The beast puffed out his chest proudly. "Yes, Master! I thought you might want to make more wine when you returned. The apples were ripe every few months, so I gathered them and stored them here."
Lin Mu smiled, warmth flickering in his heart. "You've done well. These are perfect."
There were nearly ten barrels in total, more than enough to make several large batches of Immortal Apple Wine. The thought brought back old memories: the nights he had spent refining his brewing methods, the joy of sharing the first batch with his companions and the Saintess, the laughter that always followed.
He walked to the Immortal Apple Tree, resting his palm against its trunk. "Looks like we'll be working together again," he said softly.
The tree rustled its branches in response, as if pleased.
Lin Mu picked the rest of the apples which were ready, growing his current stores further.
