Chapter 7: The Immortal of Wine

Although Mr. Xiao was the leader of the Fengxiao Alliance, his martial arts were unfathomably profound, he was a man utterly devoted to alcohol. Having tasted all the finest wines across the land, he had even sneaked into the imperial palace to sample the royal vintages. Yet, the moment he tried the white liquor brewed by Li Ye, he was immediately astounded, as if encountering a celestial being.

In ancient times, alcohol typically had a low proof, incomparable to the high-proof liquor Li Ye crafted. Especially for those accustomed to drinking heavily, after savoring strong spirits, any other wine seemed as bland as cold water, utterly lacking in flavor. Mr. Xiao drank continuously for three days and nights, and his interest in the brewer grew intense, prompting him to investigate further.

Eventually, he found his way to Li Ye’s residence and was astonished to discover vast quantities of even higher-quality wines stored in the royal cellar. He decided to reside directly in Li Ye’s wine cellar, staying for over three months and consuming large amounts of wine. It wasn’t until the servants noticed the missing wine that Li Ye and Mr. Xiao met for the first time.

Curious about why a prince would know how to brew wine, Mr. Xiao was intrigued. Li Ye, in turn, knew that anyone capable of evading the mansion’s guards must not be ordinary, and given his love for fine wine, he must be a figure of great skill. Li Ye then offered his finest reserved wines to entertain Mr. Xiao, who drank without hesitation and was once again struck with awe. He had believed the cellar’s wines were the best in the world, yet these surpassed them by a great margin. At that moment, he thought only the heavens could possess such wine, brewed only by immortals.

Hearing that only Li Ye knew the brewing technique, Mr. Xiao was even more shocked and became increasingly curious about him, secretly investigating. His findings were astonishing: this Sixth Prince was extraordinary. He had no interest in power struggles but was a top-tier business genius. The goods sold under his enterprises were all novel, unlike anything seen before. Though Li Ye’s reputation was poor on the surface, with many scoffing and looking down on him, he had secretly built a vast commercial empire with earnings surpassing the royal treasury. He had also forged connections with many unusual figures.

The more Mr. Xiao investigated, the more Li Ye seemed an enigma, forever inscrutable. From then on, Mr. Xiao held Li Ye in high regard and even wished to groom him as the successor of the Fengxiao Alliance. Li Ye, hearing of the alliance for the first time, was deeply shocked. He had never imagined such a mysterious and powerful organization existed, one entirely unknown to the world.

However, after learning more, Li Ye promptly declined, clearly stating he was merely a prince who wished to quietly make money and had no interest in anything else. Accepting a killer organization would mean facing equally formidable adversaries, and without martial skills, he would be vulnerable to assassination. It was far better to remain a carefree prince.

Despite Li Ye’s refusal, Mr. Xiao did not give up; he admired him even more. Li Ye met the two most crucial criteria for leading the Fengxiao Alliance. The first was exceptional intelligence, necessary to contend with the alliance’s powerful foes. Li Ye’s ability to build such a vast commercial empire proved his brilliance. The second was discretion, the ability to act quietly without boasting. It had taken Mr. Xiao great effort to uncover Li Ye's business empire, and even then, it was far from fully understood. Such restraint alone rivaled Mr. Xiao’s own.

Mr. Xiao did not pressure Li Ye, believing that although his ambitions were hidden, his immense wealth would inevitably attract attention. When the time came that he needed formidable martial power to overcome enemies, he would accept the mantle and become the next Mr. Xiao.

Furthermore, Mr. Xiao’s addiction to fine wine meant that after tasting such excellence, he could no longer endure inferior liquor. Thus, he and Li Ye struck a deal: Mr. Xiao would teach him all his martial arts skills, and Li Ye would supply him with the finest white liquor.

At first, Li Ye was not very interested. Upon arriving in this world, he had initially been fascinated by martial arts, hoping to cultivate great skill to protect himself. But he soon realized his aptitude was poor, at best average. No matter how hard he tried, mastery was out of reach, so he abandoned the pursuit.

But this did not deter Mr. Xiao. The Fengxiao Alliance possessed many secret methods to enhance one’s aptitude. They crafted techniques suited to Li Ye’s style and gathered rare medicinal herbs from across the land to aid him in purifying his body and mind. Unknown to all, Mr. Xiao was secretly training Li Ye into a first-rate martial artist. Only Xiao Cui and Lin Yue were aware of this.

Mr. Xiao finished the wine in his gourd in one gulp, then refilled it with freshly brewed liquor. He then said, “As always, I will begin teaching you at the second watch. For now, let us savor this fine wine!”

“Very well,” Li Ye nodded slightly.

Xiao Chun soon brought the wine. Mr. Xiao eagerly took it, clapping his palm on the jar to open it. The strong aroma immediately filled the air. He leaned over the jar and inhaled deeply, a look of bliss spreading across his face.

“Fragrant! The aroma lingers long and refreshes the soul! Just smelling it, I can imagine how smooth and pleasant it will be to drink.”

“Xiao Cui, pour Mr. Xiao a glass! At first, it’s best to taste in small sips.”

“No need, I’ll do it myself!” Mr. Xiao said, holding the jar and pouring a thin, precise stream into a small cup without spilling a drop. Any expert witnessing this would be amazed, as it demanded supreme internal skill. Moreover, the cup was filled to the brim, so even a single drop more would overflow.

Mr. Xiao set down the jar, lifted the cup, and drank it all at once. Closing his eyes, he savored it slowly, swallowing bit by bit. After a long moment, he exclaimed, “Smooth on entry, a slender thread down the throat—truly excellent! Fragrant with a lasting aftertaste! This is undoubtedly the finest wine I have ever tasted.”

Li Ye smiled beside him and said, “I think I’ve heard you say that several times before.”

Mr. Xiao poured himself another cup and began tasting it slowly.

“That’s because each batch you brew is better than the last! What is this wine called?”

“Maotai,” Li Ye answered.

“Good, Maotai. This jar alone is worth a fortune!”

“I put great effort into brewing it. Compared to the authentic recipe, it’s about eighty or ninety percent similar. If aged for a few years, the aroma will become even richer. A sip leaves a lasting fragrance on the lips and teeth,” Li Ye explained.