"Fellow Daoist Zheng, this is Spring Warmth."
Cui Hao had no time to take Qinghe to task for her betrayal. For now, he had to regain control of the conversation.
He carefully set the tiny bottle of Spring Warmth on the table, then said slowly:
"Please don't disdain it for being such a small bottle. This stuff is so precious that words hardly do it justice."
Zheng Zhaoling looked somewhat surprised-she had not expected Cui Hao to actually get his hands on Spring Warmth. She had thought he was merely blowing hot air.
"I understand. Mere preciousness hardly describes Spring Warmth." Zheng Zhaoling glanced at the talisman affixed to the bottle's seal and recognized its value at once. "In the Heavenly Derivation Sect, Spring Warmth is second in fame only to Senior Bai."
"The Heavenly Derivation Sect has never sold it, and rarely lets outsiders taste it."
"Today, I have you to thank for the chance to try it."
Qinghe squeezed over too, her gaze fixed on the Spring Warmth sitting on the table.
"Enough talk. Let's each have a cup first."
Cui Hao did not answer, instead looking toward Zheng Zhaoling-since he was treating her, the Spring Warmth effectively belonged to her now. Whether Qinghe got any was no longer his decision.
Zheng Zhaoling nodded lightly.
"Let's each have a cup. As for Sandong... a little less would be better."
Sandong had not finished its accompanying fruit. Hearing this, it looked toward Zheng Zhaoling with considerable delight.
It had never drunk Spring Warmth, but it had drunk wine, supposedly ordinary wine.
Though bitter and unpleasant at first, it tasted good after a few more sips, and then it felt quite happy, although its memories grew somewhat muddled.
Yet everyone tacitly agreed not to let it drink much.
Now there