While Li Yuan slept peacefully at the tavern with Xue Ning, Zhu Tongji, the owner of Cicada's Cuisine, sat elsewhere with a deep frown. In the glow of an oil lamp, the silver wine flask on the table cast a soft shadow. Three jade cups were set out; two for men, one for a woman.
The woman rested her delicate fingertips on one of the cups, gently swishing the liquor so that its pale sheen slid around the inner walls. She lifted the cup to her nose, took a tentative sniff, and murmured, “How strong!”
Zhu Tongji said, “Have a taste.”
The woman then brought the cup to her lips. Inhaling again, she took a slow sip and closed her eyes. After a moment of silent savoring, she opened them and gave her verdict. “It’s not that the flavor is extraordinary, but it’s potent and very smooth. That’s more than enough to make it sell like crazy.”
She swirled what remained in her cup. “They must have discovered a new brewing technique. This Snowbrew they’re selling is probably just an early prototype. I’m sure they’ll come out with something even better.”
Zhu Tongji sighed heavily, his tone edged with resentment. “Shame it’s not our Cicada's Cuisine producing it.”
The woman was Cicada's Cuisine’s head brewer; the two men in the room with her were a steward and the head of security.
Earlier that day, as soon as the Ginger Tavern began selling this new liquor, Zhu Tongji had someone buy a jug so he could sample it himself. He’d been in a gloomy mood ever since, so by nightfall, he summoned his three most trusted people to discuss what to do.
The steward hesitated before speaking. “Sir, should we inform the Elder? After all, the Ginger Tavern is owned by Young Master Li. He’s basically in charge of Silver Creek these days, definitely not someone to cross lightly.”
The head of security gave a sneering laugh, baring his teeth as his eyes flashed dangerously. “Why not wait for a dark, windy night and just burn down that distillery? No one will ever know it was us, and problem solved.”
Zhu Tongji poured another cup of wine, taking a long, deep breath as if trying to calm himself. “It’s truly good stuff... I can’t imagine how they’re brewing it.”
With a dismissive wave, the security chief continued, “We could kidnap someone and make ’em talk. Sure, people call him Young Master Li, but he’s just ninth rank. I'm ninth rank too! And let’s not forget, the Dark Visage Elder is much stronger than he is. If he thinks he can waltz in and take a share of our profits, we need to teach him a lesson.”
But Zhu Tongji didn’t endorse that plan. He simply said, “Tomorrow, we’ll dig around and see why he waited until now to open a distillery. Young Master Li’s been in Silver Creek for half a year. Why start this venture all of a sudden? Once we know, if nothing seems unusual, I’ll talk to my brother. Then you two can start asking around.”
Within a few hours, the remaining 10 kg of Snowbrew was snapped up, leaving many latecomers disappointed. Some grumbled, others simply settled for the tavern’s other offerings.
Mingling among the customers were a few shady figures who pestered the waiters with questions. Suddenly, they began kicking up a fuss, shouting things like, “Aren’t you people selling liquor? Then why is there nothing for your customers? Where’s your boss?”
The commotion grew louder, bringing chaos to the tavern’s main floor. the Ginger Tavern’s security guards rushed in, but these agitators acted deranged, soon brawling with them in a wild melee.
Among them was the head of security from Cicada's Cuisine, who yelled, booze on his breath, “They must be hiding the good stuff!” He then shoved one of the tavern guards aside and made a break toward the back.
But halfway there, he slammed into what felt like a solid wall.
The impact knocked him off his feet. As he landed on his backside, he looked up to see a tall, imposing man at the rear entrance. The man’s hair was streaked white, his eyes were cold, and his hand rested on a slender blade. An unsettling aura seemed to radiate from him.
A wave of terror seized the security chief. The tavern’s own guards hurried over, bowing respectfully to the tall figure and addressing him as Sir Zhou. The man gave a small nod, then closed his eyes again, standing like a statue before the door, blade tip against the floor.
The noise in the tavern dropped to a hush. The head of security from Cicada's Cuisine didn’t dare speak another word. Scrambling upright, he fled outside—only to be seized on the spot by Yu Mao and Qian Da, who were patrolling the street.
That night, the battered, bruised security chief hobbled into Cicada's Cuisine, one leg dragging behind him.
Zhu Tongji took one glance at the man’s pitiful state and barely reacted. Being beaten at the Ginger Tavern in Silver Creek was hardly a shock, so there was no anger, only resignation.
The steward spoke up with a report. “Sir, I’ve learned a bit more. The Ginger Tavern has a new face, someone they call Sir Zhou. He’s apparently an eighth rank expert.”
The security chief grimaced, wincing at the memory. “Definitely an eighth rank. Not the average eighth rank, either. He was terrifying.”
The steward went on, “They say Sir Zhou belongs to Young Master Li’s martial school. He hasn’t joined the Blood Blade Sect but came straight to the tavern.”
“How’d you learn that?” Zhu Tongji asked.
“The staff at the Ginger Tavern said so themselves.”
Zhu Tongji furrowed his brow. “It seems Young Master Li wants people to know this. If he’s really got a school behind him, that means Senior Li must be involved, too. My brother told me Senior Li came from the Central Plains, but nobody knows much about that school...except maybe Tie Sha. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have taken Senior Li as an enforcer and handed him so much authority. Now we find there’s yet another member of that same school, an eighth rank master, showing up at Young Master Li’s tavern. Who’s to say there aren’t more waiting in the wings?”
Any thought of revenge visibly drained from the security chief’s face.
Suddenly the steward added, “I also heard that Young Master Li himself has broken through to eighth rank.”
“What?!” Zhu Tongji sprang to his feet. He had followed this young man closely ever since learning he was tied to the Ginger Tavern. He knew all about Li Yuan’s cultivation. Just a year ago, the kid was still ninth rank with only some random technique.
“Are you sure he’s eighth rank now?”
“That’s what they’re saying,” the steward confirmed. “Apparently, Senior Li will be officiating his wedding in a couple of days, all because he’s so pleased with Young Master Li’s progress. Think about it. Senior Li wouldn’t want his chosen successor to be tied down by women if he wasn’t already incredibly satisfied with his talents. Yet he’s personally presiding over this wedding. That must mean Young Master Li is doing better than anyone dared imagine.”
Zhu Tongji collapsed into his chair, muttering to himself, “A true prodigy...not any weaker than those Fang brothers. How in the world did a tiny place like Little Ink Village produce someone ?”
“What should we do, sir?” the steward pressed.
Zhu Tongji glanced at his battered security chief, then at the steward, finally slapping his thigh with a long sigh. “What else can we do? In Silver Creek, he calls the shots. And he’s proven himself, a down-to-earth prodigy without a shred of arrogance. Plus, there’s that mysterious school behind him.
“So he wants to brew and sell his own liquor? Does he not deserve a share of the market? He does! To be honest, I’m the one who doesn’t deserve it now. Bah. Let’s not bother my elder brother with this anymore.
“Didn’t you say Young Master Li is about to get married? Prepare a gift, deliver it to him, and wish the newlyweds everlasting happiness and many sons. If he wants to expand the Ginger Tavern, so be it.” Zhu Tongji sighed again, then added, “I’ll go present the gift in person.”