Free Web NovelThe beef on the young man's table wasn't just any braised beef you could buy anywhere.
The firm meat had a perfect ratio of fat and lean, was tender yet not tough to the bite, and amidst the rich aroma of top-grade braising spices, there was a hint of appropriate spiciness that tantalized the taste buds and was quite appetizing. Furthermore, there seemed to be some ingredient in the braised beef that Lu Yibei couldn't identify.
That ingredient gave her a feeling similar to the heartwarming "gentleness" in the drinks Mengmeng made herself, adding a distinct flavor to this braised beef.
The difference was, Mengmeng's drinks contained "gentleness," while this braised beef contained something that could be called "heroic spirit."
Just like dumplings and vinegar, or ketchup and fries, good meat and good wine have always been inseparable.
Top-quality ingredients, coupled with that heroic spirit, made one Can't help it want to eat meat and drink wine in large gulps, then heartily shout, "Damn it, that's awesome!"
Lu Yibei ate the braised beef, and even though she had personally experienced the potency of Ju Chang, she couldn't help but drink a few more sips, and before she knew it, she had finished the half-glass of wine.
Seeing Lu Yibei put down the empty glass, the young man smiled and asked, "Miss, how do you find the taste of this wine?"
Very good! The moment the man asked the question, Lu Yibei had already made her judgment, but she waved ◈ Nоvеlіgһт ◈ (Continue reading) her hand and said, "It's just... alright?"
"Oh?" The young man nodded. "Indeed, Ju Chang was once used for sacrificing to ghosts, gods, and ancestors. Its ritual significance is greater than its actual flavor. In terms of deliciousness alone, it can only be considered ordinary."
After speaking, the man paused, and from somewhere unknown, took out a crystal-clear white porcelain wine pot and placed it on the table.
"That Ju Chang is quite potent. Drinking more might make you drunk. Miss, why not try this? This item is called Undrunk, and its main ingredient is spring water from a certain glacier mountain."
Saying this, the man smiled and poured Lu Yibei half a glass.
Undrunk? A hangover cure? Lu Yibei sized up the man, picked up the glass, brought it to her delicate nose and sniffed. She didn't smell any alcohol or other unusual odors. It looked as clear as water, so she took a small sip.
Upon entering her mouth, the Undrunk was clear and sweet. A wave of Spiritual Energy radiating coolness immediately spread in her mouth, then along her esophagus, spreading to her limbs and bones, making her feel refreshed.
However...
Other than that, there was nothing special about it!
It felt like drinking a glass of ice-cold mineral water, Lu Yibei thought.
After finishing this half-glass of "Undrunk," her vigilance towards the man relaxed slightly, and she pursed her lips, saying, "This stuff isn't good! The taste is bland."
"Oh? Too bland?" The man thought for a moment, then took out another silver wine pot. "I have another item here, called Spring and Autumn."
"It's made from the pistils of peach blossoms from the beginning of spring, the pistils of apricot blossoms from the spring equinox, wheat that ripens at the beginning of autumn, and millet that ripens at the autumn equinox, brewed with rainwater collected during the Qingming Festival and white frost gathered during the Frost Descent. It's fragrant but not greasy, and after drinking it, the aroma lingers between the lips and teeth for a long time..."
As he spoke, the man poured another half-glass into the wine cup in front of Lu Yibei.
"Damn it! Is this guy trying to get her drunk?!"
When Ju Meng first saw Lu Yibei sitting at the same table as Lord Bing, drinking and eating meat, she was surprised but didn't rashly go over to disturb them.
A Guardian of the Night Watch and the King of Weird Tales from Hua City sitting together... Her ingrained thinking led her to believe that Lu Yibei was engaged in some shady, illicit deal with Lord Bing.
However, after finding a relatively secluded spot to sit and observing secretly for a while, seeing Lord Bing pour glass after glass of wine for Lu Yibei, Ju Meng suddenly realized with alarm that Lord Bing probably had no good intentions.
Ju Chang, Undrunk, Spring and Autumn, Chasing Phoenix, Shattered Moon...
Which one wasn't a potent liquor whose potency was hard to suppress even with Spiritual Energy?
As the saying goes, "Wine doesn't make people drunk; people make themselves drunk."
That wine called "Undrunk" tasted sweet upon entry and seemed to have no alcoholic taste, but it was even more potent than potent liquor.
As long as you drank Undrunk, you wouldn't be able to taste the alcohol in other wines for a short period and wouldn't get drunk, giving you the illusion of having "godly alcohol tolerance, immune to a thousand cups." In reality, you were just trapping yourself and getting yourself drunk.
In Ju Meng's understanding, as long as you kept pouring other wines for a Psychic or urban legend who had drunk "Undrunk," there was no one who wouldn't get drunk.
That feeling was like giving your game character full buffs and then continuously spawning small monsters in front of you.
How could anyone resist unleashing a wave of overwhelming attacks?
Using this item to offer Lu Yibei a second drink showed that Lord Bing's purpose in inviting Lu Yibei to drink was likely not simple.
"..."
Drinking several kinds of strong liquor mixed together, it would be strange if Lu Yibei didn't get drunk!
But what was that guy's purpose in getting Lu Yibei drunk?
Did he want to kill her, or sleep with... Uh, there doesn't seem to be a difference?
After a brief observation, Ju Meng finally couldn't sit still. She waved her hand and called over the waiter.
"Hello, esteemed guest. How can Xiao Qian help you?"
"Ordering..." Ju Meng said. After taking the menu handed to her by Xiao Qian, she skillfully found and pointed to a 【Flying Sparrow Comes to Eat】 and a 【Peach Blossom Crisp】 on it, then raised her finger to point at Lu Yibei not far away. "Just these two dishes, send them over to her. Tell her I'm treating her and ask her to come over for a chat."
"Oh, right, be sure to tell her the names of these two dishes!"
"Understood, esteemed guest. Xiao Qian will go prepare them for you now." Xiao Qian nodded and turned to walk towards the kitchen.
Could Ju Meng just watch Lu Yibei get drunk and taken away?
Yes, of course she could!
If the person getting Lu Yibei drunk wasn't Lord Bing, she wouldn't just watch Lu Yibei being taken away; she would even follow behind, take photos to record Lu Yibei's embarrassing state for future ridicule, and only step in to save her at the very last moment.
However, the person attempting to get Lu Yibei drunk just happened to be Lord Bing.
If Lu Yibei were taken away by Lord Bing, let alone waiting until the last moment, even if she left this Liao Zhai Tavern, Ju Meng wasn't entirely confident she could rescue her...
Not just Ju Chang, every drink the young man took out was exceptionally delicious. Unable to refuse his hospitality, Lu Yibei inadvertently drank several kinds.
Although she had already sensed something was wrong when she reached the third half-glass.
But apart from that glass of Ju Chang, the strange and varied things that followed, while occasionally causing unusual Spiritual Energy fluctuations to spread within her body after drinking, were easily suppressed.
Therefore, when the young man took out another drink and poured it for her, she didn't refuse.
It was free anyway, so why not drink it!
If you really have some ulterior motive, you're probably going to lose your shirt this time. I'll drain you dry.
Didn't expect this, did you? I'm immune to a thousand cups! Lu Yibei thought confidently.
Just as she drank the ninth kind of "drink," a tall, beautiful young woman in a white dress came up to her and placed the 【Flying Sparrow Comes to Eat】 and 【Peach Blossom Crisp】 from the tray in front of her.
Seeing this, Lu Yibei was momentarily stunned. She turned her head to look at the young woman and gave her a questioning look.
"Esteemed guest, these two dishes were ordered by that guest over there." The young woman pointed in the direction where Ju Meng was sitting, then withdrew her gaze and introduced the dishes to Lu Yibei. "This one is 【Flying Sparrow Comes to Eat】, and this one..."
"Peach Blossom Crisp?" Lu Yibei looked at the plate of pink and white pastries, then looked at the young woman. "This one is easy to recognize."
"Precisely, Peach Blossom Crisp." The young woman smiled. "Also, that guest said that if it's convenient, she would like to invite you over for a drink."
"..." Lu Yibei pondered for a moment, then nodded to the young woman. "I see. Thank you for the trouble."
"Yes, yes. Please enjoy your meal, esteemed guest. I'll be busy now. Just call me if you need anything else."
After the young woman left, Lu Yibei looked at the two dishes in front of her and frowned.
Meeting by chance, what's the deal with suddenly treating me to food?
Is it like this Uncle, wanting to "give" something?
Lu Yibei thought, turning her head to look at the person sitting in the corner.
That person was wearing a pitch-black feathered robe and a mask with an exaggerated, ferocious design, revealing only a delicate pink mouth.
Wait! That mouth, it looks like I've seen it somewhere?
Lu Yibei furrowed her brow slightly, then turned her head again to look at the two dishes on the table. freeweɓnovēl.coɱ
Flying Sparrow... Flying Sparrow bird? Another name for Magpie? And Peach Blossom Crisp.
Magpie, peach blossoms, and two thin lips like peach petals...
Is that guy Smelly Girl?! Lu Yibei's pupils trembled slightly.
While Ju Meng wasn't the only urban legend who could represent themselves with Magpie and peach blossoms, Lu Yibei recognized Ju Meng's thin lips.
That mouth had snatched so many delicious things from her, ridiculed her countless times, and even spat at her when they were playing games together and she got so angry she lost her temper!
How could she not recognize it?
After adjusting her emotions slightly, Lu Yibei withdrew her gaze and looked at the man sitting opposite her. She said calmly, "Elder brother, you saw it. My friend over there wants to invite me over for a drink. If you don't mind..."
"..." The young man was silent for a moment, then smiled as if completely unconcerned, and made a gesture of invitation. "Please, Miss."
"Okay!" Lu Yibei stood up and bowed slightly to the young man. "Thank you for your hospitality. Let's meet again if there's a chance!"
After speaking, she quickly walked towards Ju Meng's table. After only a few steps, she turned back and took the 【Flying Sparrow Comes to Eat】 and 【Peach Blossom Crisp】 from the table.
The young man, "..." He treated her to so many priceless fine wines, and she couldn't even bear to leave two dishes? Is this the legendary Disaster?
Holding the two dishes, Lu Yibei quickly walked over and sat down beside Ju Meng. She briefly sized up the figure in front of her, tightly wrapped in a feathered robe, and tentatively asked, "Smelly Girl, is that you?"
As soon as she spoke, she saw the pair of eyes vaguely visible behind the mask roll, and a hint of a frown appeared on the corner of the peach-colored lips.
"You recognized me? Hmph, you dog! You're smart!"
After a pause, she sighed with a tone of admiration, "You dog, I've found that you're getting bolder and bolder... With your masterful skill at courting death, Sister, I'll soon be unable to keep up with you. If something happens then, you absolutely must not tell anyone that there's an alliance contract between us!"
"What do you mean?"
Lu Yibei didn't react for a moment and tilted her head.
Seeing this, Ju Meng narrowed her eyes, sized up Lu Yibei, and spat, "Tsk, you dog! Don't tell me you have no idea who that guy you were drinking with just now is?"
"Who?" Lu Yibei asked in confusion. "I really don't know him. This is the first time I've met him today."
"Shocked!" Ju Meng said in astonishment. "The first time you meet him, and you dare to drink so much of his wine? As a young woman, when you're out alone, don't you know how to protect yourself?"
"But I'm a man..." Lu Yibei said expressionlessly. "Besides, the stuff that guy gave me to drink was just ordinary. I didn't feel anything special about it!"
"Do boys not need to protect themselves?" Ju Meng rolled her eyes at Lu Yibei. "Besides, if the dignified Lord Bing wanted to get you drunk and let you sense that the stuff he gave you was unusual, then he wouldn't be able to make a living."
"Wait a minute!" Lu Yibei's eyes widened in disbelief. "Who did you say that guy was just now?"
Ju Meng glanced at her with pity in her eyes and said calmly, "Night Watch Guardian, Calamity Psychic, the one who wields the legendary Spiritual Energy item 【Feng Chan Wolf Smoke】, codenamed Lord Bing."
She feared that old monster Zhang Huainan, but she wasn't particularly afraid of Lord Bing, so she called him by his name without any ripples in her heart.
So what if I call him by his name? What if he senses it?
If you've got the guts, come face me head-on, Sister! ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
Watch me transfer all the frustration I've accumulated from that old guy onto you, without holding anything back!
"Hiss—!"
Lu Yibei took a sharp breath, feeling her body go limp, almost collapsing onto the chair.
It felt like being cautious and prudent for a lifetime, and the first time she messed around, she ran into the Uncle Police during a prostitution raid.
After she came to her senses, she realized how close she had just been to dying violently.
"B-but..." Lu Yibei trembled, even stuttering a little. "I didn't feel anything unusual after drinking that stuff, and I've already slipped away... There shouldn't be any problem, right?"
"Really?" Ju Meng raised an eyebrow and described the effects of "Undrunk" to Lu Yibei.
"Giving you that stuff, wasn't he just trying to get you drunk?"
"Gulp!" Lu Yibei swallowed, and said weakly, "Then, what will happen after the effect of Undrunk wears off?"
In her shock, she stiffly turned her neck to look in the direction where the young man had been, only to find that he had already quietly left, his whereabouts unknown.
"You troublesome dog! Now you know fear?"
Ju Meng glared at Lu Yibei and sneered, "Heh heh! You drank so much random stuff, even Sister, I don't know the effects of all the wines, but..."
"But what?"
"But, later in the latter half of the night, when the alcohol hits, you'll find out!" Ju Meng said.
"Hmph! You came to this place and didn't even tell Sister. Let's see if you dare to eat and drink other people's stuff randomly in Liao Zhai Tavern in the future."
"Well, you didn't tell me you knew about this place either!" Lu Yibei retorted.
"Well, you didn't ask!"
Lu Yibei, "..."
"Oh, right, you dog?"
"Huh?" Lu Yibei tilted her head.
"How are you with alcohol?" Ju Meng asked. "I'm worried you'll go crazy when you're drunk later. I'm warning you, going crazy when you're drunk in Liao Zhai Tavern has serious consequences."
Lu Yibei thought for a moment and said seriously, "I'm not exactly sure myself, but everyone who has seen it says it's particularly exciting."
Ju Meng, "???"
What the heck? What does "particularly exciting" even mean?
