"Ah?!"
Hearing Second Sister's words, Eldest Sister nearly lost her composure.
That was Daughter's Wine.
The wine traditionally buried for a daughter's future wedding, only meant to be opened when she married and brought her husband home. That was why it was called Daughter's Wine. From the moment it was buried, it symbolized a woman's future and devotion.
And now, every jar had been opened.
All of them.
"You... you really..."
Eldest Sister bit her lip, the faint red makeup at the corners of her mouth trembling slightly.
After struggling to suppress the emotions surging in her chest, she reached out and grabbed Second Sister's wrist.
"You truly have done something unbelievable. Since the wine is already opened, then let Great Sage drink as much as he wants today."
"What else could I do, Eldest Sister? If Husband doesn't enjoy himself, we might all end up dead."
Second Sister smiled softly and patted Eldest Sister's hand.
"We sisters were raised together by Mother. We've lived together our entire lives. If we survive, we survive together. If we die, we die together. So what if we share a few jars of wine first?"
As she spoke, she quickly poured another bowl for Axel.
"Husband, don't listen to Eldest Sister trying to scare you. It's only wine. If Husband likes it, this humble woman will bury more jars in the future so you can drink happily whenever you want."
"Our home may be small, but surely we can at least let Husband enjoy himself properly?"
"Come, Husband. Allow this humble woman to offer you a toast."
"Why wouldn't I accept?"
Axel laughed loudly and picked up the bowl.
"I've already spent years fighting and killing. At some point, even I get tired of hearing about bloodshed."
"I kill people so the women and children under my protection don't have to face violence themselves."
"Come, drink."
"And while you're at it, make me a pot of braised pork with vermicelli later. I'm going to irritate that pig afterward, hahaha!"
The courtyard filled with laughter as Axel clinked bowls with Second Sister before drinking deeply.
Although the main dishes had not yet arrived, the pastries on the table paired surprisingly well with the wine, and Axel had no problem continuing to eat while drinking.
Not long afterward, the cheerful voice of a little girl echoed from outside the courtyard.
"Third Sister! Fourth Sister! Fifth Sister! Hurry and look!"
"Uncle gave me this flower crown! He said he picked it from the Hundred Flowers Fairy in Heaven!"
"Look how pretty it is!"
"Hurry and see!"
Sixth Sister excitedly ran toward her sisters, proudly showing off the flower crown resting on her head.
Fourth Sister glanced at it before snorting.
"He told you that and you believed him?"
"Picked from the Hundred Flowers Fairy's head? I've never even seen the Hundred Flowers Fairy."
"And whenever I sneak outside to inspect the barrier sealing us in here, I bring flowers back for you too. You were never this happy then."
"But... but..."
Sixth Sister carefully removed the flower crown and pointed at the flowers woven into it.
"There are flowers here I've never seen before."
"Fourth Sister, look. Some are the same flowers you usually bring me, but there are many from outside the mountain too."
"They're all really beautiful."
As she spoke, Sixth Sister suddenly shoved the flower crown into Fourth Sister's hands and grabbed her wrist.
"Fourth Sister, you always talk about wanting to see the outside world."
"These flowers came from outside."
"Don't stay angry at Uncle anymore. Aren't these the flowers you always wanted to see?"
Fourth Sister froze.
Her lips pressed together slightly before she reluctantly lowered her gaze toward the flower crown.
After several seconds, she finally examined it carefully.
Then, with visible reluctance, she returned it to Sixth Sister.
"It is beautiful."
Her voice softened slightly as she adjusted Sixth Sister's hair.
What she failed to notice was the subtle movement of her own feet, her left toe unconsciously pressing against her right foot.
Nearby, Third Sister leaned closer while hiding half her face behind a round fan. She gently sniffed the flowers atop Sixth Sister's head before whispering softly:
"If Husband was telling the truth, then this really came from the celestial maidens of Heaven?"
"Fourth Sister, wouldn't we look beautiful wearing flower crowns like this too?"
"Hmph."
Fourth Sister snorted heavily.
"Flower crowns belong on fairies."
"We're demons."
"Demons should be wearing skulls instead."
"Sixth Sister is different. After all, she once served as the mother of the Spiderlings and was connected to Heavenly Marshal Tian Peng."
"She's the one who resembles a true fairy."
"As for us, we're just filthy monsters."
"Otherwise, why would he only give the flower crown to Sixth Sister?"
"He clearly knows we're unworthy of it."
As she spoke, Fourth Sister slowly lowered her gaze toward her feet.
Looking at the dark nail polish decorating her toes, she suddenly wished her skirt were longer, long enough to hide them completely.
Black suited monsters like her.
Dark colors always had.
That was simply fate.
While Fourth Sister was lost in thought, the four sisters finally arrived at the courtyard.
The servants immediately bowed respectfully as the sisters entered.
The moment Fourth Sister stepped inside, she saw Eldest Sister and Second Sister sitting beside Axel while attentively serving him wine.
The words she originally wanted to say instantly disappeared.
Third Sister, meanwhile, quietly led the others forward before each of them took a seat beside the older sisters.
The moment they sat down, Second Sister happily poured wine for all of them.
Third Sister accepted the cup absentmindedly while secretly glancing at Axel.
At that moment, Axel happened to pick up another pastry.
"These pastries are yours, right, Third Sister?"
"They taste great. You clearly put a lot of effort into them."
Third Sister froze.
Her cheeks immediately turned bright red as warmth filled her chest.
"This humble woman made them personally. Is Husband dissatisfied with anything?"
"Haha, what kind of question is that?"
Axel laughed.
"They're delicious."
"Come, let me toast all of you sisters. Thanks for the hospitality today."
"Hmph."
Fourth Sister picked up her wine cup unhappily and drank it in one go.
After setting the cup down, she spoke coldly:
"Even your toast lacks sincerity."
"You thanked Third Sister specifically, yet used one cup to toast all of us together."
"I suppose mountain demons like us really are unworthy of Great Sage's attention."
"What?"
Axel looked at her with amusement.
"Are you Fourth Sister or Lois Lane? Why are you acting so sarcastic?"
Fourth Sister immediately turned her head away.
"And who is Lois Lane?"
"But considering the kind of man Great Sage is, you probably have countless women around you already."
"If there's a Lois Lane, there's probably another one too."
Axel burst out laughing.
"So you actually want me to treat you like one of my women?"
"What nonsense are you talking about?!"
Fourth Sister immediately turned back around, glaring at him.
"Alright, alright, stop arguing."
Second Sister hurriedly interrupted before refilling both their cups.
"Husband, if Fourth Sister wants a proper toast, then just drink with her alone."
Axel picked up his bowl and casually held it toward Fourth Sister.
Before he could even say anything, Fourth Sister quickly raised her cup and lightly clinked it against his bowl before elegantly drinking everything.
While drinking, her eyes remained fixed stubbornly on Axel.
Seeing that look, Axel simply smirked before emptying his own bowl as well.
Second Sister suddenly tugged Fourth Sister's sleeve anxiously.
"Fourth Sister, don't drink so quickly."
"You haven't even properly tasted it yet."
"This is your own Daughter's Wine."
"And there was only one jar left from two hundred years ago."
"You should savor it more carefully."
"Pfft!"
Fourth Sister immediately choked.
Wine sprayed across half the table as her eyes widened in complete disbelief.
She stared blankly at Second Sister.
"What did you just say?"
"What kind of wine is this?"
"My Daughter's Wine?!"
"Yes."
Second Sister suddenly revealed a mischievous smile, clearly enjoying herself.
"Husband likes Daughter's Wine, so I dug out mine for him first."
"But then I thought one jar wouldn't be enough for Husband."
"So naturally, I dug out everyone else's too."
Fourth Sister's face instantly flushed red.
"I'm going to kill you!!!"
===
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