Grasping False Hope
"Right now everything comes down to the Demon Monk's treasure. If I can find it, all my problems will be solved. If I don't find it, all these issues will greatly slow down my speed of cultivation. If that happens I'll lose out to people at my age in cultivating. I don't understand! There should have been clues on the whereabouts of this damn monk, why can't I still not find it?"
Di Lan frowned and racked his brains. It was like drinking two different set of wines, but still not knowing the difference of its tastes.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise, interrupting his thoughts. Di Lan looked at the direction of the sound, realizing that the 7 hunters seated around the table at the middle of the hall were heavily drunk. The atmosphere around them was fiery and their faces were all red.
"Brother Wang, come, drink another cup!"
"Old brother Meng, we brothers admire your abilities! You took down a humongous wild boar alone, what a man! This cup of wine you must drink, or else you'll be disrespecting us!"
"Thank you brothers for your sincerity, but I really can't drink anymore."
"Brother Meng can't drink anymore, perhaps you dislike this wine because it's not good enough? Waiter, come over! Recommend us with some good wine!"
The noise was becoming louder; it was obvious that the group had drunk a lot. The waiter hurriedly went over and said, "Well good sirs, we do have good wine, but it is quite expensive."
"What, you're afraid we won't pay up?!" When the hunters heard the waiter, quite a few of them stood up and stared at the waiter. They were either big and tall or thick and burly in stature, capable and vigorous in a threatening manner, each having the courage that mountain men possessed.
The waiter quickly said, "I would not dare to look down on you brave men, it's just that these wine is really expensive, one bottle costs 3 pieces of spirit stones!"
The hunters were stunned. 3 spirit stones was definitely not cheap – It was the sum of 2 months of the normal average household monthly expenses. Even though hunters earn more from hunting when compared to ordinary mortals, like how some times a huge wild boar could be worth a quarter of a spiritual stone. However hunting was risky and a mistake could turn the hunter into prey.
To the hunters, using 3 spirit stones just to drink a bottle of wine was just not worth it.
"Is there really such an expensive wine?"
"Lad, you aren't trying to lie to us right?"
The hunters were shouting about, but their voices felt a little timid, unable to back out of the situation with grace. The waiter kept telling them he wouldn't dare.
The hunter called brother Meng saw that the scene was not right, and he hurriedly said, "My brothers, let's not spend anymore. I can't drink anymore, let us drink this wine another day."
"What, you can't say that brother!"
"This…"
The rest of the hunters were still shouting, but their voices started to fade away. One by one they sat back in their seats. The waiter was also a shrewd person. When he saw this, he knew that he was not able to sell the wine any more. However, this situation hardly surprised him. Nonetheless, a good customer service must still be applied.
"Give me a moment sir, I'll get it!" The waiter did not expect such a turn of events. He hurriedly replied and turned to grab a wine bottle and brought it over. This wine bottle was as big as the common bottle of wine, but the moment it was uncorked, in that very instant a refreshing spread all over the pub.
"Dear guests, its not bragging. This is the sword bamboo wine; the entire village only has one inn, which is us. Smell the fragrance!" The waiter inhaled deeply as he said this, his facial expression full of satisfaction and enjoyment.
"And again, I'm not bragging. This wine can already be considered a what you call, Spirit Wine!"
Di Lan was moved. This waiter was really not boasting.
There are 3 taverns in the Mu Yue Village. The wine sold there were the common bamboo wine, coconut wine and other similar common wine. In order for Di Lan to attract the Butterfree, he continuously bought wine for 7 days; it was naturally that he was aware of the prices.
Several of the hunters looked at the wine bottle before them. They were consumed by alcohol addiction. Each of them twitched their noses and swallowed. As for the hunter who bought the wine in a moment of anger, his expression was even more interesting; a layer of remorse and anger appeared on his face.
After all this bottle of wine was the value of three spirit stones!
"I was too rash and bought the wine by impulse. This waiter is not too typical. He immediately brought the wine, now the cork is unsealed. Even if I want to return the goods it is too late."
The more the hunter pondered, the more distressed he felt. He wanted to return it back, yet he was unable to do so in fear of being humiliated. At last, he could only bang on the table and said with a strong smile, "Damn, this wine is good! Brothers, please drink all you want. Today this wine is on me!"
The strong aroma of wine filled the entire pub. The hunter who bought the wine felt his heart aching as he smelled the fragrance. After all, he had spent 3 spirit stones on this wine, yet he never got to drink even one mouthful!
Di Lan put down his chopsticks; he had eaten enough. As he sniffed in the wine aroma his eyes flashed for a moment, then he took out 3 fragmented spirit stones and put them on the table. "Waiter, give me a bottle of sword bamboo wine!" he said amiably.
The whole scene froze.
The group of hunters instantly stopped drinking. The corners of their mouth twitched and he exhaled. A kid who had just started growing his bush actually able to buy a spirit wine with an excited expression on his face. This was like specially stepping over their capability of earning and slapping them in the face.
They turned around and narrowed their eyes, shooting a cold glare at Di Lan.
Di Lan calmly stared back and nodded in greeting, his face smiling and void of fear.
The group of hunters' eyes flashed and the coldness in their gaze have turned colder. Everyone else came to the realization and the looks they shot at Di Lan changed.
"Young Spirit Master, your wine!" The waiter scurried over, smiling all over his face. Di Lan took the bottle of wine and walked out of the inn without paying any attention to the group of hunters.
+++++++++
Around 30 years ago, an incredible genius appeared in the Mu Clan. He was very talented despite only having a bronze talent. He was able to cultivated to the point of a Rank five Gu Master at a young age, and even had the possibility of going further. He was famous throughout Bao Mao Mountain, had a bright future and was the pinnacle of hope and responsibility in the clan's eyes.
In the history of the Mu clan, everyone spoke of him the most – the fifth clan head.
Unfortunately, he sacrificed himself to protect his people and fought the equally powerful Rank five Gu Master, the Demon Monk. Even though he defeated the Demon Monk after a fierce battle, he let the devil get on his knees and beg for mercy.
In the end, he was careless and got caught by the Demon Monk's sneak attack. The fifth head angrily executed the Demon Monk, but due to his own heavy injuries he died an untimely death.
This tragic incident had long since circulated until today, becoming a popular story among the Mu clan. However, Di Lan knew that this story was not to be believed, because it had a very large loophole.
There was a time, a drunken Spirit Master from the Bao Clan who came over the village had been defaming the fifth patriarch of the Mu clan. The Spirit Master was then chased out of the village, but one last thing that he showed before disappearing was one of the magical spirits of the demon monk, a golden turtle shell Spirit.
When the Spirit Master of the Mu clan saw the spirit, they chased after the Bao Spirit Master. This Spirit Master quickly hurried back to his clan and told them of the matter, causing a huge stir.
Thus what made the fall out between the Bao and Mu clan even now.
When stories are passed down generation by generation, it is normal to change along the way. But the story of the Bao Spirit Master seemed more authentic which made him feel that truths were being hidden from the Mu clan's story.
"I was not aware of it at first, but when I searched and analyzed on the side, I feel that something feels out of place." The night grew dark, and as Di Lan walked in the bamboo forest that grew around the village, he reviewed through the clues he had so far in his head.
"If I put myself in his shoes and think about it, when I discover the Demon Monk's treasure why would I not take it all for myself, but go and notify the clan instead? Don't even mention sense of clan honor, everyone has greed in their hearts. What is it that made the Spirit Master betray the greediness in his heart, even going as far as to be willing to abandon all interest and profit, and report this finding to the clan's top brass?"
The truth is always hidden inside the fog of history. Di Lan racked his brains but he could not get the result. After all, the clues he had were too few. The only two clues he had could easily be true or false, so it could not be fully relied upon.
Di Lan could not help but think of himself. "No matter what, after buying this bottle of sword bamboo wine I have no spirit stones left on me. If I can't find the treasure then I'll be in grave trouble. Today shall be considered the final gamble, it's all or nothing!"
However, he didn't have enough spirit stones to refine a magical Spirit in the first place. So why not invest it in this wine and increase the chances of success?
Right now, the night grew thicker, the fall moon shaped like a bow. Some clouds obscured the stars.
Because it just finished raining continuously for a week, the turbid energy between the mountains had been washed away clean, leaving behind the purest of freshness. This fresh air was pure like a piece of blank paper, and was more effective in spreading the spirit wine aroma around.
The story of the Bao Spirit Master made Di Lan think of another conclusion; the Demon Monk may have died in the hands of the fifth patriarch but the Demon Monk must have able to escape with his injuries then died eventually. With that, the previous seven days of searching was not without gain. At least it proved that the Demon Monk did not die in those places.
In the bamboo forest the grass was luxuriant, the white flowers endless and the green sword bamboos straight like a spear, the forest resembling a clump of jade rods.
Di Lan opened the bottle seal, releasing a thick wine aroma instantly. Sword bamboo wine could be said as the Mu Yue Village's number one wine.
Di Lan cheered in his heart as he slowly tilted the wine bottle, pouring a small stream of wine, dripping it onto a stone. If those bunch of hunters saw this sight, they would have probably become insanely distressed. This wine is worth 3 whole spirit stones after all…
But Di Lan was indifferent.
The fruity aroma quickly spread out into the night. The breeze was gentle, the spirit essence floating about and contaminating the bamboo forest. Di Lan stood at his spot, smelling the aroma. He waited for a while, yet he did not see any movement.
All he heard were cries of magical spirits in the near distance, its sound like a string of bells. His gaze was silent. He did not feel surprised, and he moved away, walking to a spot a few hundred meters away.
In this place he did the same, pouring out a few drips of wine and waiting at the spot.
He did the same thing over and over again, moving away to a few other different locations, dripping wine a few times. After all that the green bamboo wine in the jar was only left with a bit.
"This is the last time," Di Lan sighed. He tipped the wine bottle over, the bottom facing the sky. All the remaining wine left in the jar flowed out. The wine sprinkled over the grass, letting the green grass sway about. The wild flowers were stained with wine, slightly lowering their heads.
Di Lan stood with the last shred of hope in his bosom, and gazed around.
Right now, the night was already very deep. A thick cloud had obscured the moonlight. The dark shadows were like a curtain, covering the bamboo grove. It was deadly silent all around, each strand of green sword bamboo standing alone, leaving a trail of lines that were straight up and down in Di Lan's pupils.
He quietly stood at the spot, listening to his own clear breathing. Then he felt the small hope that he carried in his chest, slowly dissipating away, becoming a false one.