460: This Fuso wine is really unique

Eastern Capital.

It is the capital city of the Eastern Zhou Dynasty.

In the Eastern Capital, there are cultivation sects, aristocratic families, the imperial family, and the Tai Academy, with countless large and small forces, making it quite complex.

However, among these various complex forces, the Imperial Family and the Tai Academy hold positions of absolute control.

Three days later.

On a street in the Eastern Capital.

Xie Weilou, dressed in a black robe, his hands tucked into his sleeves, walked forward leisurely, his face radiating a gentle smile as he surveyed his surroundings.

The Eastern Capital was extremely prosperous, with bustling traffic, countless vendors, and constant shouts, showcasing a lively atmosphere.

On both sides of the street, there were many ordinary taverns, inns, and pleasure houses, and one could also see treasure pavilions, pill shops, and auction houses, with many cultivators coming and going.

"Eastern Tower!"

Xie Weilou's gaze fell on a tavern. The two characters 'Eastern' made him slightly lost in thought, filled with nostalgia. He smiled faintly and walked towards the tavern.

Having come to the Eastern Capital, it was only natural to taste the fine wine of the Eastern Capital; this would make the trip worthwhile.

Inside the Eastern Tower.

"Esteemed guest, what would you like to drink?"

Upon seeing Xie Weilou, the waiter hurried over to greet him.

Xie Weilou smiled and said, "May I ask what is the most famous fine wine in your Eastern Tower?"

The waiter immediately replied, "It is naturally fuso wine!"

"fuso wine? That's a good name."

Xie Weilou said with a smile.

The waiter said with a confident expression, "Fuso is a divine tree of the East. Our Eastern Tower's fine wine takes its name from it, possessing a natural charm. There is a certain barbaric small country in the sea that, upon hearing the beautiful charm of Fuso, named itself the Fuso Country, yet it doesn't even have a single mulberry tree! It's simply a laughingstock!"

"Well said, you deserve a reward!"

Xie Weilou took out a gold ingot, casually tossed it to the waiter, and then said, "Bring me a pot of fuso wine and a few small dishes."

The waiter looked at the gold in his arms and said excitedly, "Esteemed guest, please wait a moment, I will prepare it right away."

"......"

Xie Weilou smiled and found a seat.

Not long after.

The waiter came over with a pot of fine wine and several good dishes: "Esteemed guest, your fine wine and delicacies have arrived."

Saying that, he placed the wine and dishes on the table.

Xie Weilou picked up a wine glass, poured a glass of fine wine, and took a sip.

The wine was slightly spicy upon entry, but after it went down, a sweetness emerged, accompanied by a hint of warmth and heat.

Then a wave of warmth spread, like the warmth of the sun shining down, making one feel incredibly comfortable.

But this was not the end. After the comfort, the wine entered his internal organs, spreading through his meridians, giving rise to an inexplicable melancholy in his heart, as if one cup was not enough...

"......"

The waiter did not disturb Xie Weilou, because many guests who drank fuso wine for the first time found it hard to be satisfied with just one cup; at least ten cups were a starting point.

After Xie Weilou drank one cup, he poured another, then a second, and a third.

After several consecutive cups.

The more he drank, the more sorrowful he became, always feeling as if something was missing, like the passage of time, or the non-return of an old friend.

It was truly surprising that a pot of wine could have such a peculiar effect.

In a flash.

Xie Weilou tasted his tenth cup. After ten cups, the feeling remained similar; he still wanted to drink more.

But he knew that even if he drank more, the feeling would be similar: melancholy, regret, loss, and helplessness filled his heart.

The waiter spoke at the opportune moment: "Esteemed guest, what do you think of the fuso wine?"

Xie Weilou held his wine glass, glanced out the window, and softly said, "The sun is about to rise in the East, illuminating my threshold, Fuso; why do you hesitate, my lord? Who will remain in the Central Continent? This fuso wine... is truly peculiar. The person who brewed this wine must not be an ordinary individual!"

From a single cup of wine, he tasted a longing for life and the future, but even more so, regret.

It was as if...

A person about to depart, longing for distant lands, filled with curiosity about everything in the future.

But his departure meant giving up the people or things around him.

Or perhaps, no one would accompany him on his departure; he would have to embark on his journey alone.

At this moment, Xie Weilou suddenly thought of the Xia Emperor. Wasn't the Xia Emperor such a person?

Perhaps, the Xia Emperor was not such a person!

After all, didn't Dugu Buzheng follow him when he left? He looked forward to the future, so he embarked on his journey, but he was not alone, because he had company.

And the person who brewed this wine was probably someone who left alone, with no one accompanying him.

Seeing Xie Weilou's evaluation, the waiter instinctively gave a thumbs-up and said with a face full of admiration, "Countless people have come to drink fuso wine, but you, esteemed guest, are the first to give such a comment!"

He explained, "The brewer of this fuso wine is rumored to be the Eastern Zhou's greatest wine master, Lord Ji Jiu! It is said that when Ji Jiu was about to embark on a distant journey, he had a female confidante by his side. He originally intended to take her with him, but unfortunately, his confidante knew he was going far away and understood that he would never return. In the end, she had to marry another man. Lord Ji Jiu, filled with endless sorrow, brewed this fuso wine and left the recipe behind."

"Ji Jiu? Ji Jiu?"

Xie Weilou was slightly startled. What a coincidence?

The waiter smiled awkwardly: "Actually, these stories contain elements of legend, because that Lord Ji Jiu, in the ancient texts, was a figure from a thousand years ago, and also an ancestor of the imperial family. Whether he brewed the fuso wine is unknown."

"However, one thing is true: this Eastern Tower was purchased by a woman a thousand years ago. It is said that after she drank fuso wine, she was heartbroken and eventually bought the tavern, specializing in brewing fuso wine, which has allowed the Eastern Tower to be passed down to the present day."

Xie Weilou smiled and asked, "May I ask what is the surname of the owner of this Eastern Tower?"

The waiter shook his head: "No one knows the true surname of the owner of the Eastern Tower, but we have a manager here whose surname is Ji."

As soon as the waiter finished speaking, an old man with white hair walked over. The old man looked at Xie Weilou and said with a smile, cupping his hands, "This old man, Ji Yuan, is indeed the manager of this Eastern Tower."

Xie Weilou observed the old man. This old man was a cultivator, but only at the Shackles Realm. He asked, "Does the manager also not know the surname of the owner of this Eastern Tower?"

Ji Yuan shook his head: "No one knows, and that includes this old man. I came here to be the manager simply by the command of the family head. But even the family head is not the owner here. We are only responsible for the operation, and all the net profit of the entire Eastern Tower is used to aid the common people."

Who exactly is the owner of the Eastern Tower?

Perhaps the family head knew the answer, but the family head never mentioned it at all.

The family head was never a great benevolent person; in fact, he could be considered a villain. However, when it came to the revenue of the Eastern Tower, he displayed the greatest kindness.

He never took a single cent of the net profit here. At the end of each month, he would directly have people distribute it for disaster relief and aid.

"So that's how it is!"

Xie Weilou nodded gently, then took out another gold ingot: "Give me ten more jars of fuso wine. I'll take them back to drink."

"Esteemed guest, please wait a moment."

Ji Yuan quickly told the waiter to fetch the wine.