Chapter 23: Yang the Invincible

Inside a private room on the second floor, two middle-aged men were drinking together. One had a dark complexion and a full beard, while the other sported a goatee and had fair, refined features.

Hearing the commotion outside, the refined man asked, “What’s all the noise about out there?”

A guard on duty entered and replied, “Commander, some people downstairs are betting on their drinking.”

Both men became interested at once. The guard recounted the details.

The bearded man chuckled, “Ha! Brother Yang, someone actually dares to claim he can drink as much as you? I find that hard to believe.”

Yang, the refined man, smiled dismissively. “Since ancient times, talented young men have always been as numerous as the sands on the riverbank. Someone being able to drink a whole jar and remain drunk for three days is not impossible.”

“You’re always so modest,” the bearded man laughed, “but deep down, you’re prouder than anyone.”

“Courtesy is the hallmark of a true gentleman,” replied Yang Invincible.

The two exchanged smiles and raised their cups again.

The bearded man took out a jade pendant shaped like a blade and tossed it to the guard at the door. “Let’s add a wager. Whoever can drink a whole jar gets this.”

Yang Invincible shook his head. “Why stir things up? It’s just drinking. That pendant was a gift from your wife. If you lose, it will be a real loss.”

“It’s just for fun. Besides, they won’t be able to drink that much. The pendant will still be mine,” the bearded man said, unconcerned.

The pendant, kept close to his heart, clearly held great significance, but he didn’t believe Zhao Su and the others could drink a whole jar.

The guard held the jade pendant high. “My lord has put forth a wager. Whoever can drink a whole jar, this pendant will be their trophy.”

Everyone looked up and exclaimed in surprise.

The pendant was gold-inlaid jade, with elegant patterns carved into the blade, filled with golden threads. Its craftsmanship and appearance were both exceptionally rare.

“Judging by the patterns and workmanship, this pendant must have come from a master’s hand and is worth a fortune,” someone knowledgeable declared.

This statement caused another round of murmurs. All eyes turned toward the private room upstairs, wondering who could be inside to offer such a precious item as a bet.

Xiao Dengzi whispered, “Your Highness, this pendant is likely from the Imperial Workshop. Blade-shaped jade pendants are usually bestowed upon families of generals. Those upstairs must be from the military ranks in the capital.”

Zhao Su had already made up his mind. He cupped his hands and called out loudly, “Since your noble guest has put forth a wager, I have no choice but to accept. If I fail to finish a whole jar, I’ll run naked through the streets of the capital!”

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“Excellent!” The hall erupted in cheers and applause. The crowd loved a spectacle, and the bigger the bet, the happier they were.

The two men drinking in the private room were surprised. No one would make such a bold claim without absolute confidence.

“Brother Dan, you might actually lose your pendant,” Yang Invincible remarked.

“Impossible! Is there really someone who can drink a whole jar and stay drunk for three days like you?” Dan Xiongying was still skeptical.

The two men were none other than the famed battle-hardened general, Yang Invincible, and the Grand Marshal of Northern Capital, Dan Xiongying.

They walked to the window to look down, eager to see if this man could truly drink a whole jar.

“Waiter, bring the wine!” Zhao Su placed a foot on a stool and called out boldly.

Two waiters quickly brought out several jars of wine and arranged bowls on the table, filling them. Drinking contests like this were common, but no one had ever dared to claim they could finish a whole jar. Zhao Su was the first after Yang Invincible to attempt it.

Five men stood around the table, each with a jar and a bowl in front of them.

A young man volunteered to act as referee. “Gentlemen, let us begin.”

At the signal, Zhao Su and Tang Hu, along with the others, lifted their bowls and drank them dry.

Zhao Su tasted his first bowl, and found it was just as he expected—about twenty degrees strong. With no further reservations, he finished the first bowl and immediately moved to the second.

Soon, five or six bowls were gone, and finally, the first contestant could not hold out, turning aside to vomit. A waiter quickly helped him to one side and fed him sobering soup, while another cleaned up the mess.

When the eighth bowl went down, only two remained at the table: Zhao Su and Tang Hu.

“You’re quite the drinker! I didn’t expect someone so slender to hold his liquor so well,” Tang Hu exclaimed, sizing Zhao Su up in admiration.

It wasn’t just him; everyone in the hall was astonished by Zhao Su’s capacity.

No one dared doubt his claim any longer—he could indeed finish a whole jar.

“My goodness, he’s really going to drink the whole thing. That’s the pendant my wife gave me!” In the upstairs private room, Dan Xiongying was both shocked and anxious about his pendant.

“A wager is a wager. If you lose, you’ll have to give it to him,” Yang Invincible said, shrugging helplessly.

By the tenth bowl, even Tang Hu, despite his stamina, was unsteady. He had surpassed himself, just two bowls shy of finishing the whole jar.

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“Will you keep drinking?” Zhao Su lifted the eleventh bowl.

“Drink! Drink! Drink!” Before Tang Hu could reply, the crowd began to chant.

Tang Hu tried to raise the eleventh bowl, but before he could take a sip, he collapsed onto the table like a rag doll. The waiter hurried over with sobering soup.

“Another!” Zhao Su picked up the bowl and downed it in one gulp.

When the twelfth bowl was poured, Zhao Su took the empty jar and asked, “Tell me, should I keep drinking?”

“Drink! Drink! Drink!”

Everyone was now completely won over by Zhao Su’s prowess. No one doubted him anymore; they only wanted to see how much he could drink.

After finishing the last bowl, Zhao Su said, “Well then, whoever said no one could drink a whole jar—I find this wine rather ordinary.”

Had he said this before, many would have been displeased. But now, he had truly conquered everyone present with his immense capacity, and none dared object.

“Let’s go, time to head back,” Zhao Su, feeling a bit tipsy himself, reached out and pulled Xiao Dengzi along.

At that moment, the guard holding the jade pendant came down and bowed. “Sir, here is your prize.”

Zhao Su took it and bowed toward the second floor. “Thank you, gentlemen.”

The private room’s door opened, and a few in the hall recognized the two men, instantly becoming alert.

Dan Xiongying called out, pained by his loss, “Young man, please come upstairs for a chat.”

“Not today. Perhaps next time,” Zhao Su replied, and, leaning on Xiao Dengzi, strode away.

The guard was stunned; he hadn’t expected someone to ignore the invitation of both commanders. He was about to pursue them, but saw Yang Invincible shake his head, so he relented.

After the door closed, Yang Invincible grinned, “Brother Dan, looks like your wife will give you a hard time when you get home.”

Dan Xiongying’s lips twitched; everyone knew he was famously henpecked.

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