Chapter 179: Wine Doesn't Intoxicate, People Do

Chapter 179: Wine Doesn't Intoxicate, People Do

At the front yard of the Eastern Yard.

"Senior Sister Li?" Jiang Ning noticed Li Qing's figure and was slightly surprised.

"Junior Brother Jiang, do you mind if I disturb you?" Li Qing asked.

"Not at all!" Jiang Ning smiled and said, "Senior Sister Li, come with me!"

Then he patted Xiao Dou Bao's head, "Xiao Dou Bao, go play by yourself for a while!"

"Okay!" Xiao Dou Bao nodded obediently and skipped away.

For children, there's never a shortage of things to play with.

Even a few ants on the ground can keep them entertained for a long time.

Soon after.

Jiang Ning led Li Qing towards his Eastern Yard.

Along the way.

"Senior Sister Li, how come you have time to visit me today?"

"Because I'm leaving!" Li Qing replied.

"Leaving?" Jiang Ning paused in his steps, slightly taken aback.

"Yes," Li Qing nodded, "Since I couldn't enter the Inspection Office, in order to pursue my martial arts development, I'm leaving today with my father to study martial arts at the Sword Pavilion in Bashu Province. I came here today to bid farewell to you, Junior Brother Jiang."

The two chatted as they walked towards the Eastern Yard.

A moment later.

At the pavilion in the Eastern Yard.

The two sat facing each other.

After their conversation, Jiang Ning understood the situation.

In Bashu Province's Sword Pavilion, Li Qing's father had connections, allowing her to study martial arts there.

The Sword Pavilion was a much more powerful sect than the Medicine King Valley.

Within the Sword Pavilion, a grandmaster resided, making it a place of formidable strength.

Therefore, for Li Qing, becoming a disciple of the Sword Pavilion was an excellent choice.

If it weren't for her father's extensive connections, she wouldn't even have had the opportunity to join the Sword Pavilion in Bashu Province.

Bashu Province was over two thousand kilometers away from Luoshui County.

This departure would be a long and uncertain one.

That's why Li Qing came to bid farewell today.

As this might be their last meeting, she wanted to make it count.

Sitting face to face, Jiang Ning thought for a moment, then said, "Senior Sister, please wait a moment!"

As his words fell, Jiang Ning walked into his house.

When he came out, he was holding a wine flask and two wine cups.

Dong, dong, dong—

He gently shook the flask, and the black stone inside collided with the inner wall, creating a clinking sound.

At the pavilion, Jiang Ning placed a wine cup in front of Li Qing.

"Junior Brother Jiang, this is..." Li Qing's mouth slightly agape as she stared at the wine flask and cup.

Suddenly, she seemed to realize something.

Could it be that my junior brother wants to get me drunk?

Li Qing looked at Jiang Ning, her face turning slightly red.

Her gaze shifted from Jiang Ning, initially hesitant, and then determined.

Jiang Ning spoke up, "Since you're leaving, I should naturally send you off properly."

Gurgle, gurgle, gurgle—

The clear wine poured into the cup, and a hint of silver starlight flashed within.

At the same time, a strong aroma of alcohol spread.

"Senior Sister, I wish you a safe journey!"

Jiang Ning raised his cup.

The next moment.

"So spicy!" Li Qing took a tiny sip and immediately stuck out her tongue.

Jiang Ning drank his cup, and the wine slid down his throat smoothly, leaving no burning sensation in his stomach.

He turned to Li Qing, "Senior Sister, this wine is a treasure, a true treasure, don't waste it."

As expected!

My junior brother wants to get me drunk!

Hearing Jiang Ning's words, Li Qing's heart understood.

Without hesitation, she picked up the cup, tilted her head back, and drank it all in one go.

In an instant.

As the wine flowed down her throat and into her stomach, Li Qing's face turned rosy.

Clang—

The wine cup in Li Qing's hand landed heavily on the stone table.

"Junior Brother, I want more!"

"Of course!" Jiang Ning smiled and refilled their cups.

Inside the wine flask was the black stone, which had the effect of improving one's physique and martial arts talent.

Jiang Ning later realized that the black stone was responsible for the remarkable transformation of the white dragon fish.

He was well aware of the stone's extraordinary value.

With this wondrous black stone, when soaked in water, it could produce an endless supply of treasures akin to heavenly materials and earthly treasures.

Knowing Li Qing's request, Jiang Ning no longer hesitated. He had soaked the black stone in the wine to enhance her physique and boost her martial arts talent.

This way, he could improve Li Qing's foundation and strengthen her innate martial arts talent.

For him, this resource was inexhaustible and abundant.

Daily, the black stone could be soaked in any liquid, be it wine or clear water, and it would have the same effect.

After Jiang Ning filled the second cup, Li Qing, with determination, drank it down in one go.

With two cups of wine in her stomach, Li Qing's face was now flushed with a rosy hue.

A moment later.

"Brother Jiang!" Li Qing looked at Jiang Ning, suddenly smiling foolishly, her face flushed.

Suddenly.

"Ouch—" Li Qing burped a loud belch,ollow Jiang Ning shook his head: "This wine is terrible!!"

Seeing Li Qing was already eight or nine-tenths inebriated, Jiang Ning drained the last cup of wine in one gulp.

Then, he put the wine flask away.

"Senior Sister Li, I’ll take you home!" Jiang Ning moved to Li Qing's side, supporting her arm to prevent her from stumbling and falling to the ground.

An hour after.

At the Li household gate.

"Senior Sister Li, we’re home!" Jiang Ning patted Li on her lap, Li Qing lay on his lap. Her face was still dazed, her eyes still unfocused, her face still flushed.

"Yes, we’re at Sister Li’s house!" Jiang Ning swept open the carriage’s curtain, pointing outside to the large Li house gate.

"Alright then!" Li Qing nodded slightly.

Jiang Ning then supported Li Qing off the carriage.

A moment later.

As Jiang Ning left, Li Qing’s unfocused gaze instantly became clear, and she stomped her feet.

"Miss, what’s wrong?" A servant in a pink dress looked at their young mistress, curiously asked.

"Nothing!" Li Qing’s face of wanting to speak but hesitated.

Outside the city.

The Inspection Office.

"Does the Inspection Office handle human lives with such callousness? No one cares! My son died unjustly!! Unjust!!"

In front of the Inspection Office, an old man in his seventies wept.

And beside him, a blood-soaked carpet was spread out.

The old man spoke incessantly, banging his head against the hard ground in front of the Inspection Office.

His forehead was already stained with dust and blood.

Behind the old man, more than ten stern-faced officers with blades stood.

For the person lying on the blood-soaked mat was their colleague, an old bailiff.

This old bailiff died unjustly in the Inspection Office last night.

Today, they came here together to"Scatter! What are you doing here, making a racket at the door? I’ll arrest all of you!" Zhao Hu, emerging from the Inspection Office, glowled angrily at this scene.

At this moment, his heart was full of regret.

Yesterday, he should not have let drunkenness and pride lead him to seek revenge from the bailiff who had once insulted him.

He should not have let drunkenness and anger cloud him to death.

He should not have caused the death and not dealt with it properly, which is why the bailiff’s arrival frightened him into a panic-stricken escape.

He should not have allowed it to happen, not even to the Inspection Office’s dignity.

"Arrest me, I want to see just what makes a small Inspector think he can arrest me?" A man of about seventeen or eighteen years of age slowly walked out of the crowd.

"Chief Bailiff Lin, my son died unjustly!!" The old man saw this middle-aged man, and wepted even more.

Don’t worry, this matter has been in my hands for years for years, I won’t let him die unjustly!

Evidence, I have!!" Lin Patrol Chief calmly looked at Zhao Hu.

At this moment, evidence was transmitted from the Inspection Office.

Then a man in a black blood-soaked robe walked out.

"Captain Lui!" Zhao Hu saw this man, and his heart was suddenly filled with calm.

Because this incident happened, he had already apologized to Liu Zhengnan.

And Liu Zhengnan had to deal with this calmly, while maintaining the Inspection Office’s dignity.

Yesterday, he had watched.

He witnessed Liu Zhengnan’s strength.

Eighth Rank peak, several times stronger than his Eighth Rank.

In front of Zhao Hu, he had courage, but in front of Liu Zhengnan, he lacked courage.

Liu Zhengnan raised his hand and threw a letter.

"This is evidence, a letter of a god Sect’s betrayal, as for human evidence, Zhao Hu is the human evidence, he saw it himself!"

"You fart!" Lin Patrol Chief could not help but cursed angrily.

(Chapter end)

At that moment, Liu Zhao Nan's sudden action took Lin Patrol by surprise. The attack, even more so, was beyond his expectations. As the stone flew through the air, he quickly moved to dodge the incoming assault. But before he could fully shift his body, the stone heavily struck his left shoulder.

His balance was lost, and he tumbled backward, landing heavily on the ground.

So strong! Lin Patrol was astonished. He never imagined that he would be injured by such an attack. In the past, he had sparred with Eighth Rank Divine Strength Realm practitioners, and although he was no match for them, he could hold his own for a few exchanges. But against Liu Zhao Nan, he had no chance to retaliate. A single kick at a stone on the ground was enough to defeat him!

Is this the strength of a captain-level practitioner? Lin Patrol wondered to himself. This attack allowed him to witness the might of an Eighth Rank captain-level expert, a strength that was completely different from that of ordinary Eighth Rank martial artists.

"To challenge authority will bring severe consequences! If there's a next time, it won't be so easy to get away with it!" Liu Zhao Nan said calmly.

His gaze shifted from Lin Patrol to the man in casual attire who had just emerged from the crowd.

"Chief Patrol!" Lin Patrol, supported by the newcomer, gritted his teeth against the pain in his shoulder and spoke.

The man who had just appeared was the Chief Patrol of the yamen, the leader of all patrols, Xu Zhengnan, an Eighth Rank practitioner at the peak of his strength.

"Are you okay?" Xu Zhengnan asked.

Lin Patrol nodded. "I'm fine, just a minor injury!"

Hearing this response, Xu Zhengnan finally nodded and turned his attention to Liu Zhao Nan.

"Isn't this a bit too much, Liu Zhao Nan?"

Liu Zhao Nan smiled, a hint of disdain flashing in his eyes. He didn't consider Xu Zhengnan, who had reached this position at his age, a threat. Moreover, before arriving, he had received instructions from Ye Qiu, the leader, to act forcefully, regardless of right or wrong.

The Inspection Office needed an excuse, an opportunity, to show its fangs to the city's powers. In extraordinary times, extraordinary measures must be taken. The Inspection Office didn't need to distinguish between right and wrong, even if it meant killing a few people.

As long as the Inspection Office fulfilled its duties, that was all that mattered.

With Ye Qiu's approval, Liu Zhao Nan showed no fear.

"With the evidence and witnesses present, there's no need for further argument. If you continue to challenge the Inspection Office, even if you're the Chief Patrol at the Ninth Rank, I have just cause to suspect you of colluding with the Evil God Sect. I can have you dealt with!" Liu Zhao Nan declared.

Hearing Liu Zhao Nan's words, Xu Zhengnan burst into laughter.

"Excellent!"

"I'd like to see how you'll deal with me!"

In an instant, as Xu Zhengnan's words fell, Liu Zhao Nan leaped several yards toward him.

Jiang Ning, observing from above, was surprised by the intensity of the confrontation. He turned his attention to the direction of the Inspection Office.

From his vantage point, he spotted Ye Qiu standing by the railing, calmly observing the scene below. As Jiang Ning's gaze landed on him, Ye Qiu seemed to sense it and shifted his eyes to Jiang Ning's position.

Their eyes met, and Ye Qiu gestured with his mouth.

"Jiang Ning, want to come up and chat?"

Jiang Ning nodded slightly.

Then, he glanced at Liu Zhao Nan and Xu Zhengnan engaged in battle below.

The two were evenly matched, Liu Zhao Nan being younger and more energetic. Xu Zhengnan, though older, had the advantage of experience.

Clearly, the battle wouldn't be decided anytime soon.

So, Jiang Ning leaped to the side and swiftly climbed towards Ye Qiu's position!

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end