Chapter 159: Requesting a Poem, I'll Gift You One

Not long after, the fat youth lifted his head and strode into the private room with big steps.

Upon entering, he looked around and muttered, "Hmm, this private room doesn't seem as big as mine."

Lin Yang was speechless again; they were both heavenly-character-sized private rooms, same specifications—how could there be a size difference?

Besides, he couldn't be bothered to argue about it and asked, "Why do you want to be friends with me?"

Hearing that, the fat youth said solemnly, "I don't want to become friends; we already are friends."

Lin Yang heard it, blinked slightly, thought it over, and felt his words made sense.

"Hello, I'm Jiang Suan. And you?"

The fat youth proactively introduced himself.

"I'm Lin Yang."

Lin Yang said lightly.

"Lin Yang?"

Jiang Suan repeated Lin Yang's name, fell silent for two seconds; Lin Yang had thought he would know about the God-Protecting Sect's surrender to him, but Jiang Suan merely said lightly, "Okay, I know."

He then continued, "Since we're friends, you need to write me a poem."

"Write a poem?"

Lin Yang frowned slightly, asking doubtfully, "Why?"

Jiang Suan looked at Ah Jiao beside him, gesturing for her to speak.

Ah Jiao hurried to Lin Yang's side and whispered, "My young master wants to stand out at the upcoming poetry gathering, so he'd like you to write him a poem."

"Exactly."

Jiang Suan didn't hide it, admitting directly, "Of course, you don't need to write me an especially outstanding poem; just something that lets me get second place in the poetry gathering will do."

"And of course, you'll take first place."

Lin Yang hearing this, felt a mix of laughter and exasperation; Jiang Suan really was naive to that extent.

But his personality was also straightforward.

While he was thinking how to respond, Jiang Suan added, "Of course, as your friend, I won't let you help me for nothing."

Saying that, he nodded at Ah Jiao, who immediately understood, took out a storage ring, and began pulling things out while introducing them.

"These are 500,000 spirit stones, this is a sword-king level treasure, this is a king-level cultivation manual, this is a king-level armor, these are several precious pills, and also this is my young master's favorite, the General!"

"Wait."

Jiang Suan suddenly interrupted Ah Jiao, saying, "The General can't be given to him; I still want to play with it."

Saying that, he took a box from Ah Jiao's hand; inside happened to be a plump cricket.

And the General is precisely this cricket.

Jiang Suan put away the "General," then looked at Lin Yang and said, "If you write me a poem, you can freely pick one item from here as payment for your poem—how about that?"

Lin Yang actually wasn't interested in these things; he waved his hand and said, "I don't have the leisure to write you a poem."

Upon hearing that, Jiang Suan got a bit anxious, pointing at Lin Yang and saying, "How can you be like this? Not loyal at all! Since we're friends, we should help each other."

"If you're a greedy, bad friend, then fine… you name your price."

Lin Yang remained unmoved, quietly watching Jiang Suan.

Jiang Suan was utterly enraged by Lin Yang's demeanor and shouted at Ah Jiao, "Bring out all the higher-grade treasures and let him choose!"

Ah Jiao was about to act when Lin Yang shouted, "Stop, stop, stop—I'll do it, I'll write you a poem."

Lin Yang really had no choice under Jiang Suan's relentless nagging; he helplessly grabbed pen and paper, thought briefly, then brushed down—

"Ode to the Goose."

Jiang Suan received the "Ode to the Goose," looked at the simple verses, and couldn't help but frown.

"Ode to the Goose?"

"Goose, goose, goose? Crane neck toward the sky singing?"

Ah Jiao beside him also came over to read aloud: "White feathers float on green water? Red webbed feet paddle clear waves?"

Jiang Suan looked at Lin Yang and said, "Just this simple?"

"Can this help me get second place?"

Lin Yang, however, nodded confidently and said, "Leave it to me."

Ah Jiao also worriedly asked, "Why are you so sure?"

"Besides, I see that Mo Jie is well versed in poetry and will surely have fine lines; can this poem compare to his?"

Jiang Suan also agreed, "Yeah, that Mo Jie isn't easy to deal with."

Lin Yang, however, calmly said, "If this poem makes your rank fall below Mo Jie's, I'm willing to take full responsibility."

Seeing Lin Yang so confident, Jiang Suan and Ah Jiao exchanged a glance, then Jiang Suan said, "Alright, since you guarantee it like that, I'll trust you once."

"Besides, you may freely pick two of these treasures."

Jiang Suan was also generous.

Lin Yang, however, waved his hand, signaling them to leave quickly.

Jiang Suan saw the situation, didn't add more words, and told Ah Jiao, "Pack up the treasures, we're leaving."

Not long after the two left,

Kong Qing Xiaozi hurried in, clutching an improved version of the hero's liquor.

"Big brother, sorry for the wait; this is the hero's liquor improved per your request."

Hearing that, Lin Yang smiled and asked, "How's the taste?"

Kong Qing Xiaozi scratched his head, a bit embarrassed, and said, "The brewing master didn't dare taste it; without your permission I also wouldn't dare, so I don't know either."

Lin Yang helplessly shook his head and laughed, scolding, "A bunch of clueless idiots."

He had Kong Qing Xiaozi quickly pour him a bowl.

This liquor was remade by him based on the record in the Heavenly Dao Alchemy Canon.

After all, brewing liquor and refining pills inherently share a wonderful similarity; it's no surprise that the alchemy canon contains liquor recipes.

Kong Qing Xiaozi quickly filled a bowl for Lin Yang, who took a light sniff; instantly the liquor's aroma hit the nose, rich and mellow, intoxicating.

He couldn't help but praise: 'This liquor's aroma assaults the nose; upon first sniff it feels extraordinary—it must be a fine brew.'

Immediately, he drained it in one gulp.

He felt the liquor enter his mouth—first a burst of fiery spiciness, like a flame dancing on the tip of his tongue.

Then, as it went down his throat, it flowed smoothly, giving a feeling of ease like mountain streams drifting like flat clouds.

Moreover, a faint liquor aroma lingered throughout his body, leaving an endless aftertaste.

"Kong Qing Xiaozi, another bowl."

Lin Yang, still wanting more, said.

Kong Qing Xiaozi hurriedly complied, though in his heart he had somewhat changed his opinion of the liquor—actually, after adding those medicinal ingredients, its potency had indeed decreased considerably.

Otherwise, an ordinary person drinking such a large bowl would probably have passed out drunk long ago.

Lin Yang again drained it in one gulp, shouting excitedly, 'Another!'

Kong Qing Xiaozi filled another bowl.

Lin Yang turned to him and said, 'Kong Qing Xiaozi, you drink too.'

"After you finish drinking, I'll point you to a way to make a fortune."

After all, Kong Qing Xiaozi has the ability to come at a call; he indeed has a way to make a fortune, specially tailored for Kong Qing Xiaozi.

Upon hearing about making a fortune, Kong Qing Xiaozi's eyes lit up; excitedly he said, 'Since today Big Brother wants to point me to a way to make a fortune, I'll accompany Big Brother in drinking several bowls.'

Lin Yang smiled and said, 'This liquor is extremely potent—don't overindulge.'

Kong Qing Xiaozi proudly replied, 'Big Brother, to be frank, I too am a lover of liquor; this Hero's Liquor, I can normally drink two bowls—I just don't like to drink it on ordinary days.'

"Today I'll definitely have a hearty drink with Big Brother."

He considered his alcohol tolerance not bad, and in his view this improved version of Hero's Liquor surely wasn't that strong, so he raised a large bowl and clinked it with Lin Yang's.

"Come on, Big Brother, bottoms up!"

Lin Yang smiled.

He raised his bowl.

He drained it in one gulp!

After Lin Yang finished drinking, he was about to speak with Kong Qing Xiaozi about the way to make a fortune.

But see…… Kong Qing Xiaozi's eyes began to glaze over, muttering, 'Big Brother……'

"How can this liquor be even stronger than the previous Hero's Liquor?"

He hadn't finished speaking.

He then slumped drunk onto the table, unconscious.

Lin Yang saw this and was full of speechlessness.

"Is this what you call being able to drink? I haven't even told you the way to make a fortune, and you've already passed out?"

Thus, Lin Yang at this moment indeed also needed a drinking buddy.

Just then, a lovely voice came from afar.

"How about I accompany you, young master, for a couple of drinks?"