Chapter 831 - 48: Strange, Truly Strange

Chapter 831: Chapter 48: Strange, Truly Strange

Li Xin smiled warmly at Gan Jiu, "I may be from outside, but I’m not brainless."

"Master Xin, I wouldn’t dare," Gan Jiu chuckled.

"I heard that the mystical old monkeys on the mountain use fruits to brew wine. Is this the kind?" Li Xin pointed at the wine jars and said, "But I’ve never heard of monkeys making wine jars."

"Hehe, that’s the beauty of it. Find where the spiritual monkeys live, and first offer them wine. Once these monkeys get addicted, they’ll use the empty jars to brew themselves. Then wait for them to seal the jars, steal them away, and bury them in soil rich with spiritual energy. Usually, they can be unearthed in ten years. If you’re patient enough to wait a few decades, then you’ll have top-grade monkey wine, amber-colored immortal brew, that even immortals would cherish," Gan Jiu boasted.

Damn, after Gan Jiu’s whole spiel, Li Xin was practically drooling. Gan Jiu proudly pried open the seal, and a stream of amber light rose from the jar, like moonlight sealed for decades finally finding a crevice. The scent of the wine was ethereal, akin to osmanthus flowers falling from the eaves of an ancient temple in deep autumn, mixed with the ginseng aroma of a century-old pine, carrying the taste of time within its crystal clarity.

The desire for wine took hold of the three of them, each having a cup. The wine in the cup resembled molten amber, with tiny halos swirling at the bottom.

Li Xin raised his cup and gently sniffed, with a hint of frost touching his nose, as if old pine clouds and old-time moonlights were within one inhale. Savoring it slightly, his tongue touched a flowing spring, the wine didn’t seem like liquid, but a condensed cloud, slowly sinking down his throat. There was no burn, just a warm, gentle stream coursing straight from the dantian to the crown, leaving his entire being feeling relaxed, as if on the verge of transforming into an immortal. This stuff was powerful, absolutely more than simple monkey wine, seemingly retaining some ancient spiritual energies.

Li Xin’s eyes darted with an idea—if Ma Liu could replicate it, he’d never run out of drinks.

Shi Dazhu and Gan Jiu were also savoring small sips. Initially, the wine resembled chilled pool water, icy and fierce. As their tongues curled, a rich flavor of roasted chestnut and ginseng arose from underneath, culminating into a relentless aftertaste of mellowness and sweetness.

Gan Jiu gave Shi Dazhu a look, who cleared his throat, "We previously failed to recognize an Immortal Mountain guest. Since even the Young Sect Master wants Master Xin to lead us, we’re our own people from now on."

"Indeed, here’s to Master Xin leading us to become Inner Sect Disciples."

Li Xin accepted warmly, "No problem at all, cheers."

Tasting a new product was one thing, but drinking heavily was another sensation. The three of them drank heartily and ate meat, managing to finish about three cups each, getting slightly tipsy.

"Master Xin, how about a few rounds?" Gan Jiu suggested with a smile.

"Oh, what do you have in mind this time?" Li Xin asked sideways.

Gan Jiu pulled out some dice, "Of course, the usual, simple size comparison."

"How boring, not playing." Li Xin dug at his ear.

Gan Jiu and Shi Dazhu were stunned, never expecting that. How could men, after drinking and eating, not have a game or two? They were momentarily at a loss for words.

"What I mean is, what’s the point without stakes," Li Xin said.

Gan Jiu immediately gave a thumbs up, "No wonder you’re from the outside, you’re the real deal, Master Xin. How about a spin?"

"We’re all friends here, let’s not ruin the mood. We have this leftover wine; it’s open already, no point wasting it." Li Xin pointed at the wine jar, which, unbeknownst to anyone, Gan Jiu had quietly resealed, clearly not intending to share more.

Gan Jiu’s expression shifted, hesitating.

"Just a jar of leftover wine; if you can’t handle it, don’t play. I’m off to Jiuxiao Building," said Li Xin, standing up.

Gan Jiu grabbed Li Xin, gritting his teeth, "Fine, let’s bet this. If you lose, scurry back to where you came from and never show your face at Martial Heart Sect again!"

Li Xin shot a smile, "Alright, deal."

"This time, you go first!" Gan Jiu pressed his lips, eyes locked onto Li Xin’s hand, with Idiot Zhu nearby, eyeing him intently, body taut, eyes sharp.

Li Xin shrugged nonchalantly, took Gan Jiu’s dice, and tossed them casually into the empty cup, rolling, rolling, three threes.

Li Xin was slightly surprised, Gan Jiu and Idiot Zhu exchanged a glance, the alcohol was taking effect. This monkey wine was immortal brew, even skilled individuals would struggle to maintain control while drinking it, and special methods and abilities might be disrupted.

"Hehe, Master Xin, even a horse stumbles sometimes. I told you, last time I let you win, so you could see what real skill is."

Gan Jiu took the dice confidently, twisting his wrist, and tossed three dice into the cup, rolling, rolling, rolling.

Three... twos?

Gan Jiu and Idiot Zhu’s eyes nearly fell out, Gan Jiu rubbed his eyes, as Li Xin’s hand brushed over the jar, collecting it into Yazama Karashi.

"Fatty Nine, if you wanted to gift me wine, just say so, no need for all this trouble. Well, we ate and drank; remember to clean up later. Don’t let the Young Sect Master find faults. If he blames me, I’ll blame you!" Li Xin patted his mouth contentedly and left.

With Gan Jiu and Shi Dazhu taking care, nothing should go wrong, and with Fang Chi, the clever lad, dealing with things, even if the Sect Master asks, he’ll handle it.

After Li Xin left, Gan Jiu and Shi Dazhu’s faces immediately darkened, "Fatty Nine, what happened, how did you lose again?!"

Gan Jiu scratched his head fiercely, "Impossible, this is a Magic Artifact I crafted, how could it fail?"

Gan Jiu picked up the dice and tossed it into the empty cup, three sixes, then tossed again, still three sixes.

"This must be a trick, I took a Hangover Relief Pill, I shouldn’t have been affected. Did you keep a close eye on him? Did he use any abilities, or did he not drink at all?"

"Nonsense, who could resist that wine? Besides, he didn’t use a drop of Spiritual Power just now, if there were any fluctuations, I would have noticed!" Shi Dazhu whispered.

"That’s strange, that guy’s a bit odd," Gan Jiu couldn’t find a reason and suddenly noticed Shi Dazhu’s unfriendly look.

"Fatty Nine, are you conspiring with this outsider to get rid of me?" Shi Dazhu sinisterly said, "I’ve felt something off about you since he came, or did you bring him here?"

"You filthy liar, don’t listen to his nonsense. Where would I find someone like that? If he were my guy, would I send him to Jiuxiao Building? That’s a place that devours Loose Cultivators whole!"

"Don’t spin me those tales; I don’t believe there’s an unpoisonable person out there. You’d better deal with him soon, only then will I be at ease," Shi Dazhu said.

"Are you crazy? Wang Zhigao is here; that old man is not to be trifled with. If he detects anything, all our work will be for nothing!" Gan Jiu growled quietly.