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Inside the pot, amidst the broken shell, was a bronze goblet: a jue .
The surface of the jue was decorated with an array of beautiful engravings and symbols . It was filled to the brim with an alcohol that looked like warm, red wine . The jue was submerged in the water of the pot, but the water did not mix with the red concoction inside the jue . It remained separate .
Han Sen had initially wanted to eat the egg, but he did not expect that this would emerge from it . The jue did not have a lifeforce, and it was more akin to a physical item than a creature .
Han Sen stared at it . All he knew was that it was a goblet or vessel for pouring alcohol, and that some people said it could be used for rituals of sorts . Aside from that, Han Sen didn't know much about what it was, exactly . It looked like an ancient jue, from time immemorial, due to it being perched on a small tripod .
Han Sen couldn't believe it that the egg had contained a jue .
It didn't move while in the pot . It remained where it was like an inanimate object, as the water around it continued to boil and vaporize .
Not long after, the last of the water boiled off . The red liquid remained where it was in the jue, having not been disturbed by the water one bit . No matter how hot it had gotten, or how wild the water of the pot had bubbled, the substance inside was fine .
The pot was now completely dry, and the jue remained exactly the same as it had been .
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Han Sen gave the alcohol inside the jue a good sniff, and he was taken aback by how pleasant its fragrance was . He wasn't much of a drinker, but he most certainly wanted to partake in that drink .
The jue creeped him out, though . And he wasn't so silly as to start drinking without knowing any better .
Bao'er was different, however . She had finally shown some interest in the contents of the egg, and after crawling over to the jue, she reached in and grabbed it .
"Careful . " Han Sen still didn't know what was inside the jue, and if the beverage inside was poison, it would be a poor decision to drink it .
Han Sen wanted to take the jue away from Bao'er, just in case, but before he could reach for it, she drank it all .
"Bao'er, are you okay?" Han Sen asked with concern, finally pulling the jue away from her .
Bao'er's face looked red and flushed, as if she was drunk .
Han Sen examined her a little closer . She was indeed drunk, but that aside, she did not look at all harmed . The contents of the jue seemed to have caused no damage .
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Han Sen held the jue in front of him, waiting for it to move or at least do something . Unfortunately, nothing occurred .
The pot was burning hot, being atop the fire for so long, but the jue was surprisingly cool to the touch .
"It has no lifeforce, and it isn't aggressive . It doesn't do anything . Did this thing really come out of that egg?" Han Sen couldn't imagine a Mama or Papa Jue producing Baby Jue eggs .
But still, there was a prevailing absence of danger . Bao'er continued to appear unaffected and just went to sleep, drunk .
She didn't wake up until half a day later .
"Are you okay?" Han Sen asked .
"I'm fine . " Bao'er looked to the jue that was still in Han Sen's hand and said, "I want more of that drink . "
"This sort of drink is reserved only for adults . Children can't drink alcohol," Han Sen explained .
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It seemed as if the alcohol had special properties he himself was keen to explore . He was indeed quite curious regarding its origins .
Han Sen remained there for many days, watching the jue intently . He wasn't missing anything, though, as he had repeatedly checked on the whereabouts of Yaksha and Blood River King . They were still inside Blood River Shelter .
Three days later, Han Sen's curiosity got the better of him . He grabbed a bottle of alcohol and poured it into the jue . The alcohol originally looked white, but it turned the sickly color of blood upon entering .
The jue smelled so very strong, and the scent was heavier than any white wine he had ever known . It prompted Han Sen's saliva to go renegade .
Bao'er tried her best to grab the jue that was held out of the reach of her arms, so Han Sen pulled her by the clothes and lifted her up .
As Bao'er was in the air, her arms flailed in the direction of the jue . She was desperate for more .
"You're just a kid . Let me drink it first . " Han Sen picked up the jue .
Han Sen enjoyed another hearty waft of its fragrance, loving it . Han Sen now knew the red wine was not harmful, so he had no qualms with drinking it .
Han Sen felt a sensational warmth descend his throat . The pores on his skin felt rejuvenated, as if he had just stepped out of a hot spring .
"That's a nice drink . " Han Sen did not know much about alcohol, but he knew this was a belter . Han Sen licked his lips, having enjoyed every last drop .
As Han Sen reflected on the mesmerizing flavor he had just experienced, an announcement suddenly played .
"The sacrificial wine has been consumed . The sacrificial ritual now begins . "
"What?" Han Sen noticed his body begin to flare up with a red color .
He saw an array of symbols get etched across his body, not too unlike the jue . Then, the entire cave turned red . Han Sen did not know why nothing occurred when Bao'er drank it, but something bad seemed to be happening with him .
And amidst all this, he looked at Bao'er who was still in his arms and noticed how she was still perfectly fine .
Boom!
Most of Han Sen's body was set ablaze as the red symbols branded themselves across his skin .