The sky had already darkened. Yi Shuyuan stepped outside and beckoned toward the roof, drawing the gourd back into his sleeve.
Smoke was already curling from the old village headman's kitchen, and they were calling Yi Shuyuan in for supper.
The old headman had three daughters, all of whom were married. Now he lived here with only his wife, and Yi Shuyuan's arrival had brought quite a bit of life to their home.
The elderly went to bed early, and they had also had a few drinks tonight. After supper, once Yi Shuyuan had helped clear away the bowls and chopsticks, the old couple retired one after the other.
Yi Shuyuan also looked as though he was heading off to rest, but of course, once he entered his room, he did not lie down to sleep.
First, Yi Shuyuan set out his inkstone and took out his brush, then drew the wine gourd from his sleeve.
Only after circulating magical power through his hand to seal off the space around the gourd did Yi Shuyuan gently pull out the stopper.
A faint wine fragrance carrying a hint of searing heat drifted out, but it did not spread beyond Yi Shuyuan's immediate surroundings.
Yi Shuyuan poured a thin stream of wine into the inkstone. Hui Mian staggered over, clutching the inkstick and wanting to grind the ink, but Yi Shuyuan gently took it away.
"Just a whiff of the wine gets you drunk. Off you go."
At this somewhat tense moment, Hui Mian's antics brought Yi Shuyuan a little relief.
And Yi Shuyuan's smiling words likewise gave the little marten confidence, washing away much of the earlier fear.
Yi Shuyuan rolled up his sleeves and carefully ground the ink. The dark ink mingled with the "fiery" wine, swirling incessantly at the