The three turned to look at Yu Daohan, who seemed a bit awkward.
Yu Daohan steeled himself, deciding to play along. If he got drunk, so be it. He picked up his wine cup. "If you guys aren't backing down, why should I? Let's do it."
Men could back down from anything, but never from drinking. It was in their nature.
The three downed their cups of Erguotou. Zhang Xiaoqiang sighed contentedly, "Ah, that hits the spot!"
Su Lai and Da Hu beside him also looked pleased, but Yu Daohan found the fiery taste a bit much.
The Erguotou, with its fiery kick, warmed his throat and his entire stomach.
Yu Daohan glanced at Qiangzi, wishing he had ordered some beer instead.
"Brother Su, I heard the corpse retrieval business has been good these past few years," Zhang Xiaoqiang asked.
Su Lai refilled their cups. "The corpse retrieval business has been decent these past few years. For us, it's like three years without a job, then three years of eating. Each dive into the water brings at least ten thousand yuan."
Su Lai refilled their cups again and looked at Da Hu across from him. "Brother Da Hu, with the new national policies, has the business of coffin bearers been greatly affected?"
Da Hu sighed, picking up a peanut and popping it into his mouth. "Don't even mention it. With the new national policies, there are fewer and fewer coffins, and business is getting harder and harder."
"Enough of that, come on, let's toast," Da Hu said, raising his cup.
The other three raised their cups, clinked them together, and took a sip.
The four of them continued to drink and chat, occasionally picking at the dishes.
After a few more rounds (drinks), Yu Daohan's cheeks were flushed red.
Zhang Xiaoqiang looked at Yu Daohan's crimson face. "Master Yu, I remember you have a good tolerance for alcohol. What's wrong today?"
Yu Daohan's tolerance wasn't that great. He could drink before because Qin Muyu's inner丹 was inside him.
Yu Daohan shook his head. "I'm not in the right state today."
Zhang Xiaoqiang teased, "Master Yu, you're not going to back down, are you?"
Hearing this, Yu Daohan retorted indignantly, "Me, Yu Daohan, backing down? Impossible."
A man could admit to being broke, but never to being unable to perform. That was a matter of dignity!
"Come on, let's toast," Yu Daohan raised his cup, and they all drank again.
As they were drinking, two women walked into the shop from outside. Zhang Xiaoqiang and the others glanced at them.
"They're from this line of work. Just don't know which sect they belong to," Su Lai remarked.
Zhang Xiaoqiang nodded. Da Hu remained silent, while Yu Daohan was already getting a bit groggy.
Today, disciples from almost all the sects were here to register. It was normal to encounter peers.
As the saying goes, alcohol loosens the tongue. The four of them chatted about everything under the sun.
"Oh, by the way, have you guys heard of a kind of cultivation in the martial world that relies on sleeping with men?" Su Lai asked, something coming to mind.
Zhang Xiaoqiang shook his head. "I haven't heard of that."
Yu Daohan also shook his head. Da Hu, looking uncertain, began to speak. "I think I've heard of it somewhere. There are indeed people who cultivate this way, but the men they cultivate with will gradually weaken. To put it bluntly, they absorb men's yang energy to cultivate."
Zhang Xiaoqiang teased, "Brother Su, you're not into that, are you?"
Su Lai shot Zhang Xiaoqiang a glare. "How could I be? I'm just curious."
The two women who had just entered looked towards Yu Daohan's table. "He's Master Yu. He's so handsome."
The woman beside her warned, "Xiao Jie, you'd better not have any wicked ideas. Be careful, you might not even know how you died."
The woman named Xiao Jie smiled faintly. "If I could cultivate with him, a little risk would be worth it."
The woman named Tan Qi frowned slightly. "What do you mean?"
Xiao Jie wore a half-smile. "When Master Yu gets drunk later, I'll find an opportunity."
They drank until half past two in the morning. Yu Daohan was completely drunk, slumped over the table asleep.
Zhang Xiaoqiang and the other two beside him were still relatively clear-headed. Zhang Xiaoqiang looked at the half bottle of wine left on the table. "After we finish this last bit, we'll be done."
Su Lai and Da Hu nodded. It had become their habit to be cautious when out and about.
Zhang Xiaoqiang looked at Zhou Fu at another table. "Xiao Fu, could you help Master Yu to the hotel first? We'll be done after this last drink."
Zhou Fu nodded and helped Yu Daohan, heading towards the hotel they had booked.
Not long after Zhou Fu helped Yu Daohan out, Yu Daohan suddenly removed his hand from Zhou Fu's shoulder.
Zhou Fu looked confused. "Sect Leader?"
Yu Daohan waved his hand. "I'm not drunk. I was just pretending."
Zhou Fu was a bit bewildered by his Sect Leader's intentions.
Yu Daohan cautioned him. "Remember, don't get completely drunk when you're out. Stay alert, or you won't know how you died."
Zhou Fu nodded earnestly. "Your disciple remembers the Sect Leader's reminder."
Yu Daohan nodded. "Alright, you go back to the restaurant first. It's good to interact more with disciples from other sects."
Zhou Fu wanted to escort him further, but Yu Daohan politely declined. "I'm fine. You go back."
Zhou Fu had no choice but to nod in agreement and turned to walk back into the restaurant.
Yu Daohan shook his head. Although he hadn't drunk much, he did feel a bit tipsy.
Zhou Fu didn't know many people in this line of work. Taking this opportunity to meet more like-minded individuals was a good thing.