The morning sun shone on the young man, as if embracing him.
Wang Xianxian steadied his breathing, beginning to truly feel the powerful energy surging within him. His once depleted bloodline was replenished, and even his broken spiritual veins were restored. If his guess was right, this must be the work of his unique talent.
He could heal any injury simply by drinking wine—a remarkably potent ability!
Calming himself, Wang Xianxian began considering his next steps. After much thought, he gave a bitter smile. Deep thinking alone wouldn't give him direction; the more he thought, the more...
...lost he felt.
Although he had many ideas, he recognized a fatal flaw within himself.
He was too inexperienced.
Even if he devised a flawless plan in his mind, those wily old foxes out there would probably see right through it. He was only fifteen and still lacked an understanding of how the world worked, of both its overt rules and hidden rules. His social experience was minimal, and he knew very few secrets.
Wang Xianxian was acutely aware that with his current knowledge, he wasn't qualified to be a player in this game.
Even now, with a powerful gift for vengeance and a new identity prepared by his mother...
Even with two identities and a wider range of choices for his life...
He still couldn't fully control his own destiny.
If he revealed his talent, would they kill him outright? Would he become a pawn for others?
Would he face restrictions? Could he even trust the state?
He knew none of these answers. No matter how powerful his talent was, he would still need time to make full use of it.
Regardless of which identity he assumed, he feared he wouldn't have enough time to develop because he had no strong backer.
If he chose to hide his abilities and develop in secret, there would still be problems.
Could he really stay hidden? Was his new identity truly foolproof?
Could he really trust his mother's mentor? Were there professions or talents that could track him?
The weight of his mother's life and dreams rested on his shoulders.
He had to seek revenge, repay debts, and fulfill his mother's ambitions…
For that, he needed to be cautious and proceed step-by-step.
"Mother, what should I do?" Wang Xianxian gazed blankly at the ceiling, his eyes slightly vacant.
At that moment, golden characters appeared on the yellow gourd in his mind.
[Heavenly Wine City, Lin Jiu. Trust in your mother's judgment.]
Seeing the golden words, Wang Xianxian sat up with a start, filled with excitement.
"You're the Gourd Immortal Mother mentioned, aren't you?"
[Yes, and also, no.]
[I am your natal artifact spirit...]
Receiving a clear answer, Wang Xianxian's excitement intensified.
[Don't overthink things. With me here, you don't need to be afraid…]
[Break through the Blood Refinement stage as soon as possible. I'm far too weak right now.]
After a brief exchange with the Gourd Immortal, Wang Xianxian finally had a clear direction.
He quickly began to pack his belongings.
...
Suddenly, Wang Xianxian broke into a cold sweat.
He realized something that filled him with a terrifying dread.
He shouldn't have returned to Drunken Immortal House because Wang Jiannian would likely kill him.
Yesterday, he had been overwhelmed by unprecedented emotional blows and hadn't thought everything through. He'd instinctively wanted to return to the place that gave him a sense of security.
Since nothing strange had happened at Drunken Immortal House, it likely meant that Wang Jiannian hadn't acted yet.
Wang Xianxian wasn't naive; he quickly pieced together the situation.
Recalling those golden eyes from yesterday, he felt waves of gratitude.
That girl had extended a helping hand when he was at his most desperate.
Without her, he wouldn't have everything he had now.
He could guess that the girl's status was incredibly high; otherwise, the tenth elder wouldn't have spoken with that tone.
Perhaps because of that benefactor, Wang Jiannian hadn't yet taken action.
But he knew full well what kind of a person his beastly father was.
Wang Jiannian was cautious, suspicious, and cunning.
There was no way he would let him go.
For that reason, Wang Xianxian had to leave Heavenly Sword City as soon as possible.
It was highly likely that his beastly father was already monitoring him.
To escape under his nose, he'd need a carefully thought-out plan.
First, Wang Xianxian's destination was Heavenly Wine City.
"Yun Jiu" was the identity his mother had crafted for him, yet that life had only been documented up to the age of ten.
The year his mother died, that identity's life narrative ceased to update.
The papers he held provided no details about Yun Jiu's life from ages ten to fifteen.
He had to find his mother's mentor and uncover the missing five years.
Only by finding his mother's mentor could he fully assume that identity.
With that in mind, Wang Xianxian opened the map.
After a moment of contemplation, a meticulous plan gradually took shape in his mind.
Once the plan was set, Wang Xianxian habitually glanced at the news.
"Shocking! Widespread celestial phenomenon witnessed worldwide last night!"
"Strange occurrence hints at the emergence of a legendary treasure."
"The Vice Principal of the Wine Saint Academy publicly claims it to be a miracle from the Wine God."
All the headlines seemed to be reporting on the same event.
Ten minutes later, Wang Xianxian rose from his desk and walked straight to the window. He flung it open and, sure enough, the rich aroma of wine wafted directly to his nose.
Wang Xianxian looked stunned, his mind reeling with images from the news.
"Was this...my doing?"
Before he could ponder further, there was a loud knocking from downstairs.
Wang Xianxian instantly grew alert. Drunken Immortal Pavilion didn't open until ten in the morning, and it was barely nine.
He quickly checked the digital doorbell and saw it wasn't a stranger at the door.
It was Lin Zhan, the grade supervisor who'd always looked out for him at school.
Wang Xianxian immediately ran downstairs.
Outside, Lin Zhan was anxiously pressing the doorbell again and again. Ever since Wang Xianxian had failed his awakening, Lin Zhan had taken care to keep an eye on him. Today was supposed to be the day students decided whether they'd take the Martial Exams, but upon arriving at school, Lin Zhan discovered Wang Xianxian wasn't there.
After asking other Wang family students, he learned that Wang Xianxian had been expelled from the clan. He'd driven straight to Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
When no one answered for what seemed like forever, Lin Zhan's heart sank. Just as he was about to break in, the door opened from inside.
"Good morning, Director Lin~"
Seeing the boy's gentle face, Lin Zhan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"You brat, not answering the door forever. I thought something had happened to you."
Wang Xianxian scratched his head sheepishly. "Sorry, Director, I overslept."
Looking at the boy's smile, Lin Zhan felt a pang of sorrow but quickly suppressed it. Teasing, he said, "So, not going to invite me in?"
Wang Xianxian promptly stepped aside. "Of course, Director! Please come in."
Lin Zhan admired the decor inside Drunken Immortal Pavilion, unable to help but praise, "I've been to so many taverns, but yours has a homey feeling."
Wang Xianxian, while preparing tea, gave a soft smile at the compliment.
"My mother handled the decor herself. She always said that work is part of life, and the store should feel like home too."
Lin Zhan nodded approvingly, clearly in agreement.
"Now that you mention it, I remember hearing that your mother was also a brewer?"
Wang Xianxian poured hot water into the teapot. "Yes, my mother and I share the same destiny—we're both brewers."
Lin Zhan gazed intently into the young man's eyes, his tone sincere.
"Before I came, I learned a bit about what's happened."
"The main thing I want to tell you is that life is full of choices. No matter how tough the path may seem, if you move forward boldly, you'll eventually find your own way."
Wang Xianxian immediately understood the director's intent; he was worried Wang Xianxian might give up on life.
Touched, a warm feeling spread through Wang Xianxian's heart.
"Don't worry, Director. For my mother's sake, I'll keep moving forward."
Hearing these words, Lin Zhan fully relaxed, taking a sip of the tea the young man had brewed.
"So, do you have any plans for the future?"
Wang Xianxian smiled wryly. "Honestly, I'm not sure."
"I never expected to awaken as a brewer. All my previous plans were based on becoming a swordsman."
Lin Zhan wasn't surprised by the young man's response. Even he hadn't expected Wang Xianxian's fate to be tied to brewing.
But Lin Zhan hadn't come unprepared.
Seeing the boy's troubled look, a faint smile played at the corner of his lips.
"In that case, how about I recommend a path for you?"