High School of Demon Hunting

Chapter 108: Chapter 32 Two Cups_1

”Perfect timing!” Zhang Ji Xin slapped Zheng Qing’s shoulder enthusiastically, attracting his attention, and handed him a glass: ”Try this first, it clears the lungs and removes the dust.”

”What’s this?” Zheng Qing held the glass in both hands, examining the swirling pearl-coloured gas inside, unsure of what to do.

”Mist... Mist Liquor.” Zhang Ji Xin, with a heavy tongue, picked up another glass from the bar and handed it to Xiao Xiao: ”It cleanses the lungs, invigorates the blood, and is ideal for guys like you who can’t drink alcohol.”

”Can’t drink alcohol?” Zheng Qing’s face reddened: ”Last year, I drank a jug of baijiu, the 60-degree kind, with my grandfather!”

Saying this, he shook the glass indignantly, preparing to drain it all at once.

Zhang Ji Xin reached out and grabbed his arm.

”My bad, my bad! My apologies!” The flushed boy raised his index finger, swaying it, the corners of his mouth forcefully pinned downwards, he earnestly added: ”Let me drink in honour first!”

With that, he picked up another glass of Mist Liquor near him, brought it under his nose, and took a big sniff.

The pearl-coloured mist violently whirled, forming two whirlpools that disappeared into his nostrils. His chest heaved for a moment, and the red glow on his face brightened as if fueled by fire, blazing brighter than before.

Zheng Qing watched, dumbfounded.

After a while, Zhang Ji Xin opened his mouth and belched.

He turned over the glass, with its mouth downwards, gave it a firm shake, and solemnly looked at Zheng Qing.

Zheng Qing swallowed and nervously lifted up his own glass of Mist Liquor, glancing at Xiao Xiao.

”Mist Liquor was originally a by-product of wizards concocting magic potions. Back then, pharmaceutical techniques were relatively undeveloped. To maximise the efficacy of herbs, the wizards would grind dried herbs into powder and use spells to purify it into a gas for the patient to inhale directly. This way, the medicinal effects could circulate throughout the body via the bloodstream, making it more effective than orally-administered drugs.”

”Later, a wizard who loved to drink discovered that this method of consuming alcohol brought greater pleasure to the mind. Thus, Mist Liquor was born and spread throughout every corner of the wizarding world over the next few centuries. Nowadays, even Gypsy witches love this drink.”

Upon hearing this, Zheng Qing couldn’t help but look around, hoping to spot a beautiful figure.

”Different bars have unique Mist Liquor recipes.” Xiao Xiao lifted his glass to his eyes, carefully gave it a shake, and observed the traces of the pearl mist dissipating inside the glass, then added: ”This place’s Mist Liquor is finely brewed, with the residual mist crystalline and shiny like jade as it swirls, indicating high quality.”

After speaking, he sniffed and said: ”The aroma is slightly sour, has a bitter cherry taste, and has a rich flavour. They added some nutmeg as well. Overall, this glass of Mist Liquor is good for some light drinking before meals, and aids digestion.”

Zheng Qing turned to look at Watermelon Head blankly and murmured: ”All I want to know is how to drink this ... Do I inhale it directly into my nose? Wouldn’t I choke?”

”I don’t know.” Xiao Xiao shook his glass at the swirling mist inside, looking annoyed: ”I haven’t drank it myself. Theoretically, the alcohol vapours would enter your lungs and spread throughout your body with the bloodstream... You shouldn’t choke.”

”There are things you don’t know?!” Zheng Qing looked at Watermelon Head in shock then looked determinedly at the glass: ”Then I must drink it before you do.”

With that, he closed his eyes, pointed the glass rim at his nose, and following what Zhang Ji Xin did earlier, took a powerful inhale.

The swirling mist in the glass surged into his nostrils like a stream. A part of it descended his throat into his stomach, while another part spread into his lungs through his trachea. The slightly sour aroma mixed with a feeling of fullness stimulating his lungs.

Closing his eyes, a warm sensation spread from his stomach and lungs. For a moment, it felt like every pore was greedily soaking up the gentle fragrance.

It felt so good that even the tuft of hair on his head couldn’t help but shake lazily.

Before he could regain his senses from this pleasant sensation, he felt a lightness in his hand. The glass filled with Mist Liquor was taken away.

A bit disgruntled, he opened his eyes and saw Zhang Ji Xin holding another large cup in front of him.

”You can’t drink too much Mist Liquor, everyone gets only one cup.” Zhang Ji Xin winked, a mysterious smile on his face: ”Compared to that, this drink is limitless, and you might like it better!”

Zheng Qing took a glance at the large cup in his hand.

In the transparent glass, there was a mass of jade-green liquid, surrounded by a milky-white gas similar to Mist Liquor, which seemed to hold it aloft in mid-air.

”This is Green Bee, a drink made from Mist Liquor. It’s the most popular drink in the wizarding world, loved by everyone from ten to hundreds of years old... It’s drunk by mouth, not inhaled.”

”Don’t we need to eat anything?” Zheng Qing belched, every breath carrying a hint of intoxication.

From the moment he had walked in, he hadn’t had a bite to eat, and his stomach was already full of alcohol.

This could lead to trouble.

Zheng Qing had a clear understanding of this.

”You haven’t eaten yet?” Zhang Ji Xin blinked, looking a little confused. But soon, his expression turned determined again: ”After drinking this Green Bee, I’ll take you to find something delicious!”

”A bowl of Crystal Seeds, a glass of Green Bee, roaming all around Beta Town, spending all your credits is worth it.” The classmate next to him, Duan Xiao Jian, hummed while shaking his head.

Crystal Seeds are a kind of grain cultivated by wizards, akin to rice. But each Crystal Seed is the size of a peanut, and it’s beautifully translucent, with a fragrant and alluring aroma. The main thing is, this food replenishes energy lost in experiments for wizards. It’s a great temptation for all wizards. However, this kind of food is a little too precious for first-year newcomers like Zheng Qing, and he hasn’t yet had the chance to enjoy it.

As for the Green Bee, Zheng Qing took a closer look at the glass in his hand.

He had previously drunk this beverage when purchasing study supplies at the Great Ming Pavilion. Although it was a bit spicy, it didn’t contain much alcohol.

”Deal!” Zheng Qing slapped Zhang Ji Xin’s shoulder firmly.

The blue-green liquid in the glass sparkled with dazzling colours, like jade. It was said that the original liquid of this drink was brewed using the sap of the Ailanthus tree collected by spirit devils. During subsequent brewing processes, wizards add dozens of different herbs. This was done to soothe the wizard’s mind without damaging the wizard’s soul.

Xiao Xiao sneered at this claim. He once sharply pointed out that no one would damage their own interests for others. Perhaps Green Bee was a drink brewed by wizards using a bunch of Ice Silkworm Feces mixed with honey and scorpion tail.

Of course, only God knows the truth.

Zheng Qing took a careful sip.