Behavior Under the Influence

“By the way... what do you want wine for?” Hua Er asked, studying Jiang Ci with a suspicious look as the girl kept her head lowered.

Her gaze swept back and forth across Jiang Ci's face, trying to read something from her lowered eyes. In the end, she concluded that something was weighing on the girl's mind.

But honestly, even a complete idiot could have figured that out... Hua Er mentally facepalmed at her own obvious conclusion. She decided to just wait for Jiang Ci to speak up on her own. Reading people was never her strong suit anyway.

Jiang Ci stammered for a long while, her lips parting, but no words came out.

How could she explain it? She could hardly say that she felt miserable because Lu Yan had been actively avoiding her the past few days, and she had heard that drinking could help soothe her troubled mind.

There was no way she could ever say that out loud. So, she kept her head down and mumbled softly, “I just... wanted to try it.”

Even she felt that was a terrible excuse the moment the words left her mouth.

Hua Er looked at her curled-up, timid posture, sighed, and didn't press further.

She pulled a dark brown clay jar from beneath the counter, its mouth sealed with red clay. It was a brand-new jar. Before handing it over, she made absolutely sure that it wasn't actual wine, but sweet fermented rice.

The sweet fermented rice was home-brewed, low in alcohol, and very sweet. It was practically impossible to get drunk on. Since she wanted to taste alcohol, this would do.

It wasn't that she was unwilling to give her spiritual brew; she was just worried Jiang Ci might end up hurting herself. After all, this was her first time touching alcohol...

“Go to bed early after you drink it.” Hua Er placed the jar on the counter and pushed it toward her.

Jiang Ci took it, cradled it in her arms, and whispered, “Thank you.” Resting her chin in both hands, Hua Er sat on the counter and watched Jiang Ci's retreating figure as she carried the jar away.

She repeatedly reassured herself of her "meticulous" and exceptionally thorough judgment—it was just sweet fermented rice, there was no way anyone could get drunk on it.

She kept thinking that. Surely no one could get drunk off a jar of sweet fermented rice... right? Haha...

Jiang Ci carried the jar back to her room, the door closing behind her with a soft click. She set the jar on the table and used her fingertips to scrape away the red clay seal.

Inside was a jar filled to the brim with a milky-white liquid. A few grains of rice floated on the surface, releasing a faint, sweet and sour aroma.

She sniffed, feeling that it smelled different from the alcohol others usually drank. Well, whatever. Hua Er wouldn't trick her with a non-alcoholic beverage, right?

Still, looking at the jar, which was twice the size of her head, Jiang Ci hesitated for a moment.

She had originally only wanted to ask Hua Er for a small flask, but Hua Er had handed her an entire jar without even asking. Back then, not knowing how to answer Hua Er's questions, she had simply taken the jar and left. Now that the seal was broken, it would be a waste not to drink it.

She scooped up a spoonful, put it in her mouth, and tasted it. It was a little sweet, a little sour, with a very faint trace of alcohol. It was completely different from the strong, pungent smell of liquor she usually caught a whiff of in Huamanlou. She smacked her lips and took another spoonful.

It was actually quite delicious. At least, it tasted much better than the porridge Lu Yan cooked. Thinking this, her lips curved upward in an involuntary smile.

Then again, what did not taste better than his porridge? Yet, that bowl of porridge from that night had been truly warm.

That was the night he had just picked her up from the ruined temple. The porridge was not only burnt but also undercooked. Jiang Ci had no idea how those two qualities could exist simultaneously in a single bowl, but at the time, she had truly believed it was the most delicious thing in the world...

She lowered her head and took another spoonful, swallowed, and scooped up another. Spoon by spoon, she drank from the large jar of sweet fermented rice, and before she knew it, nearly half of it was gone.

Her stomach felt full, but she felt nothing else. She didn't feel any lighter, nor did she feel any better. She paused to think for a moment, looking at the half-empty jar, and decided to keep drinking.

After that, she didn't stop. The setting sun cast its light through the window, stretching a long, warm band of light across the floor.

The light illuminated her fingers holding the spoon and the increasingly empty jar on the table, casting a shadow that grew longer and longer...

The light shifted and time steadily slipped away, yet her movements remained unchanged, repeating the cycle of scooping, swallowing, and scooping again.

The entire afternoon drifted away in those repetitive spoonfuls. By the time she looked down at the bottom of the jar again, it was empty. Six or seven catties of sweet fermented rice had been completely finished by her alone.

She slumped onto the table, her body feeling exceptionally light yet incredibly heavy. The world in her vision began to warp, the lines of light blurring. Was it the effect of the alcohol, or was her vision clouded by tears? Only Jiang Ci knew.

The edges of the window frame swayed slightly. Pouting, she muttered under her breath, “Liar.” They said drinking made you feel better, but it didn't work at all. It only made her feel more miserable.

She paused, her tone suddenly turning a bit angry. “Liars, you're all liars.”

She shook her head, wanting to use her spiritual energy to dispel the alcohol, but her dantian was completely empty.

Oh, right. She was currently only in the Body Tempering stage. Where would she get spiritual energy from?

She stood up, gripping the edge of the table to steady her shaky balance. Pushing open the door, she stepped into the corridor. Her feet felt like they were stepping on cotton, sinking into the clouds.

She had no idea where she was going; she just didn't want to stay in that room alone anymore.

She wanted to go home, to return to her sect, but after taking a few steps, she suddenly remembered—the sect didn't want her anymore either. No one wanted her.

Even the only person who would still walk toward her was now drifting further and further away.

Waves of sorrow surged like a tide. Why did no one want her? Was she really that disliked? Could they please not abandon her?

She stumbled along, falling and getting back up. The people downstairs were all eating dinner; no one upstairs paid any attention to her, nor did anyone hear the noise she made.

Dust clung to her dress, but she merely brushed it off carelessly, rising to continue her walk.

Slowly, she came to a stop in front of a door. It was Lu Yan's room.

She rested her forehead against the door panel, and the door swung open under the pressure. It opened easily—the lock was broken.

Yao Wu had broken it last time, and it had never been repaired.

There was no one inside. Standing at the doorway, she stared into the empty room, a wave of irritation rising in her chest. “You're not coming? Fine, then I'll wait for you!”

After a moment, she walked in, threw herself onto the bed, and buried herself in the hollows of the sheets and pillows.

The fabric was warm and dry, carrying a faint scent of sun-dried cotton. Sadly, its owner was nowhere to be found.

Inhaling that scent, she buried her face even deeper. She was so sleepy...

It had been so long since she had enjoyed a peaceful night. How could anyone with so much on their mind find peace in the dark? Yet, she felt as if she had finally found her harbor.

She nuzzled the pillow, pressing her face closer against the cotton, wrapping herself completely in that warm scent.

Soon, the sound of steady breathing echoed from the bed...