I am Master Maoshan

Chapter 2196: Get drunk and then rest

"It's up to you. I don't care." Liu Jun waved his hand and left the temple directly.

Maybe he is a cold-blooded and direct person. In his opinion, this person wants to kill him. No matter how good their relationship was before, you don't care about the old friendship. Do you still expect me to repay you with kindness? Not dismembering you is a mercy.

After Liu Jun left, Che Lei hesitated for a moment and took out a gold order from his bosom, "You can go, but don't stay too long. In addition." Che Lei hesitated for a moment, "Sima Yan proposed a condition - you must bring a pot of 'Peach Blossom Wine' with you."

Chu Liuying's pupils shrank suddenly. Peach Blossom Wine was their favorite wine when they were in the academy. They would drink this wine to celebrate every time they passed the imperial examination. He smiled bitterly and shook his head: "It's good to act before dying. I will personally deliver it to him."

At midnight, in the death row cell at the deepest part of the prison, Sima Yan sat against the wall. Moonlight shone in from a small window high up, illuminating half of his face. His face, once as gentle as jade, was now so thin that his cheekbones were prominent, but his eyes were still as bright as stars.

The sound of the iron door opening made him look up slightly. When he saw Chu Liuying standing at the door holding a wine jug, Sima Yan's mouth pulled into an expression that seemed to be crying and laughing: "You are here as expected."

Chu Liuying put the wine pot on the ground and sat down in front of Sima Yan: "Why?"

Sima Yan did not answer immediately. He slowly crawled over, picked up the wine pot with trembling hands and took a deep sniff, revealing an intoxicated expression: "It still tastes like it did back then." After tilting his head back and taking a big gulp, he slowly said: "Brother Chu, do you still remember that I said I had a sister? I can't find her no matter how hard I try."

Chu Liuying frowned and tried to recall the past. He did remember that Sima Yan had a lively and lovely sister, whose bright eyes seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, but unfortunately, she was lost.

He clearly remembered that Sima Yan was almost going crazy at that time. He had been trying his best to find his sister over the years. His persistence and determination were moving.

However, at this moment, here, in this situation, when this matter was suddenly brought up, Chu Liuying couldn't help but feel a little confused, wondering what Sima Yan was trying to do.

Sima Yan gently shook the wine glass in his hand, and the wine sparkled with an alluring luster. He drank the contents of the glass again, and his voice became a little deeper: "I said, as long as I can find my sister, I am willing to pay any price."

These words, like a vow that welled up from the bottom of my heart, were filled with endless determination and grandeur.

Chu Liuying heard this, a complicated light flashed in his eyes, and he asked tentatively: "Are you saying that the people from the Temple of the Lord found your sister and used this as a threat to force you to work for them?"

While speaking, he tried his best to remain calm and objective, trying to capture more information from the other party's reaction.

Sima Yan nodded slightly, with a bitter smile on his face: "About the same."

These few words were brief and heavy, as if they carried all his helplessness and pain. He raised his glass again, as if he wanted to use alcohol to numb his nerves and temporarily escape from this cruel reality.

Chu Liuying was silent for a moment, feeling mixed emotions. He knew very well that Sima Yan's experience was no accident, but a victim of this complex power struggle.

"I will tell His Majesty about this. Although His Majesty may not reinstate you, he may show leniency and spare your life because of your extenuating circumstances." Chu Liuying sighed and said slowly.

When Chu Liuying said this, his tone was a little uncertain and helpless. He understood that the struggle for power was full of complexity and cruelty, and any decision could trigger a chain reaction and change the fate of countless people.

But he still tried his best to fight for a chance of survival for Sima Yan. Although Sima Yan had harmed him, he felt that Sima Yan was only forced to do so.

"Brother Chu, you are still so kind, but it's really not necessary." Sima Yan's eyes revealed a complex emotion. He shook his head gently, and a bitter smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. "His Majesty said that he would properly arrange for my sister and I don't have to worry about her. As for me, haha, even if His Majesty is kind and spares my life, I can't, let alone dare to live anymore."

As he spoke, Sima Yan raised his head and drank the last sip of wine in his hand. His empty eyes seemed to have seen the end of his own fate. The empty wine jug fell gently to the ground, making a crisp sound that was particularly harsh in the silent cell.

"Why? If His Majesty is really willing to let you live, who in this world can stop you from living?" Chu Liuying frowned, his eyes full of confusion and puzzlement. He couldn't understand why Sima Yan would give up hope of living so resolutely.

"Alas..." Sima Yan sighed, as if a thousand words came to his mind, but he didn't know where to start. He could only shake his head helplessly and divert the topic away from the heavy reality. "Let's not talk about this. Brother Chu, you only brought this bottle of wine? This is not enough for the two of us to drink together."

At this moment, at the entrance of the cell, a burst of hurried and orderly footsteps broke the silence. A ceremonial officer in gorgeous clothes followed dozens of attendants, each of them carrying an exquisite food box or a jar of wine. The word "peach" was printed on the jar, which was the famous peach wine.

"Master Chu, Master Sima, this is what His Majesty specially asked us to deliver. Please enjoy it." The etiquette officer bowed slightly, with a tone of respect and distance. "Got it, thank His Majesty for me." Chu Liuying stood up and looked at the jars of fine wine and exquisite food boxes with a complicated expression.

He understood that these were not just material gifts, but also an attitude of His Majesty towards Sima Yan. However, facing Sima Yan's resolute eyes, he knew that these could not change anything.

Sima Yan looked at the fine wine and delicacies, and a subtle fluctuation flashed in his eyes. But he quickly regained his composure and just smiled faintly, as if all this had nothing to do with him. He knew very well that his fate was already determined, and these external luxuries and beauty could not fill the emptiness and despair in his heart.

After a few seconds of silence, the etiquette officer slowly walked forward and took out a small pot of exquisite wine from his sleeve. There was a faint luster on the pot, as if it contained some extraordinary aura.

“Lord Sima, this pot of wine is the legendary Immortal Drunken Wine. It has a strong aroma and is indeed a good wine, but its strength is extraordinary. Once people below the Half-Step God King realm taste it, they will probably be intoxicated forever and never wake up again.” The etiquette officer’s voice was low and solemn, and every word was clearly heard by everyone present.

Sima Yan was shocked when he heard this, but his expression did not change much. He just bowed his head deeply and bowed deeply, with a hint of gratitude in his voice: "I, your humble servant, thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."

He knew in his heart that this pot of Immortal Drunken Wine was the last grace bestowed upon him by Liu Jun, a gift that would allow him to leave this world comfortably and decently. Sima Yan had no complaints about the fate he was about to face, but he secretly sighed in his heart that he had finally come to this point.

Chu Liuying stood aside, his mouth slightly open, as if he wanted to say something, but he didn't know where to start. He looked at Sima Yan, feeling mixed emotions.

He knew that what Sima Yan had done was enough to exterminate all nine generations of his clan. However, even though Sima Yan only had one sister, His Majesty was still willing to properly settle her and give Sima Yan such a comfortable and decent death. This kindness was undoubtedly a great forgiveness for Sima Yan.

At this moment, the whole scene seemed to freeze, and the air was filled with an indescribable heaviness and sadness. The etiquette officer stood there quietly, waiting for Sima Yan to make the final decision.

Sima Yan silently took the pot of Drunken Immortal Wine, his eyes flashing with complex light, as if he was recalling the past and thinking about the nothingness of the future.

Just when Sima Yan was about to drink the pot of Immortal Drunken Wine which was said to make people forever immersed in dreams and forget worldly troubles, the etiquette officer gently reached out and stopped his action at the right time.

Sima Yan paused slightly, and turned to the sudden blocker with a look of doubt and confusion.

"Master Sima," the etiquette officer's voice was a little distant and reminded, "Your Majesty sympathizes with you and Master Chu's joy of gathering tonight, and specially ordered us to send many delicacies, intending to let the two masters share this rare time together. Do you intend to let Master Chu taste the food on the table alone, while you yourself are immersed in this pot of fine wine?"

The reminder was due to duty, and the alienation was due to the fact that Sima Yan's mistake was so serious that no one wanted to be involved.

Sima Yan was stunned at first, then he burst into laughter, as if he understood something. "Haha, you are absolutely right. I was negligent. On a night like this, I should have delicious food and good friends to drink with, so as not to disappoint your majesty."

After saying that, he turned to Chu Liuying, who was sitting beside him and was also attracted by this scene with a glimmer of anticipation in his eyes. He invited him warmly: "Come on, Brother Chu. The moonlight is just right tonight. Why don't we take this opportunity to have a good drink? Let these delicacies and fine wines be the witness of our friendship."

Chu Liuying was also full of heroic spirit when he heard this. He stood up, clasped his hands together, and said with a smile: "Brother Sima is so kind, how can I, Chu Liuying, refuse? Then I will risk my life to accompany you. I will not return until I am drunk tonight, and we will attend this rare feast together!"

After hearing this, Sima Yan laughed even more happily, patted Chu Liuying on the shoulder, and said self-deprecatingly: "I am not a gentleman, but a villain. I am grateful that Brother Chu does not despise me. I will drink first to show my respect!"

After saying this, he raised his glass without hesitation and drank it all in one gulp. His carefree and heroic attitude moved everyone present.

The moonlight was like water, sprinkling on the two people, reflecting their smiles that were brighter because of friendship and wine. That night, the two talked happily, got drunk, and fell asleep with a smile on their faces. This night will become the most unforgettable and beautiful memory in their lives, and also the last memory.

When the first faint ray of sunlight in the morning penetrated the gap in the iron window and shone into the dark cell, Chu Liuying slowly opened his heavy eyelids.

His gaze first fell on that quiet and peaceful face - Sima Yan, his former close friend, was now motionless, with a smile on his face that seemed to indicate liberation and relief.

His gaze then slid to the side, where the Drunken Immortal's winemaking pot lay alone in the corner. The wine in the pot was empty, as if witnessing a silent farewell.

An indescribable sadness suddenly surged in Chu Liuying's heart. He realized that Sima Yan had left this world quietly while he was immersed in his dream, in a resolute and aloof way.