Chapter One
Chao Xing stood by the local road in worn hanfu trousers and a jacket, preparing to sell the remaining wine before returning home to care for his siblings, Sui He, Bai, and Yao Yao.
"Sui He is reaching a marriageable age and has been receiving several proposals. I must find her a suitable match soon, or she will be stuck at home reading novels and wasting time with Mr. Lin the storyteller," he murmured as he served his finest wine to a customer.
His wine was renowned as one of the best in Spring Village. It was said that the best place to drown sorrows or get drunk was at Chao Xing's wine shop. Not only did it have a heavenly taste, but it also provided solace to the soul. Demons, immortals, and deities would disguise themselves as passersby just to have a taste of his exquisite wine.
"Hey Mr. Xing, serve me your passionless soul cleansing wine!" said Mr. Jing, the village education teacher.
"Yes, of course. I will bring it right away," Xing replied as he served the wine and presented the cups. "By the way, why can't I see Sui He and Yao Yao around?" Mr. Jing inquired while Xing poured the wine into his cup.
"They must be somewhere, engrossed in their silly stories," Xing replied with a sigh.
"Speaking of them, I can't find them anywhere," Xing said, scanning the surroundings for any sign of his sisters.
As it was getting late, Xing called them to wash the wine jars. "Sui He, Yao Yao! Come and wash the jars of wine," he called out while packing up the stools and the remaining wine.
"Why can't our brother be considerate and leave us in peace?" Sui He grumbled under a vine tree with a frown. "He will make us wash the jars anyway!" Yao complained with a sad expression. "We need to find him a woman, so he won't bother us endlessly!" Yao Yao said, dusting her clothing and offering Sui He a hand to help her up.
"Come on, you two. Get up right now and go wash the wine jars," Chao Xing replied with a smirk. He found their murmurs and discontent rather endearing.
"Brother, we will wash the jars of wine at the riverbank. We will be back soon, before you lecture us on your disbelief in the existence of immortals, deities, or demons," Sui He stated firmly, giving him a piercing gaze, and then walked out.
"Yes, I don't believe in such things, and I won't waste my time on superstitions. Everyone keeps praising these so-called gods. Just look at Miss Zhao, offering ninety alms of gold to the priest after giving birth to a child, forgetting the efforts she and her husband put into bringing forth the child. How despicable," Xing smirked as he chewed on a stick.
"Sister, let's go now. Our brother is hopeless when it comes to explanations," Sui He muttered irritably to Yao Yao.
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A few hours later, the sun had set and it was already dark. Xing had fallen asleep under the vine tree after having some wine. He woke up slightly dazed and managed to stand up. He started packing up his tables, extinguishing the candlelight, and preparing to close the doors. However, he noticed that Yao Yao and Sui He hadn't returned yet.
"Why haven't they come back?" Xing asked himself. He saw Sui He's suitor, Shi Liu, passing by with his mother. "Hey Shi Liu, did you see Sui He earlier this evening?" Xing asked curiously. Besides her enjoyment of reading novel scrolls, Sui He also cherished Shi Liu's companionship. The two had fallen in love, and Shi Liu had proposed to marry Sui He when she was ready.
"I saw her going to wash the wine jars you sent her. I accompanied her and Yao Yao to the riverbank before heading back home. Is everything alright? Why hasn't she returned?" Shi Liu asked with concern.
"Oh, no, don't worry. She's probably gossiping and causing trouble. I'll go and bring them back," Xing reassured them with a nod, making his way towards the river amidst the greenery of the mountains.
As Chao Xing ventured further, he noticed a bright light emanating from behind a water spring. "What's happening there? Are they in danger?" Xing wondered aloud. He bent down and picked up two sticks from the ground, then ran towards the shining light.
As he approached, ready to peek from a tree, an unseen force pulled him back to the ground, causing him to spit out blood and bruise his arm. "Such strong energy, what was that?" Xing exclaimed, determined to head in that direction.
Finally, he caught sight of two unfamiliar men. They appeared rather peculiar, not belonging to any royal family, as Xing surmised.
The man on Xing's right wore a blue and white hanfu, exuding a luxurious and soft aura that contrasted sharply with Xing's own tattered attire. Even Xing's hat seemed a little worn. "They do seem quite wealthy," Xing sarcastically muttered to himself.
This man had clear blue eyes, with two long strands of hair resting on his forehead. His silky, jet-black hair swayed gracefully in the wind. He carried a Cortana sword with a dragon handle, measuring thirty-seven inches in length, made of dragon core, black iron, and half of a Phoenix life ascents. The sword was broad, with a curved needle-sharp tip. The man's calm expression shifted to one of fierceness. His left hand remained behind him while his right hand, gripping the sword, was positioned towards his opponent.
His adversary wore a black and red hanfu and wielded a black and red whip. Every time he clenched the whip tightly, it seemed as though hot lava was flowing forth. He donned a black mask and had average-length hair on his face. He maintained a sinister grin, reveling in his opponent's expression.
"My lord, I am curious as to why you have interrupted my evening. Shouldn't you be meditating in the heavens, preparing for tomorrow?" the man in black asked with amusement.
"You dare disturb humanity and steal our artifact. I will spare you if you return the artifact and accompany me to the heavens. Otherwise, I will deal with you accordingly," the man with blue eyes responded in a cold manner.
"Apologies to disappoint you, my lord, but I won't comply. I suppose we'll have to play again," the masked man replied as he lashed his whip at the man with blue eyes, who skillfully dodged the attack. The two engaged in a captivating battle, showcasing their remarkable skills. Xing found himself admiring their prowess but was momentarily distracted by familiar giggling.
"Yao and Sui He?" Xing called out, surprised by his sisters' presence. They seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the spectacle.