Published: March 8, 2025
The heat in Li Chunbo's palm gradually rose, the wine slowly dissolving, becoming clear and bright like jade.
"The wine has warmed, but it’s a pity that the flavor has vanished after it melts away," Li Chunbo said, gazing at the wine in his palm softly.
Xiao Chenyu paused for a moment, then said, "Since the flavor is gone, drinking it won’t be enjoyable. Let’s change it."
"But if we change it, it won’t be the same two cups of wine anymore," Li Chunbo said somewhat sadly.
"Wine is still wine, it can still intoxicate!" Xiao Chenyu replied gently.
Both of them let out a long sigh.
The wine had been changed.
Their spirits were already lifted; even though they forced smiles, this was the last gathering of their lives.
"Second brother, please!"
"Chunbo, please!"
"Ten thousand years ago, when we first drank wine, the excitement was soaring, pointing to the world, what a joyful affair."
"Ninety thousand years ago, we drank many times, and at that time, heaven and earth had already settled, contentment filled our hearts, and we were open and free."
"Sixty thousand years ago, drinking brought many sighs; time passed just like that, and the years are hard to reclaim."
"Forty thousand years ago, we were still brothers; there was nothing we could not say, could not speak, did not speak."
"It was just you and me!"
At this point, both fell silent, a silence that was hard to express.
In the next moment, both of them raised their heads and drank deeply.
After downing three pots of wine, Li Chunbo laughed heartily, raising his hand to send the three wine pots flying far away, only to find more than ten unopened exquisite wine pots on the table.
Li Chunbo took one pot and slapped the mud seal, laughing, "One pot of turbid wine to enjoy the remaining joy; after today’s farewell, let it not be difficult..."
Xiao Chenyu, eyes misty, grabbed a pot of wine, and recited, "Life and death, victory and defeat are all brothers; in the Nine Heavens, let the heart not grow cold..."
As soon as he finished, both suddenly froze. An indescribable emotion silently rose, and in an instant, their hearts felt sour.
This was a drinking game, created by Ling Mu Yang when the brothers had not yet formed the Nine Great Clans. These were the last four lines.
At that time, all the brothers said this drinking game was really well done, and it was passed down.
But what was said back then, "Life and death, victory and defeat are all brothers," was truly about deep feelings. Now... for Xiao Chenyu and Li Chunbo, it had actually become so.
Life and death, victory and defeat are all brothers!
The words remained the same, but their meanings had diverged drastically.
One pot of turbid wine to enjoy the remaining joy was indeed true; it was really all the joy of brotherhood in the remaining days, all contained in today’s pot of wine. After today, there would be no more...
For a moment, both of them felt a sourness in their hearts that was hard to express, a bewilderment difficult to suppress.
Li Chunbo suddenly gulped down a pot of wine, feeling a fire burning in his belly, and under the influence of the wine, seemed to casually say, "Life and death, victory and defeat are all brothers... Haha, Second Brother, I wonder if after this drinking, we will still be brothers?"
Xiao Chenyu slightly lowered his head, softly saying, "Morning Thunder is missing." His voice was somewhat gloomy and deep.
Li Chunbo's hand trembled, "Oh..."
He certainly knew about Xiao Chenlei and understood the bond between Xiao Chenlei and Xiao Chenyu. He was suddenly shocked and felt a sense of astonishment.
No wonder Xiao Chenyu came personally!
"He went missing while fighting the Nine Calamity Sword Master," Xiao Chenyu said faintly, but a cold light flashed in his eyes.
Li Chunbo shook his head, breathing heavily through his nose, his emotions no longer calm.
"The Nine Calamity Sword Master is currently helping your Li family; this fact cannot be erased by anyone, the truth is the truth." Xiao Chenyu closed his eyes.
His voice gradually became fierce, speaking each word with intensity: "This enmity, we cannot coexist under heaven!"