NOVEL WEB Chapter 95 Liquor Worm
"A worm?" Wang Zhao said incredulously.
"This is not an ordinary worm, but a creature formed by the mysteries of heaven and earth, born from the essence of alcohol, named the Liquor Worm."
"Anyone who is parasitized by the Liquor Worm will develop an insatiable craving for alcohol, finding no joy without it; yet, this Liquor Worm is also a creature of fortune, thus, the person parasitized by it will be blessed with extraordinary luck, leading a life free from worries about food and clothing."
Watching Wang Zhao listening intently, Lu Yu continued, "Although you suffer greatly from alcoholism, because of it, you enjoy an unobstructed flow of wealth. Think carefully, do you truly want to rid yourself of this worm?"
Upon hearing this, Wang Zhao lowered his head and pondered for a long while before slowly lifting his gaze, his expression resolute and his eyes clear.
"Please, sir, expel the worm for me!" Wang Zhao's words were decisive, without a hint of hesitation, revealing his firm resolution.
"Fortune may be beneficial, but in the end, it is an external force; only that which is earned through personal effort can be truly embraced and safeguarded."
Hearing Wang Zhao's words, Lu Yu couldn't help but clap and laugh, "Good, with such determination, even without the Liquor Worm you will not be destitute, and it also spares me from the accusation of showing off my skills and ruining your fortune."
Lu Yu had begun to regard Wang Zhao with newfound respect. Not everyone could so rationally reject such temptation. Just now, from Wang Zhao's eyes, Lu Yu saw gratitude and resolve, but not a shred of greed.
"Wait a moment, I will remove the Liquor Worm for you right away."
Wang Zhao had not expected Lu Yu to act so promptly, agreeing to proceed immediately. He had assumed that any true master would leave him in suspense.
Lu Yu paid no mind to what Wang Zhao might be thinking. Though the Liquor Worm was indeed wondrous, for someone of his cultivation level, dealing with it was merely a trifling task. However, because such naturally occurring Spirit Insects were extremely rare, even highly accomplished individuals could not encounter them just by wishing to do so.
Lu Yu lightly pointed at Wang Zhao's forehead, and Wang Zhao only felt a cool breath entering his body from his forehead, traveling down into his Dantian.
Suddenly, he felt his Dantian quake as if something were trying to take control of his body. It was then he realized he was unable to move.
When the Liquor Worm in the Dantian was unable to manipulate Wang Zhao's body any further, it seemingly lost its patience. Wang Zhao could clearly feel something moving from his Dantian, along his meridians, toward his facial features. A wave of fear washed over him as he wondered how the Liquor Worm would exit his body. If it crawled out of his eyes, wouldn't he go blind?
However, he underestimated the nature of the Liquor Worm. Such a creature is unpredictable: when gathered, it forms a worm; when dispersed, it becomes a breath.
Wisps of pale blue breath emerged from Wang Zhao's orifices, and a strong scent of alcohol instantly pervaded the surroundings, leaving everyone who smelled it drunken and weak in the knees. Only Wang Zhao and Lu Yu were unaffected, one with a calm expression, entirely unmoved, while the other, upon catching the scent, involuntarily dropped to the ground and began to vomit.
This was the aftereffect of the Liquor Worm's departure, and by the looks of it, Wang Zhao would probably be unable to touch a drop of alcohol for the rest of his life.
In the air, the breaths congealed into a plump, white bug, translucent as if made of White Jade, with a tiny mouth and eyes, constantly wiggling its body in mid-air.
"It's better to be obedient," Lu Yu said with a smile, watching the Liquor Worm struggle in the air. The creature had a faint sentience and knew to seek good fortune and avoid disaster. It had tried to flee upon sensing Lu Yu's aura, but Lu Yu had controlled it in time, or else it would have long since vanished without a trace.
"Is this the root of all evil?" Wang Zhao murmured, looking at the chubby, white bug in the air.
He had never expected that the cause of his life-long addiction to alcohol would be such an apparently harmless little worm. Just thinking about how long this little thing might have lived inside his body made Wang Zhao's feelings complicated.
"This is a Liquor Worm. For ordinary people, it can bring fortune but also an irrepressible craving for alcohol. However, for Cultivators, this creature is a rare treasure. Just toss the worm into water, and that water will turn into fine wine. Many long-term Cultivators consider it an invaluable rarity.
Continue your journey at empire
The only pity is that this worm is naturally formed and is particularly good at concealing its presence, making it very hard to find," Lu Yu explained to Wang Zhao with a smile.
"Since the worm is so precious, please, Master, take it." Wang Zhao offered.
"Didn't I tell you? This is a real treasure, and you're willing to give it away so easily?"
"Without you, Master, I would have probably spent my entire life in a daze. Now that I'm freed from my shackles, the sky's the limit, and the sea is mine to explore, all thanks to your help. I am but an ordinary man and can never repay such a great kindness.
Since the Liquor Worm is so precious, I shall present it to you," Wang Zhao said, breezily, as if what he was giving away was not a priceless treasure but something utterly mundane.
Lu Yu nodded to himself, impressed. Wang Zhao had a good nature and was shrewd in his dealings with people. It was only the trouble caused by the Liquor Worm that held him back; otherwise, such a person would have achieved great success long ago. It just goes to show that what some consider poison, others see as sweet as honey. This was the truth of the matter.
"Then I shall humbly accept it." With a gentle gesture, Lu Yu took out the Purifying Vase, and the Liquor Worm, trapped in the air, helplessly got sucked into the vase.
"Alas, my Treasure Vase still cannot seize people by calling their names. I wonder how the Elder Lord managed to refine such a thing, enabling the treasure to possess powers akin to the Law of Karma.
It seems I can only wait until the Journey to the West begins, try to get close to Golden Horned King and Silver Horned King, and have a good look at the Purifying Vase if I ever hope to learn such profound refining techniques," Lu Yu thought to himself, planning for his revered treasure now that he had secured the Liquor Worm in his vase.
"Although the Liquor Worm has been removed, your body needs proper care. After all, years of indulging in alcohol have already damaged your foundation. The presence of the Liquor Worm in your body was suppressing the issue, but now that it's gone, the hidden danger has surfaced, and carelessness might shorten your life.
Since I've taken your Liquor Worm, I can't just leave you to fend for yourself." He then produced a peach.
Wang Zhao's spirits were immediately uplifted by the sight of the peach, white with hints of red, brimming with Spiritual Energy. Even the scent made him feel refreshed. He naturally guessed that the peach in Lu Yu's hand was no ordinary fruit.
"This peach is extraordinary, cultivated by me and a dear friend. It already possesses some magical effects and is especially beneficial for someone with a mortal physique like yours. Eating it will restore your body and settle this bout of karma."
This peach was indeed one of the Peaches of Immortality grown at the foot of the Five Elements Mountain, originally meant as a snack for the Monkey. But with the Monkey bored and idly nurturing the peach tree with his own mana during the Five Qi toward the Yuan period, the tree acquired an added mystique. These days, it was counted among the top tier of Spirit Fruits.
During his visit to the Monkey, who presented the peach as if offering a treasure, Lu Yu had taken it and kept it on him.