Chapter 54: Joyful Drinking (2)

  Qin Xiong's heroic spirit infected everyone. The crowd raised their glasses together, and even the two girls drank freely without any shyness.

  These two girls, one named Peony and the other Lianqiao, are both Qin Xiong's confidantes. Peony is elegant and helps with the trivial matters of arranging the banquet. Lianqiao is charming and lovely, sitting devotedly beside Qin Xiong as they chat and talk.

  She gently picked up the bronze wine pot and poured a full cup of wine, then raised her own wine glass with a flirtatious blink of her eyes, without saying much but with a very clear implication to drink.

  Dao Jing gave a face-saving smile as he raised his wine cup and drank it all in one gulp, seemingly not minding the spiciness at all. Not only was Meng Mu shocked, but even He Jun was stunned.

  "The young master doesn't usually drink like this."

  He rubbed his itchy ear that had been blown on and asked casually, "Drinking is just drinking, what's the big deal? How does he drink?"

  He Jun pointed to the main seat and nodded slightly, meaning "you see for yourself".

  "Yun Zhao, I must drink three big cups with you." Qin Xiong raised his wine cup and patted Dao Jing's back: "You, me, Yun Su, the three of us have been good brothers since childhood. Today we meet again after a long time. We two younger brothers will drink freely. Yun Su is alone outside for studying, how desolate. This first cup, let's toast to Yun Su, toast to big brother."

  He finished speaking and drained his cup in one gulp.

  His drinking posture is more terrifying year by year. Dao Jing sighed slightly in his heart. Holding the wine cup, his hand remained motionless: "Brother Qin, your words are wrong. Yun Su's ambition is vast and broad, he is our model. Although he is alone outside, but for the sake of seeking the right path, the truth of heaven and earth is all in his chest, the three rivers and five mountains are all in his eyes. How can it be lonely and boring? You're wrong, you should be punished."

  Qin Xiong burst out laughing: "That makes sense. I'll punish myself with a cup."

  Lianqiao's eyes were quick to move, and she refilled his cup again. He picked up the wine cup and continued: "This second cup is to toast Heaven's will. Why? If it weren't for that disaster fifteen years ago, I wouldn't have met Yun Su. If I hadn't met Yun Su, I wouldn't have had a chance to meet you. Although it was a disaster, but it wasn't a disaster. It was a trial, an examination, a heavenly gift of fate. So this cup is to toast Heaven's will, and thank the heavens for letting us meet."

  Listening to the muscular man say such sentimental words, Meng Mu felt his goosebumps fall all over the ground. Seeing Qin Xiong's cup being emptied, Dao Jing's hand still didn't move. Unable to compete with drinking capacity, they switched to competing in wisdom. However, as the saying goes, whoever invites guests is not specifically for drinking wine. It's just to add some excitement to the gathering. Just making some casual conversation.

  He was lost in thought, when he heard a loud and clear laughter. With full confidence, Dao said: "The will of heaven is a matter of great mystery, beyond human comprehension. Among us, there may be talented individuals who spend their entire lives trying to understand it, but after growing old and looking back, everything has changed, and it's like searching for fish by climbing a tree. I only know that the world is constantly changing, and the cycle of heaven will not stop. The past is gone with the wind, and we should seize this moment, while embracing our hopes for the future, so as not to disappoint the will of heaven in the past. What do you think?"

  "That's right." Qin Xiong shouted loudly. "Let go of the past. Cherish the present. The road to the future is bright and brilliant."

  The road is quiet and open-minded with a smile. Finally toasted with him.

  "This is the third cup of wine, I'd like to toast you, Yun Zhao. You've arrived and I'm delighted. I'm thrilled. We'll drink together for a lifetime..."

  Dào jìng qīng xiào zhe diǎn tóu. Yǎn jiàn hǎo yǒu zhè shì hē zuì le.

  Translation:

  Dao Jing smiled and nodded lightly. Seeing that his good friend was drunk.

  On that side, they were clinking cups and changing plates. On this side, the two of them were also drinking recklessly. Several jars of wine were soon emptied. The crowd was also getting a bit drunk. It was still Peony who considerately arranged rooms for everyone and even sent over some hangover medicine.

  "It's good that someone is taking care of you." Mengmu pressed his dizzy head and struggled to get up, looking around at the simple and monotonous surroundings, which was only slightly better than a woodshed with more beds.

  Not because of quiet virtue.

  I didn't expect this guy to still show off even when he's drunk. When I think about it now, I feel suffocated in my heart.

  After dispersing, he didn't know if it was out of habit or what, but he followed Dao Jing to his room. Dao Jing suddenly turned around with a pale face and startled him: "Meng Shaoge, thank you for escorting me all the way. Is there anything else you'd like to say?"

  The lamp suddenly jumped. The quiet and clear eyes were completely inconsistent with his soft footsteps. Mengmu subconsciously supported him with a hand, resigned to continue escorting him onto the bed.

  "Sigh... I'm in a tight spot. As long as you're fine, that's all that matters."

  Dào jìng cè zhe tóu wàng zhe tā xiào. Nán dé de zuì tài dài zhe wǔ fēn wú guān wǔ fēn jiǎo hèn. Tā cóng bí kǒng hēng le yī shēng. Tuō zhe cháng yīn dào: "Wǒ tè yì mìng rén gěi nǐ zhǔn bèi le yī ge hǎo fáng jiān. Chū mén yòu shǒu biān. Bù yuǎn."

  Translation:

  Dào jìng leaned his head to the side and smiled at him. Rarely seen drunk, with a hint of innocence and a bit of foolishness. He hummed from his nose and said in a drawn-out tone: "I specifically ordered someone to prepare a good room for you. Right-hand side when you exit. Not far."

  At that time, looking at his sparkling eyes, it's hard to believe this is drunken talk. Didn't expect, didn't expect.

  Meng Mu looked around again and couldn't help but sigh: "Believe it or not, there are ghosts." He fell onto the bed and fell asleep in a daze.

  He fell asleep in a daze. Suddenly, without any reason, he woke up. He didn't think much about it. He just felt thirsty and was preparing to get out of bed to find a glass of water to drink. But as soon as he lifted his head, he froze.

  There is someone standing at the door.

  Under the pale moonlight, that person's square and rigid face was visible. He wore a dull gray servant attire, hunching his back as he quietly approached him.

  Meng Mu's instincts told him to draw his sword or pull out his golden bow, but for some reason, he couldn't move his hands or feet: "What's going on? Who are you?"

  This person walked closer and stood upright at the bedside, expressionless and staring blankly at Meng Mu. His voice was cold and didn't sound like a living person.

  "You shouldn't be here. This doesn't belong to you."

  The tone was flat and emotionless. Meng Mu felt a chill run down his spine instantly. He was extremely helpless. His voice trembled slightly: "W-who are you, great god? No... don't come over here." He closed his eyes in fear, muttering to himself: "Xiang Rui Yu Mian... Xiang Rui Yu Mian..."

  Suddenly there was no sound. Mengmu opened his eyes. All he saw was that square face right in front of him...

  "Ah."

  Mengmu let out a loud cry and sat up with a start, panting heavily as he looked around the quiet room, only then realizing that he had just had a dream.

  Dark clouds quietly spread across the sky, blocking out the cold moonlight. My heart still has lingering fear, I dare not stay in this room anymore. I'd rather go sleep on the rooftop. At once, I threw off my quilt and ran out.

  He walked past the quiet room, only to see the lamp still on. The warm orange light made his heart feel a little more at ease. He hesitated for a long time, looking around left and right. Still, he couldn't resist the temptation of the light. He tidied up his clothes and sat down on the steps. His mind relaxed, and drowsiness returned. He hugged his arms and stared blankly at the pillar behind him, dozing off again.

  Then Dao Jing got up in the middle of the night to drink water and saw what seemed to be an abandoned pet.

  "Alas, you won."

  Dào Jìng shook his head and sighed. He walked forward and pushed him: "Hey."

  "Ah, what's wrong?" Suddenly, he sprang up and struck a pose, as if the square-faced man had come to attack him again.

  Looked around and there was no one in sight. My line of vision went down further... and found someone crouching...

  Young Master

  Dào Jìng still maintained his pose of clapping for him. At this time, he glared at him with a bad temper: "Don't tell me you're afraid of the dark."

  "Haha." Momo rubbed the back of her head and said seriously: "It's true. I'm really afraid of the dark."

  Dark clouds covered the moon, and a gentle breeze began to rise. I estimated that there would be rain in the early morning. The road was quiet and cold. Looking at Meng Mu's confused expression, I didn't bother to argue with him. Suppressing my temper, I stood up and made a helpless gesture towards the house: "Meng Xiaoke."

  "Ah, haha, haha, how embarrassing." But saying that, she swiftly pulled Dao Jing into the house and even locked the door.

  "What is this." Dao Jing did not understand.

  "Hehe, of course it's doing something that can't be told to others." Mu Mu approached mysteriously, with a sly smile on his face.

  Dào Jìng was even more confused and asked: "What's wrong?"

  "Hush." Momul led Dao Jing into the bedroom, covered him with a quilt, and then lowered his voice to say: "Young master, there's a ghost here."

  "Get out."

  "Ah, stop it...!" Mu Mu clutched the bed frame tightly and didn't forget to push Jing's hand away. For a moment, the two of them were actually wrestling.

  These two people, if they really fought, it would be hard to guess who would win or lose. However, at this time, both were drunk after drinking. Especially Meng Mu was frightened and his hands and feet went soft. Dao Jing's playful heart rose and he lost all sense of proportion, and with a few moves, he pinned him down.

  "Are you convinced?" Dao Jing tilted his head, smiling condescendingly with an air of superiority.

  Meng Mu was momentarily stunned, gazing at the young and clean face of his opponent, losing himself for a brief moment. The shallow dimples on the lips, the almost translucent forehead with a single drop of crystal-like sweat, and the faintly pink cheeks all seemed as real and beautiful as their master. In that instant, it felt as if Dao Jing had temporarily put down something, revealing his original pure and innocent self, along with a rare glimpse of childishness.

  Maybe this is the real him, stripped of all his halo, just a fifteen-year-old boy.

  I don't know why but Meng Mu suddenly said: It's really good.

  But the words reached the tip of his tongue and he changed his tone instead. The admiration in his eyes was retracted, and with a stiff smile, he said: "This young master, please restrain yourself. If you get any closer, I'll call for help."

  “……” What was that all about? Dao Jing stopped and sat back on the edge of the bed, seeing Meng Mu also sit up. His complexion was somewhat pale, but it could also be due to drinking too much wine. Dao Jing didn't dare use his true power to probe him, fearing he might hurt him. He had no choice but to hold back his temper and engage in a war of words with him.

  "What's going on? Tell me honestly. Don't talk nonsense."

  You're so stiff-necked. How come I'm so unreliable in your eyes?

  "Cut the nonsense," Jing said with a yawn. The sky was already lightening, and if they continued to fuss around, no one would get any sleep.

  Although the matter was completely recounted without any embellishments, it still sent a chill down Dao Jing's heart.

  But when he opened his mouth, what he said was something else: "How badly are you hurt?"

  "Huh." Mengmeng was confused: "Young master, weren't we just talking about ghosts? How did it end up being about me?"

  Dào Jìng rubbed his temples to clear his mind and spoke slowly: "The Eastern Peak is in charge, it won't let ghosts and monsters wreak havoc among the people. However, every place under heaven has more or less some existence of ghosts, spirits, and demons, like mosquitoes and flies, impossible to eradicate completely. Only because their powers are too weak to harm humans, even when they encounter a person with strong vital energy, they would hide in fear. It's nothing to worry about. With your skills, bravery, and daring, if your spiritual energy wasn't weakened to the extreme, how could you fall into this low-level demonic spell? Don't try to deceive me, speak honestly."