Dark clouds loomed over the city, and Ling Geng stood under the eaves of his palace, his mood as somber as the weather.

A disciple passed by him, bowed respectfully, and continued walking in a certain direction.

Ling Geng had only nodded perfunctorily at first, but seeing that he was heading in the wrong direction, he asked, "Wait, where are you going?"

The disciple paused, turned around, and bowed respectfully. "Reporting to the Grand Elder, this disciple is going to Chunxiang Winery."

Ling Geng frowned upon hearing this, his tone turning slightly somber, "Did the young master send you again?"

Sensing the displeasure in the elder's words, the disciple's heart tightened, and he lowered his head even further. "Yes, Elder."

Having received the answer he expected, Ling Geng was momentarily speechless. He sighed in frustration and waved his hand, "Go."

Lost in thought, Ling Geng called out to the disciple just before he disappeared around the edge of the roof, "Wait, give me the wine after you get it, I'll give it to him myself."

The disciple naturally dared not have any objections, "Yes, Elder."

***

Zhu Lu City.

Ling Geng pushed open the gate to the courtyard, which was once tidy but was now overgrown with weeds and covered with moss.

The moment the door opened, a strong smell of alcohol hit you, and the floor was piled with wine jars, mixed with broken tiles, making it almost impossible to step on.

Seeing this, Ling Geng clenched his fists tightly behind his back. He was about to take a step forward when the person in the room stopped him first, shouting, "Don't come in! Leave your things at the door and get out right now!"

The voice carried a sense of dejection and despair. Ling Geng frowned deeply and stepped inside without a second thought.

"I told you not to come in! Are you looking for death?!"

The sharp resentment transformed into a sword blade and attacked head-on. Ling Geng raised his hand to deflect the attack, his voice tinged with anger.

"How long are you going to keep making a scene?!"

A slender figure reclining on its side was revealed beneath the half-draped bed curtains.

The figure paused for a moment upon hearing this, then chuckled softly, "Heh... so it's the Grand Elder."

"Why is the Grand Elder so free today that he has come to deliver wine in person?"

The figure sat up from the bed, his slender fingers lifting the bed curtains to reveal a face of unparalleled beauty that could captivate all beings.

His eyes, red from a hangover, were slightly upturned, like a bewitching and beautiful fairy, exuding endless charm.

He parted his thin lips slightly, his tone languid and captivating, "Where's the wine?"

Ling Geng snorted coldly and raised the wine jar in his hand, "This is the last jar of Drunken Life and Dreamy Death."

Lingyao's lifeless eyes suddenly lit up, and a genuine smile appeared on his face. "Give it to me quickly."

Unexpectedly, Ling Geng suddenly let go, and the jar of wine fell to the ground, shattering into pieces with a crisp sound.

"You!" Lingyao shouted angrily, but he didn't care about anything else. He hurriedly got off the bed and searched for any remaining wine in the broken tiles.

Seeing a glistening, curved tile, joy welled up in his eyes. He couldn't wait to put the remaining drops of wine on it into his mouth, then lay back on the bed contentedly and closed his eyes with a happy heart.

Ling Geng looked at him, who was like a drug addict, and was filled with disappointment.

After a long while, Lingyao suddenly opened his eyes, revealing a cold glint.

Not enough! This amount is not enough!

Not enough to let him enter the dream, not enough to let him see Yin Ming!

Ling Yao's cold gaze swept over Ling Geng, who was standing to the side. He instantly sprang up and grabbed Ling Geng's neck.

"Why did you destroy this jar of wine! Why won't you even give me this last bit of hope!"

Ling Geng glanced indifferently at the broken tiles on the ground. This life of debauchery could lull one into a deep sleep, allowing one to reach the deepest illusions of the heart.

Two months ago, Lingyao was still investigating who the mysterious woman at the funeral was. Perhaps he later realized that finding that person was useless, and Yin Ming would still not be resurrected. So, by chance, he became obsessed with this hallucinogenic wine.

He would drink a jar of wine and be drunk for three days. When he woke up, he would ask the disciples of the Demonic Sect to continue to send him wine. He lived like this for several months.

Lingyao followed his gaze to the tiles on the ground, and as if remembering something, he grabbed the other man's collar and roared hysterically:

"Go and brew me the exact same wine right now! Or I'll kill you right now!"

Ling Geng looked at Ling Yao with undisguised disappointment, "The recipe for a life of debauchery has long been lost."

If there was any respect or expectation before, Ling Geng now couldn't help but wonder if such a person could really become the new sect leader of their Demon Sect and lead them forward.

Did he bet on the wrong horse?

"Lost?" Lingyao released his collar in disbelief and slumped to the ground.

After Yin Ming died, he didn't want to live anymore. He only lingered on because he initially wanted to die together with the woman who burned his body.

He later discovered this hallucinogenic wine by chance, which gave him the motivation to live.

He wasn't afraid of dying; what he feared was dying and never seeing Yin Ming again.

Now that the brewing recipe has been lost, and the jar that Ling Geng just broke was the last one, doesn't that mean he can no longer meet Yin Ming in his dreams?!

What's the point of him still being alive?!

Lingyao raised his hand, intending to strike his own chest and shatter his heart meridian, but fortunately Linggeng reacted quickly and stopped him.

Seeing that the person he had painstakingly saved and nurtured was so useless, Ling Geng disregarded the difference in rank and angrily reprimanded him:

"Wake up! Yin Ming is dead! If he were still alive, he would never want to see you like this!"

Lingyao, whose hands were held captive, was stunned. The bloodlust in her eyes intensified. "You still have the nerve to mention Yin Ming?! Who gave you the right to decide my fate on your own!"

"Why should you impose your responsibilities on us! And why should your selfish desires lead to the death of my Yin Ming!"

Ling Geng lowered his eyes indifferently in response to his questioning, "This is my duty, and Yin Ming was just carrying out his assigned task."

"As long as the outcome is good, then his sacrifice is meaningful. But I never expected you to turn out like this. Ask yourself honestly, have you done right by him?"

"It's not your place to lecture me!"

Lingyao forcefully shook off his hand, squatted down and searched through a pile of empty wine jars, not caring at all even though his bare feet were scratched by broken tiles.

He was single-mindedly trying to collect the remaining wine from the empty jars in order to create an opportunity for him to meet Yin Ming again.

But in the end, he discovered in despair that there wasn't... not a single drop!

Lingyao curled up in pain, hugging her legs tightly and burying her face between her crossed arms.

In a daze, Ling Geng seemed to hear his soft sobs.

Ling Geng's heart softened; had he been a bit too harsh in what he had just said?

Although Lingyao, as the next sect leader, should not have such weak emotions, he is clearly not ready to take on the responsibility of the entire sect.

In addition, Yin Ming's death was a huge blow to him, so perhaps... he really should be given some time to adjust.

Ling Geng reached out to pat the young man on the shoulder, but Ling Yao suddenly raised his head, staring at him with a deep, enigmatic gaze and a half-smile, and said:

"I never expected that the Grand Elder, with his personality, would actually resort to such cunning to deceive Yin Ming. Or is there someone else behind this scheme?"

Ling Geng's gaze sharpened, somewhat surprised by Ling Yao's change.

He stared directly into Lingyao's eyes, seemingly trying to read his emotions and thus figure out his true thoughts.