"Every problem I face now boils down to the Flower Wine Monk’s legacy. If I can find it, all my difficulties will be resolved. If I don't, these hurdles will drastically slow my cultivation, leaving me trailing far behind my peers right from the start. It’s infuriating. I’ve spent over a week trying to lure the Wine Worm out, so why hasn't it yielded any results?"
Fangyuan frowned, lost in thought. He didn't even notice the taste of the food he was eating.
Just then, a commotion broke out, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Fangyuan looked toward the center of the room. A group of six hunters sat around a table, their faces flushed, the atmosphere boisterous and filled with the stench of alcohol.
"Brother Zhang, come on, another drink!"
"Brother Feng, we brothers admire your skills. Taking down a black-skinned wild boar all by yourself—you’re a real hero! You have to drink this, or you’re not showing us any respect."
"I appreciate the kindness, brothers, but I really can’t drink any more."
"You can't? Are you saying this wine isn't good enough for you? Waiter! Come here, bring us some proper spirits!"
Their voices grew louder; clearly, they had all had too much to drink.
The waiter hurried over. "Gentlemen, I have fine wine, but it’s a bit pricey."
"What? You think we can't pay for it?!" Several hunters stood up, glaring at the waiter. They were either burly and thick-set or lean and wiry, all radiating the rugged, fierce aura typical of mountain folk.
The waiter scrambled to apologize, his voice pleading. "How could I ever look down on heroes like you? It’s just that this wine is truly expensive—two Primeval Stones a jar!"
The hunters froze.
Two Primeval Stones—that was no small sum; it was two months' worth of living expenses for an ordinary family. While hunters earned more than the average person—a black-skinned wild boar could fetch half a stone—hunting was risky. Sometimes, you might end up as the prey yourself. Spending two whole stones on a single jar of wine was simply not worth it.
"Is it really that expensive?"
"Kid, you aren't trying to swindle us, are you?"
The hunters shouted, but their voices lacked conviction, tinged with the awkwardness of having painted themselves into a corner.
The waiter insisted he would never dare.
The man called Brother Feng, seeing the situation souring, tried to smooth things over. "Brothers, let’s not waste money. I’ve had enough for today; let’s drink this another time."
"What are you saying, Brother?"
"That won't do..."
The other hunters protested, but their voices gradually faded, and one by one, they sat back down.
The waiter, a shrewd man, realized the sale wasn't going to happen. He was no stranger to such scenes. Just as he was about to retreat, a young man's voice drifted from a corner table: "Heh, what a joke. Why all the shouting? If you can't afford the wine, just shut your mouths and crawl away!"
Stung by the remark, one of the hunters flared up. "Who says we can't afford it? Waiter, bring us that jar! Here are your Primeval Stones—it’s just two, right?"
"Coming right up, sir!" The waiter, not expecting such a sudden turn, immediately scurried off to fetch the jar.
The jar was only half the size of a standard one, but as soon as the clay seal was broken, a clear, mellow aroma wafted through the entire dining hall. Even an elderly man sipping alone by the window turned his head, his gaze drawn to the jar.
It was, indeed, fine wine.
"Gentlemen, I’m not just boasting. This is top-tier Green Bamboo Wine, the only place in the entire village that stocks it. Just smell that!" The waiter took a deep, appreciative breath, his face full of delight.
Fangyuan’s heart stirred. The waiter wasn't exaggerating. There were three taverns in Gu Yue Village, all serving common rice wine or cloudy spirits. Having spent seven days buying wine in an attempt to lure the Wine Worm, Fangyuan knew exactly what the market was like.
The hunters stared at the jar, their cravings piqued, noses twitching, throats bobbing. The hunter who had impulsively ordered it felt a wave of regret. Two Primeval Stones for this single jar!
"I was too impulsive," he thought. "The waiter is a real shark—he opened it immediately. Now that the seal is broken, I can't even return it."
The more he thought about it, the more his heart ached, but he couldn't back down now. Finally, he slapped the table and forced a laugh. "Damn it, this is good stuff! Drink up, brothers—this one’s on me!"
Just then, the young man in the corner scoffed again. "This tiny jar isn't enough for six people. If you’ve got the guts, buy a few more."
The hunter’s veins popped. He jumped up, red-faced with rage, and glared at the youth. "You little brat, you talk too much. Why don't you come out here and show us what you’ve got?"
"Oh? You want me to come out? Fine." The youth stood up, grinning sinisterly as he stepped out from the shadows.
He was tall and thin with a pale complexion, dressed in a clean, dark blue martial outfit. He wore a royal blue headband, and his short-sleeved top revealed his thin shoulders. He wore long trousers and bamboo-woven shoes with leggings. Most importantly, he wore a blue cloth belt with a gleaming copper plate embedded in the center, inscribed with a black character: "One."
"A Rank One Gu Master?!" The aggressive hunter clearly understood what that attire meant. He gasped, his anger vanishing, replaced by sheer terror. He hadn't realized he had provoked a Gu Master!
"Weren't you asking for a sparring partner? Come on then," the young Gu Master taunted, pacing toward them with a mocking smile.
The hunter who had just shouted stood frozen like a statue.
"Or you could all come at once, if you like," the youth added casually as he reached their table.
The hunters’ faces drained of color. Those who had been flushed with wine turned deathly pale. Cold sweat beaded on their foreheads, and they sat trembling, not daring to draw a full breath.
The youth picked up the jar of Green Bamboo Wine, sniffed it, and laughed. "It really does smell good..."
"If you like it, sir, please take it. Consider it a tribute for my offense," the hunter pleaded, bowing with forced obsequies.
Suddenly, the youth’s expression shifted. *Crack!* He slammed the jar onto the floor.
His face was ice-cold, his eyes sharp as swords. "Do you think you’re qualified to offer me a tribute? You hunters are really something—richer than me, apparently, spending two Primeval Stones on wine?! Do you have any idea how much I’m struggling for stones right now? You dare flaunt your wealth in front of me? Are you mortals even worthy?"
"We don't dare, we don't dare!"
"We deserve death for offending you, sir!"
"It was unintentional! Please, take these Primeval Stones, Master Gu Master."
The hunters scrambled to pull out their meager savings—shattered fragments of stones, none larger than a quarter.
The youth didn't touch them. He just sneered, sweeping his hawk-like gaze across the dining hall. Everyone he looked at lowered their heads, including the old man by the window.
Only Fangyuan watched him calmly, unbothered.
The youth’s attire was something only formal Gu Masters could wear. Fangyuan wouldn't earn that right until he graduated from the academy. The "One" on the copper plate identified him as a Rank One Gu Master. Judging by his age, which seemed to be in his twenties, the primeval essence aura he emitted suggested he was only at the Upper Stage.
Starting cultivation at fifteen and reaching only the Upper Stage in his twenties meant he had D-grade aptitude—even worse than Fangyuan’s. He was likely just a logistical support Gu Master, not a combatant. But even so, he was more than a match for six hunters.
"With power, you can look down on others. That is the essence of this world," Fangyuan mused silently. "No, it’s the essence of every world. Big fish eat little fish, little fish eat shrimp. This world is just more naked about it."
"Alright, Jiang Ya, that’s enough. Don't make it difficult for these mortals. It’s embarrassing enough for you to be seen doing this; it’s embarrassing for me too," another voice called from the corner.
Only then did the crowd realize the other young person was a woman.
Jiang Ya, the Gu Master, stopped his sneering, looking annoyed. He didn't even glance at the scraps of stone the hunters had offered; it wasn't enough to interest him. He flicked his sleeve and walked back toward his seat, throwing a final threat over his shoulder: "If you've got guts, keep drinking. Keep drinking that Green Bamboo Wine. I want to see who else dares."
The hunters hung their heads, looking like scolded children. The rich aroma of wine filled the hall, and the hunter who had bought it felt his heart clench. He had spent two stones, and hadn't even had a single drop!
Fangyuan put down his chopsticks. He was full. He took in the scent of the wine, his eyes glinting. He pulled out two Primeval Stones and placed them on the table. "Waiter," he said calmly, "bring me a jar of Green Bamboo Wine."
The room fell silent.
Jiang Ya stopped in his tracks, his mouth twitching. He had just laid down the law, and now someone was openly defying him. He turned around, narrowed his eyes, and shot a cold, icy glare at Fangyuan.
Fangyuan stared back, unperturbed and fearless.
Jiang Ya’s eyes flickered, the coldness fading as he sensed the aura of primeval essence coming from Fangyuan. He realized who Fangyuan was, and his expression shifted into a warm, spring-like smile. "Ah, a fellow student."
The others realized what was happening, and their gazes toward Fangyuan changed instantly. No wonder the boy wasn't afraid of a Gu Master—he was one himself. Though still in the academy, he was already fundamentally different from them.
"Master Gu Master, your wine!" the waiter chirped, scurrying over with a fawning grin.
Fangyuan nodded at Jiang Ya, picked up the jar of wine, and walked out of the inn.