Looking For The Liquor Worm (Part One)

Granted, Fang Yuan couldn't live on just wine. He also bought a Happy Meal - each one came with a toy of Spectral Soul Demon Venerable, with three heads and multiple palms. Big hit with the kids, though Fang Yuan still insisted on getting one.

As he munched on his beesechurger, he went outside and tried to lure out the liquor worm.

Skibidi stones are like gold, both currency and a power-up. But they're even more powerful than gold. Fang Yuan's been blowing through them like crazy.

"Two jars a day, for a whole week? My savings are almost gone," he mutters, leaving the tavern with his wine.

Gu Masters can use skibidi stones to recharge their primeval sea, so they're not just money, they're basically energy drinks. More stones = faster leveling, even if you're low-talent.

"Tomorrow, no more wine money. And that Liquor worm's still MIA. Do I have to settle for the Moonlight Gu?" he grumbles.

He thinks about the alpha's challenge: first to refine their vital Gu gets 20 stones. "Everyone's probably grinding at home," he thinks. "But it's mostly about talent. With my C-grade, I've got no chance."

Suddenly, Fang Zheng calls out, "Big brother! You did buy wine! Aunt and uncle want to see you."

Fang Yuan stops and turns. Fang Zheng's standing tall, no longer looking down. They're face to face.

Wind blows, ruffling Fang Yuan's hair and Fang Zheng's robes.

One month, and everything's changed. Fang Yuan's fallen, his genius title crushed. Fang Zheng's shining, a rising star.

For Fang Zheng, it's a whole new world with him getting the glow-up of a lifetime. He's finally feeling the hype, the envy, the attention. He's gone from dark corner to spotlight. Every day feels like a dream. The difference in treatment is insane, he's still adjusting.

Yeah, adjusting was a whole thing.

He went from nobody to VIP overnight, everyone's watching him. People are talking about him, praising him. He's blushing, flustered, forgetting how to walk. 

First week or so, he's losing weight, but gaining confidence. "This is how big brother felt?" he thinks. "It's both amazing and terrifying!"

He tries to act cool like Fang Yuan, but it's not his vibe. Girls yelling in class? He's tomato-faced. Flirty older ladies? He's running for the hills. Boy's got no rizz yet. 

He's like a baby learning to walk, clumsy and awkward. And he keeps hearing about Fang Yuan – depressed, drunk, sleeping in class.

He's shocked. His genius brother, like this?!

But then he gets it. Fang Yuan's human. Anyone would be messed up by this. And, he's gotta admit, he feels a little happy about it.

His brother, the genius, is down bad. That means he's the one who's shining now. Right?

So, when he sees Fang Yuan, messy and drunk, he feels relieved. But he still tries to play the concerned brother. "Big brother, you gotta stop! People are worried! Wake up!"

Fang Yuan's just staring, blank-faced. The brothers lock eyes.

Fang Zheng's eyes are bright, sharp. Fang Yuan's are dark, like deep pools. Fang Zheng feels a weird pressure, and looks away.

Then, he gets mad. At himself.

"WTF is wrong with me?!" Fang Zheng thinks. "Can't even look my bro in the eyes? I've leveled up!"

He snaps his gaze back at Fang Yuan. But he's already dipped, wine in hand. "Stop staring, let's bounce," Fang Yuan drones.

Fang Zheng's breathing goes haywire. All that main character energy? Gone. He's feeling majorly deflated. 

He scurries to catch up, but this time, head held high, he's straight-up stomping on Fang Yuan's shadow.

Scene transmission!

Sun's dipping, everything's got that weird gray-red filter. Mountains are going dark. Inside, it's dim, Aunt and Uncle are chilling in the shadows, faces obscured.

Fang Yuan walks in, clutching his wine. Uncle Dong Tu's eyebrow twitches. "Y'all are 15 now," he says. "Gu Master potential, especially Fang Zheng, we're proud. Here's 6 skibidi stones each. Gu refining is expensive."

Servants pass out lil' bags. Fang Yuan snags his, no reaction.

Fang Zheng rips his open, sees the stones, and instantly transforms into a golden retriever. "OMG, thank you! I need these! You guys are the best!"

Uncle smiles, Aunt's waving her hands like she's swatting flies. "Sit! You're like our kids. We wish you were actually our kids." Major subtext. Fang Yuan knows these two are cappin'.

Uncle jumps in. "We wanna adopt you, make it official. Fang Zheng, you down?"

Fang Zheng's stunned, then grins like he just won the lottery. "I've always wanted a fam! This is a W!"

Aunt's beaming. "Then you're our son! Time to update the contact info."

"Father, Mother," Fang Zheng says, glowing.

Aunt and Uncle cackle. "Good kid! Ten years of babysitting, finally paying off." Aunt fake-cries.

Uncle turns to Fang Yuan, "Fang Yuan, you in bruh?"

Fang Yuan's like, "Nah." 

"Bro..." Fang Zheng starts, but Uncle's like, "Chill."

"Fang Yuan, we're not forcing you. You're 15, time to be an independent king, keep the Fang bloodline going. Here's 200 skibidi stones, consider it a starter pack."

"200 stones?!" Fang Zheng's eyes go wide. He's never seen that kind of cash. Major FOMO. 

Fang Yuan's still shaking his head.

Fang Zheng's confused, Uncle's face is doing a weird thing, Aunt's looking salty.

"Aunt, Uncle, if that's all, I'm dipping," Fang Yuan says, grabbing his wine and yeeting outta there.

"Father, Mother," Fang Zheng says, standing up. "Lemme talk to him."

Uncle waves him off, dramatic sigh. "It's not meant to be. I'm just glad you care. Servants, treat Young Master Fang Zheng like royalty."

"I'm out," Fang Zheng says, leaving the room in awkward silence.

Sun's gone, room's dark. Uncle's voice cuts through the tension. "Looks like that dude Fang Yuan's onto us."

Gooner Yue clan rules: eldest son inherits at 16. Fang Yuan's parents left a fat stack, Aunt and Uncle are "managing" it. 200 stones is pocket change compared to that.

If Fang Yuan gets adopted, he loses his inheritance. If he goes solo now, he's breaking the rules.