Chapter 44: Monkey Wine, not yielding the opportunity of the Liquor worm

第四十四节：猴儿酒，酒虫机缘不相让

Translator: Skyfarrow Editor: Skyfarrow

On the second day in the afternoon during lunch break, Fang Yuan went to the shopping district outside the mountain village again.

第二天中午，趁着吃午饭的功夫，方源又来到了山寨外的商铺区。

As many of them had to work in the day, there was not many villagers at the tentage area.

因为白天需要工作的缘故，此时帐篷地摊间的山民，并不太多。

Fang Yuan walked to the area where the vendor was selling Intimate Grass last night, according to his memory. He reached only to see an empty cart, still on the spot. An ostrich was dragging the cart along.

方源按照记忆，走到昨晚贩卖知心草的地方。却见一辆空空的板车，停在原地。拖着板车的，是一只驼鸡。

It stood on the spot proudly, its body size as large as an ostrich while having the appearance of a chicken, the back of the creature bulged into a curved angle.

它骄傲地立足原地，体型大如鸵鸟，外形如鸡，但是背部隆起，形成一个弧度。

A pair of wide wings were collected on the side of its body, the feathers splendidly bright in seven colours.

一对宽大的翅膀收拢在身侧，七彩的羽毛鲜艳绚烂。

The chicken head was raised tall, its huge red cockscomb like an agate crown, flashing with the luster of a gem under the sunlight.

鸡头高高地昂起，大红的鸡冠如玛瑙王冠，在阳光的照耀下，闪着莹润的光。

“It seems I was still too late, the Intimate Grass was sold out. What a pity, if I were able to buy a few catty of Intimate Grass, I’d be able to save quite a bit of primeval stones.” Fang Yuan’s footsteps came to a halt as he walked away and continued to venture deeper into the area.

“看来终究是晚了一步，知心草已经被售卖一空了。可惜，若是让买上几斤的知心草，能节省不少的元石。”方源脚步顿了一顿，便离开这里，继续朝里面走。

“Come, have a taste of the delicious wine from all the different villages. There are more than a hundred types of wine here, like the Lantern Grass Wine, the Nine Tune Wine with a strong aftertaste, the light and elegant Ancient Dragon Well, the sweet and sour Flower Rock Tune, the mouth-watering Hundred Spring Old Cellar, the rich and heavy fragrant Intoxication of Three Autumns……” In front of a blue round bucket before the tent, a shop assistant was hawking with gusto.

“来啊，都来品尝一下各个山寨的美酒吧。这里的美酒超过一百种，有上好的灯草酒，有后劲绵绵的九曲酒，清幽淡雅的古龙井，酸甜的花石大曲，入口生津的百泉老窖，酒香浓郁的醉三秋……”在一个蓝色的圆桶状的帐篷前，伙计在卖力地吆喝着。

A light flashed through Fang Yuan’s gaze as he immediately grew interested. With a turn, he entered the wine shop.

方源目光一闪，立即起了兴趣。方向一转，就进了这家酒铺。

The decor in the wine shop was very unique.

酒铺里的设施很有特色。

At the most inner part of the tent, there was a long counter. A Gu Master was stationed there, with tens of crystal ladybugs around the size of wicker-baskets behind him, sticking onto the tent’s cloth walls.

在帐篷最里面，是一个长长的柜台。一位蛊师镇守着，他的背后有数十只栲栳大小的水晶瓢虫，攀附在帐篷的布壁上。

On the floor there was no carpet, but rather the uncovered mountain rocks and soil. Among the soil, vibrant coloured mushrooms grew.

帐篷的地面，并没有铺上地毯，而是直接裸露出山石泥土。在土中生长出一群色彩绚烂的蘑菇。

These mushrooms had all sorts of colours, looking round and slightly cute. Some were as large as tables, while others were short like benches. They were often distributed where a large table mushroom was surrounded by a few shorter bench mushrooms.

这些蘑菇五颜六色，圆润润的，有些可爱。有的大如桌面，有的小如矮凳。常常是一个桌面大的蘑菇周围，围绕生长着几只矮凳般的小蘑菇。

“This is the Innocent Mushroom, purposely grown by a Gu Master. It has the ability to absorb dust and particles in the air to purify it, and it’s a type of grass Gu.” Fang Yuan could recognise the mushroom’s origins immediately upon seeing them.

“这是天真蘑菇，被蛊师有意催生出来。具有吸收粉尘浊气，净化空气的作用，是草蛊的一种。”方源一眼就认出了这些蘑菇的来历。

He chose one of the short mushrooms and sat down. The mushroom’s surface immediately sank down a little, making Fang Yuan feel like he was sitting on a sofa like those on Earth.

他选择一个小蘑菇坐下。蘑菇的表面立即微微凹陷下去，让方源有一种在地球上，坐沙发的错觉。

“Young master, this is the wine catalogue, would you like to take a look?” A shop assistant walked over.

“这位公子，这是酒单。您看看需要什么酒？”一位伙计走了过来。

Fang Yuan glanced at the wine catalogue and realised that the wine here was more expensive than the green bamboo wine.

方源看了一下酒单，发现这里的酒，比青竹酒都还要贵一些。

“I’ll have a cup of monkey wine.” Fang Yuan put down the catalogue.

“就来一杯猴儿酒。”方源放下酒单道。

“A cup of monkey wine!” The shop assistant turned around and shouted.

“一杯猴儿酒！”伙计转头，高声叫道。

At the counter, the Rank one Gu Master heard and immediately bent down to take out a bamboo wine cup.

柜台处，那位一转的蛊师听见了，便立即弯腰，从柜台里取出一个竹筒酒杯。

Next he took the wine cup and turned around, facing the tentage. On the blue tent walls were the tens of crystal ladybugs, head facing downwards and tail facing upwards, quietly latched onto the walls as if they were merely decorations for the tent.

然后他拿着酒杯，转过身，面对身后的帐篷。帐篷的蓝色帆布上，有数十只硕大的水晶瓢虫，头朝下，尾朝上，静静地攀附着。就好像是帐篷布壁上的挂饰。

These crystal ladybugs were also a type of Gu. Its stomach was empty, as they were often used by Gu Masters to carry precious liquids.

这些水晶瓢虫也是一种蛊，肚内中空，常常被蛊师用来装载珍贵液水。

Their bodies were transparent, as if they were made of crystals. From the outside, one could see that within the ladybug’s stomach, different kinds of liquor could be found.

它们通体透明，仿佛是由水晶做的。从外面就可以看到瓢虫圆滚滚的肚子里，装着何种酒液。

The Gu Master quickly found the crystal ladybug that contained the monkey wine among them.

蛊师很快就从中，寻找到装有猴儿酒的那只水晶瓢虫。

He placed the bamboo wine cup at the mouthpiece of the ladybug, and gently stroked the exoskeleton of the ladybug with his other hand.

他将竹筒酒杯放在瓢虫的口器之下，然后另一只手轻轻抚摸瓢虫的水晶背甲。

A small amount of primeval essence entered the crystal ladybug’s body, and afterwards it opened its mouth and a gush of liquor flowed into the bamboo wine cup.

一丝极少量的真元涌入到水晶瓢虫体内，随后，瓢虫就张开口，一股酒水就顺流下来，倒入竹筒酒杯当中。

The liquor splattered around in the cup until it was full.

酒水哗哗响了一阵，倏地停住。

The Gu Master placed the bamboo wine cup which was filled with monkey wine on the counter. The shop assistant who had already been waiting for a while quickly held up the cup meticulously and walked a few steps to deliver it to Fang Yuan.

蛊师将装满了猴儿酒的竹筒酒杯放在了柜台上，柜台外的伙计早就等候多时，连忙小心翼翼地捧起来，快走几步，端给了方源。

Fang Yuan only took a tiny sip, the monkey wine was indeed a fruit liquor, being sweet and refreshing and delicate on the palate.

方源只轻轻地抿了一口，猴儿酒类属果酒，酒香清醇香甜，入口绵柔。

He stopped drinking, but instead with a thought, Fang Yuan summoned the Liquor worm.

他没有再喝，而是心念一动，唤出了酒虫。

The white and fat liquor worm turned into a flash of white light and curved an arc in the air. With a ‘plop’, it landed in the wine cup.

白白胖胖的酒虫，化成一道白光，在空中划出半个弧线，扑通一声，投入到酒杯当中。

The wine splattered everywhere, sprinkling onto the mushroom table.

酒水四溅，洒在蘑菇桌面上。

The Liquor worm joyfully beat about in the wine cup, and the monkey wine could be seen decreasing with the naked eye. In a few breaths time, the cup had dried out, with not a single drop left.

酒虫则在酒杯中欢快地打滚，猴儿酒以肉眼可见的速度，迅速下降。几个呼吸的功夫，酒杯中就干涸见底，涓滴不剩了。

“It’s the Liquor worm!” The Gu Master at the counter shouted, his eyes sparkling. He was a Rank one Gu Master with Grade D talent, only able to follow the merchant caravan and work in this wine shop. His objective was to sightsee while finding his chances.

“是酒虫！”柜台那边的蛊师惊呼一声，双眼骤亮。他是一转蛊师，资质只有丁等，跟随商队，在这家酒肆中做工。就是想一边游历，一边寻找机缘。

The Liquor worm can refine primeval essence and raise it by an entire realm. To a Rank one Gu Master, it can be said to be an extremely precious Gu worm. Isn’t this the chance he’s been painstakingly searching for?

酒虫能精炼真元，提升一个小境界。对一转蛊师来讲，可以说是极其珍贵的蛊虫。这不正是他苦苦寻求的机缘吗？

“This young master, do you have any plans to sell this Liquor worm?” He excitedly approached, a look of sincerity in his eyes.

“这位公子，不知道您的酒虫能不能割爱？”他激动地走过来，一脸诚恳地问道。

Fang Yuan shook his head, rejecting him with a determined attitude, getting up to leave after that.

方源摇摇头，态度坚决地拒绝了他，随后起身就走。

His motive this time was to reveal the Liquor worm in his possession; he had never thought of selling it.

他来此处的目的，就是主动暴露酒虫，从没想过要贩卖它。

“Young master, young master, please hold on. I am really sincere about this, maybe we can sit down and have a discussion.” The Gu master reluctantly followed Fang Yuan to the tentage entrance but Fang Yuan did not show any response to him.

“公子，公子，请留步。我是很有诚意的，也许我们可以坐下来慢慢商谈。”蛊师不舍地跟随方源来到帐篷入口，但是方源没有任何的回应。

In the end he could only stand on the spot, his expression extremely regretful as he watched Fang Yuan’s rear view turn around a corner and disappear into the midst of the horizon.

最终他只能定定地站在原地，万分遗憾地看着方源的背影转入拐角，消失在视野当中。

……

……

Unconsciously, the sun gradually set as the crescent moon took its place.

不知不觉间，太阳渐渐落下，月牙飞旋而上。

In the night, the moonlight shone brightly but was overpowered by the numerous street lights in the merchant shops.

夜色中，月光如水洒下，却被无数商铺的彻亮灯火给蒸发出去。

The merchant shop tonight was swarming with business. Fang Yuan was squeezed left and right as he entered, hearing all sorts of conversations inadvertently.

今天晚上的商铺，人群汹涌生意依旧火爆。方源被人群夹裹着前进，各种议论声不可避免地传入他的耳中。

“The stores normally open for three days and three nights. Tonight is already the second night, by the morning of the day after, the merchant caravan would have left on their journey already. Thus, we have to hurry if we want to buy anything.”

“商铺一般会开设三天三夜。今夜已经是第二个晚上，到了后天早上，商队就会重新启程了。所以想要买点东西，我们就得赶紧了。”

“I saw a Golden Bell Gu yesterday, sigh, too bad it was too expensive. After haggling with the shopkeeper for a long time, it did not get any cheaper. I’ll go and take a look tonight.”

“昨天看上了一只金钟蛊，唉，太贵了。和掌柜的砍了半天价格，都没有便宜多少。今晚再去看看。”

“Did you guys hear? Last night, a young man opened a Mudskin Toad and earned a profit of five hundred primeval stones!”

“你们听说了吗，就在昨晚。有一个少年，居然在赌石场开出了一只癞土蛤蟆，足足赚了五百块元石！”

……

……

Fang Yuan listened attentively, feeling disappointment in his heart as he did not hear anything about the Liquor worm.

方源细心地听着，心中不免有些失望，他没听到任何关于酒虫的消息。

“The Liquor worm is only a Rank one Gu worm but it is extremely meaningful to a rank 1 Gu Master, yet it’s useless to a Rank two or Rank three Gu Master as they are unable to refine their primeval essence any further with it. Thus it is normal that no one paid attention to this. However taking the initiative to expose the matter of the Liquor worm cannot be rushed for a period of time. If I overdo it, it might end up letting the cat out of the bag.” As Fang Yuan walked, he pondered silently in his heart.

“酒虫只是一转蛊虫，对于一转蛊师意义重大，但是对于二转三转的蛊师，就不能精炼真元了。因此没有人关注，也属正常情况。不过主动暴露酒虫这事，还不能急于一时，太过做作的话，反而会露馅。”方源一边走，一边在心中暗暗思忖。

At this point, there was a hustle in front of him.

就在这时，前方人群一阵急速涌动。

Next, Fang Yuan heard someone shout, “Quickly come and see, there’s a dishonest merchant here selling fake Gu to our clansmen!”

紧接着，方源便听见有人高喊：“快来看啊，居然有黑心商铺，向我们族人贩卖假蛊！

Anger stirred among the crowd.

人群中顿时有人义愤填膺。

“Oh? There’s something like that happening.”

“嗯？居然有这样的事情发生。”

“Go and see quickly, which shop dares to cheat our clansmen!”

“快去看看，是哪家商铺敢蒙骗我们的族人！”

Fang Yuan followed the crowd and moved towards the commotion as well.

方源随着人流，也跟了过去。

What met his eyes were a group of people surrounding the mouth of a large red tent, the massive crowd swarming it. Some were curiously watching while others stared coldly, but most of the people were enshrouded with a sense of anger.

只见一群人围在一座大红色的帐篷入口处，里三层，外三层地拥堵着。有的在好奇观望，有的抱臂冷看，但大多数人的脸上都笼罩着一层薄薄的怒气。

Outside the tent stood two people.

帐篷的入口处站着两个人。

One of them was a young Rank two Gu Master, whose attire showed that he was obviously from the Gu Yue clan.

一个青年二转蛊师，看其装束，很明显就是古月族人。

The other person had a familiar face – it was the owner of the gambling den, Jia Jin Sheng.

另一人还是熟人，正是赌石场的掌柜老板贾金生。

The young Gu Master held a black Gu worm in his hands, raising it up and shouting to the crowd, “My clansmen, this person in front of me sold me a fake Gu yesterday. Lying to me that it was a Black Boar Gu, and sold it to me for two hundred and fifty primeval stones. To think that when I got home to refine it, I realized that it was not a Black Boar Gu but simply an ordinary stinky fat worm!”

青年蛊师手中捏着一只黑黝黝的蛊虫，高高地举起，对着周围人们高喊：“族人们，就是我面前的这个人，昨天卖给我一只假蛊。哄骗我说是黒豕蛊，卖了我两百五十块元石。没想到买回去一炼化，结果当晚就发现这哪里是什么黑豕蛊，明明是最普通的臭屁肥虫！”

Jia Jin Sheng laughed coldly, “Don’t accuse me falsely. Since when did I tell you it was a Black Boar Gu? What proof do you have?”

贾金生冷笑连连：“你不要血口喷人。我什么时候说这蛊是黒豕蛊的？你有什么证据？”

The young Gu Master on seeing Jia Jin Sheng’s denial, fell into a rage and grabbed Jia Jin Sheng’s wrist, “You cunning merchant, you dare to deny it! You actually dare to lie to me of the Gu Yue clan on Qing Mao Mountain itself, are you trying to look for death?!”

青年蛊师见贾金生矢口否认，顿时大怒，一手抓住贾金生的胳膊：“你这奸商，还敢抵赖！居然敢在青茅山上，蒙骗你家古月大爷，是想找死么？！”

“Let go of me!” Jia Jin Sheng was also furious as he flicked his wrist, slapping away the young Gu Master’s hand, “If you want to find trouble and extort money, you should find a better target. I am not afraid of you! My brother is Jia Fu, a Rank four Gu Master, what can you do to me?”

“你放手！”贾金生也是怒了，一甩袖子，将青年蛊师的手挥打出去，“你想要闹事，敲诈钱财，也不分清楚对象。我可不怕你！我哥哥就是贾富，四转蛊师，你能奈我何？”

“You!” The young Gu Master stared with his eyes wide, but did not dare to take action. The name of a Rank four Gu Master was enough to intimidate him.

“你！”青年蛊师怒目圆瞪，却不敢再动手了。四转蛊师的名头已经吓住了他。

“Bah!” Jia Jin Sheng spat on the ground, raising his head and looked at the young Gu Master, laughing in disdain, “It was you who wanted to take advantage of the cheap Gu. Didn’t you use your brain to think, why a Black Boar Gu which can raise a Gu master’s strength, being such a rare Gu worm, was sold even more cheaply than a Liquor worm? It is normally sold at six hundred primeval stones. Did you think that you could buy one for just two hundred and fifty primeval stones? Dream on!”

“啊呸！”贾金生往地上吐了一口唾沫，他昂起头，望着青年蛊师，发出一声不屑的嗤笑，“是你自己想要贪小便宜，你也不动脑筋想想，黒豕蛊能从根本上增加蛊师的力量。是多么珍稀的一转蛊虫，市价比酒虫还要贵，通常都要卖到六百块元石。你以为两百五十块，就能买到黒豕蛊？做梦去吧你！”

“Bastard……” The young Gu Master gritted his teeth, his face flushing red as he trembled out of anger, his chest burning with the rage of humiliation.

“混蛋……”青年蛊师将一口钢牙咬得嘎吱作响，满脸赤红，浑身被气得颤抖，胸中充满了被羞辱的愤怒之火。

There were chatters among the people as they got restless, discussing furiously. But no one dared to step up, for the Rank four Gu Master status of Jia Fu was like a giant hill in front of them, stabilizing the crowd.

人群嗡嗡作响，躁动不安，议论纷纷。却没有一个人敢出头，贾富四转蛊师的名头就像是一座无形的大山，镇住了场面。

“This lad is too vicious, what a cunning merchant!”

“这小子太可恶了，真是个奸商！”

“No wonder he dared to be so arrogant on Qing Mao Mountain, he is actually Jia Fu’s little brother.”

“难怪敢在青茅山这样嚣张啊，原来是贾富的弟弟。”

“I heard that they are just half-brothers, but even with that Rank one cultivation, he is able to use this relationship to act unrestrained in the caravan.”

“听说是同父异母，本身只有一转修为，但是仗着这层关系在商队里作威作福惯了。”

……

“What happened here exactly?” At this moment, a loud voice spoke out.

“这就究竟发生了什么事情？”就在这时，一个洪亮的声音响起来。

“Jia Fu is here!”

“是贾富来了！”

“The leader is here to settle the dispute, everyone give way.”

“头领来处理纠纷了，大家让让。”

The discussion came to a halt as everyone separated and formed a narrow path between them.

议论声顿时一滞，人群连忙分散开来，形成一条狭窄的过道。

A middle-aged Gu Master having a muscular short body coupled with a giant belly, walked in. He wore a long-sleeved yellow robe, being the leader of the merchant caravan, Jia Fu.

一个身材矮壮，盯着肥肥的大肚子的中年蛊师，顺着过道，走了进来。他穿着一声长袖黄袍，正是这支商队的头领贾富。

“Sir Jia Fu, my regards.” The young Gu Master was furious but did not dare to say anything. He forced himself to endure the anger and paid respects to Jia Fu.

“贾富大人，有礼了。”青年蛊师纵然有满腔的怒火，也不敢发作，硬生生地忍耐住，主动向贾富抱拳行礼。

Jia Jin Sheng was frozen on the spot, not expecting his brother to arrive, his face suddenly pale as anger flashed across his eyes.

贾金生却僵立在原地，他似乎没有料到哥哥的到来，脸色骤然苍白，眼中闪过一丝惊怒。

This peculiar expression was captured by Fang Yuan who was observing from afar as he pondered about the situation.

这个微小的神情变化，让一直在远处暗暗观察的方源看在眼中，顿时若有所思起来。

《蛊真人》中英文对照版 第四十四节：猴儿酒，酒虫机缘不相让

《蛊真人》中英文对照版第四十四节：猴儿酒，酒虫机缘不相让