CHAPTER 894: CHAPTER 894: ENCOUNTERING AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE FROM A PAST LIFE

"Senior..." Han Yan’s face was a bit pale, suddenly regretting greeting him.

"Calling me ’Senior,’ are you looking down on me?" Before Han Yan could finish speaking, the Old Drunkard interrupted him displeased.

"Uh, Old Drunkard, I have some important matters at home, how about we drink together another time?" Han Yan suddenly remembered that this old man hated being called ’Senior,’ preferring to be called ’Old Drunkard’ instead, so he quickly changed his words.

"Since you have matters at home, I won’t force you to stay. Well, just have a couple of drinks with me first, then you can be on your way." Although the Old Drunkard said he wouldn’t force him, he held onto Han Yan’s arm, dragging him into a small roadside tavern.

"Alright then." Han Yan gave a helpless bitter smile. He knew long ago that encountering this Old Drunkard meant he wouldn’t be leaving without having a few drinks, but fortunately, just a few wouldn’t matter much.

Upon entering the tavern, the shopkeeper was about to approach when the Old Drunkard tossed over a large ingot of silver, "I’m treating someone to drinks, don’t bother me."

The shopkeeper, taking the silver tael, was first stunned, then grinning broadly, ran off to the side. Earning money without using his own stock was a windfall he could only dream of.

The Old Drunkard waved his sleeve, and a vine wood wine cup appeared like magic, then he took the wine gourd from his back and poured a cup.

Immediately, a rich aroma wafted through, and even before drinking it, there was a sense of mild intoxication. The flow of qi in the meridians also sped up significantly.

"Such fragrant wine, I’ve never encountered anything this aromatic before." Mu Zexian and the other young playboys sniffed hard and smacked their lips, staring at Han Yan eagerly.

With their backgrounds, they were no strangers to fine wines, but such a fragrant brew they had never come across, making them crave it as well. Yet, knowing the Old Drunkard’s frightening strength, none dared to ask him for a drink.

"You all have good taste; this wine is called Immortal Spirit Drunk, brewed from a hundred types of strange flowers and herbs. Not only is it delicious, but it also nourishes the root and enhances cultivation. It’s no ordinary drink." The Old Drunkard was indeed vain, boasting once praised.

"It even enhances cultivation!" Mu Zexian and the others’ eyes lit up, swallowing even more fervently.

"Seeing as you recognize its worth, have a cup each." The Old Drunkard waved his sleeve again, and a row of various-sized wine cups appeared.

Han Yan looked at this row of cups, her thoughts drifting back to her past life, feeling a peculiar familiarity.

Mu Zexian and the others’ thirst for wine was already considerable, and when the clear Immortal Spirit Drunk filled the cups, they picked them up immediately.

"Wait." Han Yan was about to remind them when the crowd of impatient youngsters downed their drinks in one go.

This was disastrous! Han Yan smiled bitterly.

"Good wine, really good wine... Thump." Mu Zexian grinned foolishly, managing to praise it before his legs gave out and he collapsed to the floor.

"Truly... good wine, such good wine... Thump." Mu Zeran was even worse, slurring his words as he too fell over.

One after another, the group of playboys dropped to the ground.

"Drink slowly, this Immortal Spirit Drunk is brewed with a hundred herbs, and its medicinal properties are too strong. You need to drink while refining it, which is great for enhancing cultivation. If you drink it outright, you’ll end up like them. Though it won’t intoxicate you to death, wasting such a rare fine wine is regretful." Han Yan shook her head, advising Huayue and the others.

Seeing Mu Zexian’s condition, Huayue and the others didn’t dare be careless, sipping from their cups while using their cultivation techniques to refine the medicinal properties.

"You have impressive insight, to know the wonders of my Immortal Spirit Drunk." The Old Drunkard looked at Han Yan, both surprised and proud.

"Aside from enhancing cultivation, this Immortal Spirit Drunk actually has other benefits too." Han Yan sipped at the fine wine, squinting contentedly.

"Oh?" The Old Drunkard’s expression became even more astonished.

"Besides enhancing cultivation, the Immortal Spirit Drunk should originally have healing properties too." Han Yan savored the wine and spoke.

"And how do you know this?" The Old Drunkard’s face darkened, eyeing Han Yan warily.

In his early years, his meridians had been injured. Although it was healed, it left hidden dangers. After advancing to the Sword Saint, not only was further progress difficult, but the injuries would flare up periodically, greatly reducing his strength.

Over these years, he sought renowned doctors everywhere to heal himself, but the injury’s hidden damage had lingered too long, making it hard even for the Rejuvenation Saint to cure. By chance, he came across an ancient medical recipe to brew wine for healing with a hundred herbs. Unfortunately, the recipe was incomplete, missing a few medicinal herbs, so he had been unable to succeed.

Fortunately, his prolonged illness made him skilled. His understanding of medicinal herbs surpassed ordinary people. Through repeated trials, he managed to concoct a fine brew, though it helped little in healing, it could nourish the root and prolong life, significantly enhancing cultivation.

This matter was his greatest secret and fatal flaw, known to no one else. Now, hearing Han Yan reveal it, he was shocked and naturally wary.

If he hadn’t realized Han Yan harbored no ill intent, he might have struck out at once.

"Not only do I know the Immortal Spirit Drunk originally has healing effects, but I also know your brewing method is flawed. One of the medicinal herbs is used incorrectly. Thus, while it can nourish and enhance cultivation, it lacks healing effects, not truly the Immortal Spirit Drunk, but no more than Hundred Herbs Brew." Han Yan didn’t answer his question, speaking serenely instead.

"How... do you know this?" The Old Drunkard’s voice shook as he pointed at Han Yan.

"Tasted it." Han Yan feigned her sip again, smacking her lips.

Of course, she hadn’t tasted it; this was all knowledge the Old Drunkard himself shared with her in her past life.

At that time, while in the Longyan Mountains, she had come across the Old Drunkard, his old injuries resurfacing, his strength greatly diminished, being chased around in a sorry state by an Exotic Beast nearing the Sword Saint’s strength. Han Yan’s strength then was Sword Master Tenth Rank, not yet advancing to Sword Saint. Though she didn’t want to meddle, seeing him stumbling and rolling pitifully, she helped with a mind to assist if she could fight or flee if not, and together they slew the Exotic Beast, saving the Old Drunkard’s life.

In slaying that Exotic Beast, the Old Drunkard was severely injured yet, in that calamity, he gained insight, figuring out the true recipe and brewing genuine Immortal Spirit Drunk, afterward healing fully and advancing even further in strength.

The Old Drunkard, grateful for Han Yan’s help, revealed his secret and the recipe for Immortal Spirit Drunk, providing plenty of guidance, which helped Han Yan break through her bottleneck to the Sword Saint Realm.

Of course, these things Han Yan wouldn’t speak of; even if she did, no one would believe her.