Buying Drunkenness

"They've all left now."

Xia Lun let out a long sigh.

"Actually, there weren't that many to begin with." Aina drained the remaining red wine in her glass in one smooth motion, then slowly rose, feigning indifference.

The Dawn's Wings had only six members, and that was counting Miss Ankula, who was more of an associate member.

Xia Lun and Aina walked out of the tavern side by side.

They strolled slowly down the street as night began to fall, lights gradually flickering to life around them.

"Now, it's just us left." Aina narrowed her eyes slightly. "What do you plan to do, O Hero..."

Her words cut off abruptly.

Because Liyana came trotting back.

"What are you still doing here?" Xia Lun chuckled in surprise.

"What, did I interrupt something between you two?" Liyana pursed her lips in annoyance, her long, pointed ears twitching sensitively. "It's already quite late. I don't plan on traveling through the night... I'm coming back to find an inn and head out at first light tomorrow."

"Alright, then travel safe," Xia Lun said softly.

"Don't worry—I'm pretty strong myself!" Liyana clenched her fist, then dashed off with the same bustling energy she had arrived with.

By then, the sun had completely sunk below the horizon, leaving only a smear of dark red afterglow at the edge of the sky, like dried bloodstains.

The two continued walking along the street, and before they knew it, they had entered a quiet alley. Green ivy climbed the stone walls on either side, and occasionally a stray cat would poke its head out from a corner, watching these two uninvited guests warily.

Xia Lun stopped and turned to look at Aina: "What were you about to say just now?"

Aina remained silent.

That sudden appearance of Liyana had completely shattered the atmosphere they had barely managed to build.

"I should go now, too." Aina lifted her chin slightly and gave a cold snort. "When we meet again... we'll be enemies."

Xia Lun said nothing.

Aina had already discussed this with Xia Lun beforehand.

Their next steps... were not what their companions imagined—tying the knot and settling into a happy, peaceful life.

Aina was to return to the demon race, take up the mantle of the Demon King, lead the demon forces in an invasion of the human realm, and bring human territories under her control.

Many parts of the demon realm had harsh environments—whether it was the freezing, snowy wastelands or the windblown, desolate wilds... Compared to that, the human lands were like an eternally spring-like paradise.

For now, since he was still Aina's boyfriend... Xia Lun naturally knew how terrifying the magic Aina commanded truly was. In wartime, it would be a devastating weapon capable of destroying entire cities.

The human king might well be pressured into surrendering to Aina.

After all, if Aina snuck in quietly and dropped a single Infernal Furnace on the royal capital, the consequences would be unthinkable.

And Xia Lun was perhaps the only one who knew this and had the ability to stop it.

"Aina..." Xia Lun called out softly.

"What is it..."

Aina slowly raised her head, but before she could react, Xia Lun had grabbed her arms, pulled her tightly into his embrace, and kissed her on the lips.

Aina resisted slightly at first, but eventually yielded, melting into Xia Lun's arms, letting him take what he wanted.

After what felt like an eternity, Xia Lun slowly let her go.

"Satisfied now?"

Aina's face, which had barely softened, immediately froze back over again, pushing him away at arm's length.

"I'll come for you," Xia Lun said. "I'll defeat you, Aina."

"Ha, I'll be the one coming for you," Aina sneered. "Just wait until I've conquered the human race—you'll be my trophy."

A gust of wind swept by, and Aina's black robes fluttered slightly before she vanished with the breeze, leaving not a trace.

Xia Lun stood there dazed, the faint warmth of Aina's body still lingering against his chest.

"Ahh—"

He let out a long sigh and slowly made his way out of the empty alley.

A blood bat crept silently behind him.

...

Xia Lun returned to the earlier tavern.

During the day, it had been nearly empty, but now the place had taken on an entirely different look—bustling with noise, every seat filled.

Many stood at the bar, laughing loudly and chatting about everything under the sun.

An unknown bard strummed a lute, singing ancient songs of adventure and love, drawing generous tips from the crowd.

The lute playing was slightly inferior to Moke's... but the singing was far better than Moke's by miles.

Xia Lun managed to find a corner seat and sat down quietly.

Across from him sat a passionate couple, both looking like adventurers, dressed lightly and behaving with intimate, bold gestures.

Xia Lun turned his face away, his Adam's apple bobbing awkwardly.

"Give me your strongest liquor," he said to a passing young waiter carrying a tray.

Xia Lun wasn't actually a fan of drinking, but tonight he inexplicably felt thirsty and wanted to drink more.

He had never been drunk before, so this was a good chance to try.

Strong liquor went down cup after cup, and soon empty glasses lined up neatly on the table.

A faint flush crept across Xia Lun's face.

The commotion quickly drew attention.

"Hey, that young lad sure can drink!"

"Is that Dragon's Breath Liquor he's downing—the really potent stuff? And he's already had that many?"

"Want to bet how much he can handle?"

"He's got five glasses on the table now... I say ten!"

"Guess he's going through something painful. Poor guy."

"Men sure have it rough..."

The surrounding chatter felt muffled and distant, as if filtered through a layer of water, but Xia Lun paid it no mind. He just kept pouring the liquor down his throat without restraint.

Another cup of strong liquor went down, burning a fiery trail in his stomach, but somehow it soothed his mood a little.

His consciousness began to blur. Xia Lun let out a hiccup of alcohol and slowly slumped over the table.

"Thump—thump—"

A few glasses on the table clattered to the floor as he leaned on them.

"Twenty cups! Good heavens!"

"Is this guy even human? Drinking that much..."

A shifty-eyed fellow sauntered by, whistling casually, pretending to pass Xia Lun without a care.

He was a thief. And Xia Lun, drunk and defenseless, looked to him like an unguarded wallet.

But just as his hand was about to slip into Xia Lun's pocket, the apparently unconscious Xia Lun grabbed his wrist, then flung him with terrifying force across the room, slamming him hard onto the floor three meters away.

The thief didn't dare say a word. He staggered to his feet and scurried off without looking back.

Xia Lun continued to lie slumped on the table, snoring loudly.

The people around fell into a fearful silence. No one dared try anything else.

A small figure, wrapped in a black robe, appeared behind Xia Lun.

Under the hood, Aina looked at him with a complicated expression. Finally, she coldly spit out a single phrase:

"What a fool."