Huo Shan strode forward and cupped his fists towards Fang Fan. The etiquette was extremely serious, almost as if he put the three words Pacifying-the-State King on his head as a bow.
Behind him stood several senior officials of Blazing Fire City, each of them imitating the manner of the city lord, clasping their fists and saluting, their movements as neat as if they had been practiced.
"No need to be so enthusiastic."
Fang Fan waved his hand, his tone was very casual.
He has seen too many such scenes, Qian Daoliu, Bibi Dong, Xue Qinghe, which one is not full of pomp and circumstance?
In his opinion, it is not outrageous for a city lord to greet a Pacifying-the-State King with loud gongs and drums, but he doesn't really like the excitement.
"Pacifying-the-State King Of course it needs to be grander!"
Huo Shan smiled heartily, took half a step forward, lowered his voice,
"It's Blazing Fire City's blessing that Pacifying-the-State King can come. Heaven Dou Empire Who doesn't know the name of Pacifying-the-State King? I, a little Blazing Fire City, can't even invite you here on weekdays."
He spoke openly and without any attempt to hide anything.
It is Blazing Fire City's rule to worship the strong, and he, Huo Shan, is the biggest believer.
It's not too late for him to be happy that Fang Fan can come.
Huo Wu walked over from the side and tugged on Huo Shan's cuffs.
She had not spoken much in the carriage, but now that she was back on her own property, she was a bit quieter than usual.
She smiled at her father and said softly:
"Dad, Brother Fang wants to try Blazing Fire Wine."
"Yeah, I know."
Huo Shan patted her daughter's hand and laughed even louder,
"It's ready for Pacifying-the-State King. The best one has been buried in the cellar for thirty years."
He turned sideways and made a gesture of invitation, then led Fang Fan and his group towards the city.
The gongs and drums were beaten all the way behind, and several children ran after the wheel marks of the carriage, but were pulled back by the adults with a smile.
The main street of Blazing Fire City is not wide, but both sides are crowded with people watching the excitement. There are Soul Master common people, all of whom are secretly looking at the young man in white who is walking beside the city lord.
Someone recognized Zhu Zhuqing and whispered, "Is that big-breasted girl the legendary Hell Spirit Cat?";
Someone's eyes lit up when they saw Ning Rongrong,
"Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's little princess is here too".
Fang Fan walked in front, unaware of the sights around him. He occasionally turned his head to say something to Zhu Zhuqing, and Zhu Zhuqing would nod or pass the wine bottle to him for a sip.
Huo Shan led them to a manor in the north of the city.
The yard was huge, with three entrances in front and back. There were several Fire Maple trees with red leaves planted in the yard. There were stone tables and stone benches under the trees. There was also a small stove in the corner. A pot of water was warming on the stove, and white steam was emitting.
Huo Shan asked people to fully open the door of the main hall, and the sunlight shone in, making the whole hall bright.
He asked Fang Fan to take a seat. Fang Fan did not refuse and leaned on the chair. Zhu Zhuqing sat on his left hand, Ning Rongrong on his right, Huo Wu and Huo Wushuang sat at the bottom.
Huo Shan sat down next to the main seat and asked someone to go to the wine cellar to get wine.
Not long after, an old servant came in carrying a black pottery jar.
The jar was not big, its mouth was sealed with red clay, and its body was carved with dense fine lines, like traces of some kind of Soul Power formation.
Huo Shan took it with his own hands and opened the mud seal. A strong aroma of wine poured out from the mouth of the jar. It was strong and hot, like a ball of fire crushed into pieces and soaked in wine.
The aroma spread in the hall, and even Zhu Zhuqing took a slight breath. Ning Rongrong even put his nose to the nose and smelled it, and his eyes lit up.
Huo Shan poured the wine himself, using a small cup the size of his thumb.
When the wine enters the cup, the color is a very deep reddish gold, and it sways slightly at the bottom of the cup, like a small ball of liquid flame.
He held the first cup in front of Fang Fan with both hands. "Pacifying-the-State King, please."
Fang Fan took the cup, smelled it first, shook it, then brought it to his lips and took a sip.
The moment the wine entered his throat, his eyebrows raised slightly. The wine was stronger than he imagined, as if someone lit a small fire in his throat. The fire burned down his esophagus, all the way to his stomach, and then turned into a warm stream of heat that spread to his limbs and bones.
When the warm current rolled through his meridians, he could even feel the Soul Power in his Dantian vibrating slightly, as if it was moved by something. Good wine.
He made a comment in his mind, but on his face he just said "hmm" and put the cup on the table.
"How is it?"
Huo Wu couldn't help but ask.
She put her hands on her knees, leaned forward slightly, and stared at Fang Fan's expression.
"Not bad."
Fang Fan nodded, picked up the wine bottle and poured himself another glass.
He drank in a leisurely manner, drinking cup after cup, occasionally clinking glasses with Zhu Zhuqing, and occasionally helping Ning Rongrong fend off the drinks that Huo Wushuang persuaded him to drink.
Huo Wushuang has a good drinking capacity, his face turned red after drinking, and he was still competing with Ning Rongrong on who drank more.
But none of them drank as much as Fang Fan.
Huo Wushuang had already drank under the table and was helped out by two servants to sober up.
Ning Rongrong also drank, his cheeks turned red, and he leaned on Zhu Zhuqing's shoulder, muttering "Give me another drink."
Zhu Zhuqing didn't drink much, and only drank half a glass of the wine in front of her. She had been helping Fang Fan with the dishes, and occasionally held a drink or two for Ning Rongrong. Fang Fan drank the slowest, sipping one cup at a time, and the small amount added up, and the jar Blazing Fire Wine was already half empty.
His face was as usual, not even his ears were red, but his eyes were a little brighter than usual, like two stars lit by the smell of alcohol.
Huo Shan was sitting in the main seat, and the more he looked at it, the more frightened he became.
He knows best the nature of the Blazing Fire Wine he brewed. Normally, Soul Master will get heady after three drinks, and drunk after five drinks, but this boy drank more than a dozen glasses, and it was like drinking plain water.
He didn't show it on his face, but the curiosity in his heart was like a fire in a furnace, burning brighter and brighter.
He wanted to test how strong this boy was.
The rumors were exaggerated, but after seeing the jar of wine just now with his own eyes, he felt that maybe the rumors were underestimated.
He was silent for a while, and finally spoke, his voice was not loud, but it made everyone at the table quiet. "Pacifying-the-State King is Soul Sage at such a young age, I really envy you.
I have been practicing for decades, and I am now Soul Douluo. I have not made any progress in these years, and I am really ashamed.
I want to compete with a genius like Pacifying-the-State King. I wonder if I can agree? Let's just click through."
Huo Wu's expression changed immediately. She put the wine glass on the table, and a few drops of wine spilled out and fell on the red tablecloth.
"Dad, how could you do this?"
Her voice was urgent and crisp,
"It is our greatest honor that Pacifying-the-State King agrees to come to Blazing Fire City. You actually want to challenge her?"
She frowned, and her red hair swayed in the candlelight as if blown by the wind.
Huo Shan was not annoyed at being snatched away by her. He just smiled, spread his hands, and looked innocent:
"It's just a discussion, not a challenge."
He turned to look at Fang Fan, with a bit of probing in his eyes.
"Pacifying-the-State King If it's inconvenient, then forget it."
"Of course no problem."
Fang Fan put down the cup, wiped the corners of his mouth, and answered crisply, as if to say, "Then open another jar of wine."
He even raised his glass to Huo Shan, as if all he promised was to take a walk after dinner.
Huo Shan was stunned for a moment.
He thought it would take some talking and was even prepared to be rejected.
After all, I am Pacifying-the-State King. It is already a huge honor for me to come to your city as a guest. Why should I still discuss with you?