As for Nan Zhi, she had taken advantage of the chaos to break the Taoist's glamour. After watching him fail miserably and get cornered and beaten by the crowd, she wasted no time in searching for a boat bound for Dongjingfu.
Breaking someone's magic in public—even if she didn't yet understand the unspoken rules between cultivators, she knew a grudge had been formed.
If he were a magnanimous sort, they might just have a discussion about it the next time they met.
But if she ran into a petty cultivator, then after today's incident, it would likely be a fight to the death.
Nan Zhi didn't think the Taoist looked like a kind-hearted, peaceful person in the slightest.
After all, her most urgent task was to deliver Wanniang to the Kaifeng Prefecture office; she had no time to get entangled with that Taoist.
Fortunately, renting a boat went smoothly. That afternoon, Nan Zhi found a cargo boat bound for Dongjingfu.
The boat's owners were a couple in their fifties who were kind and enthusiastic. Hearing that Nan Zhi didn't have enough silver on her, they offered her a guest room that was currently unoccupied.
"Lady Nan, my boat was originally for hauling cargo, and there are only a few rooms for people to stay in. It's quite simple and crude.
If you don't mind, you can stay here. As for the payment, I'll only charge you half the usual fare. What do you think?"
The owner led Nan Zhi to a room on the boat and showed her the facilities inside.
"I don't know why, but this year there are so many people going to Bianjing. They're like carp in the river. Even the few rooms on my boat were rented out early.
To tell you the truth, old man that I am, if it weren't for the fact that the guest who originally booked this room hasn't arrived yet, I wouldn't be able to rent it to you so cheaply."
Nan Zhi naturally didn't mind. On the contrary, she felt relieved that her misfortune debuff hadn't triggered this time.
Since the boat was set to sail tomorrow, Nan Zhi bought some fresh fruits and vegetables in Shouzhou, stocked up on some dry rations, and returned to the boat early to rest.
Walking on a boat was a completely different feeling from walking on land.
Fortunately, although Nan Zhi felt the hull swaying with the water and had the slight illusion of floating, she didn't get seasick.
In contrast, the Wang family master and servant had been vomiting since they stepped onto the boat. Even the folk remedy of fermented grain water provided by the boat owner was useless.
The two were so weak they could only lie in their room. Moving even half a step felt like it would cost them their lives as they continuously spat up bile.
This actually saved Nan Zhi a lot of trouble.
Though she still worried if these two could actually survive until they reached Dongjingfu.
Having boarded safely, Wanniang's mood improved significantly. She poked half her head out from the oil-paper umbrella to talk to Nan Zhi.
"Sister Zhi, did you buy any wine?"
Although Wanniang was an ancient ghost who didn't fear the sun, as a ghost, she was naturally averse to sunlight.
Furthermore, with all sorts of people on the boat, it wouldn't be easy for Nan Zhi to explain her presence to the boat owners. Thus, Wanniang had to temporarily endure hiding in the umbrella, only to reveal herself once they reached their destination.
"I did, I did. Although it's not some legendary vintage, the lady selling it told me it's called Hundred Days Spring and can only be found in Shouzhou."
Nan Zhi took out a jar of wine and then pulled Wanniang's skull from her bundle, soaking the whole thing inside the jar.
The cabin was narrow and the room was pitifully small. Aside from a bed, there was only a wooden table facing the window.
The wine worm, parched for days, suddenly smelled the fragrance of wine. It couldn't wait to wriggle its body, manipulating its hair worms to sip the liquid from the jar bit by bit.
Before long, the wine worm finished the entire jar of fine wine. A faint, drunken flush appeared on Wanniang's usually pale, dead face.
She stretched languidly and floated over to tease the wine worm in the jar with her finger.
"Mm... it is indeed good wine. It doesn't taste like it was made with sweeteners. The flavor is crisp and refreshing, with a hint of bamboo fragrance.
It must have been made by burying the wine dregs at the roots of bamboo and then steaming it with aged rainwater. However, the yeast wasn't made perfectly, so it inevitably has a bit of an earthy taste."
"Drink less. I only bought this one jar. Don't get drunk and lose control, then run out onto the deck and scare the others."
Nan Zhi pinched a seal and recited a mantra, conjuring a handful of fresh water to soak the skull in.
"I really can't tell if this worm is the one with the addiction or if it's you. If you don't drink for three days, it's like you have ants crawling on your bones."
"I could drink a thousand cups without getting drunk when I was alive. This little bit of wine isn't even enough to quench my thirst."
Wanniang leaned against Nan Zhi's shoulder as if she had no bones, saying sorrowfully:
"I used to think that one day I would compile a Wine Classic, recording all the fine wines in the world.
Unfortunately, that book had only just begun when I became a hanged ghost. Now, if I want to drink, I can only rely on this little worm to taste it for me.
Sob, sob, sob..."
The beauty covered her face, her voice a weeping lament.
"What does that matter? You can just write a new one."
Nan Zhi pursed her lips, realizing she might have misspoken, and pulled out another jar of wine, placing it on the table.
"Wang Fugui could steal the wine worm, but he couldn't steal the talent in your mind. You can tell that much just by the fact that he only knew how to brew one kind of wine even after decades.
Once this matter is settled, you can take this wine worm and continue to taste all the wines under heaven—"
Before she could finish, Wanniang's sorrow vanished, replaced by a triumphant grin.
"Hehehehe, Sister Zhi really was hiding more wine! Wine Immortal, drink up, drink up!"
The wine worm surfaced from the wine and wrapped its hair worms around Wanniang's fingertip. On its chubby worm face, one could actually see a hint of fawning.
Nan Zhi: "..."
You even gave the worm a name?
You'd actually fake crying just to trick me into giving you wine?
Give me back my sympathy, you bastard!
Bad choice of friends!
It was definitely a bad choice of friends!
...
...
That night, the marketplace was brightly lit and bustling with people. The area by the docks remained as lively as it was during the day.
The rhythmic shouts of the cooks, the cries of vendors, the loud haggling of sedan carriers, the parting advice of those seeing off travelers, and the splashing of oars as boats left the docks all wove together, causing people to overlook those hidden in the darkness.
"'Today, I, the little nun, feel my heart stir. Seeing him so handsome, I quickly drop my silk kerchief and softly call three times for the young master to pity me...'"
The green-robed Taoist drove his livestock, humming a little tune as he walked through the narrow alleys.
The households that had eaten the pears during the day now had their doors wide open. Men and women walked out with dull gazes, following behind the Taoist.
"One pair, two pairs, three pairs... nine pairs, ten pairs... that's enough, that's enough."
The Taoist beamed with joy. He pulled out a gourd, took a large gulp of water, and sprayed it all over their faces.
Who knew what evil art he used, but the people sprayed with water collapsed onto the ground. Their four limbs turned into hooves, their heads turned into sheep heads, and their clothes transformed into thick, soft wool.
In just a few breaths, the captured people had all turned into livestock that could not speak, following the Taoist in a daze.
"Good treasures, good treasures."
The Taoist contentedly patted the small gourd in his hand and then pulled a large hedgehog from his sleeve to lead the way.
"The main business is done. Now, let's see how this master deals with that meddling little wench!"
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