The instant that clear, familiar voice rang out—
Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling were the first to react.
Almost as soon as the sound reached them, their figures were already in motion.
They turned sharply—
And saw a young man in white leaning casually against the doorway, his smile as gentle as spring wind brushing through willow leaves.
"Li… Li Zhexian…"
Mist welled in the girls' eyes, all composure forgotten.
In a blur of movement, they dashed forward, skirts fluttering.
When they reached him, slender arms wrapped around his neck, voices trembling—
"Li Zhexian! You… you finally came back!"
"Idol!"
"Brother Zhexian!"
Yu Tianheng, Yu Feng, and the other five rushed over with bright faces and pounding hearts.
Before them stood the same white-clad youth—almost unchanged from five years past.
Their eyes reddened. One after another, they punched his shoulder lightly.
"Good to have you back!"
The group of freshmen stood staring at one another in confusion.
Just moments ago, their senior brothers and sisters had been ready to whip them for slacking—
so why were those same seniors now practically glowing with excitement over this boy, who even looked younger than they were?
One of the new students—the one most obsessed with stories about "Sword Wine"—tilted his head, squinting.
"Li Zhexian…"
His eyes suddenly widened.
"Ah—!"
"It's… it's Senior Sword Wine!"
"What?!"
At those words, the group of freshmen froze.
Then, almost instantly, excitement burst across their faces like wildfire.
...
"To Fragrant Pavilion, then?"
Yu Tianheng slung an arm around Li Zhexian's shoulder with a grin.
Li Zhexian raised a brow.
"Oh? That confident, huh? Sounds like your drinking tolerance's improved."
Yu Feng and Osler barely held back their laughter.
"Boss Tianheng's been waiting for this!"
"Just yesterday, he swore he'd drink you under the table!"
"Drink me under the table?"
Li Zhexian clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Let's go, then!"
The eight of them, laughing and jostling, left the training ground together.
"Um… Senior Sword Wine!"
A timid voice called out from behind.
"C-could you… teach us sometime?"
Li Zhexian stopped and turned.
Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others turned back too, exchanging helpless glances.
Li Zhexian looked at the fresh young faces before him—so full of hope—and a warm smile curved his lips.
"I can't teach you."
"But saying you can get stronger without studying—that's not right."
"I wanted to study here too, you know. Just never had the chance."
"To tell you the truth, I envy you."
"You've got such perfect conditions for cultivation."
"Don't waste them."
As they left the training grounds,
Dugu Yan's eyes sparkled mischievously.
"Brother Zhexian, did you just say you never had a chance to go to school?"
"If I remember right, didn't the three Deans beg you to stay back then?"
Li Zhexian didn't even flinch.
"Is that so?"
Meeting the teasing, half-smiling eyes of his friends, he finally spread his hands helplessly.
"Well, I couldn't exactly stick around and corrupt the children, could I?"
That earned him a burst of laughter all around.
But the mirth slowly faded from Li Zhexian's face, his tone turning quiet.
"You guys…"
"Come with me to see Dean Bai Baoshan."
Behind the academy lay a serene hillside—
the resting place of the academy's departed elders.
Bai Baoshan had been born in Heaven Dou, raised in Heaven Dou, and finally returned to Heaven Dou.
Yet beneath that mound lay only his robes and cap.
"Dean…"
"Zhexian has come to see you."
Before the gravestone carved with the smiling face of the kindly old man,
Li Zhexian bowed deeply, lowering himself until his forehead nearly touched the ground.
When he finally stood again,
he brushed a few specks of dust from the inscription with gentle fingers.
"These are the finest wines I've gathered over five years of travel across the continent.I thought… you might like to try them.
Behind him, Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the rest stood silently, eyes rimmed red, the air heavy with quiet reverence.
By the time the sun slanted west, afternoon had long passed.
Only then did the group leave in silence.
Their sorrow lingered, but once they stepped beyond the academy gates and back into the bustling streets, the noise of the world slowly washed it away.
Fragrant Pavilion remained the same.
Five years had not brought decline—on the contrary, after renovations, it had become even more splendid, overflowing with guests.
"Take care, honored guest!"
"Ah! Haven't seen you in ages! You're looking wealthier than ever! Your private room's all ready—right this way, please!"
The waiter had matured since five years ago, a small tuft of beard now under his chin.
After seeing off the last group of customers, he finally straightened his back, pulled a handful of melon seeds from his pocket, and leaned lazily against the doorway, watching the stream of people on the street.
Suddenly—
his eyes froze.
At the far end of the street, a splash of bright color caught his gaze.
A group of spirited young men approached, laughing and chatting, surrounding one person at their center.
The one they surrounded wore a simple white robe, his face clear and handsome, his posture upright.
The waiter stared blankly—
the melon seed in his mouth dropped to the ground with a soft plink.
He stood rooted to the spot, forgetting even to blink, his eyes following the young man in white as he came closer, step by step.
Until that figure reached the steps before him—
Li Zhexian smiled at the now noticeably older waiter.
"What's this?"
"Don't recognize an old customer?"
The waiter jolted like he'd been struck by lightning, his shout trembling with emotion—
"M-Master—!"
Li Zhexian's lips curved upward.
"Five years, and you've held on tight to that waiter's post, eh?"
The waiter flushed, excitement choking his words.
"Heh… I… I just think this suits me fine."
With a snap!
Li Zhexian flicked his thumb, and a gold coin traced a dazzling arc through the sunlight, spinning neatly into the waiter's palm.
"Same as always. Best wine, best dishes. Bring out your finest!"
The waiter clenched the coin tightly, took a deep breath, and bellowed at the top of his lungs:
"The young masters—!"
"This way, please—!"
"Private room on the second floor, open and ready—!"
He remembered it clearly—
this young master never cared for the fourth or fifth floor rooms.
He loved the second floor.
He had once said:
"The second floor is quiet, yet still closest to the life of the streets below."
As Li Zhexian and his companions entered Frgrant Pavilion, the lively hall seemed to hush instantly.
And then—
That hush spread, until the entire place was silent.
Li Zhexian walked up the stairs to the second floor.
At the top, he turned, cupped his hands in a courteous salute, and smiled at the stunned, emotional faces below—
then disappeared into a private room.
The moment his white-robed figure vanished behind the door—
the quiet shattered into a roar.
"That young man in white…"
"It's Lord Sword Wine! The same Lord Sword Wine from five years ago?!"
"But… didn't they say… Lord Sword Wine was already—"
"Blessed by fate, I knew it! Hahaha! Heaven Dou City's about to get lively again!"
"Be smart—don't go disturbing him now! Lord Sword Wine's just returned—he'll surely be feasting with old friends!"
News of Lord Sword Wine's return swept through all of Heaven Dou City like wildfire.
His legend had been carved too deeply into its memory—
The undefeated myth of the Great Spirit Arena.
The duel where he struck down the Evil Phoenix and made his name resound across the land.
Defending Heaven Dou Imperial Academy's title as leader of the Four Academies.
Leading the Heaven Dou team to victory in the Continental Spirit Master Tournament…
Each of these tales, passed from storyteller to storyteller, had long become part of Heaven Dou's lore.
And now—
a new chapter was beginning.
Li Zhexian politely declined invitations from nobles and even the royal family.
Instead, he spent several days at Fragrant Pavilion, drinking heartily with Dugu Yan, Ye Lingling, and the others.
Then, together, they roamed the hills and rivers around Heaven Dou, laughing and reminiscing as they went.
Time flowed gently.
Tomorrow would be the day of reunion with more old friends.
That night, Li Zhexian did not sleep.
He picked all the ripe plums from the tree,
then carefully counted the fine wines he had gathered from every corner of the continent.
At dawn, with the faintest light spilling across the horizon,
Li Zhexian stood quietly before the doors of Fragrant Pavilion, waiting.