Section 12: Green Bamboo Wine Aroma, Gu Masters Show Their Might

"All the current problems boil down to the inheritance of the Flower Wine Wanderer. If I can find it, all difficulties will be resolved. If I can't find it, these problems will greatly slow down my cultivation speed, causing me to be far behind my peers at the very beginning of my journey. It's perplexing; I've spent over a week trying to attract the Wine Bug, why has there been no success?"

Fang Yuan frowned, pondering deeply. He didn't even taste the food he was eating.

Just then, a commotion broke his train of thought.

Fang Yuan looked towards the sound and saw the table in the center. Six hunters were gathered around it, already reeking of alcohol, their atmosphere fiery and their faces flushed red and necks thick.

"Brother Zhang, come, have another drink!"

"Brother Feng, my brothers admire your skill, taking down a black-skinned wild boar by yourself. Truly a hero! You must drink this cup; not drinking is disrespecting your brothers."

"Thank you, brothers, for your appreciation, but I really can't drink anymore."

"Brother Feng can't drink, does he dislike this wine? Waiter, come here, bring us some good wine!"

The voices grew louder, and it was clear the hunters were quite drunk.

The waiter quickly walked over, "My lords, we do have good wine, but it's rather expensive."

"What, you think we can't afford it?!" Hearing this, several of the hunters stood up, glaring at the waiter. They were either burly and strong or lean and sturdy, exuding a fierce aura unique to mountain folk.

The waiter quickly greeted them, complaining, "How could I possibly look down on you heroes? It's just that this wine is truly expensive, one jar is worth two primeval stones!"

The hunters were stunned.

Two primeval stones was not cheap; it was two months' living expenses for an ordinary family. Although hunters earned more than ordinary mortals, sometimes a black-skinned wild boar was worth half a primeval stone, hunting also carried risks, and sometimes they themselves became the prey.

Spending two primeval stones for a jar of wine was too much for the hunters.

"Is there really such expensive wine?"

"Kid, you're not lying to us, are you?"

The hunters shouted, but their voices were a bit hollow, filled with awkward embarrassment.

The waiter repeatedly denied it.

The hunter called Brother Feng, seeing the situation turn awkward, quickly tried to smooth things over, "Brothers, let's not spend any more. We can't drink anymore today, we'll drink this wine another day."

"Brother, what are you saying!"

"How can that be..."

The other hunters called out, but their voices gradually weakened, and they all sat back down.

The waiter, being a shrewd individual, saw this and knew the sale wouldn't happen.

However, he was used to such scenes. Just as he was about to retreat, a young man's voice from a table in the corner suddenly called out, "Heh heh, how laughable. Why are you all making such a fuss? If you can't afford the wine, just shut up and stay put!"

Hearing this, one of the hunters was immediately provoked and shouted, "Who says we can't afford it? Waiter, bring that jar of wine here, I'll give you the primeval stones, it's only two!"

"Ah, please wait a moment, guest, I'll be right there!" The waiter, not expecting this turn of events, immediately responded and quickly went to fetch a jar of wine.

This wine jar was only half the size of a normal one, but as soon as the seal was broken, a clear, mellow aroma of wine spread out, filling the entire dining hall.

The old man sitting by the window, drinking alone, also turned his head due to the wine aroma, his gaze falling upon the jar.

It was indeed good wine.

"Guests, I'm not bragging. This is top-quality Green Bamboo Wine, the only one of its kind in the entire village, available only at our inn. Smell this aroma!" The waiter said, taking a deep breath, his face filled with enjoyment and satisfaction.

Fang Yuan's heart stirred; the waiter wasn't entirely bragging.

There were three wine shops in Gu Yue village, all selling ordinary rice wine and cloudy wine, with similar varieties. Fang Yuan had bought wine for seven consecutive days to attract the Wine Bug, so he naturally knew the market.

The hunters gazed at the wine jar before them, their craving for alcohol piqued. They twitched their noses and swallowed.

The hunter who had spoken rashly and bought the wine had a more complex expression on his face, tinged with regret.

This single jar of wine was worth two primeval stones!

"I impulsively bought this wine. This waiter is too unethical, serving it immediately. Now that the seal is broken, I can't even return it."

The more the hunter thought about it, the more his heart ached. He wanted to return it but couldn't bear to lose face.

In the end, he could only slap the table and force a smile, "Damn it, this wine is good! Brothers, let's drink to our heart's content. I'm treating today!"

Just then, the young man from the corner table let out another scoff, "This small jar of wine, how can it be enough for six people? If you have the guts, buy a few more jars."

The hunter's veins bulged with anger at being provoked. He abruptly stood up, furious, his eyes wide as he glared at the young man, "You little brat, you talk too much. Come out here and spar with me, brother!"

"Oh? Then I shall come out." The young man, hearing this, actually stood up and walked out of the corner's shadow with a sinister smile.

He was tall and thin, with a pale face, dressed in a clean and neat dark blue martial uniform.

He wore a sapphire blue headband, a short jacket on his upper body, revealing his slender shoulders. He wore long trousers on his lower body, bamboo straw shoes on his feet, and leg wrappings on his calves.

Most importantly, he wore a blue cloth belt around his waist. The middle section of the belt was inlaid with a shiny copper piece, engraved with the black character "One".

"A Rank 1 Gu Master?!" The heckling hunter clearly understood the meaning of this attire. He gasped, and the anger on his face turned to fear.

He hadn't expected to provoke a Gu Master!

"Didn't you want to spar with me? Come on, make a move." The young Gu Master paced forward, a mocking smile on his face.

But the hunter who had just been provoking him stood there motionless, like a statue.

"Or you can all come at me together, that's fine too," the young Gu Master said casually as he slowly approached the hunters' table.

The hunters' faces changed, and those who had flushed red with drink instantly turned pale. Cold sweat trickled down their foreheads as they shifted uncomfortably, not daring to breathe too loudly.

The young Gu Master extended a hand, picked up the wine jar of Green Bamboo Wine, and brought it to his nose to sniff. He chuckled, "It really is fragrant..."

"If the Gu Master likes it, please take it and drink. Consider it my offense, and my apology to you, sir." The hunter who had been shouting provocatively quickly cupped his hands in a respectful bow, a smile plastered on his face.

Unexpectedly, the young Gu Master's expression drastically changed. With a smack, he slammed the wine jar onto the ground.

The Gu Master's face turned icy, his gaze like a sword. He roared in a low voice, "You think you're qualified to apologize to me? You hunters, you really have money, don't you? More money than me! To spend two primeval stones on wine?! Do you know I'm worried about primeval stones right now! How dare you flaunt your wealth in front of me at a time like this! You mortals don't deserve this?!"

"We wouldn't dare, we wouldn't dare!"

"We deserve death for offending you, sir!"

"We meant no offense, sirs. Here are the primeval stones we have on us, please accept them, Gu Master."

As if electrocuted, the hunters all stood up, pulling primeval stones from their chests. But these mortals, how could they have much money? All they produced were scattered primeval stones, the largest not even exceeding a quarter of a stone.

The young Gu Master didn't take the primeval stones. He merely sneered continuously, his gaze sweeping across the entire dining hall like a hawk.

The hunters he looked at all lowered their heads. Even the old man by the window, who had been watching the excitement, quickly turned his head away, avoiding the Gu Master's gaze.

Only Fang Yuan watched quietly, without any fear.

The attire of this young Gu Master was something only formal Gu Masters could wear, something even Fang Yuan wasn't qualified for yet. He would only receive it from the clan after graduating from the academy.

The character "One" on the young Gu Master's belt buckle indicated his Rank 1 Gu Master status.

But he looked to be in his early twenties, and the aura of true essence emanating from him suggested he was at the high-tier of Rank 1.

Starting his cultivation at fifteen and still only at high-tier Rank 1 in his early twenties indicated that the youth's aptitude was only D-grade, even worse than Fang Yuan's. It was highly likely he was merely a support Gu Master, not even a combat Gu Master.

Even so, dealing with six strong hunter men was still more than enough.

This was the power gap between Gu Masters and mortals.

With power comes superiority; this is the essence of this world. No, it's like this in any world – big fish eat small fish, small fish eat shrimp. It's just that this world displays it more nakedly, Fang Yuan mused inwardly.

"Alright Jiang Ya, a lesson is enough. Don't make things difficult for these mortals. If you're not embarrassed by the gossip, I will be," a voice spoke from another young person sitting in the corner.

Hearing her speak, everyone realized this young person was a woman.

The young Gu Master named Jiang Ya lost interest after his female companion spoke. He stopped sneering and didn't even glance at the scattered primeval stones the hunters offered. Combined, these stones weren't even worth two primeval stones, so he naturally had no interest.

He flicked his sleeve and walked back to his original seat, his footsteps accompanied by a parting threat, "If you have the guts, keep drinking. Keep drinking Green Bamboo Wine. I'd like to see who else dares to drink this wine?"

The hunters kept their heads bowed, chastised like six obedient grandchildren.

The rich aroma of wine permeated the entire dining hall. The hunter who had bought the wine watched the fragrant scent, his face twitching with heartache.

He had spent two primeval stones on this wine, yet hadn't taken a single sip!

Fang Yuan stopped his chopsticks; he had finished eating. Smelling the wine's fragrance, his eyes flickered a few times. He suddenly took out two primeval stones, placed them on the table, and said calmly, "Waiter, bring me a jar of Green Bamboo Wine."

The entire place froze.

The young Gu Master, Jiang Ya, immediately stopped in his tracks, his mouth twitching. He let out a breath. Fang Yuan had just asked for this wine right after he had issued his threat, wasn't this deliberately undermining him and slapping his face?

He turned around, narrowed his eyes, and shot a cold gaze at Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan met his gaze calmly, his expression serene and fearless.

Jiang Ya's eyes flickered, and the cold aura gradually receded. He felt the aura of true essence from Fang Yuan.

Realizing Fang Yuan's identity, he immediately chuckled, his smile as warm as a spring breeze, "So you're a junior schoolmate."

Everyone else suddenly understood, and their gazes towards Fang Yuan changed.

No wonder the young man wasn't afraid of the Gu Master; it turned out he was also a Gu Master. Although he was still attending the academy, his fundamental status was different.

"Gu Master, your wine!" The waiter scurried over, a fawning smile on his face.

Fang Yuan nodded to the young Gu Master Jiang Ya, picked up the wine jar, and walked out of the inn.