Mystic Eyes: My Eyes Steal the Laws of Cultivation Chapter 591: Drunk (4)

While reflecting on this, trying to assess his own state with the objectivity of an outside observer, his foot found a small stone step that he simply hadn’t noticed. The stone was uneven, slightly higher than the others, and he did not see it.

"Hmm?"

His body leaned forward, his center of gravity shifting. By reflex, Kyrian immediately regained his balance, his muscles responding with the speed of years of training. Even so, he had stumbled. The movement was minimal, almost imperceptible, but it had definitely happened.

Gao Ziyue heard the small noise behind her, the sound of a stone shifting beneath a foot that was not completely steady. She stopped immediately, her feet firmly planted on the ground with the precision of someone accustomed to noticing the slightest sign that something was wrong.

She turned around, her eyes sweeping over Kyrian with an attention that went beyond simple observation.

Then, she looked at the step, assessing its position and height. Then, once again, she looked at Kyrian, her eyes narrowing with a mixture of surprise and growing amusement.

A smile slowly began to appear on her face, hesitant at first, then more confident.

"You..." She held back her laughter for a moment, her lips trembling with the effort.

"Did you just stumble?"

Kyrian remained completely serious, his face a mask of calm that contrasted with the situation. He looked at the step, examining it as if he were conducting a detailed analysis. Then, he looked at her, his violet eyes meeting hers without the slightest hesitation.

"Yes."

The answer came out so honest, so natural, that Gao Ziyue could no longer control herself.

"Pfft..."

A small laugh escaped first, a muffled sound that she tried to contain with her hand. Then another, stronger one. Then, suddenly, a clear and light burst of laughter echoed through the small street, so spontaneous that it seemed to illuminate the very air.

She was genuinely laughing. It was not the elegant and restrained laughter she used at banquets and social gatherings. It was a completely spontaneous laugh that came from the depths of her soul.

Her eyes curved, her shoulders trembled, and a small tear appeared at the corner of one of her eyes.

It took her a few seconds to regain control of her breathing, her laughter gradually fading. Still smiling, she discreetly wiped the tear away with the tip of her finger.

"Sorry..." She said between small remnants of laughter.

"I... simply didn’t expect that from you. You always seem so controlled that seeing you stumble was... was unexpected."

Kyrian tilted his head slightly, his expression remaining calm.

"It’s fine."

She took another deep breath, regaining her composure. Then, her eyes widened slightly as a new curiosity appeared in her gaze. She leaned forward, her eyes fixed on his face with an attention that was almost scientific.

"Wait..." Her voice was lower now, more focused.

Kyrian remained still, allowing her to observe him. The two stood relatively close, the distance between them reduced to just a few centimeters.

She carefully examined his cheeks, her gaze moving across his skin with clinical precision. Then, her eyes noticed something different in their glow. Next, she discreetly inhaled, as if evaluating something invisible.

An amused smile reappeared, wider than before.

"Now I understand."

Kyrian raised an eyebrow, an expression of genuine curiosity.

"You understand?"

She crossed her arms, adopting the posture of someone who had made a triumphant discovery.

"You’re red. The alcohol has started taking effect."

Kyrian automatically raised his hand to his own face, touching his skin with his fingertips.

"I am?"

"Quite a bit. Your cheeks are flushed, something I’ve never seen before."

She laughed softly, a more restrained sound this time, but still filled with amusement.

"Back in the auction room, the lighting was softer, more diffused. Here, with the lantern light, it’s much more obvious."

She tilted her head slightly, her eyes gleaming with amusement.

"You drank too much Celestial Lirium. The effects are finally showing."

She paused briefly, observing him with genuine curiosity.

Then, she asked directly.

"Are you drunk?"

Kyrian remained silent for a moment, processing the question. He decided to calmly analyze his own condition, as if he were inspecting a piece of equipment. He thought for a few seconds, assessing every aspect of his mental and physical state.

Indeed... his mind was a little slower, the connections between his thoughts seeming smoother, less distinct. His thoughts seemed freer, as if the normal barriers he maintained were slightly relaxed.

His body was completely functional. He could still fight if necessary, but there was a slight sense of relaxation that he normally never experienced.

It was... pleasant. Very pleasant.

After finishing his own analysis, he answered honestly, his voice carrying a sincerity that the intoxication made more direct.

"Probably."

Gao Ziyue brought her hand to her mouth to hide another laugh, her shoulders trembling with the effort.

"I knew it. I didn’t think you would be so resistant, but I also didn’t expect you to be immune."

"Resistant?"

"Yes. Most people get completely drunk with much less. A single cup of Celestial Lirium is already enough to knock out most cultivators."

She resumed walking slowly, her steps slower now, as if she were adapting to his pace.

Kyrian matched her steps, his body moving with a lightness that the alcohol made more pronounced.

"You’re not?"

She smiled, a smile filled with pure amusement.

"I’m used to it. My family really likes this wine. It’s a tradition, something we share on special occasions. I’ve ended up drinking it a few times over the years, especially during family celebrations."

She made a small, playful grimace, an expression she rarely showed.

"Perhaps I’ve developed some resistance. Or maybe my Celestial Physique helps me process the alcohol more quickly."

She looked at Kyrian again, her eyes shining in a way he had never seen before.

"But you... You’re clearly drunk."

Kyrian thought for a few seconds, processing the statement. Then he answered with absolute sincerity.

"It’s not an unpleasant feeling."