Chapter Six: Swift as Thunder

The two were in the midst of a lively conversation when the doorkeeper’s voice interrupted them.

“Young Master Xu? Xu Yuan?”

Hearing the doorkeeper, Li Licheng, whose pleasant mood had been disturbed, muttered Xu Yuan’s name under his breath, finding it wholly unfamiliar.

Having lived in Qingshan County for over half a year, he’d already become acquainted with all the prominent families and wealthy clans—yet none bore the surname Xu.

Still, Li Licheng didn’t immediately turn the visitor away. Instead, he asked through the door, “What’s the background of this Xu fellow?”

“I do not know, sir, but Young Master Xu is a man of extraordinary presence. I once had the honor of accompanying Master Wang to meet Liu the Triple Laureate, and today, I must say Young Master Xu’s bearing and looks are in no way inferior to Liu’s!”

The doorkeeper’s tone was firm.

In truth, not only was Xu no less impressive, he might even surpass Liu. But such words were hardly the doorkeeper’s place to say, nor did he dare.

His duty was simply to discern whether a visitor was worthy of notice and to report accordingly, not to invite trouble upon himself.

“His bearing rivals Liu the Triple Laureate’s?!”

A profound astonishment flashed across Li Licheng’s face.

To achieve triple laurels—highest honors in all three examinations—was a glory every scholar in the land dreamed of, and required true talent and ability.

Moreover, Liu hailed from a distinguished family, his status far above anything a small county like Qingshan could produce.

It was no exaggeration: even his own father-in-law would bow in respect before Liu.

How could this modest county possibly give rise to someone so illustrious?

Initially intending to send the visitor away, Li Licheng immediately changed his mind. “Such a person must be met. Invite him in at once.”

The doorkeeper hurried back, his face beaming. “Young Master Xu, please, come in. My lord awaits you.”

“Very well.”

Xu Yuan nodded and, following the doorkeeper’s lead, entered the Li residence at an unhurried pace.

Li Licheng and his guest had already stepped out to greet him, and when they saw Xu Yuan approaching, their eyes lit up.

Sword-like brows, star-bright eyes, an imposing figure, hair like a cascade of black silk, white robes immaculate as snow—though his attire bore no ornamentation, it only served to highlight his upright and vigorous bearing. There was an unspoken nobility in his eyes, an effortless grace to his poise, as if a banished immortal had descended to earth.

This, truly, was the image of a jade tree in the wind.

The doorkeeper’s earlier praise, claiming Xu’s bearing equaled that of Liu the Triple Laureate, had seemed doubtful to Li Licheng.

Now, seeing him in person, he had to admit that with such presence alone, Xu Yuan was second to none. One could only marvel that the world could produce such a remarkable man—he hardly seemed mortal at all.

“Hahaha! No wonder there were omens from the heavens today—so it was the arrival of Young Master Xu that brought them about!”

With a hearty laugh, Li Licheng cupped his hands in greeting, words of flattery ready at his lips.

A man of such bearing was clearly no ordinary person, and naturally one worth befriending.

Yet unlike Li Licheng’s courteousness, Xu Yuan did not return the greeting. He only asked coldly, “Are you Li Licheng?”

Li Licheng’s heart skipped a beat. This man’s gaze was anything but friendly. Had he, unwittingly, offended someone he should not have?

A thousand thoughts flashed through his mind, but after careful consideration, he was certain he’d caused no trouble recently. So he replied, “I am Li Licheng. May I ask what brings Young Master Xu here?”

“Is the Immortal’s Drunkenness in your possession?”

Xu Yuan asked again.

“Immortal’s Drunkenness?” Li Licheng started, then his tense expression relaxed somewhat, and he smiled. “Indeed, the Immortal’s Drunkenness is my creation. I did not expect its fame to have spread so far.”

“That is as it should be.” Xu Yuan did not act at once, but instead asked, “Do you know that this wine originally belonged to Manager Gao of the Immortal Abode?”

The smile froze on Li Licheng’s face.

Of course he knew Manager Gao. The man had refused to show respect and paid the price—he could not be tolerated.

Now, with the truth so bluntly stated, even his carefully maintained composure nearly slipped.

But this was nothing he couldn’t handle. Li Licheng replied at once, “It’s true that Qingshan County once had a wine called Immortal’s Drunkenness, and I am acquainted with Manager Gao.”

He shifted the conversation smoothly, “But it is common for people to share names, even in officialdom, let alone with a wine. As for Manager Gao, he was notorious for passing off inferior wine as genuine. Once he was caught, he realized the gravity of his crimes and, fearing prison, took his own life in custody.”

His voice lost its earlier warmth, becoming slightly colder. “So, is this the matter that brings you here, Young Master Xu?”

“Precisely,” Xu Yuan confirmed, not bothering with any pretense.

“Then I fear you are mistaken. The secret of my Immortal’s Drunkenness was bestowed upon me in a dream by an immortal, who said that worldly wines were tasteless, and thus revealed this recipe to me. Who else could know of it?”

Li Licheng immediately adopted the explanation his guest had just devised, further enhancing the mystique of Immortal’s Drunkenness.

In these times, when supernatural phenomena appeared yearly and the common folk were ever more eager to seek the Way or immortality, such a story would be well-received and help spread the fame of his wine, lending it an air of the miraculous.

“So you claim your Immortal’s Drunkenness is different from Manager Wang’s?”

Xu Yuan asked with a furrowed brow.

“Of course. Mine is a gift from the immortals—how could mere mortals compare?” Li Licheng replied with unwavering conviction.

“Do you have any of the wine here?”

After a moment’s thought, Xu Yuan asked again.

Li Licheng gazed deeply at him, then clapped his hands three times. “Bring wine for Young Master Xu!”

Soon, a maid arrived with a tray, bowing as she presented it to Xu Yuan.

“This is the Li family’s Immortal’s Drunkenness. Please, have a taste.”

Li Licheng’s eyes were fixed intently on Xu Yuan, eager to discern his true thoughts.

Xu Yuan took the wine pot and poured himself a cup.

The wine was clear, with a faint golden hue.

He lifted the cup to his nose, inhaled lightly, and then drained it in one gulp.

The strong liquor burned all the way down, like fire in his chest.

Immortal’s Drunkenness...

Ah, it was indeed Immortal’s Drunkenness.

“How is the wine?” Li Licheng stared unblinkingly at Xu Yuan, trying to read his reaction.

But Xu Yuan’s face remained unreadable, his expression calm as still water. Ignoring Li Licheng, he poured himself another full cup.

This time, however, he didn’t drink it. Instead, he tipped the brimming cup gently to the ground.

The wine spilled like falling tears, scattering dust in a darkened swirl.

Li Licheng’s face blackened in an instant.

“You say this Immortal’s Drunkenness was revealed to you by an immortal in a dream?”

Wine spilled, Xu Yuan turned to face Li Licheng, his expression cold as ice.

“That’s right,” Li Licheng replied, matching his tone.

“But this wine—” Xu Yuan sighed, “I taught the recipe to young Gao thirty years ago.”

“What?” Li Licheng’s face was a mask of disbelief.

Was this man mad?

He looked no more than twenty, how could he have taught someone to brew wine thirty years ago?

Was he just here to cause trouble?

Li Licheng was about to curse and throw the man out when, suddenly, the figure in white moved like lightning.

Before anyone could see what happened, he was already in front of Li Licheng.

What looked like a light push landed on his chest, which caved in suddenly. His body was tossed up like a kite, then crashed heavily to the ground.

When he acted, it was like a thunderbolt.