With the cost of his wine waived, the drinker smiled in satisfaction and began recounting what had happened at Little Cui Ridge over this period.
"Little Cui Ridge was sealed off for the first few days. The Prince's Estate brought people from all the major martial arts schools to excavate the tomb of that Internal Energy expert from the previous dynasty."
"Everything had been fine at first, but then one night, a fierce tiger actually came down from the mountain and bit quite a few people to death!"
At the word "tiger," Li Qing's eyes lit up slightly, but he suppressed his emotions and continued listening.
"That tiger used the cover of night to launch a surprise attack, injuring several Outer Strength experts in succession. It was only driven back in the end."
"So many people were injured or killed at once that the excavation of the tomb slowed down. The Prince's Estate was unwilling to wait any longer, so they called everyone guarding the mountain up to help dig."
"Just as the tomb was about to be opened, guess what happened?"
It had to be said that this drinker had quite the talent for storytelling. With every word, he tugged at everyone's emotions.
"Tell us already! Stop keeping us in suspense. What happened next?"
"Yeah, what exactly happened?!"
Only after hearing everyone urge him on did the drinker happily take a sip of wine and say with great satisfaction, "Later, people from the Nine Lotus Sect charged up the mountain! There were also plenty of wandering Jianghu folk mixed in among them, and all of Little Cui Ridge turned into a pot of porridge!"
"I heard the Nine Lotus Sect sent two Lotus Protectors this time. Together with those Jianghu experts, they beat the force brought by the Prince's Estate until men and horses were thrown into chaos!"
"That's all I know. The exact casualties will probably reach Sheng Tian in a few days. But if you ask me, the Prince's Estate probably won't be able to save face this time."
After hearing what had happened at Little Cui Ridge these past few days, the people in the inn immediately launched into a heated discussion, each airing a different opinion.
"The Nine Lotus Sect is truly audacious beyond measure. They actually dared to openly strike against the Prince's Estate."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. I wonder which martial arts expert from the previous dynasty left behind their inheritance in that tomb. Is it really so enticing?"
"Hard to say. The previous dynasty founded its state on martial arts. It is said that, at the time, even Grandmaster Realm experts were common."
.
Li Qing sat alone in a corner of the inn, gently swirling the fine wine in his cup, a contemplative look in his eyes.
Unlike everyone else, who were all focused on the tomb of that martial arts expert from the previous dynasty, his thoughts were fixed on the fierce tiger that had appeared at Little Cui Ridge.
Ever since obtaining the two Medicinal Wine Recipes, he had gathered nearly all the ingredients for the medicinal wines at Quanshan Herbal Shop. Yet he had never received any news about tiger bones.
After all, no one in this age would raise tigers for leisure. To obtain tiger bones, one had to enter the deep mountains and ancient forests to hunt wild tigers.
That was no easy task. If an ordinary Outer Strength expert encountered a fierce tiger in the woods without making sufficient preparations or taking much protection, he would likely end up in a miserable state as well.
Li Qing remained seated in the inn for quite a while longer. After finishing the wine in his cup, he left.
After returning to his own shop, Li Qing frowned slightly and began calculating, digesting the news he had received today.
"Hunting a fierce tiger... this cannot be rushed. I must make long-term plans and be careful above all else."
Little Cui Ridge was now a chaotic land of conflict. Many Jianghu experts had gathered there, and it was absolutely a pool of murky waters.
Leaving aside anything else, the Prince's Estate and the Nine Lotus Sect alone were enough to make Li Qing keep his distance in respect.
"No rush. Being a tiger-slaying hero is not so easy. Before that, I must first retrieve the Fine Iron Battle Halberd."
"Then, after the Prince's Estate finishes excavating the tomb, I can find a way to plan for the tiger bones."
"It would be best if I could find a local old hunter."
Just like that, Li Qing settled his plan to obtain tiger bones in his heart.
Ever since obtaining the two Medicinal Wine Recipes, he had constantly thought of beginning the brewing as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, after arriving in Shengtian City, although he had gathered the brewing ingredients for Five Poisons Blood Activating Wine, he had to wait until summer before he could begin brewing it.
As for Tiger Bone Health Preserving Wine, after all this time, he had finally received news of tiger bones today.
"Whew. I thought I would have to wait at least several more years before gathering enough ingredients to begin brewing. I never expected that I could start by next summer at the latest."
"As expected of Sheng Tian. It truly is a Treasure Land blessed with outstanding people and fine earth!"
Li Qing muttered to himself in satisfaction, as though he could already see his path in martial arts becoming a broad, open road.
Time slipped away silently, and several days passed in the blink of an eye.
These past few days, Sheng Tian had seen no small amount of activity. It was anything but peaceful.
First, Prince Yu personally set out with sword in hand, trampling through the Nine Lotus Sect's main headquarters in Sheng Tian and clashing with the Green Lotus Protector who had been stationed there to take charge.
In the end, with the masters of Sheng Tian's three great martial arts schools holding the line for him, Prince Yu defeated the Green Lotus Protector.
This matter shook all of Sheng Tian. Countless Jianghu people sighed that this prince's martial arts were formidable—he had actually defeated a Lotus Protector of the Nine Lotus Sect in person!
At the same time, many people became even more wary of the Nine Lotus Sect. This gang rooted in the Feng Kingdom actually dared to snatch food from a tiger's jaws even when facing a prince.
Afterward, His Majesty was extremely enraged. Emperor Taiwen directly issued an Imperial Decree demanding a thorough investigation into all Nine Lotus Sect forces throughout Sheng Tian.
For a time, winds rose and clouds surged throughout Sheng Tian.
Unfortunately, the Nine Lotus Sect had received the news in advance. Everyone withdrew from the imperial capital overnight, and the imperial decree came to nothing.
The next day, Prince Yu ignored all attempts to dissuade him and led his men directly toward Little Cui Ridge. He intended to personally supervise the deep excavation of the tomb.
This caused some people in the Jianghu to grow even more unsettled, wondering what exactly had been buried beneath the tomb of that previous dynasty expert to make a prince care so deeply!
In an instant, the entire Jianghu moved at the news. More and more people rushed toward Little Cui Ridge, and the situation became a complete mess.
As for Sheng Tian now, it seemed as though it had emptied out, with many Jianghu experts gone.
But that was not actually the case. The Nine Lotus Sect had previously controlled nearly half the underground forces in the imperial capital, and almost half the city's merchants had to pay them protection fees.
Now that the Nine Lotus Sect had enraged the imperial family and withdrawn from Sheng Tian overnight, did that not leave half of those profits vacant?
The only forces qualified to eye this chunk of fat and fight over it were the three great martial arts schools.
Just like that, the three great martial arts schools, which had lived in harmony for many years, gradually began to reek of gunpowder without anyone noticing.
At the blacksmith's shop, Li Qing learned all of this and could not help shaking his head with a sigh.
"What troubled times these are. The peaceful days have not even lasted long—how has everything become chaotic again?"
Fortunately, there was no sign that the turmoil would spread to his side. Li Qing could not be bothered to Pay Attention To it. He simply sat steady as a fisherman on the shore and quietly watched the situation change.
Even he could not quite make sense of Sheng Tian's current situation. Too many forces were entangled in it—who knew what kind of deals were taking place in secret.