Flower Wine Monk's Inheritance: Part Eleven

The Jade Emperor Bamboo wine took effect within an hour or so.

This was far beyond Fang Yuan's initial expectations, but then again, this was a first-class wine of the Southern Border.

Once the wind changed and started going from north to east instead of south-west, the scent must've reached wherever the Liquor Worm was hiding.

He spotted it as a small speck against the black sky- it was as white as milk, as small as a silkworm, and was still very wary of him even as it eyed the wine hungrily.

'I've been trying for so long without success, but with just a small amount of this first-class wine, I managed to finally achieve what I wanted!'- Fang Yuan thought.

It had not been a mistake to spend those primeval stones to buy those hunters some wine, he felt. Not when it guaranteed success like this.

He backed away a little, after creating a small pool of the Jade Emperor Bamboo Wine, and continued to back off.

The Liquor Worm was wary of him, no doubt, and that was why he kept his distance.

Despite that though, it approached the wine anyway.

Each Gu worm had its own feeding requirements, some of them were rather unique and hard to meet. 

The Liquor Worm, as expected of its name, fed on alcohol.

Though, it was clearly starved if it had to venture out like this to find booze.

But, this wasn't just any booze. This was first-class wine, to the Liquor Worm it must've felt like a gourmet meal!

With just a few sips, it felt like it couldn't help itself and began drinking more and more. It was clearly intoxicated nearly instantly, and seemed to have decided to take a nap.

Fang Yuan wanted to capture it, but this was too soon. He didn't just want the Liquor Worm- because it had definitely come from somewhere. He wanted to find the place it had come from, there was going to be far more interesting things there.

After what felt like forever, the Liquor Worm woke up from its drunken slumber, took a few more sips of the first-class wine, and then decided to fly back, seemingly to where it had come from.

However, it was far slower now, firstly because of the alcohol it had drunk weighed it down, secondly because it was clearly drunk itself.

That was why Fang Yuan was able to tail it, finally seeing it sneak into a crevice behind a boulder.

Smirking, he followed it into the cave.

All there was after a few paces was darkness as the moonlight did not penetrate this deep with its luminance, but from the inside of the cave, as Fang Yuan walked further in, a red light began to emerge.

That's how he knew he was on the right track! It opened up into a cavern filled with red light coming from some mysterious source that he couldn't detect, and his attention was drawn to one of the walls. 

It was a wall covered with vines- these weren't ordinary vines, they were Rank 1 Wine Sack Flower Gu. Under them was Rank 1 Rice Pouch Grass Gu. 

He pulled the vines aside to see the sleeping figure of the Liquor Worm, which he carefully took. Success!

Next to it, were the skeletal remains of someone wearing a long robe. That was not a Gu Master robe, at least, not one of a righteous force.

This had to be the remains of the Flower Wine Monk!

There had to be more here, he doubted that the Liquor Worm was the Flower Wine Monk's only inheritance, so he stretched his hands but then froze as a voice echoed.

"Ah, trying to touch it! You have already been poisoned by my Single Gate Poison Gu. Without my other gu that acts as the counterpart to it, after seven days you will turn into pus and blood and die," the voice said loudly and clearly.

Fang Yuan grit his teeth.

This was a trap!

What had happened? Had those two Gu masters back in the Inn followed him for some reason? They were both only Rank 1 so he didn't think that they would have any profound stealth measures that would carry them this far. Not to mention he was sure that his performance had been convincing enough so that they wouldn't think that he was anyone interesting. 

Who was it then? His uncle? Someone sent by his uncle?

Or had his reputation as a B-grade talent attracted someone else's attention. 

Regardless, he knew he was cornered. He didn't have the strength to fight back, especially if he was poisoned. 

"If you want the Liquor Worm, you can have it," Fang Yuan said slowly. He was in no position to bargain here. He put his hands up in the air, moving slowly, trying to show that he wasn't a threat, when to his shock, there was another voice.

"Don't worry, I'll give it to you, you can have it, just please spare my life, O Flower Wine Monk!" 

This was a second voice that had answered the first one, and this voice carried quite a bit of fear in it. 

Fang Yuan realized something wasn't right as he turned around and saw that on one of the barren walls, there was something akin to an old-school movie being projected. 

There was a towering figure, dressed in the same robes as the remains he had found. This person had a bald head, and carried a jar of wine in one hand.

This was the Flower Wine Monk, without a doubt!

Another Gu Master was standing in a pit below him, wearing the traditional uniform of the Gu Yue village. There was a '5' inscribed on the plate he had on his belt. 

From context, this had to be the fourth generation clan head.

Surrounding them were a few figures who looked to be elders of the Gu Yue clan. 

"Ha, Gu Yue's hero, cultivating to Rank 5 at such a young age. I thought you were quite something at first, but I didn't expect you to be so unbearable. Hmph!" the Flower Wine Monk sneered angrily. 

"To compare myself to Sir Flower Wine, when I'm just a turd in the wind! I had eyes but could not see Mt. Tai; to actually not recognize such a great person and offend Sir Flower Wine. Sir Flower Wine, please remember my clan's generous hospitality earlier and spare my life!" The fourth generation clan head prostrating on the ground was shaking, cold sweat coated him all over, tears and mucus were mixing with each other before they fell to the ground.