Somehow, the longer the dinner lasted the more dizzy Zhao Wei's head felt. He looked at Solith and realized that his whole body was red, somehow also including his tail. He looked at his cup and at the jugs and realized that Rona had been pouring from two different jugs.
"Umm... Solith, is this water alcoholic by any chance?"
"Water? Nah we're drinking vodka." He said hiccuping, "Water's too expensive these days, we have only one bay left here, the waters in the wells all dried up. We reserve it for the women and children."
Zhao Wei looked at his cup and let out an "Oh".
He'd never really drink alcohol in the old world, never liked the taste. Additionally, it always hurt his head with the rise of blood circulation. He felt there was a little taste just now but he thought maybe it's because of he wates dirty. While he was chatting with Solith he'd downed the drink several times to wash down the stale salty bread. How many cups did he go through? 5...6?
It took a lot of time for the effects to hit him but it came down altogether. Instantly all the blood rushes to his head, his voice began to slur. Zhao Wei looked at Sola, his vision was swimming causing her chubby cheeks to look like it was bouncing up and down.
His hand reached over and pinched. "So soft!! What magical materials are these cheeks made off."
"Hahahaha!!! So you know!!! Of course her cheeks would be top grade!! I made her with top grade materials!! Didn't we honey?..." He turned to his wife superciliously.
His wife didn't say anything at first but her hand moved super fast. Even the veteran soldier of silver class couldn't match the speed of this attack. Her fingers pinched onto his side belly, pulled and twisted. Her other hand was holding a cup of water to her mouth, hiding her blush, "Dear, I think you've had too much to drink don't you?"
"Mercy! Mercy! Dear you know I can only speak honestly of ourah! Ah! AH!", she twisted harder.
Zhao Wei and Sola watched them in the act, "Clap! We thank you for your sacrifice..." Zhao Wei said his hands in a prayer pose.
Sola followed by clapping her hands together and nodding, "Hmm"
"I'm not being killed!!" Solith said as he dragged his body over with his hands. "Besides it's Solas fault, your cheeks are too soft om nom nom" he started to nibble on her cheeks like mochi while Sola tried to get away.
Like this the time was spent with Solith's family through much of the night hours. At some point Zhao Wei reached his own carriage. Walking in he saw Panda sleeping with Myra next to her and laid on them both.
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Before the night hours ended, Zhao Wei was still feeling a hangover but decided to continue his daily training.
Finding an empty area at the outskirts, he began to warm up. He began to try and do the Swivel steps again.
After about 2 hours or so he was still not getting the hang of it. Looking up he noticed that an old man had been staring at him for some time.
He was a very ordinary looking elderly almost negligible, but Zhao Wei felt an indescribable sense of danger which he never ignored.
"Quite early to be so vigorous young one..." the old man said.
"Well I find that it's the best way to start the day...." He replied, "What about you?"
"Well I find that the morning air refreshing to these old bones."
With that Zhao Wei continued to try the art, but he couldn't get the hang of it at all.
"You're trying to learn the Swivel steps?", the old man asked.
"Hmm" he nodded.
The old man sat down, holding his walking stick straight under his chin and seemed to be sleeping so Zhao Wei ignored him and continued.
Suddenly he felt something aim at his left leg. Moving it he felt it get hit by something when it stretched a little farther.
The pain rang through his knee like nothing else he'd ever experienced even from the beasts.
Next something aimed for his right leg, again he tried to dodge but as his leg moved away too far it was again beaten making him feel the pain again.
Another one aimed for his left leg and he didn't move this time. When it hit, the pain was so unbearable that he almost fell.
He turned to the old man, but he hadn't moved at all, his walking stick still held under his chin, eyes closed.
"Craz...", he flipped backwards as this time something was coming for his head. Rolling into a standing position he tried to rush at the old man.
He couldn't even move two steps before he was stopped again, the swing forced his legs to move in such a way that both his legs had to move along the same path moving sideways. What was ridiculous was that if he moved too far back he was sure to meat an attack from behind even while the old man was in front of him.
Zhao Wei realized that his legs weren't just moving randomly but in the swivel steps form.
At some point the strikes stopped coming but he was still going at it. When he stopped he could no longer forget the feeling.
Zhao Wei bowed towards the old man. "Thank you for your guidance, my name is Zhao Wei, may I know your name sir?"
"Just call me Pitka," the old man pointed at his staff by the ground with his walking stick, "can you use that?"
A smile spread across Zhao Wei's face.
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The Guru didn't come to the meeting today, and with that Jyaha tried to gain momentum again. Although he no longer brought that one youth along just to be safe.