The Great Fortune of Life

"Fellow Daoist Zheng, this is Chunnuan."

Cui Hao couldn't bother with reprimanding Qinghe for being a traitor right now; he needed to regain control of the conversation's pace first.

He carefully placed the tiny bottle of Chunnuan on the table before speaking slowly:

"Please don't disdain this small bottle, Fellow Daoist. This item is truly precious beyond words."

Zheng Zhaoling looked slightly surprised. She hadn't expected Cui Hao to actually procure Chunnuan; she thought he had just been bluffing.

"I understand. The value of this Chunnuan cannot be measured simply by the word 'precious'." Zheng Zhaoling glanced at the talisman sealing the bottle, immediately recognizing its rarity. "In the Tianyan Sect, aside from Senior Bai, this Chunnuan is the second most famous thing."

"The Tianyan Sect has never sold it, and rarely lets outsiders taste it."

"Today, I suppose I have you to thank for the chance to taste it, Fellow Daoist."

Qinghe also squeezed over, its eyes fixed tightly on the Chunnuan on the table, saying:

"Stop chatting and let's pour everyone a cup to taste first."

Cui Hao didn't reply. Instead, he looked at Zheng Zhaoling. Since this was a treat, the Chunnuan technically belonged to Zheng Zhaoling now. Whether Qinghe got to drink it or not was no longer his decision to make.

Zheng Zhaoling nodded gently:

"Let's give everyone a cup. As for San Dong... it would be better if it drank a little less."

San Dong hadn't finished eating its side fruits yet. Hearing this, it looked at Zheng Zhaoling with quite a joyful gaze.

It had never drunk Chunnuan, but it had drunk wine before, albeit ordinary wine.

Although it was a bit bitter and hard to swallow at first, it tasted better after a few more sips. Then, it would feel quite happy, even though its memories would become a bit muddled.

However, everyone shared a tacit understanding to rarely let it drink.

Now there was wine to drink, and it was what everyone called the most top-tier wine.

If possible, San Dong naturally wanted to drink it; even just a little bit would be fine.

Cui Hao didn't make a move to pour. Instead, he gently pushed the Chunnuan in front of Zheng Zhaoling.

Zheng Zhaoling naturally understood Cui Hao's intention. This Chunnuan belonged to her, so the goodwill of distributing it should also belong to her.

It had to be said that Cui Hao still possessed the appropriate attention to detail.

A faint smile graced Zheng Zhaoling's lips. She didn't decline, reaching out to lightly pinch the talisman on the bottle before tearing it off.

The aroma of the Chunnuan didn't burst out all at once. Instead, it was incredibly mellow, drifting out slowly with a slight lightness.

Qinghe took a deep breath, its eyes brightening further. It already had a cup in hand, waiting eagerly.

Zheng Zhaoling wasn't stingy. Even though she knew this was likely the last time she would ever drink Chunnuan, she poured a full cup for Qinghe and half a cup for San Dong.

She and Cui Hao each got a cup for themselves.

Qinghe had never enjoyed a whole cup of Chunnuan all to itself before. With a joyful expression, it took tiny sip after tiny sip, reluctant to finish it.

Zheng Zhaoling lifted her cup, smelled it gently, and then took a small sip. She sighed in admiration in her heart—as expected in the cultivation world, things with great reputations were never just for show.

It was hard to accurately describe the taste upon entering the mouth; drinking this wine seemed more about experiencing its lingering charm.

This wine didn't require a connoisseur to be understood. Even someone who knew nothing about tasting wine could directly grasp its meaning.

The spring breeze and gentle warmth were all blended into it, transforming into a faint, comfortable sensation.

It wasn't overpowering, seemingly stopping right at the perfect point.

But it was exactly this perfect restraint that made it even more comforting.

Stopping at the perfect point... this was indeed an incredibly difficult thing to achieve.

Zheng Zhaoling felt the Chunnuan slide down her throat, then transform into a wisp of warm spiritual energy that nourished her entire body.

Chunnuan—Spring Warmth—truly lived up to its name.

"Good wine," Zheng Zhaoling praised from the bottom of her heart.

Cui Hao raised his cup. "As long as you like it, Fellow Daoist."

Zheng Zhaoling smiled lightly, clinked cups, and downed the wine in one gulp.

Cui Hao also downed his in one gulp, narrowing his eyes slightly in comfort.

Although his master often promised Xu Jin and Daoist Yuyang that there would be enough Chunnuan to go around, in reality, it was just one small bottle of Chunnuan that they would sip little by little for an entire afternoon.

Everyone knew that authentic Chunnuan was extremely rare now. Lu Xuan treated the remaining Chunnuan as a sect treasure; asking him for Chunnuan was no different from asking for half his life.

Cui Hao had naturally crashed his master's drinking sessions before, but he had drunk very little.

He had also only taken tiny sips. Downing it so extravagantly in one gulp like this was indeed a first for him.

As the Chunnuan entered his throat, the intoxication gently surged. It wasn't harsh at all; instead, it washed over his mind like a soothing massage.

Zheng Zhaoling didn't stop, nor did she speak any nonsense. She simply drank the Chunnuan and distributed it.

Seeing this, Qinghe also downed its cup and asked Zheng Zhaoling for more.

From that tiny bottle, with Qinghe asking like this, it managed to score a full three cups.

Zheng Zhaoling had five cups. Cui Hao had declined, but Zheng Zhaoling still poured him four cups.

San Dong passed out after just half a cup, already lying drunk on the table with a face full of smiles.

Chunnuan was a spiritual wine, and San Dong's cultivation base was ultimately a bit too low.

Just like that, the small bottle of wine could no longer pour out a single drop; it was completely finished.

Zheng Zhaoling was also immersed in the intoxication of the Chunnuan. She didn't use her spiritual energy to dispel it, and at this moment, her face was slightly flushed.

The wine was gone.

Qinghe held its cup in satisfaction, then looked at Zheng Zhaoling with a wary gaze, as if it had never been won over by her. At the same time, it shot Cui Hao a look.

Although it couldn't read expressions well, as long as Cui Hao understood its look, that was enough—I was just tricking her into drinking Chunnuan just now. Now that I've freeloaded the drinks, I'm definitely still on your side.

Cui Hao smiled and nodded, as if accepting the excuse in Qinghe's eyes.

Seeing this, Qinghe felt a burst of joy in its heart. Didn't this mean it could get another free meal from Cui Hao?

Unfortunately, Qinghe didn't truly understand Cui Hao's look and smile.

Even Li Xingtian would have been able to read Cui Hao's eyes—This isn't over! I'll find a chance to settle the score with you!

Zheng Zhaoling slowly exhaled, paying no mind to the exchange of glances between the two.

She smiled and said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist."

Cui Hao replied, "As long as you are satisfied, Fellow Daoist."

"Since your master is busy and cannot see me, then I won't see him." Zheng Zhaoling looked at Cui Hao with a leisurely gaze. "I just hope you can pass a message to your master."

Cui Hao's expression turned serious. "I will definitely deliver it."

Zheng Zhaoling's expression turned cold, and her tone became equally icy:

"Yunmeng Pavilion does not appreciate this kind of joke. Please ask your master not to play such jokes again."

"Since one has accepted the mandate of heaven, one should act openly and aboveboard, rather than playing tricks."

After Zheng Zhaoling finished speaking, her expression softened again:

"Although Yunmeng Pavilion rarely involves itself with the outside world, the agreement of the Eighteen Immortal Sects will still be fulfilled. If your master has time, he is welcome to visit Yunmeng Pavilion for an exchange."

With that said, Zheng Zhaoling stood up:

"Thank you for the Chunnuan hospitality today, Fellow Daoist Cui. I won't intrude any longer."

Cui Hao watched as Zheng Zhaoling turned to leave, showing no intention of settling any scores with him. After a brief moment of daze, he still spoke up:

"Fellow Daoist... regarding the matter of Beiju Luzhou..."

Zheng Zhaoling stopped in her tracks, looked back at Cui Hao, and smiled lightly:

"You did what I wanted to do. I shouldn't blame you for certain things, so why would I?"

"Could it be that you think of me as a petty person who must seek revenge on you just because I suffered a small loss?"

"After all, I still agree with what you said about us being like-minded individuals."

"So, even if what you treated me to today wasn't Chunnuan, I still would have drank with you."

"Fellow Daoist, the world is teeming with peerless prodigies, yet I am still among the absolute best."

"Do not underestimate me, for that would be a true insult."

"Today, you treated me to the Spring Warmth. Should you ever have the chance to visit the Cloud Dream Pavilion in the future, I shall treat you to the Cloud Dream Tassel."

"It may not quite match the Spring Warmth, but it is not far behind."

"Fellow Daoist."

Zheng Zhaoling turned around and waved her hand. A gust of wind caught her long hair as her valiant figure departed with a carefree grace. Her voice rang out, full of vibrant spirit:

"Until we meet again."

Cui Hao watched as Zheng Zhaoling transformed into a streak of rainbow light and soared away, leaving behind only the promise of a next time.

He smiled, his heart feeling completely at ease.

In this vast world, there were naturally like-minded souls walking the same path.

To encounter such a person.

Was one of life's greatest fortunes.