SES Chapter 214 Part 2

“What?!”

Wan San shook the bottle, trying to mix it evenly, and seeing Cao Yanhua hesitate, urged impatiently, “Haven’t you ever seen a chicken drink water? When it drinks, it tilts its head back. Why?”

Cao Yanhua honestly hadn’t noticed. “Why?”

“A chicken’s neck isn’t like a human’s. It can’t swallow, so it has to tilt its head back and let the liquid flow down. Why do people use boozy rice to steal chickens? It’s easier. No need to force-feed liquor.”

From how practiced Brother San sounded, he must have stolen more than a few chickens back in his wandering days.

Cao Yanhua thought, We’re already this far. We can’t fail now. To hell with it.

He grabbed both of Cao Jiefang’s wings with one hand, pinched its beak with the other, and tilted its neck back. At first, Cao Jiefang cooperated, confused. But once the liquor hit its throat, it knew something was wrong. It struggled, twisting its body, little claws scraping at the ground.

Cao Yanhua babbled, “Jiefang, it’s cold in the mountains. Drink a little to keep warm…”

Watching Cao Jiefang’s belly visibly swell, he couldn’t help feeling terrified. “That’s enough, Brother San. Don’t kill Jiefang by stuffing it.”

They finished quickly. Wan San’s hands were shaking. Out of a whole bottle, they poured in less than a fifth. The rest spilled out.

Cao Yanhua barely dared breathe as he slowly let go.

Cao Jiefang didn’t react.

Cao Yanhua’s heart was pounding. He stood next to Wan San. Only now did the delayed fear surge up in waves.

He asked, “Will Jiefang drink itself to death? I heard people can die from alcohol poisoning.”

Wan San wasn’t sure either. “Jiefang is… a wild chicken. Maybe it’s tougher?”

“Why isn’t it moving? Is it drunk already? That fast?”

“Maybe the talisman’s working.”

Really? Cao Yanhua panicked. He cautiously reached out and poked Cao Jiefang’s head.

Cao Jiefang suddenly snapped its head up. Cao Yanhua jumped back two steps, nearly falling on his butt.

From afar came Mu Dai’s voice: “You two—are you going or planning to build a house right there?”

Strangely enough, as soon as she finished speaking, Cao Jiefang turned around, flapped its wings, and scurried after them.

…Huh?

Totally fine. Calm as could be.

Wan San thought to himself, Our Jiefang really can drink.

The two of them, guilty and hopeful at the same time, their desire for a showdown not yet extinguished, exchanged uneasy looks and followed.

The sun had already sunk behind the ridgeline. The last light was fading into dusk. Cao Jiefang walked ahead, tail feathers bobbing up and down.

Cao Yanhua stared at it without blinking.

“Brother San, doesn’t it look like Jiefang isn’t walking in a straight line?”

“Brother San, don’t you think Jiefang’s steps are getting kind of floaty?”

“Brother San…”

Before he could finish the third “Brother San,” Cao Jiefang’s head suddenly tilted, and with a plop, it collapsed onto the ground.

Cao Yanhua’s mind exploded. It’s over. Jiefang is dead.

With the position chosen, Mu Dai had already climbed the tallest tree to keep watch. Wearing infrared night-vision goggles, she could see near and far, countless tiny signs of life.

It was a lonely place. Among all those life forms, only their group stood out—large, conspicuous, brimming with vitality.

She shifted her view and saw the two of them approaching. Huh? Why was Wan San carrying Cao Jiefang?

Mu Dai took off the goggles and shouted, “What’s wrong with Cao Jiefang?”

Wan San answered dejectedly, “Drank too much.”