Yuan Zhong held the silk invitation in his hand, pondering. When Tanghua had ambushed them in the cave, Lanyuan had been wielding the God-slaying daggers, which were part of Lord Xiangqu’s collection. Though Tanghua’s group had been driven away by Tan Yin, the daggers remained.
The mountain lord in question was nearing old age, indifferent to external affairs, and extremely stingy. Yet, he had a fondness for flaunting his collection of treasures. One of these treasures was the pair of God-slaying daggers, which Yuan Zhong had seen with his own eyes at the last celestial flower and wine festival. Borrowing even a single treasure from the miserly Lord Xiangqu would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens, and his treasure vault was heavily guarded. Yuan Zhong doubted Tanghua could have stolen it; how exactly he managed to "borrow" the God-slaying daggers remained a mystery.
Yuan Zhong tucked the letter and invitation into his sleeve, then turned to Tan Yin with a playful smile, clasping his hands in a mock ceremonial bow. "Today, the heavenly deity descends upon us, and we are fortunate enough to open the sealed treasure and offer the finest wine, 'Tianxia Wu Shuang' (Peerless in the World)."
Tan Yin was taken aback. "W-What?"
Yuan Zhong winked at her. "Just a simple ritual."
The Youhu (Fox) tribe had strict rituals. Though they were adept at brewing wine, the wines were divided into three grades: lower, middle, and upper. Lower and middle-grade wines, like Zui Sheng Meng Si or Se Ru Yu (Jade-like in Color), were fine for daily consumption or gifting to friends. But the finest wine, Tianxia Wu Shuang, was reserved for offerings to the gods once every sixty years. Even Yuan Zhong couldn’t casually open such a treasure without adhering to the ritual.
The miserly Lord Xiangqu was known for being slippery, and even bringing the daggers to him wouldn’t guarantee answers. Yuan Zhong figured he’d have to offer several jars of Tianxia Wu Shuang to pry open his mouth. Fortunately, having a goddess by his side meant he wasn’t breaking any rules.
In the cellar of the cave, countless jars of fine wine were sealed. Yuan Zhong quickly retrieved four small jade wine jars. Unlike the ordinary wine jars, these were adorned with pearls that shimmered softly. Each jar was barely larger than an infant's head, reflecting their extraordinary value.
"Honored Goddess, would you grant me the pleasure of sharing a cup?" Yuan Zhong grinned, shaking one of the jade jars.
Tan Yin smiled back. As a deity, no matter how pure the wine, to her, it was like drinking water—tasteless. Not wanting to spoil Yuan Zhong’s excitement, she nodded and agreed.
Normally, pouring wine and preparing dishes was Yuan Xiaozhong’s task, but today, he was nowhere to be found. Tan Yin fetched two wine cups from the kitchen herself. Carefully, she opened the jade wine jar, and as soon as the seal was broken, a wave of icy cold air surged out. A rich, fragrant aroma, unlike anything she’d ever encountered, filled the room like rising mist.
She poured the wine into the small crystal cups, and to her surprise, the liquid was completely transparent. Most wines had some color—yellow or green—but this clear, water-like purity was something she had never seen before.
Yuan Zhong gently clinked his cup against hers, saying softly, "This has been my wish for many years. Today feels like a dream."
Tan Yin watched as he tilted his head back, drinking the entire cup in one gulp. His pale face quickly flushed with a soft red, and he sighed with contentment, "What excellent wine!"
Following his example, she also downed her cup in one go. But her expression quickly changed—this wasn’t the usual water-like experience. The taste… it was strong! Shocked, she coughed violently, nearly dropping the cup.
Yuan Zhong burst into laughter, flicking her forehead. "Silly girl, this is wine meant for the gods. Don’t underestimate it."
Tan Yin finally managed to stop coughing, but the flush on her face didn’t fade. She wasn’t much of a drinker, but being a deity, she usually treated mortal wine like water. This time, however, the potent liquor hit her hard, and she immediately felt dizzy.
Her body softened, losing control, and she collapsed onto the table, her head resting sideways as she watched Yuan Zhong continue drinking by himself.
His thick, jet-black hair and pale face glowed under the candlelight, like finely polished jade. And those beautiful eyes of his—so proud, intense, and alive. His lips moved, saying something in a low voice, but she couldn’t hear a word. It was as if she was seeing his face clearly for the first time, as the passage of time blurred in her drunken haze. Was this what a lifetime would be like?
She didn’t want to leave. In truth, she didn’t want to go at all. If this could be their lifetime, how wonderful would that be? Even if she had to perish, it would be worth it to die by his side.
Suddenly, Yuan Zhong stopped talking. Like her, he rested his head on the table, his shoulder touching hers. Their faces were level, and in his eyes, she saw two reflections of herself, so clear.
"What are you thinking?" he asked softly, the scent of wine lingering on his breath.
Tan Yin inexplicably wanted to laugh, murmuring, "…Good wine."
"Anything else?" He gazed at her.
Still smiling, her cheeks flushed and her eyes shimmering like spring water, she whispered, "Thinking about you."
His eyes squinted with amusement, as if a star had hidden itself in them.
"You’re seducing me," his voice lowered, growing more intimate. "And I’m tempted to take the bait."
Tan Yin didn’t respond. She reached out, gently tracing his features—his straight nose, his slightly pursed lips. He suddenly opened his mouth and, through the thin fabric of her glove, gently bit her thumb.
The slight tingle spread like electricity from that point, coursing through her body. Once again, she felt that burning, soul-searing pain.
Let it burn, she thought. I’m not afraid.
His lips softly brushed against her face.
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