Chapter 104: The New Drunken Eight Immortals (Part Three)

Amidst the dense lotus leaves, red lotuses bloomed with an enchanting, almost bewitching beauty.

In the streets of Chang'an, rumors began to circulate about a banquet held at the Princess's Mansion by the Qujiang Pool, where the host was seeking the "Eight Immortals." This piqued the interest of many scholars, poets, and drunkards alike.

Two men wearing straw sandals were walking through the streets. A hot breeze blew, and even their tattered clothes could not dispel the stifling heat. For travelers who had just left the scorching sun behind, nothing seemed better than gulping down a few mouthfuls of cool well water.

Having walked all the way from Luoyang to Chang'an, only their worn-out sandals truly understood the hardships of their journey. Du Zimei and Gao Dafu found themselves outside a restaurant called "Journey to the West." They were drawn in by the storyteller on the stage, but more importantly, the establishment offered free cold drinks. It was unbelievable that on such a sweltering day, the mildly sweet water actually contained ice.

"Have you heard? A banquet has been set up at Qujiang Pool to seek out the Eight Immortals—the 'Eight Immortals of the Wine Cup.' The Princess Protector herself claims to be the eighth immortal, the last of them. Even Libationer He of the Imperial Academy was invited and honored as the first immortal!"

"Hey, should we go and give it a try? They say you just have to finish three large bowls of wine; it sounds simple enough!"

"Simple, my foot! Prince Ruyang, Li Jin, a man with a beautiful beard who loves wine as much as his own life, collapsed after finishing three bowls. I hear there’s another attempt today, but who knows if anyone can cross the Eight Immortals Bridge after drinking. Only those who cross that bridge are considered true members of the Drunken Eight Immortals!"

"I say, the Princess Protector is quite beautiful, isn't she? Maybe she's using this to find a husband!"

"Exactly! Perhaps she is feeling the stirrings of spring and is waiting for a suitor!"

Seeing a group of poor men chatting animatedly at the entrance, Du Fu stepped forward and bowed. Despite his ragged, beggar-like appearance, his scholarly elegance was faintly visible in his gestures.

"Pardon me, gentlemen. May I ask about the poetry recitation event held by the Sage?"

"Oh? Where did this beggar come from? Your accent is neither from Jinling nor Luoyang!"

Catching a whiff of a sour, musty odor, the men quickly covered their noses, their voices muffled.

"The Sage's poetry event ended long ago! Now, it's all about the Princess's search for the Eight Immortals! Now, off with you, get going!"

As Du Fu was shooed away with a wave of their sleeves, he thought to himself that this was indeed unbecoming and that he should find a place to wash. He couldn't afford an inn, let alone a bath. Recalling the mention of Qujiang Pool, he suddenly had an idea. He turned to Gao Shi, "Brother Gao, how about we go to Qujiang Pool for a wash?"

"Brother Du, that makes sense. My whole body is itching, and the stench of sweat is unbearable. We truly need a bath!"

The two set off together, heading toward Qujiang Pool.

As Du Fu walked, he bumped his head against a solid chest. He was stunned; the chest felt as hard as stone. This man was not to be trifled with. Shrinking his slight frame, he quickly apologized, "Forgive me, forgive me. I was careless and bumped into you, good sir. I beg your—"

"You fool, do you not see me standing here!"

Du Fu looked up to see a man with dark, swarthy skin, like a sculpture weathered by years of sun and rain. Yet, the eyes of this sculpture were sharp and piercing, and his body was powerful. He was carrying an old woman on his back.

"Good sir! I offer my apologies!"

He suddenly felt like a scholar encountering a soldier.

"I—"

"We accept your apology. Don't be so stubborn. I'm thirsty, go get me a bowl of cold drink!"

"Yes, right away..."

Du Fu bowed to the old woman in gratitude and turned back to Gao Shi. Together, they braved the blazing sun and continued toward the city gate.

As they reached the gate, a donkey and two horses slowly approached. The crowd made way. Looking closely, an old man with disheveled white whiskers sat on the donkey. He had a lean face, a high forehead, and a short but sturdy build. Locking eyes with his piercing gaze, they felt a shiver; this was no ordinary man.

They wanted to step forward to pay their respects, but the two large men flanking him looked intimidating. The one on the left had a handlebar mustache and shifty eyes with two broadswords tucked into his waist, while the one on the right had large ears and a face that seemed too falsely kind. The mere sight of them made the two scholars lose their nerve, and the words they had ready were swallowed back down.

The two friends went to Qujiang Pool to bathe, which was incredibly refreshing. Occasionally, disheveled young men and women would emerge from the wild woods by the lake—usually one man with several women.

Du Fu was thirty this year. As the saying goes, "At thirty, one stands firm," but he was not yet married, nor did he frequent brothels. He traveled the world, broadening his horizons, hoping that his long-term efforts would eventually lead to great success, allowing him to become a good official who served the people.

This lifelong bachelor climbed out of the water. Though no one was around, he still felt shy. He put on his dried, tattered clothes and lay down on the rocky ground to rest. Once Brother Gao was dressed, they walked along the pool and saw an arched wooden bridge standing over the water. Below it lay a field of lotus flowers and leaves. On either side, a pavilion stood, their vermilion pillars and black eaves carved with various birds and beasts. At first glance, the roof of the pavilion looked as if a hundred beasts were swarming.

The scorching sun baked the earth and Du Fu alike. What brought a slight coolness to his heart was a beautiful figure in a bright green floral dress, looking youthful and captivating.

Wu Yueling waved her floral sleeve and placed a bowl of iced, potent spirits before Prince Ruyang, Li Jin. "Aren't you the Immortal of the Wine Cup? How is it that you’ve collapsed from drunkenness these past few days? Or is it that you’ve taken a liking to my strong liquor and don't intend to let it go?"

"Hahaha!" Prince Ruyang shook his beautiful beard and laughed heartily, though a glint of cunning flashed in his eyes. In truth, it was both; the liquor was like fire, burning his heart and emptying his troubles, but he knew when to stop. "Princess, I certainly love this potent brew. If I collapse again today, let it be said that I am unworthy of being one of the Drunken Eight Immortals!"

"Prince Ruyang, you are too modest. In that case, please begin!" Adding a small dish of shaved ice, Wu Yueling stepped aside. After these days of observation, she had realized this fellow was a true drunkard; he could never keep his hands off the bottle and felt miserable without it. He was also quite old, yet carried himself like a man suffering from heartbreak, which was truly strange.

"One bowl! Two bowls! Three bowls finished!"

Wu Yueling waved her sleeve in front of Prince Ruyang. Confirming he was still clear-headed, she gestured, "Please, ascend the Eight Immortals Bridge!"

Prince Ruyang shook his head, feeling dizzy. He took his steps toward the bridge, swaying unsteadily. He stumbled at the entrance but managed to fall onto the bridge deck.

As soon as he fell, he stood back up. Axiang and Chu'er, who were guarding the bridge, breathed a sigh of relief.

Wu Yueling watched as he reached the middle of the bridge. A gust of hot wind blew, causing him to sway left and right, as if he were about to fall into the lake, but he steadied himself. Just as he reached the end of the bridge, he finally collapsed to the ground, completely unconscious.

"Quick, go help him!"

Seeing that the Prince had truly collapsed—face-first onto the ground—she hurriedly ordered Yu Chao'en and the Princess's personal guards to assist him. He was a Prince, after all; if something happened to him, who would take the blame?

Du Fu and Gao Shi, seeing that the situation matched the rumors, joined the queue to try the wine. They watched with interest as the man in front of them finished a bowl, clutched his throat as if poisoned, and collapsed. Soon after, he occupied a seat in the nearby pavilion.

There, an old man in white was feeding these people a kind of water; it didn't take long for them to wake up after drinking it. The awakened ones would laugh sheepishly and bow to leave. The wine was truly extraordinary. Du Fu and his friend finished their large bowls; the first taste was like the scorching sun, burning their throats and making their eyes roll back as they collapsed.

Gao Shi fared slightly better, but even with his martial arts training, he couldn't withstand the potency of the liquor, and he collapsed after the second bowl.

Before long, the news of Prince Ruyang becoming one of the Drunken Eight Immortals spread throughout Chang'an, luring more and more people to try the wine. Many would collapse without even finishing a single bowl, which only further stirred the competitive spirit of scholars and poets who refused to admit defeat, drawing them to the Eight Immortals Bridge at Qujiang Pool.

At the Qi Family Inn, Wang Lizhi and Zhou Yong met.

"I hear the Princess Protector has set up the Eight Immortals Bridge and announced that anyone who can drink three bowls of her strong liquor at the Qujiang Pool gathering can become one of the Eight Immortals. Brother Wang, though young, you are not only brilliant but also a heavy drinker. Why don't we summon the scholars of Chang'an tomorrow to go to the Eight Immortals Bridge and claim our place as immortals?"

"Hahaha! That sounds excellent! I only hope the Princess Protector won't mind that I’ve written poems criticizing her!"

"Hehehe! We'll just bring Master Song along. With our mentor there, and the Libationer present, she wouldn't dare make a scene!"

"Good! I, Wang Lizhi, reserve a spot among those Eight Immortals! Hahahaha..."