FRGNM -Chapter 257 Teaching the Wretch a Lesson

“Millennium Drunk? How… how is that possible? How could you two even afford it? That’s reserved for VIPs on the third floor! You two wretches—let go!” Yue Ling’s face turned pale at the mention of Millennium Drunk. Her legs weakened. She had just come back to casually check out the place and show off her presence, but she hadn’t expected to stir up such trouble. Millennium Drunk… even her father’s entire salary wouldn’t cover it.

Ling Ruoxi slapped Yue Ling across the face. The fair skin instantly bore the imprint of five fingers. Holding onto her clothes, Ling Ruoxi shook her head repeatedly, memories of her past flashing through her mind—the deepest, hidden moments of her former life. Once powerful, she now felt worlds apart from who she had been.

Back then, a single word from her could shake a nation. Now… even a woman like this dared to shout over her head.

“Foul!” Gasps echoed around. Everyone stared at Ling Ruoxi, astonished that she dared strike even the City Lord’s daughter. Even if they were rich, no one could simply walk away from this.

“That’s enough. You’re drunk; I shouldn’t have let you drink,” Luo Mingyu said, frowning. He disliked the killing aura Ling Ruoxi radiated. He reached out, holding her slender waist and drawing her into his arms. His eyes gleamed softly.

Ling Ruoxi gradually loosened, leaning against Luo Mingyu. She spoke faintly, “I… I think I remembered some things… from a long time ago. I shouldn’t be like this… right? Back then, I stood among the very top. But now… I’m like a soft fruit, needing your protection…”

“Fool,” Luo Mingyu whispered, stroking her head. “If I had been your man back then, I’d never have let you live such a hard life. Now that I’m here, you don’t need to be strong. Sleep well, obediently.”

“I can’t sleep.” Ling Ruoxi pinched his cheek while rubbing her temples. “With such an annoying fly here, how could I possibly sleep?”

“You!” Yue Ling nearly vomited in fury. Her eyes glared at the two of them, her fingers clenched. “Just wait! I’ll have my father throw you in jail. I’ll make him deal with you… and have you all executed!”

“Before you do that, shouldn’t you serve us the Millennium Drunk we ordered? Or do you think one slap is worth 500,000 taels?” Ling Ruoxi raised an eyebrow, clearly displeased.

Yue Ling’s face paled. She clenched her fists. “You two scoundrels… even my father wouldn’t hit me! And this jar of Millennium Drunk—so what? I smashed it, and I didn’t even drink a drop! Fine, I’ll let you off!”

“So you admit that a slap is worth 500,000 taels?” Ling Ruoxi sneered, flexing her wrist. Her slight frame advanced with a terrifying aura.

Yue Ling trembled and instinctively stepped back. “What… what are you trying to do? I’ll have my father deal with you!”

“Do you want to be hit? One slap, 500,000 taels,” Ling Ruoxi coldly asked, scanning the crowd. “Mingyu, how many slaps can I give her?”

“Hit her as much as you like. Even if she dies, her father will still thank us—he got that much money already,” Luo Mingyu said softly, seated, a slight smile on his lips. Pity the Millennium Drunk—it was gone now. Even if it wasn’t as refined as the wine they brewed themselves, its intoxicating effects were unforgettable. But now it was shattered; no more sips.

“Slap!” Ling Ruoxi’s first strike hit, coldly: “First slap, for your arrogance.”

“Second slap, for your shortsightedness.”

“Third slap, for your overbearing nature…”

…

After ten slaps, Yue Ling collapsed onto the floor, mouth open, teeth and blood on the ground. Her cheeks were swollen. Crying, she covered her face, screaming, “Just wait! I’ll kill you both!”

Someone ran out, colliding with another person, tears streaming.

“Oh my, who looks so terrifying now? Like a ghost! Ruoxi, you’re here too? I heard the wine is excellent here, so I came to check it out.” Silver Wolf rubbed his arm, eyes on the wine splashed across the floor, hands slapping in frustration. “This… this… the Millennium Drunk! I heard it’s amazing, how could it be smashed?”

“It was that woman who threw it,” Luo Mingyu said helplessly. They only managed to taste two cups, but that was enough.

“Who? That ugly and cruel woman! How dare she break this! Waiter, bring out a jar of Millennium Drunk!” Silver Wolf shouted.

The waiter froze. “Actually… there’s only this one jar left. Even the Hundred-Year Spring has only ten jars per year. The Millennium Drunk… gone.”

“Then bring Ten-Li Fragrance. I heard it costs a million taels. Serve us a jar—I just arrived and haven’t tasted it yet.” Silver Wolf pouted. If only he had come earlier, he wouldn’t be missing out.

Luo Mingyu smirked. “Very well. Bring out the Ten-Li Fragrance. I’ll pay any price.”

Ten-Li Fragrance!

Gasps spread. That wine had aged decades. Ordinary people had no right to taste it. These two daring to drink it? Almost impossible.

“But… sir, money can’t solve this. Ten-Li Fragrance is tribute wine, only the highly prestigious can drink it,” the waiter said, helpless.

Silver Wolf grumbled, “If our identities aren’t prestigious, whose are? Fine, summon Dongyang Ze, then we can drink.”

“Dongyang Ze?” Everyone’s faces changed. Prince Dongyang Ze of Jinshui Kingdom? He was well known—and now back with these people? They seemed very familiar with him.

Ling Ruoxi rubbed her temples. “If you’re craving, just drink something else. Why drag Dongyang Ze into this? He doesn’t want his identity exposed…”

“Hey, Dongyang Ze! Over here!” Silver Wolf waved energetically.

A figure in blue entered quickly, holding herbs. “Everyone’s here. Ruoxi, I brought some herbs. Combined with others, we can brew something to relieve the pain in your hands. Try it tonight.”

All eyes fell on Bai He and Dongyang Ze. Even Silver Wolf’s gaze softened.

Dongyang Ze sat, eyeing the food. “Haven’t had this meal in ages. Bai He, taste it—same as before?”

“Of course,” Bai He said, feeding him a piece of fish. It felt like yesterday: he was still a struggling scholar, and she his goddess.

“Now stop sulking. I brought you here for Ten-Li Fragrance. Waiter, he should be able to drink it, right?” Silver Wolf tapped his chopsticks.

Dongyang Ze blinked, puzzled. “Drink what? The Hundred-Year Spring here is decent. Back then we had sake—it wasn’t bad.”

“Uh… I still want Ten-Li Fragrance. Just bring it out!” Silver Wolf pleaded.

Dongyang Ze twitched his lips. “Do we have to consider identity to drink wine?”

“Yes. Ten-Li Fragrance is tribute wine, rare for ordinary people, but far superior to these others,” Silver Wolf said, eyes sparkling.

The waiter swallowed nervously, explaining the rules.

“Then we won’t drink it.” Dongyang Ze didn’t plan to touch the tribute wine. Ordinary wine here was good enough; imperial tribute wine was a whole different level.

Silver Wolf rolled his eyes. “Fine. We’ll pay. Forget it, I’ll just eat the dishes.” He began helping himself.

Meanwhile, Luo Mingyu kept a close eye on Ling Ruoxi. “Drunk yet?”

“No.” Even Ling Ruoxi felt it: the Millennium Drunk had actually made her clearer-headed.

In three years, those entering the forbidden area would appear. Her father’s whereabouts remained unknown. And the search for the Zizhu artifacts was ongoing. It wasn’t simple: beyond finding five Zizhu, they also had to locate someone capable of forging divine needles. The next one might have already evolved, harder to control…