Du Chengfeng himself rarely drinks alcohol.
The reason is simple; alcohol gives him headaches, and once drunk, it causes trouble. Instead of the indulgence that follows drunkenness, he prefers a peaceful kind of relaxation.
For example, reading a couple of books and drinking a cup of tea, these leisurely pastimes are more to his liking.
Therefore, when preparing his belongings, Du Chengfeng did not consider including alcohol. If he absolutely needed something with alcohol content, it would only be the cooking wine from the kitchen.
Clearly, the big saber in his hand requires something more substantial.
So, even though it's already deep into the night, Du Chengfeng is compelled to head out straight to the home of Carpenter Li.
"Old brother, open the door, I need your help with something."
"Is that you, Brother Du? What's happening?"
Still somewhat drowsy, once Carpenter Li heard it was Du Chengfeng's voice, he hurriedly came out to open the door.
Seeing Carpenter Li open the door even without wearing shoes, Du Chengfeng felt increasingly apologetic. But since he was already there, he could only toughen up and address the matter first.
After hearing Du Chengfeng's request, Carpenter Li finally relaxed.
"So, it's to borrow some wine. I thought it was something more urgent... But if you really need wine, wouldn't it be easier to ask the Yang family?"
This wasn't Carpenter Li trying to shirk responsibility; rather, there is indeed a difference in the quality of wine. Like Carpenter Li, as a commoner, his income allows him to store only some cheap wine, consumed leisurely on regular days. But when it comes to the cellar offerings of the Ji Prefecture Yang family, although it can't match the level of Palace Jade Liquid, it is vastly superior to the cheap wine of the common people.
Since wine is needed, good wine is essential; this cheap wine, which causes headaches upon drinking, is still too...
"It's different, old brother, it's different."
Facing Carpenter Li's confusion, Du Chengfeng just shook his head.
He had thought about asking the Yang family for wine. After all, if he wished for the Yang family to do something nowadays, all it would take is a word—a feeling persists, though, that not even the Yang family's cellar treasures could equal the few jugs of white liquor Carpenter Li had provided this late at night.
Du Chengfeng couldn't tell good wine from bad, but he knew these jugs were brought to him by his old brother who sacrificed sleep at midnight.
"Thank you, old brother! I'm off now!"
Taking a deep breath and with gratitude he couldn't express in words, Du Chengfeng could only bow with a fist salute, grabbing the wine jugs and preparing to leave.
It was at this moment that Carpenter Li followed him out.
"Du brother, drinking alone at midnight is dull. Drinking should be lively!"
Hearing Carpenter Li say this, Du Chengfeng couldn't help but be taken aback, realizing his old brother had mistakenly thought he was borrowing wine to drown his sorrows.
It's no wonder Carpenter Li thought this way. Mainly it was due to the fact that Du Chengfeng was indeed troubled, with the shadow of death hanging overhead. Who knew when the monster named He Xiqing would attack? Who knew if he would survive that life-and-death battle?
Unexpectedly, Du Chengfeng hadn't realized this pressure inside him had manifested on his face.
This was not a good sign.
At that moment, Du Chengfeng, for some reason, recalled sharpening the Broken Horse Long Saber, remembering the swordsman named Liu Qingyun. Although he always had a carefree look, before dueling with the swordsman Cui Yuan, he still chose to sharpen his blade again to ensure everything was perfect.
Indeed, this can be seen as taking action after careful thinking and being well-prepared, but in many ways, it also reflected Liu Qingyun's uncertainty within.
Because of internal pressure, and because subconsciously he realized he wasn't capable, he hoped for external things, wanting to grasp a slight sense of security through various means.
Even if that sense of security was illusory.
"It seems that I am still quite a distance away from being a true genius."
Thinking of this, Du Chengfeng couldn't help but open a jug and take a sip.
Alcohol causes trouble, drinking harms the body, but a little drink can indeed relax his tense spirit temporarily.
Though it's just cheap wine, it still revitalizes Du Chengfeng a bit, prompting him to stir-fry a couple of dishes to go with the drink, sharing the table with Carpenter Li in the courtyard as they drink and chat.
Under the bright moonlight, before the wine table, one man, one saber, one confidant.
Du Chengfeng suddenly felt that his current life seemed alright.
"So, brother Du, you're using wine to sharpen your saber."
Watching Du Chengfeng take the jug and pour it all over the saber, Carpenter Li realized he was mistaken earlier.
But this time, seeing this fierce saber, Carpenter Li weirdly felt no fear.
Although he stood up against it last time, back then he trusted Brother Du not to be a bad person who would wield the saber against him—the blade, a tool of slaughter, he always kept a respectful distance, even to the point of sometimes hesitating to visit.
But now, Carpenter Li felt as if pouring wine over the saber made it less intimidating.
Like the entire blade fell asleep at that moment.
Even the sharpness on the saber seemed to soften, although this softness wasn't due to the dissipation of Evil Qi, Carpenter Li felt it was more like brewing something, brewing something potentially more dangerous.
To suppress the tension from confronting danger, Carpenter Li couldn't help but drink two more cups.
Then he lay down on the table.
Carpenter Li could only handle about a quarter of a liter; two cups were already excessive. Fortunately, he remembered why he came, so he managed not to fall asleep.
"Um… Brother Du."
With several rounds of drinks, Carpenter Li spoke more freely.
"I understand your worries, even though I don't know why you believe the Hu people will attack, but if you really have such concerns, why not seek help?"
"Seek whom? The Yang family?"
Du Chengfeng couldn't help but smile and shake his head.
Counting on the Ji Prefecture Yang family is less reliable than hoping to enhance his own strength, given that non-human level battles are not accessible to ordinary people.
Moreover, the involvement of ordinary people might actually make He Xiqing stronger.
After all, becoming stronger by killing is a principle discovered by He Xiqing, and that terrifying man has even started promoting this practice among his subordinates. If they truly confront each other, the Yang family fortress's people won't just be unhelpful, but might actually become food for He Xiqing's power.
So, to face this battle, only he can, only he must.
As for others' help, it's just...
"If not the Yang family, you should go to Liu Dudu."
Just as Du Chengfeng was about to continue drinking, Carpenter Li spoke.
"Liu Dudu has commanded Ji Prefecture for a long time; surely he has means to deal with those Hu people."