Li Guanqi looked up at Qi Mobai.
He found this man rather amusing.
Clearly introverted and clumsy with words, the young man had still turned back to ask him for a taste of wine.
Li Guanqi chuckled and said softly, "One hundred immortal crystals for a jar. Pay up if you want it."
The moment the words left his mouth, several people around them turned to stare.
Immortal crystals were the hard currency of the Immortal Realm. A whole hundred of them was no small sum...
Li Guanqi's wine did not have the slightest ripple of immortal spirit. It was clearly nothing more than ordinary spirit wine, not immortal brew.
Several bystanders began calling out to dissuade him.
"Master Mobai, if you're in the mood for something strong, I have a few jars of good wine myself."
"A hundred immortal crystals for a jar of spirit wine? Does this fellow take people for fools?"
"Exactly! Master Mobai, don't listen to his nonsense. He's clearly trying to extort you!"
The surrounding patrons looked thoroughly indignant, as though Li Guanqi had committed some heinous crime.
Yet Li Guanqi simply went on drinking his wine, paying them no mind.
He had very little Red Dust Brew left in the first place, all of it saved from the wedding. When Li Qingchan left, she knew no one would be minding the wine shop, so she divided what remained of the aged wine among them. The jar in Li Guanqi's hand had aged ten years; as for the century-old and millennium-old ones, he was reluctant to drink them himself.
Qi Mobai pursed his lips, his fair skin flushing bright red as if deeply embarrassed.
Only after a long pause did he manage to squeeze out, "I don't have that many... Could you sell me a jar for seventy-six?"
As if afraid Li Guanqi would not believe him, Qi Mobai pulled out every single immortal crystal he had on him. He scratched his head sheepishly.
"That's truly all I have..."
Li Guanqi was taken aback.
Had the fellow actually produced one hundred immortal crystals, Li Guanqi would have sold him a jar—though only one aged three to five years. Had he tried to haggle, Li Guanqi would have refused outright. Yet he had offered seventy-six, down to the exact amount he possessed...
Li Guanqi looked at him with curious interest and asked quietly, "Why are you so set on having my wine?"
Seeing Li Guanqi relent, Qi Mobai's eyes brightened. He licked his lips, clasped his hands in a polite bow, and said softly, "This wine... is good wine! What's more, the medicinal principles within are truly marvelous. I wanted to buy a jar to study it carefully."
Li Guanqi frowned slightly and inquired, "Are you an alchemist?"
Upon hearing this, Qi Mobai waved his hands in a fluster, looking somewhat intimidated. "No, no, no! I... at most, I'm just a herbalist. I could never claim the exalted title of alchemist. I just keep a small shop in the city to treat injured cultivators. That's why I haven't saved up much."
Understanding dawned on Li Guanqi. No wonder the drinkers here treated him with such deference. He was the equivalent of a mortal physician who saved lives.
With a flick of his hand, Li Guanqi swept the young man's immortal crystals into his possession, leaving behind just three first-grade immortal crystals in his palm.
"You're a decent fellow, so I'll give you a discount."
With that, he retrieved a sealed jar of Red Dust Brew and handed it over.
Qi Mobai's nose twitched slightly, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Li Guanqi. He could tell from the scent that this jar was even older than the one in Li Guanqi's hand!
Cradling the wine jar, Qi Mobai bowed repeatedly in gratitude. But as Li Guanqi raised a hand to stop him, Qi Mobai's brow furrowed. Seizing the opening, his hand darted toward Li Guanqi's wrist.
A cold glint flared in the depths of Li Guanqi's eyes. He snapped his right arm back like lightning, curling his fingers into an eagle claw and lunging forward!
*Bang!*
Li Guanqi caught Qi Mobai by the throat with one hand, lifting him clean off the floor.
In an instant, several cultivators in the tavern drew their swords, leveling them at Li Guanqi!
"Insolence! Release Master Mobai at once!"
"If you dare harm Master Mobai today, you make an enemy of every cultivator in Yuxu City!"
"Brothers, grab your weapons!"
Li Guanqi paid no heed to the shouts around him. His eyes narrowed as he stared at Qi Mobai, whose face had flushed a dark purplish red.
"What are you trying to do?"
Qi Mobai struggled feebly, bloodshot veins spidering across his eyes. He looked at Li Guanqi and sent a strained voice transmission. "Did you... offend someone?"
Li Guanqi's pupils trembled slightly, his brow furrowing deep.
*Impossible... I haven't sensed anything myself. How could he notice something amiss?*
Qi Mobai's voice transmission sounded in Li Guanqi's ear once more. "If you trust me, come with me... to my shop. I will examine you."
Li Guanqi released his grip and replied through voice transmission, "Fine. Lead the way. If you can help me, I will give you three jars of century-old Red Dust Brew and apologize to you."
Qi Mobai coughed a few times, not even minding the bruising on his neck. He looked up at Li Guanqi, his eyes bright as he licked his lips. "Really? Century-old? This wine is called Red Dust Brew? Heh, what a lovely name... *Ahem*... Well, I'm not certain I can help. I can only try."
Qi Mobai gave a small bow to the onlookers, keeping his head down and eyes averted, hardly daring to meet anyone's gaze. Murmuring his thanks in a voice no louder than a mosquito's buzz, he hurried out of the tavern.
Li Guanqi followed behind, noting the obvious breath of relief the young man drew once they were outside.
In a raspy voice, Li Guanqi teased, "Are you always this nervous?"
Qi Mobai gave a slight nod. "Since I was young, I've never liked dealing with people... My nature is a bit withdrawn."
Li Guanqi said nothing. Everyone had their own temperament.
No sooner had they stepped out of the tavern than Qi Mobai produced a veiled bamboo hat and set it over his head. He did not forget to bow slightly toward Li Guanqi. "Force of habit... For... forgive me..."
It was the first time Li Guanqi had seen a cultivator in the Mystic Immortal realm so bashful and timid.
The two made their way through the bustling, noisy streets. Qi Mobai walked along the edge of the road with his head down, clearly uncomfortable beneath the gaze of others. It seemed to make him uneasy all over.
Before long, they stopped before a small shop near the city wall at the southern edge of town.
Stepping inside, Li Guanqi's sharp senses immediately picked up the scents of various herbs drifting through the air. Looking ahead, the first thing he saw was a large cloth curtain hanging down, dividing a table in two. The narrow shop was lined with shelves on both sides, while a small door behind the table led to the back courtyard. He could vaguely make out stacks of wine jars cluttering the ground out back.
Li Guanqi chuckled inwardly. *Looks like this fellow truly loves his drink.*
Qi Mobai stepped behind the curtain, and Li Guanqi clearly heard him let out a long sigh of relief. A gentle, much smoother voice drifted through.
"Fellow Daoist may reach your hand past the curtain. Next, I will guide my divine sense into your body. I will not touch your soul or your sea of consciousness, but please relax your mind a little."
Li Guanqi took a seat and extended his wrist beyond the curtain. "You certainly speak more fluently when you don't have to look at people."
Qi Mobai's palm was warm. Noting Li Guanqi's pale skin, he made no remark, merely resting his fingers lightly upon his wrist.
Chapter 1574