Beidou finished the crayfish with great satisfaction and set the shell beside her bowl, then started eyeing the other plate.
But when she looked up, she saw Ningguang signaling at her. Ningguang's face had gone dark, and the look in her eyes was honestly a little frightening.
Beidou picked up a bottle beside her, opened it, and poured herself a cup.
Just smelling it made her panic a little. This wine was far too strong.
Could she even make it past five bowls?
Beidou swallowed and remembered that she had already agreed to help Ningguang.
Taking a deep breath, she said, "Ryou, last time, even after drinking straight from the bottles, we still didn't settle who could drink more. This time, let's decide it properly!"
Ryou's head began to ache the moment Beidou spoke. Last time, he had used Mouth to breathe out a field that kept everyone from getting drunk.
But this time was different. Ryou had used a lot of mental energy cultivating the fruit earlier, and he had consumed even more just now.
He did not have much mental energy left. If he started drinking against Beidou, he would not last long.
Ryou exhaled, gathered his mental energy, and used Mouth to breathe out a stream of energy.
[Breath — Forced Sobriety]
[Effect: Forces the user to stay clear-headed. Targets within range will not be affected by alcohol. Chance of drunkenness reduced by 65%.]
After releasing that breath, Ryou felt the world in front of him dim. Strange double images began overlapping in his vision.
[Ding! Entering Darkened Mode!]
[Ding! Darkened Mode active. Mental energy increased by 50%. Current mental energy: 300%.]
[Ding! Mouth entering Darkened Mode!]
[Ding! Mouth Darkened Mode active. Any breath you release can be imbued with status effects.]
The flickering darkness in Ryou's vision vanished, and the double images disappeared.
When he saw that Mouth had entered Darkened Mode, he finally relaxed.
He had noticed the line that mattered most.
His breath could now carry additional effects.
[Ding! You imbued the breath with Holy Light.]
[Ding! You imbued the breath with Adeptal Energy.]
[Breath — Forced Sobriety]
[Quality: +2]
[Effect: Reduces drunkenness within range by 85%. When drinking high-proof alcohol, the effect is reduced to 60%.]
[Duration: 1 hour.]
Seeing the effect, Ryou smiled. "Fine. If Captain Beidou wants to drink properly, then I'll stay with you to the end."
"Going bowl by bowl is boring. Let's drink straight from the bottle."
"Cough, cough. This…" Beidou froze. Why did this feel so familiar?
Ningguang's wine last time had been strong, but it was not nearly as strong as the wine this time.
Before Beidou could answer, Ryou said, "Then it's settled."
With that, Ryou picked up a bottle and drained it.
Beidou barely had time to react. She took a deep breath and said, "Fine. Today, I'm going all in. I'll risk my life to keep a gentleman company!"
"Bottoms up!"
Beidou picked up a bottle and drank it straight down. She immediately realized just how strong the wine was.
Heat rushed through her whole body, and her throat felt as if knives had scraped through it. It was deeply uncomfortable.
But she still felt clear-headed. Sweat broke out across her body, and her face flushed red.
She stood up and moved to the seat beside Ryou. "This is exactly the kind of personality I like. Come on, drink!"
"Drink." Ryou raised his bottle.
The two of them ignored everyone else and started drinking.
"Ryou, that wine is very strong," Keqing said, tugging at Ryou's clothes.
"It's fine." Ryou set the bottle down, leaned close to her ear, and whispered, "Don't worry. I won't get drunk. Leave it to me tonight."
"Pah. What nonsense are you saying?" Keqing glared at him.
She could smell the wine on him, and it was very strong. But his eyes were still clear, so she knew he was not drunk and finally relaxed.
"Ningguang!" Keqing called.
"What is it?" Ningguang asked while tasting her wine.
Ningguang faintly felt that something was wrong, because this wine was completely different from last time.
Last time, Ryou and Beidou had also gone bottle for bottle, and neither of them had gotten drunk.
The wine last time had been strong, but it had still been within a normal range.
This time was different.
She was certain Ryou had done something. That man was truly wicked. He was obviously teasing her on purpose.
"Ningguang, let me introduce someone to you. How about it?"
"Who?" Ningguang asked.
"Zhongli! What do you think of Zhongli? He's knowledgeable, talented, and his age suits you too. Besides…"
Keqing was just about to continue when there was a sudden "pfft" beside her.
She turned and saw Ryou spray all the wine in his mouth.
Fortunately, Ryou had turned his head. Unfortunately, the wine sprayed all over Beidou and Hu Tao.
"Ryou, what are you doing?!" Hu Tao glared at him so hard her eyes widened.
"Ryou, you…" Beidou was also caught off guard, her face covered in wine.
"Sorry, I… I couldn't hold it in." Ryou had sprayed out a mouthful of wine and choked himself in the process, leaving him rather uncomfortable.
"Keqing, what did you just say?" Ryou asked.
"I think Zhongli and Ningguang are quite suitable for each other, so…" Keqing said.
Ningguang glanced at Keqing, then gave a light, disdainful snort.
She had no feelings for Zhongli. At most, she admired him.
"There's no need. I already have someone I like. You know that person too. In fact, you're very familiar with him," Ningguang said.
I know him.
I'm very familiar with him.
Keqing clenched her fists. Her instincts told her exactly who Ningguang meant.
Ningguang's "someone I like" was clearly her husband.
Good. Very good, Ningguang!
You came to my house for dinner with bad intentions, and now you're saying this in front of me?
You're trying to steal my man!
"I think Zhongli is very suitable for you. You should seriously consider him!" Keqing said.
"No," Ningguang said while sipping her wine.
"Ningguang, you're already at that age. If you keep being so picky, no one will want you in a few years!" Keqing said.
Ningguang glanced at her. "With my figure, appearance, and everything else, finding a man would be far too easy."
"A few days ago, I saw a notice about a man from a noble family who cheated after getting married. In the end, he was thrown out with nothing."
"What I'm trying to tell you is that there are many ways to make a man fall for a woman."
"But keeping a man is not nearly so easy."
"Haven't you heard the saying? Wildflowers always smell sweeter than the flowers at home." Ningguang smiled.
"And a wildflower with my status is not something most people would even dare to pick."
"So you admit you're a wildflower," Keqing said coldly.
"I never denied it. After all, many people like innocent young girls."
"But mature women are even more appealing, aren't they? After all, we understand certain things." Ningguang smiled.
"Ningguang, you…"
"Cough, cough. You're just going to sit there and watch them argue?" Beidou asked beside Ryou.
"What am I supposed to do?" Ryou poured himself another cup.
"Speaking of which, what's going on with this wine? Why can't I get drunk?"
"This is top-grade strong liquor. Even an adeptus would get drunk from it, and I've already finished two whole bottles," Beidou asked in a low voice.
"Then that means you've become an adeptus, Beidou. Congratulations on ascending."
"Don't talk nonsense." Beidou rolled her eyes at him, then lifted the bottle and chugged again. "Still, I have to admit, this wine has a real kick."
"I like your rough and straightforward personality. If you weren't married, I'd definitely chase you."
"Haha, I like your personality too, Beidou." Ryou clinked his bottle against hers.
After finishing one bottle, Ryou opened another. He was just about to say something when Hu Tao poked her head out from Beidou's other side.
"Ryou, I'm hungry. I want more crayfish."
"Aren't there still… Wait, how are they all gone?" Ryou asked.
"They all got snatched up just now! I barely got any. Paimon grabbed three! It's too much!" Hu Tao waved her fists angrily.
"I was so busy drinking that I didn't even pay attention to the spicy crayfish. I only ate one," Beidou said, glancing at the table.
"It's fine. I still have more!" Ryou took a plate of crayfish out of the pocket world and placed it on the table.
Ryou picked up two crayfish. Just as he was about to bring one to his mouth, Hu Tao rushed forward.
In an instant, the plate was empty.
"Aaah! I didn't get any!" Paimon cried out.
"Ehe, I got some," Lumine said.
"Director, I grabbed one for you," Zhongli said, placing a crayfish into Hu Tao's bowl.
Hu Tao happily took the crayfish. Thanks to her quick hands earlier, she now had two.
"Your hands are all ridiculously fast," Beidou said.
"Beidou, you can have this one." Ryou handed one to Beidou.
Then he calmly peeled the other one, pulling out the crayfish meat in one complete piece.
Ryou placed the meat beside Keqing's bowl. "Keqing, eat some crayfish."
"Mhm, it's delicious!" Keqing bit into the crayfish meat, her eyes shining.
Then she noticed that Ryou's father and mother had not managed to get any. She whispered, "Ryou, Father and Mother didn't get any. You…"
"It's fine." Ryou took out another plate and placed it on the table. "This is the last plate. Finish what you have before taking more."
Ryou picked up two crayfish and placed them on his father's and mother's plates. "Father, Mother, try some."
"Mm." Ryou's father nodded.
Ryou's mother said, "Your cooking really is impressive. This crayfish is extraordinary."
"If you like it, eat more," Ryou said with a smile.
With the crayfish leading the way, the conversation quickly opened up, and everyone chatted warmly.
Before they knew it, an hour had passed. The meal gradually came to an end as everyone drank and talked.
"Hiss… not good. I…"
Ryou suddenly felt the world spin around him.
He knew the breath Mouth had released had lost its effect.
And he no longer had enough mental energy to replenish it.
After one more bottle, he collapsed straight onto the table.
Bang!
The sound made everyone look over.
[End of chapter]
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