Chapter 627: End Up Disappointed After All

With a touch of trepidation, Jiang Fan followed Liuli, arriving at the Demon Emperor’s Hall once more.

Today, not only were the Five Great Demon Kings, Ten Great War Generals, and one hundred War Kings present, but also the Four Prodigies and Eight Stars, who bore the demon race’s mission. A decade of meticulous preparation had led to this day; the honor and disgrace of their race rested upon it.

The hall was filled with a solemn atmosphere. Only Ling Shu’s slender, graceful figure added a touch of freshness to the somber setting.

"My three elder brothers, I spent last night meticulously preparing some spirit wine for you all," she announced. "After drinking this wine, let the four of us brothers and sister cast aside everything else and fight for the honor of the demon race!"

A food box hung from her arm. When opened, it revealed four small bowls and a palm-sized flask. Each bowl contained only a shallow layer of liquid, and then it was empty. The fragrant, fruity aroma of the wine instantly filled the entire hall.

The Demon Kings couldn't help but look over. Devouring Heaven Tiger showed a hint of surprise: "This is brewed from over a dozen kinds of spirit fruits that grow in the northern lands, isn't it? For us demons, living in a land of ice and snow, spirit fruits are rare. That girl Ling Shu truly has a kind heart."

Sea Enchantress also nodded slightly, a look of fondness in her eyes. "There's a slight burnt smell in the wine's aroma; she must be learning to brew for the first time. Regardless of the wine's quality, her intention is truly heartfelt. Later, I'll personally teach her how to brew wine."

The demon generals and war kings mostly looked at Ling Shu with admiration. In terms of strength, Ling Shu was the weakest of the Four Prodigies. But in terms of reputation… who wouldn't like a beautiful, intelligent, gentle, and considerate girl? Even the rough demon race could be charmed by her. The Four Prodigies were no exception.

Hunyuan took the spirit wine offered to him, a warm current welling up in his heart. "With this bowl of wine from Sister Ling Shu, it's worth dying today!"

Ling Shu playfully chided, "Brother Hunyuan, don't talk nonsense! Ling Shu still wants to continue cultivating and progressing with her three elder brothers in the future."

Hunyuan's eyes welled up. He nodded emphatically: "Good! Let's all live, not only to win but to survive!"

Shentu, one of the Four Prodigies standing nearby, took the wine. Staring at the wine in the bowl, he said, "Though the wine is cold, my heart is already warm. It is my fortune, Shentu's fortune, to have met Sister Ling Shu!"

Ling Shu smiled sweetly and, holding the last bowl of wine, approached Search Dragon, the leader of the Four Prodigies. Search Dragon was the strongest among the current young generation of the demon race, without a doubt. His strength was immense; he had sparred with the other three Prodigies countless times and had never been defeated. However, he was a cold person and never showed anyone a pleasant expression. Only when facing Ling Shu did he find himself unable to resist.

Search Dragon looked at the soot on Ling Shu's sleeve, a look of tenderness appearing in his eyes: "You, who are so fond of cleanliness, have soiled your clothes like this. Don't do this again next time."

Ling Shu smiled charmingly: "I won't. Elder Brother Search Dragon is good to me, and I will be good to Elder Brother Search Dragon for my entire life."

Satisfaction welled up in Search Dragon's eyes. He smiled faintly and took the wine bowl.

It was at this moment that Jiang Fan and Liuli arrived together. One was the Demon Emperor's daughter, the other the consort. Their statuses were the most distinguished, apart from the Demon Emperor himself. The Demon Kings, generals, and war kings all saluted Liuli.

Only Ling Shu's eyes lit up as she happily greeted Jiang Fan, "Elder Brother Jiang Fan."

Jiang Fan nodded at her, then seemed to dismiss it. Ling Shu, however, was beaming with joy, a hint of shyness on her delicate cheeks. "Brother, I brewed a little spirit wine last night. It's my first time brewing, so I don't know if it's any good. Could you help me taste it?"

The Demon Emperor's Hall fell silent for a moment. Besides the Four Prodigies, Ling Shu had also prepared spirit wine for Jiang Fan? The Four Prodigies looked at Jiang Fan with even more peculiar expressions. Wait, wasn't this a send-off drink? When the Four Prodigies drank it, it was to fuel their passionate fight. Jiang Fan wasn't participating in the battle, so why was he drinking spirit wine?

Jiang Fan couldn't help but sigh. Ling Shu was very adept at understanding people's psychology. If she had said it was meticulously prepared for Jiang Fan, in public, Jiang Fan would have had to consider others' reactions, and he would likely have refused. But by asking him to help taste it, Jiang Fan found it difficult to refuse. Giving a favor in a way that makes the recipient feel comfortable and warm—this was a true skill.

"Alright, I'll give it a try," Jiang Fan said, nodding.

Ling Shu's eyes lit up with joy, and she opened a second compartment. Inside was a small bowl and a large flask. Compared to the palm-sized, delicate flask from before, it was several times larger. She filled the bowl, and there was still more than half left in the flask. Ling Shu, smiling, held out the bowl to Jiang Fan: "The first batch I brewed yesterday got a little burnt. This is the second batch; it's been improved. Brother, please taste it and tell me if it's good."

Uh-oh— The Four Prodigies stared at the wine in their bowls. They fell into deep thought. Their own bowls had only a shallow layer of wine, while Jiang Fan had a whole, full bowl. Their wine was a burnt, failed batch, while Jiang Fan's was the improved, good batch. No. Who was truly Ling Shu's good brother, with whom she spent day and night? How could years of companionship not compare to a "wild" Elder Brother Jiang Fan?

Hunyuan rolled his eyes in exasperation: "She's truly our good sister!"

Shentu looked at Jiang Fan's wine, then at his own, and said: "The wine is cold. My heart is even colder!"

The smile on Search Dragon's face also faded. "In the end, it was a misplaced trust." He rarely showed concern for others, yet who knew, others cared more about Jiang Fan!

"Brother, drink it," Ling Shu urged, her eyes full of tenderness.

Jiang Fan glanced at the Four Prodigies, who had strange expressions, and worriedly asked: "Are they really alright like this?"

Ling Shu shook her head and smiled sweetly: "It's fine. They'll be fine in a moment."

*Ouch—* The three Prodigies were hurt again.

Search Dragon, with a cold face, downed his wine in one gulp. Shentu also tilted his head back and finished it, saying, "It's so cold!" Hunyuan, after drinking his, smashed the bowl fiercely onto the ground. "Why are you all looking at me?" he roared. "I'll be fine in a moment! Nobody bother me!"

Uh-oh— Jiang Fan, speechless, took Ling Shu's wine and took a sip. Unexpectedly, it was quite good. It was hard to believe Ling Shu was brewing for the first time. "It's excellent; even among humans, this would be considered top-grade wine," Jiang Fan praised. "You have a real talent for brewing. You could even open a tavern and put the Huicui Tower out of business."

Ling Shu's face immediately flushed with shyness, and she said, "Brother, you flatter me. Thank you for the trouble of tasting it, Brother. If you like the remaining wine, please take it all." She held the large remaining gourd of wine out to Jiang Fan. Jiang Fan found it difficult to refuse.

"Alright, thanks," he said. No sooner had he accepted it than a pair of sharp eyes shot over. Naturally, it was his "fiancée," who was carrying his child. Liuli glared at Jiang Fan, fuming inwardly: "You good-for-nothing, you can't even resist a little sugar-coated cannonball?" She then glared at Ling Shu.

Ling Shu felt triumphant inwardly. *I'll be good to Jiang Fan right in front of you! Sooner or later, I'll win Jiang Fan's heart! Then you'll be crying.*

It was at this moment that a terrifying pressure descended. Everyone's hearts trembled. The Demon Emperor had arrived! As the pressure vanished, the majestic figure of the Demon Emperor appeared as if out of thin air on the previously empty throne. His gaze swept over the hall, then settled on Jiang Fan.

He said indifferently: "Come here."