Legend Management Bureau Chapter 243

[ … words ]

“Sister Qianqiu!” Du Yu called out as he entered the Legend Management Bureau.

“Hmm?” Dong Qianqiu was currently sitting in front of a screen with Pu Songling. “What is it, Du Yu?”

“Elder Pu is here too, perfect!” Du Yu said with a smile. “Do you two know Liu Ling?”

Dong Qianqiu looked confused, but Pu Songling raised an eyebrow.

“Liu… Ling?” Elder Pu pondered for a moment before replying, “Are you talking about the former Wine Immortal, Liu Ling?”

“Yes, yes, yes!” Du Yu nodded. “That exact Liu Ling. I knew you would know him, Elder Pu.”

“Of course.” Pu Songling smiled and nodded. “To those who drink, the story of Liu Ling is a cherished tale.”

“A cherished tale?” Du Yu’s interest was immediately piqued. “Can you tell me his story?”

“Tell a story? Very well.”

Dong Qianqiu poured a cup of tea for Elder Pu, and together they listened as he slowly recounted the tale.

It turned out that while Liu Ling appeared unruly and uninhibited, he was actually a famous scholar of the Wei and Jin dynasties, as well as one of the renowned Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove.

However, what made him leave a lasting mark on history was not his status as one of the Seven Sages, but his insatiable love for alcohol.

Among the tales, the most universally relished legend was naturally Du Kang Brews Wine, Liu Ling Gets Drunk.

Because Liu Ling loved wine as much as his own life and possessed an incredible tolerance for it, he naturally caught the attention of the reigning Wine Immortal, Du Kang. Du Kang then decided to descend to the mortal realm to enlighten Liu Ling and guide him toward becoming an immortal. That way, he would never have to drink alone again, and the two could become drinking buddies in the Immortal Realm.

Thus, Du Kang descended to the mortal world, arrived in Luoyang, and opened a tavern.

Du Kang was the God of Wine, and the fine brews he created carried their intoxicating aroma for three miles. The passing neighbors felt tipsy just from catching a whiff of it, which naturally attracted the passing Liu Ling.

Before he even stepped through the doors, Liu Ling noticed a couplet written on the entrance.

The first line read: A fierce tiger drinks one cup and falls drunk in the mountains.

The second line read: A flood dragon takes two cups and slumbers at the bottom of the sea.

The horizontal scroll read: If you don’t stay drunk for three years, it’s completely free.

Liu Ling found the couplet laughable. ‘This tavern owner truly lacks experience,’ he thought. ‘He dares to open a business here without even asking around to find out that a man like me, Liu Ling, resides in Luoyang?’

‘I have tasted every wine from the north, south, east, and west, yet nothing has ever kept me drunk for even half a day. And you dare claim that if I don’t stay drunk for three years, it’s free?’

Wearing a look of pure contempt, Liu Ling strode into the tavern and demanded that the shopkeeper bring out his wine.

After downing a bowl of fine wine, Liu Ling marveled at it, feeling that this alcohol was simply divine nectar. It was absolutely astonishing. In all his years of traveling far and wide, he had never tasted a vintage so fragrant and mellow. It was just a pity that he wasn’t drunk yet, so he told the shopkeeper to fetch another bowl.

However, the shopkeeper, Du Kang, just smiled at him and advised, “With my wine, a fierce tiger drinks one cup and falls drunk in the mountains. I suggest you stop drinking, sir, or you might truly get drunk.”

Liu Ling found it ridiculous and asked, “Shopkeeper, the couplet on your door says ‘If you don’t stay drunk for three years, it’s completely free.’ If I walk out of this tavern with my head held high today, will you still try to charge me?”

“Since I wrote ‘If you don’t stay drunk for three years, it’s completely free,’ I will naturally honor my word.”

“Good!” Liu Ling roared with laughter. “Then keep bringing out the wine, let me have another bowl!”

Du Kang shook his head helplessly and fetched another bowl of fine wine.

Without another word, Liu Ling chugged it down, immediately demanding a third bowl.

“Sir, you’ve had two bowls now. Even a flood dragon would be drunk by this point,” Du Kang said.

“But it just so happens that I am not a flood dragon, and I am not drunk after two bowls.” Ignoring Du Kang’s attempts to dissuade him, Liu Ling threw back the third bowl.

With three bowls of the rich, mellow liquor in his stomach, Liu Ling staggered as he stood up.

Seeing this, Du Kang smiled slightly and asked, “How does the customer find this wine?”

Liu Ling took a few deep breaths and said, “The first bowl was as sweet as honey, and the second was sweeter still. But this third bowl…”

He swayed on his feet, looking at the shopkeeper in front of him, and muttered, “After drinking this third bowl, I feel the sky spinning and the earth turning. My head is dizzy, and my vision is turning blue…”

“Hahahaha!” Du Kang let out a hearty laugh. “Sir, you are drunk!”

“I’m drunk?” Liu Ling chuckled along with him. “Shopkeeper, even if I am drunk, I still can’t pay you. After all, ‘If you don’t stay drunk for three years, it’s completely free.’ Farewell!”

Liu Ling stumbled out the door, and Du Kang made no effort to stop him.

Stumbling and tripping all the way back to his house, Liu Ling was ghastly pale and gasping for breath.

Seeing her husband return in such a disheveled state, hardly resembling a person, Liu Ling’s wife hastily asked what had happened.

Liu Ling slurred, “Wife, I drank a rare and exquisite wine today. Now the world is spinning, my head is dizzy, and it’s hard to breathe. I might be dying. If I truly die, bury me in the wine pond, cover me with wine dregs, and toss a wine bowl into my coffin. Don’t let me be lonely.”

The moment the words left his mouth, Liu Ling collapsed headfirst onto the ground, entirely motionless.

Although overwhelmed with grief, his wife followed Liu Ling’s instructions and buried him.

Three years passed.

The widowed wife suddenly heard a knock on the courtyard gate. When she opened it, she found a young man standing outside.

The young man spoke, “I am Du Kang. Forgive the intrusion, but your esteemed husband, Liu Ling, drank my wine three years ago. I am here to collect the payment.”

Hearing this, the wife flew into a rage and shouted, “So that’s how it is! My husband drank your wine three years ago, came home, and died of intoxication! And you actually have the nerve to ask me for money? I should be demanding my husband’s life from you!”

“Died?” Du Kang burst into laughter, tipping his head back. “Madam, you misunderstand! Liu Ling isn’t dead, he is just drunk! Come, take me to his grave to see!”

Although she was doubtful, seeing the man speak with such absolute certainty, she decided she had nothing to lose. She called over some neighbors, and together they went to dig up Liu Ling’s grave.

When they pried open the coffin and looked inside, the crowd was utterly astounded.

Liu Ling’s clothes were neat, and his complexion was rosy. He didn’t look like a dead man in the slightest.

An overwhelmingly rich scent of alcohol wafted out from the coffin, intoxicating anyone who caught a whiff.

Seeing this, Du Kang slowly stepped forward, patted Liu Ling’s shoulder, and called out, “Liu Ling! Wake up at once!”

Strangely enough, following Du Kang’s gentle pat, Liu Ling actually sat right up. Yawning and stretching his arms wide, he bellowed twice, “Good wine! Excellent wine!”

From then on, the reputation of “Du Kang’s fine wine keeps you drunk for three years” spread far and wide, and Liu Ling ascended to become an immortal under Du Kang’s guidance.

This was the tale of Du Kang Brews Wine, Liu Ling Gets Drunk.

After hearing the end, Du Yu felt like he couldn’t get enough of it. He gave the two a wicked grin and said, “Sister Qianqiu, Elder Pu, you know what? I’ve heard so many legends in the Legend Management Bureau, but it’s rare to come across one quite like Liu Ling Gets Drunk. It has an enthralling plot without any glaring logical flaws.”

Dong Qianqiu shook her head helplessly and chided him, “Du Yu, what kind of thing is that to say? Were all those previous legends really so illogical?”

“Not exactly,” Du Yu replied with a smile. “When I enter a legend, the events themselves make perfect sense. It’s just that the records left by later generations aren’t rigorous enough, which always ends up leaving people with a lot of questions.”

Dong Qianqiu and Elder Pu were looking at each other in dismay. She then asked, “Du Yu, why are you suddenly asking about the story of Liu Ling Gets Drunk?”

“I want to go find him, hang out, and make friends with him.”

The two of them didn’t quite understand what he meant.

Pu Songling finally spoke:

“Although Du Kang and Liu Ling are Wine Immortals, they have already been banished for violating heavenly laws. Liu Ling was even cast into the Eighteen Levels of Hell. After all this time, he should have served his sentence and gone to reincarnate.”

Du Yu naturally knew that Liu Ling didn’t reincarnate, but had instead remained on the other side of the Naihe Bridge.

For whatever reason, he had become the Cowherd’s subordinate. Could it be because the Cowherd operated a bar?

Dong Qianqiu nodded, murmuring to herself, “No wonder there are no records of a Wine Immortal in the Immortal Realm right now. Was this immortal rank abolished?”

Elder Pu turned back to Du Yu and added, “So you see, even if you want to make friends with Liu Ling, you probably won’t be able to find him.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Du Yu shook his head. “Because I’m not looking for the present Liu Ling, but the Liu Ling inside the legend.”

Dong Qianqiu furrowed her brows. Staring at Du Yu, she asked, “Are you saying… you want to enter Liu Ling’s legend?”

“Exactly.” Du Yu nodded.

“How can you do that?” Dong Qianqiu looked completely bewildered. “There isn’t a single issue with the legend of Liu Ling Gets Drunk. If you go in just to make friends with him, wouldn’t that mess everything up?”

“It’s a long story,” Du Yu said with a frown. “Liu Ling’s legend is only the first step. This is all to save Lady Houtu.”

“Save Lady Houtu?”

“Sister Qianqiu, is everyone in the Bureau present? I have a very important matter to discuss with you all.”

Seeing Du Yu’s serious expression, Dong Qianqiu realized that things might be grave. She hurried off to gather everyone. By now, aside from A Can and A Kui, all the members of the Legend Management Bureau should be present.

Du Yu brought everyone into the conference room and first introduced the new colleagues.

Array Master Xie Yujiao, the actress Xiao Nian, and Shiranui Asuka, who had decided to stay here long-term.

Right at that moment, Zhi Nv also entered the room. Everyone was already very familiar with Zhi Nv and Shiranui Asuka, so Du Yu didn’t spend much time introducing them.

After a brief opening speech, Du Yu first took out several full Cosmic Bags and tossed them out, only to reveal more Cosmic Bags spilling from within them.

Before long, the conference room table was completely piled high with Cosmic Bags.

“Colleagues, before we officially start the meeting, I will fulfill the promise I made earlier,” Du Yu announced. “Every Cosmic Bag on this table contains twenty thousand Spirit Stones, which is enough to last anyone for several years. This is the revenue from the last Legend Broadcast, and it will be split equally among everyone.”

Hearing this, everyone felt a little disbelief. Many of them had worked for others when they were alive, but how many employees ever actually got to taste the pie their boss promised them?

“Operator…” one staff member spoke up. “During the last Legend Broadcast, you were the one who contributed the most. There’s really no need for you to split it equally with us…”

“No.” Du Yu shook his head. “I said before that the earnings this time were entirely dependent on the efforts of every single person in the Legend Management Bureau. Without all of you, I could have died in that legend at any moment.”