"What a scent! What is this?"
In the canyon, everyone passing by the Heavenly Jade Sect's shop noticed a pleasant aroma. Even Sect Master Peng Yu Cai didn't know what this scent was. However, his path was blocked.
"Sect Master Peng, please forgive me. Now is not the time." Yuan Gang blocked Peng Yu Cai's way. Duan Hu and the others were behind Yuan Gang, but they looked constrained and timid... After all, they were in *their* shop, yet they were preventing the master from entering?
Cheng Tian Xu began to curse:
"Outrageous! Is this a place where you can act so brazenly?"
Yuan Gang paid him no mind. He stared intently at Peng Yu Cai and asked again:
"Does Sect Master Peng truly wish to ruin everything that could lead him to wealth?"
As soon as Peng Yu Cai heard this, he was forced to temper his curiosity...
In the forbidden area, Niu You Dao was tidying up his tools. He wanted to sweep away all traces before he exited the room. He waved at Wu San Liang, who was guarding the room:
"Go fetch Fei Chang Liu and the others."
"Understood!" Wu San Liang quickly ran off.
Niu You Dao had personally summoned them. Peng Yu Cai and the others immediately looked at Niu You Dao with excitement as he emerged. And as Peng Yu Cai approached Niu You Dao, the latter was preparing tea for him.
This time, Yuan Gang didn't hinder Peng Yu Cai, who, upon entering, immediately asked:
"It smells strange. What are you preparing here?"
An overly cloying scent lingered in the room, so the windows had been opened to air out the room a little.
Niu You Dao stood up, smiling, and said:
"This is, of course, the thing I spoke of."
Peng Yu Cai asked again: "The thing?"
Niu You Dao: "No hurry, Sect Master Peng. Let's wait a moment for Fei Chang Liu and the others, then I'll explain everything. Er... though you are the host here, I shall still offer you: 'Would you care for some tea?'"
Peng Yu Cai sat down nearby and periodically glanced at Niu You Dao with a rather keen gaze.
He was curious about what Niu You Dao was preparing. However, the room gradually aired out, and the air became fresh again.
It wasn't long before Fei Chang Liu, Xia Hua, and Zheng Jiu Xiao arrived one after another.
Niu You Dao stood up again, and he and Peng Yu Cai went out to greet the guests. Passing by Yuan Gang, Niu You Dao said:
"Bring the jugs."
When they reached the hall, Fei Chang Liu and the others rose upon seeing Peng Yu Cai.
After mutual greetings, Yuan Gang brought over a tray with jugs. There were five in total. Niu You Dao, pointing at the jugs, said:
"Gentlemen Sect Masters, one jug for each of you."
Yuan Gang presented the tray and left a jug for each, placing the last one before Niu You Dao.
Peng Yu Cai began to inspect the jug. He didn't understand the purpose. He also sniffed the jug a little.
"Is this alcohol?" Peng Yu Cai asked.
"Sect Master Peng is truly wise. You recognized it with a single glance. However, Sect Master Peng has yet to taste *this* alcohol." Niu You Dao picked up the jug before him and said to a Heavenly Jade Sect disciple:
"Please, be so kind as to bring five cups."
That disciple looked at the Sect Master, and Peng Yu Cai nodded at him. Then, he continued to inspect the jug.
It wasn't long before the cups were placed before Niu You Dao.
Niu You Dao unstoppered the sealed jug, and immediately the aroma of wine filled the entire room.
"Oh, the aroma!" Xia Hua inhaled the scent and immediately nodded in approval.
Several sect masters couldn't resist; they stood up and approached Niu You Dao, eager to see what kind of liquor this was.
Niu You Dao extended his hand and said:
"Gentlemen, please try this drink."
Several sect masters took the cups into which Niu You Dao had poured the drink and began to inspect the liquid closely.
Peng Yu Cai asked:
"Why is it so clear?"
Niu You Dao chuckled. He, of course, knew how to distill good liquor, so he said with a smile:
"You usually drink wine with impurities. My liquor, however, is pure and unadulterated. Please, gentlemen, partake!"
Black Peony and the others standing nearby also wished to approach and sample this drink.
Only Yuan Gang stood to the side, looking disdainfully at this group. Lord Dao was about to toy with the ignorant once more.
"Sect Master, hold on." Cheng Tian Xu, seeing that Peng Yu Cai was about to sample the liquid, immediately rushed to stop him, pulling out a porcelain flask on the fly. He intended to test the liquid for poison.
Niu You Dao sighed and said:
"Don't spoil the liquor. If I poisoned the drink, where would I run to?" Having said that, he drained his cup in one gulp and immediately exhaled a hot breath. His eyes even glazed over.
Seeing this, Peng Yu Cai also waved Cheng Tian Xu away and, following Niu You Dao's example, drank it in one gulp.
As soon as the liquid began to flow down his mouth and throat into his stomach, Peng Yu Cai's eyes widened, and his cheeks tensed.
"Sect Master, what's wrong?" Cheng Tian Xu immediately asked.
Peng Yu Cai raised a hand, stopping Cheng Tian Xu, and slowly savored the drink. He felt as if a hot liquid was flowing inside him, as if something was burning within him. Truly, this liquid produced an unforgettable sensation.
"Good liquor! Truly potent alcohol!"
Niu You Dao smiled. Here, people drank some sort of impure wine, but of course, he distilled pure alcohol. And his alcohol would be flawless.
Fei Chang Liu and the others also followed his example. In the end, everyone's eyes widened.
Xia Hua, for her part, covered her mouth with her hands.
"Whew! Truly good alcohol!" Fei Chang Liu exclaimed, exhaling.
"Good liquor! I've never tasted anything like this before!" Zheng Jiu Xiao sighed.
Xia Hua, still covering her mouth, shook her head and said:
"This liquor is too strong and fiery. I'm not used to drinking something like this."
"Excellent liquor!" Peng Yu Cai chuckled. He reached out, wanting to grab the jug and drink directly from it. The jug was just the right size for his build.
Niu You Dao extended his hands, stopping him:
"Sect Master Peng, this alcohol is very expensive. Do you know how much you just drank?"
Peng Yu Cai asked: "How much?"
Niu You Dao, glancing around, said:
"Those not involved in this matter may leave. We can discuss business while we slowly drink."
Peng Yu Cai nodded to the others, signaling for all external disciples to withdraw.
Now, only Niu You Dao's people and the sect elders remained in the room.
Niu You Dao poured the drink into the cups again. He poured 50 grams for each, not filling them to the brim. After all, Xia Hua had just struggled to get used to this fiery drink.
In truth, it wasn't particularly difficult for Niu You Dao to produce this alcohol. He merely wanted to show them that it was no easy feat.
This time, the several sect masters drank the liquor quite slowly, savoring its full flavor and feeling this life-giving liquid course through them.
Niu You Dao looked at the jugs and asked:
"Gentlemen, what do you think? Would this jug be worth 100 gold coins?"
Peng Yu Cai's eyes sparkled. He understood what Niu You Dao was implying.
Xia Hua said in surprise:
"Such a small jug, and the drink itself is so fiery it's hard to swallow. And it costs so much? Who would buy it?"
Zheng Jiu Xiao waved his hand:
"It's worth it, truly worth it. I believe a buyer could be found even for 200 gold coins."
Fei Chang Liu nodded:
"The taste is excellent, excellent. Though it's an expensive drink, there are many wealthy people. There will be those who wish to acquire this liquor. 200 gold coins is no problem."
"Good!" Niu You Dao nodded. He had originally thought 100 gold coins would be enough, but with two people valuing the drink so highly, he changed his mind and, looking at Peng Yu Cai, said:
"I will sell these jugs to the Heavenly Jade Sect for 200 gold coins each. As for how much the Heavenly Jade Sect sells them for, that does not concern me. Prince Shang and I will supply the sect with 10,000 jugs each year."
Fei Chang Liu and the others exchanged bewildered glances. "So many? If he sells that much to the Heavenly Jade Sect, how will he even manage to supply them?"
Peng Yu Cai's expression immediately changed, and looking at the jug, he said:
"Such a small jug, and you'll only make 10,000 a year? And for such a small jug, you're asking for 200 gold coins; isn't that too expensive?" He immediately began to speak on behalf of the Heavenly Jade Sect, transforming into a shrewd businessman.
Niu You Dao: "You yourselves understand how difficult it is to produce this drink. I spent half a month to produce just five small jugs. 10,000 jugs in a year—that's already quite a lot. Furthermore, I won't be spending this money; it will go to your granddaughter's family. Of course, if the Heavenly Jade Sect thinks 200 gold coins is expensive, Sect Masters Zheng and Fei do not. I can supply the Liuxian Sect and the Floating Clouds Sect."
Zheng Jiu Xiao and Fei Chang Liu immediately looked at Niu You Dao with hope. At that very moment, Peng Yu Cai waved his hand and replied:
"Alright! Just promise that you will only supply these jugs to the Heavenly Jade Sect. Then I can agree!"
If they alone held the rights to this drink, they could easily skyrocket the price of these jugs many times over.
Niu You Dao: "Sect Master Peng, don't be so quick to agree. I have three more conditions."
Peng Yu Cai furrowed his brows, thought for a moment, and asked:
"Speak, I shall listen."
Niu You Dao: "Condition One: Kuangai County and Qingshan County will completely fall under the Prince's command. United governance is far superior; I need not explain this to you. Moreover, it will be much easier for a centralized army to defeat the Southern Domain. As for Feng Lin Bo, once we capture the Southern Domain, he will be able to claim a much larger territory than Kuangai County. Wouldn't that be better for him?
Condition Two: Aside from spiritual herbs, the Heavenly Jade Sect will relinquish all other profits from the two counties to the Prince. At least until we seize the Southern Domain. There's no help for it. Currently, the common folk in both counties face great hardship; and if the people struggle, so too will their sovereign. Therefore, out of concern for the populace, and to establish good living conditions here, taxes must be reduced or partially abolished. Only then can we attract more people, and thus secure human resources for the Prince. Otherwise, where will a 200,000-strong army come from? One cannot drain the pond just to catch all the fish. Otherwise, we won't last long.
Condition Three: Kuangai County is fine, but as for the spiritual herbs from Qingshan County, the Heavenly Jade Sect must give half to the Liuxian Sect, the Floating Clouds Sect, and the Subtlety Mountain Sect. After we conquer the Southern Domain, the Heavenly Jade Sect must transfer one-third of that territory to these three sects. Now, without the Song Family's support, these three sects will face difficulties. The Heavenly Jade Sect does not merely control Qingshan County and Kuangai County. When it gains the Southern Domain, it will need to assist the Prince and send people from its other territories to aid him. Sect Master Peng must also consider this: when the Southern Domain falls into your hands, the interests of many other sects will be harmed. The Heavenly Jade Sect alone will not be able to withstand that pressure. It would be far better to share this burden with others! "