Bonus Chapter: Drinking

At the Seven Star Sect, Qin Mu made a rare return to his disciple dormitory in the Dao Sect.

As he pushed the door open, a visible layer of dust greeted him.

Come to think of it, he had not lived here alone once since joining the Seven Star Sect.

He took out a Talisman and tore it.

A gentle breeze blew through the area, instantly clearing away the dust.

Just as Qin Mu was tidying his room, a knock sounded at the door.

‘Strange. I shouldn’t know anyone here.’

Qin Mu opened the door to find a youth standing before him.

The young man had delicate features and an aura that suggested he was at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Judging by his Daoist Robes, he was likely a Senior Brother.

“Senior Brother, may I ask what brings you to see this Junior Brother?”

Qin Mu asked politely with a bow.

The youth looked at Qin Mu and asked, “Are you the occupant of this room, Junior Brother?”

“I am.”

“Oh, I see. I noticed this place was always locked before and assumed no one lived here. Seeing it unlocked today, I came over out of curiosity.”

The youth cupped his hands.

“I am Hong Tian, a disciple from the class before yours.”

In response to Hong Tian’s introduction, Qin Mu reciprocated the courtesy.

“I am Qin Mu. It is a pleasure to meet you, Senior Brother.”

“Haha! Meeting like this is fate. Why doesn’t Junior Brother Qin come and have a drink with me?”

Hong Tian invited him enthusiastically.

Regarding the invitation, Qin Mu considered that Miss Mengyu only required him to be back before sunset.

It was not even noon yet, so he had plenty of time.

“Very well. In that case, I shall trouble you, Senior Brother.”

“Haha, you’re too polite, Junior Brother Qin!”

Hong Tian laughed heartily.

Qin Mu felt that this Senior Brother was quite a pleasant person.

Since Qin Mu was not very familiar with the Dao Sect’s layout, he followed Hong Tian to a tavern.

Walking a step ahead, Hong Tian remarked, “Although the Sect doesn’t forbid drinking, everyone is so obsessed with cultivation that they usually aren’t interested in such things. Aside from the areas where new disciples live, it’s actually quite hard to find a tavern elsewhere.”

Despite what Hong Tian said, Qin Mu remembered seeing several grand taverns while wandering through the Dan Sect and the Sword Sect with Miss Mengyu and Miss Ruoshuang.

“Senior Brother, what would you say is the difference between the taverns where the Holy Maidens live and the ones here?”

Hong Tian paused at the question, then gave a bitter smile.

“Junior Brother Qin, just thinking about those taverns is enough. You and I can’t afford them. Just the most basic spiritual wine costs several hundred Ling Stones. For disciples like us, it’s beyond our means.”

Qin Mu opened his mouth to speak but ultimately just nodded.

“That’s true. We should just enjoy the moment! Drunk today, for today we have wine!”

Only now did Qin Mu realize that in all his years since soul-transmigrating, he had always lived under the protection of the Qin Family or traveled with his sisters.

He had never truly experienced the life of an ordinary cultivator on the Heavenly Profound Continent.

“That’s a great sentiment, Junior Brother Qin! Drunk today, for today we have wine! Come! This round is on me!”

Hong Tian threw an arm around Qin Mu’s shoulders.

Entering the tavern, Qin Mu found it was different from the empty ones he had seen before.

There were many people here, and a quick scan revealed they were all disciples at the Qi Refining Stage or Foundation Establishment Stage.

“Haha! Come, Junior Brother! I’ll take you to my usual spot!”

Hong Tian led Qin Mu to a corner on the second floor where an empty table sat.

While heading upstairs, Hong Tian had already grabbed two flasks of spiritual wine.

He brought out the cups and poured the wine.

It was not crystal clear; instead, it was slightly cloudy.

Qin Mu picked up his cup and took a sip.

There was none of the sweetness he was used to, let alone the fragrance of spiritual fruits.

There was only a harsh, spicy burn.

“Cough, cough!”

The moment he swallowed, Qin Mu’s face turned red, and he broke into a fit of coughing.

Seeing him like this, Hong Tian burst out laughing.

“Junior Brother Qin, you need to work on your tolerance. You can’t have your face turning red after just one sip. If you’re like this, how are you ever going to chase after Senior and Junior Sisters?”

“Senior Brother, what does drinking have to do with chasing sisters?”

Qin Mu asked after catching his breath, failing to see the connection.

Hearing this, Hong Tian glanced around to ensure no female disciples were nearby, then lowered his voice.

“Stupid! Junior Brother, if you don’t get them drunk, what chance will you ever have?”

With that, Hong Tian poured another cup for Qin Mu.

“Come, come, Junior Brother Qin, keep drinking!”

“Wait!”

Qin Mu quickly blocked the cup.

“Senior Brother, are we just going to drink straight? Aren’t we getting any food?”

In his past life, even a simple drinking session at least involved some peanuts.

Hong Tian slapped his forehead.

“Oh, right! How could I forget? Haha, I was so focused on drinking with you that it slipped my mind.”

The two continued to drink.

As the alcohol took hold, they became more animated, talking about everything under the sun.

Eventually, Hong Tian asked, “Come to think of it, Junior Brother Qin, I’ve almost never seen you. If we hadn’t crossed paths today, we probably wouldn’t be having this drink.”

After a few more sips, the potency of the wine began to hit Qin Mu.

His head felt heavy, and he answered in a daze, “It’s normal that you haven’t seen me, Senior Brother. I rarely stay at the Dao Sect.”

“Haha! What a thing to say. If a Dao Sect disciple doesn’t stay at the Dao Sect, do you just find a random spot in the wilderness to sleep?”

“No, no!”

Qin Mu waved his hand, speaking hesitantly.

“As for me… I spend some time at the Dan Sect, some time at the Sword Sect, and occasionally, I stay with the Sect Master.”

“You stay in those places?! Why not stay at the Dao Sect? You are a Dao Sect disciple, after all.”

Qin Mu picked up a piece of meat and popped it into his mouth.

“Because my two sisters are there. One is in the Sword Sect, and the other is in the Dan Sect.”

Hearing that his Junior Brother had two sisters, the long-time bachelor Hong Tian’s eyes lit up.

“Junior Brother Qin, do your two sisters have Dao Companions?”

Qin Mu looked at Hong Tian and waved him off.

“Senior Brother, don’t even think about it. It’s impossible.”

Hong Tian refilled Qin Mu’s cup.

“Hehe, Junior Brother, your Senior Brother is still…”

Before he could finish, a loud thud sounded as Qin Mu collapsed onto the table.

Having never been a heavy drinker since childhood, he had finally reached his limit after consuming more than half a flask of spiritual wine.

“Junior Brother Qin? Junior Brother Qin?”

Hong Tian nudged him.

“You’re such a lightweight. You barely drank anything before passing out.”

At that moment, the noisy tavern suddenly went silent.

A bone-chilling cold began to permeate the air.

Even as a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator, Hong Tian couldn’t help but shiver.

Suddenly, a flash of white appeared in the corner of his eye.

When he turned his head, he was instantly stunned.

Without him noticing, a woman in white had appeared behind him.

She was breathtakingly beautiful, possessing a cold temperament and a pair of striking crimson eyes.

The Holy Maiden of the Sword Sect, Qin Ruoshuang!

Hong Tian’s drunkenness vanished instantly.

His mind raced with one thought: Why was the Holy Maiden of the Sword Sect here?!

Qin Ruoshuang’s cold gaze flickered toward Hong Tian.

He felt as if his very True Qi was being frozen solid.

Then, she moved toward the unconscious Qin Mu.

She leaned down slightly and gathered Mu’er into her arms.

A moment later, the space around them rippled, and both figures vanished.

Hong Tian rubbed his eyes.

After confirming several times that his Junior Brother was indeed gone, he noticed two top-grade Spirit Stones had appeared on the table.

But then again… why would the Holy Maiden of the Sword Sect show up here?

Wait!

Qin Mu… Qin Ruoshuang… and then there was what the Junior Brother said about “the place where the Holy Maidens live”…

Hong Tian felt as though he had just stumbled upon a massive, incredible secret.