CHAPTER 120: CHAPTER 120: THE TIME HASN’T COME YET!

"Young master, this is everything you asked for, it’s all here!"

Li Qingmu went straight to Elder Qin after coming down from the mountain and asked him about Mr. Qin’s portraits.

He wasn’t disappointed; not only did Mr. Qin have a portrait, but there were actually several, ranging from his youth to middle age.

Li Qingmu compared a portrait of Mr. Qin as a young man, and his pupils slightly constricted!

The young Mr. Qin’s appearance was seven-tenths similar to that boy!

No doubt, that boy is Mr. Qin’s youngest son!

Li Qingmu closed the scroll, concealed the shock in his eyes, and said calmly, "Elder Qin, bring out all the wines stored in the cellar."

Elder Qin didn’t ask Li Qingmu what he needed them for, he went directly to fetch them.

Once a person dies, everything is extinguished like a lamp; keeping these things doesn’t serve any purpose. Since the young master wants them, he’ll give them.

Li Qingmu went down the mountain just to confirm one thing, so he only took along a cart full of good cellar wine and left. Before leaving, Elder Qin tearfully sent him off: "Young master, you must be careful!"

Li Qingmu looked back at the slightly hunched loyal servant and nodded lightly: "Don’t worry, I’ll be back! I will definitely bring back the real young master of the Qin Family!"

...

"Tell me, where did your man go?"

At Heifeng Village, Ma Biao stared sharply at Long Yue below, who wore a confused face. His gaze was cold, like a lion ready to pounce and bite at any moment!

Long Yue was astonished, displaying an innocent expression: "Boss, you drank my wine last night and found it tasteful, so you told me to get some more. My husband went to fetch it!"

"Hmm? I said that?"

"Yes, there were several brothers and sisters present at the time, they can all testify! Boss, it was your own request. Without your command, how could we dare to go down the mountain easily?"

Long Yue’s big eyes blinked as she spoke, looking utterly aggrieved; her beauty only added to the effect. Ma Biao felt guilty under her gaze and quickly asked his confidant nearby: "Did I say it yesterday?"

"Yes, boss, you said the wine was too good, and you wanted more, so you asked her to get some."

"Oh, oh, oh... Ah! I drank too much last night..."

Ma Biao slapped his forehead, thinking he was too careless, but seeing his men not too worried, and considering the couple’s recent performance blending with the brothers, there seemed to be no problem.

"This time it was my oversight; next time, if no one accompanies, no going down the mountain!"

"Alright, boss!"

Long Yue smiled, this ordeal was over. Her busy days washing clothes for them were not in vain; they were now speaking on her behalf.

But her hands had become rough; she must take good care of them later!

"Report—Boss, Shi Qi is back!"

"Oh? He’s back? Is there anything unusual?"

"No, he brought back two big carts of good wine, hahaha, the brothers are busy helping to unload! Boss, that guy is something else, he set aside twenty jars of aged wine especially for you, he won’t give them no matter what we say!"

"Oh, hahaha! This kid is not bad! Come, let’s take a look!"

The people in the village are straightforward, preferring to eat and drink heartily, so hearing about good wine, they all ran out, including Ma Biao, who had been questioning Long Yue a moment ago, immediately left the matter and went outside upon hearing about the wine.

"Boss, this is the treasured wine from that family, I got it all, initially they didn’t want to give it. I said it was for a noble to drink, telling them they’d benefit greatly, so they handed it over. Hey, boss, you say what benefit can we give them? Isn’t it enough not to take their lives when they pass Luanshi Ridge in the future?"

Li Qingmu, with a sincerely innocent smile, handed over a jar of wine and spoke thoughtlessly, hitting the mountain bandits’ hearts, immediately eliciting cheers from the crowd.

Long Yue thought her husband truly excelled at portraying roles; in just a few days, these bandits regarded him as one of their own.

Ma Biao still had some doubts, but with this cart full of good wine arriving, his suspicions gradually faded.

"Brother, let’s drink tonight!"

Ma Biao slapped Li Qingmu on the shoulder, and Li Qingmu responded with a smile, "Okay!"

That evening, Li Qingmu drank with the group of bandits; however, his alcohol tolerance seemed lacking. After finishing a bowl in one go, he became muddled, amusing everyone to tears.

"The scamp should have told us he couldn’t handle liquor! What’s he showing off for? Look at him, just one bowl and he’s dizzy, hahaha..."

Ma Biao watched Li Qingmu down a bowl heartily, feeling pleased, then laughed as he spoke.

But this was just banter; if Li Qingmu had sipped his drink initially or shown reluctance, it would’ve surely sparked suspicion among them.

As a mountain bandit, you might lack drinking capacity, but you mustn’t lack courage; that’s an unforgivable taboo!

"I’m not drunk... huh... who said I’m drunk? Who, I’ll beat him to death! Come... another bowl..."

"Boom!"

Li Qingmu continued to show off, slurring his words, just as he picked up a bowl of wine, his hand slipped, and the wine spilled on the ground.

Ma Biao’s face twitched painfully at witnessing the spilled good wine, then shouted at Long Yue outside cleaning: "Girl, quickly drag your man back, he’s already drunk, what’s he showing off for? Get out, get out, don’t spoil the fun of us old boys!"

Long Yue hastily jogged in, apologized to Ma Biao, then clumsily dragged her husband out, accidentally kicking over an empty wine jar in the process.

"Tsk, look, these newcomers are clumsy, must be nurtured in our village for three to five years to mature, ah, ha..."

"Hahaha!"

Behind them were bursts of laughter, Long Yue took her husband gradually away from the noisy place.

"Drink... Drink... I’m not drunk... Don’t steal my wine..."

"Shut up, you fool, you’re drunk! Dare to say you’re not again, I’ll throw you in the river!"

As they passed through the bandits, Li Qingmu babbled nonsense, Long Yue scolding him, drawing mocking laughter as they went.

Finally squeezing out of the circle of bandits, reaching a secluded mountain peak without people, Long Yue placed him on a large stone, a cool breeze blowing, Li Qingmu’s originally cloudy eyes gradually turned clear.

He turned to glance at Long Yue, smiled softly and said, "Lady, you really know how to act!"

"Hmph, nowhere near as good as you!"

Long Yue pursed her lips, glanced askew at him, thinking this man’s words were audacious, clearly he was the best actor here!

Li Qingmu sighed, exhaling the scent of wine, feeling slightly depressed, he gently touched the back of his head, "It aches, a bit..."

"Who told you to drink so fast?"

"Doing so makes them see us as kin, allowing subsequent actions to proceed much smoother."

"You didn’t put anything in the wine, did you?"

This guy drank it himself, so there shouldn’t be anything, right?

"I wanted to, but..." Li Qingmu’s gaze grew wistful, lightly laughing, "The time isn’t right!"