She Will Win

Qin Ximo had little interest in the wine beside her.

She forced herself to finish one cup, but did not continue.

The treasured wine of Gusu City was indeed fine wine.

But it was clear that the person hosting her was not someone who truly understood good wine.

The storage conditions and the choice of drinking vessel were both improper.

As a result, the original flavor of the wine was diminished by the time it touched the lips, which was a pity.

However, Qin Ximo was not the type to lecture others.

Since the taste did not suit her, she would simply drink less.

There was no need to waste words.

The City Lord of Gusu saw that Qin Ximo did not care much for the wine.

He felt puzzled, but also pained in his heart.

This wine was indeed extremely precious.

But its value did not lie in its price, rather in what it symbolized.

Centuries ago, under the leadership of the royal family of the Xuan Iron Immortal Dynasty, the imperial court worked with the Immortal Wine Estate to establish a winery known as Forget-Worry Manor.

It produced only one type of wine, called “Mortal Immortal.”

When it first came out, it spread across the entire dynasty with unstoppable speed.

Cultivators, nobles, merchants, and even farmers—everyone regarded owning a jar of Mortal Immortal as a matter of pride.

Naturally, the City Lord of Gusu could not be an exception.

Although he was not a heavy drinker, he could not resist the fame of the wine.

For him, collecting it held more value than drinking it.

A few years ago, he exhausted favors, spent a great number of spirit stones, and even offended several high-ranking officials just to obtain a few jars.

Qin Ximo possessed high cultivation and a special status.

If not, the City Lord would never have brought out such wine to entertain her.

After all, once this immortal brew was opened, it needed to be finished that same night.

Otherwise, at least half of its flavor would be lost.

“I noticed when I came that your city lacks demonic energy,” Qin Ximo said casually.

“It seems the situation has already reached a certain scale. Does your City Lord’s Manor not care about this?”

The City Lord broke into a cold sweat.

He hurried to explain.

“Immortal Qin, you misunderstand. The imperial court does not intervene in conflicts between the righteous and demonic paths. Those demonic cultivators who entered the city have not broken any laws. We have no grounds to act against them. And… from what I know, the demon cultivators currently residing in immortal cities are not the truly evil ones.”

“Most of them are merely women from the Hehuan Sect. At worst, they collect some essence in brothels and pleasure houses. And according to them, it is a fair transaction, money for services. We cannot say much about that…”

Qin Ximo laughed coldly.

“A transaction? You speak as though they do not drain people dry into husks. And you still do nothing?”

“This has never happened!” the City Lord insisted. “It is written in imperial law that if essence draining leads to death, it is punishable. And the punishment is severe. So those women of the Hehuan Sect are very careful to control their limits.”

“Besides the Hehuan Sect, are there no other demonic sects stationed here?” Qin Ximo asked.

“Most other demonic sects cultivate far more vicious arts, involving open killing and bloodshed. They would not escape the eyes of the Imperial Heaven-Observing Bureau. They dare not act openly in the city. However… in surrounding towns and marketplaces, there are indeed many hiding.”

Qin Ximo cast her gaze toward a district of the city, lost in thought.

Even though it was already deep into the night, certain places in Gusu City remained bustling with music and dance.

Painted courtesans, lightly or heavily adorned, leaned coquettishly against their patrons—regardless of whether they were men or women.

After all, dual cultivation required no particular boundaries.

“Immortal Qin,” the City Lord said, “it is late. My manor has many empty rooms. Please stay here temporarily. The caves available in the city may be too crude for someone of your status, and I would not want to offend your comfort.”

His tone was as humble as could be.

Qin Ximo did not object, and nodded.

However, the so-called “room” was nearly the size of a palace.

It included many young and beautiful maidservants, dressed lightly, well-trained in etiquette, and even upon seeing their guest was a woman, they did not withhold their practiced charm.

Qin Ximo had no interest in them.

She waved her hand and dismissed them.

Then, she entered the room and sat cross-legged on the bed to meditate.

On the other side of the manor, after being busy nearly the entire night, the City Lord finally returned to his chambers.

His wife, who had nearly waited alone all night, stared at him with a face full of anger but said not a word.

Her resentful gaze alone was enough to scorch him.

Being stared at for long, the City Lord finally broke first.

“My dear wife, I told you—I was entertaining a guest tonight. Nothing else happened!”

“What guest arrives without an invitation and walks openly into the manor?” she began to scold.

But before she could finish, the City Lord quickly covered her mouth, making her speak only muffled sounds.

After a long moment, he cautiously removed his hand.

“You—! How dare you treat me like this! I am your wife! If you continue like this, I’ll take our child and—”

The City Lord snapped.

“What do you know!? If you can’t speak properly, then be quiet! You rarely leave the house, so you don’t understand. But at least know which people cannot be offended!”

He took a deep breath.

“The guest I met tonight… was Qin Ximo, the master of the Qingyun Sword Sect. Known as the Immortal of the Wine Sword.”

His wife’s momentum halted instantly.

“…So what of it? Our clan’s ancestor is also the master of Phoenix Perch Valley…”

“You are only from a branch family of the Feng Clan. How can you compare yourself to Qin Ximo? Listen to me. For the next few days, stay in your room. Do not go anywhere. Do not speak recklessly. Do not offend her.”

“Otherwise… our ancestor might very well tie up your entire branch family and send all of you to the Qingyun Sword Sect to apologize.”

The City Lord’s wife turned pale, immediately diving under the blankets.

The City Lord sighed deeply.

The rumors of ancient ruins near the city had already brought chaos.

Countless wandering cultivators and unknown individuals had entered the city.

The city was large—there were always places beyond control.

His desk was already buried in reports stacked high.

He was exhausted.

The next morning, after resting briefly, Qin Ximo informed the City Lord she was leaving.

Then she stepped onto her sword and flew out of Gusu Immortal City.

Heading west, she reached the rumored site of the ancient ruins in less than half an incense stick of time.

Looking further beyond, only a few hundred more li away lay the Qingyun Mountain Range.

Standing thousands of meters high in the air, she looked down.

It appeared to be only an ordinary mountain ravine.

In the past, very few would have come here.

But the rumor had spread too widely.

Many cultivators hoping to try their luck had set up camp.

The people present were mixed—disciples of righteous and demonic sects, as well as many wandering cultivators.

Most were only Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment level.

Not a single Golden Core yet.

They were all still observing.

Qin Ximo considered calling disciples from her sect to train here.

But the Qingyun Sword Sect was currently in decline.

And this place carried hidden dangers.

It was not wise to send disciples into unknown risk.

She trusted her own ability.

No matter what danger appeared, she could at least escape.

She would win.

She will win.