REVEREND INSANITY
Chapter 13: Bamboo forest under the moon, snowflakes

About 300 years ago, an incredible genius appeared in the Gu Yue Clan. He was extremely talented and had cultivated to the point of becoming a rank five Master Gu at such a young age, and even had the possibility to go further. He was famous throughout Qing Mao Mountain, had a bright future and was the pinnacle of hope and responsibility in the eyes of the clan.

In the history of the Gu Yue clan, everyone talked about it the most – fourth clan head.

Unfortunately he sacrificed himself to protect his people and fight against the similarly powerful fifth rank Master Gu, the Demonic Wine Flower Monk. Although he defeated the Flower Wine Monk after a fierce battle, he let the demons kneel and beg for mercy.

In the end he was careless and was caught by the Flower Wine Monk's sneak attack. The fourth head angrily executed the Flower Wine Monk, but due to his own severe injuries, he died prematurely.

This tragic incident had long circulated to this day, becoming a popular story among the Gu Yue clan. However Fang Yuan knew that this story was unbelievable, as it had an enormous gap.

In his previous life, a month later from now, a drunken Gu Master who had been rejected by his lover lay outside the village, so drunk he was like a fish. In the end due to the overflowing smell of wine, it ended up attracting the Liquor worm.

Master Gu pursues the worm Liquor and finds the remains of the Flower Wine Monk in a secret underground cave, also discovering the legacy of the Flower Wine Monk. This Master Gu quickly rushed back to the clan and informed them of the matter, causing a huge uproar.

As the storm gradually subsided, she also benefited from it – She obtained the Liquor worm, her cultivation increased, she also gained, the female friend who once left her returned to her side and she became the talk of the village for a while.

As stories are passed down from generation to generation, it is normal to change along the way. But in Fang Yuan's memories, the story of Master Gu finding the treasure seemed quite authentic, yet he felt that the story was hiding another truth.

“I didn't realize it at first, but in these few days when I searched and analyzed on the side, I felt something was out of place.” The night grew darker, and as Fang Yuan walked in the bamboo forest growing around the village, he revisited the clues he had so far in his head.

“If I put myself in his position and think about it, when I find the treasure of the Flower Wine Monk why don't I take it all for myself, but go and tell the clan instead? Not even mentioning the clan's sense of honor, everyone had greed in their hearts. What made Master Gu betray the greed in his heart, even to the point of willingly abandoning all interests and profits, and report this finding to the clan top?”

Truth is always hidden in the fog of history. Fang Yuan racked his brain but he could not get the result. After all the clues he had were too few. Just the two pointers he had could easily be right or wrong, so it was not completely reliable.

Fang Yuan could not help but think of himself. “No matter what, after buying this jar of green bamboo wine, I only have 2 ancient stones left. If I can't find the treasure then I will be in big trouble. Today will be considered as the last gamble, it is all or nothing!”

Yet he did not have enough ancient stones to purify the Gu worm. So why not invest it in this wine and increase the chances of success?

If it was in the case of others, most of them would probably play it safe and store ancient stones. But in Fang Yuan's case, the efficiency of doing so was too low. He would rather take a risk and bet.

You see, the people from the Devil Faction like to take risks.

Today, the night is getting thicker, the spring moon is shaped like an arc. The clouds covered the moonlight, as if lining the crescent moon with a thin layer of gossamer.

Having just finished the continuous rain for three days and three nights, the murky energy between the mountains had been swept away, leaving behind the purest freshness. This fresh air was pure like a sheet of white paper, and more effectively spread the scent of wine around it. That was the first reason why Fang Yuan was full of confidence tonight.

The search seven days earlier was not without results. At least it proved that the Vine Flower Monk did not die in that place. This was the second reason for Fang Yuan's confidence.

In the forest of lush bamboo grass, endless white flowers and straight green bamboo spears like pencils, the forest resembled clumps of jade stems.

Fang Yuan unsealed the jar, releasing a thick wine scent instantly. Green bamboo wine could be said to be the number one wine of Gu Yue Village. This was the third reason for Fang Yuan's confidence tonight.

“With these three big reasons gathered together, if I want to succeed must be tonight!” Fang Yuan cheered in his heart as he slowly tilted the wine jar, poured some wine, dripped it onto the stone. If that group of hunters saw this scene, they would probably become extremely depressed. This wine is worth 2 whole ancient stones ...

But Fang Yuan was indifferent.

The fragrant aroma quickly spread into the night. A light breeze, a faint fragrance floating and polluting the bamboo forest. Fang Yuan stood in his place, smelling his scent. He waited for a while, yet he did not see any movement.

All he heard was a nightingale crying in the distance, his voice like a string of bells. His gaze was silent. He did not feel surprised, and he moved, walking to somewhere several hundred meters away.

He did the same thing over and over again, moving to several different other locations, dripping wine a few times. After all the green bamboo wine in the jar was only a little left.

This was the last time, Fang Yuan sighed. He flipped the wine jar, the bottom facing the sky. All the remaining wine left in the jar flowed out. Wine is sprinkled on the grass, letting the green grass sway. The wildflowers were dyed with wine, slightly bowing their heads.

Fang Yuan stood up with a last glimmer of hope in his chest, and looked around.

It's a very deep night now. Thick clouds covered the moonlight. The dark shadow was like a curtain, covering the bamboo grove. A deadly silence around him, every single strand of green spear bamboo stood on its own, leaving a trail of straight lines up and down in Fang Yuan's pupils.

He quietly stood on the spot, listening to his own clear breath. Then he felt the little hope he carried in his chest, slowly disappearing, becoming nothing.

"It failed anyway." His heart murmured, “Today I have three great advantages gathered together, yet I still fail, not even seeing the shadow of the Liquor worm. This means that in the future the success rate will be lower. Right now I only have two ancient stones left, and I still need to refine Moonlight Gu. I can't take any more risks."

The end result of taking risks is often unsatisfactory. But when the results are ideal, the profits will be impressive. Fang Yuan liked to take risks, but he was not a gambling addict, and he was not someone who was determined to stake back what he had lost. He had his own limits, he was clear about his own abilities.

Right now, five hundred years of life experience told him, it was time to stop.

Sometimes life is like this. There is often one goal that seems so perfect, filled with temptation. It seems so close yet with so many twists and turns, that goal is constantly unfulfilled. It makes people restless, thinking about it day and night.

"This is the helplessness of life, but also the charm of life," Fang Yuan laughed bitterly, turning to leave.

That's at the moment.

A gust of wind blew, like a gentle arm, lightly sweeping through the clouds in the night sky. The clouds drifted away to reveal the hidden moon. The crescent-shaped moon that hung in the sky was like white jade lights, pouring the clear moonlight like water down to the earth. The moonlight spilled over the bamboo forest, spilling onto the mountain rock, bathing into the rivers and streams on the mountain, spilling onto Fang Yuan's body.

Fang Yuan wore ordinary clothes; under the gentle touch of moonlight, his young face became brighter. The darkness seemed to fade away in an instant, and replacing it was a field of snowy ice flowers. As if infected by moonlight, the nightingale began to sing once more, but this time not one, but many. Scattered among the bamboo groves, they all tweeted in response.

At the same time, a type of insect that inhabits large mountains, Dragonpill crickets that are active under the moonlight begin to sing a rustling song of life. They are creatures that only come out at night. Their bodies emitted a faint red glow; at this moment they jumped out in droves, each of their bodies glittering with the brilliance of red agate.

At first glance, Fang Yuan thought that this Dragonpill cicada was like a bouncing red radiance, landing on green grass and wildflowers, prancing under the moonlight in the bamboo forest.

The bamboo forest was like a conscious pond, under the moonlight the green jade color of the bamboo spear flashed in the brilliance of the light and delicate jade. The enchanting scenery of dense trees and bright flowers in spring, Mother Earth showed her outstanding beauty to the current Fang Yuan.

Fang Yuan subconsciously stopped his steps, feeling as if he was in the heavenly land. He was already about to leave, but at this moment he subconsciously looked around.

The blobs of wildflowers and grass that he had poured his last wine trembled gently in the wind, remaining empty. Fang Yuan laughed at himself and retracted his gaze.

Yet.

Unexpectedly in the process of turning around, he saw a spot of white snow.

These snow grains are glued to a pointed bamboo not far from it. Under the moonlight, it was like a round pearl hanging.

Both Fang Yuan's disciples widened ferociously, his body trembling slightly. His heart fell and started pumping faster every second.

It's the Liquor worm!