Yu Furen returned to Good Cloud Mountain.
The Emei Sect had already settled into Lotus Residence. It was said that on the night Tang Lici hosted a vegetarian banquet, both Wenxiu Shitai and the women of the Emei Sect were extremely satisfied. While the banquet was underway, all the daily necessities for the Emei Sect members had already been prepared, earning further praise from Wenxiu Shitai. In the following days, Tang Lici discussed formation strategies with everyone in detail and divided the over seven hundred people on Good Cloud Mountain into teams for training. Each person contributed based on their strengths, and their combat abilities improved significantly.
Although Tang Lici never mentioned the location of Dissolute Shop’s lair, everyone knew he had a plan in mind. Good Cloud Mountain was filled with sumptuous meals and constant training. With numerous experts on the mountain, many took the opportunity to offer guidance to others. Countless individuals were overjoyed, as long-standing martial arts dilemmas they had pondered for years were suddenly resolved, and their skills advanced by leaps and bounds.
Morale soared, and confidence grew. Even amidst his busy schedule, Meng Qinglei appeared increasingly excited, and even Cheng Yunpao’s expression softened slightly. Yu Furen hadn’t caught sight of Tang Lici for several days, having heard he was accompanying various sect leaders. It wasn’t until four days later, during a banquet welcoming the Songshan Sect leader, that he finally saw Tang Lici again.
He still looked impeccable, his cheeks flushed from wine, teetering on the edge of drunkenness without ever succumbing. By now, everyone on Good Cloud Mountain knew that despite his rosy complexion, Young Master Tang could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk. Yet, there were always those eager to challenge him in a drinking contest. Zhang Hemo, the Songshan Sect leader, prided himself on being able to down over fifty catties of fine liquor—surely he could outdrink this refined-looking young man? He had long harbored resentment. Although the Songshan Sect possessed its own secret techniques, the presence of Shaolin Temple on Mount Song overshadowed their reputation in the Martial Arts World. Whenever people mentioned Songshan, they only spoke of "Shaolin Temple on Songshan," never the Songshan Sect itself. Thus, when the Central Plains Sword Association mobilized to fight Dissolute Shop, he rushed to participate, hoping to make a name for himself in the great battle, overshadow Shaolin, and carve out an unprecedented legacy for the Songshan Sect. Upon arriving at the mountain and seeing how elegant Tang Lici appeared, his disdain only grew. He thought to himself, Hundreds of heroes on this mountain actually take orders from such a pampered young master? What a disgrace! When Tang Lici invited him to the banquet, he slapped the table in agreement, already resolved to challenge him to a drinking contest.
Tonight’s banquet had set thirty-three seats for the Songshan Sect, with Tang Lici, Meng Qinglei, Cheng Yunpao, Yu Furen, and Dong Hubi as hosts. Though the Songshan Sect delegation was small, the Central Plains Sword Association treated all guests equally, ensuring full attendance to welcome them. Zhang Hemo felt his status elevated, his ruddy face brimming with smugness. After three rounds of drinks, Meng Qinglei invited everyone to enjoy the feast freely. Just as the guests picked up their chopsticks to dig in, Zhang Hemo suddenly declared, “I’ve heard Young Master Tang has an astonishing capacity for liquor. Since childhood, I’ve loved wine, and whenever I meet someone who can hold their drink, I feel restless unless we compete. Since Young Master Tang is a master drinker, might I have the honor of challenging him?”
Meng Qinglei and the others exchanged glances. Tang Lici had already drunk far too much recently. With so many people on the mountain, lodging, water, and even the disposal of waste required meticulous handling. Many sects had long-standing grudges, requiring him to mediate constantly. The current morale and atmosphere on Good Cloud Mountain had undoubtedly cost him immense effort and energy. He was already exhausted and truly shouldn’t be drinking heavily. Meng Qinglei laughed heartily and interjected first, “Young Master Tang has urgent matters to attend to and shouldn’t drink excessively. If Brother Zhang wishes to drink, I’ll gladly keep you company.”Zhang Hemo chuckled. "Since that's the case, I'll gladly oblige." He patted the wine jar beside him—this one wasn't strong liquor. "Let's switch to 'Green Snake Intoxication.'"
Green Snake Intoxication was a medicinal liquor, brewed by steeping venomous snakes in strong alcohol. The fusion of snake venom and wine made it far more potent than ordinary spirits. Many drank it in small doses—no more than a cup—for its health benefits, but Zhang Hemo had grown accustomed to it over the years, particularly fond of its unique flavor.
Meng Qinglei frowned. Green Snake Intoxication was the strongest of strong liquors, and excessive consumption could lead to poisoning from the snakes themselves. But since Zhang Hemo had issued the challenge, how could he refuse? Immediately, attendants brought in ten jars of the liquor and placed them beside the two men. Tang Lici smiled faintly but did not intervene. Zhang Hemo cracked open a jar, poured a bowl of the liquor, and stood up. "Today, fate has brought us together for a grand occasion in the martial world. From this day forth, those who share life and death shall be brothers. I'll drink first to show my respect." With that, he downed the bowl in one gulp, then tapped the rim twice with his fingernail, producing a crisp clink.
Meng Qinglei also rose, offering a toast to those around him before draining his bowl in one go. He had never tasted this medicinal liquor before—bitter, spicy, and carrying a strange, almost rotten aftertaste—and nearly spat it out on the spot. Zhang Hemo laughed heartily. "This wine is quite strong, but it's excellent for the body once you get used to it. I take it this is your first time, Hero Meng?" Meng Qinglei coughed. "The flavor is... certainly unique."
Yu Furen smiled wryly. Meng Qinglei was not much of a drinker, and given Zhang Hemo's aggressive approach, this was unlikely to end well. As for himself, his tolerance was mediocre at best. Cheng Yunpao almost never touched alcohol—except for the occasional cup during special occasions like the Good Cloud Mountain gathering—while Dong Hubi was too advanced in years. If they let Zhang Hemo outdrink them today, he would surely grow even more arrogant and unruly in the future.
Zhang Hemo poured another bowl. "This one is to honor our newfound friendship, Hero Meng. May you achieve great deeds in the martial world and earn everlasting fame—ha ha ha!" He downed it in one go. Meng Qinglei had no choice but to drink another bowl. The taste was so peculiar that after two bowls, he already felt dizzy, inwardly alarmed.
Zhang Hemo noticed his discomfort and tapped his bowl again. "If Hero Meng isn't accustomed to Green Snake Intoxication, perhaps we should switch to Daughter's Red. I'll treat this snake wine as tea and toast each of you." When he said "toast each of you," he didn't mean one bowl for the entire table—he meant one bowl per person. By the time he finished his round, he had downed over thirty bowls without so much as a flush. Meng Qinglei held his bowl with a bitter smile. He was not one to flaunt his pride, but faced with Zhang Hemo's relentless pressure, he was at a loss. Switching wines now would mean losing face, and besides, he couldn't possibly handle thirty bowls of Daughter's Red either. Just as he found himself trapped, a pale, slender hand reached over and took the bowl from him. Meng Qinglei sighed, his smile growing even more strained. The one who had taken the bowl smiled faintly. "Allow me to share a few cups with Sect Leader Zhang first. Qinglei isn't used to Green Snake Intoxication—later, I'll join Sect Leader Zhang in tasting 'Azure Blood.'"Zhang Hemo was inwardly startled. The wine "Azure Blood" was more precious than gold, and though he had long heard of its fame, he had never tasted it. Tang Lici had effortlessly salvaged his dignity without a trace of effort. He watched as Tang Lici lifted a jar of Green Snake Intoxication, while the clever young attendant beside him swiftly laid out empty bowls one by one. Holding the wine jar, Tang Lici poured a bowl with each tilt—one bowl after another. The attendant, gauging his expression, dared not pause, continuing until over thirty bowls were filled before Tang Lici finally stopped. The crowd stared at him in astonishment—not at his skill in pouring bowl after bowl, but at the fact that such an elegant nobleman intended to drink over thirty bowls of Green Snake Intoxication. Combined, the wine would amount to two full jars. While Zhang Hemo, with his burly frame and barrel-like belly, might manage it, how could the refined and delicate Tang Lici possibly consume so much?
"The Songshan Sect is known for its boldness. I, Tang, shall first offer a humble toast to honor your arduous journey." Tang Lici picked up Meng Qinglei's bowl, raised it to Zhang Hemo with a faint smile, and downed it in one go. His face flushed easily with alcohol, and after just one bowl, his cheeks were already rosy as if drunk. Zhang Hemo felt a surge of disdain, but then he watched as Tang Lici calmly drank his way around the table, finishing exactly thirty-seven bowls.
Thirty-seven empty bowls lay on the table, yet his complexion remained unchanged from when he had drunk the first bowl, his gaze still clear and sober. "Another toast—this one on behalf of the common folk of the martial world, to honor the Songshan Sect’s willingness to brave fire and water for their sake, undaunted by life or death." He lifted the wine jar again, filling all thirty-seven bowls, then smiled once more at Zhang Hemo before drinking them one by one.
Zhang Hemo drank his own bowl in silence as everyone watched Tang Lici finish the second round of thirty-seven bowls. The Songshan Sect members stared at him in shock, stiffly drinking their own bowls, some already on the verge of vomiting. Yet Tang Lici remained as composed as ever, showing no change at all.
Where in his body could so much wine possibly go? Zhang Hemo raised his own bowl, intending to say something, but it seemed all possible toasts had already been spoken by Tang Lici. Resigned, he poured himself more wine and began gulping bowl after bowl. After downing over twenty, he slammed his bowl to the ground and laughed heartily. "Young Master Tang truly has a sea-like capacity! I concede defeat. I’ve never seen anyone drink four jars of Green Snake Intoxication before. I lose, I lose! The Central Plains Sword Association is indeed brimming with talent—even in drinking, you are peerless. Let’s eat, let’s eat!"
Tang Lici smiled faintly, instructing the attendant to clear the empty bowls before picking up his chopsticks to eat quietly. Meng Qinglei and the others exhaled in relief, and the banquet’s atmosphere lightened as the conversation turned to the matter of the Dissolute Shop. Despite the immense amount of wine he had consumed, Tang Lici remained gentle in speech, clear-headed, and utterly sober. Zhang Hemo, a seasoned veteran of drinking, had rarely seen anyone drink so much without showing the slightest effect. He couldn’t help but feel a grudging admiration, his earlier arrogance unwittingly fading. Truly, Tang Lici was extraordinary.At the second watch of the night, the banquet finally came to an end. After the Songshan Sect members dispersed, Yu Furen finally got the chance to speak with Tang Lici. "Lici, a word in private." Meng Qinglei and Cheng Yunpao had other matters to attend to and nodded at him before leaving together. Dong Hubi chuckled, "Young people are so spirited, drinking more than water. When you grow old, you'll realize fine wine is a deadly habit. Best to drink less in the future." Tang Lici smiled and thanked him. Dong Hubi went off on his own toward the west. Seeing no one around, Yu Furen said, "Miss A Shui and Yu Tuan'er have been safely escorted to Chicken Coop Mountain Manor. You can rest assured. However..." He gave a faint smile. "Liu Yan didn’t look pleased at all. It seemed he wasn’t welcoming."
"Don’t worry," Tang Lici replied with a light smile. "He may not welcome it, but he’ll be at ease." He glanced at the table full of dishes. "With so many people gathered on the mountain, Dissolute Shop must have caught wind of it. If I’m not mistaken, there will soon be... a change." Yu Furen was taken aback. "What kind of change?"
"Someone... is about to return." Tang Lici stood very close to Yu Furen, who could feel the warm, wine-laden breath as he spoke, each word deliberately intoxicating, as if to bewitch. "Peach Girl is coming back."
"Peach Girl is returning?" Yu Furen was startled again. "Isn’t that a good thing?"
"Very good." Tang Lici laughed softly, waving his sleeve. "Truly very good." Without bidding farewell, he leisurely turned and headed toward his room. Knowing his temperament, Yu Furen didn’t press further, though his mind was full of questions. If Xifang Tao were to return to the Central Plains Sword Association, wouldn’t it only strengthen their influence? What could be wrong with that?
Tang Lici returned to his room, closing the door behind him and lighting the oil lamp.
He still didn’t sleep, sitting quietly by the table, gazing at the flickering flame.
The light swayed, shadows danced, and the wine’s effect gradually intensified. In the lamplight, he faintly saw many figures—even heard voices, Fang Zhou’s voice, Chi Yun’s voice, Shao Yanping’s voice...
Everyone was speaking.
Yet though he seemed to hear every word, none of it made sense.
The intoxication grew stronger. Green Snake Intoxication was a poisonous brew, and his head spun with dizziness. He stood up and retched violently, expelling most of the wine and dinner he had consumed. After a brief respite, he vomited again, and before long, nearly all four jars of strong liquor had been purged from his system.
The strange, pungent fumes of the wine rose around him, both intoxicating and sobering. He cleaned the mess on the floor, bathed, changed clothes, and tidied the room until no trace remained. Only when he sat down to rest did he realize he was drunk.
Tonight, he could finally sleep.
Because he was drunk.
No need to keep the oil lamp lit, no need to see the countless figures in its glow; no need to fear the darkness, for even the most haunting shadows would remain unseen.
Drunk was drunk. When drunk, he didn’t have to force himself to think clearly. He could let his mind wander in fragments or think of nothing at all. He could even treat bizarre fantasies as reality.Sending A Shui to Chicken Coop Mountain Manor—would A-Yan be happy? He truly didn’t know. It was just… there was nothing left to give him anymore. What else could he offer besides A Shui? Was sending her away because he had finally grown weary, or was it for the antidote to the Ape-Demon Nine Hearts Pill? He couldn’t really tell. Often, he wasn’t as clear-headed and composed as he appeared on the surface. If A-Yan could transfer his affections to Yu Tuan’er, it would be better for everyone. But alas, that little girl Yu Tuan’er… understood nothing at all.
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