Chapter Six: Is This Wine Really That Impressive?

No way, could there really be someone who, just because a few people called them “senior,” would forget who they really are?

Ye Qiu honestly had no talent for healing! If it were ordinary folk, he could manage a little, but treating cultivators—wasn’t that just asking for trouble? After all, Fu Yao’s injuries were internal, and Ye Qiu didn’t possess a trace of spiritual power. What could he possibly use to treat her?

“This is bad, really bad. If I refuse to help, wouldn’t that expose the fact that I’m completely useless? That can’t happen—I haven’t enjoyed pretending to be an expert for long enough. To be exposed now would be such a waste! Besides, look at those hopeful eyes—if I’m found out, I’ll probably end up worse than she is.”

Ye Qiu panicked. If he’d known, he wouldn’t have come down for the wine. Now, how was he supposed to handle this situation?

Seeing Ye Qiu remain silent for so long, Yang Xuan assumed his sincerity wasn’t enough. He dropped to his knees, bowing his head to the floor in earnest.

Fu Yao had been wounded saving them. If he didn’t show his gratitude, what kind of person was he? A few bows were nothing in comparison.

“Please, Senior, I beg you, save my junior sister! As long as you’re willing to act, I’ll do anything you ask…”

“Yes, Senior, please, save our senior sister…”

With Yang Xuan taking the lead, all the disciples of Yaoguang Sanctuary followed suit, their pleas pushing Ye Qiu into a corner.

In this situation, could Ye Qiu really say no? But the truth was, he genuinely had no idea what to do!

On the surface, Ye Qiu appeared calm, but inwardly he was frantic. “Rise first, let me have a look…”

Having been thrust into the spotlight, Ye Qiu had no choice but to continue his act; otherwise, if his lack of ability was revealed, he’d be finished.

Approaching Fu Yao, Ye Qiu studied the stunning woman before him, unable to suppress a sigh.

“What a pity, such a lovely girl, and she’s about to die at the hands of a quack like me…”

After a moment’s observation, Ye Qiu suddenly sensed a familiar presence and asked in confusion, “Why is there the flame of a Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow inside you?”

A gasp swept the crowd. Yang Xuan’s heart trembled. “A true master! Just one look and he saw through it—it really was the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow that injured my junior sister…”

Fu Yao nodded, deeply shocked herself. “That’s right, I was indeed wounded by the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow…”

What, he guessed right?

Ye Qiu was delighted. He’d just made a random guess, and it was actually correct!

Glancing back at Yang Xuan and the others, Ye Qiu could feel their admiration for him growing with each passing moment.

He nearly burst out laughing. “Is it really this easy? Turns out pretending to be an expert is so simple! Just a casual guess, and even fate is on my side. Today, I have no choice but to keep up the act…”

In truth, the reason Ye Qiu guessed right was entirely due to his keen sense of smell. He’d once ventured deep into a sea of flames and witnessed the Heaven-Swallowing Sparrow in action, so he was very familiar with its aura.

Ye Qiu said calmly, “If I’m not mistaken, the only reason you’ve managed to hold on this long is by relying on your own cultivation to resist, isn’t it?”

He wasn’t certain, but he seemed to recall Fu Yao mentioning her foundation had been damaged, so he made a bold deduction.

His words sent another ripple of astonishment through the crowd—even Fu Yao was stunned.

“A true master! Astounding—he can see the state of my junior sister’s body with a single glance! Even our grand elder couldn’t do that without probing with spiritual power.”

But Ye Qiu hadn’t used a trace of spiritual power, and had already deduced so much—what else could he be but a peerless expert?

Seeing the looks of awe around him, Ye Qiu breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed his guess had landed.

Still, guessing was one thing—healing was quite another, and Ye Qiu was at a loss.

“Senior, can my junior sister’s injuries still be cured?”

Yang Xuan looked at him with expectant eyes.

Ye Qiu froze.

“So, the moment of reckoning has come? How am I supposed to heal her? I have no idea…”

No, this won’t do. I’ve already put on the act—if I can’t heal her now, I’ll be slapping myself in the face!

Thinking desperately, Ye Qiu suddenly said, “How about… a sip of wine?”

The crowd: “???”

Was he joking?

Patients are usually forbidden alcohol, but he was encouraging it?

Could drinking wine really heal someone?

Just then, Cao He entered the hall, carrying a jar.

“Boss, I’ve brought the wine you wanted.”

“Wine?”

As soon as the jar appeared, a gentle fragrance wafted through the air, instantly lifting everyone’s spirits.

“What—why does this wine have such a celestial aura? Could this be the legendary Immortal Wine?”

For a moment, Yang Xuan and the others were dumbfounded. They had thought Ye Qiu was making fun of them, but the moment the wine appeared, that suspicion vanished.

Yang Xuan’s heart raced. “My heavens, this aroma alone seems to inspire a breakthrough! How miraculous is this? Could it really be Immortal Wine? Even if it’s just Spirit Wine, it would be a treasure in the Wilds. But Senior is willing to use a whole jar to save someone—what generosity!”

Shocked, all eyes were fixed on the unopened jar Cao He had brought.

Ye Qiu, holding the jar, looked blankly at the disciples of Yaoguang, who were all staring at him.

“What’s wrong with them? Why do they look so dazed? Is there something wrong with the wine?”

He didn’t understand. After all, he’d brewed it himself, based on memories from his past life, refining it as an industrial spirit.

The ingredients were the various herbs he grew in his backyard. In truth, he’d never tasted it himself and had no idea what effect it might have.

Still, since it was made from herbs, surely it might have some healing properties? Ye Qiu wasn’t sure…

“Senior, are you certain you want to use this wine to treat my junior sister?”

Yang Xuan asked, unable to hide his anxiety.

Ye Qiu felt awkward. If he had any other means, he wouldn’t be resorting to this. He was only doing it to maintain the act—if only he’d known, he wouldn’t have started. No wonder people say that pretending always brings trouble…

Ye Qiu replied coolly, “This wine is a medicinal brew of my own making, forged from all sorts of herbs. For ordinary mortals, a sip can extend one’s life for years; for cultivators, a sip can shatter shackles and lead to immortality.”

What immortality! Ye Qiu was just boasting, trying to convince them the wine was extraordinary.

In truth, it was just a jar of ordinary industrial liquor—a complete sham.

Self-praise at its finest…

Yet, the moment Ye Qiu finished speaking, the whole hall erupted.

“Break through shackles, attain immortality? My heavens, can such miraculous wine truly exist in this world?”

The crowd was dumbstruck. Yang Xuan thought, “A true master, never one to speak lightly! If anyone else said this, I’d think they were bragging. But if Senior says so, it must be true. Someone like him would never joke with us. This must be the legendary Immortal Wine! Just a whiff and my spiritual power is already surging…”

Thinking of the array of immortal swords atop the restaurant, Yang Xuan shivered with awe. Such extravagance—surely only Ye Qiu could possess such treasures. Compared to those swords, a jar of Immortal Wine was nothing.

No one doubted Ye Qiu’s words. They were thrilled and even covetous.

Yang Xuan could hardly believe that such a peerless master was hidden in this remote wasteland.

His power was beyond imagination!

Still, why had he never heard of Ye Qiu’s deeds in the Wilds? With such strength, he must have been a legend once. Anyone who reached such a level would have overcome endless trials—yet Ye Qiu had arrived here without a sound.

“Incredible! He must be a true peerless master—perhaps even an immortal, come to experience mortal life…”

The thought left Yang Xuan reeling, his expression growing more exaggerated the longer he pondered it.

Their reactions left Ye Qiu inwardly bewildered.

“Seriously? They believe this nonsense? It’s just ordinary industrial liquor—why do they think it’s so amazing?”

He was speechless, tempted to tell them it was just a simple medicinal wine, not nearly as miraculous as they imagined.

For over twenty years, Ye Qiu’s life had revolved around reading, writing, the arts, brewing wine, and farming—sometimes a bit of blacksmithing for leisure.

To him, all of it had been just idle pursuits, never imagining he’d one day be credited with creating immortal artifacts.

But since they believed him, that made things much easier.

As Ye Qiu unsealed the jar, a wave of fragrant aroma swept through the inn, enveloping the entire building.

A gasp rippled through the crowd.

“It really is Immortal Wine!”

Any lingering doubts vanished—now, no one dared question him.

Suddenly, a dazzling light flashed from a corner, followed by a loud bang, and one of the Yaoguang disciples exclaimed excitedly, “I’ve broken through! I’ve advanced!”

“Just a sniff is enough to break through—this is insane!”

“Damn, it really is Immortal Wine!”

The hall erupted into chaos. Many people immediately fell into meditation and broke through on the spot—the scene was completely out of control!

Leaving Ye Qiu standing alone, utterly bewildered.

“Are these people crazy? Why are they so excited, acting as if they’ve lost their minds? How did someone just break through? Could it actually be Immortal Wine?”

Impossible. Ye Qiu knew exactly what he’d brewed—just a jar of ordinary industrial liquor, nothing more.

Are you all trying to fool me?