I Ruined the Long Ao Tian Script-Chapter 70

Brewing Tales with Wine

Xu Shulou exchanged pleasantries with Peng Wanxi and Xi Cheng, asking about the events that had transpired in their lives during their years apart.

Peng Wanxi answered each question before covering her lips with a chuckle. "I suppose I don’t need to ask about you. Over the years, Xi Cheng and I have constantly heard news of your exploits. Just in recent years—killing Gao Zhang of the Black Tortoise Tower in Ruzhou City, slaying Fan Yang of the Lingxiao Sect in Frostless City, and afterward, Fan Zhi and Wei Xuandao. Your life, Fellow Daoist Xu, has been nothing short of legendary."

"Gao Zhang wasn’t killed by me," Xu Shulou replied gloomily, touching her face. Now that she thought about it, it did seem that every time her name spread far and wide, it was accompanied by bloodshed. No wonder some people regarded her as a goddess of slaughter.

It was all because those she had killed were too famous, Xu Shulou thought unreasonably. The incident where she slew the old man who crafted soul-summoning banners hadn’t spread nearly as widely.

After a few more exchanges, Xu Shulou couldn’t help but ask, "It’s been a long time since I last visited this City That Never Sleeps. Are there any interesting new places in recent years?"

Xi Cheng pondered for a moment. "Have you heard of Brewing Tales with Wine?"

Xu Shulou nodded. "Naturally."

"They’ve opened a branch here in the City That Never Sleeps."

Bai Roushuang and Yue'er couldn’t hide their curiosity. "What’s Brewing Tales with Wine?"

Peng Wanxi explained, "It’s a tavern where customers enter and tell a story. The proprietors then brew that story into wine. Inside, you can taste the myriad flavors of life."

Bai Roushuang gasped in surprise. "Stories can be brewed into wine?"

Seeing ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‍their reactions, Xi Cheng laughed. "Wanxi and I ordered a jar of wine there last year. By my calculations, it should be about time to retrieve it. If you’re curious, why not come along with us to take a look?"

The three readily agreed and accompanied Peng Wanxi and Xi Cheng to this slightly peculiar-sounding tavern.

Amid the bustling City That Never Sleeps, the tavern’s entrance was small and inconspicuous, lacking a signboard. Only a wine flag hung outside.

Upon entering, they found a woman in green robes standing quietly behind the counter. Only when Xi Cheng and Peng Wanxi presented their token and stated their purpose did she speak. "Your wine is ready, honored guests. However, it would be best to let it age for another two months for optimal flavor. You may leave it here, or if you know how to store wine properly, you may take it with you."

Xu Shulou then realized the two had come early just to bring them along. She was about to speak when Peng Wanxi, guessing her thoughts, cut her off. "We took this chance because we wanted you to taste our wedding wine."

Xi Cheng chimed in, "Exactly. Two months from now, you, the ever-busy one, will probably be off somewhere chopping down who-knows-who."

Xu Shulou laughed. "So it’s wedding wine."

The woman in green retreated to the back and soon returned with a wine jar.

Xi Cheng removed the clay seal, sniffed the contents, and poured a small cup for each of them before carefully resealing the jar. Seeing his practiced movements, the woman offered no further reminders.

Xu Shulou tilted her head back and downed the small cup of clear, exquisite wine. In an instant, a wave of joy rose in her heart, spreading to the corners of her eyes and brows.

She struggled to describe the feeling—as if all the splendor of the world paled in comparison to the warmth of companionship. The rising sun could not rival the smile on her lips; the moon in the sky fell short of the tenderness in his gaze.

It wasn’t the fierce passion of love at first sight, but the gentle affection of years spent side by side—a shared smile, an unspoken understanding, the sound of rain rustling through forest leaves, the fragrance of blossoms carried by birdsong outside the window.

To meet you in this fleeting life, to have your understanding, companionship, and devotion—what incredible fortune.

When Xu Shulou regained her senses, she saw Bai Roushuang and Yue'er similarly dazed after their cups.

She clasped her hands toward Peng Wanxi and Xi Cheng. "I know I’ve already said this, but I must say it again—congratulations to you both."

Bai Roushuang, moved, added her own blessing. "May your love endure, and may you always walk hand in hand."

Yue'er cupped her cheeks. "This must be what love is."

Now thoroughly intrigued, Xu Shulou admitted, "I’d heard of this tavern but never visited. I always assumed the 'myriad flavors of life' would include bitterness and sourness. Had I known it was like this, I’d have come much sooner."

Bai Roushuang asked the woman in green, "May we purchase other wines here?"

"You may," the woman replied evenly. "For every story brewed into wine, we give the storyteller one jar and keep the rest. But to buy another’s wine, you must first offer a story in exchange."

Xu Shulou asked, "Must it be a story from our own lives?"

The woman shook her head. "Even hearsay will do."

The group exchanged glances before Yue'er volunteered, "I’ll go. I love listening to love stories."

They gathered around the table to listen.

"Once, a male cultivator in the cultivation world fell in love with a mortal woman," Yue'er began. "They were truly in love, but the woman had no spiritual roots and couldn’t cultivate, meaning they could never be together for long. The cultivator searched for all manner of rare treasures to forcibly establish her foundation, but he failed every time. She remained an ordinary mortal."

Pausing, Yue'er allowed Bai Roushuang to interject, "This sounds like a tragic tale."

"It’s a poignant story," Yue'er agreed, tilting her head. "After years of failed attempts, they finally devised a solution—for the woman to die in the bloom of her youth."

The others stared at her, stunned. "What?"

"Think about it," Yue'er explained. "By dying young, she would remain forever beautiful in her lover’s eyes. They would always be matched, always in love. She would become the cinnabar mark on his heart, leaving the most vivid stroke in his long life with her limited years."

Everyone gaped at her.

Xu Shulou ventured cautiously, "Well… compared to being a cinnabar mark, wouldn’t staying alive be more valuable?"

Yue'er shook her head. "No. If she lived, she would eventually grow old—wrinkled, gray-haired, her beauty fading until their love withered away."

Bai Roushuang gathered her courage. "Is there more to this story?"

Yue'er nodded. "The cultivator placed her body in an ice coffin, preserving it so he could visit her whenever he missed her."

Xu Shulou hesitated. "Who… told you this story?"

"It really happened in the cultivation world," Yue'er said. "My cousin witnessed it during her travels and told me when I grew up."

A true story? The group shuddered.

Yue'er’s sigh stood in stark contrast to their horror. "I hope one day, I too can find a love worth dying for."

Bai Roushuang turned to Xu Shulou.

The latter murmured, "Don’t look at me. I’m just your senior sister. This is her senior sister’s problem to handle."

Beside them, Peng Wanxi was already urging, "Miss Yue'er, you mustn’t think that way."

Yue'er retorted, "Why? Wouldn’t you and your spouse be willing to lay down your lives for each other?"

Xi Cheng sighed, "Of course, I would give my life for her—but only if she were in danger. Not, not..." He stumbled over his words, struggling to articulate his thoughts.

"Not what?" Yue'er pressed.

"Not suddenly deciding to take your own life in the middle of a perfectly good romance just to create some tragic love story," Xu Shulou interjected.

Bai Roushuang nodded in agreement. "If you don’t want him to see you grow old, you could simply part ways in time. Why go so far as to throw your life away?"

Yue'er pouted, looking both confused and thoughtful.

Xu Shulou sighed. This was a clear sign that the girl had been sheltered for too long, never venturing outside, and raised in such naivety that it wasn’t doing her any favors.

After a moment, Xu Shulou asked, "When did your cousin witness this? Do you remember the names of the people in that story?"

"My cousin sneaked out—ahem, went on a journey—about a hundred years ago, long before I was born," Yue'er replied after some thought. "But I made her tell me the story so many times that I remember their names perfectly. The mortal woman was called Nan Xiuxiu, and the man was a disciple of the Incense-Burning Valley, named Li Muci. Both had such beautiful names!"

"Li Muci? The young master of the Incense-Burning Valley?" Xu Shulou raised an eyebrow. "I recall he already has a Daoist partner."

"What?" Yue'er gasped. "Since when?"

"I can’t remember exactly," Xu Shulou shook her head. "Probably around fifty or sixty years ago."

Yue'er was utterly devastated. "...How could this be? I—I ought to go and give him a piece of my mind!"

"And what would you scold him for?" Peng Wanxi sighed. "The dead cannot be bound by loyalty. That’s exactly why you should never throw your life away for something like this."

Xi Cheng chimed in smoothly, "Exactly. It’s not worth it. Cultivators live for thousands of years—some can’t even remember their own parents, let alone a woman they spent just a few years with... Why are you glaring at me? Harsh words, but true!"

"..."

The woman in green, seemingly accustomed to tales of love and loss, remained expressionless as she asked, "Are you all certain you want to use this story?"

Not wanting Yue'er’s storytelling to go to waste, Xu Shulou nodded. "We are."

"Shall I set aside a jar of the wine for you?"

Xu Shulou glanced at the crestfallen Yue'er and sighed. "Yes."

"Very well. Come back in a year to claim it," the woman said, accepting their spirit stones and handing them a receipt. "If you don’t return, I’ll keep it for you indefinitely."

"I’m sorry for ruining your beautiful story," Xu Shulou said, passing the receipt to Yue'er. "If the opportunity arises, we’ll come back for the wine."

Yue'er took the receipt dejectedly. "When I decided to visit the cultivation world, I secretly hoped I’d meet a male cultivator and fall in love."

"..."

She turned to Xu Shulou. "You saved me—that could have been the start of a wonderful love story. But you’re not a man, and I’m not a male demon."

Her innocent expression made Xu Shulou chuckle. "There are many wonderful stories in this world besides romance. Come, let’s pick a wine."

The woman in green gestured to the shelves lined with jars. "Each of these wines can only be purchased once per person. Which one would you like?"

Every jar bore a name, representing the person who had left behind their tale.

Yue'er, still childlike in spirit, quickly perked up at the novelty. She scanned the labels and gasped. "Luo Xiaoxiang! I’ve heard of her!"

Peng Wanxi smiled faintly. "The renowned Luo Xiaoxiang—founder of the Harmony Sect and the most celebrated beauty of her time. Her story is indeed well-known."

The woman in green nodded. "This wine was brought from our main branch. It’s always been a bestseller."

Yue'er couldn’t resist asking, "Did Luo Xiaoxiang personally tell you her story?"

"She did," the woman confirmed. "My grandmaster was in charge of the main branch at the time."

Yue'er grew excited. "A demon lord and an immortal lord once waged war over her! I’ve always wondered which one she truly loved."

It was indeed an unsolved mystery. With Luo Xiaoxiang’s ascension and the subsequent deaths of both the demon lord and immortal lord, the truth had been lost to time.

Now, six or seven centuries later, the cultivation world still speculated—did the Harmony Sect’s founder love the aloof immortal lord, who saw only her, or the ruthless demon lord, who would burn the world for her? Some had even tried breaking into the Harmony Sect to search for any personal notes she might have left behind, only to be soundly beaten for their trouble.

But the woman in green did not answer. Instead, with elegant hands, she poured each of them a small cup of wine. "The answer lies within the wine."

How so? Surely the taste couldn’t reveal whether it was the cold immortal lord or the fiery demon lord?

Curious, they all drank.

A moment later, Xu Shulou laughed softly, enlightenment dawning. "She loved neither."

She had no love for the lofty immortal lord who spoke in riddles, nor for the bloodthirsty demon lord who disregarded lives.

Who would have thought that the answer sought by countless cultivators had been hidden in this humble wine shop all along? ƒreewebɳovel.com

Within the fragrance of the wine lay a heart as clear and unshaken as the Dao itself.

Xu Shulou gazed at the porcelain cup in her hand. "Brewing stories into wine—now that is truly fascinating."