Chapter Sixty-Two: The Old Connoisseur of Wine and Flowers

Chenqi examined the task carefully.

[Herb Gathering Task: Brew a Potion of Frenzied Dance. You must collect a single Dancer’s Bloom, which grows on the lowest level of the Flowerwine Tavern. There may be dangers lurking on that floor.
Reward: 2 Day Coins, one bottle of Spirit Sight Potion.
Note from the Patron: Bringing people joy and happiness is the true essence of alchemy. I need help to create more happiness, but I’m sorry—I cannot share this bottle of Frenzied Dance Potion. However, I’m willing to offer a bottle of Spirit Sight Potion as compensation.]

Unlike other herb gathering assignments, this one had a clear objective—and it might even require fighting monsters. The payment of 2 Day Coins was substantial. Moreover, the Spirit Sight Potion was a costly brew; with its assistance, one could master basic spirit vision in no time. It was, all in all, an excellent task.

Chenqi continued reading. Besides the usual herb gathering, the commission board also listed some delivery tasks. In the New Capital, regular deliveries were handled by trained messenger ravens. For safety, however, the couriers never allowed the ravens into dark places—only during the burning daylight would they send them out. Thus, there remained many locations inaccessible to messenger ravens, requiring human delivery instead.

One such delivery task drew his attention.

[Delivery Task: By the instructions of the upper echelons of Blackriver Prison, the burning daylight in District Eight will soon decrease in both duration and intensity. A cold weather disaster may descend upon District Eight of the New Capital, plunging temperatures at once—the winter chill is coming. To prevent the Flowerwine Old Man from freezing to death, deliver a bottle of Scorching Potion to the Flowerwine Tavern.
Reward: 50 Moon Silver Coins, one bottle of Scorching Potion.
Patron (Blue Snowflower): If anyone has the time, please see this done. The Flowerwine Old Man may be a broken soul, but he is not a miser. He will reward you.]

So winters existed in the New Capital too? Clearly, the interplay of daylight and disasters made its weather quite complex. He opened up the Herb-gatherer’s Map to locate the Flowerwine Tavern. It lay beneath an abandoned herbal garden. Thanks to the Shadowfox’s speed, the place wasn’t far at all.

According to the map, the land surrounding the Flowerwine Tavern was polluted by the calamity of the Grinning Blooms. Though the disaster had passed, it left a dreadful mark on what had once been fertile soil. Many plants grown there would let out eerie laughter during the night. Even now, monsters still roamed near the Flowerwine Tavern. From his research in the Daywalker’s Guild, he knew most of these were level 6 to 10—just right for him.

If he made the trip, he could complete two tasks at once! Both could be accepted together, earning him 2 Day Coins and 50 Moon Silver Coins in a single journey. Right now, he had just a little over 4 Day Coins—it would be an immediate increase of half his fortune. And the map confirmed the location wasn’t too distant.

Chenqi accepted both tasks.

[You have accepted two tasks and pressed your handprint onto both commission slips.]
[Seeing your handprint, a hurried apprentice tucks a Scorching Potion into a leather pouch and hands it to you.]
[You have received one bottle of Scorching Potion.]

He checked the item.

[Scorching Potion:]
[Description: A potion developed by alchemists for warmth.
Effect: Consuming it dispels cold from the body. Even when not taken, it radiates heat and can be kept in your clothing for warmth.
Caution: Do not break the vial, or it will cause intense burning.
Shelf life: Three weeks.]

A potion for warmth—if winter was indeed coming, he ought to keep one on hand. The intelligence matched up.

[Accept the commission?]
Accept.

Rubbing his hands together, Chenqi decided to complete this task first.

[You place the potion in your pack. A nearby alchemist bursts into a happy dance, while the others watch you with hopeful eyes.]
[Many of their tasks are wholly unrealistic; accepting too many blindly will only damage your reputation.]
[You pack your things and bid them farewell.]
[Your little donkey trots over eagerly, worried you will abandon it.
You gaze toward the distance. Please select your destination.]

He chose “Flowerwine Tavern” and set out. He hoped the journey would go smoothly, that he would complete the tasks, and maybe even find a monster suitable for his training with Blood-Edged Fruit and Hellfire!

Departure!

[Using the Herb-gatherer’s Map, you memorize your route and ride your donkey out on your journey.]
[Traveling…]
["Master, are we going to find food?" The Shadowfox poked its furry head from your coat’s shadow, nuzzling your chin.]

[Once you had left the Tower of Medicine behind, you revealed your Nightwalker’s Cloak and had the Shadowfox activate its Giant Shadow form!]
[The Shadowfox leapt into the air, gently wrapping its great tail around you and your little donkey, lifting you onto its back.]
[You sat astride the Shadowfox and directed it toward the Flowerwine Tavern.]
[Traveling swiftly…]

Chenqi used the travel time for a meal. Thanks to the Blood-Edged Fruit’s effect, he ordered an entire roast duck, a large lamb shank, and shrimp fried rice. After eating, he returned to his room and logged into the New Sun game.

…

The timing was perfect—the Shadowfox’s speed was impressive.

Before his eyes lay a ruined landscape. Decaying fences and withered crops dotted what had once been fertile ground, now overrun with blossoms reeking of rot. It seemed he could hear the flowers’ monstrous laughter.

In the distance, a dilapidated house appeared, its address plate still bearing the words: Flowerwine Tavern.

"Stop!"

At Chenqi’s command, the Shadowfox shed its Giant Shadow form and slipped back into the shadows of his skin. The black earth was damp and sticky. He dismounted, slung the Debt-Clearing Long Knife at his waist, and began walking toward the tavern.

He knew that in the New Capital, intelligence notwithstanding, every unknown place was fraught with danger. He remained vigilant, prepared to respond to emergencies at any moment.

He reached the Flowerwine Tavern. The structure was underground, with three basement levels, connecting to a cave at the lowest floor. The wooden door, overgrown with Decayed Blooms, creaked open. A damp chill wafted out. The entire tavern was windowless, unlit—swallowed by darkness. The path downward twisted and forked in the pitch-black gloom.

Entering a new place, especially one so dark, Chenqi decided to activate the Morningstar’s Revelation.

The Morningstar leapt from his hand, illuminating the tavern’s depths. By its glow, the room blazed with light. He quickly descended to the third level.

There, the floor was piled with fragrant blossoms, with clusters of wine jars stacked alongside. From the corner, a muddled voice cursed: "Where did this food come from? Dare to trespass on the master’s domain!"

The Morningstar floated to a man’s waist.

The voice put Chenqi on alert; he tightened his grip on his knife and approached the sound. Before him appeared a thoroughly dissolute apothecary, rose-red wine dribbling from his lips. The man raised a hand, pointing at Chenqi with a finger sprouting woody buds.

"Where did this food come from? Don’t force me to act!" the Flowerwine Old Man shouted.

Chenqi hesitated—was this old man drunk?

Suddenly, the Flowerwine Old Man saw the knife at Chenqi’s waist and, in a drunken stupor, his eyes snapped open wide. "You’re not food—you’re a Debt-Clearing Man! Spare me, I’ve paid all my debts!"

The terror of being hunted by Debt-Clearing Men surged back into his mind. He tried to flee, but the wall was behind him, and he began banging his head against the corner.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The Flowerwine Old Man smacked his head thrice against the wall.

Chenqi gripped his knife and advanced slowly.

"Don’t force me! Spare me! Mercy! I surrender!" the Flowerwine Old Man pleaded, babbling in panic.

Chenqi was now level six. As long as an opponent’s level didn’t exceed eleven, he could inspect their character panel. The Flowerwine Old Man’s name was highlighted—meaning his stats could be viewed.

Check character panel.