The Celestial Tavern was a beacon of warmth and camaraderie amid the vast expanse of the Infinite Immortal Realms, a place where even the mightiest of beings could find solace in a cup of wine and the company of those who understood the burdens they carried. Tonight, as on many nights, Zui Tian sat at his usual spot, a corner table cloaked in shadows, his wineskin never far from his hand. The tavern was filled with the low murmur of conversation, the clinking of cups, and the soft hum of spiritual energy that permeated the very walls.
Zui was in his usual state—a drunken stupor that seemed to ebb and flow like the tides, his mind drifting between the present and the endless memories of eons past. He spoke in a rambling yet oddly coherent manner, recounting tales of ruin and preservation, of the eternal cycle of chaos and destruction. His words, though seemingly disjointed, held a weight that drew the attention of those around him, like moths to a flame.
Unbeknownst to the other patrons, a new figure had entered the tavern that night—a young man, his presence understated yet radiating a quiet power that marked him as someone of great importance. He was dressed simply, his features unremarkable, yet there was an aura about him that set him apart from the others. This was no ordinary immortal; this was the Immortal Emperor himself, ruler of the Infinite Immortal Realms, disguised in humble garb to escape the suffocating expectations and endless responsibilities that came with his throne.
The Immortal Emperor was weary, his heart heavy with the burdens of his realm. The balance of the cosmos was delicate, and the forces at play were more complex and fierce than ever before. Decisions that once seemed clear now weighed heavily on him, each choice fraught with consequences that could ripple across the realms. He had come to the Celestial Tavern seeking a reprieve, a moment to drown his sorrows and forget, if only for a little while.
As he entered, the Emperor’s gaze was drawn to the figure of Zui Tian, the old drunkard whose tales of ruin and chaos seemed to echo the very struggles that plagued his own heart. Zui’s words, spoken in his drunken haze, resonated with the Emperor in a way he hadn’t expected. Intrigued, he made his way over, slipping into the seat across from Zui without a word.
Zui Tian looked up from his cup, his eyes bloodshot but sharp, as if seeing through the very fabric of the Emperor’s disguise. The moment their eyes met, Zui knew who sat before him. The immense power contained within this seemingly ordinary young man was unmistakable—a force that could only belong to the ruler of the Immortal Realms.
A small, knowing smile tugged at the corners of Zui’s lips. “You’ve come a long way, young Emperor,” he said, his voice slurred yet laced with an ancient wisdom. “What brings you to the tavern tonight? Surely, the Immortal Emperor has more important things to do than listen to an old drunk’s tales.”
The Emperor stiffened slightly, surprised that his disguise had been so easily seen through, but he quickly composed himself. “I came to find some peace,” he replied, his voice measured. “To escape the endless duties of my position, if only for a few hours. Your tales… they speak of things I’ve been grappling with. The balance of the realms, the cycles of creation and destruction. It’s as if you see the same things I do.”
Zui chuckled softly, leaning back in his chair as he took another swig from his wineskin. “I’ve seen it all, Emperor. Over and over again, the same patterns, the same struggles. But it’s not the seeing that matters—it’s what you do with what you see.” He paused, eyeing the Emperor thoughtfully. “What troubles you so?”
The Emperor hesitated, but the weight of his burdens pressed down on him, compelling him to speak. “The realms grow more chaotic by the day,” he confessed, his voice tinged with frustration. “No matter how hard I try to maintain balance, there’s always something—some new threat, some new disaster. I’ve reached heights that most can only dream of, yet it feels like I’m still just grasping at shadows.”
Zui Tian nodded slowly, his expression somber. “The higher you climb, the more you see… and the more you see, the heavier the burden becomes. Power and responsibility—they’re both blessings and curses, especially for someone like you.”
The Emperor sighed, his shoulders slumping as the exhaustion of his endless duties settled over him once more. “It’s never-ending. I’ve tried so hard, yet it feels like I’m only scratching the surface of what’s truly out there.”
Zui Tian studied the young ruler for a long moment, recognizing the deep weariness in his eyes. He had seen it before, in countless others who had risen to great power, only to find that the higher they climbed, the more isolated they became. The Emperor was strong, but he was also human—an immortal, yes, but still subject to the same doubts and fears that plagued all beings.
With a sudden decision, Zui Tian reached into his robes and pulled out his Endless Wine Flask, a simple-looking container that belied the extraordinary nature of the liquid within. The flask was a relic from a time long forgotten, filled with a wine that held the essence of eternity itself—a drink that could elevate even the mightiest of beings to new heights.
Zui poured a small amount into a cup and slid it across the table to the Emperor. “Here,” he said, his voice quiet but firm. “A taste of something beyond the mundane. It won’t solve your problems, but it might give you a glimpse of what lies ahead.”
The Emperor looked at the cup, then back at Zui, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. “What is this?”
Zui’s smile widened, a hint of mischief in his eyes. “Just a sip of something special. Go on, try it. It’s not every day you get to taste wine that transcends time itself.”
Despite his wariness, the Emperor felt a strange pull toward the cup, an inexplicable urge to drink. With a nod of thanks, he lifted the cup to his lips and took a small sip.
The moment the wine touched his tongue, the Emperor’s eyes widened in shock. The liquid was unlike anything he had ever tasted—rich, complex, and infused with a power that defied description. It was as if the essence of the cosmos itself had been distilled into that single drop, and as it flowed through him, he felt his cultivation surge, his understanding of the Dao deepening in ways he had never imagined.
In that instant, the Emperor took a step closer to eternity, his consciousness expanding to encompass realms of knowledge and power that had previously been beyond his reach. It was a sensation that few had ever experienced, a glimpse of the true nature of existence, and it left him breathless.
As the effects of the wine settled over him, the Emperor stared at the cup in awe, realizing just how precious the gift he had been given was. “This… this is incredible,” he whispered, his voice filled with wonder. “I’ve never felt anything like it.”
Zui Tian chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. “A small taste of the endless, Emperor. But be careful—power like that can be both a blessing and a curse. It’s easy to get lost in the pursuit of more.”
The Emperor nodded, still reeling from the experience. But as he looked up, he watched in disbelief as Zui Tian, with a casual air, lifted the flask to his lips and took a long, deep swig of the same wine.
The Emperor’s heart clenched as he watched the disheveled old man—Zui, this enigmatic figure who seemed to waste such a priceless treasure as though it were nothing more than common wine. Each drop of that liquor was worth more than entire realms, yet here was Zui, drinking it like a common drunkard. The thought of such divine nectar being squandered so carelessly was almost painful.
“How… how can you just waste it like that?” the Emperor finally managed to ask, his voice filled with disbelief. “That wine—it’s… it’s beyond anything I’ve ever known!”
Zui Tian lowered the flask, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. He looked at the Emperor with a wry smile, his expression a mix of amusement and something deeper, something sadder. “Waste?” he repeated, shaking his head. “There’s no waste in drinking to forget, Emperor. When you’ve lived as long as I have, when you’ve seen and done all that I have, sometimes the only thing left is to drown it all out.”
The Emperor fell silent, the weight of Zui’s words settling over him. He realized, in that moment, that the man before him was not just a drunkard, not just an immortal with immense power, but someone who carried burdens far greater than any he could imagine. Zui’s casual demeanor, his apparent disregard for the value of the wine, was not a sign of carelessness, but of a soul weary from the endless cycles of existence.
Zui Tian leaned back in his chair, the flask resting in his lap. “Power, Emperor, is not always the gift it seems to be. It comes with a price—a price that grows heavier with each passing year. You’ve tasted a drop of what I live with every day. Remember that, as you continue your journey.”
The Emperor nodded slowly, understanding dawning in his eyes. “Thank you, Zui Tian,” he said softly, his tone sincere. “For the drink, and for the wisdom.”
Zui Tian waved a hand dismissively, though there was a warmth in his smile. “Go on, Emperor. Enjoy the rest of your evening. You’ve earned it.”
With a final nod of gratitude, the Immortal Emperor rose from the table, his heart lighter than it had been in years. The taste of the Endless Wine still lingered on his tongue, a reminder of the vastness of the path that lay ahead of him.
As he left the tavern, Zui Tian watched him go, a quiet satisfaction settling over him. The young Emperor had been given a glimpse of eternity, a taste of the power that lay beyond the reach of most. But more importantly, he had been reminded of the burden that came with such power, a burden that Zui knew all too well.
With a sigh, Zui Tian took another swig from his flask, the warmth of the wine spreading through him once more. The tavern continued to hum with life around him, but for now, Zui was content to sit in his corner, lost in the memories of a past that stretched back to the dawn of time.
The Infinite Immortal Realms would continue to turn, the cycles of creation and destruction would go on, but for tonight, at least, Zui Tian had found a moment of peace. And that, he knew, was enough.