FRGNM -Chapter 258 The Wine Has a Problem

“You don’t seem drunk… but your expression looks like you are. Is it because of what happened with that girl just now?” Luo Mingyu asked softly, reaching out to stroke Ling Ruoxi’s head.

Leaning slowly against his shoulder, Ling Ruoxi felt the effects of the wine creeping in. Millennium Drunk—one sip, a thousand years. She wasn’t sure if she could return from this; the thousand years felt like a dream, spanning one life and the next. If she could, she would choose herself.

“You two are always paired up… look at Qingyi and me, we’ll end up alone,” Silver Wolf sighed, shaking his head, no mood left for food.

Qingyi tilted slightly, coughing lightly. “Then you should find a she-wolf too. We all have families. My wife is waiting for me at home. I’m not like Mingyu, letting my wife run around.”

“By the heavens! Such injustice! Who has the heart to eat? Waiter! All your Hundred-Year Spring, bring it all! If I don’t drink them dry today, I’m not the Wolf King!” Silver Wolf slammed the table and stood up.

All eyes shot toward him. Realizing he’d spoken carelessly, he quickly added, “I’m just a wolf when drunk—that’s why my nickname’s Wolf King. Come on, bring it!”

“Yes, yes!” The waiter hurriedly nodded, bringing over a jar of Hundred-Year Spring. Not as evocative as Millennium Drunk, yet still brimming with life’s renewal, unforgettable. Even Silver Wolf paused, suppressing his internal anger, savoring it quietly.

This flavor could not be produced by ordinary hands. Millennium Drunk reveals past and future lives. Hundred-Year Spring revives all things. What about Ten-Year Cold, a plain sake?

“Bring some Ten-Year Cold and Yiqing Wine too, I want to try,” Silver Wolf clapped his hands.

Wine after wine was brought to the table. Silver Wolf picked up Yiqing Wine. As he drank, he exhaled sharply. True to its name, Yiqing Wine was clear and simple, pure, just like ordinary wine but far richer, completely unadulterated.

Ten-Year Cold, however, brought a bittersweet twinge, like a scholar enduring ten years of hardship, bitter but with a glimmer of hope. Hundred-Year Spring’s revival felt like achieving success after years of study, enviable and joyous. Millennium Drunk evoked past and future lives—its aura far beyond ordinary comprehension.

Drinking each in sequence brought different sensations. The elaborate dishes before them, however, no longer tempted their appetite; instead, they felt burdensome.

Seeing Silver Wolf indulge, Ling Ruoxi reached for the wine. Each sip struck her like a hammer to her heart. Her dark eyes glimmered coldly, hands clenched. They now…

“Bring Ten-Li Fragrance!”

No matter what, they wanted to taste Ten-Li Fragrance. The craving gnawed at them, unstoppable, especially for Ling Ruoxi. Alcohol usually affected her, but now nothing could resist the urge for Ten-Li Fragrance.

The waiter nearly cried. Helpless, he said, “Sirs… Ten-Li Fragrance really can’t be given—”

“Bring Ten-Li Fragrance!” East Yang Ze’s golden token appeared in his hand. Surrounded by Hundred-Year Spring, he felt energy surging uncontrollably. A voice seemed to call him to drink Ten-Li Fragrance—it was surely far superior to anything they’d tasted.

Imperial tokens were rare; the waiter knew he’d hit a wall and ran toward the back.

“Is it really that good?” Bai He asked, uncertain. After a sip, her face changed. This wine… could not be drunk!

“Stop! This wine is dangerous!” Bai He spat out the Ten-Year Cold, trying to throw the glass to the floor. But East Yang Ze was faster, shaking his head. “Don’t break it. Such fine wine should be shared—good wine…”

“You can’t drink it all at once. Inside this…”

“Is it Ten-Li Fragrance you want?” Before Bai He could finish, a woman in the back lifted a curtain and walked in. Clad in emerald and red silk, she smiled faintly, moving gracefully like a celestial, but her gaze carried subtle hostility. Her eyes softened when they fell on the golden token.

“Ah, it is Prince of Jinshui. My apologies for the delay in welcome. If Your Highness wishes Ten-Li Fragrance, I shall arrange it immediately. Waiter, bring Ten-Li Fragrance for His Highness to taste.”

“However…” She glanced at the others, raising an eyebrow, “Your Highness is royal and can enjoy this wine. The others… probably aren’t qualified.”

“They are my friends. Just serve the wine!” East Yang Ze’s inner craving roared. He just wanted to taste Ten-Li Fragrance, to see what surprises it held. His eyes reddened as he clutched the glass, growing impatient.

Bai He bit her lip, trying to hold East Yang Ze back. “Don’t drink it—it’s dangerous.”

“It’s safe. Wine brewed by me has never had issues. Little girl, if you refuse, please leave. Don’t disturb my guests!” The woman’s expression darkened; at a wave of her hand, a dozen men appeared. They had the right to remove troublemakers in this restaurant.

Grabbing Bai He’s wrist, Ling Ruoxi shook her head, smiling. “Relax, there’s no problem with the wine. You know, I’m strange—normally alcohol makes me drunk easily. But this time I can drink so much. Honestly, the flavor is incredibly tempting. We all want Ten-Li Fragrance. Why not join us and try it?” Her eyes glinted with mischief.

Seeing this, Bai He nodded. “Alright, I’ll stay and taste it with you.”

In just the time of a tea cup, the waiter shakily brought the sealed gourd to the table. “Please enjoy.”

“I’ve longed to try Ten-Li Fragrance—today isn’t in vain,” Qingyi chuckled, lifting the gourd. The rich aroma wafted, intoxicating like a celestial realm.

Pouring the first cup, East Yang Ze tasted carefully. The wine intoxicated without overpowering. How had he never encountered such a drink before? Ten-Li Fragrance was subtle but enchanting, commanding reverence.

Others also sipped, eyes dreamy, memories stirring. Almost immediately, everyone who inhaled the aroma collapsed, utterly drunk. Even those at the table fainted.

“What…” East Yang Ze’s face went pale, staring at the woman before him. A strange sensation stabbed at his mind; he shook his head but his body couldn’t hold up, collapsing onto the table.

Ten-Li Fragrance?

Heh…

The woman smiled coldly at the fallen. “Ten-Li Fragrance isn’t for those who aren’t of royal blood. Since the prince is here, I won’t hold back. The rest of you, except the prince, take them all to the basement.”

“Yes!” The dozen men hurriedly carried the others down.

The massive basement was filthy, musty, and cramped. Dozens of people were squeezed together uncomfortably.

Once the guards left, a few opened their eyes, peering outside. The wet, grimy floor was pungent.

Ling Ruoxi quickly removed her outer clothes, standing and looking out. “So this is a shady tavern… Ten-Li Fragrance can’t be opened here after all.”

“I’m confused… if you knew the wine was dangerous, why drink it?” Bai He asked. Protected by Zizhu energy, she was unharmed.

Qingyi smirked, dragging his chin. “Not acting poisoned, how would you see through her plan? But I don’t understand why she’d capture East Yang Ze… royal blood really is so tempting?”

“Tempting or not…” Bai He rolled her eyes. Silver Wolf dragged his chin, explaining, “This wine is technically toxic. Yiqing Wine, Ten-Year Cold, Hundred-Year Spring, Millennium Drunk—they all awaken your inner craving, but they’re not real wine. Real wine would have knocked us out already. These are made with special ingredients to mimic wine.”

“If it’s not wine… then the flavor… what is it?” Bai He frowned, bewildered. This tavern had existed since her childhood, always popular. How did it become like this?

Luo Mingyu smirked, pressing a finger to his lips. “It’s human flesh.”

“Ugh!” Silver Wolf felt his stomach churn violently, covering his mouth. “Stop! This is the first time I’ve eaten something made from humans… it feels terrible.”

“Humans? No… wine made from humans?” Bai He’s face turned pale. The taste had always felt odd, and her Zizhu energy warned her. She had spat it all out.

Qingyi glanced disdainfully at Silver Wolf, pinching his nose. “You didn’t really drink it, did you?”

“Didn’t you?” Silver Wolf raised an eyebrow.