Chapter 951: Chapter 951: The Old Drunkard Demon

The young man did not linger outside the house, bypassing the outer room filled with the scent of incense and heading straight to an inner room.

At the direction of the inner room’s entrance stood a screen painted with flowers and landscapes. Rounding the screen, he slowly approached an old man in linen, sitting in front of a desk and paging through ancient texts.

Bending down to offer a junior’s bow, the young man respectfully said, “Grandfather, your grandson has come to visit you.”

This young man in white martial arts attire was named Pei Zheng, while the old man in front of him, in linen, was Pei Cangshan, the former Family Head of the Pei Family.

“Zheng’er, how are things progressing on that side?” Pei Cangshan put down the ancient text in his hands and raised his head to ask.

“To report to Grandfather, there has been no progress so far. The Murong Family refuses to let go, and neither force nor persuasion works on them! If we try to use force, they’ve become closely allied with people from abroad, from Hell’s Angels. Now there’s even an Angel stationed with them, making it hard for us to act!” Pei Zheng replied truthfully.

“The Murong Family came to Yan Country from abroad because they accidentally obtained that item. Murong Tian took root in Yan Country to avoid international forces hunting them down. They thought they could hide among the clouds, but little did they know, they were targeted by several major families as soon as they entered Yan Country ten years ago! The families have let them live peacefully for so many years not because they won’t act, but because they’re waiting for the right moment…”

A glimmer of light flashed in Pei Cangshan’s murky, aged eyes as he spoke calmly:

“However, having abandoned their home base, even if they can call in some help, it won’t resolve the crisis they face! The waters at home are not much shallower than abroad, and those eyeing that item are far beyond what the Murong Family can handle.”

“Now, with the situation becoming increasingly dire, it would be better if they voluntarily handed it over; at least they can keep themselves out of danger before the crisis hits! If they truly overestimate themselves, it’s only a matter of time before they are crushed underfoot and become meat on someone else’s chopping block. Surrounded by a pack of hungry wolves, even a strong tiger can only be torn apart. Moreover, this is just a wounded tiger, having lost its sharp claws; relying on a crazed Hell’s Angel to fight alone and swallow the treasure is nothing but a joke! If they can’t let go of their greed, the end would be nothing but destruction!”

Pei Zheng listened respectfully with his head bowed before asking, “Grandfather, since the Murong Family refuses to relent, what should we do now?”

“Just act boldly, don’t worry about anything!”

Pei Cangshan tossed out a sentence, and his ancient face seemed to be in complete control of the situation.

He also instructed, “I will assign some more people to you. Just go ahead and act openly! But remember one thing: there are great families watching from behind. Do what you can if possible, but don’t force anything if you can’t! In this great world struggle, our Pei Family just needs a share, don’t steal the spotlight! Not competing is also a form of competition, do you understand?”

“Zheng’er understands!” Pei Zheng nodded immediately.

“Alright, then off you go.” Pei Cangshan waved his hand with aloofness.

“Grandson takes his leave.”

After bowing respectfully, Pei Zheng quietly left the room.

…

Whoosh!

Whoosh!

In the dark, cold, and tranquil underground prison, the air was thick with the smell of alcohol, and a thunderous snore echoed incessantly.

In the farthest corner of the dungeon lay a cold stone bed, on which a shabby, raggedly dressed, drunken old man rested!

This old man, around sixty years old, with a face full of stubble, had his arms under his head, snoring contently with a carefree expression.

Beside him lay a toppled gourd with a purple skin, but the wine inside already consumed.

This was evidently the work of the drunken old man.

The old man was sleeping soundly then.

Creak!

Suddenly, the large iron door of the jail was pushed open forcefully, and a well-dressed, elegant middle-aged man with features noble as jade walked in.

The middle-aged man stood tall, holding a large wine jar, a slight smile at the corner of his mouth, as he approached the stone bed.

Glancing at the sleeping old drunkard, he called out, “Wine Demon Old Freak, wake up quickly! Look what good stuff I’ve brought you!”

Whoosh… Whoosh…

As if not hearing the man’s words, the drunken old man kept snoring, responding only with his thunderous snores.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man chuckled and didn’t call again.

He simply opened the stopper of the wine jar, fanning it with his hand, and quietly waited.

It wasn’t long before the sleeping old drunkard began to sniff the air.

“Hmm… such fragrant wine! This… this must be at least fifty years of daughter’s red?”

He muttered to himself, sprang from the stone bed without opening his eyes, and sniffed towards the jar.

“Wine Demon, won’t you open your eyes to look at me?” the middle-aged man laughed.

Upon hearing this, the old man opened his eyes to see the middle-aged man holding a wine jar, his eyes instantly lighting up.

He grabbed the wine gourd next to him and immediately rushed to the man’s side.

“There’s nothing much to see about you, old man. I want to see the wine!”

He snorted and didn’t spare the middle-aged man a glance, his eyes fixated on the jar.

The longing in his gaze was as if he were admiring a peerless beauty!

The middle-aged man paid no mind to the drunken old man’s disrespectful tone and began speaking on his own, “Indeed! This is fifty-year-old daughter’s red, a cherished brew my father has kept, never willing to drink it himself, and now I bring it to you. Such luck you have.”

“Hmph, cut the high talk, kid. Don’t try to butter up old Wine Grandpa! I am not pleased with it. Just say it, what do you need me for with this grand display?”

The drunken old man waved his hand impatiently, but his eyes never left the wine jar.

“Heh, it seems there’s no fooling you! Having been found out, I won’t beat around the bush,” the middle-aged man chuckled, then spoke seriously, “My father hopes you can act once and get something done for our family! As long as the Wine Demon agrees, this jar of wine will be entirely yours, and if the task is completed, the old gentleman will keep his promise and grant you freedom!”

The drunken old man initially scoffed; to think he’d act just for a jar of wine was to slight the Wine Demon’s reputation.

However, hearing about gaining his freedom made him pause suddenly.

His expression grew complicated, and his gaze turned somewhat blank!

He didn’t know how many years it had been since he last heard that word…

To hear it again now filled his heart with mixed emotions and left him at a loss for words.

His gaze finally left the wine jar, somewhat sapped of his will as he returned to the stone bed, leaning his head against the wall. After a long silence, he voiced quietly, “Can I say no?”

The middle-aged man gave a slight smile and said, “You can refuse, but then your wish from back then might never be fulfilled in this lifetime.”

The old man was speechless.

After another silence, be it five, ten minutes, or half an hour.

After a long while, the old man let out a self-mocking sigh, saying, “In my heyday in the Martial Arts world, I, the Wine Demon, had some renown, yet here in my twilight years, I’m imprisoned here, reduced to being someone’s dog! Heh, how the tables turn, who would have thought I’d see this day, it’s quite the irony…”

“Oh well! In the name of that fifty-year-old daughter’s red, consider me your dog, and afterward… grant me freedom!”