Why do I have so many masters?-Chapter 717 - 29 Mid-Autumn Festival Party (Two in One)

Chapter 717 -29 Mid-Autumn Festival Party (Two in One)

August 15th was originally the Mid-Autumn Festival, with no significant difference from the commencement of spring or summer.

Thirty years ago, the Grand Commander Sima Cuo of Great Qin had struck far into the Xiongnu territories and returned victorious. His return to Heaven Capital City coincidentally fell on August 15th, when a Hu merchant offered round cakes to celebrate. The Emperor, pointing at the full moon, laughingly suggested inviting the Moon Rabbit to partake, consequently sharing the cakes with his ministers.

As the saying goes, “as above, so below,” and though the current Emperor was no longer the one from back then, in recent years, Mid-Autumn celebrations had grown increasingly lively, celebrated across the regions.

The Imperial Court would lift the curfew for those three days, and the streets, embellished with flower lanterns and riddle-solving games, buzzed with excitement, gradually becoming a season for wanderers to return home.

Yet, on this very day, there was a group who made it their annual mission to travel thousands of miles to contend with their peers.

Those nearby set off in August, whereas those from further away left their cities as early as June, when the sun was most fierce and temperatures highest, traveling by night to cover the vast distance to Xianping County in Liangzhou on Jiangnan Road.

Jiangnan Road’s Liangzhou was famous for its wine gatherings, popular throughout the land.

When it came to the art of brewing, Great Qin’s north was known for Jin State, with the verse “ask where the tavern lies” even recited fluently by young children. The south, however, regarded Liangzhou in Xianping County as supreme, overshadowing numerous renowned brewers.

Though these rankings were as contentious as Martial Artists’ challenges, and mostly disputed among one another, Jin State’s early fame helped, as did the poets’ praise, merely gilding the lily. However, Liangzhou was but a newly discovered spring of wine, which the Supreme Former Emperor once praised as delightful during his visit, thus its reputation soared, overwhelming other southern regions.

Experts debated the intricacies of the rankings, while laymen simply knew which event was more spectacular.

Following undisclosed disputes, two annual sessions were set—one in early March and the other on August 15th—inviting like-minded individuals from across the land to a wine gathering, calling upon the best drinkers to determine the superior positions, truly a grand occasion.

Fufeng County was one of the most formidable in the Northern Lands of Great Qin. The robust drinking style of the north stood in stark contrast to the refined, scholarly alcohol appreciation of the south, which classifies the quality into seven levels—folk tales often dismissed by northerners. Among them were those capable of drinking greatly, heavily, and skillfully.

Among the old establishments in Fufeng’s taverns, Liu Ling had a notorious reputation. This elder’s background was impeccable. Though not from a wealthy family, he boasted scholarly prestige and once succeeded in passing official examinations at first attempt.

Later, due to ineffective service, he was dismissed and indifferently opened a tavern with his savings, unconcerned about profits, dedicating his days to drinking to an almost ‘sickly’ extent, which astounded many.

Whenever he traveled by carriage, he always brought along wine and an iron shovel, declaring that should he die drunk in the mountains, being buried under roadside pines would suffice, his wild nature even more shocking than the scholars of Jiangnan, yet solely devoted to wine.

Even though the Prefectural Governor of Fufeng County planned his re-appointment, Liu Ling only cared for his drunken escapades. Still, he never missed the annual Mid-Autumn wine gatherings, regardless of the distance.

But as he aged, focusing solely on alcohol both in youth and old age, having no children or spouse nor willing to be distracted by martial arts, his health was not what it once was. Starting three years ago, he had to be accompanied to each event.

Luckily, though his character was unruly, he still had a few close friends. After the death of a notorious figure from the Tan Family last year, an old timer named Fei Poyue from a Martial Arts School, renowned for his Spear Techniques, took up the task of ensuring Liu Ling reached Jiangnan Road safely, turning it into an intoxicating ordeal for him and a valuable experience for the Martial Artists of the school, especially since Jiangnan’s dreamy, misty landscape was highly sought after by young Martial Artists of Great Qin’s Jianghu.

This time, Liu Ling only brought an old servant to drive the carriage, which was half-filled with fine wines, enough to sustain his semi-intoxicated state all the way to Jiangnan Road. Many had come to see him off, aside from two familiar middle-aged men, there were several others.

The leader among them appeared even older than Fei Poyue, with white hair and broad shoulders, yet dressed in the long robe of a Scholar. Excluding this elderly man likely in his seventies, there was only one other man.

Apart from them, the group consisted of beautiful young women.

Though the Fei Family Martial Arts School was unrivaled in Fufeng for its Spear Technique, almost everyone in this group wore swords. The old servant was visibly worried, but Liu Ling seemed at ease.

Fei Poyue, whom he had known since they were young and who was as taciturn as ever, was unlikely to endanger his life. These were probably young people eager to experience the scenic beauty of Jiangnan Road, and he did not mind them.

Moreover, the tall elder on the black horse, occasionally taking swigs from a wine pouch without showing any signs of intoxication, caught his interest even more, making his mouth water instead of distracting him with worry.

Two riders flanked the carriage, both middle-aged men well-known to Liu Ling and his servant as Fei Poyue’s eldest Direct Disciples. One had mastered the Poyue Spear Technique, reserved and reticent.

The other excelled in boxing, his waist armed with a knife. After surveying the few ahead and then the convoy behind, seeing the orderly procession, he couldn’t help but express his emotions once again.