The Stolen Wine

Tianyan Sect.

Loving Family Peak.

"Since Bai Qing isn't here, I'll brew the tea for you two myself, lest you say I'm neglecting my guests."

Chu Xingchen picked up the teapot, casually tossed some tea leaves in, and poured water without any technique. Then, he shook the teapot, seemingly trying to mix the tea inside evenly.

Afterward, under the slightly incredulous gazes of Xu Jin and Yuyang, he poured out two cups of the brewed tea and pushed them in front of each of them.

Seeing this, Yuyang shook his head helplessly and reached out to take the teapot from Chu Xingchen's hand:

"If you don't know how to brew tea, just bring out the wine. You're ruining both the tea leaves and the water."

"What's the difference between this brew and dishwater?"

Xu Jin smiled rather calmly, picked up the teacup placed in front of him, and downed it in one gulp under Daoist Yuyang's shocked gaze.

"It indeed lacks the charm of the tea brewed by your disciple."

Daoist Yuyang looked quite shocked as he said:

"Did he get some kind of blackmail material on you? How could you even open your mouth and drink the dishwater he brewed?"

Xu Jin shrugged and said:

"At the very least, it's a token of Brother Chu's goodwill."

"Ew..." Daoist Yuyang looked at Xu Jin with a disgusted expression. "How can you even say something so nauseating?"

Although Daoist Yuyang voiced his disgust, he re-brewed the tea, poured a new cup, and pushed it toward Xu Jin, saying:

"I really don't know if your Xuanqing Heavenly Sect still has any taste left."

Xu Jin also downed the tea brewed by Daoist Yuyang in one gulp, then smiled:

"Maybe I'm just a rough person."

"A bit." Daoist Yuyang took a light sip of his tea, then turned his gaze to Chu Xingchen, raising an eyebrow. "Nowadays, there are two people in the world who have gained immense fame and are known by everyone."

Hearing this, Chu Xingchen put on an envious expression and said:

"That must be the two favored sons of heaven sitting right in front of me. Not only are you endowed with outstanding talent, but you are also exceptionally brilliant."

Daoist Yuyang wasn't annoyed upon hearing this. He merely clicked his tongue twice and mimicked Chu Xingchen's tone as he spoke:

"If only it were truly the two of us, then we wouldn't have come here to watch someone play the fool."

"Who did you learn this way of speaking from? Why does it sound so punchable?"

"Naturally, I learned it from a certain friend surnamed Chu."

"You shouldn't get too close to that kind of friend; he's a bad influence on you. The Daoist Yuyang I used to know didn't speak like this."

"Is that so? In that case, should I beat him up to vent my anger?"

Chu Xingchen threw his hands up in a shrug: "I'm heavily injured right now, and my cultivation has almost completely plummeted. If you really have the heart to strike me, then be my guest."

Daoist Yuyang snorted coldly:

"At least you know I'm talking about you."

Chu Xingchen picked up the teacup from the table and laughed:

"Alright, alright, the one whose fame shakes the world is me, happy now? Let me offer a cup as an apology to my Brother Yuyang."

"You really have a gift for words." Daoist Yuyang also raised his cup to clink against his, continuing: "Hearing you admit it like this actually makes me even angrier."

Chu Xingchen finished his tea, then shook his head and said:

"What I'm apologizing for isn't this. I didn't handle the matter in Xiniu Hezhou properly, causing Brother Yuyang a lot of trouble and even delaying your breakthrough."

"Now that sounds like something a human would say." Daoist Yuyang lightly tapped his teacup against the table, then downed it in one gulp and chuckled softly,

"But I only did what a friend should do."

Xu Jin also looked at Chu Xingchen, sensing the spiritual energy at the late Nascent Soul stage leaking from him at the moment. After a moment of hesitation, he asked:

"How are your injuries now? Will they affect your future cultivation?"

Chu Xingchen replied: "The injuries are manageable. As for whether they'll have an impact, I won't know until I've fully recovered."

Daoist Yuyang waved his hand:

"Come on, with his monstrous aptitude, if he didn't suffer a little damage, how would the rest of us ever have a day to shine?"

"Furthermore, the only living True Immortal in the world is this kid's Dao Protector. Anyone could be bullied, but it's impossible for this kid to be the one getting bullied."

Hearing this, Xu Jin nodded slightly, expressing his agreement.

Chu Xingchen leisurely stood up, looked at the two, and said:

"I've been lying around for quite some time now. Since it's rare for you two to visit, I should organize some activity to entertain you, and it'll give me a chance to stretch my limbs."

"What activity?" Daoist Yuyang looked at Chu Xingchen with suspicion. "Your injuries haven't even recovered yet, what kind of trouble can you stir up?"

"I know where Sect Leader Lü hides his treasured Spring Warmth." Chu Xingchen raised an eyebrow slightly. "It's just that my cultivation is too low right now; if I go in to take it, I'll probably be caught red-handed. You two should have roughly the same level of cultivation. So, how about it? Do you have the guts?"

Daoist Yuyang lightly pursed his lips, quite tempted as he said:

"With your status, couldn't you just ask Sect Leader Lü for the Spring Warmth? Even if he doesn't give you face, he has to give face to Bai Xuanling, right?"

Chu Xingchen raised his eyebrow and smiled: "What others give you is never as sweet as what you take yourself."

"Makes sense."

Daoist Yuyang nodded in agreement, then turned his gaze toward Xu Jin.

After all, among the three people present, Xu Jin had the highest cultivation.

Xu Jin hesitated for a moment before gently nodding his head.

Seeing this, Chu Xingchen clapped his hands and said:

"Good, let me assign the tasks. My cultivation is the lowest, so I'll be responsible for distracting people and keeping watch. Brother Yuyang has divine arts, so he'll handle the escape route. Brother Xu has the highest cultivation and the strongest methods, so he will be responsible for grabbing the Spring Warmth."

"Also, we are all figures of status and prestige. If something goes wrong, no one is allowed to abandon their teammates and run. Whoever runs away will probably be mocked by the other two for a very long time."

Hearing this, Daoist Yuyang patted his chest and guaranteed:

"I didn't even run from the mess in Xiniu Hezhou. It's just a matter of admitting a mistake at worst, so why would I run from this?"

After he finished speaking, both of their gazes naturally turned to Xu Jin.

Xu Jin was naturally aware of the implications. Seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, he also felt a surge of excitement in his heart.

Wasn't this exactly what brotherhood was about?

Xu Jin nodded and replied: "Never abandoning each other, that is true brotherhood!"

Chu Xingchen cupped his hands and said earnestly: "Excellent! I, Chu, am truly fortunate to have met a figure like Brother Xu."

Daoist Yuyang glanced at Chu Xingchen and similarly cupped his hands, saying:

"I, Yuyang, feel the same! It's an honor to forge such brotherhood with Brother Xu!"

Xu Jin nodded heavily.

Tianyan Peak.

Suddenly, a beam of spiritual energy shot straight into the sky, followed by the loud ringing of the Dao bells across the entire Tianyan Peak.

In the next moment, countless streaks of light rushed toward the Tianyan Sect from all directions.

Xu Jin's figure had just broken free from the shackles of the formation. Looking quite disheveled, he was just about to raise his head and question Chu Xingchen, who was supposed to be at the door—what did he mean by 'your cultivation is just right'? The formation inside was absurdly outrageous, and crossing it had actually triggered the sect's protective bells!

Let alone the Body Integration stage, even a Mahayana stage expert wouldn't be able to handle it!

When Xu Jin looked up, his expression turned into one of bewilderment. Obviously, Chu Xingchen was long gone from the door.

Xu Jin looked at the spiritual energy soaring into the sky. This was not the time to dwell on Chu Xingchen's treacherous act of fleeing. He turned his gaze to the right; Yuyang possessed divine arts, and with their enhancement, escaping wouldn't be a difficult task.

But in the next moment.

Xu Jin froze, and for no other reason than this.

Yuyang, who was supposed to be responsible for the rendezvous, had also vanished without a trace long ago.

At this moment, dawn finally broke upon Xu Jin.

What "whoever runs away will be mocked".

It was obvious that whoever didn't sell out their teammates would be the one getting laughed at.