The Drunken Immortal Brew and an Unexpected Encounter

“Congratulations, Senior Brother, on your crushing victory over Zhu Yan!”

Inside the Drunken Immortal Restaurant’s spacious, first-class kitchen, dozens of Tianyan Sect disciples gathered with Chi Qiu to celebrate Su Hanxing’s hard-won triumph.

The Drunken Immortal Restaurant was a highly renowned establishment within the inner city of the Daqi Imperial City, catering exclusively to cultivators of all paths. The restaurant boasted an exceptional ambiance, and its ingredients were all derived from spiritual plants and the flesh of formidable beasts. Even its beverages were exquisite spirit teas and immortal brews. Not only were they exceptionally delicious, but consuming them also provided considerable benefits for cultivation, making the restaurant immensely popular among cultivators.

With such numerous advantages, its prices were, naturally, exorbitant. A single meal could cost anywhere from several hundred Spirit Jade to over a thousand Spirit Pills, an amount far beyond the means of ordinary cultivators. The Chi Qiu of old, when she had still been in her male form, would certainly not have been able to afford such a luxury.

“Is it delicious?”

Chi Qiu, nestled in a corner of the kitchen, quietly savored the few plates of delicacies before her, a look of profound satisfaction gracing her features. Su Hanxing took a sip of wine, his gaze sweeping across the kitchen until he finally located Chi Qiu. Upon seeing Chi Qiu in such a state, an inexplicable tremor ran through Su Hanxing’s heart. He immediately walked towards her, a gentle smile on his face as he asked.

“It’s better… than what I make.” Chi Qiu’s mouth was stuffed full, making her reply somewhat muffled and indistinct.

“Then eat more.” Su Hanxing casually picked up a plate and offered it to Chi Qiu.

“I can’t eat much more, actually.” Chi Qiu swallowed her mouthful of food with a slight struggle. She glanced at the plate of unknown demonic beast meat Su Hanxing had brought, but instead of reaching for her chopsticks, she simply continued to gaze at him.

“If you can’t eat any more, trying the Drunken Immortal Restaurant’s specialty isn’t a bad idea either.” Su Hanxing smiled faintly, producing a slender-necked jade bottle, about a chi tall, which he then handed to Chi Qiu.

“What is this?” Chi Qiu took the jade bottle, her confusion evident as she asked.

“This is Drunken Immortal Brew. I’ve noticed you usually drink tea and never alcohol. Why not take this opportunity to try some?” Su Hanxing pulled a wooden chair beside Chi Qiu and settled down with a natural ease before explaining.

“I never drink alcohol, you know that,” Chi Qiu said, quickly pushing the jade bottle away and waving her hand in refusal upon hearing it contained wine.

“This isn’t like those awful common wines. This brew is made from hundreds of spiritual fruits and immortal ganoderma, making it exceptionally precious. A small bottle like this costs over a thousand Spirit Pills, and it’s said that even a single sip can aid in comprehending the Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth,” Su Hanxing declared, pushing the bottle back towards her with conviction.

The last statement, of course, was Su Hanxing’s fabrication. While the brew could assist cultivation, its effects were negligible. As for aiding in the comprehension of the elusive Grand Dao of Heaven and Earth? That was utter nonsense.

“Is that truly so?” Chi Qiu’s interest was immediately piqued by Su Hanxing’s words. Her eyes sparkled, and she seemed eager to try.

“Naturally. Otherwise, why would it be sold for such an exorbitant price?” Su Hanxing nodded, his expression utterly serious.

“Then I’ll try it.” Seeing Su Hanxing’s earnest demeanor, Chi Qiu no longer hesitated. She gently uncorked the bottle, her lips meeting the opening, and then she tilted her head back sharply.

In less than a breath, the bottle of Drunken Immortal Brew was emptied.

“Slow down, Little Chi, that’s not how you drink it—” Su Hanxing was startled by Chi Qiu’s rather audacious drinking method. He immediately leaned forward, reaching out to stop her. However, his movement was clearly a step too late; Chi Qiu had already drained the bottle clean.

“It tastes nothing like spirit tea, but the flavor is exquisite. It’s truly good.” Chi Qiu shook the empty jade bottle, and after confirming no trace of liquid remained, she placed it back on the table before her. Then, she licked her lips, nodding slightly in approval of the Drunken Immortal Brew’s taste.

“What’s wrong?” Chi Qiu tilted her head, looking at Su Hanxing, only to find him staring at her with his mouth agape, a look of utter shock on his face. This left her feeling quite puzzled.

“This Drunken Immortal Brew… it’s not meant to be drunk like that.” He held up a finger, waving it before Chi Qiu, and continued to ask, “How many fingers am I holding up?”

Chi Qiu tilted her head slightly, then slapped Su Hanxing’s hand away, stating, “Of course it’s one.”

“When I was still a mortal, I saw my father and others drink like this. What’s wrong with it?” Chi Qiu leaned languidly back in the wooden chair, feeling a wonderfully warm and comfortable sensation spread throughout her body.

“Drinking the Drunken Immortal Brew like that, you’ll easily get completely intoxicated,” Su Hanxing explained, shaking his head helplessly.

“I shed my mortal body long ago. While my physical body isn’t as terrifying as yours, I won’t get drunk so easily…” Chi Qiu began confidently. Yet, before she could finish her sentence, she felt Su Hanxing in front of her inexplicably sway, then quickly split into two, becoming two smiling, shaking Su Hanxings.

Noticing Chi Qiu’s eyes begin to glaze over, Su Hanxing knew she was drunk. He shook his head with a touch of helplessness, then began to explain:

“This Drunken Immortal Brew is extraordinary. Drink too much, and even a Dharma Manifestation Realm cultivator will feel its intoxicating effects, which is why I tried so hard to stop you just now…”

Chi Qiu could no longer clearly hear Su Hanxing’s subsequent words. She gazed around the private room aimlessly, taking in the entire scene. The boisterous conversations and loud singing of the Tianyan Sect disciples transformed into a cacophony of chirping sounds, noisy yet not grating. Chi Qiu felt her eyelids growing heavier and heavier, and the clamor in her ears gradually subsided.

Perhaps sleeping like this wouldn’t be so bad after all?

A faint smile touched Chi Qiu’s lips. All the strength in her body drained away in that moment. With a soft thud, she closed her eyes, slumped against the wooden chair, and fell into a deep sleep.

Su Hanxing, standing beside her, had watched Chi Qiu fall asleep in a mere few breaths, his expression utterly priceless.

“It’s a good thing Little Chi doesn’t get rowdy when she’s drunk,” he mused, looking at Chi Qiu. Su Hanxing suddenly recalled his own master, Su He, who was usually incredibly proper but would always go wild whenever he had good spiritual wine.

Seeing Chi Qiu asleep, the surrounding Tianyan Sect disciples quieted down. They exchanged glances, unsure of what to say for a moment.

“You all continue your celebration here. I’ll take your Senior Sister Little Chi home first.” Su Hanxing turned to face the Tianyan Sect disciples, made a shushing gesture with both hands, and then spoke with a smile.

All the disciples revealed expressions of understanding, which, in turn, made the somewhat guilty Su Hanxing feel a little embarrassed. Su Hanxing turned and bent down. He reached out with both hands and scooped up the sleeping Chi Qiu from the wooden chair, cradling her in his arms. He then nodded slightly to the assembled disciples before swiftly departing the private room.

As Su Hanxing exited the room, a flash of starlight beneath his feet instantly transported him outside the Drunken Immortal Restaurant. He exerted force with his right hand, freeing his left to lightly tap his storage magical artifact. Immediately, a flying boat materialized out of thin air beside him.

“Wait—”

Just as Su Hanxing was about to step onto the flying boat with Chi Qiu in his arms, a voice suddenly called out, stopping him.

Su Hanxing’s brow furrowed slightly. He turned back at the sound, only to see a figure cloaked in black robes standing several yards away. It was clearly this individual who had called out to him. An alarm blared in Su Hanxing’s heart. Someone had managed to approach him so closely without a sound, a feat that had never occurred before.

“Who are you?” Su Hanxing’s eyes narrowed. His true qi surged throughout his body, ready to unleash his divine ability, “Starfall Step,” at any moment.

“Me? Haven’t you been looking for me all this time?” The black-robed figure chuckled softly, then slowly reached up and unfastened their black robes. A strikingly handsome young face appeared in Su Hanxing’s line of sight.

This person stood nine chi tall, with blood-red eyes and black hair, clad in a blood-colored Taiji Daoist robe, and wore a smile that held an inscrutable meaning.

It was none other than Ye Yan.