Chapter 43

"What kind of wine is this?" the youth asked curiously, still seeing this kind of packaging for the first time.

The Ox Demon King placed the wine on the table and said in a deep, resonant voice: "Peach Blossom Brew!"

"I've never heard of it before," the youth chuckled, opening the wine bottle.

The moment the cork was pulled, a light fragrance with a hint of peach blossom filled the air. Without using the wine cup already set on the table, the youth directly grabbed the bottle and tilted his head back to take a sip.

Upon entering the mouth, it lacked the usual sharp burn of ordinary wine, instead offering a fresh, sweet fruit aroma, with a long, smooth aftertaste that was not abrupt, leaving one feeling at ease.

Speaking purely of taste, indeed no wine can compare to this—this first place is well deserved!

However, the youth shook his head and set the wine down.

"Sir, why aren't you drinking?" the Ox Demon King scratched his head, asking with some confusion.

The youth looked up at Chen Nuo: "This wine is like water—too weak."

"So what if it's weak?" Chen Nuo countered.

"Wine is meant to dispel sorrow, but how can it intoxicate people? And if it doesn't intoxicate, how can it dispel sorrow?" the youth said glumly.

I ni ma, once I unleash distilled wine, I'll drink you to death!

Chen Nuo thought viciously in his heart, but said aloud: "Wine can dispel sorrow, but have you ever heard of 'raising a cup to dispel sorrow, only to make sorrow greater'?"

The youth shook his head: "Never heard that, but there's some truth to it."

Not having heard it before is correct—after all, it's only the Han dynasty in the mortal realm now, and the author hasn't even been born yet!

Chen Nuo rolled his eyes and continued: "I believe wine should be about clinking cups and sharing drinks with friends, pouring out one's heart, sharing joy—that's what true enjoyment is!"

Simply put, it's just a few people getting drunk together and bragging!

"Friends?" the youth blinked, then self-mockingly said: "These days, what friends do I even have left?"

Upon hearing this, a glimmer of light appeared in Chen Nuo's eyes. It seems this bold, free-spirited immortal of unknown origin, or perhaps just a person with a story, is indeed someone with a tale to tell.

But then again, perfect—you have a story, and I have wine.

"May I, as this brother, temporarily be your friend and accompany you in finishing this wine?"

The youth lifted his head, gazing at the spirited Chen Nuo before him, and in a daze, it seemed he saw his former self. He couldn't help but laugh out loud, never expecting someone would dare to become his friend.

"Good!"

Sitting down opposite him with ease, Chen Nuo clapped his hands: "Bring me a pot of wine too."

"Yes, boss."

The Ox Demon King hesitated not, and headed toward the kitchen.

"Switch to a large jar!"

"Yes!"

Not long after, the Ox Demon King came over carrying a wine jug as big as a person's embrace.

"You... this is big enough, huh." The youth chuckled lightly.

Chen Nuo spread his hands: "Can't help it—who made me the owner of this place? Drink as much as you want."

"You're pretty arrogant," the youth said, taking another small sip.

"If one isn't reckless in youth, they waste their youth!"

The youth burst into laughter, then his voice suddenly grew low: "Good, what a fine line—'if one isn't reckless in youth, they waste their youth.' But still, one needs recklessness with measure, for this Honghuang still has Holy Persons!"

Chen Nuo lightly shook his head: "Holy Person? What do Holy Persons have to do with me? What can Holy Persons even do?"

Within Chaos Residence, he is invincible—as long as he doesn't leave this range, even if Dao Ancestor Hongjun arrived, he could only get a thorough beating!

The youth, meanwhile, froze for a moment, then muttered: "Yeah, what use are Holy Persons anyway? They still can't protect those they wish to shield."

Chen Nuo raised his brow—this is interesting. Not caring about Holy Persons is fine, after all I have confidence. But I never expected he wouldn't care either.

"Young friend, since we've already discussed Holy Persons, why not just speak freely on the matter?" the youth suddenly said.

He had already noticed that near this restaurant, there is a natural formation array,

capable of shielding heavenly secrets, the array is extremely complex—even he, an expert in formation arrays, cannot see through it. Even if discussing those few, it would not be detected.

"Among these six Holy Persons of Heaven and Earth, whom do you admire most?"

Chen Nuo easily lifted the wine jug, poured himself a cup, drank it in one go, and said: "Maybe Tongtian."

The youth's pupils shrank sharply; he glanced furtively at Chen Nuo, seeing no abnormality, then asked doubtfully: "Why?"

"Because his heart is the purest among the six Holy Persons."

"How so?" the youth's breath suddenly quickened.

Chen Nuo calmly took another cup: "I call myself pure and effortless, but what is it that he does not do?"

"Yuanshi claims to be the orthodox lineage of Pangu, yet only values one's roots, not conduct—unaware that all things in this world are Pangu's legacy, only differing in priority of attainment, with no noble or base bloodline distinction."

"Nüwa, though she created humans and mended the heavens, earning merit in Heaven and Earth, was enshrined as Mother of Humanity—but those who attain the Dao through her become demon saints, neither protecting the Human Realm above nor the Demon Race below, fickle and changeable."

"As for the Western Two Saints, they are even more shameless— I disdain to speak of them!" Chen Nuo lightly shook his head.

These few words frightened the Ox Demon King so much his legs began to tremble.

Shopkeeper Chen dares to speak so casually of Holy Persons—this is great disrespect!

"In contrast, Tongtian is unrestrained, does not judge by talent, teaches his learning to those with the will to follow the Dao, even bestows fine treasures upon disciples, dares to stand up for them, even defies heaven's great taboo by breaking through Honghuang!"

Chen Nuo critiqued: "Compared to the scheming and infighting of other Holy Persons, Tongtian is not bad."

Chen Nuo's words made the youth's eyes brighten, but then he immediately sank back into silence, a hint of sorrow appearing on his face.

He said bitterly: "But he is utterly a failure—said to stand up for others, yet in the end, saved no one."

Chen Nuo dismissed it: "That's his own doing!"

"Pure and simple—just foolish. He thought his ideals differed only slightly from Tai Shang and Yuanshi, mere petty squabbles; thought that getting a good name on the Investiture of the Gods meant safety; thought the Great Calamity was just petty squabbles among juniors; thought his brothers wouldn't ally with outsiders against mortal enemies?"

"Truly laughable—without that strength, don't provoke; without that treasure to suppress fortune's flow, don't gather so many!"

"Does he not understand the principle that excellence in the forest invites the wind to destroy it?"

Chen Nuo's tone was flat, yet the words he spoke were each a pearl of wisdom. After setting down his wine cup, he shook his head again and said: "Poor Tongtian, though a Holy Person, does not understand the principle that extreme prosperity inevitably leads to decline. Looking across the Dragon Han Calamity, the Witch-Demon Calamity— which one is not so?"

The youth's face was both green and white, yet he could find no rebuttal. Unconsciously, his tightly clenched fist quietly relaxed.

Indeed, possessing the cultivation of a Holy Person but lacking the scheming of one, in the end he became the greatest loser.

Due to the grime, Chen Nuo could not discern anything about the youth's condition.

The Ox Demon King no longer knew what to say. Normally, if anyone dared speak so of his master, he would have already flared up without a word, even resorting to a desperate fight.

Yet facing Chen the shopkeeper, he simply could not summon the thought.

What Monkey Brother said was correct— seeing Chen the shopkeeper normally is fine, but once you dare to judge by your own cultivation...

... you will discover that you are merely an insignificant drop of water.

The Ox Demon King shrank his neck and said: "Chen the shopkeeper, I'll go first to the back kitchen to help Little Pengpeng."

He waved his hand to dismiss, leaning against the chair, Chen Nuo looked at the youth before him and said flatly: "So it is said, Tongtian is both someone I admire and despise!"