Liu Di stared at the old man.
The old man lifted his chin and puffed out his chest, looking as though he were shamelessly throwing a tantrum.
After a moment, Liu Di shook his head and smiled. "Mr. Single-plank Bridge, Lord Judge, the bride in red, and that child playing chess... those were all tests you arranged, weren't they? Only by passing those tests could I obtain the ingredients and brew wine for you."
The old man snorted. "That's right!"
Liu Di continued, "Looking at it another way, if I had failed even one of the previous four tests, the ingredients would have been insufficient. Even if I met you, it would have been meaningless, correct?"
The old man brushed back his elegant hair and said proudly, "Hmph, correct!"
Liu Di nodded and slowly sighed. "It really is an ingenious design. But I want to ask: after going in such a huge circle, what exactly is the point?"
"Child, naturally it is to please me!"
The old man stood, dusted off his clothes, and declared loudly, "My name is Gu Gu Gu. My identity alone could frighten you—I am the number one expert in Four-Dimensional Village, the only one to have stepped into the Fifth Dimension! I am highly respected; everyone has to kowtow when they see me. My word in the village carries absolute weight. So long as I decide something, no one dares object! If I get angry and stomp my little foot, Four-Dimensional Village shakes three times!"
Liu Di felt a chill in his heart, his eyes widening slightly.
The old man glanced sideways at him. "What? Now you know fear?"
Liu Di hurriedly shook his head, somewhat incredulous. "Gu Gu Gu? Like a chicken clucking? The mighty number one expert has such a childish name?"
"Oh,