Emperor's Wine

The next day, just as dawn broke, the morning light streamed through the hotel windows.

Dugu Qing slowly awoke from the bed, a faint pain emanating from her lips.

He got up and walked to the mirror, gazing intently at himself, pondering to himself that it must be because he had indulged in too many delicacies in recent days, causing internal heat and stagnation.

Once I return to the secluded forest and rest quietly for a few days, the discomfort on my lips should soon subside.

Dugu Qing was too lazy to make breakfast.

After all, today is the first day of the Lunar New Year!

I absolutely have to eat a lot, a really big meal, for one day.

As for the lips, I guess I'll just have to suffer a little longer.

Upon hearing Dugu Qing's footsteps as she descended the stairs, dressed in a brand-new purple dress, Fern felt a pang of guilt.

Following closely behind Dugu Qing, like a guilty thief, he tiptoed and secretly observed Dugu Qing's subtle movements.

Dugu Qing ten dishes, all of which were his favorites. When he saw Fern appear, he waved and invited her to dine with him.

Fern looked at Dugu Qing and realized that he really hadn't found anything.

With a complicated expression, he sat down and dined with Dugu Qing.

At 10 a. m., Frieren woke up slowly and stretched comfortably.

He put on a white mage robe with gold trim, jumped out of bed, took out three prepared red envelopes, and left the room.

They were given to Dugu Qing, Fern, Stark respectively.

"Hero Killer has won so much money from me, it's time for Frieren to bleed a lot out of me this time."

Wow! So many! There's even a silver coin!

"Great, great, we can finally enjoy a proper meal."

The group opened the red envelopes and put the silver coins into their pockets.

Walking onto the street, everyone looked at the dazzling array of entertainment stalls lining the roadside.

Dugu Qing, Frieren, Fern, Stark enthusiastically played games like smashing golden eggs, shooting balloons, and ring tossing... completely forgetting their worries.

Everyone was like a child, not having to think about anything serious, and happily spent the New Year.

Five days later, the New Year holiday ended.

Dugu Qing, Frieren, Fern, Stark, having purchased supplies, set off again for their adventure.

The monsters on the Northern Highlands are numerous and seemingly inexhaustible.

Fortunately, Dugu Qing, Fern, and Frieren were all powerful mages who were able to turn danger into safety and quickly advance towards the Demon King's Castle.

In the 30th year of the Xinshi Era, in the Northern Plateau Bia Region.

The four entered a human town, went straight to a restaurant, ordered delicious dishes, and rewarded the hero who fought against the monsters.

The customers, who were eating, were excitedly gossiping.

Fasi, a dwarf, will soon find the legendary, best-tasting Emperor's Wine.

Given Fasi's generous nature, he might very well offer the Emperor's Wine to everyone to enjoy...

Upon hearing this, Stark looked at Frieren and inquired about the matter.

Fern had heard about this from Heiter; there once was a great empire that ruled over most of the continent, and its head was called the Emperor.

Emperor's Wine was the highest-grade wine presented to the emperor by feudal lords from various regions; it was exceptionally delicious.

Heiter almost got to drink it, but Frieren pulled him away, a twist of fate that haunted him for the rest of his life.

Frieren explained that there was a reason for that...

As the group was chatting, a dwarf wearing a black top hat came running out excitedly, panting heavily, and stood down by the table.

"It's been a hundred years, hasn't it, Frieren?"

Fasi looked at Frieren with eager eyes.

"It's been eighty years, Fasi."

Frieren ate her steak, subtly speeding up her pace.

Fasi still missed his drinking buddy Heiter, and upon inquiring, learned that he had passed away. His expression turned somewhat sorrowful.

"I'm too late!"

Fasi tells Frieren that he has found the location of the Emperor's Wine and asks Frieren to help him use magic to break the Barrier Magic at the entrance to the wine cellar.

Frieren hesitated and refused.

The claim that Emperor's Wine is the best wine in the world is a lie made up by the elf Milliarde.

Frieren knew from the start that this was her prank, so she refused to let Heiter and Fasi drink the wine, and their dream was shattered, leaving them greatly disappointed.

But Fasi came knocking again, Frieren was afraid that if she didn't agree, the matter would never end.

A hundred years later, if you encounter Fasi again, and Fasi rushes up excitedly, ask him to break the barrier himself.

Frieren is also very difficult to get rid of!

Seeing Frieren pondering, Fasi assumed she was unwilling to agree, so he pleaded again and offered her 20 gold coins as a reward.

The adventure team's rewards for completing missions along the way were mostly Grimoire; Fern and Stark practically never touched any money.

I'm terrified of being poor.

Upon hearing that there was money to be made, her goodwill towards Fasi skyrocketed, and she urged Frieren to agree to the mission.

To avoid being bothered by this matter again, Frieren agreed to the task issued by Fasi.

Fasi led the group outside the city, found a secret passage in the forest, and went inside.

The group walked through a secret passage several dozen meters long and arrived at a wine cellar.

The ancient stele standing in front of the gate is inscribed with the words "Emperor's Wine is the finest wine" in ancient Chinese.

Frieren examined the barrier and sighed.

"This barrier is very powerful; it will take me three months to break through it."

"Three months it is! I've waited two hundred years."

Fasi clenched his fist seriously.

"Alright! Then I'll rest in Bia for three months."

Frieren turned and left, calculating the magic to break the barrier.

Dugu Qing, Fern, Stark stayed at the inn, resuming their relaxed routines and quietly waiting for the barrier to be broken.

Who knows, I might even get to enjoy some of the world's best wine for free!

Three months later, in front of the Emperor's Wine Cellar.

Frieren, Fern, Dugu Qing, Stark, Fasi once again formed a group and arrived outside the barrier.

Fasi looked at Frieren expectantly; the top-quality wine he had longed for for two hundred years was about to be his, and he was incredibly excited.

Frieren stretched out her snow-white hand, and delicate, gentle magic followed the barrier all the way to its core, dismantling the entire barrier without expending any brute force.

The barrier shattered with a crash, revealing a smooth path leading to the Emperor's Wine.

Fasi trotted forward, pushed open the door, and excitedly entered the wine cellar.

As expected, the wine cabinets on both sides were filled with well-preserved Emperor's Wines, covered with cobwebs.

Fasi looked at the rows of wine jars and exclaimed in surprise. He picked up a few bottles of Emperor's Wine, gave them to Dugu Qing and Frieren, uncorked them, and couldn't wait to gulp them down.

He closed his eyes, preparing to savor the world's finest wine, but what spread through his mouth was a taste like foul water.

His pupils trembled, his soul seemed to leave his body, and he couldn't believe it.

How could this happen to the fine wines I've pursued my whole life...?

It tastes like horse piss... It's absolutely awful, incredibly awful!

His dreams shattered, Fasi stared blankly at the bottle, his features contorted, his face contorted with regret and remorse.

"This wine tastes terrible."

The Emperor's Wine, which had been sought for two hundred years, turned out to be so unpalatable that it made one's face contort in disgust.

"Giggle~"

Dugu Qing watched as her dream vanished, finding it absurd and laughable, and couldn't help but chuckle.

Fortunately, I am carefree and have never been fixated on any particular goal, so I will never experience the pain of shattered dreams.

This wave... I'm in the atmosphere.