Zhang Wei generously refused Elder Mo's offer.
It was a joke.
These two were the mainstays of the Gourmet Bank. Instead of making them work hard for him, why would he let them go after the Four Beasts?
Foolish!
Besides this, Asido also conveyed another piece of information.
Deep within the sea of Wine-addled Island, there was a vortex that collected all the filth from various islands and the seawater, locking it tightly within.
There, even the wine would rot and emit a sour smell that was utterly repulsive.
"Sour smell..."
"Alright then..."
Zhang Wei knew exactly what that was!
The famous King Vinegar from the original story!
Coincidentally, there were still many things on Wine-addled Island that he needed to collect...
However, with so many people around, Zhang Wei decided to begin a thorough sweep once the crowd thinned.
...
...
Flying Enforcement Team!
Zhang Wei traversed the Moon Bay using the Ray Leap technique, sweeping through all the locations Asido had mentioned without missing a single one.
Before he left, Asido said, "Although our senior members of the Gourmet Pirates are robbers, they never take lives. Please show them mercy when you encounter them. They are skilled navigators, and you might find them useful later."
"Alright."
Zhang Wei approached Ao Xing and said, "Can you do me a favor?"
Ao Xing shook his head like a rattle drum, "No way!"
"This kind of thing is too troublesome. Besides, I've been catching sea grass since I was a child, and I'm already sick of it!"
"It's better to drink here."
"I don't have much time to wander around, I need to enjoy life properly."
There was no opportunity for drinking and merriment in the Crystal Palace while traversing the vast ocean.
The seabed lacked the necessary conditions for brewing wine, and there was very little wine to be had!
Zhang Wei's eyes lit up. Catching since childhood?
This meant he was an expert!
"Ahem... In fact, the wine on Wine-addled Island is far inferior to my collection?"
"What? You have something better?"
Zhang Wei produced a crystalline fruit. The moment it touched the air, a rich aroma of wine wafted out, overpowering the scent of all the wine on Wine-addled Island.
Ao Xing felt as if the alcohol content in the surrounding air had suddenly increased significantly, and he felt a refreshing sensation that permeated his very being!
In a daze, Ao Xing seemed to be transported back to his childhood...
His father parted the waves and brought back human specialties from a thousand miles away.
"My dear son... Dad's back!"
"Look what I have!"
"Osmanthus cakes, dried sausages, honey-glazed roast meat made by human chefs..."
Little Ao Xing tasted these for the first time and was stunned on the spot.
So...
These foods weren't just wasabi, fish slices, seaweed, crab, and shrimp meat...
There were so many amazing ways to prepare them!
"Dad... why is human food so delicious!"
The old Sea Dragon coughed lightly, "There's no choice. We live off the mountains and seas. Besides, we live underwater. Without water-parting techniques, everything would get wet."
"So, eating these catches is the most convenient and fastest. Besides, we are Sea Dragons, isn't it normal for us to eat fish!"
Ao Xing said, "Then... I want to be able to eat these things in the future!"
The old Sea Dragon looked troubled.
These things required traveling to the human world or to human settlements in the Gourmet World, which took a lot of time.
However, the Sea Dragon tribe had restaurants!
In the Sea Dragon tribe, anything not related to seafood was considered a very high-class food, enjoyed only by the upper class. High-class restaurants had precious water-repelling pearls that could create a huge bubble underwater, where they could light fires and cook.
The old Sea Dragon said, "There is indeed a way!"
"How about this, you go and apprentice at a high-class restaurant. In the kitchen... sneaking food is quite normal, isn't it?"
The Sea Dragon mother glared at the old Sea Dragon.
"You lecherous old man, you're not teaching him anything good!"
...
That was also Ao Xing's first contact with alcohol.
Just as Ao Xing was ravenously eating osmanthus cake, the old Sea Dragon also took out a pot of aged wine and drank it with gusto.
"Dad, what are you drinking?"
"Spiritual food. Life is so dull and monotonous, only this can bring me a sliver of solace."
Young Ao Xing didn't understand, but he knew this must be delicious!
"Dad, I want to try!"
The old Sea Dragon looked left and right, and after confirming that the Sea Dragon mother had walked away, he mysteriously handed the wine pot to Ao Xing.
"Hey, you better keep your mouth shut, kid. If your mother finds out I'm giving you alcohol, she'll skin me alive!"
Afterward.
Ao Xing thought it was something good and took a big gulp.
The old Sea Dragon was instantly dumbfounded. That was baijiu, a strong liquor. He had gulped down at least ten catties in one go, and even he could get drunk easily!
In the next second.
Ao Xing's expression changed from joy to astonishment, and then from astonishment to wronged pain.
That day, Ao Xing's crying lasted all night.
The old Sea Dragon's screams also echoed all night...
"Hello... hello... hello?"
Ao Xing snapped back to reality, struggling out of the memories in his mind.
"What was that just now!"
Zhang Wei explained, "That's called a Dionysian Dream. It's a unique effect of this liquor, allowing one to travel through past memories."
"Dionysian Dream!"
Ao Xing pondered for a long time, then exclaimed in surprise, "A gift from Dionysus!"
"You know about this?"
"That's a renowned treasure among the Greek pantheon! Dionysus, the god of wine, is an incredibly accomplished master brewer even in the Gourmet World. Countless people travel to Mount Olympus just to taste this legendary delicacy!"
Ao Xing continued, "You actually have such a treasure? Are you on very good terms with Mount Olympus?"
"We have some business exchanges."
Ao Xing narrowed his eyes, "You should be careful. I heard Mount Olympus is quite chaotic, and their sexual preferences are very strange. The chief god, Zeus, is known as a mobile stallion, constantly sowing his seeds among different species. Decades ago, there were even reports of plant people claiming Zeus's bloodline."
"Tsk tsk... plant people?"
"Yes, people suspect Zeus slept with a tree!"
"Awesome, awesome..."
Suddenly, Ao Xing realized.
He coughed lightly, "These are stories of the upper class, unrelated to villagers like you. Anyway, I've agreed to capture the Hydra. Dionysus's Gift... just in time, my father hasn't tasted it yet."
Father?
Unexpectedly, Ao Xing was also a filial son.
He hadn't forgotten his old father when it came to delicious food.
Ao Xing said, "My dad, you know, he loves his drink. He used to drink over ten liters of baijiu every day. He really likes wine."
Dionysus's Gift was extremely valuable, selling for 12 billion at the Gourmet Bank, with only one portion sold so far.
It was not something ordinary people could afford.
Zhang Wei directly gave away ten portions. Zhang Wei never skimped on things that could be replicated.
Moreover, given Ao Xing's status and strength, earning hundreds of billions was not difficult. It was just that ingredients from the Gourmet World were generally prohibited from being dumped into the human world.