She remembered, back then, there was a jar of Dukang wine hidden at home.
That Dukang wine was treated like a treasure by her father, hidden carefully and never revealed to outsiders. Only when his closest friends visited would he bring it out to share a drink. And even then, it was limited to just one cup. Not a drop more. Even he never indulged beyond that. Just one cup each time. From that, one could imagine how highly he valued the Dukang wine.
Cai Yan was at her most curious at the time. One day, while her father was out visiting friends, she secretly stole some of the wine and drank just one cup. Yet even that single cup left a lingering, unforgettable taste. It felt as if the wine contained a strange power that made one forget all worries and sorrows. She unconsciously became intoxicated and collapsed. When she awoke, she was already lying in bed.
Her father never reprimanded her, but afterward, she could never find where the wine was hidden again.
That flavor was unforgettable to this day—a strange sensation of complete relief from anxiety and sorrow. A wonderful feeling etched into her soul, impossible to forget. And it was said that even that wine wasn't brewed by Dukang himself but by later generations who used his lost brewing recipe. The wine was already rare—and when the recipe disappeared, it became completely lost to time.
Now, to see the real Dukang before her eyes—it was a feeling beyond words.
The group quickly made their way to the back courtyard and arrived at the spring.
"A pool... spring water—this is the Liquor Spring (酒泉). The legendary wondrous artifact of wine-making. It's as renowned as the mythical Wine Fruit. I can't believe such a thing really exists. After searching for decades without success, I find it here. Truly, the heavens favor me after all."
Upon seeing the spring, Dukang immediately smelled the unique aroma from its waters and instantly recognized it as the legendary Liquor Spring—the supreme treasure for wine-making.
After he had originally brewed the Dukang wine, he realized that to take it to a higher level, he needed better ingredients. At that time, he had heard tales of deep mountain springs that flowed with wine-like water—Liquor Springs—and fruits that grew like wine jars—Wine Fruits—that could be drunk straight from the tree as fine wine, requiring no fermentation.
These legendary ingredients were said to rival the finest wines in the world.
From then on, Dukang embarked on a decades-long journey to search for the Liquor Spring and Wine Fruit.
Unfortunately, he had never found either—until now.
To discover a Liquor Spring here was a delightful surprise beyond imagination. He was overwhelmed with joy and excitement.
"If Master Dukang is willing to stay in Xuanhuang City, then the spring water from the Liquor Spring is yours to use freely—for brewing the most perfect Dukang wine," Yi Tianxing said decisively.
He clearly understood the overwhelming temptation a Liquor Spring held for a master brewer. It was irresistible. If Dukang agreed to stay in Xuanhuang City, the benefits would be immeasurable.
"I'm staying! I will stay! With the Liquor Spring here, I'm not going anywhere. I'll use this spring water to brew my Dukang wine—transforming it into Dukang Immortal Brew (杜康仙酿)."
Dukang's face was filled with heartfelt sincerity and devotion—a lifetime of pursuit focused solely on perfecting his brew.
With the Liquor Spring here, he wouldn't leave for anything.
"Master Dukang, thank you for agreeing to join us. I plan to establish a Temple of the Wine God specifically for you, so you can focus fully on your brewing. What do you think?" Yi Tianxing offered with a smile.
"No need, no need. I only want to brew quietly—there's no need to make a big fuss. Is there space in the City Lord's Mansion where I can stay?" Dukang declined without hesitation.
"Of course! The City Lord's Mansion is large, with many unused rooms. Your presence here would be most welcome. It's safe, undisturbed, and perfect for studying the Liquor Spring and crafting your new Dukang wine."
Yi Tianxing was thrilled. Having Dukang live right in the mansion would be ideal.
"Lord Yi, to brew Dukang Immortal Brew, I'll need far more than just spring water. The materials must be of the highest quality—five types of spiritual grain, plus rare herbs like ginseng, lingzhi mushrooms, and more. I will also need top-grade royal jelly, rootless water, and even millennium-old stalactite essence. Whether I can succeed or not remains unknown. Are you sure you're willing to invest in this endeavor?"
Dukang casually listed off a dozen heavenly treasures, any of which would normally be incredibly rare and expensive—shocking to hear all at once.
"Rest assured, Master Dukang. I'll gather all the ingredients as quickly as possible. There's no rush to brew the Immortal Brew. In the meantime, with the Liquor Spring's water, you can try crafting lesser versions of Dukang wine. I believe that even with regular ingredients, the Liquor Spring's water can elevate the result to the finest grade of wine."
Yi Tianxing agreed without hesitation.
These ingredients might be priceless, but they paled in comparison to Dukang himself.
"Then good. I'll begin researching the Liquor Spring here. I've searched for this treasure my entire life."
Dukang's gaze never left the spring; he stared at it, unmoving. At this point, no one could persuade him to leave.
He planned to live there from now on—ignoring everything else, as long as no one disturbed his work.
"Lord Yi, I never imagined we'd meet the legendary ancestor of wine—Dukang himself. Countless scholars have dreamed of him. The Dukang wine he brewed truly lives up to its reputation," sighed Huang Chengyan as they strolled through the garden.
"I didn't expect it either," Yi Tianxing replied. "But the Liquor Spring managed to lure him out. There are still so many hidden talents scattered across the Eternal Continent. While he may not be the number one brewer today, Dukang is undoubtedly a top-tier winemaker. Given time, he may truly brew a world-shaking immortal wine. Having him in Xuanhuang City will bring immeasurable benefits."
"You mean to say," Huang Chengyan's eyes lit up, "you value not only his skills—but also the prestige he holds among the people and the scholars?"
"Exactly, Elder Huang. Dukang is no ordinary man. His name and status are revered. In the eyes of scholars and gifted individuals, Dukang wine holds even greater significance. A single cup can attract countless elites. The world is full of wine lovers—Li Bai, for instance, was famous for his love of drink. So was Du Fu. Rare is the man who doesn't love good wine."
Take Li Bai, for example. His love of wine was legendary.
During his time, there was a winemaker named Ji Sou in the northern outskirts of Xuancheng who crafted a wine called "Old Spring." Whenever Li Bai visited Xuancheng during the Tianbao and Shangyuan years, he always stopped to drink at Ji Sou's home. Ji Sou treated scholars with respect and generosity, and he and Li Bai became close friends. After Ji Sou died, Li Bai even wrote a eulogy titled "Weeping for Ji Sou of Xuancheng".
The poem went:"Ji Sou, now in the yellow springs below,Perhaps still brews Old Spring's flow.But in the night world, where Li Bai's gone,Who now will drink the wine alone?"
It's been passed down through the ages.
Li Bai visited Mount Jingting in Xuancheng seven times—and each time, he drank Ji Sou's Old Spring wine.
To poets and scholars like him, a good wine was an irresistible draw. Li Bai once said that if he could taste Dukang wine, he would gladly die beside a wine jar. Unfortunately, in his lifetime, he never got the chance to try true Dukang wine.
Even if he had, it likely wasn't the genuine original Dukang wine.
If these wine-loving geniuses knew that Dukang himself was in Xuanhuang City, there's no doubt the city would immediately become an unparalleled magnet—drawing talent from all directions.
Who knows how many gifted individuals would flock here?
"Shall we quietly spread the news that Dukang has appeared in Xuanhuang City?" Huang Chengyan asked, his eyes gleaming.
Just speaking for himself—if he had heard that Dukang appeared anywhere, he'd find it impossible to resist traveling there.
Dukang wine was simply too legendary.
It might be the first recorded name-brand wine in human history.
"No need to be overt. Just guide the narrative gently. Xuanhuang City now has the strength to host someone like Dukang. There's no longer any need to hold back or act humble," Yi Tianxing said with a faint smile.
They didn't need to exaggerate or hide. They just had to let the world know naturally. That way, Dukang's presence would become a powerful tool for attracting talent.
Truthfully, Yi Tianxing himself couldn't wait to taste the wine. To see whether it really was as legendary as they said—the number one wine in history.
Before long, Huang Chengyan departed the City Lord's Mansion.
The Hall of Recruitment had been drawing top talents one after another, and this only fueled his energy further. He no longer felt tired in the slightest. Perhaps part of it was also because he imagined that soon—Dukang wine might actually be for sale.
"Dear, are you planning to enter seclusion next?" Cai Yan asked Yi Tianxing.
"Yes. Mao Sui's diplomacy technique has advanced greatly. His plan to provoke conflict between the Ironhoof and Bloodclaw Tribes was executed perfectly—not overly complex, but highly effective. He can now be fully trusted. As an envoy to other factions, he'll earn us precious time. Once we open up inter-regional trade, we'll see explosive growth."
Yi Tianxing nodded.