The seven members of the Heaven Dou Imperial Battle Team departed from the Suotuo Suotuo City Grand Spirit Arena.
Though Tang San, Dai Mubai, and the others had claimed victory, their joy was tempered by the pressure of a single name—Sword Wine—mentioned by Yu Tianheng.
Ning Rongrong clicked her tongue.
"Defeated Yu Tianheng with a single sword strike... This Sword Wine is terrifying."
Oscar glanced at her radiant face, full of awe, then lowered his head, saying nothing.
Ma Hongjun snorted.
"Who knows if Yu Tianheng was telling the truth?"
"Even if he was, I don't believe that so-called Sword Wine could beat Boss Dai or Third Brother."
Dai Mubai's lips curled slightly.
"Shame Grandmaster's third phase of special training is about to begin."
"Otherwise, I'd seriously consider heading to Heaven Dou City to meet this so-called Sword Wine."
Tang San smiled faintly.
He hadn't taken Yu Tianheng's words about Sword Wine to heart.
With the secret arts of the Tang Sect and twin Martial Souls at his command, he had no reason to fear any peer.
"Hey, Zhuqing—where are you going?"
Xiao Wu suddenly shouted.
The others turned just in time to see Zhu Zhuqing walking briskly toward the departing Imperial Team.
As they watched her slender silhouette fade into the distance,
A flicker of shadow passed through Dai Mubai's evil eyes.
Had Zhu Zhuqing been willing to use their Martial Soul Fusion Ability—Hell White Tiger—with him today,
The Heaven Dou team would've been defeated cleanly.
Instead, they'd relied on Yu Tianheng being injured to secure a narrow win.
Back during Shrek Academy's enrollment,
He had publicly declared his intent to pursue Zhu Zhuqing.
But after all this time,
She still hadn't given him the slightest response.
"What are you following us for?"
"You Shrek Seven Monsters still not done with your mocking?"
The Imperial Team had a poor impression of the Shrek Seven Monsters.
So when they saw Zhu Zhuqing catch up, none of them were particularly friendly.
"Don't misunderstand. I'm not here to cause trouble."
Zhu Zhuqing clenched her fists.
Normally calm and composed, she was visibly nervous, her words coming out a bit stilted.
"I… I just wanted to ask about Sword Wine…"
"Do… do you know him well?"
Yu Tianheng and the others exchanged glances, just about to say "not really" when—
Dugu Yan nodded with a grin.
"Sure, we know him well—he's basically our bro."
"We even had dinner together before coming to Suotuo City."
Seeing the doubt flicker in Zhu Zhuqing's beautiful eyes,
Dugu Yan twirled a strand of her violet-highlighted hair between her fingers, smiling playfully.
"Sword Wine always wears white. His sword blooms with lotus light—fast and razor-sharp."
That's him.
It's definitely Li Zhexian.
Zhu Zhuqing took out her personal wine gourd and handed it to Dugu Yan, her eyes gleaming.
"Sister, please give this to Li—Sword Wine."
"It's a collection of fine wines from Suotuo City. And tell him…"
"I still remember my promise. Tell him not to forget either."
Yu Tianheng and the others gave Zhu Zhuqing strange looks.
There's definitely something going on.
Who would've thought that cold, aloof Sword Wine had such a beautiful admirer here in Suotuo?
"No problem."
Dugu Yan accepted the gourd with the same easy smile and waved.
"I'll deliver both the wine and your message."
"Well then, little sister—we'll meet again if fate allows."
Zhu Zhuqing watched the seven members of the Imperial Team leave,
Then returned alone to the inn.
To her surprise, Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong were already waiting inside.
"Hmph. Spill it, Zhuqing. Where'd you go?"
Xiao Wu pouted in irritation.
"Don't you think of us as sisters? You've been keeping secrets."
Ning Rongrong snorted.
"She doesn't need to say—I already know!"
"The person she's been thinking about is in Heaven Dou City. She went to ask the Imperial Team about him, didn't she?"
Seeing Zhu Zhuqing's cheeks flush red, and hearing no denial—
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong exchanged a glance, then pounced, tickling her sides.
"Hehe! If you won't talk, don't blame us for being rough!"
"Ah! Stop it…"
Moments later—
Zhu Zhuqing sat there with her hair disheveled and face flushed.
"Alright, alright, I'll tell you."
"I found out it's him. He's the one called Sword Wine."
Xiao Wu and Ning Rongrong's eyes widened.
"Sword Wine?!"
"The one who beat Yu Tianheng with a single sword strike?!"
Hearing the shock in their voices,
Zhu Zhuqing felt a quiet sense of pride.
"Mhm."
Ning Rongrong quickly asked,
"Zhuqing, is it really true that he beat Yu Tianheng in one strike?"
Zhu Zhuqing didn't hesitate.
"Absolutely. Maybe others can't do it—but he can."
Ning Rongrong's eyes sparkled with envy.
Such a beautiful love story between good sisters.
Why couldn't hers be like that…
She could sense Oscar's feelings for her.
But like was like—and she didn't feel anything.
Every time she looked at Oscar, she thought of him selling sausages outside the academy gates, looking all shifty.
She couldn't help it.
She'd once met a carefree young man, as free as the wind.
They had shared wine and poetry under the moonlight, and vowed their hearts to each other.
But his Spirit Power talent had been too poor—
She had no choice but to let him go.
Xiao Wu tilted her head, confused, watching Zhu Zhuqing's blissful smile and Ning Rongrong's quiet sadness.
What was going on with her two best friends?
...
Heaven Dou City.
In a small courtyard.
Li Zhexian reclined lazily against the steps, raising a cup to the moon overhead.
"Hic—"
He burped, savoring the warmth of wine sliding down his throat.
A sudden trace of melancholy crept into his voice.
"Raising a golden goblet to the moon… but where can I find true nectar again?"
"The wine from the Clear Spring Wine Gourd is good, but even that gets tiresome."
"My Wine Martial Soul still hasn't evolved. My sword… still not sharp enough. Sigh…"
Li Zhexian rarely felt troubled.
Perhaps at this point in his life, the only things that could worry him were his sword and his wine.
One cup after another…
One cup after another…
The scent of wine wrapped around him, carried off by the night breeze to who knows where.
And just like that, he fell asleep on the steps.
And dreamed—
—a strange dream.
The sea of clouds rippled with rainbow light.
Floating islands of glasslike palaces hung suspended in the sky.
Inside a sacred temple, a towering figure stood tall. His short silver-white hair bristled like blades.
On his left shoulder burned white fire; on his right, a deep blue flame twisted.
His black-red armor shimmered with sinister divine energy, liquid shadows writhing over its surface.
Something had clearly piqued his interest.
He wore a faint smile.
Then—
A gentle voice rang out.
"Ji Dong, what are you watching?"
A radiant woman approached, bathed in holy light.
Her gown trailed behind her, embroidered with golden lotus patterns, exuding a divine warmth like the dawn.
"You're here, Lie Yan."
Seeing the white-robed woman, even Ji Dong's evil aura was purified.
The sharpness in his gaze softened with deep affection.
"There's an interesting boy down in the mortal world."
Lie Yan smiled.
"Have you found a successor for your God Position as the God of Evil?"
"…Too soon to say."
"But Lie Yan, you know this better than anyone."
"When it comes to titles…"
"I'd much rather be called—"
He turned over his palm.
The clouds across ten thousand miles were drawn into his wine gourd.
"The God of Wine."
(Note: Ji Dong and Lie Yan are characters from The Wine God, a novel set in the Tang Sect Universe. This is a crossover cameo, not a shift in the story's main plot. The protagonist is not the God of Evil.)