Chapter 186: Mead Princess

Hunter Rain felt that she might not live much longer.

Every day, she woke up in a drunken stupor and fell asleep dazed, increasingly unable to distinguish between day and night.

She had been living in a drunken dream for nearly half a year.

Tasting wine was something only the winemaker could do; no one else could take their place.

This had never been a problem in the past.

Because the production of mead had always been low.

To brew mead, honey had to be diluted with water, then cooked at high temperatures before it could be fermented. The entire process required precise control, with each step consuming a lot of time and energy.

Honey had always been an expensive food, and there was little available for making mead.

Brewing mead was a delicate task, requiring both money and patience.

But ever since Hunter Rain arrived at the fortress, this situation had changed completely.

After tasting the mead she made, the dwarves reached a consensus: as long as she was willing to stay in the fortress and brew for them, they would provide enough honey—whatever amount she needed.

Everything was for the sake of brewing even better wine!

They even gave Hunter Rain a nickname, calling her “Mead Princess.”

The Furnace Clan passed down stories that their ancestors had been friends with many princesses. These princesses were either of noble status or had experienced extraordinary adventures, but all were beautiful and charming ladies.

Hunter Rain felt this title didn’t suit her at all.

She was no noble lady, just a huntress who had grown up climbing mountains and braving the seas, and she was already in her thirties, no longer young.

Hunter Rain knew her appearance was nothing special; how could an adventurer, weathered by sun and rain, maintain a fair and delicate complexion?

But she didn’t care about that.

She had a pair of hands covered in fine scars, nimble and strong, capable of climbing trees, drawing a bow and shooting arrows, grasping rocks and birds on cliffs, and skillfully collecting honey.

She had a pair of tireless legs, able to run continuously like a rabbit and accurately kick the vital points of villains.

She had the face of an adventurer, with dirt and sweat as her best battle decorations.

Hunter Rain had been cornered by a pride of lions at the mouth of a cave and chased by Cannibal Crabs in the water. She had been ambushed by adventurers and encountered unscrupulous merchants… She was not afraid at all.

Adventurers must learn to live with a smile.

But now, she was a little scared.

For the first time, Hunter Rain truly felt that she might die drunk in the dwarven fortress. If she were to die like this, it would be a headache-inducing repeat of her great-grandfather’s old path.

She rubbed her forehead with her hand, drank a large glass of water, her head somewhat muddled, her body swaying.

“Are you okay?” A dwarf supported her.

“I’m fine… just a bit of a headache, some honey will do.”

Hunter Rain took down a jar from the densely packed wall, scooped a spoonful of honey into the water, stirred, and then tilted her head back to drink.

Honey water could sober one up, a little discovery of the Hunter Rain family.

She sobered up a bit, only then noticing the dwarf standing in front of her had no beard—it was the female dwarf Nuée Ardente, also her roommate, living in the same room as her.

“You gave me quite a scare yesterday.”

Nuée Ardente chuckled, revealing a broad set of gums: “I helped you back, and there you were, singing and dancing, saying you wanted to brew rose wine with the roses from the Valley of Gods.”

“What was that song you sang?”

Imitating Hunter Rain’s staggering steps, Nuée Ardente sang off-key: “Rose, rose~ I love you~”

Hunter Rain’s ears turned red, and she quickly gestured for her to stop: “Enough, enough!”

Nuée Ardente curiously asked her: “Does the Valley of Gods in the Eastern Continent really have giant white roses? There are straits and mountains, and many Transcendent creatures. The next place we Furnace Wonders plan to go is there.”

“Yes.”

Hunter Rain touched her hot ears: “Mr. Salt Long practiced there, repeatedly contending with the powerful Strangleweed, a very tough creature… That’s where I saw the white roses.”

“They are very large, taller and more conspicuous than the surrounding pine trees, surrounded by fresh floral scents, and they shoot out spikes, both beautiful and dangerous. Only the Green Phoenix Butterfly and the Stink Phoenix Butterfly can approach without being attacked.”

Nuée Ardente listened with longing: “If you use those roses to brew wine, it must be very fragrant, right?”

“…”

Hunter Rain helplessly replied: “At that time, Mr. Salt Long couldn’t even get close; the rose’s thorns were too fierce. Maybe if we could get some withered petals, there might be a way.”

“We’ll find the petals, can you brew rose wine?”

“If we really can get them, I think I can.”

Seeing that Nuée Ardente was serious, Hunter Rain also earnestly promised.

“Then it’s a deal!”

They bumped fists and then spread their fingers.

This was a custom of the Furnace Clan when making an oath.

Nuée Ardente then asked: “Besides that, have you been to the ’Tree Crown City’ in the Valley of Gods?”

“Saw it, but didn’t climb up.”

Hunter Rain recalled: “The red pines there are toxic, and it’s easy to get poisoned if you get trapped. I watched from afar with Mr. Salt Long, and the Songlv Mice were always bustling about. They can’t speak, but they exchange pine nuts for our wheat cakes. They’re a friendly bunch.”

“Oh…”

Seeing Nuée Ardente looking preoccupied, Hunter Rain realized she might have something on her mind.

“What’s wrong? Is there a problem?”

“It’s nothing.” The female dwarf said: “Salt City has set up a Martial Cultivators Association. They’re organizing martial cultivators to officially enter the Valley of Gods to check out the situation.”

Hunter Rain wasn’t particularly interested in this.

Now, she only thought about three things: brewing wine, brewing wine, and more brewing wine.

“There’s one more thing. Almost forgot.”

Nuée Ardente pulled out a necklace from her armor. The necklace was made of brass, very delicate, and the pendant was a pure white seashell.

“This is a rare piece of fine equipment!”

The female dwarf said excitedly: “Even for the Furnace Clan, creating such a fine item requires many precious materials, a lot of intricate craftsmanship, and forging!”

“Just put it on, and you’ll understand.”

Hunter Rain tried on the necklace around her neck.

As she fastened the clasp, she felt a warm power envelop her, instantly clearing the dizziness in her brain.

“Incredible…” Hunter Rain gently touched the necklace on her neck.

“This was specially made for you because everyone knows you often get drunk. With it, you won’t easily become intoxicated.”

Nuée Ardente said earnestly: “This necklace is called ’Mead Princess,’ and its ability is ’Immunity to Drunkenness.’ It’s made from many Transcendent materials, including the musk beetle’s scent pouch, the sandworm’s secreted oil, and the all-purpose stone found by the merfolk… As long as you wear it, you won’t get drunk. Everyone failed hundreds of times before successfully forging it, just for you.”

Hunter Rain didn’t know whether to laugh or cry; the dwarves were deeply fixated on the title of princess.

“Thank you all!”

She was touched.

The Furnace Clan was indeed warm-hearted; they treated their friends with an open and sincere heart.

Hunter Rain silently resolved to brew the best mead to repay her dwarven friends.

Suddenly, someone outside shouted: “Everyone, come out and see, there’s a new sun! Hey, this sun is blue!”

Hunter Rain and Nuée Ardente walked out of the fortress.

She looked up.

A blue sun was slowly rising in the sky, its light like the deep sea, facing another golden sun from afar.

The dwarves all looked up at the two suns in the sky, marveling.

The other two members of the Furnace Wonders were also present.

Gao Youzhuang crossed his arms: “This new sun, I wonder if it will be driven away by the gods… I hope it knows its place. Otherwise, it’ll end up like the Dim Sun.”

“No, no, look closely.”

Beside him, Wei Ermeng said: “Gao, feel it with your heart, there’s God Yao’s divine might on this blue sun… Do you feel it?”

“Indeed… So it’s a sun created by God Yao.”

“Hey, don’t get distracted, look at that sun, you can make a wish… It’s called the ’Star of Wishes.’”

“It’s a blessing given by the divine! Quick, everyone make a wish!”

Just by looking at the blue sun, everyone could immediately understand that this blue day carried an incredible divine power. It was listening to the hearts of every God Yao believer, and those who prayed and made vows to it would gain the attention of the divine.

Hunter Rain touched the ’Mead Princess’ on her neck.

She crossed her index fingers and looked towards the Star of Wishes, silently praying in her heart.

All-powerful God Yao, please let me find the best mead recipe soon…

Thank you: Ho-Uranium Tellurium and Gray Cast Iron for supporting with 100 starting coins.

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