As the saying goes, one does not strike a smiling face, and this seemingly applies everywhere.
In the face of gifts, the King of Bare Essence was extremely enthusiastic.
After a few pleasantries, he invited Fang Er and the others into the royal city below.
He pointed to a wooden house built on a giant tree with a diameter exceeding sixty meters and boasted to everyone.
"Brother Fang, this is my royal palace, the most luxurious palace in this world, bar none!"
At first, Fang Er didn't pay much attention. No matter how big, it was just a house built of wood. How impressive could it be?
But after entering this so-called palace, he instantly couldn't maintain his composure.
The entire wooden house was constructed using mortise and tenon joints, not a single iron nail could be found.
This alone wasn't enough to shock him, as compared to Lu Ban and Mozi, these were nothing.
But the key was that all the furnishings inside the wooden house, including tables, chairs, stools, screens, and wooden beds, were all naturally grown forms, with no trace of artificial carving.
Moreover, the floors, walls, and roof were all incredibly smooth, and the dimensions of the wood were immense!
He couldn't imagine how, on this planet without technology and clever craftsmanship, the Bare Essence people, armed with wooden spears to defend their territory, had achieved this!
When everyone entered the palace, everything was prepared.
On the huge table were fruits never seen before, and some grain-like things.
"Esteemed guests, please be seated quickly!"
The King of Bare Essence sat at the main seat and gestured to everyone.
Fang Er was not polite. He pulled out the chair next to him and sat down, secretly pinching the wood of the chair hard with his fingernail.
It was very hard!
With his current strength, it was no exaggeration to say that he could leave an indentation even in huanghuali wood, yet not a single mark was left on this chair!
"Esteemed King, we have traveled far, not only to make friends with you but also to conduct some transactions!"
"To be frank, we are actually interstellar merchants traveling the universe."
As he said this, he pointed to the chest that the Bare Essence soldiers had carried in.
"Things like that can be produced inexhaustibly on our planet. I wonder if Your Majesty would find them appealing."
He got straight to the point, stating his purpose.
Whether it was colonization or forceful occupation, in the end, it was all for resources and markets.
If trade relations could be established, peaceful coexistence would be the most ideal outcome.
After all, having more friends is better than having more enemies, isn't it?
The King of Bare Essence laughed heartily, holding a wooden carved wine pot, and poured Fang Er a full cup, of liquor brewed from who knows what.
"Come, come, taste our local Hundred Fruit Wine!"
"As long as you can drink a hundred cups in a row, everything will be negotiable!"
The Hundred Fruit Wine was emerald green, crystal clear, and emitted a refreshing fragrance.
Fang Er was not surprised by the presence of alcohol here.
After all, with dense forests everywhere on this vast planet, some animals would pile up unfinished fruits, and the conditions would allow natural fermentation into liquor.
However, when he picked up the cup and took a sip, he was stunned!
It was mellow and smooth on the palate, with a long aftertaste. It lacked the spiciness of white liquor, and was sweet and sour, much like a beverage.
But this was just the appearance!
After one cup, he felt a buzz!
Damn it, this must have an alcohol content of at least twenty-seven or twenty-eight percent!
And considering the size of the cup, it could hold at least three taels!
Drinking a hundred cups would mean consuming over thirty catties! Even Cheng Yaojin, who prided himself on being the best drinker in the Great Tang, would probably have to hide under the table!
"Uh, a bunch of cards, can I drink a little less? I really can't finish these hundred cups!"
He looked at the King of Bare Essence with some difficulty. His name was too long and hard to remember, so calling him "A Bunch of Cards" should be fine.
The King of Bare Essence didn't get angry about the name, but he insisted on the hundred cups of wine with Fang Er.
"No!"
"It must be a hundred cups. If you're even a drop short, you're looking down on a friend!"
Fang Er: .........
"Bang!"
He slammed his palm on the table, stood up abruptly, and pointed at the wine pot.
"Since that's the case, then I won't hold back either."
"Let alone a hundred cups, even a thousand cups, I'll accompany you to the end!"
The King of Bare Essence was stunned. A thousand cups?
There wasn't anyone in the entire royal city who could drink that much...
But soon, he also stood up with a smile.
You can lose the fight, but not the spirit. He picked up the wine pot and continued to pour wine for Fang Er.
And Fang Er began his performance.
To outsiders, he was downing cup after cup, but in reality, all the wine was being poured into the system's warehouse.
A thousand cups was a thousand cups, not one less!
Of course, to show a genuine reaction, he did drink a few cups.
It was already half an hour later when all one thousand cups were finished.
The King of Bare Essence looked like an idiot. From the fiftieth cup onwards, his mouth had never closed.
Damn it!
Were these guys in front of him alcohol barrels?
A thousand cups without getting drunk, were they even human?
"Burp..."
Seeing his expression, Fang Er cooperatively let out a few burps, his face flushed red, looking drunk.
He reached out and patted the King of Bare Essence on the shoulder, as if greeting an old friend.
"A Bunch of Cards, I can't anymore, I can't anymore. If I keep drinking, I'm afraid I'll really get drunk..."
"Burp... spare me, okay?"
Before, whether it was a hundred cups or a thousand cups, the King of Bare Essence had actually considered it a joke. Now, he was figuring out how to wrap things up. Getting this out, he immediately seized the opportunity with a smile.
"Hahaha, Brother Fang has great stamina!"
"Come, come, have some fruit..."
As he spoke, he personally picked up a fruit that resembled a pear from the table and handed it to Fang Er.
Fang Er took a bite, his mouth filled with juice. The sweet and crisp texture surpassed all the fruits he had ever eaten.
But he didn't show any of this. He just walked to the chest, took out a bottle of medicated oil, and then smiled mysteriously at the King of Bare Essence.
"A Bunch of Cards, do you know what this is?"
The King of Bare Essence of course didn't know, shaking his head and looking at him with curiosity.
Fang Er chuckled, leaned into the King of Bare Essence's ear, and whispered.
"Let me tell you, this is a great thing!"
"Whether it's for cooling off in the heat or for amorous pursuits, it can be considered a treasure!"
"As long as you use this, I guarantee your wife will be unable to resist!"
The King of Bare Essence's eyes twinkled with little stars as he looked at the liquid in the bottle in disbelief.
"This... are you telling the truth?"
"Come, I'll teach you how to use it!"
Fang Er carelessly took the King of Bare Essence's hand and taught him how to open the bottle and how to apply it to the desired spot.
Feeling the cool sensation on his skin, the King of Bare Essence instantly believed him.
In fact, he was somewhat impatient and ordered his subordinates in the hall.
"I have urgent matters to attend to."
"You must entertain our guests properly!"
"Anyone who dares to neglect them will be thrown into the Snake Valley by me!"
After saying this, he rubbed his hands together somewhat awkwardly and said to Fang Er.
"Uh, brother, why don't I go back and try it first?"
"If it works well, the trade you mentioned is not a problem at all!"
"As long as it's something we have here, whatever you want, it's just a matter of my word!"
Fang Er's smile froze on his face.
Holy crap!
Is he that impatient?
Can't he wait until nightfall?
Daytime...
It seems this guy is also a kindred spirit!
"Hahaha, A Bunch of Cards, go with confidence!"
"If you don't come back, I'm not going anywhere. I'll wait for you here!"
After thinking for a moment, he took out a handful of small pills from his pocket and stuffed them into the King of Bare Essence's hand.
"Here, eat these!"
"May you reach even greater heights!"