Chapter 66: The Drunken Plan
Translated by algoo | Proofread by algoo
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Zhaiyue Restaurant.
Lin Xiu and Li Bozhang were drinking tea. Manager Qian said it was this year’s finest new tea and even gave Lin Xiu a few boxes for free.
After discovering that Li Bozhang’s alcohol tolerance was far better than his own, Lin Xiu gave up on the idea of getting him drunk to acquire his ability. So he simply stopped drinking alcohol altogether. Tea was also quite good.
He had been dealing with tea quite a bit these past two days.
Xue Ning’er’s tea ceremony skills had reached a state of perfection. If it weren’t for Lin Xiu’s greater experience, any naive novice would have probably taken her as a caring younger sister.
Li Bozhang took a sip of tea and sighed, “Recently, Brother Lin’s relationship with Miss Ning’er has progressed rapidly. Although I didn’t go to the Xue residence that night, I saw the stunning fireworks. Later, I learned that it was a gift Brother Lin prepared for Miss Ning’er. I have to say, Brother Lin, brilliant, truly brilliant!”
Lin Xiu smiled and asked, “What makes you say that, Brother Li?”
Li Bozhang said, “Moonbright Pearls are precious, high-grade origin crystals are rare, but what girl can refuse a magnificent display of fireworks? Brother Lin’s understanding of a woman’s heart has probably reached its peak. Miss Ning’er’s other suitors are probably no different from three-year-old children in your eyes, right?”
Lin Xiu smiled without saying a word. If there was anyone who could compete with him in this aspect, it would definitely be someone surnamed Li.
Li Bozhang sighed again, “Miss Ning’er thinks of you as her prey, but little does she know, she is yours. She believes her methods are clever, but compared to you, the difference is still vast.”
Suddenly, Li Bozhang changed the subject and asked, “However, Brother Lin, you wouldn’t really want to do anything with Miss Ning’er, would you? As a friend, I must remind you, she is the cherished daughter of Duke Xue’s household. If things get out of hand, you’ll be in danger, Brother Lin.”
Lin Xiu nodded, “Don’t worry, I know my limits.”
He wasn’t trying to toy with Xue Ning’er’s feelings or body. He was after her ability from the very beginning.
After obtaining her ability, Lin Xiu would completely cut off contact with her.
This sounded a bit scummy, and in reality, it was quite scummy. But who told Xue Ning’er to try to be scummy to him first? He was just giving her a taste of her own medicine.
In a contest between a sea king and a green tea, whoever lost depended on whose skills were superior.
If your skills are inferior, admit defeat.
Putting Xue Ning’er aside for the moment, Lin Xiu refocused his attention on Li Bozhang.
His origin power had undergone a second awakening, and his cultivation was at the Yellow Rank, High Realm. Although he was still a weakling, his ability limit had increased, so he should get Li Bozhang’s Thunder Power as soon as possible. This ability ranked even higher than the Ice Art on the Arcane Arts List.
After all, ice was tangible, while thunder was formless. In terms of instantaneous single-target burst damage, thunder was stronger.
Seeing that the teacups were empty, Lin Xiu said, “Drinking tea is bland. I can’t hold my liquor, Brother Li, don’t accommodate me. Waiter, bring some wine for Brother Li!”
Without giving Li Bozhang a chance to refuse, Lin Xiu quickly had the waiter bring a pot of wine and filled the cups. Li Bozhang could only pick up his cup and say seemingly casually, “A major event happened in the capital a few days ago. I wonder if Brother Lin knows about it?”
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Lin Xiu raised an eyebrow and asked, “What is it?”
Li Bozhang said, “Marquis Yongping’s son, Yang Xuan, I don’t know what grave mistake he committed, but he was exiled from the capital. For the son of a dignified First-rank Marquis to end up like this has never happened before. Does Brother Lin know about this?”
Lin Xiu shook his head, “I don’t know. I only met that Yang Xuan once at Miss Ning’er’s birthday banquet. I’m not familiar with him…”
This case was strictly confidential by the Secret Investigation Department, and very few people knew the inside story.
To stall for time, Lin Xiu made small talk with Li Bozhang. He smiled and said, “Brother Li seems to know everything about me, but I only know your name. I don’t know where you live. If you get drunk one day, I can escort you back.”
Li Bozhang smiled, “Don’t worry about my alcohol tolerance, Brother Lin. I don’t get drunk.”
Lin Xiu wondered, Could it be that the Thunder ability also has a sobering effect? There’s no record of this in the books. Then, he asked, “Judging by your age, Brother Li, you should be about the same age as me. Are you by any chance married?”
Li Bozhang glanced at Lin Xiu and said meaningfully, “Brother Lin, do you think people like us would give up an entire forest for just one tree?”
As expected of the person who understood Lin Xiu the best, Li Bozhang’s words hit Lin Xiu’s biggest concern.
Li Bozhang raised his wine cup, gestured towards him, and said, “Actually, I sympathize with Brother Lin. Someone like you, bound by a marriage contract, and to that untouchable genius no less, I imagine Brother Lin dreams of breaking free from this constraint, right?”
Lin Xiu looked at Li Bozhang and shook his head slightly, “I didn’t expect the person who understands me best would be you…”
Lin Xiu was telling the truth. His parents in this world were very good to him, and Lingyin’s kindness to him was impeccable. But they didn’t understand Lin Xiu, nor did they know what he wanted.
Li Bozhang just smiled, “There’s nothing strange about that. Because we are the same kind of people. You are me, and I am you…”
As he said this, he seemed to recall something, raised his head and finished the wine in his cup, then refilled it, and said to Lin Xiu, “This cup, to people like us!”
Lin Xiu put down his teacup, picked up another cup, filled it with wine, and raised it, “To people like us…”
A fortune is easy to find, but a true friend is hard to come by.
He could drink again next time, but he might not have the same mood next time. However, Lin Xiu didn’t get drunk this time. Even though it was daytime and the place wasn’t far from the Lin residence, he hadn’t forgotten that there were still people who wanted him dead, lurking in the shadows.
This time, he was completely sober throughout, so he had a clearer understanding of Li Bozhang’s alcohol tolerance.
If they drank ten parts of wine today, Li Bozhang drank nine of them alone. Even so, when Lin Xiu started to feel a bit dizzy, he still seemed perfectly fine, giving Lin Xiu no opportunity.
Back at the residence, Lin Xiu fell into thought.
This couldn’t go on. If the ability was on a woman, Lin Xiu would be confident in obtaining it. Li Bozhang wasn’t a fool like Wang Wei. He was very smart and had extremely high emotional intelligence. Under normal circumstances, obtaining his ability would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
After a moment, Lin Xiu gritted his teeth, You’re good at drinking, aren’t you? Next time, I’ll let you drink your fill!
He called for Dali, “Go find some bamboo. Not too thick, not too thin. Clean off the branches and leaves, then hollow out the joints, wash them clean, and put them in the courtyard. Also, on your way back, stop by the tavern and buy ten jars of wine, the strongest kind…”
Although Sun Dali didn’t know what the young master was planning, he didn’t ask any questions and immediately went out to prepare.
After Sun Dali had prepared everything Lin Xiu needed, Lin Xiu went to the kitchen and said to the busy cook, “Aunt Wang, could I borrow the kitchen for a while later…”
After a busy night, Lin Xiu came out of the kitchen.
He was carrying a small wine jar, the result of his all-nighter.
Lin Xiu thought for a moment. The reason Li Bozhang didn’t get drunk wasn’t because of his high tolerance, but because the wine at Zhaiyue Restaurant was too weak. Due to the brewing process, the alcohol content here was mostly a few or ten percent. The so-called strongest wine was only around twenty percent. That wasn’t strong wine, it was practically beer…
Back in the day, Lin Xiu used to drink beer by the case.
It was a pity that this body couldn’t handle alcohol and couldn’t drink much beer either.
To get Li Bozhang drunk, Lin Xiu came up with a plan. He repeatedly distilled the twenty-percent alcohol from outside. Ten jars of wine were reduced to this small jar. Lin Xiu didn’t know the final alcohol content, but the aroma was extremely strong. He just took a small sip, and his head was already spinning…
If he couldn’t get Li Bozhang drunk this time, next time, he would add something extra to the wine.
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