Fine Dukang Liquor

A few days later, at the Jun Residence.

Early morning.

Jun Jingyi had just finished exercising and bathing. He changed into a loose black robe and walked into the room with his long hair loose.

"Uh... cough, cough, cough!"

At the sight, a faint blush actually appeared on the face of Sikong Ye, the black-clad young man standing nearby.

But it quickly vanished.

He cleared his throat repeatedly and changed the subject. "Although your body is very weak, the medicinal ingredients are all available. As long as you keep this up, martial arts aside, your body will at least become stronger than an ordinary person's."

"Mm."

Jun Jingyi nodded.

Martial arts training was not something he could rush. He was already quite satisfied with his current progress.

At least lately he no longer felt weak after taking just a few steps.

Walking over to the table, Jun Jingyi moved his breakfast aside to make a little room.

Then he took out a jar of liquor.

"This..."

Sikong Ye was somewhat speechless.

Eating and drinking were pleasures in life, and that was how those of the jianghu ought to live.

But did he have to drink with breakfast too?

Eating soy milk and fried dough sticks while downing bowls of liquor?

Eating meat buns while taking great swigs of liquor?

The strange images in his head left Sikong Ye somewhat speechless.

He felt that ever since he had come to the Jun Residence and met Jun Jingyi, he had seen more and more strange things.

But then he thought of that day at the medical hall, when this fellow had actually held a jar of strong liquor and drunk it like water.

"All right..."

So he's a drunkard!

The young man shook his head, thinking that, sure enough, a talented scholar was born unable to do without liquor.

"What are you thinking about?"

Jun Jingyi calmly lifted the lid off the jar. In an instant, the aroma of liquor filled the entire room. Even the servants in the courtyard could not help sniffing, surprise on their faces as the fragrance wafted into their noses.

"This is...?"

"What liquor is this?"

Sikong Ye was astonished. He considered his family fairly well-off and had drunk countless famous liquors from across the land, but this...

Such an aroma just from opening the jar?

Surely the liquor itself could not be bad.

At the thought, he hurriedly poured himself a bowl without being asked and drank a large mouthful, while Jun Jingyi watched with an expression of amusement.

The next second.

"Pfft..."

Jun Jingyi touched the liquor covering his face, gritted his teeth slightly, and his facial muscles twitched. He turned again and headed for the room to the side.

He had just bathed, and now he had to wash his face again!

This bastard!

Behind him came the sound of Sikong Ye coughing and exclaiming in shock.

"Cough, cough, cough... this..."

"So strong! Cough, cough, what kind of liquor is this? It's actually this strong!"

Before long, Jun Jingyi returned, having changed into a white robe, and deliberately sat down at one side of the table.

He had made up his mind: from now on, whenever he ate with this fellow, he would never sit across from him.

Seeing this, Sikong Ye felt a little awkward.

But that was soon replaced by shock once more.

He asked in amazement, "What kind of liquor is this? How can it be so strong? Great Yan Fire Rain is considered the strongest liquor under heaven, but it isn't even a third as strong as this?"

"Where did you buy it? I'll take some back for my old man to try too!"

The young man excitedly asked one question after another.

Spittle flew everywhere.

Jun Jingyi silently congratulated himself on having the foresight to sit beside him.

It was just a pity about all those big, golden fried dough sticks.

And his favorite meat buns...

He had gone to such trouble to teach the cook!

He shook his head, his face full of heartache.

He no longer planned to eat this breakfast.

Smiling, he rose to his feet, one hand behind his back, and stood in white robes, quietly watching the rising sun cast its light over the earth outside the window.

He left the people in the room with a view of his dashing back.

The sight filled the eyes of the maids waiting nearby with little stars.

But Sikong Ye curled his lip and said, "All right, all right, we know you're handsome, prettier than a woman. Hurry up and tell me."

Jun Jingyi rolled his eyes.

He had finally managed to show off again, and this fellow really was...

He shook his head and spoke calmly.

"Facing wine, let us sing; how long can life last!"

"Like the morning dew, too many days have passed in sorrow."

"Let generous passion fill the song, yet troubled thoughts are hard to forget."

"What can dispel these worries? Only Dukang!"

"This liquor is called Dukang. It is liquor that dispels people's worries..."

Jun Jingyi spoke calmly, a distinctive air about him.

The room fell silent.

The little stars in the two maids' eyes multiplied, and their faces flushed slightly. Who knew what they were thinking?

Sikong Ye started to speak several times, only to stop...

He really wanted to mock this fellow for being such a show-off.

But this poem...

All right, this fellow really does have the right to show off!

The black-clad young man shook his head helplessly, then nodded.

Looking at the jar of liquor on the table, he murmured softly, "What can dispel these worries? Only Dukang!"

"Good poem, good liquor!"

"It's only fitting that good liquor be paired with a good poem."

With this poem of Jun Jingyi's circulating, leaving aside how excellent the Dukang Liquor already was, even if it were mediocre, it would become all the rage for a time.

Jiangnan had many talented scholars, and talented scholars had never been able to do without good liquor, especially liquor accompanied by a fine poem like this.

Talented scholars, in turn, were to some extent the weathervane of fashion in the hearts of the people of Jiangnan, and even of the whole world.

"This fellow..."

Sikong Ye's eyes flickered as he looked at Jun Jingyi, who still wore a smug expression, and he no longer felt like mocking him at all.

He merely closed his eyes slightly and kept murmuring, "What can dispel these worries... only Dukang!"

He immersed himself in the poem's imagery.

"This liquor is stronger than any other under heaven. One cup is enough to get a nondrinker drunk, and even a lover of liquor would probably fall fast asleep after a bowl."

"I suppose it really could be said to dispel worries."

"Right..."

Suddenly remembering something, Sikong Ye turned sharply to Jun Jingyi. "You still haven't said where this liquor is sold."

"My tavern."

Jun Jingyi chuckled. His first die-hard customer had appeared.