"What are you looking at? If you keep staring, I’ll dig your eyes out..." Having downed a cup of Star Brew, Guh Niqiang’s voice softened considerably, losing its usual intimidating power.

She noticed this change and tried hard to glare at Lu Qian, but unfortunately, her raised eyebrows and glaring eyes only made Lu Qian find her exceptionally cute.

Truly worthy of the Spirit Wine made by a Golden Core Master!

"Another cup!" Guh Niqiang gave up her effort, pushing the wine bowl towards Lu Qian in a resigned manner.

Lu Qian tried to dissuade her: "Drink less, this wine is incredibly potent."

However, Guh Niqiang had already gulped down another entire bowl. Lu Qian had no choice but to accompany her.

With another bowl down, Lu Qian felt as if the scenery before him was floating in the moonlight, and Guh Niqiang’s Flowing Cloud Immortal Robe had extinguished, her skin as white as jade seemed to emit a gentle glow.

Lu Qian’s body felt light, but his mind was still clear; he knew that they had reached the final stage, and drinking more would truly render them drunk. So before Guh Niqiang poured herself a third bowl, he mumbled, "Drink slowly, at least eat some dishes..."

Guh Niqiang glanced at the fruit on the table: "You call this food? It doesn’t match my Star Brew at all; eating it would only spoil the taste of this fine wine."

Lu Qian slumped in his chair, letting out a hearty laugh: "Then alright, you have the wine, and I have a story. Shall I tell you a funny one to go with the wine? What do you want to hear?"

Guh Niqiang, her jade-like fingers playing with the wine bowl, giggled softly, a tender and shy demeanor that Lu Qian had never seen before, making his eyes almost bulge out: "You always have weird and wonderful stories... tonight’s moonlight is just right, so tell a story about the moon."

"The moon... listen closely." Lu Qian tapped the table and said, "In ancient times, there was a couple, two cultivators named Hou Yi and Chang’Er."

"The two were extraordinarily gifted, reaching the Realm of Unity, but they had no confidence in crossing the Ascension Celestial Tribulation and had to seek opportunities desperately."

"Then, an Immortal named Queen Mother of the West appeared. She admired Hou Yi’s talent and gifted him an Immortal Pill. Consuming this pill would help him easily cross the tribulation and ascend."

"But once ascending to the Immortal Realm, they would be forever separated from the mortal world. Unwilling to part with Chang’Er, Hou Yi hid the pill instead of consuming it."

Guh Niqiang couldn’t help but interrupt, "The path of the Dao is long and arduous, reaching the Realm of Unity is already a historic feat, taking thousands of years—for such individuals, they can’t let go of worldly love?"

Lu Qian smiled and said, "Emotion is the hardest thing to part with. There’s the love between men and women, the bond between master and disciple, the camaraderie between brothers, the fellowship among peers... not to mention love, hatred is also an emotion, joy, anger, sorrow, and happiness are all emotions, even beasts have feelings."

"If humans have no emotion, unable to feel joy or anger, not moved by sorrow or happiness, how are they different from clay and bricks, wouldn’t they be lesser than beasts?"

"If humans have no emotion, why pursue the Dao? Why seek longevity? Longevity is for experiencing this world for a long time and enjoying this world, isn’t it? If only for the sake of living long, better to be a turtle underwater that can live for a millennium."

Guh Niqiang pondered for a moment, then murmured, "You always have plenty of reasoning. It seems to make sense. What happened later?"

"Later, Hou Yi went on a trip, and when he returned, he found his home destroyed by the Celestial Tribulation. Yet, Chang’Er was unharmed, ascending to the sky."

"Indeed, she stole Hou Yi’s Immortal Pill, consumed it, and ascended herself..."

Guh Niqiang was enraged, her brows arched, slamming the table with a loud bang, luckily without using spiritual power, otherwise, the fine wine on the table would have been wasted.

"Shameless! Despicable!"

Lu Qian sighed: "Yes, although it was shameless and despicable, she indeed became immortal. But she also received punishment."

"Just as she ascended, the Queen Mother of the West appeared suddenly. She was furious that Chang’Er stole the Immortal Pill meant for Hou Yi, punishing her to never enter the Immortal Realm, but to be alone on the moon forever, residing in the cold and desolate Moon Palace."

"Perhaps now, Chang’Er is watching us from the moon."

Hearing that Chang’Er was punished, Guh Niqiang glanced sideways at the Moon Hooks, satisfied, saying, "Serves her right!"

Lu Qian chuckled softly, tapping the table and reciting, "Chang’Er regrets stealing the Spiritual Medicine, as her heart is trapped beneath the blue sea and sky nightly."

Guh Niqiang snorted angrily, "She should regret it! If she couldn’t let go of worldly love and wanted to be a couple, she should have stayed together through thick and thin. How could she betray like that? Even Dao companions should be the same!"

Lu Qian was a bit shocked, as it was out of character for Guh Niqiang to express such insight on these matters.

At this moment, the two bowls of Spirit Wine fully took effect, the alcohol surged, emboldening them, making them feel carefree and fearless, Lu Qian, as if driven by some supernatural force, asked, "Then, if you were to find a Dao companion, what kind would you seek?"

Guh Niqiang was stunned for a moment, then nonchalantly took the wine jar and started pouring, filling two bowls with the last of the wine: "Why would I need a Dao companion? Weak people need mutual support, but I am enough by myself."

But Lu Qian wouldn’t let it go, placing his hand over the wine bowl Guh Niqiang handed over, staring directly into her eyes: "What if... you had to have one?"

Facing Lu Qian’s intense gaze, Guh Niqiang for the first time wore a flustered expression. She didn’t know where this panic originated, but it left her heart uneasy, wanting to flee quickly. But Lu Qian simply looked at her, leaving her with nowhere to hide.

An unprecedented strange emotion in her heart caused her panic, reaching its peak, an avoidance-born annoyance arose. Suddenly, images of Lu Qian and Jiang Qingfeng’s intimacy flashed through her mind, coldly she snorted, slapping Lu Qian’s hand away with a sudden movement.

Her voice was firm: "Even if I have to choose, I won’t share with others, my Dao companion must belong to me alone!"

Lu Qian paused briefly, then suddenly laughed.

Indeed, this was the proud Guh Niqiang.

Even though their relationship had slowly evolved from reliable companions to something more intimate, with even an ambiguous undercurrent, and faintly each had glimpses of the other in their hearts. However, Guh Niqiang was still Guh Niqiang.

I might have... drunk a bit too much.

Lu Qian picked up the bowl, downed it in one go, then stood up to leave: "Thank you for the good wine, I’m leaving now."

Guh Niqiang watched Lu Qian’s back, raising her hand halfway, then withdrew it.

She said nothing, raised her wine bowl, and also downed it.

Guh Niqiang finally stared blankly at the floating radiance indoors, without using spiritual power to resist the rising dizziness from the intoxication, ultimately relaxing her body, falling asleep on the table.

Having waited for a long time, Jiang Qingfeng did not see Lu Qian return, and hurriedly went out to find him. Not far from Guh Niqiang’s treehouse, he found the drunkenly incoherent Lu Qian and brought him back to the Sect Leader’s Courtyard.