Chapter 125: This Would Either Make or Break!

"Until today, those six pots that had made it into the market have all been added to various wine lovers' collections, never to be seen in the open again. As for the remaining three pots, nobody knows where they have gone to. However, the Empire of Yutang's Marquis Yun has unintentionally saved someone when he was out one day, thereon forging an unexpected friendship. On the eve of their separation, that person has gifted a pot of wine to Marquis Yun. Not coincidentally, that wine, of course, was the Prime of Wine!"

"It has already been a hundred and twelve years since Feng Xiange brewed this wine."

Yun Yang smiled.

The elder could not hold it in anymore and said loudly, "What are you trying to say after so much banter? Could it be that this wine of yours is the Prime of Wine? Utterly ridiculous!"

Yun Yang smiled, "It looks like old sir is not from Tiantang City."

"Yes, and what about it?" The old man's tone was aggressive.

"If you were from Tiantang City, you must know that the Marquis of Heavenly Clouds, with his formidable sword skills, has an only son called Yun Yang." Yun Yang continued, "This Young Master Yun Yang is handsome and graceful, his lips rosy and his teeth pearly; he has an extraordinary flair, an elegance that sits within his good-looking features. He is indeed one of the most handsome men in this world. Perhaps, if there were a beauty pageant for beautiful men in this world, Young Master Yun Yang would be crowned king without even having to participate!"

The old man could barely keep his anger in check, almost erupting in rage. "You're still spewing nonsense, complimenting others to the ends of the Earth!"

Since he could praise this Young Master Yun Yang so highly, he couldn't possibly the man himself.

How would there be a person in this world who could praise himself so highly? That would be overly shameless!

Since he was not Yun Yang, what good could he be? He was still missing out on the Prime of Wine!

Yun Yang said grinning, "Old sir, it is fate that we would meet like this. Let me introduce myself, I am Yun Yang. I am Marquis Yun's only son whom we were discussing and praising earlier."

The old man was close to coughing out loud.

His words were very bizarre indeed.

All those compliments and they were all about you?

How could such a shameless person exist in this world?

The old man almost laughed from the exasperation. He looked at Yun Yang and said mockingly, "So you're the Marquis of Heavenly Clouds' young master Yun Yang? According to what you've just said, this pot of wine would be the Prime of Wine? One of the remaining nine pots?

"That is incorrect." Yun Yang said without hesitation.

The elder was stunned yet again. "If not then what are you bullsh*tting about?"

Yun Yang continued, "According to what I know, while those six pots were auctioned off to connoisseurs in wine, they were all severe alcoholics. They had long emptied this superior liquid of dreams! Nobody knew where the remaining two pots were, no one knew if they still existed in this world."

Yun Yang said in a light voice, "So this pot of wine could be called the only pot of the Prime of Wine left in the world. I wouldn't be exaggerating even if I say it's the sole unique pot."

The old man was in a daze. "Is this really that pot?"

Yun Yang replied indifferently, "There's naturally only one way to verify it. Since old sir is a wine lover too, you must have heard that the moment the clay seal is broken, the aroma of Feng Xiange's Prime of Wine would form a phoenix spreading its wing, about to take off in the air. This is Feng Xiange's exclusive mark. I believe no one could imitate this for the few remaining pots of wine..."

The old man's interest was whet; he could not sit still, salivating at the thought of the wine.

He watched as Yun Yang's palm struck the cover with a pop.

The clay seal was broken, an indescribable aroma diffusing in the air. The old man took three steps over, his nose wriggling with urgency.

Sniff, sniff, sniff...

The aroma of wine rose as an image of a phoenix spreading its wings as if about to soar appeared in the air; although it was only an illusory impression, the aloofness was contained in its gaze as it looked upon the world proudly.

"It's... it's re-really... the Prime of Wine!" The old man's eyes were bulging, his breath quickening as he looked at the phoenix that slowly dissipated in the air.

With a flick of his hand, his straw hat flew off his head.

What was revealed was a chiseled face that age had left its mark on but his gaze was clear. His eyes were like that of a four to five-year-old child; they were clear and distinct, black and white, tinged with some naivety.

The old man's hair was indeed grayed like what Yun Yang had seen, but looking at it now, it did not look old but revitalizing. The vicissitudes of life etched on his face seemed to say that he had gone through everything there was to go through in life.

A quick once-over spoke of the thick and thin in life as well as loneliness but a more careful look told of a handsome face, especially his eyebrows that were raised at a slight angle yet without conveying the air of violence.

However, if they were to be raised, the intimidation within was still formidable.

Yun Yang was more assured when he saw his face.

"Of course it's Prime of Wine." Yun Yang began to break the last seal on the wine pot slowly, cutting a thumb size gap using a dagger.

Appreciation surfaced on the elder's face.

Those who had never sipped Feng Xiange's wine would never know the intention to do so.

It would be an extreme waste to even let the slightest bit of the aroma of Feng Xiange's wine go.

What Yun Yang had done looked like a thumb-sized gap from above but it would only be a soybean-sized hole going downwards. Pushing a cork into the cut after pouring the wine would perfectly save the aroma from spreading into the air.

Yun Yang smiled and said, "It's Feng Xiange's Prime of Wine after all, of course, I have to appreciate it more."

The old man nodded with a smile. "That's right."

Yun Yang picked the pot of wine up and poured the bright yet slightly sticky wine into the goblet slowly. When it was eight parts full, the aroma of wine was already rich and inebriating, spreading across the entire lake.

Pouring a goblet, Yun Yang took a sniff and reveled in it. "It is indeed a dreamily superior item close to 'dao1'. Legend has it that drinking the Prime of Wine could allow one to be closer to the realm of dao... Too bad, there's just so little left."

As he sighed, he inserted the cork back into the pot.

He placed the wine pot to the side carefully and sipped from the raised goblet. His eyes shone as he exclaimed, "A great wine! An unprecedented wonderful brew indeed! Worthy of the dreamily superior item's name!"

The elder by his side was stupefied looking at Yun Yang as he stuttered, "You... You're not letting me drink it?"

This fellow had set up a table of dishes, brandished a pot of wine, spoke of the old and current, praised himself and boasted unashamedly, and tempted this old man's gluttony but he drank it all by himself in the end?

You have put two goblets out, could it be just for show?

Yun Yang looked even more shocked than he was, staring at the man with wide eyes. "Let you drink... why should I let you drink?"

The old man's mouth was agape as he looked at him dumbfounded. "You... Didn't you speak so much just now to let me drink?"

Yun Yang looked at him speechlessly. "Old sir... Me speaking so much to let you drink? How... where did this come from? Are you perhaps thinking too much?"

If Dong Tianleng and the other popinjays were here, they would be slapping the table in amazement. A boss was a boss indeed - what was wrong with me boasting about myself, analyzing the origin of my fantastic wine in great detail? Could I not boast? Boasting was something that had to be done in front of other people!

This was the ultimate epitome of a popinjay; this was the extreme example of acting clever and putting up a show. It was a perfect enactment of the way of the popinjay, pure perfection!

The old man was exasperated, veins throbbing in his temples. He was speechless for a moment.

"By speaking so much, I only wanted to introduce my wine all along." Yun Yang said in confusion. "I've finished introducing it. You know now, do you not? You understood it, correct? Our delightful conversation has been completed too, correct? Isn't it also a kind of joy watching me drink? Do you think that anyone would get to see the wonderful Prime of Wine? We must be contented with what we have!"

Yun Yang said seriously, "At least, I've let you watched the phoenix arise..."

For a brief moment, the old man had a rash thought of killing someone.

Has your father listened to you ramble for half a day just to watch the phoenix rise up from the wine's aroma?

How easily appeased must I be to do that?

"Actually, I have a hobby; to introduce what fine possessions I have to others. It is alright by me if you think I'm boasting."

Yun Yang smiled, his grin extremely condescending as he said, "Whatever wonderful things that I have in my possession, be it good food, drinks, fun... I could have a few extra bowls of plain rice without wine or dishes just watching others covet them while I revel in them. It's gratifying, you know..."

The exasperation within the old man was growing increasingly intense, almost displacing him from where he stood.

He felt as if he was being stampeded into a pool of dung by billions of galloping alpacas. It was so embarrassing! Your father has lived for so long, several hundred years, and has never been as hard pressed in a predicament as he is now! This rascal is really the vilest person your father has seen in my entire life!

However, why do I think that this fellow makes sense? Even if his logic is askew, it's still sensible. I have nothing to come back with!

"Hmph!" The old man stomped his foot and turned to leave.

He had no dignity left to remain here anymore.

However, Yun Yang spoke again, "Still, if old sir is really bored and is not angry that I have disturbed your fish, we can fish, drink, and talk together while watching the scenery and enjoying the breezy autumn wind. It's one of the joys in life too."

The old man had already turned away. Hearing this suddenly, he was even more upset.

If I turn back to drink, won't I embarrass myself even further?

Even if he had the intention to turn back, stubbornness stopped him from doing so.

However, if he did not turn back, the pot of wine had already been opened. It might very well be gone soon.

He heard Yun Yang speak again. "Having fun together is always better than having fun alone. Please give the pleasure, old sir."

The old man returned like a tornado, chuckling. "Since you're so sincere, this old and useless one will be in guilt if I don't comply."

The smile on his face had turned softer too.

Yun Yang was delighted. He had learned this from Dong Tianleng; he had to admit that the fool's tactic was rather useful.

Yun Yang had formed the better part of the plan when he heard about this person but the opening was always the difficult part. It was most crucial in getting him to drink his wine.

How could such a character simply accept one's offer to drink? Yun Yang had finally achieved his first goal after so long.

Since he had already made him drink as expected, it was time to proceed.

Regardless of whatever happened, this was the only way he could figure out how to defend himself against the other side.

What he was about to do next would be even more significant.

This would either make or break.

1dao (道dào): intuitive knowing of life that cannot be grasped fully as just a concept but through actual living experience; combining the principle of yin and yang, it is the path to be in harmony with the natural order.