“Hehe. I’m glad I could help.”
Nuya replied, joining Aksai as they surveyed the progress of his residence together.
To the villagers residing at the foot of the Shamrock Peak, as well as those who hailed from various corners of Zenith Ridge, Aksai was regarded as their local lord, akin to a baron.
Nuya, on the other hand, held the status of a queen who governed the entire island.
When these mortals caught sight of their lord alongside Nuya from a distance, they couldn’t help but imagine them as romantic couples in their minds.
“You know, this palace could’ve been way bigger,” she remarked, eyeing the stonemason architecture of Aksai’s house, which resembled more of a fortress than a palace or farmhouse.
Pouring wine into her saucer, she gracefully filled Aksai’s as well.
“It’s fine this way. I like it,” Aksai said, observing his saucer filled with red wine, the reflection of the sky and himself staring back at him. He flashed a smile at his reflection before lifting the saucer.
“Now that I think about it, it does indeed look nice and peaceful here, fellow cultivator Aksai,” Nuya said as she surveyed the surroundings, a bit fascinated by the visual feast.
“Um… would you mind if I named this place?” Nuya asked suddenly as if a sudden inspiration had struck her.
“Haha. What do you have in mind?” Aksai asked in return.
“How about Shamrock Sanctuary?” Nuya asked as she looked at the rest of the Shamrock Peak reaching towards the sky.
“Shamrock Sanctuary,” Aksai muttered under his breath before smiling. “I like it. Let’s call this place Shamrock Sanctuary from now on,” he added, bringing a smile to Nuya’s charming face.
“Hehe. Here’s to our friendship,” Nuya proposed, raising her saucer.
“To our friendship,” Aksai echoed, lightly clinking their saucers together.
They both downed the wine in one go, feeling the potent effects kick in almost immediately.
The Spirit wine that Nuya brought with her was a rare and exquisite vintage, known for its exceptional quality and potent effects. Usually, one could only obtain it from the regular wine barrel auctions held in the neutral state of Haan Di.
The wine’s rich, deep crimson hue shimmered in the light, hinting at the complexity of flavors waiting to be savored.
“This… this wine packs a punch,” Aksai remarked, his expression practically shouting, “I’m impressed,” as he looked at the now-empty wine saucer in his hand.
“Hehe. The wine is called Frostfire Vintage,” Nuya said, meeting Aksai’s gaze.
“I enjoy this wine for its taste. It used to provide me with mild cultivation benefits, but now I drink it purely for leisure,” Nuya explained, presenting the wine bottle to him.
“Here, have some more.”
As Nuya poured the wine into the saucer, a subtle aroma wafted through the air, carrying notes of dark berries, oak, and a hint of floral sweetness. There were also myriad Spirit herbs added to the mix, their flavors blending seamlessly.
“Haha. My pleasure,” Aksai replied, accepting the wine in his saucer. Instead of gulping it down quickly, he savored the second shot of the wine.
Only after experiencing the full range of flavors on his taste buds did he gulp down the wine, once again savoring its richness.
Each sip promised a symphony of flavors, from the initial burst of fruitiness to the lingering warmth of the alcohol as it danced across his palate. It also began to excite the Spirit essence within Aksai’s body.
Crafted with care and precision by skilled artisans, the Spirit wine was not merely a beverage but also an elixir for late-stage Spirit Refiers.
It provided mild benefits for everyone who consumed the wine regularly. It provided enhanced benefits for those with their Spirit Root compatibility with ice and fire elements.
With each sip, the wine offered a glimpse into the mystical world of cultivation, leaving a lasting impression that lingered long after the last drop had been consumed.
“It’s good wine indeed. But give me a few weeks, and I shall have something as good as this wine, if not better,” Aksai remarked as he glanced toward the vineyard in the distance.
“And… um… Give me a few years, and I shall create something that you can put up in the wine auctions of Haan Di,” the Spirit farmer added nonchalantly as if it were the most natural thing for him.
“Oh? Careful, fellow cultivator Aksai. I might hold you to that,” Nuya replied, following Aksai’s gaze. She couldn’t help but admire his confidence.
Seconds turned into minutes.
Aksai and Nuya engaged in conversation on various topics as they enjoyed their wine together.
To the mortal girls watching from afar, they looked like an Immortal couple.
Many girls wished they could take Nuya’s place and be with Aksai, a mix of longing, jealousy, envy, and desire stirring in their hearts.
But then they would shake their heads, calling themselves delusional for entertaining such thoughts.
***
While the two island owners discussed how to manage Emerald Cove effectively, a servant who reported directly to Nuya approached them, maintaining a safe distance to avoid intruding on their privacy.
With a bow, he greeted them without words, remaining in the bowing position.
“What is it?” Nuya asked, turning around suddenly, a hint of annoyance evident at the interruption of her discussion with Aksai.
“Island owner, the Spirit cultivators willing to serve as rental Spirit farmers on Sir Aksai’s Spirit farm have arrived. They request an audience,” the servant reported, keeping his head lowered.
It seemed that Nuya understood Aksai’s needs perfectly and had already arranged for him to hire some low and mid-stage Spirit cultivators as rental Spirit farmers on his field.
Emerald Cove boasted a healthy population of mortals and Spirit cultivators. Upon Nuya’s announcement of the need for a workforce for Aksai’s farm, many applicants had applied eagerly.
Nuya’s underlings had shortlisted some of these applicants before sending them to Shamrock Peak.
Arriving there, they immediately sought Aksai’s audience, hoping to be selected as rental Spirit farmers for his farm.
Among them was a trio of Spirit cultivators whom Aksai knew very well from his past as a rental Spirit farmer on Lakir estate.
These three Spirit cultivators were none other than Jasmine, her father Reman, and her husband Kaamen.
One had to note that Jasmine was the same girl who had chosen Kaamen over Aksai for marriage because of the latter’s poor background at that time.
===
AN: Jasmine, Reman, and Kaamen decide to take refuge on one of the islands of the Dadangar Archipelago in chapter 68.
