Pearl City, once the second largest city of the Red Lion Dynasty, has now become a paradise for adventurers.
Exiles, cultivators, bandits, and desperate merchants roam the city, coveting spirit stones mined from the mountains or those in the hands of others.
The streets and alleys are filled with sword-wielding warriors, arrogant orcs, drunken men, cloaked travelers, and mysteriously wandering single women.
On both sides of the street, taverns and chicken coops are brightly lit and bustling, the air thick with the scent of desire.
"Make way! Make way!"
On the most prosperous street, two orc soldiers shouted, brandishing their long whips.
Protected by eight orcs, a middle-aged merchant with a protruding belly rode arrogantly along the street on the back of a tall blood wolf.
A human?!
The patrons in the taverns stared at the middle-aged merchant in utter astonishment.
In Pearl City, controlled by orcs, even the wealthiest human merchants were considered second-class citizens.
This was the first time they'd ever seen a human merchant receive orc protection and cleared passage.
An elderly man in black, holding a wine cup, coldly observed the ostentatious middle-aged merchant parading through the streets and said calmly, "That's Ximen Qing."
Ximen Qing?
The great official Ximen?!
The old man nodded: "This Ximen Qing is quite extraordinary. He somehow managed to obtain high-proof liquor from the Great Xia Dynasty, which is why Lord Monk treated him as an honored guest, and he even directly extended his reach into the mines."
The dozen or so tables in the restaurant hall fell silent, their hearts filled with mixed emotions.
How could the difference between people be so vast?
They had endured countless hardships to reach Pearl City, having to be mindful of the orcs' every whim, forced to be obsequious, and racking their brains just to obtain a batch of spirit stones.
Look at them, they're fawned over by the orcs and treated with special regard by the city lord, yet they still dare to covet the mines.
In Pearl City, all the mines are monopolized by the orcs. Even those human collaborators are clearly vassals who have pledged allegiance to the orcs.
Ordinary people, let alone reaching into the mines, would die even if they entertained the thought!
A young man at the table retorted, "Don't others have access to strong liquor?"
The old man glanced at the young man and coldly replied, "Of course they do. Yesterday, two wealthy merchants presented Lord Mengke with strong liquor, and what happened? They were both beheaded."
Everyone's expression changed simultaneously. The old man slowly said, "Lord Mengke's palate has been spoiled. He can tell immediately if someone's liquor is watered down."
Someone else couldn't help but ask, "Has no one traced Ximen Qing's connections?"
The old man sneered, "I advise you not to even consider it. Every time Ximen Qing comes to Pearl City, countless desperate criminals target him. And what happens? Everyone who follows him, including the two orc soldiers from the city lord's mansion, vanishes without a trace."
A chill ran through everyone, and they immediately abandoned their plan to double-cross him.
He dared to kill even orc soldiers; this Ximen Qing was not only incredibly powerful but also extremely arrogant.
Countless people were engrossed in heated discussion because of the arrival of the great official Ximen.
So-called high-proof liquor was, after all, a new thing. They had never tasted it before, and naturally couldn't understand its value.
But Monk knew.
On the northern border of the Great Xia Dynasty, orcs had captured high-proof liquor from human soldiers more than once, initially drinking it secretly themselves. It wasn't until several orc scout squads surrendered en masse to the human garrison that the orc high command was shaken.
What kind of strong liquor possessed such magic that it could make orc warriors willingly surrender?
The liquor captured from the front lines began to be continuously sent to the rear of the orc territory, quickly becoming a hot commodity sought after by orc generals and nobles.
Orc spies infiltrating the Great Xia Dynasty also received orders from their superiors to obtain high-proof liquor at all costs.
However, it wasn't that easy.
As a new thing, high-proof liquor was rationed in the Great Xia Dynasty; even the Great Xia people themselves didn't have enough to drink.
With the new emperor of Great Xia personally leading the expedition, the entire northern defense line was on edge, and all smuggling routes were cut off.
The small amount of wine that the orc spies had obtained was far from satisfying the needs of the orc generals and nobles; instead, it fueled their even greater thirst.
Therefore, in Monk's eyes, the high-proof liquor brought by Ximen Qing was no longer just wine, but a tool for advancement and promotion!
"Master Ximen!"
"Lord Monk!"
In front of the city lord's mansion, the tall orc city lord with a leopard's head warmly embraced Master Ximen.
The two exchanged pleasantries and entered the city lord's mansion.
The banquet hall was already laden with all sorts of delicacies.
A dozen or so orc nobles stood up upon seeing the two arrive and greeted Ximen Qing warmly.
Many of them almost drooled at the thought of the fine wine.
After everyone was seated again, Lord Monk didn't waste any words and eagerly asked, "Master Ximen, how much wine did you bring this time?"
Ximen Qing chuckled and said mysteriously, "Lord Monk, please don't be in such a hurry. I also brought something good this time."
As he spoke, he took out a round porcelain plate from his ring space and gently placed it on the table. He poured boiling water into the bottom of the plate, and Ximen Qing took out several exquisite small wine cups, inserting them into the round rim of the plate so that the bottoms of the cups were immersed in the hot water.
The exquisite white porcelain wine cups were distributed one by one, and the beastmen picked up the small wine cups, both curious and reluctant to put them down. They were so exquisite, almost unbelievably so.
They were just a bit small; each cup wouldn't even be enough to fill a tooth gap.
Ximen Qing stood up and chuckled, "The wine tastes better after it's warmed up, and it's also better for your health. Everyone, please!"
As he spoke, Ximen Qing gestured to his servants, and began to distribute the wine to everyone.
The beastmen nobles were already impatient; the wine had barely been poured into their cups when they downed it in one gulp.
Not enough? More, more!
Lord Monk and the two werewolf nobles, however, drank with great refinement, their eyes gleaming as they looked at the wine vessels before Ximen Qing.
Not all beastmen were crude; the nobles residing in Beast God City lived lives of luxury and refined tastes no less sophisticated than human nobles.
Such exquisite wine vessels, paired with fine wine, instantly elevated the atmosphere to a high level.
Only true nobles could appreciate the elegance in such a setting.
Monk was already imagining how pleased the noble would be when he presented this set to him.
Ximen Qing, observing the reactions, smiled and said, "This wine set is a small token of my appreciation for Lord Monk. Please just take a look. Now, it's time for us to drink heartily. Someone, bring a large bowl!"
Boom!
A huge wine jar crashed down beside Ximen Qing.
The dozen or so beastmen nobles couldn't help but cheer.
When Ximen Qing brought out various braised dishes seasoned with extra chili, the cheers of the orc nobles rose even higher, almost lifting the roof off.
Ximen Qing, like a Maitreya Buddha, smiled as he watched the gluttonous crowd.
In this world, nothing can't be solved with a good drink.
If it can't, then two drinks will do.
Halfway through the banquet, the city lord of Monk gave a signal, and Ximen Qing quietly rose and went to a side hall with two other werecturnal nobles.