A Toast to Drown a Thousand Sorrows!

Lin Xia instinctively tried to break free, her exhausted body sending out signals of resistance.

All he wants now is to find a secluded corner to bury himself and lick his heart-wrenching wounds alone.

Drink wine?

What problem can that solve?

"No... I..."

The words of refusal were on the tip of his tongue when Hu Liena forcefully interrupted him.

"When you're drunk, you don't have to think about anything!"

Hu Liena's voice possessed a strange, seductive power, striking directly at his deepest Covet at that moment.

"A good drink can wash away all your sorrows! Lin Xia, you need this! Now! Right now! Come with me!"

"Drunk..."

This word was like a lifeline, suddenly crashing into Lin Xia's heart, which was overwhelmed by despair.

Yes, getting drunk... would getting drunk allow me to temporarily escape this suffocating pain?

Will that make me forget the tears of despair in my teacher's eyes and the struggle of my soul being torn apart?

Will that mean we'll never again see Qian Renxue slumped amidst the shards, her soul broken, her eyes vacant?

Does that mean we no longer need to think about the destructive storm brought about by that damned "right to know"?

Will that... grant me a moment of respite?

Get away.

He needs to escape.

Even if it's just a brief, illusory escape.

Meeting Hu Liena's unwavering gaze, filled with burning concern, Lin Xia's tense body and will crumbled in an instant.

The words of refusal completely disappeared deep in his throat, and in the depths of the overwhelming despair and sorrow in his eyes, a faint but twisted Ember finally ignited—a frantic Covet for a brief respite.

Lin Xia remained silent, no longer struggling, letting Hu Liena grasp his wrist, like a puppet without its tether, being pulled around and towards her room.

His footsteps remained heavy and dragging, echoing hollowly on the clean, cold floor.

Venusaur out a soft "Dana" and followed faithfully behind the two with heavy steps.

Hu Liena's room was located on the other side of the palace, a little further from the core area, and it carried her personal style of sophistication and a touch of languor. Pushing open the door, a warm feeling mixed with a faint fragrance of incense and flowers and fruits wafted out, which contrasted sharply with the coldness of the corridor.

Under the bright Soul Guidance Lamp in the room, there were already two people. Dugu Yan was lazily leaning on the soft couch by the window, playing with a green snake-shaped Soul Tool. Her dark green short hair made her skin look even whiter.

Ye Lingling sat quietly at a small table to the side, holding an ancient botanical Pokédex in her hands. Her temperament was as aloof as a solitary orchid under the moon, and her long, silvery-white hair cascaded over her shoulders.

Several plates of delicate pastries and a set of crystal-clear glassware were also placed on the table, indicating that they had originally been having a small gathering.

Seeing Hu Liena leading a distraught Lin Xia in, followed by a huge Venusaur, Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling both looked up in surprise.

"Nana? What's wrong with you...?"

Dugu Yan sat up straight, but before she could finish her question, her gaze fell on Lin Xia's face, and she instantly fell silent.

She had never seen Lin Xia look like this before!

That handsome face, which always carried confidence and occasionally revealed a playful or sharp edge, now only showed a kind of desolation and numbness as if its soul had been completely hollowed out, and a heavy sadness almost solidified and dripped from his body.

The aura emanating from him was so heavy that it seemed to freeze the air itself.

Ye Lingling also put down the Pokédex in her hand, a clear look of surprise and worry flashing across her cool eyes.

Her keen Martial Soul perception allowed her to "touch" Lin Xia's current state more clearly than Dugu Yan —it was a huge void and chaotic fluctuation left after his soul was violently torn apart, and pain surged within him like a raging undercurrent.

Hu Liena didn't let them ask any questions. She pulled Lin Xia to the table and made him sit down in the chair next to Ye Lingling.

Venusaur let out a soft croak, its massive body carefully settling down on the rug near the door, trying not to take up too much space. The flowers on its back opened and closed slightly, emitting a soothing aura of life.

"Don't ask!"

Hu Liena gestured for silence to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling, who were about to speak, her tone resolute and carrying a rare, leader-like strength.

She walked briskly to the exquisite wine cabinet to the side, not even glancing at the expensive wines, and directly picked up a simple, large earthenware jar. The mouth of the jar was sealed with yellow clay, and a strong and mellow aroma of wine wafted out.

"Smack!"

She deftly and skillfully pried open the seal with her fingernails, and the strong, almost pungent aroma of alcohol instantly filled the air.

She then took out several thick ceramic bowls and placed them on the table with a clatter.

"Drink! Don't mention anything else!"

Hu Liena pushed the largest ceramic bowl in front of Lin Xia, then picked one up for herself and gave one each to Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling.

She popped the cork off the earthenware jar, and the amber-colored, viscous, honey-like wine gushed into Lin Xia's bowl, quickly filling it to the brim. The strong aroma of the wine filled her nostrils.

Dugu Yan and Ye Lingling exchanged a glance, both seeing seriousness in each other's eyes.

For Hu Liena to act so abnormally, and for Lin Xia to become like this, the matter must be far more serious than imagined.

They tacitly chose to remain silent. Dugu Yan casually picked up her own bowl, and Ye Lingling hesitated for a moment before gently picking up the smallest ceramic bowl in front of her.

Hu Liena poured herself a full bowl, then raised it to Lin Xia, her voice filled with an almost burning determination.

"Drink! Lin Xia! Don't think about anything tonight, just get drunk, and we'll talk about anything else tomorrow!"

Lin Xia's gaze finally focused on the bowl of strong liquor in front of her, which shimmered with an amber glow.

The rich, mellow aroma of the wine was no longer a stimulant to him, but rather an antidote exuding a deadly Captivate.

He barely hesitated, reaching out his still slightly trembling hand to grasp the rim of the bowl.

The cold, rough texture of the pottery came through.

He picked it up and brought it to his lips.

Then, under the watchful eyes of Hu Liena, Dugu Yan, and Ye Lingling, he suddenly tilted his head back!

"Glug! Glug! Glug!"

Without any pause, without any tasting, it was like a dying traveler in the desert finding a spring of sweet water, or like using this scorching liquid to Sheer Force extinguish the burning fire of karma in one's heart.

Large gushes of pungent, scalding liquor poured down my throat, the Burn sensation spreading from my mouth all the way to my stomach, like a fuse being lit.

The pungent smell of alcohol rushed into his nasal cavity, causing tears to well up in his eyes instantly, mingling with the lingering traces of sadness on his face, and streaming down his cheeks.

The bowl was empty!

"Uh--cough cough!"

Lin Xia abruptly put down the bowl and began to cough violently. An abnormal flush quickly rose to her cheeks, and veins throbbed on her forehead.

The strong alcohol was like a red-hot hammer, slamming into his muddled mind, bringing a brief, almost dizzying blankness.

"Good!"

Hu Liena's eyes lit up. Without any intention of dissuading him, she immediately picked up the pottery jar again and filled his empty bowl once more, her movements quick and steady.

The amber-colored liquor sloshed in the bowl, reflecting the light of the Soul Guidance Lamp, and also reflecting Lin Xia's eyes, which were briefly unfocused by the impact of the strong liquor, and then covered by a deeper pain.