[ While it's said with some dry humor, that response is enough to give Thancred some cause for concern. He's turned to the bottle himself in rough patches in his life, and it never led anywhere good. He's seen others turn down the same path, like Magnus, and he'd done what he could to dissuade him from such behavior as well.

He doesn't know Zhou Zishu particularly well, but he recalls the bottle of liquor he'd had with him when they first met. Besides, he hadn't known Magnus very well either.

Ten years is a long time to do that sort of work, and Thancred doesn't begrude Zhou Zishu his retirement. He crosses his arms over his chest, taps one foot against the colorless floor, and shakes his head. ]

I've turned to drink in the past myself. To try and forgot, or to cope, or simply to feel sorry for myself. [ He lets out a breath through his nose. ] You won't be finding anything of use at the bottom of a bottle, I assure you.

[ Hopefully it comes across as genuinely concerned advice, rather than a lecture. ]