"Elder Jia, the wine is ready. You can send someone to pick it up. Highland Barley Wine.jpg"
"Excellent, excellent. I'll send someone to pick it up tomorrow. You've really gone to a lot of trouble, young lady."
"Not at all. Compared to the soldiers bleeding and risking their lives on the front lines, what I've done is insignificant."
"Luo Feng, the two cups of Highland Barley Wine you ordered are ready. Should I have them delivered, or will you pick them up yourself? Highland Barley Wine.jpg"
"I don't trust delivery. This wine is too important to me. I'll be back in Base City today, and in a few days I'll be taking the Elite Training Camp entrance exam. I'll come by tomorrow and pick it up in person!"
"All right, then. I'll be waiting for you, sir. Heehee."
Xue Xi put away her phone and covered the vat again. She rode the iron plate down to the ground, stood up, and rubbed her wobbly calves. She resolved that next time she'd find an opportunity to conquer her damn fear of heights once and for all. She was a peak-level apprentice, for goodness' sake! How embarrassing!
She used her Spiritual Force to levitate a barrel of wine beside her, then turned and left. After locking the room, she wasn't worried anyone would dare steal the wine. After a day of fermentation, news of her appearance at the War God Palace had probably spread far and wide. Surely no one would offend a High-Level War God over some wine, and a Planetary Realm expert would never stoop so low.
Besides, the brewery was covered by the Gourmet Anchor. Even if the Golden Horned Beast showed up today and tried to drink without paying, it would have to leave its golden horn behind as collateral!
All along the way, people who saw Xue Xi hurried over. Sniffing the lingering aroma of wine around the vat's opening, a burly man whose eyes were practically filled with wine urged her, "Shopkeeper, the wine's ready. Why not open up now? What does making money have to do with the season?"
The people around him immediately chimed in. "Exactly! Open early, drink early, enjoy early! You're a High-Level War God now, Shopkeeper. Staying open all night for a month wouldn't be too much to ask!"
Xue Xi darkened her expression, slapped the "Closed" sign onto the entrance, and rattled the rolling shutter down, blocking out the wine fanatics who were going crazy with thirst. What a joke! Open all night for a month? In your dreams!
She went into the kitchen and set the huge wine vat against the wall, ready for tomorrow's opening. Then she ladled a large basin of Highland Barley Wine for Little Wolf, hoping to treat the lingering injuries from its last fight. But when she swept the warehouse with her Spiritual Force, she found it completely wolf-free.
Xue Xi frowned. Little Wolf should have been back from hunting by this time, begging her to roast meat for it. Why hadn't it come back yet? Had it gone off to play?
There were only a few Lord-level Monsters nearby, and none could be a match for the Silver Moon Fierce Wolf, known as the "Hunter." As for the Martial Artists in the area, they probably wouldn't risk offending her just to kill an Elementary Lord-level Silver Moon Fierce Wolf, would they?
After thinking it over, Xue Xi decided that Little Wolf had probably gone out to play. Next time, she'd leave a Spiritual Force marker on it to track its location. That would make it much easier to find.
She put the basin on the shelf reserved for Little Wolf's food and covered it with plastic wrap. Then she ladled herself a cup of wine and went back to her bedroom. Without using her Spiritual Force to resist the alcohol, she had a few small drinks and soon fell asleep, feeling woozy.
The next morning, Xue Xi stretched her still-developing body lazily. After washing up, she casually tied her long hair, which reached down her back, into a neat ponytail. Facing the mirror, she raised a fist. "Another new day! You've got this, Xue Xi!"
Downstairs, Xue Xi planted her hands on her hips and stirred her Spiritual Force. The chairs on the tables all rose into the air, then settled neatly in rows on the floor. She couldn't help exclaiming, "Spiritual Force is so convenient!"
When she opened the rolling shutter, she found a long line already waiting outside. Today, though, many of the customers had lost limbs and were being pushed along by their teammates. Xue Xi clapped her hands gently. "We've got new dishes today! I hope you all enjoy your meals and leave with plenty to show for it. We're open!"
The Martial Artists eagerly entered the restaurant, went straight to the Housekeeping Dolls to place their orders and pay, then found seats to wait.
Xue Xi had already slipped into the kitchen. When she saw the order slips coming out of the machine, she noticed that everyone had ordered a cup of Highland Barley Wine, more or less. So she went ahead and poured a cup for each customer. She had the Housekeeping Dolls deliver them one by one, then started cooking the other dishes.
The kitchen was bustling, but the restaurant was quiet. Everyone was watching a young Martial Artist lying in a wheelchair. He had only one arm; all three of his other limbs were gone. Beside him, a burly man carefully brought a cup of clear wine to his lips.
The young Martial Artist opened his mouth with a trembling effort and drank the Highland Barley Wine in one gulp. It was fragrant and smooth, leaving a pleasant taste on his lips. It even eased some of his nervousness.
The burly man stared anxiously at the young fellow, who wore a blissful expression. "Don't just focus on the wine! Is it working or not? Say something already! You're killing me!"
The young man had been pulled out of his delicious reverie. Embarrassed, he closed his eyes and carefully felt for changes in his body after drinking the wine. A few seconds later, he suddenly opened his eyes. "Brother Wang, my wound feels a little itchy. Wait—it's getting itchier!"
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