Chapter 9, Gambling with Wine

Bai Lao Qi said: "No, no, there isn't a single drop of water to be found in the wine cellar; he can't fake it even if he wanted to. Both of us brothers are watching closely, and it's impossible to secretly pour out the wine without drinking it."

The Jade Tea Fairy curiously asked, "But in this case, my younger sister does not know which of the two seniors is the elder brother."

Li Xianzi said: "How could I not understand this principle? My sister knows her limits, so there is no need for me to worry."

Only lamenting the clock's return, inexplicably suffering misfortune, losing more than 30 jars of fine wine in one night, and also sacrificing a jar of exquisite wine, the aftermath brought tears and sorrow to all involved

Bai Lao Jiu said: "Therefore, we shall follow Lin Xiaozi's suggestion and compete in our drinking capacity. Whoever can hold their liquor without falling will be able to take away that jar of exquisite wine. The loser must agree to do one thing for the winner, even if it means climbing a mountain of knives or descending into a pot of boiling oil, they must not go back on their word"

That night, in less than an hour, the two of us downed twenty jars of aged liquor in one go, each jar weighing no less than ten jin. In the end, we were utterly drunk, relying on Lin Yi to stagger out of the Drunken Mountain Villa, nearly becoming captives of Old Zhong.

Li Xianzi coldly laughed and said: "Do as you wish, is it possible that this young lady is afraid of you?"

The gentleman in front added: "It also makes us brothers seem too good-tempered and overly incompetent"

The Jade Tea Fairy joyfully said: "Thank you very much, esteemed seniors, for your support. I am deeply grateful!"

Bai Lao Qi said solemnly: "You are mistaken. Skills can be learned anywhere, and a broken dagger is nothing significant. However, there is only one jar of the finest wine in the world, and even if it costs us brothers' lives, it is worth it."

The two ugly men were momentarily taken aback; before such a delicate and graceful young girl pleading softly, they felt that even resorting to punches or kicks, let alone uttering a harsh word, would be a great disservice to the scene, and they truly could not bring themselves to do it

Luo Yuwei smiled and said, "At that time, Junior Brother Lin did not mention this matter. It was only recently that he approached both of you to fulfill the wager and seek me out"

Bai Lao Jiu said: "Unfortunately, we lost the bet, and that wine has already gone to Lin Yi. All we can do is watch helplessly. It would be fine if we couldn't smell the wine, but once we catch a whiff, it feels like thousands of little bugs are scratching around in my stomach."

At present, after bidding farewell to the Jade Tea Fairy, I turned and rode the wind away. After walking a considerable distance, I could still hear Bai Lao Jiu and Bai Lao Qi arguing loudly about the location of Si Xian Peak, whether it was to the east or to the west

Fairy Li shyly retorted, "Who has changed their mind? Bai Laoqi, do not speak recklessly."

Bai Laojiu angrily said: "Nonsense, I was clearly awake before you. It was you who asked me after waking up, 'What does Lin want us to do?'"

Bai Lao Qi and Bai Lao Jiu both had flushed faces, hesitating for a long time before Bai Lao Jiu finally said: "Old Seven, it's been too long since this matter occurred, I can't remember clearly, why don't you go ahead and explain."

Bai Lao Qi, disregarding any further contention with Bai Lao Jiu, shouted at the top of his lungs: "Hey, don’t walk away, I haven’t told you who I am yet! Listen, I am Bai Qi, the one who 'stands under the blue sky, treads upon the vast lands, is invincible in battle, possesses both literary and martial prowess, is unparalleled in elegance, and is truly one of a kind'—remember our brother's name, and don’t forget to spread the word when you meet others"

Li Xianzi exclaimed, "Yunju Temple and Qinglian Monastery are completely unrelated; how could one be destroyed by the other?"

Bai Laojiu said: "It just so happens that he and our brothers both have their eyes on a jar of exquisite wine, a rare treasure that Old Zhong has cherished for many years, and we began to compete with each other without yielding. This can be considered as heroes having similar tastes, but unfortunately, there is only this one jar of fine wine. Even if our own mother were to come, we brothers cannot give it up."

Luo Yu secretly recalled that Lin Yi had indeed visited the Wuling Mountain Range three years ago, but upon returning, he did not mention his encounter with the Twin Saints of Mang Mountain. Otherwise, he would not have been so perplexed just now.

The person behind said: "Why don't you roll on the ground a couple of times first, and then we, the brothers from hetushu.com, will see who can do a better somersault?"

The two women found his crude remarks offensive, their faces flushed with embarrassment, and Li Xianzi lightly spat in response.

The gentleman at the front, invigorated, said: "You, this wretched old woman, are so ignorant that you have never even heard of the title 'The Twin Saints of Mangshan'.

She silently recited her heart's mantra, the true energy circulating in her dantian, and a sphere of white light radiated from her body. In an instant, she transformed into an unremarkable young woman, dressed in the attire of a green oriole, with her demeanor strikingly lifelike.

The gentleman in front felt immensely pleased and satisfied as she sincerely thanked him. He waved his hand, feigning generosity, and said: "It's just a small matter, isn't it? If you are happy in the future, we brothers can let go of ten or a hundred more for you to see."

Bai Lao Qi was not angry; he simply corrected, "That’s incorrect; it’s the Saint of Wine and the Immortal of Wine! Although that kid's cultivation back in the day was quite good, he was no match for us brothers. However, I have read extensively and am well-versed in etiquette; how could I bully the weak and rely on brute strength to seize what is not mine"

Bai Lao Qi snorted, "If it weren't for my keen ears hearing someone calling 'Luo Yu', would you have been able to find him?"

The Virgin of Golden Light's face turned ashen; being forced to perform somersaults like a child in front of everyone was more unbearable than death itself. However, under the overwhelming pressure of the other party's formidable presence, escape was not an option. She found herself in a dilemma, frozen in place.

Another way: "I laughed so hard, even a three-year-old would know that nine is greater than seven, I am the elder brother!"

Bai Lao Jiu also said: "Yes, it's more fun with more people. What meaning is there in being all alone?"

Suddenly, a scream came from above: "A monster!"

Bai Laojiu shook his head and said: "He is alone against the two of us brothers, so naturally his drinking capacity is halved. If we drink 20 jars, then 10 jars would be enough for him. But this fellow stubbornly finished 11 jars of the divine wine, surpassing us by one jar."

The ugly man at the back said: "This wretched old woman doesn't mind not turning over. If she is unwilling, can we not turn over and play by ourselves?"

Li Xianzi did not dare to ride the sword, lest the dazzling brilliance of the sword attract attention. Instead, she rode the wind northward, traveling over twenty miles before turning westward, heading straight for Qiu Song Ridge

Li Xianzi, upon seeing these two coarse men who spoke freely and were both simple and humorous, also set aside her initial feelings of alarm and playfully asked: "Bai Lao Jiu, do you really have so many brothers? I wonder if they are like you, one in front and one behind?"

Bai Lao Qi said: "Have you finally admitted that your memory is worse than mine? That was three years ago"

Bai Lao Qi exclaimed, "Alright, let’s hurry! We can’t let that Lin kid take down Qinglian Temple all by himself. It’s been so many years since I’ve had the chance to enjoy such a lively and entertaining event; this time, I absolutely cannot miss it."

The Fairy of Jade Tea smiled and said, "Wherever Brother Luo goes, I shall naturally follow."

Although tensions were high, everyone still couldn't help but laugh, as it was unexpected that these two ugly men were actually afraid of being told that they had "too good a temper"

Having said that, she glared at Luo Yu with resentment, truly unable to understand what was so good about this guy that it made her beloved younger sister fall head over heels in love with him.

Li Xianzi could not help but exclaim: "A half jar of wine has deceived so many divine skills and a dagger of autumn water; this young man Lin Yi has made a great profit."

Li Xianzi was even more taken aback; she had not noticed the presence of anyone nearby just moments ago. Suddenly, someone shouted, which truly startled her.

Old Bai Qi was still staring eagerly in the direction where the Golden Light Holy Mother had disappeared, too preoccupied to respond. Old Bai Jiu, with a beaming smile, said: "You are truly Lin Yi's senior apprentice, far more sensible than he is. How can a master produce such completely different disciples?"

Jin https : / / mhetushucomcom the Holy Mother of Light nodded and said: "The Twin Saints of Mangshan, I have noted this down, we shall meet again!"

Bai Lao Qi said: "This kid is truly remarkable; he learns any skill with just one glance. My technique, 'Divine Immortal's Probe', he only needed to see once, and he was able to use it quite adeptly. He even skillfully stole a 'Autumn Water Dagger' from Lao Jiu's possession."

The ugly man at the back, unable to wait for him to finish speaking, called out in great displeasure: "Old Jiu, why is it always you who speaks first?"

Bai Lao Jiu said: "Indeed, I was also having that thought at the time, when I saw that kid throw the wine jar over and say: 'This remaining half belongs to you, but do not say that Lin is stingy.' I was taken aback, and without a second thought, I picked up the wine jar and drank. Little did I know that after just two sips, it was snatched away by Lao Qi."

Li Xianzi let out a "hum" from her nose and said, "You all go ahead; this young lady will not join in on this commotion"

At dusk, the distant Qiusong Ridge came into view as she landed gracefully at the foot of the mountain

Two ugly men were taken aback. The man in front scratched his sparse red hair and said, "Little girl, have you lost your mind? You call this old hag 'godmother,' yet just a moment ago, she nearly took your life. Why are you pleading for her?"

By the time he finished speaking, the Holy Mother of Golden Light had already vanished without a trace

Then, with eyes wide open in anger, I desperately turned my head, but could only glare at the other person with a sidelong glance, saying: "I am the seventh, you are the ninth; if we count the numbers, I am greater than you."

Bai Lao Jiu said: "Am I not aware of this matter? It's just that I feel embarrassed to ask him to return it, so I might as well consider it a gift to that kid. After all, that thing originally didn't belong to me."

When saying this, there was a hint of uncertainty in their voice. It turned out that at that time, the two of them might have had the thought of forcibly seizing it, but they were just embarrassed to tarnish the reputation of "Manshan Shuangsheng" after being skillfully entangled by Lin Yi's few words.

The Holy Mother of Light let out a low hum and coldly said: "You two might as well leave your esteemed names. If I gain anything in the future, I will certainly come to seek your guidance."

The two exclaimed in unison: "Me! Of course it is me!"

In this way, even if someone were to catch sight of it, one would not be immediately recognized.

With a thud, a dark figure fell from the tree, landing awkwardly on its back and kicking up a cloud of dust from the ground

Luo Yuzhi understood that she was indirectly criticizing herself, but she merely responded with a smile and did not engage in a verbal dispute

Li Xianzi curled her lips and said: "What wine saint? They are just two hopeless drunks."

The ugly man said: "Damn old woman, your obedient daughter has already pleaded on your behalf, are you not leaving and just waiting for me to invite you for a drink?"

Bai Lao Qi exclaimed, "That's not right. Such grand and righteous words could not possibly have come from you; they were clearly spoken by me to Lin Yi. At that time, you were sound asleep, completely unaware of it."

Bai Lao Jiu said: "After we finished drinking, we all felt that this young man was quite loyal and a good friend, so we started chatting with him. As time went on, we became friends. Later, he stayed in Mang Mountain for more than ten days and learned quite a bit from us."

Awakening to the fact that my brother, a hero of a lifetime, has actually fallen to a mere inexperienced young lad, is truly disgraceful. I changed my tone and said: "Old Jiu, where were we supposed to go for drinks three years ago? I just remembered a little more than you did."

The skills of the owner of Baozui Mountain Villa, Zhong Bugui, may not be remarkable, but the wine he brews is of the highest quality

Bai Laojiu said: "Finding a living person in the Wuling Mountain Range is not a big deal for us brothers. While I was having fun, I found you in just a couple of days."

Although practitioners of Qi refining and immortality are indeed extraordinary, it is hard for Luo Yu to believe that Lin Yi could drink twenty jars of strong liquor in just one hour

But when I think that I can no longer even ride the wind, let alone talk about fighting alongside Lin Yi to storm the Qinglian Temple and seek justice from Master Wujie and others, I can't help but let out a bitter laugh and shake my head

The Jade Tea Fairy, with her cherry lips parting, hesitated and said: "Sister Li, I have a piece of advice I wish to offer you. Even though the Cloud Seal and Heavenly Strategy possess extraordinary powers, they are ultimately not meant for us. In just a short span of ten days, countless figures from both the righteous and demonic paths have perished because of it. It would be better for you to handle it properly, to avoid attracting danger and provoking countless onlookers."

Li Xianzi had made up her mind to find a way to steal the ten-thousand-year-old ginseng, and she was unwilling to speak openly about it with others, even less so with Luo Yu. She then said: "I want to return to Yaoxie Tianfu to rest for a few days; the injuries I sustained from that brat Luo Yu have not yet fully healed"

The ugly man with his head tilted back said: "You, young girl, have a good heart, but that old woman just now actually dared to scold us brothers. If we don't teach her a lesson, wouldn't that be too easy on her?"

Old Bai angrily said, "No way, next time when signing up for the head position, you must let me stand in the front."

Suddenly, the Fairy Yuming said: "Esteemed seniors, please show mercy and spare my godmother."

The gentleman in front hesitated for a moment and then asked, "Old Seven, what do you think we should do? If not, I might as well just let it go."

Bai Lao Jiu said: "He made an agreement with us that regardless of whether he finds you or not, on the evening of October 25th, we will meet at the Yunju Temple on Sixian Peak, and then together we will head to Qiusong Ridge at Qinglian Temple to settle accounts with that demon monk Wujie."

With a swift movement, they had already positioned themselves in front of the Golden Light Holy Mother

The hairpin on the top of his head had fallen, and his hair was scattered everywhere; at first glance, he appeared more like a "monster".

Lin Yi often had prior knowledge of events, which allowed him to cleverly secure victories. Even so, a single person consuming eleven jars of strong liquor and still managing to bring the Twin Saints of Mang Mountain out of the Drunken Mountain Villa is a feat that is truly astonishing.

Luo Yu exclaimed, "Could it be that Junior Brother Lin also drank more than twenty jars?"

It turns out he is still brooding over the accusation made by the Virgin of the Golden Light, labeling the two brothers as "ugly monsters," and is using it as an opportunity to express his grievances

Indeed, Old Bai sighed, "At that time, I thought I had struck a great deal. Little did I know that we brothers are naturally generous, and when it comes to drinking with others, we are sure to win without losing. Therefore, without a second thought, I agreed.

Li Xianzi suppressed a laugh and said: "Indeed, that is sufficient. However, since the two seniors have no other siblings, why does one follow the path of nine and the other the path of seven?"

Bai Lao Jiu said: "What is most infuriating is that the brat actually had the audacity to take two big gulps right in front of us, and even praised it with a click of his tongue. Isn't he doing this on purpose to provoke us?"

The Jade Tea Fairy smiled to herself, thinking: "Brother Luo is indeed correct; this little junior brother of his is truly clever and quirky, causing headaches for anyone who encounters him"

Bai Lao Qi said: "Yes, that's exactly how it is. That young man Lin not only brought us brothers out of the wine cellar that day, but also cleverly took that jar of exquisite wine. Although I had just sobered up and my stomach was churning uncomfortably, the moment I caught a whiff of that wine's aroma, my spirits were lifted again"

Bai Laojiu said: "Where are so many brothers? My parents gave birth to us, the pair of heavenly and earth-made, extraordinarily powerful Mingshan Twin Saints. Isn't that enough?"

Bai Lao Qi was unwilling to be labeled with the infamous saying "his memory is not as good as Bai Lao Jiu's" and eagerly interjected, "You missed one point; in his wine cellar, there are still hundreds of jars of aged wine. We are here precisely for that. It was also in the wine cellar that we ran into that kid Lin Yi."

Luo Yuxin smiled inwardly; he was well aware of Lin Yi's drinking capacity. He had always been the one to get others drunk, never the one to be overwhelmed by alcohol. The two saints of Mingshan, unaware of the depths of the situation, had rashly made a promise and would surely face significant hardships.

Once the conversation begins, it becomes impossible to stop, much like a book that cannot be closed.

Old Bai said: "What is in your stomach clearly belongs half to me. Without me, why don't you try it alone?"

Luo Yu stepped forward, clasped his fists, and said: "I am deeply grateful to both seniors for your assistance in saving me. I will remember this kindness for the rest of my life."

Bai Lao Jiu angrily said: "Do you take me for a deaf person? That foul woman is screaming at the top of her lungs, and only you can hear it?"

He did not even glance at the Jade Tea Fairy and flew westward on the wind

Old Bai said: "Two pots? They are almost empty. If I don't seize the opportunity now, I won't get anything at all."

Suddenly realizing, it must be that this Bai Lao Qi has limited literary knowledge, placing two idioms with similar meanings together, unknowingly committing the error of "taking words literally," while still indulging in literary pretensions and self-satisfaction

Li Xianzi remarked: "Boasting, how big can your stomachs be to hold so much strong liquor?"

Hehe, as long as I place you in front of him, from that moment on, I will owe him nothing anymore

Old Bai laughed and said, "You are unaware of this; we cannot keep it inside, so why not let it out? Thus, we drink our fill and then relieve ourselves, ensuring that neither task is neglected"

The ugly man repelled the Holy Mother of Golden Light, yet still felt unsatisfied. The brother in front asked, "Wife, do you submit or not? Do you still dare to tell us brothers to roll away?"

These two gentlemen indeed possess an astonishing capacity; however, they share but one stomach. After downing twenty jars of aged spirits in one go, even immortals would succumb.

She hurriedly focused her gaze and saw a dusty young Taoist priest lying on the ground, approximately in his twenties, with a fairly handsome appearance. However, his face was filled with terror and anxiety as he trembled and looked at her, his teeth chattering.

Li Xianzi scoffed, "What does it matter? You can just take it and drink it; after all, he won't be able to handle two of you anyway"

Luo Yuyi said: "Indeed, the blood feud of the Yunju Temple must be avenged!"

Luo Yu inquired: "Esteemed seniors, where is Junior Brother Lin at this moment?"

The Jade Tea Fairy briefly recounted what she had heard from Luo Yu. When she mentioned the Ten Thousand Year Dan Shen, the Fairy Li felt a stir in her heart and thought to herself: "If I can consume this treasure, not only will my power greatly increase, but I will also be able to solidify my foundation as an immortal. In the future, when I practice the 'Thousand Illusions Spirit Heart Technique,' I will no longer need to absorb the Yang Soul of others, thus freeing myself from the worry of falling into demonic practices."

The Jade Tea Fairy said softly: "This Golden Light Holy Mother is indeed my younger sister's godmother. I ask both seniors to be magnanimous and not to make her do any more somersaults."

The gentleman in front, seeing that the ugly man behind did not object, quickly nodded and said: "Exactly, exactly. Let's turn around and challenge that young Lin Yi to a somersault. We lost to him in drinking; could it be that we, as brothers, are also inferior in somersaults?"

Li Xianzi smiled and said: "What a coincidence among heroes, I believe it is more like 'drunkards meeting each other lamenting the late encounter' that is the truth"

Bai Lao Jiu said: "Indeed, for a wine sage like me, nothing compares to the finest celestial wine."

The Jade Tea Fairy saw that the two were about to argue again and hurriedly said: "Both esteemed seniors possess extraordinary skills, how could you possibly lose to Young Master Lin?"

I barged in like this, which is rather reckless. Considering that the old demon Ma is specifically targeting me, I must not fall into his trap for the sake of a thousand-year-old ginseng. I need to be cautious and devise a plan to win through intelligence.

Remember, I am the esteemed Bai Jiuye, who can "punch the Western Mountain Tiger, kick the Eastern Sea Dragon, sweep all before me, embody both literary and martial virtues, stand tall like a jade tree, and be unmatched under heaven"

Bai Laojiu, feeling unconvinced, said: "You only remember this little bit and flaunt it, claiming to have a good memory? That time, we were craving alcohol and wanted to go to 'Baozui Mountain Villa' to get a few jars of 'Wine Immortal' to satisfy our desires.

Luo Yu nodded slightly, turned his face to look at Yu Ming Xianzi and asked, "Sister Ming, will you accompany me to the *map* and *book*?"

At this thought, a pair of pitch-black eyes sparkled with cunning, secretly plotting to seize the opportunity of the millennia-old Danshen.

Bai Laojiu finished listing his long and tedious titles in one breath, and then replied: "Who told you to have your ears located behind mine, always hearing things a beat late?"

Here, the mountains and forests are surrounded, silent and uninhabited, with only a few faint bird calls echoing. A yellow earth path winds upward, extending southward, leading directly to the front gate of Qinglian Temple.

Luo Yudon suddenly realized, exchanging a knowing smile with the Jade Ming Fairy, understanding the key to Lin Yi's victory

Luo Yuwei smiled and said: "It seems that the two seniors are physically connected, having been born from the same womb without distinction, thus it is difficult to tell who is the elder brother and who is the younger brother. However, I wonder how the two seniors recognized Junior Brother Lin and managed to find me"

The Jade Tea Fairy said with a bitter smile: "Godmother, why must you go to such lengths?"

Bai Lao Qi said with a bitter smile: "Our skills are inferior to others, who can we blame? We brothers have simply and decisively lost to him."

The Jade Tea Fairy inquired with concern, "Sister Li, where are you going? There are people everywhere looking for you to demand the Cloud Seal Heavenly Strategy. It would be safer for everyone to stay together."

Approaching the two ugly men with a graceful bow, she earnestly said: "I, as a younger sister, have offended both esteemed seniors in many ways, and I am willing to take the blame. You may scold me a hundred or a thousand times, and if that does not relieve your anger, you may kick me twice or punch me twice as well. I only ask that you show mercy and do not make things difficult for my godmother."

Li Xianzi turned her eyes and said: "Perhaps he mixed water into the wine, or maybe he quietly poured out the wine without you knowing. Those so-called righteous and reputable figures appear to be virtuous, but in reality, they are more cunning and treacherous than anyone else"

Luo Yudao: "A true man distinguishes between gratitude and resentment. I, Luo, owe you a debt of gratitude, which I shall certainly repay in the future. However, if you continue to act recklessly and consume the yang souls of others, I will not stand idly by!"

Li Xianzi thought to herself: "Listening to Sister Yuming, that Ten Thousand Year Dan Shen has already fallen into the hands of the old demon Ma in the Golden Bull Palace, and on that day, many experts gathered at the Qinglian Temple, including formidable figures like Lü Yan.

Bai Lao Qi shook his head and said: "The eyes can be closed, but how can the nose be sealed? Moreover, that exquisite wine is so fragrant and mellow that as soon as we brothers catch a whiff of it, we can't even move our feet."

Bai Lao Jiu said: "Therefore, I admit my defeat wholeheartedly. The next afternoon, after sobering up from the wine, Lin asked us with a smile whether we accepted our loss and if we wanted to compete again. I immediately responded with righteous seriousness: 'A man of honor keeps his word; I am willing to accept the bet and acknowledge my defeat! '"

The person behind also remarked: "No matter how I look at you, you don't resemble her goddaughter at all. How could this extraordinarily ugly old woman have such a beautiful and lovely adopted daughter like you"

The Holy Mother of Light, however, could not smile, and spoke in a deep voice: "Girl, step aside. Even if I were to be cut into a thousand pieces, I do not want you to plead for me!"

Bai Lao Qi turned his head and said: "You little girl, you take things literally and are easily swayed by appearances, which is most undesirable. When my brother and I were born, one of us had seven tufts of hair on his head, while the other had nine. My father, wanting to save trouble, simply named us 'Xiao Qi' and 'Xiao Jiu'"

Li Xianzi said: "As the saying goes, out of sight, out of mind; you should just keep your distance and not look."

Bai Lao Qi said: "Are you talking about that kid Lin Yi? The two of us have known him for three years, and we even lost a bet to him. This time he came looking for us brothers, specifically to have us find you."

Bai Lao Jiu shook his head and sighed: "This is the biggest mistake we brothers have ever made in our lives, and we have regretted it for three whole years"

Luo Yu had no idea that she was entertaining this thought. Silently counting the days, he said: "There are still a few days until October 25. Let us first go to Yunju Temple to see if Junior Brother Lin has arrived."