The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 429 - 547: Live for Wine Today, Drink for Joy

Chapter 547: Live for Wine Today, Drink for Joy

Although Uncle Jiu could already sense from the aroma alone that Fang Chu’s Dreaming Back spiritual wine was extraordinary, hearing that it was personally brewed by someone so young left him with lingering doubts. How exceptional could it really be? After all, Fang Chu appeared youthful, and he was not a renowned brewing master.

But when Uncle Jiu finally tasted the wine, all doubts vanished—and then some. His assumptions shattered completely.

It was as if a centuries-old prejudice had been overturned. Who said a young master could not craft a top-tier wine? Who said an unknown brewmaster could not create a masterpiece?

Uncle Jiu closed his eyes, savoring the wine slowly, allowing the flavors to bloom fully across his palate. Only after a long moment did he open them, his gaze alight with something akin to awe, as if he had discovered a priceless treasure.

"Your Dreaming Back... it is truly unparalleled!" Uncle Jiu exclaimed. "I have tasted countless spiritual wines in my lifetime, but few can even compare to this. The quality is astonishing!"

He raised a thumb, his tone serious and unwavering. "Even discounting personal taste, purely from a craftsmanship and quality perspective, this wine is... the pinnacle. Absolute perfection."

Fang Chu inclined his head politely. "You flatter me, elder."

"No, no," Uncle Jiu waved his hands, shaking his head. "Don’t call me elder. Friends call me Uncle Jiu. If you don’t mind, you may too."

He leaned closer, voice lowering with sincerity. "I am very strict with my judgments on wine. If I say yours is exceptional, it is because I truly mean it. Not even Moonwatch Tower could produce a wine of comparable quality in the same age and vintage."

Spiritual wine, like many refined brews, gains strength and complexity from aging. Yet even with the same aging period, Moonwatch Tower’s best could not match this wine. Uncle Jiu spoke with the authority of a century-long wine taster, confident in his discerning palate.

Fang Chu raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised. "You overpraise me, Uncle Jiu. I dare not claim to rival Moonwatch Tower’s master brewers."

In the Tianyuan Realm, among the eighteen dominant powers, the wealthiest was the Cangqiong Consortium, followed closely by Moonwatch Tower. The Consortium specialized in high-value ventures for cultivators: elixirs, artifacts, formations, and other lucrative trades. Moonwatch Tower, on the other hand, earned its reputation through taverns, tea houses, eateries, inns, and entertainment halls, with branches spanning the continent.

Their signature products were spiritual wine and tea—the foundation of their rise to power and their status as a dominant force. Who could claim that their own brew or harvest surpassed Moonwatch Tower’s? Very few, and none had the pedigree to make such claims convincingly.

Uncle Jiu chuckled, shaking his head. "I once thought Moonwatch Tower’s spiritual wine was supreme. But now... I admit I was narrow-minded. I have underestimated the skill of others in this world."

Qingzhou had always been remote, distant from Cangzhou. Had Fang Chu had the time and resources to expand the Drunken Immortal Pavilion here, Uncle Jiu would have long since become a loyal patron, switching from Moonwatch Tower to Fang Chu’s establishment without hesitation.

Sensing that the moment was right, Fang Chu shifted the conversation. "Enough talk. Let us drink and enjoy the wine."

Uncle Jiu blinked, as if awakened from a trance, and quickly lifted his cup.

"Yes! To wine!" he exclaimed enthusiastically.

Several rounds later, Uncle Jiu’s face flushed slightly, a subtle sign of tipsiness. Despite his vast capacity and resilience, the effects were evident. Yet his drunkenness was more of the spirit than the body—he was intoxicated not by alcohol alone, but by the joy of exceptional wine.

"Fang little brother," he admitted with a grin, "I truly adore this brew. Do you have more? Can I purchase some? Once I taste such a wine, I cannot bear to lose it again."

Fang Chu’s expression was intentionally troubled. "It is not that I do not wish to sell, but Dreaming Back is exceptionally difficult to produce. The ingredients are rare and precious. I have only brewed three casks in total. Over the years, I have consumed most myself. Now, only three small jars remain."

Half-truths, carefully chosen. In reality, the brewing materials Fang Hao had brought from the Celestial Realm were numerous, but extremely scarce in the mortal realm. Gathering enough for even a single batch would challenge the resourcefulness of the most connected nobles.

The news struck Uncle Jiu like a thunderbolt, leaving him momentarily despondent. Yet his determination persisted.

"Tell me, what materials are required to brew Dreaming Back? I have some connections and resources in Wolong City. Perhaps I can help you gather them," he implored.

Fang Chu listed the three primary ingredients. Uncle Jiu’s brow furrowed in frustration. Two were completely unfamiliar, while the third was vaguely known—something he had glimpsed long ago at a Celestial Realm auction. The rarity and complexity of these ingredients were staggering.

Finding such a treasure only to discover that only a few bottles remained felt like winning one’s dream and losing it simultaneously.

Fang Chu grinned faintly. "Now, let us live in the moment. Today we have wine, so today we drink. ’Live for wine today, drink for joy.’"

Uncle Jiu’s eyes lit up, and he slapped his thigh in exhilaration. "After all these years, tasting countless wines, I have never heard it put so wisely. You, Fang little brother, truly see through life itself. Forget everything else—wine first!"

The two men raised their cups in a ritual of camaraderie, pouring round after round, savoring each sip, exchanging smiles and laughter. One cask followed another, the cups never empty.

Eventually, Uncle Jiu felt the pleasant sway of inebriation. Yet his discipline was remarkable. He did not overindulge recklessly, but rather stopped in time, swaying gently as he returned home. There, he collapsed into bed, sleeping soundly for three full days.

Upon awakening, he stretched and felt a relaxation and vitality unlike anything he had experienced in years. "It has been so long since I slept this well," he murmured.

Yet thoughts of the wine left a lingering sense of regret. How rare, how fleeting, to taste such perfection only to find so little remained.

"Life is always filled with regrets, huh..." he sighed, shaking his head slowly. Then, with a renewed sense of purpose, he prepared to seek out Fang Chu again. This young man, with his skill and insight, was not only a masterful brewer but a person worth befriending—a rare ally in both wine and life.