The Queen Mother's Imperial Decree dissipated.
With the cycle broken, the endlessly renewing Wine Formation became a pool of stagnant water.
Without the blessing of water spirit energy, the potency of the Immortal Brew swiftly faded as well.
The drunken immortals sprawled every which way across the clouds felt their minds clear and opened their eyes one after another.
Jiao Mujiao shook his heavy head and looked down, only to discover that he was lying spread-eagled in a wine puddle, still clutching an empty jar. The Heavenly Soldiers and Generals were all staring at him, struggling not to laugh.
The illustrious leader of the Twenty-Eight Lunar Mansions, an officially appointed military officer of the Heavenly Court, had gotten so drunk in public that he resembled a heap of mud?
If word reached Lingxiao Palace, where would he hide his face?
Jiao Mujiao reacted with astonishing speed. He scrambled up, slapped his thigh hard, and declared with a face full of vexation, "I would spill my blood and brains for the Heavenly Court! My loyalty is unwavering... eh? What just happened? The moment I entered the formation, an Illusion Formation bewildered my mind!"
With that, he even drew his weapon and looked around with a show of grave concern, as though demons really had ambushed him.
Hearing Jiao Mujiao's words, Zhu Bajie immediately caught on. He vigorously wiped his fat face and loudly helped shore up the lie. "Exactly! This formation was terribly powerful! It blinded every last one of us! Horn Mansion, while you were muddleheaded just now, you even took Old Pig by the hand and danced beside the wine vat!"
Jiao Mujiao nearly lost his composure.
Dancing?
Dancing hand in hand with a pig, no less?
But preserving his reputation came first. Even swallowing this grievance in silence