Chapter 20: Flower Wine Monk's Inheritance
Entering The Flower Wine Monk's Inheritance
The early summer night was lit—literally. The sky was clear, stars twinkling like a Gen Alpha's TikTok feed. Sandalwood crickets were out, replacing the dragonpill crickets, chirping their little hearts out in the grass and trees. The Gu Yue Village glowed like it was trying to compete with the stars, the bamboo houses standing tall and serene under the moonlight.
But Fang Yuan? Oh no, he wasn't vibing with the village aesthetic. He was in a secret cave, half-kneeling on the ground, his hand glowing with moonlight as he caressed the image wall. The wall, once vibrant with Flower Wine Monk's message, was now just a boring rock. But Fang Yuan knew better. Hidden beneath this wall was Flower Wine Monk's strength inheritance—a treasure trove of sigma energy.
Flower Wine Monk was a legendary figure, a Rank five Gu Master who had once been a member of the Gu Yue clan. But after a falling out with the clan, he went rogue, becoming a demonic cultivator. Known for his love of wine and his unorthodox methods, Flower Wine Monk was both feared and respected. Before his death, he set up this inheritance to nurture an avenger who would take revenge on the Gu Yue clan. Talk about holding a grudge.
Fang Yuan had been busy. After killing Jia Jin Sheng and dealing with the fallout, he finally had time to return to the cave. For six days, he'd been using his Moonrizz Gu to shave away at the rock wall, slowly but surely. The floor was covered in dark red rock powder, glowing faintly in the dim light. Fang Yuan didn't use any tools—no hammers, no pickaxes. Why? Because sigma males don't make noise. They work in silence, like shadows in the night.
Finally, after hours of grinding, the wall gave way. A small hole appeared, and Fang Yuan kicked it open, revealing a diagonal path leading deeper into the mountain. The air was stale, so Fang Yuan left to let it clear out. When he returned, he expanded the hole and peered inside. The path was narrow at first but widened as it went deeper. The walls glowed red, casting an eerie light.
But Fang Yuan wasn't about to just waltz in. Oh no, he was smarter than that. He threw a rock into the passage, listening as it rolled and clattered. No traps triggered. Good. But Fang Yuan wasn't done. He spread rock powder around the entrance to detect any movement and left the cave, making sure to spill some wine on himself to explain his late-night excursions. Sigma males always have an alibi.
The next morning, the academy elder was giving a lecture about choosing a second Gu worm. Everyone was deep in thought, except Fang Yuan, who was snoozing at his desk. Bro had been up all night grinding rocks and cultivating. Sigma males don't sleep—they recharge.
The students glanced at Fang Yuan, whispering about his Liquor worm. "Bro got so lucky," one muttered. "If I had a Liquor worm, I'd be middle stage too," another sighed. Fang Zheng, Fang Yuan's twin, glared at his sleeping brother, vowing to surpass him. Little did he know, Fang Yuan was already three steps ahead.
That night, Fang Yuan returned to the cave, this time with a wild rabbit. He'd tied a bell around its neck and attached it to a grass rope he'd woven himself. Sigma males are resourceful like that. He sent the rabbit down the passage, listening as the bell jingled. After a while, he pulled the rabbit back, inspecting it for injuries. None. The passage was safe—for now.
Fang Yuan stepped into the passage, moving cautiously. The tunnel widened as he went deeper, but after 300 meters, he hit a wall—literally. A huge rock blocked his path, smooth and protruding like Jia Fu's belly. Fang Yuan frowned. Was this an accident? Or part of the inheritance's test?
He touched the rock, calculating. Using the Moonrizz Gu to carve through it would take years. Tools would be faster, but the noise could attract attention. Fang Yuan weighed his options. If the risk was too high, he'd walk away. Sigma males know when to fold 'em.
Choosing A New Gu
The sun rose, and the students were hyped. Today was the day they'd pick their second Gu worm. Fang Yuan, being the first to reach middle stage, had first pick. He strolled into the Gu storage room like a sigma male entering his kingdom.
The room was small but packed with Gu worms in all sorts of containers—rock pots, jade pots, grass cages, you name it. Fang Yuan scanned the walls, his eyes sharp. He wasn't here to mess around. He had a plan.
First, he checked out the Bronze Skin Gu, a common choice for close-combat Gu Masters. But Fang Yuan wasn't impressed. He moved on to the Stone Skin Gu and Iron Skin Gu, both similar but not quite what he was looking for. He wanted something better—something like the Jade Skin Gu. But alas, the Gu Yue Village's storage room wasn't exactly top-tier. No Jade Skin Gu here.
Next, he checked out the Longhorn Beetle Gu series. The Brute Force Longhorn Beetle Gu caught his eye—it gave temporary super strength, but it had major drawbacks. Fang Yuan wasn't about to risk muscle tears for a quick power boost. He moved on to the Yellow Camel Longhorn Beetle Gu, which granted stamina and endurance. It was a solid choice, but not for Fang Yuan. He needed something more compatible with his sigma grindset.
Then he checked out the Boar Gu series. The Pink Boar Gu was a hard pass—it just made you fat. The Flower Boar Gu was more common, giving temporary strength like the Brute Force Longhorn Beetle Gu but with fewer side effects. But Fang Yuan's eyes were on the prize: the Black Boar Gu and White Boar Gu. These Gu worms permanently increased strength, making them more valuable than even the Liquor worm. Unfortunately, the storage room didn't have any. Big L.
After a thorough search, Fang Yuan settled on the Little Light Gu. It wasn't flashy, but it complemented his Moonrizz Gu, boosting its power. It was a practical choice, and Fang Yuan was all about practicality.
As he walked out of the storage room, the other students whispered. "What did he pick?" "Probably something OP, bro's got that sigma energy." Fang Yuan ignored them, his mind already on his next move.
...
Gu Yue Bo was mentoring Fang Zheng under a locust tree. The moonlight filtered through the leaves, casting a serene glow. Fang Zheng stood rigid, nervous but determined.
"Fang Zheng, you chose the Bronze Skin Gu today. A solid choice," Gu Yue Bo said, his voice calm and fatherly. "It shows your balanced nature—offense and defense, yin and yang. That's the way of a true leader."
Fang Zheng nodded, his admiration for the clan leader growing. Gu Yue Bo then handed him a Jade Skin Gu, a rare and powerful Gu worm. "This is your reward if you become the first to reach Rank two. Do you accept the challenge?"
Fang Zheng's eyes lit up. "I'll do it! I'll be the first to Rank two!"
Gu Yue Bo smiled, but inside, he was calculating. Fang Zheng had potential, but he lacked Fang Yuan's cunning. If only Fang Yuan had A-grade talent…
...
Fang Yuan was back at the giant rock blocking his path. He'd been discouraged the night before, but now he had a new plan. He knelt down, inspecting the ground near the rock. The soil was darker and wetter here—a clue.
He started digging, his hands moving carefully. Soon, he uncovered a dark gold flower bud—the Earth Treasury Flower Gu. Inside was a Gu worm, sealed in golden nectar. Fang Yuan peeled back the petals, revealing a milky white ladybug—the White Boar Gu.
Fang Yuan's lips curled into a smirk. The White Boar Gu permanently increased strength, making it a perfect addition to his arsenal. The Flower Wine Monk's inheritance was finally paying off.