Story Brewing
Xu Shulou exchanged pleasantries with Peng and Xi for a while, and asked them about what had happened to each of them during the years since they had been apart.
Peng Wanxi answered them one by one, then smiled and covered her lips: "I don't need to ask you. Over the years, Xi Cheng and I have always heard news about you. In recent years, Ruzhou City killed Gao Zhang of Xuanwu Tower, Wushuang City killed Fan Yang of Lingxiao Gate, and then Fan Zhi and Wei Xuandao. Fellow Daoist Xu's life can be said to be full of ups and downs."
"I wasn't the one who killed Gao Zhang." Xu Shulou touched his face sadly. It seemed that every time she became famous, it was accompanied by killings. No wonder some people regarded her as a god of killing.
It was all because the people who were killed were too famous, Xu Shulou thought unreasonably, the story of her killing the old man who refined the soul-summoning flag was not widely spread.
After a few more pleasantries, Xu Shulou inevitably asked, "I haven't been to this city that never sleeps for a long time. Is there any fun place to go in recent years?"
Xi Cheng thought for a moment and asked, "Miss Xu, have you ever heard of story brewing?"
Xu Shulou nodded: "Of course."
"They opened a branch in the city that never sleeps."
Bai Roushuang and Yue'er couldn't hide their curiosity: "What is Story Brewing?"
Peng Wanxi explained to them: "It's a wine shop. Customers come in and tell a story, and the shop will turn the story into wine. You can taste all kinds of flavors in the world in the wine shop."
Bai Roushuang was surprised: "Stories can also make wine?"
Seeing this, Xi Cheng smiled and said, "Wan Xi and I ordered a jar of wine there last year. Calculating the date, it's almost time to go get the wine. If you are curious, come with us and take a look."
The three of them readily agreed and went to this tavern that sounded a little strange with Peng Wanxi and the other two.
In the bustling city that never sleeps, this tavern is not big and not very conspicuous. There is no plaque at the door, only a wine flag hanging.
After entering the door, there was only a woman in green standing quietly behind the counter. When she saw Xi Cheng and the other two take out their receipts to explain their purpose, she said calmly, "The wine for you two distinguished guests has been brewed, but it will taste best if you keep it for another two months. You can keep it here with me. If you know how to store wine, you can take it away and store it."
Xu Shulou then realized that the two of them had brought forward the date to get the wine in order to bring a few people here. Just as she was about to speak, Peng Wanxi saw through her thoughts and stopped her from talking: "I want to take this opportunity to let you taste our wedding wine."
Xi Cheng continued, "That's right. After two months, you, a busy man, will have no idea who to kill."
Xu Shulou laughed: "So it's a wedding banquet."
The woman in green went to the backyard and brought out a jar of wine after a while.
Xi Cheng opened the mud seal and sniffed it, then used a cup from the tavern to pour each person a glass of wine, and then carefully sealed the jar again.
Seeing that he was so skilled in the movements, the woman in green did not remind him again.
Xu Shulou raised his head and drank the small cup of clear wine. He felt a surge of joy rising in his heart, and then flowing from his heart to the corners of his eyes and eyebrows.
It was difficult for her to describe the feeling at that moment. It seemed that all the prosperity in the world could not compare to the warmth of each other's company. The rising sun was not as good as the smile on her lips; the bright moon in the sky was not as gentle as his eyebrows.
It's not the intense heartbeat of love at first sight, but the long-lasting warmth that accompanies each other for many years, it's the smile when looking at each other, it's the telepathic connection, it's the rain hitting the treetops in the woods, it's the singing of birds and the fragrance of flowers outside the window.
I am so lucky to meet you in this life and to have you know me and accompany me.
Xu Shulou came back to his senses and looked at Bai Roushuang and Yue'er again. After drinking a glass of wine, they were also stunned.
She bowed to Peng and Xi and said, "I know I've said this before, but I still want to repeat it again. Congratulations to you two."
Bai Roushuang was somewhat touched and followed suit, blessing: "May the two of you stay together forever."
Yue Er held her face in her hands: "This is love, right?"
At this point, everyone's curiosity was aroused. Xu Shulou had heard of the wine shop's reputation, but this was his first time entering it. "I thought that there must be sour and bitter flavors in the world. If I had known this was the case, I would have come here a long time ago."
Bai Roushuang asked the girl in green, "May I ask if we can buy other wine?"
"Sure. We will give a jar of wine made from each person's story to the owner of the story, and keep the rest for ourselves," the girl explained calmly, "but if you want to buy someone else's wine, you have to give me a story in exchange first."
Xu Shulou asked: "Does it have to be a story that happened to you?"
The girl shook her head: "Hearsay is also OK."
Several people looked at each other, and finally Yue'er volunteered: "Let me do it. I love listening to love stories the most."
Everyone sat around the table and listened attentively.
"Once upon a time, there was a male cultivator in the world of cultivation who fell in love with a mortal woman," Yue'er told the story. "They loved each other sincerely, but the woman was just a mortal with no spiritual energy. She couldn't cultivate the Tao, so they couldn't stay together for long. The male cultivator looked for all kinds of natural treasures to force the woman to build a foundation, but he failed. The woman could only be a mortal forever."
Hearing her pause, Bai Roushuang took the opportunity to interrupt: "It sounds like a sad story."
"It's a very sad story," Yue'er tilted her head and thought for a moment before continuing, "The male cultivators spent several years trying various methods, but they failed time and again. Finally, they came up with a good idea, which was to let the woman die at the prime of her life."
Everyone else was stunned by this good idea: "Huh?"
"Think about it," Yue'er explained, "If you die at the most beautiful age, you will always be the most beautiful in the eyes of your beloved. They will always be a perfect match and love each other forever. From then on, the woman will be the most beautiful thing in the man's heart. With her limited lifespan, she will leave the most vivid and colorful mark in his long life."
Everyone stared at her in amazement.
Xu Shulou asked hesitantly, "Well, compared to being a cinnabar mole, it seems that being alive is more valuable, right?"
Yue Er shook her head: "No, if we continue to live, we will grow old sooner or later, with wrinkles all over our faces, and we will no longer be beautiful in each other's hearts, and our feelings will also be worn out."
Bai Roushuang mustered up the courage to ask, "Is there any sequel to this story?"
Yue'er nodded: "The male cultivator put the woman's body into an ice coffin and preserved it for a long time. He goes to see her whenever he misses her."
Xu Shulou hesitated: "Who told you this story?"
"This is something that really happened in the world of cultivation," Yue'er said, "My cousin witnessed it with her own eyes when she was traveling, and she told me about it when I grew up."
Is this true? Everyone was horrified.
Yue'er's sigh seemed out of place with everyone else: "I really hope that one day I can also meet such a love that I am willing to give my life for."
Bai Roushuang turned her head to look at Xu Shulou.
The latter said faintly: "Don't look at me, I'm just your senior sister. This is what her senior sister has to worry about."
Peng Wanxi, who was standing by, had already advised, "Miss Yue'er, you absolutely cannot do that."
Yue Er asked back, "Why? Aren't you two willing to sacrifice your lives for each other?"
Xi Cheng sighed: "Of course I am willing to give my life for her, but that is when she is in danger and I will risk my life to save her, no, no..." He was a little at a loss for words and didn't know how to describe it for a moment.
"Not what?" Yue'er asked.
"It's not that they were in a good relationship, but suddenly they had a brainwave and wanted to commit suicide, which ended up being a tragic love story." Xu Shulou continued.
Bai Roushuang nodded in agreement: "If you don't want him to see your gray hair, you can just separate in time. Why bother ruining your life?"
Yue'er pursed her lips, not quite understanding.
Xu Shulou sighed. This fully demonstrated that it was not a good thing for a child to be detained for too long, never go out of the house, and be brought up too ignorant of the world.
She thought for a moment and asked, "When did your cousin witness this? Do you still remember the name of the person in the story?"
"My cousin stole, cough, and went out to gain experience about a hundred years ago. I was not even born at that time," Yue'er thought for a while. "I pestered my cousin to tell this story many times. I remember both of their names very clearly. The mortal woman was called Nan Xiuxiu, and the man was a disciple of Fenxiang Valley, named Li Muci. They are both very nice names!"
"Li Muci? The young master of Fenxiang Valley?" Xu Shulou raised his eyebrows. "I remember that he already had a Taoist partner."
"What?" Yue'er was surprised. "When did it happen?"
"I can't remember clearly," Xu Shulou shook his head, "probably fifty or sixty years ago."
Yue Er was devastated: "…How could this happen? I, I'm going to teach him a lesson!"
"What's there to teach him? Since he's already passed away, there's no need to keep his chastity," Peng Wanxi sighed, "So, don't sacrifice your life for something like this."
Xi Cheng replied in tacit agreement, "That's right, it's not worth it. A cultivator may live for thousands of years, but he may not even remember his own parents clearly, let alone a girl he has only known for a few years... Why are you glaring at me? My words may be a little blunt, but they make sense!"
“…”
The woman in green probably had heard too many stories of joy and sorrow, so she showed no expression at this moment. She just asked, "Are you sure you want to use this story?"
I can’t let Yue’er tell a story for nothing, Xu Shulou nodded: “OK.”
"Shall I leave you a jar of this wine after it's brewed?"
Xu Shulou glanced at Yue'er who was deeply shocked and sighed: "Yes."
"Okay, come back in a year to get it," the woman took the spirit stone and handed her a receipt, "If you don't come, I'll keep it for you."
"I'm sorry to ruin your beautiful story," Xu Shulou handed the voucher to Yue'er, "Come back to pick up the bar if you have the chance in the future."
Yue Er took the voucher dejectedly: "In fact, when I decided to come to the cultivation world to see the scenery, I was secretly hoping to meet a male cultivator who would fall in love with me."
“…”
She looked at Xu Shulou: "You saved me, which is the beginning of a good love story, but you are not a male cultivator, and I am not a male demon."
Yue'er's face was full of innocence, which made Xu Shulou couldn't help laughing: "In addition to love, there are many other good stories in this world. Come and choose a bar."
The woman in green showed everyone jars of wine on the shelf: "Each person can only buy one glass of each of these wines. Which one do you want?"
There is a name on each jar of wine, representing the person who left the story.
Yue'er was still a child at heart. Seeing something new, she perked up and searched through the labels of the wine jars: "Luo Xiaoxiang, I've heard of this person's story!"
Peng Wanxi smiled slightly: "The famous Luo Xiaoxiang, the founder of the Hehuan Sect, the most beautiful woman back then, her story is indeed well known to everyone."
The woman in green also said, "This wine was brought from the main store. It has always sold very well."
Yue'er couldn't help but ask, "Is this the story Luo Xiaoxiang told you personally?"
"That's right," the woman nodded, "The one who was in charge of the headquarters at that time was my ancestor."
Yue Er became excited: "There was once a war between a demon lord and an immortal lord for her. I have always wanted to know which one of them she loves."
This is indeed an unsolved mystery. With Luo Xiaoxiang's ascension, the Demon Lord and the Immortal Lord fell one after another, and no one knows the truth anymore.
Now, six or seven hundred years have passed, and many people in the cultivation world are still speculating on who this Luo Sect Master is in love with. Is it the noble and cold Immortal Lord who only cares about her, or the violent and unbridled Demon Lord who is willing to betray the world for her? It is said that someone once tried to break into the Hehuan Sect to find out if she had left any notes in order to solve the confusion in his heart, but he was severely punished by the people of the Hehuan Sect.
The woman in green did not answer. She poured a small glass of wine for each person with her delicate hands: "The answer is in the wine."
How can I answer that? It can't be that the one who tastes cool is the Immortal Lord, and the one who tastes warm is the Demon Lord?
Everyone drank it all in one gulp out of curiosity.
After a moment, Xu Shulou laughed, as if realizing something: "She doesn't love anyone."
She doesn't love the Immortal Lord who is high and mighty and can't speak human language, nor does she love the Demon Lord who kills people wantonly and disregards human lives.
Who would have thought that the answer that countless people in the world of cultivation had been seeking was hidden in a wine shop.
Amid the aroma of the wine lies a pure and clear heart of Tao.
Xu Shulou stared at the porcelain cup in his hand: "Stories brewing wine is really interesting."
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