He was in the Ming Dynasty, and his adoptive father was Governor Cao.

Fan Xiping was taken aback by his reaction, and shook the gourd: "Beer, huh? 'Drunken Life, Dreamy Death,' what, you've heard of it, sir?"

Xiao Ting didn't say anything, but took the gourd, uncorked it, found an empty bowl, and poured a large bowl full. The golden liquid slid into the bowl, and foam rose up, emitting a familiar, slightly bitter malty aroma...

The color, the foam, the smell...

Xiao Ting, holding the bowl, was completely stunned.

This is clearly beer!

Beer? Ancient recipe?

Beer was introduced to China on a large scale only after the 20th century!

This is the Ming Dynasty, though it's a bit off-topic, but this beer... it's way too far off-topic!

"This wine... is quite interesting."

Xiao Ting paused, trying to keep his voice steady, and asked, "Brother Fan, do you know where this ancient recipe came from? Who is behind Zuiyue Tower, managing such a novel thing? And who... is the creator of this wine?"

Fan Xiping scratched his disheveled hair, seemingly finding Xiao Ting's interest in the wine unusual, but he didn't think much of it and casually said, "Hey, Zuiyuelou is a new restaurant that has only sprung up in Lianzhou in recent years. It's very popular, and people from all walks of life love to go there. The manager is called Liu Hongxiu. Not only is she stunningly beautiful, but she also has a superb skill in 'Willow Leaf Darts of Longing.' This 'Drunken Life, Dreamy Death' is her creation. You've been working at the Pearl-Collecting Bureau for a long time, so naturally you wouldn't know."

He clicked his tongue and added, "As for the creator of this recipe... well, that's quite a story. It was created by the extraordinary Wan Xiangsheng, 'Old Demon Wan,' four hundred years ago. This man was unorthodox and unacceptable to the social norms, yet he possessed astonishing martial arts skills and was also a genius, skilled at making all sorts of strange and wonderful things, such as 'beer,' 'black stockings,' 'rock and roll,' and 'online novels.' Although the imperial court wanted to ban them, these creations quickly became popular throughout the land, and despite repeated bans, they could only loosen the restrictions in name only and let them run rampant."

Xiao Ting: "…………"

"grown ups?"

"Wait a minute..."

Xiao Ting rubbed his forehead, feeling a bit dizzy, and said weakly, "How many people in history have been as 'unorthodox' as him?"

Fan Xiping chuckled strangely, "What kind of person does Your Excellency think Wan Xiangsheng is? How many people like him can be found throughout history? Although there are a few others who are as gifted as him, no one can surpass his achievements in martial arts and extraordinary skills. The previous dynasty had strict etiquette, but those great scholars, despite their criticisms, still used his martial arts and creations without hesitation, which shows just how powerful he was."

It's confirmed, we're from the same hometown.

This person must also be a transmigrator player with "talent," only they arrived several hundred years earlier.

"Oh, right."

Fan Xiping suddenly changed the subject and stared at Xiao Ting.

Xiao Ting's heart tightened at his sight: "What's wrong?"

Fan Xiping said, "People with extraordinary talents like Wan Laomo all have a process of 'enlightenment,' which is somewhat similar to you, sir."

Xiao Ting tensed his muscles, trying his best to steady his breathing, and laughed, "I can't compare to such a person. What kind of enlightenment am I? At most, I've learned from my mistakes."

"You are too modest, sir."

Fan Xiping looked him up and down: "It's been a few days since I last saw you, sir. Your swordsmanship has improved tremendously, a complete transformation. Your future achievements might even rival those of Old Demon Wan... I see you seem quite interested in this beer, sir. Shall we order a bit more? So I can also enjoy some of it!"

"Thank you for your kind words."

Xiao Ting quickly regained his composure and temporarily postponed the matter of "Wanxiangsheng". The most urgent task now is to establish a foothold in the Pearl-Gathering Division and wipe out the Angry Dragon Gang. The matter of his fellow villagers can be dealt with after things have stabilized.

"Since you like it, then order more and put it under the company's account." Xiao Ting said, "My godfather is upright and honest. I'll spend the money for him, so that those pirates won't have any trouble and won't have to come up with any other crooked tricks."

Fan Xiping was taken aback, then burst into laughter: "To leave an opening when besieging an enemy? To deliberately leave a seemingly exploitable weakness for those scheming fellows—brilliant, truly brilliant! What are your plans, sir?"

Xiao Ting picked up the bowl of beer, drank it all in one gulp, and said, "Rest tonight, and tomorrow morning go to the dungeon to deal with those thugs."

……

The next morning.

Xiao Ting opened her eyes; the sunlight was already filtering through the paper window.

He moved his arms and sighed inwardly: "True Qi is indeed a mysterious thing."

He spent almost the entire night meditating, using the true energy of the "Layered Waves Technique" to repeatedly nourish the injured areas in his chest and abdomen. The effect was remarkable; in just a few hours, the dull pain from the impact under his ribs had subsided considerably.

At this moment, I feel full of energy and refreshed.

He got up from the bed, walked to the clothes rack, and took the gray-black flying fish suit.

His current identity is the head of the Eastern Depot's criminal investigation department, but in essence he is still a member of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, a "person in charge of criminal investigations." He was "borrowed" to work at the Eastern Depot, and his salary is still paid by the Northern Garrison Command.

Logically, someone stationed at the Eastern Depot should wear the uniform of an Eastern Depot servant, but the original owner disliked eunuchs and by extension, the Eastern Depot and its servants, and always wore only the flying fish robe that symbolized the identity of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

This is something that Xiao Ting really likes.

The barbarian's uniform with its round neck and narrow sleeves, along with a round hat and helmet, was indeed quite ugly...

Xiao Ting was too lazy to change it.

In Lingnan, where the emperor is far away and the sky is high, there's no need to make yourself uncomfortable with such trivial matters as clothing habits.

He put on the flying fish robe piece by piece, tightened his belt, hung up the "white tassel" sword, and after doing all this, he walked to the bronze mirror in the room.

The mirror was dim and yellow, reflecting a young man's face: dark skin, high brow bones, deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and well-defined features, exuding a natural air of heroism.

"My lord, breakfast is ready."

A young voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

The door was pushed open, and a young man of about seventeen or eighteen years old walked in, carrying a food box. He quickly laid out several breakfast items on the table: a bowl of lean meat porridge, a steamed crucian carp, three plump boiled chickens, and a small dish of pickled cucumbers.

The aroma of meat immediately filled the entire room.

"Who are you?" Xiao Ting raised an eyebrow.

The servant replied respectfully, "My name is Han Chang, and I am the fifth son in my family. Everyone calls me Fifth Son. I was arranged by Eunuch Cao to serve you, sir."

Since it was arranged by Lao Cao, Xiao Ting was naturally at ease and sat down.

The martial artist's physique was greatly depleted, and he urgently needed to replenish it.

After finishing his meal and leaving the room, Fan Xiping was already lazily waiting in the courtyard. Seeing him emerge, his eyes lit up, and he clicked his tongue twice: "Clothes make the man, and gold makes the Buddha. Sir, you look quite imposing!"

"Be poor."

Xiao Ting smiled and stepped forward: "Let's go, to the dungeon."

The dungeon of the Pearl-Picking Division was located underground in a separate stone fortress on the far west side of the government office. Its layout and eeriness were somewhat similar to the Imperial Prison of the Northern Garrison Command.

There were two guards at the iron gate. When they saw Xiao Ting and his party, they bowed and addressed them as "Sir".

Xiao Ting did not go in directly, but instead walked to the door of the mortuary on the side of the stone fortress.

"Sir, weren't we going to the dungeon for interrogation? What are we doing here in this ominous place where corpses are kept?"

The five sons were somewhat puzzled.

Xiao Ting didn't even turn his head: "Work for me, and don't talk nonsense."

Wu Zi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly lowered his head and said, "Yes, Your subordinate knows his mistake!"

"Please wait outside."

After saying that, Xiao Ting pushed open the door, and a smell of lime, herbs and rot immediately hit him. There were no lights in the room, only sunlight coming in from outside, which illuminated the several corpses on the wooden planks.

Xiao Ting covered his mouth and nose as he entered, then closed the door behind him.

[The Hand of the Bright Soul]...

Let me see what's going on...

His gaze swept around and quickly locked onto a familiar face—Xia Wen, known as "One Line Incense".