Chapter Twenty-Four: Divine Secrets

“Hold my hands tightly,” she said.

Qing’s clear, bright eyes shone with dazzling light as she extended both hands, signaling Xiao Phoenix and Shadow to take hold. Her expression was serious, her every movement graceful and refined. Like a pure green lotus, she exuded an air of tranquil elegance befitting an elder sister.

“Mm,” came the response.

Xiao Phoenix and Shadow brought forth their soft, white hands and intertwined their fingers with Qing’s.

“Let’s go,” Qing said lightly. As her words faded, her pupils shimmered with a peculiar golden hue. Xiao Phoenix’s dress fluttered in an invisible breeze, and a jade-green token drifted out. Before she could even react in surprise, the three vanished from the spot.

Star City.

Nine extraordinary, radiant celestial bodies circled the divine city, their silver light majestic and resplendent, lending beauty and serenity to the scene.

With a flash of azure light, three delicate figures appeared atop the city wall.

“Slovenly Elder,” Qing released their hands, searching with her gaze until she quickly found the old man, sprawled drunkenly on the ground, utterly unaware.

The old slovenly man stirred at their voices, barely moving, unwilling even to open his eyes. When Qing called again, sleep’s grip was too strong to resist.

Xiao Phoenix ran to his ear and whispered, “Grandpa Slovenly, wake up! We need your help!”

Only then did the old man sluggishly open one eye, struggling to rouse himself, heavy with sleep as he tried to recognize his visitors.

“Hm... who is it?” he grumbled, irritated at being disturbed. But seeing three identical, beautiful children, he uttered a surprised sound and laughed, “Aren’t you Qing and Shadow? Rare to see you out of the tower. Are you here especially to visit this old drunkard?”

“We have something to ask you,” Qing glanced at the scattered wine jugs strewn about, their contents wasted on the ground, the red-gold Fire Dawn wine filling the air with a tempting aroma.

Xiao Phoenix made a face, her innocent eyes seeming to say: Grandpa Slovenly, I’ve told Qing and Shadow what you just said to me. We have questions for you.

“Questions for me? Do you want me to sever karma or divine fate? Let’s be clear—if you want me to act, bring good wine first,” said the old man, indolently blinking one eye and picking up a yellowish wine gourd. He took a deep drink, his expression quickly turning blissful, a flush rising up his neck.

“Did you break into Grandpa Da’s wine cellar, Slovenly Elder? It seems to me that there’s more than just the monthly Fire Dawn wine here—I detect the scent of Ten Emperor’s Wine as well.”

---

Qing’s manner was serene and effortless, as if discussing something trivial.

“Cough, cough, cough...” Hearing Qing’s offhand remark, the old man was seized by a fierce coughing fit, his demeanor betraying a guilty conscience.

“Grandpa Slovenly, you broke into the cellar and stole Ten Emperor’s Wine! That’s not right!” Xiao Phoenix’s eyes widened in innocence, her tiny fists clenched, brows furrowed prettily.

“Broke into the cellar?” Shadow was visibly surprised, staring unblinkingly.

“I didn’t break in,” the old man muttered, unable to meet Xiao Phoenix’s gaze. The girls’ eyes were so clear and pure that lying in front of them felt impossible.

How uncomfortable.

He felt like a thief, even without wrongdoing.

Qing smiled gently, “Slovenly Elder has his own hidden treasures—perhaps I was mistaken. I have here a bottle of Nine Thunder Wine, brewed from Divine Yuan Fruit and Nine Essence of Thunder. Only sages after reincarnation may taste it. I’ve brought it specially for you.”

With a flick of her slender hand, a flawless white jade bottle appeared.

The wine shimmered with a dreamlike blue-violet glow, refracted from the crystalline flask, dazzling the eye and casting iridescence on the girl’s palm.

“Nine Thunder Wine!”

The old man, still feeling guilty moments before, was instantly transfixed by the extraordinary blue-violet spirit wine. He shot upright and snatched the flask from Qing’s hand, caressing it like a treasure.

“Elder, does Qing’s gift please you?” she asked.

“Good! Good! Good!” the old man exclaimed with delight. This wine ranked fifth in the Thousand Cup List, with a saying: “Only sages after reincarnation may taste.” That meant only one who had awakened from a cycle of reincarnation could hope to sample it.

Its rarity owed much to the main ingredient—the Divine Yuan Fruit.

Such a fruit was almost impossible to find, and only the purest heart, the size of a fingernail, was used in brewing. Who knew how many years it would take to gather enough?

One cup would send even a deity into a drunken slumber for three days and nights.

Such a divine wine, he would never waste thoughtlessly. To drink it all at once would be sacrilege; instead, he would savor it in small sips, living in bliss.

He cherished it for a moment, thinking: She exposed my theft, then gifted me Nine Thunder Wine. What a clever and resourceful girl—I have to help her.

---

“Speak, what do you need?” The old man secured the Nine Thunder Wine, his mood greatly improved.

“Just now, Xiao Phoenix mentioned that you uttered a prophecy concerning Brother Windsong,” Qing said, hands folded behind her back, fingers unconsciously tracing gentle arcs.

“Grandpa Slovenly, is Brother Windsong really looking for a little wife?” Xiao Phoenix blinked her pure, wide eyes.

The old man glanced at the quiet girl leading the group, understanding their intent, and chuckled, “So you want to know about Windsong’s fate? And you brought me a bottle of Nine Thunder Wine—such thoughtfulness!”

At this, Qing’s cheeks flushed faintly.

“As for this matter... I can only say it’s wondrous,” the old man mused for a moment, then spoke slowly, “It’s a marvelous fate. That boy’s future is peculiar indeed. Say he’s lucky, but not quite; say he’s unlucky, but he’s especially fortunate...”

Qing listened thoughtfully.

Brother Windsong’s future...

When it comes to fate, the old man would not speak idly. Even his casual words might conceal secrets of the heavens. During this trip to the Sea of Flowers, would Brother Windsong encounter something extraordinary—perhaps something that would alter his life’s path?

Xiao Phoenix puzzled hard, furrowing her adorable brows but finding no answer. “Grandpa Slovenly, stop speaking riddles. Just tell me—will Brother Windsong actually find a little wife?”

The old man burst into hearty laughter, gently patting Xiao Phoenix’s obedient head, “Don’t worry. You know what temperament your Brother Windsong has, don’t you? On this trip to the Sea of Flowers, if he doesn’t make some girl cry, that’s already a blessing—how could he possibly hit it off?”

“So he won’t, then?” Xiao Phoenix tilted her head.

“No, no, just teasing you,” the old man replied.

“The Sea of Flowers is full of flower spirits—spirits, fairies, divine blossoms. Elder, do you mean Brother Windsong will encounter a distinguished little mistress of the sea?” Qing’s thoughts drifted, her bright eyes shining as she guessed at the meaning.

Her knowledge was vast; she spent most of her time atop the ten-thousand-year divine tree, reading countless ancient tomes. When it came to the Sea of Flowers, she could recall many things.

“I never said that,” the old man chuckled, taking a sip of wine. But as he set down the gourd, his gaze deepened, and he said meaningfully, “But when that boy returns, it’s time to teach him a lesson—otherwise, he’ll suffer greatly in the future...”