Chapter two

"The great river flows eastwards, washing away the gallant figures of countless heroes throughout the ages...

The Heng River, the foremost river of the Dongruo continent, also serves as the boundary between Dongruo's two strongest nations — the Zeyue Kingdom and the Jiuyan Kingdom.

For hundreds of years, Zeyue and Jiuyan have been confronting each other on the north and south banks of the Heng River, ceaselessly at war.

Throughout these conflicts, countless heroes are laid low on the battlefield, their tales of valor drowned in cups of wine; numerous brave warriors spend their nights in contemplation of their swords, their hearts filled with sorrowful song!Rocks crumble emptily, waves crash against the shore, stirring up a thousand piles of snow...

In the year 946 of the Dongruo calendar, the once dominant King of Purple Sun from Jiuyan Kingdom mysteriously dies during his campaign against Zeyue. 

In the same year, his brother, the King of Beiyang ascends the throne and commands the younger sister of the deceased King, Princess Yanping, to marry the ruler of the Zeyue Kingdom, bringing temporary peace between the two nations.

Only temporary, however, and never everlasting. As the rulers of both nations age and weaken, the ambitious upcoming royal powers lie in wait, preparing for the perfect moment to seize control. 

A grand stage of competing heroes is set once again!Mountains and rivers like a painting, for a moment, littered with numerous heroes...It seems the only constant is the waters of Heng River. Regardless of the rise and fall of kingdoms or the ups and downs of life, the river continues to roll eastwards, relentless and indomitable...

Perhaps it's this sense of permanence that attracts more and more people to the Tingyue building alongside the river, where they light incense and brew fine teas, quietly listening to the changing rhythm of the river. 

People here are usually very quiet.So, today's noisy situation is a sight unseen before within the walls of the Tingyue building. 

Numerous people cram before the windows, pointing towards the surging river:'Look over there, hurry!''It seems to be a person?''

That must be someone drowning.'Indeed, amidst the turbulent waters, a human form is seen floating downstream, reminiscent of a solitary leaf being battered around by the waves with no support.

Many people rush to the riverbank, and several boats have already set out, prepared to conduct a rescue operation, even though the chances of the subject being alive are slim.

The person is drawn closer, however little by little, the crowd begins to feel a strange sensation. For the man, though immersed in the sea, unsupported and bobbing up and down, does not display the usual turmoil of someone drowning. 

In particular, his hands folded behind his head as he seems to be comfortably buoying himself along, like one lying on a luxuriously comfortable bed, relaxed and content.

As the incoming tide carries the man towards an intercepting boat, the sailors swiftly cast out their nets, ensnaring him and hauling him on board. The crowd applauds the sailor's spectacular act.

They open the fishing net to reveal a slender, jade-like youth. His eyes remain tightly shut, motionless.A sailor reaches out to check his breath, only to hear the youth whisper quietly: 'If you ask about the past, the answer is I'm free to wander by the water.'

Startled, the sailor hastily backed away, almost tripping and falling.However, the young man slowly opened his eyes and smiled at the sailors: 'Good morning, is there anything wrong?'The sailors are dumbfounded: 'You… you're not dead?''Dead?' The man laughed, comfortably stretching himself. 'How could it be? I was simply sleeping.'

He had just arrived at the Zeyue border town of Yuquan the previous day and was attracted by the late-night scene of the Heng River. Mesmerized by the comforting feeling of drifting downstream, he decided to sleep amidst the waters.

Sleeping in the river? The folks on the boat were left speechless.Only the owner of the Tingyue building, who has come to join the commotion, 'understood' what he meant: 'Don't feel bad, young man. You might have been homeless and slept by the riverside, only to fall in while sleeping.Well, there's an annual Jade gambling event coming up in Yuquan town, and we need a helper. You could come back with me and help with some chores. We offer food, lodgings and even a monthly wage of fifty silver. What do you think?'

A helper? Work? The man's eyes brightened as if he had stumbled upon something fun: 'Sure!'So, from that day on, the Tingyue building welcomed a new helper named Yuexi.

Yuexi immediately fell in love with the Tingyue building at first sight. The two-story building, structured of wood and bricks, offered a tranquil and elegant setting with a bamboo grove out front that occasionally echoed with birdsongs.

Servral days later, with tea in hand and a joyful heart, Yuexi passed through the bamboo grove and stood before a tightly closed door. Despite knocking, there was no response, leaving him with a moment's hesitation about whether to turn and leave.A rustling sound broke out, as a dark mass began to creep up the door, startling Yuexi to step back and recognize a swarm of ants climbing on the door.

Yuexi knitted his brows - where did so many ants come from? Just as he found the sight nauseating, the ants began to form orderly lines, spelling out three characters: What's up?

Yuexi took a moment to comprehend that the ants were communicating with him: 'I came to deliver tea.'The ants moved again, rearranging themselves to form two more characters: Please come in.

The ants even knew to use the word 'please', they were indeed very polite!The door swung open from inside, prompting Yuexi to enter...'

Croak!'A sudden loud croaking startled Yuexi, who watched as a gigantic frog, half his height, leaped towards him. Mounted on the frog's back was a little girl of eight or nine. With a sweet face and a toothy grin when she smiled, she was incredibly endearing.

The little girl blinked, 'It's very rude to stare at a lady in that way.'Yuexi blinked in return, 'May I ask where the noble lady is, may I go in?'The little girl gave Yuexi a long look, 'Follow me.' 

As she finished speaking, she hopped onto her frog, leaping towards the courtyard.The weirder and more bizarre the situation seemed, the more interested Yuexi grew. Without any hesitation, he followed.

The courtyard was vast, filled with upright bamboo trees whose leaves danced with the wind, occasionally losing a few leaves that were promptly swept away by the wind.Between clumps of bamboo trees stood an elegantly unique octagonal pavilion where a enchantingly seductive woman was seated. 

Her red hair cascading down her shoulders, from afar, it looked like flowing blood. Her tantalizing gaze seemed to carry hints of crimson.The red-haired woman gave Yuexi a glance before turning to the little girl, "Who is he?"

The little girl dismounted the giant frog, pushing Yuexi forward, grinning from ear to ear, "I found him and want to trade him with you. Take a closer look. His eyes, nose, figure... are top-notch!"

Flabbergasted, Yuexi wondered if she was referring to him.The red-haired woman scoffed, "Jin Xiaoru, no matter how handsome, he's just an ordinary man, he could never be compared to my Ye. Quit dreaming."

Jin Xiaoru was silent for a moment before suddenly pushing Yuexi aside, slowly walking towards the red-haired woman, "Luan Mei'er, so you're choosing to refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit."

Yuexi took in a sharp breath.For every step Jin Xiaoru, who looked like a young girl, took, she grew an inch taller. By the time she reached Luan Mei'er, she had morphed into a seventeen to eighteen-year-old teenager. 

As she tilts her head back, a red centipede swiftly climbs atop her head; as she thrusts her chest out, a venomous scorpion crawls onto her chest, transforming into a brooch; with a raise of her hand, several oversized venomous gold-ringed snakes immediately coil themselves around her wrist, casually spitting out their tongues. 

Her face no longer showed innocence and cuteness, instead revealing a cold ruthlessness!Something clicked inside Yuexi, he's heard of the four kings — Flower, Bird, Insect, and Fish from the legends. Could she be the Insect King, Jin Xiaoru?

As Jin Xiaoru raises her hand, millions of venomous bees respond to a sharp, hissing sound, like a call to arms. A massive drone follows, and countless poisonous bees pierce through the bamboo grove. Forming into armies of bees, they queue orderly behind Jin Xiaoru, awaiting orders.

With a flick of Jin Xiao Ru's finger, millions of bees dive towards Luan Mei'er, threatening to turn her into a beehive.Luan Mei'er's smile never fades. The random bobbing of her red hair sets off millions of tiny blood beads, meeting millions of the bees.The blood beads explode on contact with the bees, their fresh blood combined to bloom into millions of blood flowers, a sight so stunning it took a moment to regain breath.

Jin Xiaoru gritted her teeth, snatched the teacup from Yue Xi's hand, and passed it to Luan Meier: "Little sister is using tea instead of wine, I propose a toast to you!" The tea in the cup gently swayed in her hand, wisps of green smoke rose from it and spread out, sinking into the ground.

Yue Xi was watching with bated breath, but suddenly felt the ground under her feet moving as if something was trying to break through the soil. With a shuffling sound, the soil split, and a black little head poked out, followed by a body bending like an earthworm. Then came a series of shuffling sounds, and countless black bugs crawled out of the soil, all moving towards one target -- Luan Meier.

Luan Meier tried to move, but the green smoke from the teacup wrapped around her at this moment. It seemed that she had lost the strength to resist, allowing the black bugs to completely cover her body, wriggling back and forth...

Jin Xiaoru laughed triumphantly: "It seems that you have to agree even if you don't want to."

"Do you think you've won?"

The voice rang out, Jin Xiaoru's body stiffened instantly. Before she realized it, Luan Meier had already reached her back, with her hand resting on Jin Xiaoru's head.

Jin Xiaoru took a deep breath: "I admit defeat. How much money do you want me to give 'it' to me, you say!"

Luan Meier laughed again, lightly uttering four words: "One million taels."

"This is robbery!" Jin Xiaoru almost jumped up, but in the end still suppressed her anger, pulling out a few banknotes from her bosom and handing them to Luan Meier grudgingly.

Luan Meier accepted the banknotes with a full-faced smile: "Deal."

Yue Xi's curiosity had been piqued, what was "it" that Jin Xiaoru would pay one million taels of silver for?

Jin Xiaoru asked coldly: "The money has been paid, where is 'it'?"

Luan Meier casually pointed to the depths of the bamboo forest: "Over there." Yue Xi naturally also looked over.

Beyond the dense bamboo, a figure stood as straight as old bamboo, unfazed by the external changes and gazes, focusing only on the spotty wall in front of him, taking a piece of black stone, and writing on it:

Who holds the sword that pierces the sky, that breaks the emptiness in one day.Neither immortals nor demons shall pass, blood shall rain in the nine heavens!

Yue Xi frowned in surprise, how is that possible?

That figure --

Though it was just a side profile, you could clearly see that "it" had thick black hair on its neck and head, wearing a black shirt, the exposed arms and legs were also covered in black hair, that was not what a human should have.

"Its" hands and feet were even locked in iron chains, heavy and sturdy.

Such a bold and unrestrained poem, such a carefree posture, such a noble and upright figure, is actually --

A monkey!