Peerless Martial Expert in the City
Chapter 674 - 670: Expert Makes a Move

Chapter 674: Chapter 670: Expert Makes a Move

(Another new day has begun, let’s get a ticket, woo-hoo...)

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Chapter 670 When the Connoisseur Takes Action

"Thud!"

The guests, who had just been looking up to Xiao Yi with great respect, nearly fell to the ground with a thud when they saw Xiao Yi’s greedy appearance and heard his words.

Alas... this kid, though he had a good memory and must have been good at his studies, was still just a country bumpkin with no taste or knowledge. He didn’t know what true enjoyment or taste was, despite having just learned so much about the culture and history of wine!

To think he wanted to use Lafite to quench his thirst—did he think it was just mineral water?

Such exquisite Lafite, not something you come across every day... and yet this clueless brat was about to ruin it...

Some true wine lovers had already started to grieve for that bottle of Lafite; they looked at Xiao Yi with eyes so full of fury they could have slaughtered this spoil-sport right then and there. Letting such a person drink this kind of wine was a complete waste!

But there was nothing they could do, for it was Xiao Yi who had ultimately won in the end.

Li Zheng Yi’s face grew even uglier, his heart feeling as if someone had ruthlessly stabbed it repeatedly. Today’s events had left him feeling incredibly frustrated; this time, it was fair to say he had lost both his wife and his soldiers!

Not only did he give Xiao Yi a chance to showcase himself, but he also had to let him drink that treasured bottle of wine from his collection, something he held very dear. Just thinking about it made him feel a sharp pain, and even the corners of his eyes began to twitch uncontrollably.

He really wanted to say that Xiao Yi’s victory didn’t count and refuse to serve him the wine, or maybe come up with some other excuse, but faced with all the guests and Zhao Yuhua beside him, Li Zheng Yi found his usually smooth-talking self at a loss for words.

Drink it then, consider this cup of wine charity for a dog! Just wait till you get yours—I’ll drink you under the table and show you the true meaning of death!

It took a while for Li Zheng Yi to somewhat calm his emotions. He glared at Xiao Yi harshly, then reluctantly forced a faint smile, and signaled to the expressionless man beside him to open the wine. He knew that the first phase of his A-plan had ended in complete failure.

As Li Zheng Yi’s glance reached him, the expressionless man slowly produced a pristine white cloth and laid it on the table, then picked up the Lafite from the ice bucket. Holding it in both hands, he gently turned it, checking the cap from time to time.

The man’s focused demeanor earned the admiration of everyone present; they all knew he was Li Zheng Yi’s servant and bodyguard, but they had not expected such a servant to be so knowledgeable about red wine.

"This person truly understands wine, so professional!"

Xiao Yi hadn’t expected the expressionless man to be such a wine connoisseur either and couldn’t help but express his admiration.

You understand wine too?

Saying such all-purpose remarks, trying to show that you actually get it?

Don’t you know that ’Those who know do not speak; those who speak do not know?’ The best way to hide your ignorance is to keep silent. The more you talk, the more you prove your ignorance.

The guests, who had been holding their breath and silently watching the bodyguard’s wine-opening process, couldn’t help but look at Xiao Yi upon hearing his words of praise, their eyes revealing a mix of disdain, pity, and sympathy.

Li Zheng Yi let out a cold laugh, looking at Xiao Yi with contempt and disdain.

Feeling the scorn from everyone, Xiao Yi said nothing, merely smiled and continued to watch the butler pour the wine.

"Young Master Xiao just displayed an impressive memory; I am truly awe-struck. For today’s wine, why don’t we let Young Master Xiao lead the toast, how about it?"

Finally, after some preparation, the expressionless man began pouring wine into the six glasses on the table. Watching the man carefully pouring, a sudden spark of inspiration flashed through Li Zheng Yi’s mind, and he looked at Xiao Yi with a hint of a smile.

"Since Young Master Li is so polite, then I won’t stand on ceremony."

Xiao Yi was initially stunned for a moment, not understanding why Li Zheng Yi would bash his brains out and give him the first glass of wine to drink. Wasn’t he supposed to wish that Xiao Yi had nothing to drink, to hate him to the bone? When he saw that trace of a cold smile at the corner of Li Zheng Yi’s eye, he suddenly realized, a faint cold smile also formed on his lips. With a laugh on his face, he walked to the table without any hesitation.

All eyes followed Xiao Yi as he strode up with a commanding presence, thinking back to how he complained of thirst just moments ago, everyone couldn’t help but mourn silently for that glass of Lafite—today, it was utterly wasted!

They even envisioned Xiao Yi, like a newly-rich bumpkin, reaching for the glass and gulping down the wine in large swallows, complaining afterwards that Li Zheng Yi’s bodyguard was too stingy in not filling his glass to the brim, giving too little to quench his thirst in one gulp.

They only prayed that he wouldn’t suggest adding something like Sprite to the wine.

Some even closed their eyes, unable to bear the sight of such a delicate, full-bodied red wine being squandered by Xiao Yi.

For true wine connoisseurs like Zhao Gao, who cherished wine as their life but were unfortunately eliminated, their hearts ached, and their mouths twitched uncontrollably.

Li Zheng Yi’s mouth curved with a mocking smile as he watched Xiao Yi, waiting for him to make a fool of himself.

However, that mocking smile on his lips soon froze.

As Xiao Yi approached the table, he extended his hand gently to pick up the glass, his movements incredibly graceful, as if picking a flower, all of his actions fluid and natural, as though they were honed through endless practice. In that moment as he reached out his hand, his entire aura transformed, as if he suddenly turned into a noble scion born of high standing, exuding the unique air of nobility; even the casual clothes on his body couldn’t conceal his sharpness and demeanor.

An expert is known by their first move.

Li Zheng Yi was certainly an expert. Due to his special background, he had been strict with himself from a young age, determined to become the best man—or at least one of the best. He held rigorous standards for all kinds of skills, and for his beloved wine, he had put in considerable effort.

When it came to the craft of red wine, he was an authority, mastering all the techniques such as observing, smelling, swirling, tasting, and savoring that could even stand scrutiny among world-renowned connoisseurs. He knew and understood many techniques, such as the correct way to hold a wine glass, which he had practiced diligently and with confidence, much to his own satisfaction.

Many who saw him hold a glass praised his elegance, and several of his admirers attempted to imitate his style. Even in this hall, there were those who secretly envied and copied his classy way of holding the glass.

With just a glance, he could see that Xiao Yi’s two-finger gesture, reminiscent of Buddha’s flower-adornment hand gesture, was absolutely top-tier!

Even he himself might not be able to hold the glass so effortlessly and smoothly!

Everyone else was stunned, too!

Some might not have Li Zheng Yi’s keen insight and couldn’t understand the intricacies and tricks, but they could see that Xiao Yi, who was once just a country bumpkin, suddenly seemed transformed... The way he held his glass was truly elegant and pleasing to the eye, even seemingly more graceful than Li Zheng Yi’s usual posture!

No one could understand how such a country bumpkin became so suddenly refined...

Yet, while everyone’s thoughts were yet to recover from the astonishment of Xiao Yi’s impressive fingerwork, he made his move again. To be exact, his two fingers did, with a light and elegant tilt of the glass. The natural and graceful swirling of the wine was soothing to the eyes.

After swirling the glass for a moment, Xiao Yi smiled slightly, his nostrils seemingly greedily absorbing the scent of the wine. Then, with a flick of his fingers, the glass tipped in his fingertips, astonishingly flipping over completely. A few droplets of bright red liquid leapt from the glass and then fell back into it as the glass returned to its upright position, not a single drop spilling out.

Upon the completion of Xiao Yi’s final movement, the entire banquet hall fell into complete silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Everyone held their breath, mouths agape, staring at the transformed Xiao Yi as the droplets of red wine splashed back into the glass, emitting a crisp plop.

In their eyes, there was a uniform expression of shock and disbelief—none could accept that the man before them could be the same country rube they considered unworthy of the Lafite, who they thought would ruin the wine by his mere touch.

But no matter how much they refused to believe, what was before their eyes was undeniably real!

Xiao Yi closed his eyes and sniffed lightly, sighing softly, "Indeed, it is a fine wine, but it’s a pity about the glass. What a waste, truly a waste."

No one made scornful remarks about Xiao Yi anymore, nor did anyone look down on him with contempt!

In this hall, who else had the right to look down on the man before them? (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to come to QiDian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.)