Chapter Eight: No Need to Run Anymore

Fu Yao was a lightweight—one cup and she was out. With no one else around, she slumped straight toward Ye Qiu.

“Damn, is there really such a stroke of luck?”

Ye Qiu was delighted, though he feigned reluctance as he moved to catch her.

“So soft… Is this what a goddess feels like?”

His heart was pounding with excitement, screaming inwardly, “Mother, I’ve made it—I’m actually holding a goddess in my arms…”

Despite his inner turmoil, Ye Qiu kept his expression calm and unruffled, saying evenly, “Looks like the wine’s effect has kicked in. Whether she recovers now depends on herself…”

With that, he gently laid her on the table, though it pained him to let go. Still, Ye Qiu knew his boundaries.

A transmigrator’s self-discipline, rule seven, section two: Never mess with the protagonist’s harem, and don’t overindulge in fine wine…

He hadn’t forgotten a single line of that survival guide—nor did he dare to.

He couldn’t deny it: Fu Yao was indeed breathtaking. Her figure was flawlessly proportioned, standing around one-point-seven meters tall, with a transcendent beauty that seemed as if she had stepped right out of an animated world.

It was almost unreal. In both his lives, Ye Qiu had never seen a girl this stunning.

She was surely one of the main character’s future companions—there was no escaping that fate.

“Senior, what’s wrong with my junior sister?”

Yang Xuan and the others approached with concern.

Ye Qiu had no idea how to answer. Should he tell them she was simply drunk?

If he said that, they’d brand him a quack and probably hack him to death on the spot.

No, that was definitely not an option!

Transmigrator’s survival guide, rule five: Wherever you are, always maintain an air of mystery. Never speak plainly; let them guess in riddles, thus creating opportunities…

“This wine’s medicinal properties are too potent. Her cultivation is too weak, so she needs time to adapt! No need to worry—once the medicine takes effect, she should wake up…”

Ye Qiu said with a guilty conscience.

Wake up? She was dead drunk. There was no way she’d be up anytime soon. Whether the wine could cure anything was another question entirely. Its only effect might be to let you pass peacefully, without pain.

“So that’s how it is!”

Hearing this, Yang Xuan was suddenly enlightened. He thought, “No wonder it’s immortal wine—the power is overwhelming. Even a genius like my junior sister can’t take it, down in one cup…”

It seemed there was hope for Fu Yao after all. Yang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. After all, Fu Yao’s fate was tied to the very survival of their Sacred Land of Radiant Star.

The reason was simple: her father was the top powerhouse of their sect, the First Grand Elder.

And he was fiercely protective. If anything happened to Fu Yao, everyone involved would be doomed…

If that time came, it would be a storm of blood, even more terrifying than the great wildfire that once swept the land.

“Well, you all stay here and keep watch. I have other matters to attend to—I’ll be off…”

Ye Qiu said, his guilt barely concealed. Waving a hand, he left the hall.

As soon as he stepped out, he found Cao He and whispered, “Quick, pack your things. We’ll need to leave soon…”

“What? Run… run away?”

Cao He was dumbfounded! Wasn’t everything going fine? Why the sudden need to flee?

“What are you standing around for? Did you really think I could cure her?”

Ye Qiu rolled his eyes. He knew his own limits well enough! Healing? That had nothing to do with him at all.

“Damn, you could’ve told me earlier! I thought you really were a healer…”

Cao He was exasperated; he thought there’d be no need to run, only to find out Ye Qiu had just been bluffing.

“Wait…”

Just as Cao He was about to gather his things, Ye Qiu stopped him.

Ye Qiu’s gaze was fixed, curious, on a faint golden light emanating from the hall.

“What the—golden legend?”

Ye Qiu was stunned. He’d thought Fu Yao was as good as dead, but this sudden turn of events left him speechless.

“My god, is this really happening?”

He was utterly astonished. Fu Yao was now floating in midair, shrouded in a halo of golden light, radiantly divine.

She looked every bit the descended celestial maiden—so beautiful it took one’s breath away.

If you looked closely, you could see the light swirling around her growing brighter and more intense, a powerful pressure sweeping through the hall.

“What a terrifying aura—everyone, step back…”

Inside, Yang Xuan and the others were drenched in sweat, nerves on edge.

It was overwhelming. Just one cup of wine had brought about such a dramatic change—unbelievable.

“This must be supreme immortal wine, the king of all spirits!”

“Heavens, at this rate, not only will junior sister heal, her cultivation might soar to new heights—unimaginable…”

Yang Xuan was utterly dazed, his eyes wide with disbelief.

Fu Yao was already a powerhouse of the Divine Repository Stage. If she advanced any further, she’d reach the Cave Heaven realm…

An eighteen-year-old at the Cave Heaven stage—that would be a record never before seen!

This was true genius. Not even the most ancient clans could boast such a marvel.

“Heavens, is our Sacred Land of Radiant Star about to produce a champion?”

Yang Xuan and the others were so excited they could barely speak. A genius of this caliber appearing in their midst—how could they not be ecstatic?

At present, the most powerful prodigy among the ancient-blooded tribes in the Wilds was only at the peak of the Divine Repository. Yet now… Fu Yao was on the verge of opening her own Cave Heaven, placing her firmly among the very elite.

Once she achieved that, she might even stand toe to toe with the top scions of the great clans.

The golden light swelled, its power ever more awe-inspiring. Ye Qiu, who had been set on fleeing, suddenly halted in his tracks.

“Hey, maybe there’s no need to run after all!”

Seeing the commotion, Ye Qiu was overjoyed and strolled leisurely back into the hall.

Good heavens—such a perfect chance to show off. What a waste it would be to miss it.

“Senior…”

That’s right, it’s me, I’m back! Hello, everyone!

The moment Ye Qiu appeared, the crowd called out in unison, eager to pay their respects. But the pressure radiating from Fu Yao was so overwhelming they couldn’t even rise.

Ye Qiu, however, was entirely unaffected. With an easy wave of his hand, he signaled them to dispense with the formalities.

His unhurried, serene demeanor brimmed with mystique—the very image of a peerless master.

Ye Qiu observed for a long time, noticing that within the golden glow, Fu Yao seemed to be undergoing some profound transformation—a refinement of her very being.

“What the—this can’t be! It’s just an ordinary batch of industrial spirits. How could it trigger such a reaction? It doesn’t make sense…”

Baffled, Ye Qiu picked up the wine jar, unable to fathom the cause.

He’d brewed this wine himself, using whatever ingredients he could find. In truth, he never dared drink it, for fear it might kill him.

The wine sold in his tavern was all regular table spirits, mostly bought from local merchants. As for his own concoctions, he never touched them or let anyone else try, lest he poison someone.

Ye Qiu poured himself a cup, weighed it in his hand, and muttered, “Is it really so miraculous? Could this really be immortal wine?”

If it truly was, and he drank it, wouldn’t he soar to the heavens?

Maybe, just maybe, he could swagger about the world like the protagonists in all those stories.

The more he considered it, the more excited he grew. He downed the cup in one gulp, feeling only a warm current flow down his throat, spreading to his limbs and then vanishing without a trace.

Ye Qiu: “???”

That’s it? Where’s my golden light? Come on, even with a tight budget, you can’t skimp on the special effects! Give me my aura back…

“It’s nothing special—just a bit stronger, maybe tastes a little better, but nothing magical,”

Ye Qiu was bewildered. Why did Fu Yao get all the dazzling effects, but he got nothing?

Favoritism?

Damn, that’s too much! I want to cultivate immortality too, to show off like everyone else! Why am I being singled out?

Ye Qiu had thought he’d found the door to hope, that he could finally be a showboating transmigrator like those in the novels.

But in the end… the wine did nothing for him. What a rip-off.

Immortal wine? More like ordinary industrial spirits—utterly useless!

In his frustration, Ye Qiu nearly smashed the jar. But on second thought, “No, even if it’s bad wine, it still cost something! As long as it doesn’t kill anyone, it’s a commodity. I just need to find a way to sell it, or I’ll take a huge loss…”

Considering carefully, Ye Qiu’s eyes flicked toward Yang Xuan.

You’ll do just fine…

“Ahem…”

“Senior, is something wrong?”

Yang Xuan was momentarily confused.

What had happened to Ye Qiu? Why was he coughing—was he sick?

Impossible! At his level, how could he fall ill?

Wait… was he dropping a hint, perhaps about some guidance?

At this thought, Yang Xuan grew excited and pressed on, “Senior, if you have anything to say, please speak plainly. Whatever I, Yang Xuan, can do, I promise it will be done!”

Oh—so quick on the uptake?

Hearing this, Ye Qiu was delighted. Good, you’ve taken the bait before I even cast the line—very sensible.

Ye Qiu replied evenly, “It’s nothing. It’s just that the wine has already been opened. If it’s not finished, its potency will diminish—a bit of a waste, that’s all…”

“What do you mean?”

Yang Xuan paused, then realization dawned. “Senior, I understand! Name your price—I’m willing to buy the entire jar, no matter how high the cost…”

Heavens, could luck really be this good? Was he walking on clouds today?

This was immortal wine! If he brought it home, his family would surely rise above the rest.

Yang Xuan was beside himself with excitement. But the other junior brothers and sisters overheard him, and they too clamored with eagerness.

“Senior, I’ll pay a hundred thousand gold coins…”

“Senior, I’ll offer two hundred thousand…”

What the—are these people insane? Two hundred thousand? Damn, I’ve never even seen that much money in my life. How rich are they?

Now it was Ye Qiu’s turn to be stunned. He’d thought this jar would be impossible to sell, but it turned out to be a hot commodity.

Two hundred thousand? In gold coins? Wasn’t this a bit much?