaven, Earth, Ruler, Parents, Teacher—while listing 'Teacher' last, the authority implied by the title was often paramount among the five, superseding even imperial favor or parental duty!

Be a teacher for one day, be a father for life! Parents shape the physical form, but the master guides one's entire lifetime of achievement!

Indeed!

Given Song Shang’s status and standing, how could he possibly apprentice under an unknown youth? The Prince had clearly underestimated Old Song San’s obsession with the concept of ‘wine’! Learning knows no seniority; attainment takes precedence! For the sake of seeking the true essence of wine, what did taking a master matter?

To be honest, Young Master Jun was also quite surprised. He had just been contemplating whether, if Old Song San tried to backtrack, he should mock him a bit or graciously grant him an out by pretending to be magnanimous. He never expected this…

But Young Master Jun certainly wouldn't act coy and refuse!

Having a free enforcer at the Heavenly Xuan level—not taking him would be the act of a true fool! Even if this Heavenly Xuan expert’s primary desire was only to learn brewing from him, even if this Heavenly Xuan expert currently seemed so untrustworthy, so mysterious, perhaps harboring hidden powers, even if this Heavenly Xuan expert…

Never mind all that. Once you become my subordinate, can you truly escape?

Jun Mo Xie suddenly felt quite excited. Now that he was established as a teacher, he had a duty to educate his disciple. In a flash, the aura of the 'Engineer of the Human Soul' settled upon Young Master Jun, fitting him perfectly, deservedly, and without question.

“Tell me, Old Song San, do you know why you lost?” Jun Mo Xie tried to stroke his beard, intending to strike a lofty, venerable pose, but halfway through the motion, he remembered that although he would certainly possess one in the future, he currently lacked the facial hair. He let his hand drop, instead tapping the dust off his leg in a theatrical manner.