Damn this wastrel, who on earth raised him like this?
That was the very last jar of "Drunken Spring Breeze" in existence, only sixteen years old, and he just opened it up and drank it straight away?!
That was even worse than burning a qin or boiling a crane, utter waste!
What? It was my elder sister who gave it to him...
Oh, never mind then.
Ning Songjun took a deep breath and forcibly suppressed the urge to give this nephew of his a sound beating.
At least the boy still knew how to show some filial respect to his uncle.
That was already far better than the useless brat he'd been ten-some years ago.
Gu Fangchen blinked innocently.
"Uncle, what's wrong?"
"Oh, could it be that you have a touch of cleanliness fetish and dislike that I've already drunk from it?"
He patted his chest with a confident grin.
"Don't worry. I didn't drink straight from the jar, I poured myself a cup first."
Well, thank you ever so much.
Ning Songjun's mouth twitched. He sighed helplessly and rubbed his forehead.
"Forget it, it's the thought that counts."
Since the wine had already been opened, even if it were sealed again, its flavor would never be the same.
After a few decades, the result certainly wouldn't be another "Drunken Spring Breeze."
Although a sixteen-year vintage wasn't yet at its peak of fragrance, it was still far better than wasting it completely.
Besides, this boy only wanted a cultivation method or an artifact, that much, as his uncle, could he really not give him?
Ning Songjun didn't dwell on it further. He weighed the jar in his hand, and in the next instant, his figure blurred.
With one hand gripping the back of Gu Fangchen's collar, they reappeared atop the highest peak of the Sword Pavilion, where Ning Songjun usually practiced his swordsmanship.
With a wave of his hand, a low table and two cushions appeared on the edge of the cliff. He tilted his chin slightly at Gu Fangchen in signal.
Then he sat down gracefully on the left, robe hem fluttering, jar in hand. With another flick of his fingers, two transparent white jade cups materialized.
Gu Fangchen picked one up, rolling it between his fingers as he inspected it thoughtfully.
"This cup... it looks like one of those tributes from the Western Regions, from Vatuma a few years back. His Majesty awarded them to the Northern Garrison Prince's residence, and then Mother passed them on to the Sword Pavilion, didn't she?"
He grinned and patted Ning Songjun's shoulder without the slightest formality.
"Uncle, you really know how to enjoy life."
Then his expression shifted into a faint frown.
"But, this cup, you usually drink from it yourself, don't you? You don't use it to serve others?"
"I've got a little cleanliness fetish myself, I hope you don't mind."
He flashed a wide grin at Ning Songjun.
Ning Songjun: "..."
He let out a long sigh. Seeing the faint flush already rising on his nephew's handsome face, he shook his head and said with mild exasperation,
"I drank from mine. Yours hasn't been used."
Gu Fangchen chuckled softly.
He wasn't trying to irritate Ning Songjun, just deliberately bantering, testing the waters. Getting close to Ning Songjun required finesse.
The Sword Saint might live and breathe for the way of the sword, but family was his one weakness, especially when it came to Ning Caiyong.
As for Gu Youren and Gu Lianqian, though their relations with him were cordial, they weren't particularly close. As a maternal relative, Ning Songjun couldn't very well visit the Northern Garrison Prince's residence often.
Under Gu Yuye's deliberate arrangements, those two sisters naturally grew closer to him instead.
It was Gu Fangchen who interacted most frequently with Ning Songjun.
Only, with Gu Fangchen's former temperament, arrogant and unruly outwardly, defiant and insolent inwardly, he'd never acted properly.
Whenever Ning Songjun had tried to discipline him, Gu Fangchen would sneer first, throw in a few barbs about being a useless failure, and then sulk away.
There had never been any genuine familial warmth between them.
Their relationship had long been stiff and strained.
But deep down, Ning Songjun had always wanted to strengthen his ties with his sister's children.
He had neither wife nor offspring; to him, his elder sister's children were no different from his own.
They weren't outsiders.
So, by bringing up Ning Caiyong, Gu Fangchen first loosened his uncle's guard. Then, by playing the part of a slightly tipsy wastrel and cracking light jokes, he managed to bridge that old distance...
While also laying the groundwork for some well-timed physical closeness later on.
Ning Songjun uncorked the jar of "Drunken Spring Breeze" and took a deep sniff. His eyes brightened at once.
"It's been twenty years since I last drank this wine..."
"I never thought I'd taste something so fine again!"
He didn't employ any spiritual techniques, just poured the wine naturally into the cups, one for each of them.
He pushed one cup toward Gu Fangchen.
Even though Gu Fangchen wasn't fond of drinking, the rich and intoxicating fragrance filled his senses instantly.
If one were to describe the aroma, there was no better comparison than "spring breeze."
Gentle and mellow, like a warm wind brushing the face, as if endless spring colors danced before the eyes, softly caressing every inch of the skin, utterly intoxicating.
Gu Fangchen had already drunk a cup earlier and still felt slightly tipsy. Now, just inhaling this fragrance made his head swim faintly again.
He clicked his tongue inwardly.
No wonder this was the wine capable of getting the Sword Saint drunk, truly potent stuff.
Even with his Sixth-Grade martial cultivation, he felt almost like he might collapse after one more cup.
Ning Songjun narrowed his eyes, drained his own cup in one go, and then sat upright, expression solemn.
"Last night, your mother came to speak with you. Today, I'll do the same."
Gu Fangchen took a deep breath and looked toward the distant Dragon Hollow Lake.
"What does Uncle wish to talk about?"
Ning Songjun said gravely,
"For a cultivator, there are only three things that determine one's foundation, cultivation, heart, and skill."
"If we were to compare to a human body, cultivation would be the torso, the heart would be the mind, and skill would be the limbs."
"Your torso is already strong and steady, your depth of mind has even taken me by surprise..."
He set down his cup.
"But your skill, I can't sense even a trace of it."
"That battle in the stone forest last time, you never once intended to fight me head-on, did you? Your first thought was how to provoke me and then use your trickery to gain an advantage."
Gu Fangchen muttered inwardly.
How was I supposed to fight head-on? I was only Sixth Grade, and you had the Sword Saint's power on top of your Fifth Grade cultivation, am I insane?
But clearly, that wasn't the point Ning Songjun wanted to discuss.
"I'll test you."
"Martial Courage, do you know why the Sixth Grade is called the Martial Courage Realm?"
Gu Fangchen thought for a moment, then said,
"Martial courage, first comes martial power, then courage. As the sages said: 'When granaries are full, one knows propriety; when clothes and food are sufficient, one knows honor and shame.' A martial artist, having full confidence in his own strength, naturally gives rise to boundless courage and fearlessness, striking without hesitation against any foe."
Ning Songjun: "..."
He had originally meant to stump his nephew with the question, thinking the boy would spout some superficial nonsense about aura or momentum.
But instead...
The answer was precise, so precise that it seemed even more insightful than his own understanding!