Chapter 1218: One Should Enjoy A Jar of Wine After a Match

“Then how did that Ye Qing block it with one hand?”

The student asked in puzzlement, “He didn’t even twitch once!”

“Do you really think he was lifting a hand?”

The scholar countered, though he seemed to be speaking to himself. “No, he was raising the nine heavens; lifting the endless earth.”

“Wang Shan’s staff may shake mountains and rivers, but how can it possibly do anything to the heavens or the earth?”

“I’m... sorry?”

The student looked completely confused. He looked like he was listening to a book from heaven—utterly incomprehensible to his ears.

“I told you to read more books and practice more martial arts, but no, you just won’t listen. Now you don’t even understand what I’m saying anymore!”

The scholar let out a deep sigh. “How did an intelligent man like me make the foolish mistake of picking you as my student? I regret everything!”

“I’m the one who’s blind enough to pick you as my master,” The student rolled his eyes and mumbled under his breath.

“What did you say?” The scholar immediately looked at the student with unkind eyes.

“Nothing! I er, meant that you are totally right that I am stupid and unseemly. Sorry for embarrassing you, young master,” The student hurriedly replied with a regretful expression.

“Mm. You can be taught after all.” The scholar nodded in satisfaction.

“Hmph...” The student bowed his head again and let out a cold hmph. Then, he shook his body impatiently.

“Stop moving. If the writing is damaged, then you’ll have to start from the beginning,” the scholar chided him.

“It’s tiring to lie down like this, okay?!”

The student complained, “Can’t we bring a table or a chair during our outings, young master? I don’t understand why you must use me as the table every time! My waist can’t stand it!”

“You don’t understand. I’m doing this for your own good.”

The scholar popped a grape in his mouth and smirked. “If you don’t train your waist while you’re young, you’re going to have many regrets when you’re old. You’ll thank me when you’re coming of age.”

“I can’t say. Like I said, you will learn when you’re older.” The scholar shook his head smilingly.

“Doesn’t make any sense.”

The student mumbled before complaining again, “How much longer until these two finish their fight, young master?”

“It’s already over,” the scholar gave him a surprising answer.

“It’s already over?”

The student looked confused. “They just traded a single blow. How is it over already?”

“Victory has already been decided, so of course the fight is over,” the scholar said.

“Excuse me?” The student’s eyes widened like saucers. “When was victory decided? Who won?”

“I told you you’re stupid. You just won’t admit it.”

The scholar waved his hand, and the paper and the brush on the student’s back flew over to him. “Check it out yourself.”

The student hurriedly climbed to his feet and stood on his tiptoes. Then, he gazed into the distance.

It was exactly as the scholar said. Victory had already been decided.

After the staff was swung, Wang Shan canceled his Mountain True Body and returned to his normal size. Then, he looked at Ye Qing and said, “You have proven yourself to be my better, Brother Ye. It’s my loss.”

Wang Shan’s declaration was as frank as it was unhesitating. Not a hint of resentment, disappointment, or frustration could be seen on his face whatsoever. He did not look like someone who just lost his title of invincible among his peers at all.

“The duel isn’t over yet. Why did you surrender, Brother Wang?” Ye Qing asked.

“Because victory has already been decided. Therefore, there is no need to continue any longer,” Wang Shan answered. “In preparation for our fight, I have come here two days prior to channel the force of the world and combine its might with my own. I even managed to stumble upon the White Storm. Therefore, the storm staff I created is literally my strongest move.”

“Despite this, you managed to block it. I knew then that I would not be able to defeat you no matter what I do. Since the outcome is already fixed, why would I waste anymore time and energy on it?”

“This doesn’t feel like you though, Brother Wang.”

Ye Qing smiled. “Besides, don’t you feel frustrated that you surrendered your title of invincible among your peers to me just like that?”

Wang Shan was famed for his unyielding character and firm Dao heart. Whenever he dueled or fought against others, he never gave up or surrendered until the very end. He was also a non-believer of fate. Besides, anything could happen in the martial way, so it was never certain who would win and who would lose; who would live and who would die until the last moment.

It was thanks to this belief that Wang Shan managed to defeat a supposedly undefeatable foe and turn the tables when all hope seemed lost.

Therefore, Wang Shan’s words sounded sensible, but it actually wasn’t especially considering his personality.

“That is just flattery from my

jianghu

fellows. The world is big, the waters are deep, the geniuses are countless, and even the champions are a dime a dozen. I am just a frog in the well; a king in a well no one cared about. In the rivers, I am at most a grain of sand. Just how laughable and foolish would I have to be to actually take their flattery as gospel?”

Wang Shan explained himself seriously. He did not sound obsequious or arrogant. “Besides, that favor that prompted my appearance is only worth this one strike.”

“Haha... you have a pure heart, Brother Wang. You have my respect.”

Ye Qing chuckled. “One day, preferably when I’m not busy, I would like to enjoy a drink or two with you.”

“Why not now then?” Wang Shan countered.

“Now?” Ye Qing exclaimed in surprise. The next moment, he saw Wang Shan producing two jars of wine from his Nature’s Shell and tossing one into Ye Qing’s hands.

After Ye Qing caught the jar of wine, he asked, “Did you bring this for me specifically, Brother Wang?”

He asked this because he heard that Wang Shan never drank alcohol.

“You are correct,” Wang Shan admitted.

“Oh? Why’s that?” Ye Qing voiced his curiosity.

“Because I want to befriend you, of course.” Wang Shan declared. “Because I wish to make a friend like you.”

“I don’t understand.” Ye Qing was seriously surprised. “You have probably heard a little about my deeds. I am not a good person.”

“I, Wang Shan, am not a good person myself.”

Wang Shan answered honestly, “I make friends not because they are good, but because I believe that we can become good friends.”

“You should know that I am a walking trouble magnet. Aren’t you afraid that you would catch some of my troubles if you befriend me?” Ye Qing smirked.

“I’m not. I have plenty of enemies myself. What’s a couple more?” Wang Shan answered.

“Hahaha... I guess I have no choice but to be your friend then?” Ye Qing lifted an eyebrow.

“You can reject my friendship, but you must drink my wine.” Wang Shan gave his wine jar a wave.

“Hahahaha! Wonderful! Just wonderful!”

Ye Qing could not help but guffaw at that. The rumors claimed that Wang Shan was a quiet, stoic man who would sooner die than crack a joke. As it turned out, the rumors could not be any more wrong.

“It looks like I’ll be drinking this wine and making a friend today then.”

“Haha... it is my honor.” A grin cracked on Wang Shan’s honest, down-to-earth face.

And so the two men removed the cover and raised their jars at each other.Then, they began drinking the wine earnestly. Just a moment later, two big jars of delicious wine had fully entered their stomachs.

“Intense at the beginning, and breathtaking in the end. Now this is what I call a superior quality Xi Huang Snow!” Ye Qing wiped his lips and laughed loudly.

“Cough! Cough! It is an excellent wine.”

Unused to the wine’s taste, a blush colored Wang Shan’s cheeks and coughed a little. “I’ve always thought that alcohol makes for terrible drinks because it neither has a sugar’s sweetness nor a meat’s fragrance. But today’s wine is exceptionally rich, sweet, and fragrant.”

“As expected, wine is delicious only when it is drunk with friends.”

“Well said, Brother Wang! That is a quote that deserves another cup!” Ye Qing laughed.

“It’s too bad that I only brought two jars of wine. It is not enough for us to enjoy to our heart’s content.”

Wang Shan sighed regretfully. “My master and my senior brother love drinking wine. My master especially has hoarded plenty of excellent wine over the years. If you find the time, do visit Mountain Sect in the future. I promise you that we will have enough wine to drink until we’re drunk.”

“Aren’t you worried that your master is going to rebuke you for this?” Ye Qing smiled.

“I’m not. My master is not one for scolding.”

Wang Shan said seriously, “My master prefers beating over scolding, and I am tough enough to endure any beating.”

“Hahahaha! I definitely will.” Ye Qing swore then that he would pay Wang Shan a visit if only to witness this beating with his own eyes. Not even the Buddha would be able to stop him.

“I’ll be waiting for you at the Mountain Sect then,” Wang Shan said happily.

“I will certainly pay you a visit when the time comes.” Ye Qing clasped his fists.

The fight was over, the wine was drunk, and a friend was made. So, Wang Shan did not linger. He turned around and left just like that.

After Wang Shan left, and a soft breeze blew through the area, every jagged rock in Rocky Wasteland suddenly crumbled into fine powder.

The breeze continued to blow, carrying the powder into the sky and blotting out the sun itself.