Night of the Broken Gliph

Chui Yim was an alcoholic in his past life. In this life, he had tried to steal wine when Chui Tin drank alone at night. Unfortunately, he was caught every time and ended up receiving smacks on his backside. 

But ever since he passed by a wine shop when Lam Ming forced him to carry groceries two years ago, things were never the same. Chui Yim wasn’t able to adapt to the taste of the wine at first. It tasted differently from alcohol of the Sallow Continent he was used to, and he wasn’t as healthy as he was in his past life, but he still gradually got used to them. 

Even though he had escaped Chui Tin’s hands, there was still Lam Ming watching him. Whenever Chui Yim wanted to drink till his heart’s content, Lam Ming would nag at him for many days straight. As time passed by, without Lam Ming’s permission, Chui Yim dared not consume any alcohol. 

Just as Chui Yim was about to take the wine, he stopped suddenly and stared at Lam Ming cautiously. “Giving me alcohol all of a sudden? You must have something to ask from me.” 

Lam Ming scratched his messy hair and smiled thinly. “Why would I have anything to ask from you? I’m just thankful that brother Chui agreed to follow me home. As my first friend, I’d be so upset if brother Chui rejects my invitation!”

“It’s such a small matter, what’s there to be thankful for?” Chui Yim clicked his tongue and rubbed his shiny bald head before reaching for the bottle of wine. 

But suddenly, he retracted his hand back and stared at Lam Ming suspiciously once more. As roommates for the past four years, they knew each other like the back of their hands. “Usually, you only cook a delicious dish to thank me, but there’s even wine today…” 

“Indeed brother Chui.” Lam Ming smirked. He was currently holding onto the piping hot snack in his left hand and the bottle of wine in his right. The aroma of the snack and bottle of wine were like demons waving their tail at Chui Yim. “I just want to know what you and Mr Chor did this afternoon. Mr Chor had a weird expression on his face when he returned to the class afterwards.” 

“You’re such a busybody.” Chui Yim looked at him speechlessly.

“Whatever, as friends who share their joys and sorrows, you shouldn’t keep any secrets from me,” Lam Ming huffed. “Tell me, and these will be yours!” 

Chui Yim reached out and grabbed the items. He tried a piece of the chicken knee, enjoying the fragrance bursting out in his mouth before downing a mouthful of wine. “Ahhh!” He let out a sigh of pleasure. “This is so good! What’s there that needs to be kept a secret?”

“Your breath smells… hurry!” Lam Ming pinched his nose.   

Chui Yim dug in and explained to him what took place today while chewing. The story made Lam Ming wave his fist indignantly at the injustice. “This is so unfair! How will brother Chui be able to produce a grade-two weapon?”

“Did you forget how we get the money for our meals? Let me tell you, your brother Chui is an incredible metalsmith. Grade-two weapons are nothing to me.” Chui Yim shrugged in reply while eating another piece of chicken. 

“Brother Chui, you’re great!” Lam Ming stared at Chui Yim admiringly, making him feel good. “I’m glad you know. I will make you a great gliph weapon in the future.” 

“Why would I need one?” Lam Ming asked in a daze. “I don’t like to fight.”

“You need to change your mindset. In this world, disliking fights doesn’t mean that others won’t fight you. Self-defense is something you’ll always need,” Chui Yim said, sitting upright. 

“You can have no ill intention against others, but never let your guard down. Remember this.” 

Looking at Lam Ming’s blank expression, Chui Yim knew that he had wasted his breath.

“That’s too profound for me, but if there’s a chance, I want brother Chui to make me a kitchen knife!”  

Chui Yim was left speechless. As the best metalsmith of the Sallow continent, I’ve made countless weapons, but a kitchen knife…

As if having the ability to read Chui Yim’s mind, Lam Ming huffed. “Brother Chui, don’t belittle kitchen knives! The relationship between them and g-chefs is just like those of gliphers and gliphists! G-chefs make g-food, and most ingredients for g-food come with gliphs. Despite being dead, those ingredients contain huge energy. Ordinary knives will burst when they come into the slightest contact with g-food. The greatest g-chefs all have their own knives!” 

Lam Ming said, his eyes shining brightly. Chui Yim was familiar with such expressions, as he himself was similar. He held extreme passion for his interests. 

If not that he was determined to practice gliphism in this life, he might have put all his heart in forging again, just like he did in his previous life. 

“Alright. I promise you.”

“Deal!”