Xu Lai narrowed his eyes.

Interesting.

He had thought it was just a rumor, but he hadn't expected to hear something so remarkable.

The young scion who had been questioning him sneered. "Come on, then. Show everyone this so-called divination of yours. I, Chen Beiming, would like to see for myself what kind of divination can predict The Supreme Emperor."

"Chen Beiming?"

"Could that be the prodigy from the Liuyun Sect, Chen Beiming?"

Someone recognized the young man, causing a ripple of gasps. The Liuyun Sect was the foremost sect in Qiuyue City. Chen Beiming was an outstanding inner disciple, rumored to have already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment at his young age.

Most importantly, Chen Beiming had another identity—the son of the City Lord!

Everyone in the teahouse immediately adopted respectful and excited expressions, chiming in with endless flattery. Even the teahouse owner was honored. Beaming, he served a pot of fine tea, all the while contemplating whether he should ask the City Lord's son to leave his signature on the wall. It would be a living advertisement!

"Chen Beiming..." The Foundation Establishment elder who had spoken earlier looked crestfallen. He gritted his teeth and said, "The divination appears and vanishes in an instant; it can't be preserved. If you don't believe me, then forget it."

"Nonsense!"

"Master Chen, I know this man. He's a Loose Cultivator from the countryside named Ye Meizi—a rather feminine name. He's always wanted to join the Liuyun Sect."

"That's right. He probably recognized you. Knowing your admiration for Emperor Qingfeng, Master Chen, he deliberately made that grandiose claim to attract your attention."

"This Loose Cultivator is so crafty!"

"..."

Many of the Cultivators in the teahouse voiced their disdain for the seventy-year-old Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator.

Chen Beiming chuckled. "Of course. Anyone who wishes to defile Emperor Qingfeng will not escape my discerning eye!"

"Owner, the check please," Xu Lai called out.

"That'll be one hundred wen, sir."

The owner didn't come. Instead, the shop assistant replied dismissively, his eyes fixed with longing on Chen Beiming, who was the center of attention. This was clearly a young man who yearned to become a Cultivator.

Taotie tossed down one hundred wen, and they both rose to leave the teahouse.

As they passed the Foundation Establishment elder named Ye Meizi, Xu Lai stopped. "That's a nice name. Do you like wine?"

"My father favored plum wine, so he gave me this name," Ye Meizi said, glaring. "If you wish to mock me, fellow Daoist, I don't mind a fight to the death!"

Xu Lai chuckled lightly. "It really is a good name. My Master also likes plum wine. To meet is fate. I'll gift you a jar."

Xu Lai gestured with his hand.

A white wine jar appeared on the tea table. A faint, intoxicating fragrance wafted from it, causing the patrons to subconsciously gasp in the aroma, their eyes betraying their blissful intoxication.

This was especially true for Chen Beiming, whose eyes reflected an endless greed.

He had been stuck at the Foundation Establishment bottleneck for years, but upon smelling the wine's fragrance, he actually felt signs of a breakthrough. And that wine jar... It was definitely not an ordinary item! He had seen an identical one in the treasure vault of his sect's Supreme Elder, rumored to be a special jar used exclusively by the Heavenly Court's soldiers. It was an existence comparable to a Spiritual Artifact! The Supreme Elder, who had once been a Heavenly Soldier and was now in long-term seclusion, treasured it dearly.

The greed in Chen Beiming's eyes intensified. If I could give this jar of wine to the Supreme Elder, I might win his favor. Then, I would most likely become a Direct Disciple of the sect! I might even have a chance to join the Heavenly Court and become a Heavenly Soldier... or perhaps even one of the hundred revered Divine Generals!

***

「On the other side.」

Ye Meizi was taken aback. He had assumed this young master also intended to trample on him to curry favor with Chen Beiming. He hastily stood up and said gratefully, "This gift is far too generous. I am truly unworthy of it."

"My master does not take back things he has given. Please accept it, Elder," Taotie said.

Although Taotie spoke calmly, his words still filled Ye Meizi with a heart-pounding terror. The old man stammered, "Y-yes, yes. I will accept it."

Xu Lai felt a bit helpless. Why do I feel like a bully forcing someone to sell their daughter?

Taotie spoke in a deep voice, "May I ask, Elder, where did you find that divination? Since I was young, I've admired the virtuous, noble, magnanimous, handsome, and elegant Emperor Qingfeng, so I would like to see the place for myself."

... Xu Lai was speechless. Taotie's flattery was as stiff as ever.

"On a mountain three hundred li outside the city," Ye Meizi said with a wry smile. "I stumbled upon it by chance two years ago. I found the sign in some ruins. The entire mountain is covered with plum trees, so it's very easy to recognize."

Xu Lai frowned. "Would it trouble you to lead the way?"

Xu Lai suspected that this mountain was the old site of his sect. But when he had visited five years ago, the place was still a desolate mountain. How was it now covered in plum trees?

"Alright." Ye Meizi was quite enthusiastic. After settling his bill, he began to lead Xu Lai and Taotie.

The three of them flew toward the distant horizon.

Watching them depart, Chen Beiming gave a man behind him a meaningful look.

"Yes, Young Master." The man bowed his head and flew toward the City Lord's Mansion.

Chen Beiming, however, followed Xu Lai's group alone.

An hour later, they had flown three hundred li. The Spiritual Energy of the Foundation Establishment Stage didn't support extended flight, so Ye Meizi had to fly for a while and then rest. Xu Lai was in no hurry.

When they finally reached their destination, Xu Lai was stunned. The former site of his sect, a barren mountain when he'd last come five years ago, was now truly covered in plum trees.

Could it be that Master and the others are still alive?

He was filled with such hopeful fantasies that he dared not release his Divine Sense to scan the modest mountain range. He feared the disappointment that might follow. Instead, with a mix of anticipation and anxiety, he ascended the mountain step by step, heading for the back mountain, where he, his Master, and his three martial siblings had once lived.

Ye Meizi started to say something, but Taotie stopped him. The First Divine General had never seen The Supreme Emperor so cautious. All he could do was give him space. Taotie's gaze turned ice-cold as he looked back a dozen li behind them. Some flies were still foolishly chasing after them.

Do they really not know how the word 'death' is written?

***

The back mountain wasn't large. No matter how slowly Xu Lai walked, he covered it in less than three hours.

His expression was desolate. He hadn't seen the familiar faces he had so longed for. Unwilling to give up, Xu Lai released his Divine Sense and swept it across the area, only to finally let out a heavy sigh.

It seemed these plum trees had been planted by a mortal who had mistakenly thought the mountain was ownerless, treating them as fruit trees to make money. At the foot of the mountain, Xu Lai saw a thatched cottage. Inside, a sturdy, middle-aged man held his young daughter, smiling as he calculated how much money the plum trees would sell for next year.

"The Supreme Emperor..." Taotie began, wanting to offer some comfort.

Xu Lai just gave a self-mocking smile. "I should never have gotten my hopes up."

Taotie fell silent.

Guided by memory, Xu Lai dug into a patch of barren earth where no trees grew. Inside, he found five ordinary jars of Plum Wine, sealed. He was once again reminded of the time his Master had taught him to brew wine, and his eyes grew moist.

Xu Lai took out one of the jars and said softly, "Master, I've come for the wine. This one jar... is not enough for the five of us to share."

Plums cover the mountain, but are my old friends here today?

This old land is filled with new sorrows.

I wish to pick plums and brew wine together, but alas, it is nothing like the days of our youth.

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