“Changhong, I’ll go see Ruolan at the City Lord’s residence shortly, and I might not be back tonight. Since you can now circulate Yuan Power, ride home by yourself. Heh heh, once you’re home, find your Third Grand-uncle and tell him you can circulate Yuan Power all the way to your bone marrow. I guarantee he’ll be so excited tonight he won’t be able to sleep a wink,” Ji Wanyun said with a smile upon entering Qingyan City.

“Aunt, why not come back with me? What’s so great about that girl Nie Ruolan? I saw her once on the way here, why should I see her again on the way back?” Hearing her mention Nie Ruolan, Ji Changkong grimaced, his expression strange.

“The Blazing Yuan Pearl was exchanged for me by Ruolan through her aunt at the Spirit Treasure Pavilion, but that Old Mother Wushan kept it. I must go over and explain the situation. Besides, even though Ruolan acts like a boy, she is genuinely kind-hearted. Your aunt really dotes on her, and I promised to teach her embroidery—I cannot go back on my word.”

As soon as the Blazing Yuan Pearl was mentioned, Ji Changkong’s face darkened, and he nodded silently, saying no more.

“Don’t blame yourself. I was prepared for the loss of the Blazing Yuan Pearl when I went to Mount Wu. Even though the pearl is gone, you can now gather Yuan Power. In any case, the objective of our trip to Mount Wu has been achieved. All right, it’s getting late. Head back to the Ji family on your own. As long as you don’t delay on the road, you’ll certainly make it home before dark.”

Ji Wanyun gently stroked Ji Changkong’s head, offering soft words of comfort, then smiled and departed, heading in the direction of the City Lord’s residence.

After being lost in thought for a moment, Ji Changkong deeply imprinted the names Old Mother Wushan and Lu Yun into his mind, then slapped the horse’s neck sharply and rode off toward where Luotian resided.

...

For some inexplicable reason, Ji Changkong always felt the urge to tell Luotian first about anything that happened to him.

Over the years, whenever Ji Changkong encountered something he couldn't confide to Ji Wanyun, he habitually came to Qingyan City to find Luotian and vent his frustrations to the silent man.

Perhaps it was precisely because he had such an eccentric person as Luotian in whom he could confide without reservation that Ji Changkong, who endured numerous cold stares, mockery, and ridicule within the Ji family, managed to maintain an optimistic outlook in such an environment, refusing to be crushed by the hardships of life or become isolated, insecure, or cold.

Riding the tall horse, Ji Changkong felt thoroughly at ease. Previously, due to his frail health, Ji Wanyun wouldn’t let him ride alone, fearing he might accidentally fall and injure himself.

Ji Wanyun’s indulgence today also signaled that she truly acknowledged Ji Changkong’s strength. Ji Changkong deeply appreciated this feeling, and amidst the horse’s rhythmic bouncing, he soon arrived before Luotian’s three rows of tiled-roof houses.

The first row was empty but open. Based on his understanding of Luotian, he was definitely lingering in the back.

Unceremoniously tying his horse to a nearby Qingyan stone, Ji Changkong, with a smile playing on his lips, loudly hailed out, “Old Luo, where are you?”

“Inside,” Luotian’s indifferent voice drifted from the third row of tiled houses, where he stored his wine.

“Oh, so you’re dealing wine. Haha, Old Luo, tell me, did that red-faced middle-aged man end up buying any wine from you that day?” Ji Changkong, entirely familiar with Luotian’s domain, walked in laughing, straight to the last three rooms, pushing the door open without ceremony.

Clang!

Inside, a jar of wine shattered in Luotian’s hand. Luotian, usually as still as glass, suddenly had his eyes flash brightly. Holding the posture of placing wine, he turned his head stiffly to stare at Ji Changkong, his body frozen.

“Old Luo, what’s wrong? I rarely see you surprised!” Ji Changkong walked toward Luotian in astonishment, then suddenly cried out, “What is this wine? Such a strong aroma! Ha, it must be potent stuff!”

“What, what happened to you these last couple of days?” Luotian didn't answer Ji Changkong’s question but instead asked back, his voice slightly trembling.

At that moment, Luotian’s eyes glittered with a strange light, mixed with excitement, surprise, and an irrepressible joy...

It was as if something he had been waiting for, for many years, had finally come to pass!

“My aunt took me on a trip to Mount Wu. The original plan was to apprentice under Old Mother Wushan, but that old hag not only refused to accept me but also kept everything my aunt offered. In the end, she chased both of us off the mountain…” Ji Changkong recounted the trip to Mount Wu with deep resentment, then paused, letting out a light chuckle. “However, I finally understood what ‘bitterness gives way to sweetness’ means. Right at the foot of Mount Wu, I…”

Perhaps growing too accustomed to speaking freely around Luotian, Ji Changkong comfortably described his repeated attempts to gather Yuan Power, the repeated blackouts, and the moment, when he thought he was about to die, that Yuan Power suddenly manifested within him. He held nothing back until he was about to mention the Taixu Secret Record, when he recalled Ji Wanyun’s stern warning. After a moment’s hesitation, he vaguely glossed over that part.

Luotian listened quietly, without interrupting once. Only after Ji Changkong finished did he slightly furrow his brow and say, “In the future, don't seek apprenticeship from those who deceive the world for fame... Those people cannot teach you!”

Ji Changkong offered a wry smile. “Old Mother Wushan certainly possesses real skill. Even her servants are terrifyingly powerful. It’s just that her character is atrocious. I will remember this debt, and one day, I will repay it tenfold!”

Luotian narrowed his eyes, seemingly holding the Old Mother Wushan in contempt, but he didn't say much more. He gazed deeply at Ji Changkong for a long moment, then cracked a smile at the corner of his mouth. “Drink!”

“Good, today is definitely a day for heavy drinking!” Ji Changkong laughed heartily. Without needing Luotian to say more, he reached for the familiar ‘Bitter Crossing’ jar, intending to indulge himself.

“Don’t drink Bitter Crossing,” Luotian said, reaching out and taking down a new jar from beside him, offering it with narrowed eyes. “I let you drink Bitter Crossing before because you were frail. From now on, never drink Bitter Crossing again. The name ‘Bitter Crossing’ no longer suits you...”

After a brief pause, Luotian forcefully pressed the new jar into Ji Changkong’s hand, saying, “From now on, switch to this wine!”

“Alright! Then no more Bitter Crossing!” Ji Changkong roared with heroic spirit, tearing the oiled cloth off the mouth of the new jar in his hand, tilting it back, and loudly gulping it down.

Pfft!

After only a few swigs, Ji Changkong spat the wine out violently. His face flushed a blood-red, feeling as if he were burning on a scorching fire. His body felt unnaturally hot, and it seemed like he was about to breathe fire from his throat.

“Cough, cough, cough…”

After a fit of violent coughing, Ji Changkong hopped and jumped in front of Luotian like a monkey with its tail on fire, shouting wildly, “Old Luo, what is this wine? It’s too potent! I’ve never had anything this strong from you! This isn't drinking wine; this is swallowing fire!!”

Luotian twitched the corner of his mouth, finding the currently lively Ji Changkong quite amusing. He offered no reply, just watched him with narrowed eyes.

After a while, when Ji Changkong finally recovered, he said expressionlessly, “This wine is called ‘Fire Dragon Burn.’ I will definitely grow to like this taste later. Hmm, when you leave later, take three jars of Fire Dragon Burn with you. Come back for more when you finish them.”

“Thanks! No need!!” Ji Changkong quickly waved his hands, indicating he didn't want to take a single jar. Seeing Luotian’s expression turn slightly sour, he managed a dry laugh. “Old Luo, forget it. I truly don't like this taste—it’s too strong! Frighteningly strong! After just a few sips, my whole body is burning up, like a fire dragon is truly raging inside me.”

“Take three jars back!” Luotian insisted, his face stern.

“Uh… alright then, I’ll take three jars back, and I’ll try them when I actually feel like drinking them. Old Luo, the wine you brew is stranger every time. I truly don't know how you managed to distill something this potent!” Ji Changkong grimaced. He knew Luotian rarely insisted on anything, but once he did, if Ji Changkong refused, Luotian would never let it go.

“Drink more, and you’ll get used to it...”

Seeing that Ji Changkong agreed to take three jars, Luotian again curled the corner of his mouth, signaling that his smile had passed. He then grabbed three jars of Fire Dragon Burn and accompanied him outside. In total, four jars of Fire Dragon Burn—including the opened one in Ji Changkong’s hand—were tightly bound with rope beneath Ji Changkong’s saddle.

“Old Luo, I’m heading back now. Er… your wine is really strong, and the effect is frighteningly potent. My head is already a bit dizzy just from those few sips…” Ji Changkong genuinely felt somewhat lightheaded. His face was flushed red, and he only managed to mount his horse with Luotian’s support.

Before he could settle in his seat, Luotian lightly slapped the horse’s flank, and the steed bolted forward as if driven mad.

...