Fang Zheng could feel warmth in his heart, his eyes unwillingly turning red.
The two got to the tavern. A shop assistant had been expecting them all along, and brought them inside.
On a square table by the window, there were several side dishes and two wine cups, and a pot of wine.
Fang Yuan sat on one side, and when he saw Gu Yue Qing Shu, he smiled and extended his hand, "Please sit."
Gu Yue Qing Shu nodded to Fang Yuan. He took his seat, then said to Fang Zheng, "Fang Zheng, go take a stroll around, I'll talk with your brother."
He was a smart person. Upon seeing only two wine cups, he knew that Fang Yuan wanted to have a chat alone.
The truth is, he had such intentions as well.
Fang Zheng acknowledged and left the shop indignantly.
"I know you, Fang Yuan." Qing Shu smiled, opening the wine pot skillfully, pouring a cup for Fang Yuan and one for himself.
"You are a very interesting, smart person." Saying so, he raised his cup towards Fang Yuan.
Fang Yuan laughed and raised his cup as well to return the toast.
The two drank it in one shot together.
Qing Shu poured another for Fang Yuan again, as well as for himself.
As he poured, he said, "There's no point beating about the bush when talking to a smart person. I'll be open, I want to buy your Liquor worm, how much would you sell it?"
He didn't bother to ask if Fang Yuan was willing to sell it.
Instead, he went straight to the point—"How much?"—a clear display of his unwavering confidence.
He was the top Rank two Gu Master, having reached the peak stage at a young age.
Even Chi Shan and Mo Yan, both at the upper stage of Rank two, couldn't compare to him.
From the moment he arrived, he took the lead—pouring wine and offering a toast to Fang Yuan.
His calm assurance, paired with a gentle smile, created a distinct presence. It wasn't the kind of overpowering confidence that repelled people, but rather a quiet, firm determination that others could sense. His long green hair caught the winter sunlight streaming through the window, casting soft highlights across his fair face.
In that moment, Fang Yuan couldn't help but associate him with the radiant beauty of early spring.
"A truly talented person. What a shame," Fang Yuan thought.
He was not bothered by Qing Shu's act of taking over the initiative. In fact Fang Yuan was slightly appreciative of him.
Gu Yue Qing Shu, like Fang Yuan and Fang Zheng, was also an orphan.
His parents had lost their lives during a wolf tide when he was still a child.
Afterward, clan leader Gu Yue Bo personally took him in and raised him.
When his aptitude was tested to be B grade, Gu Yue Bo began guiding him directly.
His talent stood out—among B-grades, he was considered exceptional, almost on par with A-grade.
Some even referred to it as a 'false A-grade'.
Gu Yue Bo had long been grooming him as a potential successor for the clan leadership.
Qing Shu had a warm personality and treated others with kindness.
He earned the respect and admiration of many within the clan.
Despite Fang Zheng's arrival disrupting his chances to inherit the clan leader position, he bore no resentment.
Instead, he welcomed Fang Zheng sincerely and took care of him with genuine devotion.
Gu Yue Qing Shu saw Fang Yuan's silence and thought that Fang Yuan was considering selling the Liquor Worm.
He smiled, "Fang Yuan, you should already be clear on the limits of Liquor worm. The Liquor worm is only a Rank one Gu worm and can only refine Rank one green copper essence. But you are already a Rank two Gu Master; the Liquor worm has no use towards red steel primeval essence. Although you have a wine tavern now and can easily raise the Liquor worm, why would you vainly raise something that has no use to you?"
He switched the thread of discussion, "The Liquor worm has no use to you but it is useful to other Rank one Gu Masters. Especially in the awakening ceremony next spring, there will be a new batch of students and the Liquor worm will be of great help to them. So, you might as well just sell the Liquor worm to the clan and contribute to clan's strength."
Fang Yuan didn't reply.
Qing Shu pondered, guessing Fang Yuan's intention, "I understand now. You are reluctant to part with the Liquor worm, you even want to fuse it. If I am not wrong, you should be thinking of going the route of the Rank two White Chrysalis, then the Rank three Mist Perspiring butterfly fusion route, right?"
"This is the most widespread and also the most practical recipe. The Mist Perspiring butterfly is a great Gu worm. But the White Chrysalis has no ability. This fusion route wouldn't have much value to you. You have C-grade aptitude and now have Rank two cultivation; White Chrysalis doesn't have any ability and will only squander food, it will be of no help to you."
"What is the possibility of you reaching Rank three? Even if you succeeded in advancing to Rank three, you will probably be middle-aged by then. Will you raise the useless White Chrysalis for tens of years? It will be better to use the expenses of raising White Chrysalis on nurturing Gu worms. That is more practical and will be more helpful to you, am I wrong?"
"Liquor worm's true value lies in refining primeval essence and raising a small realm. If you go through this fusion, you will only be treating the Liquor worm as a material, won't that be a pity?"
Qing Shu was right—the Liquor Worm's true value lay in its ability to refine primeval essence and raise its stage by a small realm.
For Gu Masters, this served as an alternative means of expanding their primeval essence reserves, while also greatly aiding the nourishment of their aperture and accelerating their cultivation progress.
However, if someone chose the fusion path of 'White Chrysalis, Mist Perspiring Butterfly,' the resulting Gu would lose this essence-refining ability, which was undoubtedly a great loss.
In fact, Flower Wine Monk had taken this very path. He transformed the Liquor Worm into the Mist Perspiring Butterfly and used it to seduce women and commit countless vile deeds. After his death, lacking proper nourishment, the Mist Perspiring Butterfly began to regress and eventually reverted back into a Liquor Worm.
Qing Shu's eyes flashed upon seeing the silent Fang Yuan and continued, "Actually, our clan has a recipe; this recipe raises Liquor worm to Rank two Moon Harbinger Gu then the Rank three Seven Fragrances Liquor worm. Seven Fragrances Liquor worm has the ability to refine primeval essence."
"Fang Yuan, if you don't want to sell the Liquor worm, then we could change it to a business transaction. You will sell the Liquor worm to the clan and if the clan can refine it to the Seven Fragrances Liquor worm, you will have the right to use it for five years. If it fails, the clan will compensate for it. What do you think?"
Doing this meant the clan will bear all the risks for the fusion. With such a superior condition, others might eagerly agree to it.
But for Fang Yuan himself, this was pointless.
With his 44% C grade aptitude, advancing to Rank three was almost impossible.
Five years of using rights sounded wonderful but to Fang Yuan, it was like trying to catch the moon's reflection in water.
Gu Yue Qing Shu had said so because he saw Fang Yuan's ambitions to charge to Rank three, so he intentionally threw this sweet bait to lure Fang Yuan.
But he had miscalculated from the start!
In Fang Yuan's memories, there was the best recipe for the Liquor worm fusion.
First was advancing the Liquor worm to Rank two Four Flavors Liquor worm then to the Rank three Seven Fragrances Liquor worm. Whether it was Four Flavors Liquor worm or Seven Fragrances Liquor worm, both had the ability to refine primeval essence.
How could Gu Yue Qing Shu know what Fang Yuan had in mind.
Seeing Fang Yuan not making any moves to agree at all, he threw his trump card, "Fang Yuan, if you sell the Liquor worm, I can mediate between you and Fang Zheng. At least, he won't use the family assets to challenge you to a Gu battle. You also know the clan rules; the challenge must be accepted. Even if the Gu battle request is not approved by the higher-ups, it must first be accepted. Even if you are sure of your defeat and don't want to go to the arena, directly throwing in the towel, you still need to accept the challenge."
This world valued martial spirit above all—there was no place for cowards within the clans.
When faced with a challenge, a Gu Master was expected to accept it. Doing so proved one's courage. Even publicly admitting defeat was seen as an act of bravery.
Over time, the harsh and unforgiving environment gave rise to this deeply rooted value system. Clan elders and higher-ups would settle disputes based on the outcomes of these Gu battles.
However, a proper reason was required for a battle to take place.
The challenger had to be in the right, and the cause needed to be justifiable. Alternatively, both sides could agree to terms similar to a wager. Only then would a Gu battle be officially sanctioned.
"Fang Zheng's Gu battle request is reasonable and fair; it will be approved. If this happens, no matter the result – whether loss or win – will be judged by the elders. Who do you think the elders will side with between you and Fang Zheng?"
Qing Shu's smile became bigger, he looked at Fang Yuan with a burning gaze and continued to add pressure, "Fang Yuan, if you win, you will simply have to part with a tiny bit less of the family assets. But if you sell the Liquor worm to the clan, you will be contributing to the clan. The clan will remember you. I can also guarantee that Fang Zheng would never challenge you on the basis of family assets."