"Who was that old man just now? He walked straight into the Hall of Recruitment—could he be a great Confucian scholar or a craftsman with some rare skill? But from his attire, he seemed pretty ordinary. Who could he be?"
"From the way he walked and the expression on his face, he looked calm and confident. He's definitely not someone ordinary. Everyone knows the Hall of Recruitment has high standards. Regular scholars or examinees can't easily land a high-ranking position—they have to start from the bottom."
"That old man isn't young. If he truly has knowledge, he might really be a great scholar. Once he passes the assessment, he'll be entrusted with important responsibilities and be given a prominent position in Xuanhuang City."
"I heard a descendant of the Vertical and Horizontal School entered the Hall not long ago. As soon as he passed the test, he was immediately promoted and became a trusted official. Talent will always be appreciated, no matter where you are."
Outside the Hall of Recruitment, several onlookers who saw the old man striding in began discussing him curiously.
Yet none of them recognized him. He seemed mysterious. Either he had kept a low profile before, or he was a new resident who had recently settled in Xuanhuang City.
The old man hadn't been inside for long before Huang Chengyan emerged with him, chatting and smiling warmly. The two walked together, speaking with genuine enthusiasm.
Huang Chengyan could not help but be so warm—this old man's identity was far too significant, so much so that even he didn't dare show the slightest hint of negligence. He was even more shocked than when he had met Mao Sui.
When he learned the old man wanted to visit the City Lord's Mansion, he agreed without hesitation.
With Huang Chengyan leading the way, their journey was naturally smooth and unimpeded.
Yi Tianxing happened to be inside the City Lord's Mansion at the time. Ye Zhiqiu had only recently left.
At the moment, he was with Cai Yan, personally placing the Spring of Wine into position. The springhead was set up within the mansion, naturally forming a small pool. The spring began gathering the energies of heaven and earth, producing water infused with a faint, unusual wine fragrance.
This aroma, however, was sealed by an invisible force, confined strictly to a limited area so that it wouldn't spread outside.
This ensured the existence of the Spring of Wine remained a secret, known only within a tight circle.
"Old Huang brought another elder with him, and from the Hall of Recruitment at that. Looks like another great talent is about to join us in Xuanhuang City," Yi Tianxing said with a smile as he looked at the wine spring.
If it weren't someone truly extraordinary, Huang Chengyan would never have brought him here in such haste. Just like with Mao Sui before, only those of exceptional ability were treated this way.
That kind of treatment is the reward for ability—nothing more, nothing less. Others may envy it, but they cannot replicate it.
If you have the talent, Yi Tianxing will meet you without delay.
Soon, in the rear pavilion, Yi Tianxing met with Huang Chengyan and the old man.
The elder's appearance was unremarkable, except for one feature—his rosy, wine-tinged nose. It glowed faintly red, though it seemed it could vanish at will. When hidden, it looked like a perfectly normal nose.
That alone suggested a kind of ability.
At that moment, the old man's nose was tinged a dark red. As it twitched slightly, he seemed to perceive even the faint traces of fragrance lingering in the air—traces that had long since vanished beyond the perception of normal people.
"Yes, it's wine. A peculiar kind of wine fragrance. This is the source—it must be here! Tell me, what is that treasure of wine? If I can obtain it, I can craft the perfect spirit brew—an immortal wine!"
The old man suddenly rushed up to Yi Tianxing, grabbed his arm, and shouted with barely contained excitement. He looked as if he might burst into tears.
"You can smell the wine? Are you a winemaker?" Yi Tianxing raised an eyebrow.
Even he couldn't detect any fragrance from the air anymore—it had been at least fifteen minutes since the spring was sealed. But this old man still could. That nose of his clearly wasn't ordinary. From his sensitivity and the way he spoke, it was clear: this man had an extraordinary connection to wine.
"Master, this elder is no ordinary winemaker. He is none other than Du Kang, the legendary founder of wine and ancestor of all brewers," Huang Chengyan said.
"What? You're Du Kang?"
Yi Tianxing was stunned.
Who didn't know the name Du Kang? Anyone of Chinese heritage would have heard it.
This was the legendary inventor of wine.
According to legend, in the ancient era of the Yellow Emperor, Du Kang managed the grain stores. As agriculture flourished, grain harvests were bountiful, leading to a surplus. The unused grain was stored in damp caves and eventually began to rot.
Distressed, Du Kang began to ponder better ways to preserve grain.
One day, while walking in the forest, he found several large, hollow dead trees. A flash of inspiration struck him—he poured the grain inside the dry trunks.
After some time, he returned and found wild animals passed out in front of the trees. The tree trunks had cracked, leaking liquid. Curious, he sniffed it—an enchanting aroma filled the air. He tasted it and felt reinvigorated.
He brought it back to share. People loved it. Thus, wine was born, and Du Kang became known as the God of Wine.
But he wasn't satisfied.
He experimented with grains, exotic fruits, spiritual herbs—refining and improving his brew over time.
Finally, he created an extraordinary wine that lifted sorrow and inspired joy.
He named it Du Kang Wine.
Throughout Chinese history, Du Kang Wine was revered as tribute wine and even immortal wine. Literati and poets praised it endlessly.
Cao Cao wrote: "What relieves sorrow? Only Du Kang."
Du Fu noted: "Du Kang keeps urging us to drink, no need for imported pears."
Su Shi once said: "Now East Slope is treasure; we no longer worship Du Kang?"
The poet Ruan Ji, one of the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, said: "I spurn officialdom, but not Du Kang."
But the recipe was eventually lost. Du Kang Wine faded into history. Any surviving jar of it became priceless.
Now, before him wasn't just the recipe—it was the man himself. The Wine Immortal.
Yi Tianxing was dumbfounded.
"So it really is you, Master Du. I've long dreamed of tasting your wine. Sadly, Du Kang Wine was but a name to me, never a reality. I had thought I would never taste it in this life. But now, with you here, that wish might come true." Yi Tianxing smiled warmly, eyes glowing with joy. The old man suddenly looked far more agreeable to him.
"Du Kang is but a humble brewer. The wine that bears my name is famous more for legend than substance. There are countless winemakers far more skilled than I. I dare not be arrogant. Brewing fine wine requires one thing: heart. Only with sincerity can one craft the finest spiritual brew."
Du Kang shook his head with a smile.
This was his philosophy. Without sincerity, truly great wine was impossible. His only secret: brew with heart.
"Indeed, sincerity is the hardest thing. Any skill can yield results with dedication, but some things depend on talent—and clearly, Master Du, you were born with a gift for wine."
Yi Tianxing spoke with deep admiration.
No matter what Du Kang said, he was the pinnacle of the brewing arts. His talent was unmatched. He was born to be one with wine.
"Earlier, I caught a whiff of a peculiar wine scent on that attendant Ye. Not quite wine, yet naturally formed. Now I smell it again in this mansion. I'm sure—there is some supreme wine-related treasure here. May I ask, City Lord, what it is?"
Du Kang was practically trembling with desire.
Yi Tianxing nodded. "Master Du, please follow me."
He hadn't expected the Spring of Wine to lure out such a legendary being, hidden right in the city.
Cai Yan was also filled with awe. She, too, knew the name of Du Kang.