Chen Zhou sat in the guest of honor's seat, his fingers lightly tapping the table as his gaze playfully scanned the surroundings.
"Fellow Daoist."
From the head seat, Xu Yunzi raised a wine cup, a kind smile fixed on his face. "The Heaven Sword Sect is situated in a harsh and cold land, so there is little to offer in the way of hospitality."
"But this wine is crafted from ten-thousand-year ice essence gathered from the summit of Broken Sword Peak, supplemented by the stamens of snow lotus flowers. It is named Forget-Worry."
"Upon drinking this wine, past events fade like clouds and smoke, leaving only the Great Dao in one's heart."
"Drinking it regularly can even clear the mind and sharpen the vision, suppressing inner demons."
"Please."
The liquid was crystal clear, emitting a faint, refreshing fragrance of lotus. A single whiff was enough to make one feel invigorated.
Wu Gou had long since lost his patience. He grabbed the wine jar and poured it directly into his mouth, smacking his lips as he drank.
"Good wine, good wine!"
"This is the flavor! It's been so many years since I've tasted this. You're still as generous as ever, old Taoist."
Chen Zhou picked up his cup and gave it a gentle swirl.
He didn't smell any poison in the wine, but he did detect a very strange scent.
It was somewhat similar to Fortune Spring Water.
"It is indeed a fine thing."
Chen Zhou took a sip. As the liquid went down his throat, a wave of cool energy instantly spread through his entire body.
【You have consumed Snow Lotus Heart-Clearing Wine (Special)】
【You have gained +10% mental resistance. Eerification tremors within the body are briefly suppressed, and distortions at the soul level are smoothed out.】
【Remaining time: 30 minutes.】
Chen Zhou was somewhat surprised.
This wine could actually suppress eerification?
Although he didn't need it himself.
But in a world where everyone paled at the mention of the eerie and where the sixth-stage was a dead end, a wine that could suppress eerification was a priceless treasure.
No wonder the Heaven Sword Sect could stand firm in the Northern Region. No wonder Xu Yunzi could maintain his sanity and human form despite having already eerified into an old wolf.
It turned out he was relying on this wine to sustain his life.
Wu Gou shouted while drinking, "Forget-Worry, Forget-Worry... if I drink this, can I forget that this world is one that eats people?"
Xu Yunzi wasn't angered. Instead, he smiled and said, "If Fellow Daoist Wu Gou likes it, you may take a few jars with you when you leave."
He then looked toward Chen Zhou, shifting the conversation as he asked casually:
"At the mountain gate earlier, I heard that Fellow Daoist has quite the insight into demons."
"I have presided over the Heaven Sword Sect for three hundred years and fought the Moon-Swallowing Wolf Court for three hundred years, yet a certain confusion remains in my heart."
"Oh?" Chen Zhou raised an eyebrow. "Please speak, Sect Master."
Xu Yunzi set down his cup, his gaze deepening. "The world says that humans are humans and demons are demons—that their paths are distinct."
"But I often wonder: if a demon possesses a human heart and understands compassion, is it still a demon?"
"And if a human possesses a demonic heart and is bloodthirsty and cruel, is he still human?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone present was shocked.
The elders accompanying them shifted their expressions and exchanged glances.
The red-faced elder couldn't help but speak up. "Sect Master Senior Brother, what do you mean by this?"
"A demon is a demon. They are cruel by nature and drink blood. How could they have a human heart?"
"For us cultivators, slaying demons is our heavenly duty. How can we blur the lines!"
Li Zhaoye also frowned. Although he didn't dare contradict his master, the confusion in his eyes could not be hidden.
He thought of the madwoman he had pierced through the heart with his sword and the complex look in her eyes before she died.
Chen Zhou glanced at Xu Yunzi, sneering inwardly.
Is this old thing testing me, or is he making excuses for his own twisted nature?
"The Sect Master's words are quite interesting."
Chen Zhou leaned back against his chair in a lazy posture.
"In my eyes, the physical shell is nothing more than an external object."
"If a demon has a human heart and does human deeds, then it is human."
"If a human has a demonic heart and does inhuman things while wearing a human skin, then he is a demon."
At this point, Chen Zhou gave a meaningful look toward Xu Yunzi's chest. "The Sect Master's words remind me of a friend."
"He also liked to say things like 'all beings are equal' and 'if I do not enter hell, who will?'"
"And the result?" Chen Zhou chuckled. "The result was that he turned all beings into the bricks of his hell."
"After all, a true villain is easy to guard against, but a hypocrite is hard to stop."
"Presumptuous!"
The red-faced elder slammed the table and stood up. "What are you implying?"
"Peace, Junior Brother. Do not be rude."
However, Xu Yunzi looked as if he had just heard a profound truth. A startling light erupted in his eyes.
"Good. Well said."
"Humans can turn into demons, and demons can turn into humans."
"The boundaries were always blurred. Why obsess over the physical shell?"
Xu Yunzi's hands were shaking with excitement, as if he had found a kindred spirit.
"Fellow Daoist is truly a person of great wisdom. We see eye to eye!"
Chen Zhou: "..."
Chen Zhou's lips twitched.
I was insulting you. Can't you tell?
"To honor Fellow Daoist's words about not obsessing over the shell, I have specially prepared a centerpiece dish."
Xu Yunzi clapped his hands.
The main hall doors slowly closed, sealing out the wind and snow.
Several tall disciples carried in a massive bronze cauldron.
When the lid was lifted, a strange fragrance instantly filled the entire hall.
The scent was incredibly dominant, carrying a rich power of essence and blood. A single sniff made one feel as if their pores were opening and their spiritual power was boiling.
"This is the back-loin meat of the Northern Region Snow Wolf King."
Xu Yunzi introduced it with a smile. "This Snow Wolf King was a subordinate of Moon-Swallowing and was also at the fifth-stage. I exhausted much effort to slay it."
"Its meat is fresh and delicious, containing majestic demonic power. It has been prepared using our sect's secret methods to remove the demonic poison, leaving only the essence."
"Eating it can strengthen one's essence and blood and solidify the Dao heart."
Servant disciples divided the meat from the cauldron into plates and served them to everyone.
The meat on the plates was translucent and ruddy, emitting an enticing luster.
Nearby, Li Zhaoye added, "Indeed, this snow wolf meat is extremely rare. Master only brings it out to host honored guests during grand festivals. We usually only get a sip of the broth during the New Year."
As he spoke, Li Zhaoye swallowed his saliva, clearly having craved this dish for a long time.
The elders were also eager to start, picking up their chopsticks one after another.
As sword cultivators who lived alongside wind and snow all year round, they instinctively craved such nourishing food.
"Everyone, please."
Xu Yunzi was the first to pick up a piece and put it in his mouth, looking intoxicated.
Chen Zhou looked at the meat in front of him but didn't move his chopsticks.
Under the table, Wu Gou's dirty foot lightly kicked the tip of Chen Zhou's shoe.
Chen Zhou cast a glance at Wu Gou without changing his expression.
He saw the crazy beggar guzzling wine from the jar, looking at the plate of meat with extreme disgust.
'Only drink the wine, don't eat the meat.'
That was Wu Gou's hint.
Actually, even without the hint, Chen Zhou had no intention of eating it.
He could smell it.
This was no snow wolf meat.
Beneath the overpowering fragrance was the nauseating scent of human flesh.
Yet it had no physical form, only the spirit—the flavor came from the soul.
"Why isn't Fellow Daoist eating?" Xu Yunzi asked with concern. "Is it not to your taste?"
"I have been practicing inedia for many years and do not care for greasy food," Chen Zhou said indifferently.
"That is a pity then."
Xu Yunzi shook his head and looked at Li Zhaoye. "Zhaoye, you just experienced a great battle and your essence is depleted. Eat more."
"Yes, Master."
Li Zhaoye no longer hesitated and put a piece of meat into his mouth.
It melted instantly, and a warm current exploded, flowing through his limbs and bones.
"Such powerful spiritual energy!"
Li Zhaoye felt his depleted spiritual power instantly replenished, and he even sensed a faint sign of an impending breakthrough.
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