Drinking, Sneaking...

"They didn't follow us, did they? We shook off the guards from home, too."

Xiao Qian panted slightly, his chest rising and falling as he nervously scanned his surroundings.

"Phew... Why is your Xun'er like a little housekeeper? She won't let you out of her sight for even a moment."

Xiao Yan was also somewhat breathless, his cheeks flushed from running, but a teasing smile lingered on his face.

The sun was setting, bathing the bustling alley in warm orange-red light, as though the entire lane had been draped in a veil of gold.

Shop signs amid the dazzling nightlife flashed with multicolored lights. People came and went, their noisy voices weaving together into a scene brimming with the bustle of everyday life.

Xiao Qian and Xiao Yan had deliberately changed into plain clothes. They blended into the crowd without drawing any attention, like two ordinary grains of sand sinking into a vast desert, easily disappearing into the flood of people.

"Heh, if you had a little sister, she'd definitely stop you from sneaking out for a drink, too. We're not adults yet, after all."

Xiao Qian swallowed, his Adam's apple bobbing. Just thinking about alcohol made him struggle to restrain himself.

It was one of the rare interests shared between his two lives. No matter the world, as long as humans still had troubles, there would always be a place for alcohol.

It was like seasoning for life, allowing people to find a trace of comfort amid bitterness and a moment of peace amid confusion.

"Oh, give me a break. Does Xun'er act like a little sister? She's clearly treating you as her exclusive possession!"

Xiao Yan chuckled, his smile tinged with mischief. Then he furtively lowered his voice, hooked an arm around Xiao Qian's neck, and asked, "Are you two playing some little game together? You really know how to have fun!"

Curiosity and gossip gleamed in his eyes as he tried to find clues in Xiao Qian's expression.

Xiao Qian shook his head. "Being my little sister is as far as it goes. The wise don't plunge into the river of love."

His tone was firm yet calm, as though he were stating an unshakable truth. A detached composure shone in his eyes, as if he had already seen through the true nature of love.

Xiao Yan gave him an odd look. "Every time something like that comes out of your mouth, it gives me this weird sense of familiarity."

"All right, enough of that. Where are we drinking today?"

Whenever this subject came up, Xiao Qian started diverting his attention, unwilling to dwell on such a sensitive topic.

"Just follow me. I guarantee it'll be worth the trip!"

At that, Xiao Yan immediately lit up, excitement sparkling in his eyes like a child who had discovered treasure.

He grabbed Xiao Qian and ran, his movements urgent and decisive, as though afraid of missing something spectacular. His hurried footsteps rang against the flagstone road.

Xiao Qian turned to look at his profile. There was something in his expression that any man would understand, a gleam full of anticipation and yearning, as though he were pursuing some indescribable thrill, like an explorer about to enter a mysterious, unknown realm.

"Those two little brats are here?"

Deep within the dazzling nightlife stood a bar whose suggestive atmosphere was apparent at a glance.

Inside, the lights were dim, the music sultry, and an intoxicating fragrance filled the air.

On the second floor, out of the patrons' sight, the owner leaned forward slightly with a fawning smile that looked somewhat sinister in the dim light.

"Yes. I had some other bar owners I know spread the word that we'd received a new batch of snake women from the Tagor Desert today. Sure enough, that Xiao Yan from the Xiao Clan took the bait."

The owner's voice was low and respectful, every word dripping with ingratiation. A scheming glint flashed in his eyes, making him resemble a cunning fox.

"Heh." The young man sneered, his laugh full of disdain and mockery. "So young, yet already such a womanizer. Everything else is ready, too, isn't it?" His tone was icy, his gaze vicious.

The bar owner nodded emphatically. "Rest assured, everything is ready. I guarantee they won't leave this place today!"

"Good. That way, the Xiao Clan won't trace it back to us." Satisfied, the young man left, his figure disappearing into the darkness as though he had never been there.

Meanwhile, in a private room downstairs, suggestive pink and purple light swirled like a dreamlike mist, making it feel as though one had entered a mysterious world.

The light was hazy and unreal, spilling into every corner and creating a dazed, dreamy atmosphere.

Xiao Qian stared, utterly dumbfounded, at the eight... snake women lined up before him. Their transparent clothes barely covered their bodies.

Beneath the pink and purple light, the clothes, thin as cicada wings, faintly outlined their graceful figures. Every inch of skin glowed enticingly.

As their serpentine tails swayed gently, their slender waists twisted ceaselessly like nimble water snakes, exuding a primal allure that made it difficult to look away.

Every sway seemed to speak of temptation, an irresistible charm, as though an invisible force were drawing the eye.

"Hey! We're going this far today?!"

Xiao Qian couldn't help turning to look at Xiao Yan, only to find his eyes shining, too engrossed to answer.

Excitement and curiosity filled his gaze, a yearning for something new. He stared fixedly at the snake women as though under a spell.

Xiao Qian sighed. He could more or less understand Xiao Yan's desire to experience some exotic charm.

The snake women immediately slithered over, twisting their slender waists with light, graceful movements, as though dancing to an alluring melody.

Their eyes were full of seductive charm, enchanting smiles on their lips, like spirits that could steal a person's soul.

Several others gently pushed open the private room's door and disappeared outside like ghosts.

"Young masters, enjoy yourselves. Hehehe..."

The bar owner wore a smile that any man would understand, full of suggestive implications.

Then he, too, withdrew from the room, as though leaving them a private space.

The door slowly closed with a soft click, yet it seemed like the opening note of some conspiracy.

Soon, the serving girls filed in, their footsteps light and orderly.

They carried trays laden with all manner of exquisite food and drinks.

Dozens of bottles of assorted fine liquor were arranged on the low table before the sofa.

Beneath the pink and purple light, the bottles glittered alluringly, like stars twinkling in the night sky.

The liquor swirled inside the bottles, giving off an enchanting fragrance.

"Hey, hey, that's going too far."

Watching Xiao Yan embrace a woman on either side, his hands already wandering who knew where, Xiao Qian's eye began twitching violently. Helplessness filled his gaze, as though he were watching someone sinking into a mire.

"Watch yourself. You're still young."

He quietly reminded Xiao Yan not to indulge too much, a hint of seriousness in his voice.

"Hahaha, what are you thinking? I only called them over to drink!" Xiao Yan released the slender waists encircled by his hands and brazenly told the snake women beside Xiao Qian, "Show us everything you've got. If you can drink him under the table, I'll reward you generously!"

What a freewheeling young genius he was, still maintaining his unruly spirit in this temptation-filled setting.

"Young master, let me toast you with a bottle."

"Young master, how about a game of dice? If you lose, you drink. If I lose... you can have me do anything you want."

The snake women on either side immediately pressed close, their voices soft and seductive, offering an enticing promise that left Xiao Qian restless and agitated.

Their voices were like soft feathers brushing gently across his heart, plucking at his heartstrings.

He couldn't be bothered with all the tangled emotional disputes between men and women, but that didn't mean he was a monk! Was his dragon race bloodline anything ordinary?! The passion lurking within his blood stirred faintly at that moment, making it difficult for him to control himself.

"Stop, stop, stop. I'll drink, all right?"

Hunching slightly, Xiao Qian avoided the two snake women's attempts to press against him, raised his glass toward Xiao Yan, and drained it in one decisive, carefree motion.

The liquor flowed down his throat, bringing a burning sensation.

"Hehe, that's more like it. We're here to have fun, so don't be so stiff." Xiao Yan also pushed away the snake women on either side, sat beside Xiao Qian, and raised his glass to drain it. "Come on! Drink!"

An excited smile spread across his face, his eyes gleaming with enjoyment of this moment of indulgence.

The snake women were well-behaved, too. They no longer pressed against them, but kept pouring drinks and urging them to drink between exchanges. Their pouring was elegant and practiced, as though they were putting on a beautiful performance.

The liquor swirled in their glasses, releasing an enchanting fragrance that filled the entire room.

Alcohol distillation on the Dou Qi Continent was nothing special, so naturally the liquor wasn't as strong as in their previous world. Still, after a few bottles, the two began to feel tipsy, and a restless heat gradually rose within their bodies.

That heat spread through them like a burning flame, but they paid it no mind.

They immersed themselves in the pleasure of being pleasantly drunk, as though forgetting everything around them.

"Xiao Yan... you seem especially interested in... things between men and women?"

As the alcohol went to Xiao Qian's head, he gradually became more talkative. His eyes were somewhat hazy, but he still retained a trace of clarity.

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow. "Drinking the strongest liquor and holding the most beautiful women-isn't that the biggest reason every man works hard at cultivation?"

His tone suggested that this was only natural, his eyes gleaming with longing for such a life.

"I don't think so." Xiao Qian shrugged and clinked glasses with him, smiling. "Women are just too much trouble. Besides, cultivation itself is fun. Don't you think the feeling of growing stronger is especially wonderful?"

His eyes shone with love and dedication toward cultivation. To him, the sense of accomplishment it brought far surpassed romantic affection.

"Don't tell me you've spent so long with Xun'er that you don't even notice anyone else anymore?"

Xiao Yan leaned closer and chuckled. "Your Xun'er may be beautiful, but don't you want to experience some different scenery? Women may be troublesome, but isn't that very trouble what makes a man want to conquer them? You cultivation maniac just haven't awakened to it yet. Why not stay out tonight? There are rooms upstairs where you can do whatever you like."

His voice was full of temptation and encouragement, luring Xiao Qian toward a path brimming with thrills, a mischievous gleam flashing in his eyes.

Hearing that, Xiao Qian instinctively wanted to refuse, but somehow, despite the words reaching his lips, he couldn't say them.

His gaze drifted, half deliberately, over the snake women's slender waists.

Those waists swayed before his eyes like supple ribbons, stirring some desire deep within him.

His heartbeat began to quicken, and an impulse he had never felt before surged within his heart.

"Something's... wrong..."

Suddenly, he felt unlike himself, as though a beast that had hidden within him for far too long was roaring through his body, leaving him unable to control his emotions.

"Xiao Yan, how do you feel?"

Xiao Qian turned, only to see Xiao Yan's eyes clouded over, his hands already roaming uncontrollably over the snake women on either side, like lost birds seeking comfort upon their bodies.

"Wake up!"

He clenched his teeth and bit through his tongue. The sudden pain finally restored some clarity, and without another word, he began slapping Xiao Yan's face in rapid succession.

His palms struck Xiao Yan's face with crisp smacks.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow!"

Xiao Yan shuddered, a little clarity returning to his eyes.

He covered his cheeks, a trace of fear appearing in his gaze, as though he had awakened from a nightmare.

"There's something wrong with the liquor! Let's get out of here first!"

Xiao Qian hauled him to his feet, making several snake women cry out repeatedly like startled birds.

Their cries echoed through the room, shattering its previously suggestive atmosphere.

"Young masters! What's wrong?! Are you heading upstairs? We've already prepared two completely secure, soundproof rooms with large beds for you..."

The bar owner came hurrying over at the commotion.