Chapter 42: Moonlit Spring Wine · Double Kill

Chapter 42: Moonlit Spring Wine · Double Kill

Twenty days passed in the blink of an eye.

The next morning, Xiao Chen descended the mountain carrying eighteen freshly brewed spirit-replenishing pills. As he left, he noticed red lanterns hanging all over Azure Water Peak.

"Xiao Chen, you finally decided to come out! I didn’t see you at all during our Laba porridge feast last week", Shen Simyue’s voice drifted down from above. Looking up, he found her standing on a poplar tree, tying red silk ribbons around a lantern.

The end of the twelfth lunar month had arrived. The world lay wrapped in white, with only the occasional gray-yellow grass tip peeking through. Dressed in crimson, Shen Simyue’s bright eyes and snow-like complexion made her especially captivating.

Xiao Chen exhaled, watching the mist from his breath swirl away. He realized the New Year was already upon them. Compared to the endless stretches of the past three years, this one had flown by.

Back in February, he’d still been on Servant Peak, spending his days carrying water to irrigate the spirit fields. In his free time, he’d gaze longingly at Five Elements Peak, dreaming of one day becoming an inner sect disciple there, studying cultivation under a sect elder. Now, he truly stood on Azure Water Peak.

"Xiao Chen? What’s wrong? Why are you standing there daydreaming?"

Shen Simyue lightly leapt from the treetop, her robes fluttering. Xiao Chen snapped back to reality but asked curiously, "Aren’t these lantern duties usually handled by Servant Peak disciples? Why are you personally hanging them, Senior?"

In past years, he’d spent plenty of time hanging lanterns for outer sect sub-academies and even the foot of the mountain.

Shen Simyue smiled. "I requested the task from them. Hard work is cultivation, but experiencing worldly matters is also cultivation."

"This was Master’s teaching. I don’t fully understand it myself, but occasionally relaxing and changing your mindset really does enhance cultivation progress."

"Enough of that! Come, junior, since you’re here, help me hang six lanterns at your courtyard. May next year bring you smooth sailing!"

She handed him the lanterns.

"Sure. May you also have everything go your way, Senior."

Xiao Chen took them, leapt onto the roof, and secured all six lanterns in a quarter-hour.

Looking back, he saw Shen Simyue had only finished two. Back on Servant Peak, that pace would’ve earned a scolding from Manager for slacking.

Xiao Chen pondered. Since this was Elder Qi’s teaching, there must be some truth to it. He sat cross-legged, circulating his mana in a small heavenly cycle.

Hmm. Didn’t feel like his cultivation speed increased at all.

With this time, wouldn’t a full heavenly cycle be better than hanging lanterns?

Forget it. Better head down the mountain to sell pills and buy new spirit herbs. He could research this later.

At the bazaar, the atmosphere had shifted. With the New Year approaching, the streets bustled with solitary cultivators and open-air stalls, like a festive market.

"Cold Stone Ore-forged Flying Sword, cheap sale!"

"Spirit fruits from Hezhou! All elemental attributes, perfect for gifts!"

"Come see! Moonlit spring wine brewed from the famed Yuequan Spring! Only ten spirit stones per bottle!"

Xiao Chen paused at the mention of "moonlit spring wine."

The Yuequan Spring was renowned across the Southern Domain. The "Quan" in Quanzhou City derived from this spring. Even the Cold Stone Mine-Forged Flying Swords were water-attribute weapons favored by Quanzhou cultivators.

It seemed many vendors were refugees from Quanzhou, selling their local specialties in Lizhou.

Noticing Xiao Chen’s interest, the stall owner eagerly called out, "Cultivator friend! Authentic moonlit spring wine! See here? It even bears the Yueyue Immortal Sect’s certification!"

He pointed to the bottle’s side, where "Yuequan" was engraved alongside a pattern of the moon reflected in water. Xiao Chen had seen this emblem on the White Jade Restaurant’s menu—three taels for a pot, costing thirty spirit stones. Ordinary cultivators couldn’t afford it.

This vendor’s wine was half the price, yet each pot held at least a catty. Though Xiao Chen didn’t drink, spirit wines often carried unique cultivation benefits.

He decided to take a chance. "Fine, I’ll take a pot."

"Coming right up!" The vendor hastily set down his cup, bending to retrieve the wine.

In his haste, he spilled a few drops onto Xiao Chen’s cloak hem.

"Apologies, apologies! Let me wipe that for you!"

Xiao Chen waved him off. "No problem. My cloak is water-resistant."

The vendor sighed in relief. "What a magnanimous gentleman! Here’s your wine."

As Xiao Chen stored the wine in his spatial pouch, the vendor’s eyes gleamed. "Do come again! We’ve plenty more!"

After wandering the lively market for a while, letting the wine scent fade, Xiao Chen leisurely headed to the Treasure Pavilion.

Ge Changfeng was absent again, so he sold his pills for 113 spirit stones. This time, he added seven of his own to buy twenty portions of spirit herbs. If not for preservation concerns, he’d have bought more.

With the New Year approaching, the bazaar wouldn’t reopen until the Lantern Festival. Lihuo Sect treated festivals seriously—even Servant Peak disciples got time off from the twenty-ninth to the fifteenth.

He bought a Qi Gathering Pill at a promotional price, one spirit stone cheaper. He then browsed new shops, sampling Quanzhou’s flavors. By dusk, he left the bazaar for the sect.

The hundred-mile journey required three turns and a river crossing, but for cultivators, it was trivial.

Yet as he walked, Xiao Chen frowned. The howling wind carried silence so thick he could hear his heartbeat.

A gaunt figure stood ahead by the bridge, masked and emanating mid-core formation aura, clutching a Flying Sword.

From behind came heavy footsteps—a stout masked man, late-stage lianqi aura, catching up. Xiao Chen activated his Earth Shield Technique, channeling mana into his sect-issued Magic Robe.

These robes weren’t mere decorations; they bore two layers of innate golden light defensive techniques.

Glancing back, he recognized the wine vendor’s build.

Xiao Chen clicked his tongue. "You two braving the cold here… Not waiting for me, are you?"

The vendor rasped, "Cultivator friend, greetings. With New Year near, my sister and I lack for food and clothing. Might we borrow some spirit stones?"

Well, that was polite. Xiao Chen chuckled. "First time seeing such a loan request."

The woman ahead snapped, "No time for chatter! Hand over your stones or face death!"

Xiao Chen asked, "One question—was the wine real?"

The woman scoffed. "Are you daft? If I had real moonlit spring wine, why rob you?"

Suddenly, Xiao Chen flung his cloak, hurling a Golden Light Pearl. Blinding radiance erupted, illuminating the area.

His left hand unleashed green wood spirit energy, manifesting a wood spirit general to block the rear. His right swung the Changqing Sword, sending a blade of light at the woman.

The sword was a feint. His true killer move was the fireball technique—simple yet effective.

"Clang!"

The sword deflected as expected, but the fireball exploded on her chest, shredding her Magic Robe and blowing her mask away, revealing a stunning face.

The Golden Light Pearl then descended, crushing her like a watermelon.

"Sister!" The vendor’s scream tore through the air.

Cursing, he flung a talisman, summoning vines to bind the wood spirit general before charging.

Xiao Chen said nothing. He gripped Changqing Sword, pointing his left hand. "Go!"

The Golden Light Pearl streaked toward the vendor.

He countered with another talisman, conjuring a python to swallow the pearl.

But the delay let Changqing Sword pierce his earth shield.

The vendor hurled his Flying Sword to parry, then spat a blood arrow at Xiao Chen. "Monster! Die!"

Before the blood struck, a simple fireball evaporated it entirely, then impaled the vendor’s heart.

"How… your fireball…"

The vendor lasted one breath before collapsing.

Xiao Chen finished him with another fireball, confirming the kill.

He muttered, "This intelligence level shouldn’t attempt robbery."

The woman was mid-core formation—easier prey. Xiao Chen always targeted the weakest point, regardless of gender.

He collected their Flying Swords and 42 spirit stones. The vendor even carried a spatial pouch, sealed with a formation.

After hastily cleaning the scene, Xiao Chen hurried back to Azure Water Peak to begin refining the new spatial pouch.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end