Chapter 26: Finally Brewing the Snake-Saliva Rice Spirit, Curing Dugu Yan

Dugu Yan remained silent for a long time before finally turning around. She looked toward Li Zhexian, her eyes a mix of hope and trepidation.

"Are you... are you truly able to cure the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison?"

His Wine Martial Spirit already possessed detoxifying properties; if he could fuse it with the Snake-Saliva Rice Spirit, which could neutralize any serpent venom in the world, then even the most stubborn Jade Phosphor Serpent poison would surely be dispelled. Li Zhexian felt confident and met her gaze. "I can cure it."

Dugu Yan’s slender body trembled slightly, and a mist of tears instantly clouded her emerald eyes. However, she was unwilling to appear fragile before Li Zhexian, so she forcibly held back her tears.

Dugu Bo asked impatiently, "Boy, what do you need to prepare for this detoxification?! In my garden, there are all sorts of poisonous herbs and spiritual plants; whatever you need, I will find it for you!"

Li Zhexian replied, "I need Sister Dugu."

The misunderstanding was resolved. Dugu Yan was older than him, so he had simply switched to a more intimate form of address. As the saying goes, "Roam the world without a care, for my sister builds a lodge by the river."

Dugu Yan blinked her beautiful eyes. Dugu Bo was stunned at first, then narrowed his aged eyes. If anyone else had said this, he would have struck them down on the spot.

Realizing that his words had caused a misunderstanding between the grandfather and granddaughter, Li Zhexian clarified, "I meant that I need Sister Dugu’s serpent venom."

Dugu Yan breathed a sigh of relief, though for some reason, she felt a trace of disappointment.

Dugu Bo’s expression softened, and he laughed, "Why use Yan-yan’s venom? Use mine. My serpent venom is far more potent."

Li Zhexian glanced at Dugu Bo’s grim, aged face and said decisively, "Too much is as bad as too little. Sister Dugu’s venom is just right. I must ask... Senior Dugu to wait outside the courtyard."

Hearing the latter part of Li Zhexian’s request, a blush spread across Dugu Yan’s alluring face. Dugu Bo remembered the scene he had walked in on earlier; with a dark expression, he flicked his sleeve and floated out of the courtyard.

"Sister Dugu..." Li Zhexian handed a teacup to her.

"About that..."

"Senior Dugu is still outside. You should... extract the poison yourself."

Dugu Yan gave Li Zhexian a glare, her face burning hot. "I... I know!"

She took the teacup and turned her back to him. A few moments later, she wiped her red lips. "Here."

Seeing Li Zhexian take her venom, Dugu Yan suddenly smiled brightly. "Thank you, Li Zhexian. Regardless of whether the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison is cured or not, I will remember you." With that, she hurried out of the courtyard.

Li Zhexian smiled knowingly. He knew that Dugu Yan was deliberately staying away, unwilling to pry into the secrets of his detoxification process.

"Now..." he thought, "it is time to brew the Snake-Saliva Rice Spirit."

With the experience of the last two times, Li Zhexian was even more adept at the process. After skillfully completing the preparations before adding the poison, he stared at the rice mash before him and carefully tilted the teacup. The emerald-green venom fell like a ribbon of jade into the mixture. The moment the snow-white rice mash showed a hint of green, Li Zhexian stopped.

The mash instantly churned as if boiling, bubbling with emerald-colored gas. Each bubble that burst released a mist that smelled both fishy and sweet. Li Zhexian’s eyes lit up, and his nostrils flared.

This sweetness... it was like apricot blossom wine, but with a cooling sensation that felt like a snake’s tongue flicking against one’s brain. If he had to describe it... Li Zhexian’s mouth watered, and he muttered, "It’s like mint oil with a sweet twist! It’s strangely intoxicating and pleasant!"

"Let me have a taste first!"

Finally, there was new wine. Li Zhexian couldn't wait to take a sip of the pure Snake-Saliva Rice Spirit. "Ugh!" His eyes widened sharply. The moment it touched his tongue, he tasted the sweetness of fermented grain, followed by an indescribable spiciness, and finally, a lingering, faint sourness. It felt as if countless tiny snake tongues were swirling in his mouth.

"Interesting, truly interesting! What a magnificent Snake-Saliva Rice Spirit!"

After enjoying a few more sips, Li Zhexian fused the spirit into his Wine Martial Spirit. As the emerald liquid was poured into his Clear Spring Flask, a white mist, winding like a snake, curled out from the mouth of the vessel.

In an instant, the courtyard was filled with the intoxicating, rich aroma of wine. A bird happened to fly overhead, caught a whiff of the scent, and tumbled straight down. A few seconds later, it shook its head and stood up, dazed. Its feathers had become as white as new, and in a blink, it flew away.

Outside the courtyard, Dugu Bo, who had been pacing back and forth, suddenly looked up. "Hm?! Such a rich and mellow wine aroma! And it contains such pure energy!"

Dugu Yan sniffed the air, and a flush immediately rose to her cheeks as green veins beneath her skin uncontrollably surfaced. "It smells so good... My Jade Phosphor Serpent poison seems to be reacting."

Dugu Bo was so excited that his elderly frame trembled slightly. "Good! Good! What a Li Zhexian! There is hope for the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison to be cured! There is finally hope!"

The world saw only his power to shroud thousands of miles in toxic miasma, but who knew the suffering within? His father, wife, and son had all died from the backlash of the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison. Today, the curse of the Jade Phosphor Serpent Emperor—the fangs that had devoured his loved ones—finally had a chance to be extracted.

On the body of the Clear Spring Flask, another small, coiled green snake appeared.

"Good wine, good wine!" Li Zhexian let out a satisfied hiccup and patted the flask. The originally mysterious and mellow spirit now carried an extra touch of stimulation that truly hooked him. He wanted to get drunk, but there was still important work to do.

He poured a cup of the immortal brew from the flask. "Senior Dugu, Sister Dugu, please come in."

*Creak—!* The courtyard gate opened. Dugu Bo and Dugu Yan hurried inside. Seeing the wine with its snake-shaped mist before Li Zhexian, Dugu Bo was so nervous he rubbed his hands together. "Is this...?"

"That’s right," Li Zhexian nodded with a smile and offered the cup to Dugu Yan. "Sister Dugu, drink this, and the Jade Phosphor Serpent poison will be cured."

Dugu Yan instinctively reached out, then pulled her hand back the next second. She looked with trembling eyes at the white-clad youth smiling before her. She, who had longed every moment to escape the torment of the poison, suddenly hesitated. Because... this favor was too great. She didn't know how she would ever repay it.

Dugu Bo naturally understood this. He said in a deep voice, "I will be bold enough to call you Zhexian. You have broken the curse on my Dugu family; this is nothing short of a rebirth. If there is anything you need in the future, I, Dugu Bo, will not refuse."

Li Zhexian laughed, "Senior Dugu, you are too kind. Sister Dugu, drink it quickly. After making you vent your poison so many times, consider this the harvest of your efforts."

The touching atmosphere shattered instantly. Dugu Yan’s face flushed red, she let out a soft laugh, shot a glare at Li Zhexian, took the fragrant wine, and drank it in one gulp.

"Ugh..." As the liquid slid down her throat, Dugu Yan suddenly widened her eyes.