"Now this is the life of an immortal!" Sun Wukong even chewed up the fish bones and swallowed them, mumbling as he ate. "Back on Flower-Fruit Mountain, I, Old Sun only knew how to eat peaches. Who knew there were such delicacies in this world?"
"Now that we've eaten and drunk our fill, let's do something refined tonight." Chu Yang pulled several exquisite little wooden cups from his robes, then took out a jug of "Pear Blossom White" he had swiped from the best distillery in Tianfeng City.
"Master, I know monks can't drink alcohol. So I specifically had the distillery master add honey and pear juice to this jug, then simmer it over a low flame. It's Pear Juice Fruit Brew—warms you up without getting you drunk."
Chu Yang poured Tang Monk a cup, then poured one for Sun Wukong, and finally filled his own.
The moon rose above the willow branches.
The three sat on the ground with their backs against the cliff, listening to the stream, drinking the mellow fruit brew, and chatting about meaningless things.
"Benefactor Chu, you once said you came from a 'very distant' place. Did people there also sleep out in the open like us?" Tang Monk was slightly drunk, his gaze hazy as he looked up at the night sky.
Chu Yang raised his wooden cup and looked at the bright moon through the clear liquor.
"That place..." Chu Yang fell silent for a moment before speaking softly. "People there rarely sleep outdoors. They live in steel boxes that tower into the clouds. When they go out, they ride iron boxes that can travel a thousand miles a day. If they want to eat something, all they have to do is tap on another little glowing box, and someone will bring steaming-hot