Qian Renxue nodded and, after finishing her meal, followed Qin Feng to the vineyard.
The vineyard didn't disappoint. As far as the eye could see, sprawling grapevines covered the hills, laden with plump, glistening grapes that sparkled like crystals in the sunlight. They looked irresistibly tempting.
"Pick whatever you want—no need to be shy!" Qin Feng said, noticing Qian Renxue's eager, cat-like expression. He began introducing the grape varieties, pointing out which ones were the tastiest.
Qian Renxue didn't hold back. She snipped a cluster, popped a grape into her mouth, and instantly felt a wave of satisfaction. So sweet—insanely sweet, with sky-high sugar content. As the Martial Soul Hall's little princess, she'd never lacked for food or drink, but eating freely in a vineyard like this was a first—like a bride on her wedding sedan, a thrilling new experience. She could sample a few grapes from one variety, try another, and toss any she didn't like to the vines as fertilizer without worrying about waste.
After tasting several types, she decided seedless, thin-skinned grapes were her favorite—sweeter than the rest. Not that the others were bad; it was just her preference.
Qin Feng's vineyard was vast, at least ten acres by her estimate. Even with her appetite, she couldn't eat it all. He explained that the haven's unique climate and pure natural energy allowed crops to yield three harvests a year. The grapes fruited thrice annually, each time abundantly.
Following Qin Feng, Qian Renxue entered a dark underground chamber. It was pitch-black until he switched on a light, revealing a massive cellar supported by countless pillars to prevent collapse. She saw stacks of ceramic jars and rows of oak barrels. This must be the wine cellar Qin Feng mentioned. The jars likely held wine, and the barrels, if she guessed right, contained fermenting grape wine.
Eyeballing it, she estimated over a thousand jars. "You probably guessed it," Qin Feng said. "These jars are all filled with grape wine. When the vineyard produces more grapes than we can eat, I use them to make wine. The wine serves three purposes: I drink some, reward soul beasts who've contributed to the forest, and trade the lowest-quality ones to humans. But even those 'inferior' wines are top-tier by their standards."
Qian Renxue nodded, understanding. Building such a lavish palace required immense wealth, which Qin Feng couldn't conjure from thin air. But she was puzzled. "Inferior wine? Would humans buy that?" she asked. Humans had their own vineyards, producing high-quality grapes and exceptional red wines.
Checking the fermentation of a barrel, Qin Feng tasted a sip and explained, "Inferior by my standards. My 'low-quality' wine outclasses anything humans make—not just better, but a complete game-changer. These grapes absorb the essence of sun and moon, each one a treasure brimming with natural energy. When turned into wine, that energy concentrates in the liquid." He paused. "You might not get it from words—try a sip."
He scooped a spoonful of freshly fermented wine and offered it to her. Qian Renxue hesitated, eyeing the spoon. "Didn't you say kids shouldn't drink?"
"It's fine," Qin Feng said casually. "This wine's low in alcohol. A sip or two won't get you drunk. If it does, you'll just take a nap."
Reassured, Qian Renxue took the spoon, carefully sipping the wine. The moment it touched her tongue, her face twisted into a grimace. She stuck out her tongue, fanning it with her hand. "Bitter! And a weird taste—super gross!"
As a child, she'd always been curious about the wine adults drank, their satisfied expressions making her think it must be delicious. She'd once begged her father to try it, but he'd refused, saying she was too young and that girls shouldn't drink. Ever the obedient daughter, she'd never touched it. Now, driven by curiosity and with her father absent, she'd tried it—and was utterly disappointed. Bitter, with a strange taste. Even a dog wouldn't drink this! She couldn't fathom why adults loved it. Their world is so hard to understand.
"Bitter is normal," Qin Feng said. "First-time drinkers often find wine bitter. That 'weird taste' isn't weird—it's the wine's unique aroma, not a flaw."
Bitter is normal? It's an aroma, not a weird taste? Qian Renxue glared at him, eyes wide. I'm not some naive kid you can fool! Even if bitterness was typical, that taste was definitely strange, not aromatic. She was certain—no one could call that an aroma. Flowers smelled fragrant; manure smelled foul. Her sense of smell was perfectly fine.
But then she recalled the satisfied looks on adults' faces after drinking. If it's not delicious, why do they look so content? Doubting herself, she wavered. She was sure it was bitter and strange, yet adults' enjoyment suggested otherwise, leaving her deeply confused.