Forging Immortality: The Undying Blacksmith

Chapter 64: Brewing Wine

That evening, a waiter from the Taoyuan Restaurant delivered more than a dozen jars of fine wine to the forge.

To brew the two medicinal wines, Li Qing had long ago prepared two vats, one large and one small. The large vat was for the Tiger Bone Body-Nourishing Wine; the small one was for the Five Poisons Blood-Activating Wine.

The Tiger Bone Body-Nourishing Wine wasn’t a quick fix that yielded results after a single cup. It was a tonic for the long haul, meant to be consumed daily to regulate the body, fortify one’s core, and cultivate vitality, gradually tempering the flesh into something far stronger. This required a large quantity, which was why the primary ingredient was the very essence of the tiger’s skeleton: the spinal column.

“A pity this was a tigress,” Li Qing mused. “No tiger penis. A minor imperfection, but a shame nonetheless.”

The key ingredients for the Tiger Bone Body-Nourishing Wine were the spinal column, the tail bone, and the tiger penis. The spine was paramount, the core essence of the entire skeleton. The other two parts were beneficial additions; without them, the wine’s potency would be slightly diminished.

“Fortunately, brewing is a long process,” he thought. “I can always look for a tiger penis at the Quanshan Medicine Shop later. It won’t be too late to add it then.”

With that, Li Qing hefted a jar of strong liquor.

*Crack!*

With a single, sharp slap, he shattered the clay seal. A potent, intoxicating aroma flooded the room, strong enough to make a man’s head spin with a single whiff. The people from Taoyuan Restaurant hadn’t been exaggerating; this was powerful stuff.

Satisfied, Li Qing poured the liquor into the large vat, where the tiger bones and various supplementary herbs were already waiting. As the rich fragrance intensified, it took a full twelve jars to completely submerge the ingredients.

He set the lid and sealed it tight.

Li Qing performed the actions in one seamless sequence. The first stage of brewing the Tiger Bone Body-Nourishing Wine was complete. Now, all he had to do was wait.

Next was the Five Poisons Blood-Activating Wine. For this, even Li Qing’s expression grew solemn.

According to the recipe, this concoction was a brutal tonic for martial artists—utterly domineering in its effects. It was designed to help break through cultivation bottlenecks; just a small cup could send a user’s qi and blood into a raging torrent. In that boiling state, any training, whether practicing techniques or accumulating Inner Force, would yield incredible results.

If an ordinary person were to drink a cup, their body, unable to withstand the sudden surge of power, would likely fail, killing them. It was a classic case of a weak constitution being overwhelmed by a powerful supplement. This wine was not for non-martial artists.

Li Qing carefully placed the five venomous creatures he had acquired into the smaller vat. He moved with extreme caution, intent on avoiding the tragedy of a stray bite or sting.

Soon, all five were inside. True to their aggressive nature, as soon as they entered the confined space, they began to writhe and snap at each other. Seeing this, Li Qing immediately tossed in the blood-activating herbs and other powerful tonics. He then grabbed the remaining three jars of liquor, cracked their seals, and poured the contents in.

*Glug, glug, glug!*

The moment the last drop fell, Li Qing slammed the lid on and sealed the small vat shut. The movements were a single, fluid motion, their practiced ease speaking of countless mental rehearsals. Not a single creature escaped.

With his work done, the entire forge was now saturated with the heavy scent of alcohol.

“Sheng Tian is sweltering, with summer just days away,” he noted. “The timing is perfect to bury the wine.”

One of the requirements for brewing the Five Poisons Blood-Activating Wine was to bury it in the earth during summer. The intense heat would refine the cold-natured poisons, forcing their venom to meld perfectly with the medicinal properties of the herbs. The creator of this recipe, Li Qing thought, was a true genius to have harnessed the seasons and the complementary nature of his ingredients so perfectly.

He quickly dug a pit in the backyard, just large enough for the small vat. He lowered it in, filled the hole with soil, and stamped it down firmly before walking away, shovel in hand.

“Three years of slow refinement before it can be consumed,” he murmured to himself. “The requirements are demanding.” He patted the packed earth. “See you in three years.”

Li Qing returned to his room. All that remained were the large vat of Tiger Bone Body-Nourishing Wine and two jars of Winter Plum Wine, a personal favorite.

In contrast to the five poisons brew, the Tiger Bone Body-Nourishing Wine had far fewer restrictions. It would be ready to drink in a year and could be stored anywhere. This made him consider placing the vat in the Extreme Night World. The time dilation there was a tempting advantage—three times faster than the normal world. A year’s wait here would be only four months there.

However, he had his reservations. He couldn’t remain in the Extreme Night World indefinitely while living in Sheng Tian. What if someone found the wine? Ruined it? The loss would be catastrophic.

*’Entrust it to the Righteousness Gang? Have Tianlong guard it?’*

The thought was dismissed as soon as it formed. *Impossible.*

By the Extreme Night World’s calendar, he had been away from Obsidian City for nearly two years. To suddenly reappear with a large vat of mysterious wine would cause a stir, raising too many questions and creating too many variables. Even if Tianlong still trusted him completely after all this time, it was a risk Li Qing would never take.

He pushed the idea aside. He wasn’t short on time. The wine was brewed; now he just needed the patience to wait.

“No rush,” he reminded himself, shaking his head. “All things in due time.”

He picked up a jar of Winter Plum Wine.

*Crack!*

A captivating fragrance drifted into his nostrils, sweet and alluring enough to stir a craving in even the most abstemious man. Li Qing took a long, deep pull straight from the jar. The wine was smooth, its taste exquisite—it had truly earned its fame throughout Sheng Tian.

A wave of warmth spread through him, washing away the lingering fatigue from his trips to Xiaocui Ridge. He felt a profound sense of ease.

“Whew! That’s the stuff.”

As he exhaled, his ears twitched. A faint smile touched his lips.

A slight noise had come from outside the forge.

He wasn’t the only one who heard it. Fantong, dozing in his makeshift den, sensed it too. The cub’s eyes snapped open, and he let out a surprisingly fierce hiss, baring his milk teeth at the source of the sound like an angry kitten.

It seemed some audacious fools really didn’t fear death. He wondered if they were common burglars or something more sinister.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, a sharp *CRACK* echoed from the front of the shop—the sound of his iron lock being shattered.

Even the deepest sleeper would be jolted awake by that. So much for stealth.

The smile on Li Qing’s lips turned glacial. A predatory light ignited in his eyes. The hunt had changed him, leaving behind a predator’s aura he now wore like a second skin.

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