57: This Time, I’ll Give You CreditIt seem

ed that afraid of Shen Hao backing out, Meng Xuanji immediately said, "Deal."

On the side, Song Yongci, with a worried expression, looked at Shen Hao and said, "Master, please come with us. It's dangerous here, and I'm worried."

Shen Hao smiled, feeling a bit flattered by her concern. He reached out to gently stroke her cheek and gave her a reassuring look. "Don't worry, I have a plan. You and Ji Dongge just follow my instructions. No one in this world can kill me."

Upon hearing this, both Meng Xuanji and the white cat in Ji Dongge's arms exchanged a glance. Their eyes flickered with electric sparks.

The young master really is a bit too arrogant.

But Song Yongci, feeling concerned, could only agree. She nodded obediently, remaining silent.

Shen Hao liked this obedient side of Song Yongci. A good woman is one who listens.

Ji Dongge, sitting beside them, hesitated for a moment before speaking softly, "Master, be careful. We'll wait for you in the capital."

Her face, still flushed like the red glow of dusk, looked exceptionally charming.

Shen Hao thought to himself, "Women are so predictable; once their hearts are set, they just follow without hesitation. No need to cultivate feelings."

Indeed, as the famous writer Zhang Ailing once said, understanding women is key.

"Don't worry," Shen Hao said confidently. "Even if the Danyang Kingdom falls, I'll remain carefree and safe."

"We trust you, Master."

Ji Dongge and Song Yongci said in unison.

At this moment, the white tiger in Ji Dongge's arms covered its ears with its paws, looking completely helpless.

It was seething with frustration.

With Shen Hao's cultivation, it was certain he hadn't discovered its true identity as a demon. But with Meng Xuanji around, the possibility of its identity being exposed was much higher.

After all, Meng Xuanji was a practitioner in the Spirit Pill realm, a top-tier cultivator among demons as well.

Back then, Meng Xuanji was a mere novice. Now, the tiger felt like it was no longer a match for her.

'Looks like I'll need to be even more cautious. Damn it, Shen Hao, you'll learn how sharp my claws really are sooner or later.'

The tiger was very unhappy, but it couldn't show its displeasure, not daring to make a sound.

Meng Xuanji, watching the scene, furrowed her brows. She disliked the constant flirtation and lack of focus on cultivation.

Her gaze then turned to Shen Hao, as if waiting for him to say something.

Shen Hao, sensing her impatience, couldn't help but smile. He figured Meng Xuanji was probably waiting for him to offer more alcohol.

After all, with two months to go, alcohol would be essential for her.

But of course, Shen Hao wasn't going to make it easy. He wanted to see when she would finally ask for it.

As expected, Meng Xuanji couldn't wait any longer and grumbled, "Shen Hao, I've protected your women for two months, and you haven't even said anything."

Shen Hao feigned confusion, then acted as if he suddenly realized something.

"Oh, how forgetful of me! I didn't even say thank you."

"Thank you, Meng Xuanji."

Meng Xuanji was fuming with anger.

"I'm talking about the wine! You can't just say 'thank you,' that's it?"

Shen Hao, pretending to be casual, replied, "Oh, right. You should've told me earlier! Why beat around the bush? You want wine? It's just a few bottles. No problem, I'll get it for you when we stop at the next town."

"Fine. Deal." Meng Xuanji said, though she was still angry.

Shen Hao, seeing her expression, chuckled inwardly. He knew that she was a heavy drinker and that once she had the wine, she'd be content.

But he didn't want to make it too easy for her. It was important to maintain some mystery and distance.

The carriage continued its journey, and by evening, they arrived at a nearby town. After settling into a guesthouse, Shen Hao took the opportunity to return to his modern world.

Initially, he planned to buy some expensive, high-quality wine—around 40 yuan per bottle. But then he thought, wouldn't that be too easy? Meng Xuanji might think the wine was too simple to acquire.

He decided to buy something cheaper, just to see her reaction. A little trickery wouldn't hurt, after all.

He went to a small shop selling loose liquor and asked, "How much for the loose alcohol?"

"10 yuan per jin (a Chinese weight unit)."

"What's the alcohol content?"

"30-40%, 40-60%, take your pick."

Shen Hao, raising an eyebrow, remarked, "It's probably made with food-grade alcohol, right?"

The shopkeeper nervously laughed and replied, "No, it's pure grain liquor—three jin of grain for one jin of alcohol, made with care."

Shen Hao pressed on, "You think I'm stupid? I'm not paying that much. Can't you lower the price?"

The shopkeeper, seeing Shen Hao was serious, finally relented. "Alright, how about 10 yuan for one jin? If you buy five jin, I'll throw in an extra jin."

Shen Hao nodded, "Alright, I'll take the 60% alcohol. Ten jin, and you can throw in an extra ten jin jar."

"Sure, no problem."

After a few minutes, the shopkeeper handed over the alcohol, packed in large jars.

"Here you go, 100 yuan. This big jar is ten jin, and the smaller one is two jin, totaling twelve jin. Please check."

Shen Hao took the alcohol, thinking to himself that the price was reasonable and the quality was more than enough for Meng Xuanji's needs.

When he returned to the guesthouse, he couldn't help but notice that Meng Xuanji's eyes narrowed when she saw the jars of liquor. She seemed to be skeptical at first.

However, when Shen Hao opened the jar and poured a glass for her, the strong, spicy aroma of the alcohol filled the room. Meng Xuanji's eyes lit up, and she eagerly took a sip.

The heat hit her immediately, even stronger than the previous batch. The burn was more intense, but she felt warmth spread through her body, much to her delight.

"This time, this wine is even more effective than last time," she thought.

Although the taste was a bit harsher, the effect was unmistakable. The alcohol she drank from this world had no effect on her, but Shen Hao's drink was potent enough to suppress the cold in her body.

She couldn't help but feel touched. Shen Hao had put in some thought, after all.

"Hmph," she snorted softly, her eyes softening as she glanced at him. "This time, I'll give you credit."