C16 No! I Don't Want It I Don't Want It!

"That strong, irresistible drink I just had, is that the legendary wine?

If I drink this man's wine, does that mean I have to obey him from now on?

I don't want that!"

"As for you," Ma Tianming could almost hear the Golden Fur Mongoose's thoughts and responded accordingly, "The wine was originally intended for a larger Flat-head Wind, but you killed my snake and drank the wine. Naturally, you must listen to me now."

While speaking, Ma Tianming gently stroked the Golden Fur Mongoose's head and its soft fur, remarking, "Your golden fur is quite beautiful. From now on, you'll be known as Gold. Yes, Gold for short."

"Gold!"

"Gold?" Snake King Mah watched Ma Tianming delight in amusing the little creature as if he were soothing a child, with no trace of jest. Could this be for real?

"Master Ma, could I have a taste of that wine you mentioned?" Snake King Mah was aware it was a prized possession and understood why others might be reluctant to share, but he sensed that Ma Tianming wasn't a bad sort and that there might be a chance.

However, the newly named Gold was inwardly protesting, "No! I don't want to, I don't want to, I refuse to obey you..."

As Gold cried out, he flailed his legs like a child feeling aggrieved. Ma Tianming quickly adjusted his grip, securing Gold's limbs, making it impossible for Gold to kick at him any longer.

"I'll see if I can request some from the gods, but even if they agree, there won't be much to spare."

"Just enough to make a snake heed my command would suffice," Snake King Mah thought excitedly about the prospect of a large Flat-head Wind obeying his every word.

"You're such a mischievous little one," Ma Tianming said, holding Gold in one hand and petting his back with the other.

"What's he up to?" Gold wondered anxiously. "I've heard humans like to strip the fur off forest creatures to wear as clothing. He said he'd hate to do it, but what if he changes his mind?"

Gold felt a surge of fear: "Maybe I should just pretend to listen to him for now. The moment it releases me, I'll make a run for it."

"That's more like it!" Ma Tianming, noticing Gold had quieted down, said, "Stay good and quiet, or the other ferocious beasts and monsters on the mountain might come for you."

While speaking, Ma Tianming took out the wine he had with him. "Gold here drank the leftovers from the Flat-head Wind. The potency might not be enough."

"Wine?" Gold, catching the familiar scent from the wine bag, was filled with regret. He had been lured by the wine earlier, which left him dizzy and weak, allowing this man to capture him. He couldn't drink any more.

But then, a strong hand lifted Gold's chin and pinched his mouth open, pouring a rich and fragrant wine into it.

"Mmm..." Gold smacked his lips a few times and swallowed the wine. "Tasty."

"That's enough!" Ma Tianming observed Gold's belly, now visibly swollen.

"I want more," Gold burped, gazing at Ma Tianming with his brown eyes.

Ma Tianming returned the gaze to Gold's brown eyes: such an adorable little kitten.

"If you give me more to drink, I'll tell you where to find the Flat-head Wind Snake."

Ma Tianming thought he heard a gentle female voice, which took him by surprise: Could it be that the Golden Fur Mongoose in his arms was speaking to him?

Could the Drunken Mist Wine actually enable wild beasts to speak?

That seemed impossible!

The Flat-head Wind had never shown such an effect... But now, this Golden Fur Mongoose appeared much smarter than the Flat-head Wind. Perhaps it could really work.

Ma Tianming poured a bit more wine for Gold, who took a sip and then started to purr.

Ma Tianming was dumbfounded as Gold promptly passed out drunk.

Thankfully, Gold weighed no more than five kilograms, so carrying him wasn't a burden, but now he had no choice but to let him sleep it off.

"What a waste of this Flat-head Wind," Ma Tianming lamented as he examined the snake whose head had been crushed by Gold. He picked it up, considering its potential.

"I could extract its gallbladder."

"Snake gall?"

"Yes, indeed! The gallbladder of the Flat-head Wind Snake is a valuable medicinal resource. It can be sold for a good price or used to infuse wine."

"Wine?" Ma Tianming couldn't help but echo, "Snake gall wine?"

In that instant, a recipe sprang to Ma Tianming's mind: Piercing Wind Wine, crafted from snake gall, Chuan Bei, Wind Snake Flower, and bitter ginseng, steeped in strong alcohol for seven days. It promised to sharpen the senses and fortify the body, even granting the drinker swift movement.

"I've learned another wine recipe!" Ma Tianming wondered to himself. Was it the Wine God revealing this Piercing Wind Wine recipe because I obtained the snake gall?

"Does this mean that whenever I acquire a medicinal ingredient suitable for brewing, the Wine God will provide me with a recipe?"

Was this a sign for Ma Tianming to delve into the world of medicine?

Initially, Ma Tianming had little interest in medicinal herbs. Apart from the snake gall, he couldn't identify a single one mentioned in the recipe.

Yet, this wasn't an issue. To gather the necessary ingredients, Ma Tianming could simply visit a pharmacy. With the herbs in hand, brewing the wine would be straightforward.

While Ma Tianming pondered this, Snake King Mah skillfully extracted a small knife and deftly opened the belly of the deceased Flat-head Wind, removing its stomach. He then took a prepared bamboo tube, placed the snake gall inside, and handed it to Ma Tianming, saying, "Young Master Ma, take good care of this."

After securing the bamboo tube, Ma Tianming noticed that Snake King Mah had dropped his guard. Curious, he asked, "Why aren't you being cautious now?"

"With this Golden Fur Mongoose here, it means there's no chance of encountering a Flat-head Wind or any other venomous snakes nearby. There's no need for vigilance."

Ma Tianming was taken aback: Of course! The Snake King truly has a wealth of experience in the jungle.

Ma Tianming proposed they venture further in. Knowing there were no snakes in the vicinity, Snake King Mah had no objections to exploring deeper.

They had traveled nearly a mile when Snake King Mah's alertness returned.

Ma Tianming didn't want to fall behind. However, the Golden Fur Mongoose in his hand, adorable as it was, had become somewhat of a burden, especially since it had chosen that moment to pass out drunk: How long would it be before it sobered up?

Ma Tianming casually held the Golden Fur Mongoose with one hand while the other gripped a sickle he had brought along for protection. But in the blink of an eye, Ma Tianming noticed a bewildering transformation. The mongoose's delicate and adorable head, with its sharp snout and round nose, was morphing into something short and round... resembling a human face, much like that of a doll.

"What's happening?" Ma Tianming exclaimed, startled. His body tensed up, and he nearly dropped the Golden Fur Mongoose to the ground.