Dao Qi Wu Zang Guan Guan: I became a Daoist Master in the 1990s

Chapter 65 Mountain Lord, Brewed from Dew of a Hundred Herbs
The paper sedan chair floated up silently, with four blue-faced, fanged ghost soldiers carrying the bone beams on their shoulders, their feet not touching the ground.

Qi Yun sat in the sedan chair, the Crimson Hunting Fire gathering in his palm but not being released, his mind as taut as a bowstring.

The ghostly figure, resembling a scholar, led the way, its frozen smile appearing even more eerie in the glow of the ghostly blue flames.

"Rise!" the scholar shouted in a low voice.

The paper sedan chair suddenly lifted up and quickly disappeared into the thick, inky darkness of the mountain forest at night.

On both sides of the sedan chair, specks of eerie blue will-o'-the-wisps appeared out of thin air, like fireflies on a summer night, yet chilling to the bone. They danced and intertwined, illuminating the surrounding area with a bizarre and surreal light.

Instead of dispelling the darkness, the light stretched and distorted the shadows of the jagged rocks and gnarled ancient trees, making them look like lurking demons.

The sedan chair traveled through treacherous places that would be impossible to reach during the day.

Sometimes they soared through the air, with a bottomless abyss below filled with thick miasma; other times they skimmed along sheer cliffs, the cold, slippery rock walls gleaming with a bluish-black sheen under the blue glow of the ghost fire, resembling the scales of a giant beast.

The sedan chair was incredibly stable.

Looking out, Qi Yun saw moonlight occasionally piercing through the layers of tree canopy, scattering fragments of silver light that fell onto the roaring underground river below, disappearing in an instant.

After traveling for an unknown period of time, the paper sedan chair suddenly stopped and slowly landed on the ground.

My eyes suddenly opened up.

The sedan chair was now atop a cluster of peaks, on a flat, isolated stone platform.

All was silent, save for the vast, sweeping wind.

A bright moon, as large as an ice wheel, hung high in the sky. Its clear light, like a ribbon, poured down, coating the entire stone platform, the distant mountain ranges, and even the surging sea of ​​clouds at our feet with a layer of cool, pure silver light.

The air was crisp and clear, like crystal, and every breath carried a cool sensation.

At the edge of the stone platform, several gnarled old pines, bathed in moonlight, cast silhouettes as if made of iron.

This place is so high up, it feels like you could reach out and pluck the stars from the sky, and look down on the mortal world as it floats and sinks in the sea of ​​clouds below.

At the center of the mountaintop, there is an ancient stone table and three stone benches.

Seated in the main seat was a burly, imposing man.

He was well over two meters tall, and even sitting cross-legged on a stone bench, he resembled a steady little mountain, exuding a suffocatingly fierce and domineering aura.

He wore a black brocade robe of superior quality, embroidered with dark gold cloud patterns, and the wide sleeves could not hide the outline of his bulging muscles.

His face was as red as a jujube, his thick eyebrows were like halberds, and his tiger-like eyes shone brightly when they opened and closed, exuding a self-assured and domineering aura.

At this moment, he was holding a huge stone cup, chatting and laughing with the person on his left.

The person on the left is Xuan Qing.

His gray-blue Taoist robe looked even more elegant under the moonlight. He was casual and even a little unruly. He had one leg bent and placed on the stone bench, with his elbow supporting his knee, as he drank with the giant man.

He wore his usual carefree smile.

What's even stranger is that the donkey was also leisurely enjoying itself nearby.

In front of it lay a clean piece of coarse linen cloth, on which were piled some bright red and translucent wild fruits.

Beside it, in a shallow stone bowl, was an amber-colored liquid.

The donkey would occasionally lower its head to lick a mouthful of the nectar in the bowl, then squint its big eyes, flare its nostrils, and let out a pleasant hum, its face seemingly showing an expression of intoxication and enjoyment.

"They're here!" Xuan Qing turned his head to look when he heard the voice, his smile widening.

Qi Yun took a deep breath of the crisp air, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and steadily stepped out of the sedan chair.

The scholar-ghost bowed deeply to the giant and Xuanqing, then vanished silently into the moonlight like smoke. Xuanqing rose and smiled at the giant, "Mountain Lord, this is my nephew, Qi Yun."

He then turned to Qi Yun: "Yun'er, come and greet the master of this mountain forest."

Mountain King?

Tiger Demon!

Qi Yun's heart trembled, but his face remained calm. He followed the proper etiquette, clasped his hands and bowed, and said in a clear voice, "Junior Qi Yun pays respects to Senior Mountain Lord!"

"Hahaha!" The mountain king's voice was like a booming bell, echoing faintly on the stone platform.

He looked Qi Yun up and down, his tiger-like eyes gleaming, and praised, "Excellent! Indeed, you possess a magnificent bearing and profound inner talent! The disciples of Brother Xuanqing are all extraordinary! Please take a seat!"

Qi Yun followed instructions and sat down at the stone table to the right of the mountain god.

A small silver wine pot and a wine cup of the same material were already prepared on the table.

The mountain king raised his cup, his voice resounding throughout the land: "Tonight, the bright moon shines, and with distinguished guests gathered here, it is truly a blessing for the mountains and fields!"
Come, let us drink this cup together, to toast the gentle breeze and the bright moon, and to the karmic connection between us!

Qi Yun picked up the silver pot and filled it for himself.

"Jingshanjun!"

Xuanqing and Qiyun raised their glasses at the same time.

The amber-colored wine poured from the spout, thick as honey, and flowed with a warm luster under the cool moonlight.

An indescribable fragrance instantly spread, a scent that was not the fragrance of flowers and fruits, but rather seemed to be a condensation of the essence of hundreds of herbs, the spiritual energy of the mountains, and the essence of the sun and moon.

Its refreshing yet mellow flavor permeates the nose and penetrates the heart, invigorating the spirit and making every pore on the body seem to open up.

Qi Yun raised his cup, tilted his head back, and drank it down.

The moment the liquor entered my mouth, it was unlike the usual spicy and pungent taste of alcoholic beverages. Instead, it was smooth and mellow, with a strange sweetness that glided over my tongue and moistened my throat.

It doesn't resemble alcohol; it's more like a beverage.

However, the moment this "nectar" entered his stomach, a strange change occurred!
A powerful yet gentle heat, like a dormant subterranean fire suddenly awakening, exploded out with a roar!

This heat is not scorching, but rather full of vitality, transforming into hundreds of warm streams that instantly flow to every part of the body and internal organs!
Qi Yun felt as if his entire body was being soaked in warm water, every cell cheering and greedily absorbing the life-nourishing warmth.

The fatigue from days of Qi cultivation and the slight deficiency deep within the five internal organs were miraculously healed and replenished at an astonishing speed under the cleansing of this warm current!
It felt wonderful, yet also incredibly domineering.

Two blushes instantly rose on Qi Yun's fair face, like a drunken sunset.

A strong sense of dizziness accompanied by an irresistible feeling of comfort washed over me. The figures of Xuanqing and Shanjun before my eyes seemed to be shrouded in a soft light, and the sound of the wind in my ears seemed to become distant and blurry.

He felt light and warm all over, as if he were melting into the moonlight and the intoxication of the wine.

"Haha!" Xuanqing laughed loudly upon seeing this, and pointed at Qiyun, saying to the Mountain Lord, "Mountain Lord's 'Hundred Herbs Dew Brew' is indeed domineering!"
My nephew, a newcomer to this world, with his shallow foundation, couldn't withstand the power of this spiritual wine and was already somewhat tipsy.

Qi Yun forced himself to calm down, suppressing the surging intoxication and comfort, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the Mountain Lord again, his voice carrying a barely perceptible hint of drunkenness: "Senior, this wine... is truly wondrous. This junior... is not a strong drinker, please forgive my rudeness. Thank you for your generous gift, Senior!"

Shan Jun waved his hand and laughed heartily, "Young friend, you flatter me! This wine may have some tricks up its sleeve, but it can only be truly appreciated when shared by kindred spirits."

My young friend, just relax and enjoy yourself. If you get drunk, rest on this mountaintop, with the sky as your blanket and the moon as your lamp. Wouldn't that be wonderful? Don't be shy!

Qi Yun agreed repeatedly, thinking to himself that this tiger demon was more worldly-wise than many people, and his enthusiasm and thoughtfulness were so irresistible that his request must be quite substantial.

Sure enough, the mountain lord turned to Xuanqing, his hearty smile fading slightly, his tiger eyes filled with solemnity and earnestness, and his voice lowered.

(End of this chapter)