Walker Of The Worlds

Chapter 3141: Talks Over Drinks

The night air was quiet, the rippling surface of the lake shimmering under the soft light of the moon.

After the weighty discussion with the Saintess, the tension that had gripped the air had gradually dissipated. Things were finally settling down, like dust after a storm.

Cattaleya leaned back comfortably, the faint gleam of amusement dancing in her eyes as she pulled out another bottle of wine. With a mischievous grin, she extended it toward Lin Mu.

”I’ve got ten more bottles left,” she said proudly, tilting the neck of the bottle in his direction. ”Snatched them from the banquet before all the chaos around you broke out. Would’ve been a waste to leave them behind.”

Lin Mu couldn’t help but chuckle at her brazenness. ”You stole wine from the banquet?”

”Borrowed,” she corrected with a wave of her hand. ”Banquets are meant for drinking, so technically I’m doing them a favor by not letting it go stale.”

Lin Mu shook his head, amused, and accepted the bottle.

He sat down across from her, the firelight from the lamps flickering between them as they settled in. They began drinking together, one bottle after another, their earlier conflict giving way to laughter and idle conversation.

By the time six bottles had been drained, Cattaleya’s face had a faint flush.

Her usual sharp and confident demeanor softened with the gentle haze of intoxication. She swirled the wine in her cup lazily, then squinted at Lin Mu with mild suspicion.

”How are you still fine?” she asked, her words slurred only slightly. ”Six bottles and not even a hint of a wobble.”

Lin Mu tilted his cup and took another sip. ”My body cultivation and physique simply don’t allow me to get drunk. Alcohol just doesn’t affect me the way it does most people.”

Her brows arched in surprise. ”You mean to tell me no amount of drinking works on you?”

”Pretty much.” He set the cup down with a soft clink. ”I’ve been through too much body tempering. It makes poisons, toxins, and even alcohol ineffective. My body processes them too fast.”

Cattaleya leaned forward, her eyes narrowing. ”Have you ever tried special liquor made for body cultivators?”

Lin Mu nodded. ”Plenty of times. Once people realized I was a body cultivator, it became some kind of challenge during banquets. They’d prepare all sorts of ’special’ wines meant to topple body cultivators. Daoist Chu, in fact, had tons of it brought just for me. He was determined to see me drunk.”

”And?”

”Didn’t work. Not once.” Lin Mu gave a shrug. ”Though at least the energy from it is a good benefit.” he added.

Cattaleya stared at him as if trying to pierce his words for any flaw.

Then she let out a laugh, shaking her head. ”That’s absurd. Even I can get drunk off a few bottles of those concoctions, and my body cultivation isn’t something to scoff at. Of course, I can purge it whenever I want, but choosing to get drunk is part of the fun. Not being able to... that’s just sad.”

Lin Mu smirked. ”So you’re telling me I’ve been robbed of one of life’s pleasures?”

”Exactly!” she jabbed a finger at him dramatically, then slumped back and sighed. ”Shame, really. You’ll never get to enjoy that warm, dizzying haze. Or that reckless courage that comes with it.”

Lin Mu raised a brow. ”Not sure I need reckless courage when I’ve got my fists.”

She snorted at that, then leaned closer, her voice softening with curiosity. ”So, tell me. Did you ever get drunk when you had a lower cultivation base?”

Lin Mu went silent for a moment, genuinely thinking back. He rarely indulged in alcohol during his earlier days, his path leaving little room for such luxuries. But a faint memory stirred.

”There was one time,” he said finally, his tone thoughtful. ”After I became an immortal.”

Cattaleya blinked, her interest piqued. ”Really? And what did it take to get you drunk if even the strongest liquors failed?”

Lin Mu glanced down at the rippling reflection in his cup. ”Ichor Essence Wine. Just a few drops.”

The effect was immediate. Cattaleya’s eyes widened in shock, her jaw dropping slightly. ”Ichor Essence Wine?!” She sat up straight, her drunken flush now mingled with disbelief. ”Do you even know what you drank? That stuff is—”

”I know,” Lin Mu interrupted calmly.

She slammed her cup down, leaning in as if to make sure she’d heard correctly. ”Where in the world did you even get that? Even when I was in the Celestial Realm, I never had the chance to taste it. It’s outrageously expensive, and only a handful of masters can even craft it. It’s practically a legend among cultivators!”

Lin Mu hesitated for a moment.

He had originally intended to keep it to himself, but Cattaleya wasn’t just any cultivator. She was from the Celestial Realm, someone who likely knew the figures who walked at the very peak of existence. If there was anyone who would recognize the significance, it was her.

”The Ever Spring Mistress gave it to me,” he said simply.

For a moment, silence blanketed the lakeside. Then Cattaleya’s face lost all composure.

Her eyes widened so far it seemed they might pop out of her head. She opened her mouth to say something, only for no sound to come out. Instead, her body wobbled, and before Lin Mu could react, she stumbled backward with such force that she toppled into the lake with a loud splash.

SPLASHHHHHH

Water sprayed high into the air before crashing back down, rippling violently outward.

Lin Mu blinked, frozen in place for a moment. Then he slowly set down his cup, rose to his feet, and walked to the water’s edge.

Cattaleya surfaced a second later, coughing and sputtering, her drenched hair plastered to her face. She pointed a trembling finger at him, her expression a mix of disbelief, outrage, and awe.

”You... you... Ever Spring Mistress?!” she shouted, her voice echoing across the lake.