Jiutian Sect, Yuzhen Sect, Changshou Palace…
Every year, countless letters were sent from the Ten Great Sects to Fuguang Palace. Their wording always remained respectful and distant, as if they were the puppets of Fuguang Palace.
Fuguang glanced at the letters and flicked his sleeve to sweep them into the back hall. The back hall was piled high with letters, and gold, silver, treasures, magic weapons, and ancient books were scattered on the floor, but no one paid any attention to them.
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The golden cup was knocked over by the incoming letter, making a crisp sound. He slowly turned his head, looking at the cup that had made the sound.
This brilliant golden color, she should like it.
He walked to the inner hall, bent down to pick up the golden cup, and found an empty space on the fully stocked shelf to put it in.
He found a red marrow jade lantern and picked it up. He turned and walked out of the main hall, facing the flying snow. The red lantern was swaying in the strong wind. He opened his sleeves to protect the lantern and walked into the thick snow.
After he left the palace, the puppets swarmed out of the palace like a flood.
“The Immortal Lord must not leave Fuguang Mountain.”
“The Immortal Lord must not leave Fuguang Mountain.”
They circled around him, repeating the same words they had said countless times in emotionless voices. Fuguang ignored them and walked to the edge of the cliff, looking out to the south.
“Immortal Lord, please go back!”
“Immortal Lord, please go back!”
“Immortal Lord, please go back!”
The puppets surrounded him, their blood-red mouths opening and closing, their empty, soulless eyes staring at him in unison.
He lowered his head to look at the red jade lantern in his hand, his eyelids drooping slightly. There was no grass or trees on Fuguang Mountain, and this red lantern became the most dazzling color in the snow.
A crane flew across the clouds. When it passed by Fuguang Mountain, it suddenly turned a corner and landed in front of Fuguang with flapping wings.
A small golden token hung from its foot, engraved with the symbol of Wangshu Pavilion and a small protective formation to prevent others from unknowingly harming the messenger crane.
The immortal crane paced back and forth with an air of elegance, seemingly puzzled as to why this man still hadn’t fed it any dried fish. After all, it was the immortal crane that no one in Wangshu Pavilion dared to offend.
“Immortal…crane.” He bent down and reached out his jade-like fingers to gently touch the red, hairless spot on the crane’s head.
“Quack, quack, quack!” The immortal crane was so angry that it quacked like a duck. Who in their right mind would touch the bald spot on an immortal crane’s head?!
The immortal crane was so angry that it pecked the man’s clothes hard with its beak, not allowing him to touch it! It hated its baldness!
“Enemy… attack…” The puppets turned around in unison and approached the immortal crane, making no attempt to hide their intent to attack the immortal crane.
Fuguang frowned and used the Immobilization Technique to confine all the puppets. The puppets could no longer move, and their mouths opened and closed without making a sound.
He didn’t even look at the puppets. He lowered his head, opened his palm, and handed the dried moonfish to the crane. The crane immediately let go of Fuguang’s clothes and happily ate the fish.
The cold wind blew the feathers on the immortal crane, and Fuguang helped it brush off the snow on its back. “It’s getting dark.”
New Year’s Eve was approaching.
He looked to the south, but all he saw were endless mountain ranges and flying snow.
-—–
“Wow! So many people.” Jiu Hui jumped off the flying sword, passed through the small forest, and arrived outside Taolin City. She didn’t expect that even outside the city gate, there would be food stalls everywhere.
The air was filled with the aroma of food. Jiu Hui turned her head and called out to Zhi You, but saw him standing still, gazing towards the north. She curiously waved her hand in front of his eyes. “Zhi You, what are you looking at?”
Zhi You shook his head in a daze.
“Then let’s hurry, our Senior Brothers and Sisters are still waiting for us at the restaurant.” Jiu Hui grabbed his sleeve and pulled him into the city, “Let’s go eat something delicious!”
The wind lifted their robes as Zhi You followed Jiu Hui, passing through the stalls at the city gate, running through the long street hung with red lanterns, dodging the wandering performers breathing fire, and squeezing through the dense crowd. The wind whistled in his ears, and the sound of laughter came from all directions, converging into a colorful ocean.
“Hot glutinous rice cakes, fragrant and chewy hot mochi.”
“Candied hawthorn, get your candied hawthorn.”
“Guest, would you like a bowl of hot liangfen*?”
TN: I usually see the cold version.
Zhi You looked back at the bustling street he had left behind, the smiling faces of the crowd, and the red lanterns hanging high, and his palms gradually became sweaty.
“Jiu Hui, Zhi You! We’re here!”
He lifted his head and saw that on the second floor of the restaurant not far away, his Senior Brothers and Sisters were crowding by the window, leaning out and waving vigorously at them. As if afraid that they wouldn’t be able to see them, Chang He found a red silk and waved it around by the window. “We’re here, come up quickly!”
The crimson silk fluttered and danced in the snow, as scorching as a raging fire.
“We’re here, we’re here!” Jiu Hui hopped twice on the spot, waving her arms vigorously at her fellow senior and junior disciples. She turned her head to Zhi You and said, “Everyone’s waiting for us, let’s hurry over.”
Dragging Zhi You upstairs, Jiu Hui took off her cloak, patted the snow off it, and pulled Zhi You into the crowd: “It smells so good, Senior Brothers and Sisters, what delicious food have you prepared?”
“We have everything from chicken, duck, and fish to mandarin duck hot pot and beef and mutton soup.” Chang He greeted the two and said, “Come, come, come. We’ve been waiting for you two.”
“Drink the soup first to warm your stomach.” Xi Yuan ladled a bowl of soup for each of them and used a handkerchief to wipe the snowflakes from Jiu Hui’s hair. “They’ll definitely try to get you to drink alcohol later. Tonight will be lively.”
“Come, come, come.” Chang He brought over the wine jug and poured a cup for everyone: “Tonight, let’s drink until we can’t drink anymore!”
Jiu Hui was drinking alcohol for the first time. She curiously picked up the wine cup and smelled it. The aroma was sweet and pleasant, as if it tasted very good.
“Little Junior Sister, don’t worry. I used Master’s alchemy furnace to make this wine. It’s made with the best mountain spring water and the freshest, sweetest fruits. It’s definitely delicious.” Luo Yan raised her wine glass. “Come on, everyone, let’s raise a glass.”
Eight wine cups clinked together: “Cheers!”
After finishing their drinks, Chang He raised his chopsticks and said, “Let’s eat.”
The food in the pot was bubbling away. After three rounds of drinks, everyone was in high spirits and clamoring for Elder Chang’s disciple to play a song for them.
“Sect uncle Chang’s natal magic weapon is a jade flute. Senior Brother Yan Bo is just like Sect Uncle Chang, both of them are adept at sound attacks.” Xi Yuan explained to Jiu Hui and Zhi You, “Those who are adept at sound attacks must be adept at music, but your Senior Brother Yan Bo’s magic weapon…”
Xi Yuan hesitated and said, “You’ll know later.”
Sect Uncle Chang was a man of striking appearance, but his only disciple, Yan Bo, was a simple-minded man. When his fellow disciples teased him, he would happily summon his natal magic weapon—a xiqin*.
TN: it’s all sadness all the way
The xiqin was originally meant to express sadness and sorrow, but the melody that Yan Bo played was incredibly cheerful. The others were so delighted that they started to tap their chopsticks against their cups to accompany the music, and laughter filled the air.
Zhi You picked up the jade chopsticks and tapped the rim of the cup, imitating Jiu Hui. A clear and pleasant sound rang out.
Beneath the tavern, the happy laughter of children could be heard. Zhi You clumsily tapped his wine cup, blending into this joyous atmosphere.
“Little Junior Brother, come, have a drink.” Chang He raised his wine cup to him.
“Come.” Jiu Hui also raised her wine cup to Zhi You. He picked up his wine cup and lightly clinked it with theirs. “Cheers.”
“The fireworks show has begun!”
“Has it started?” Jiu Hui put down her chopsticks, dragged Zhi You to the window, and stuck her head out to look outside: “Where? Where?”
Bang!
In the darkness of the night, a giant firework blossomed, illuminating half of the sky.
“Wow~” Jiu Hui covered her face, her eyes sparkling as she watched the blooming fireworks. “So beautiful!”
As the fireworks bloomed in the sky, the parade floats slowly made their way down the streets. Young men and women danced and sang on the floats, while the streets were lined with people who had come to watch the festivities.
“It’s the New Year!”
“Happy New Year!”
“Zhi You, look quickly, there’s someone dressed as a big fat pig on the float.” Jiu Hui tugged on Zhi You’s sleeve: “Look, look quickly.”
As the float passed by, the commoners threw copper coins or candies onto it, and soon a layer of copper coins had accumulated on the float.
“So my senior brothers and sisters weren’t lying to me. Taolin City is really lively on New Year’s Eve.” Several Wenxing School disciples squeezed through the crowd, moving with difficulty. “I can’t believe that Wangshu Pavilion is so poor, yet they’re willing to set off so many fireworks for the people of the city.”
Yu Luan listened to her Senior Brothers and Sisters’ discussion, and looked up at the restaurant not far ahead. By the window, Jiu Hui was holding a handful of money and throwing it at the flower cart, occasionally chatting with her fellow disciples. The light of the fireworks illuminated her face, and her smile was so bright.
Seeing this scene, she couldn’t help but smile and retract her gaze.
She took out a handful of money from her purse and, imitating Jiu Hui, tossed it at the passing float.
“Junior Sister, why are you also learning the ways of those mortals?”
“We came out to have fun, so why bother distinguishing between mortals and cultivators?” Yu Luan said. “New Year’s Eve is a good day for mortals to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new.”
Under the fireworks, several cranes flew in a neat line in the air, each holding something in its mouth, which amazed the passersby.
Immortal Crane led several cranes from Wangshu Pavilion, flying over the bustling streets. They circled in the air and finally found Jiu Hui.
He flew to Jiu Hui’s side and placed the lantern he was holding in his mouth into her hand.
“What a beautiful jade marrow lamp.” Jiu Hui picked up the lamp and looked at it again and again. “Is it for me?”
The immortal crane nodded.
The immortal cranes behind it landed one after another, throwing down several jugs of wine.
“This is…” Xi Yuan noticed the words “Fuguang” engraved on the wine jug. Usually calm and collected, she stuttered, “This is wine from Fuguang Palace?”
“Immortal Crane, how dare you take the little cranes to Fuguang Palace to steal wine?” Chang He was so frightened that the cup in his hand fell to the ground. “It’s over, it’s over.”
“We didn’t steal the wine. Immortal Lord Fuguang gave it to us.” Jiu Hui took a piece of decorated notepaper from the red marrow jade lamp.
**New Year’s Eve, Fine Wine as a Gift**
“Lord Fuguang… sent wine?” Xi Yuan was stunned. She placed the eight jugs of wine in order and pinched her face hard. It still hurt, so it wasn’t a dream.
Only Zhi You remained the same. He took out a jug of wine and poured a cup for Jiu Hui. “Try it?”
Jiu Hui picked up the wine cup and took a sip.
“How is it?” Zhi You looked at her.
“It tastes of snow and the moon.” Jiu Hui finished the remaining wine in her cup. “It goes well with the snowy night. I like it very much.”
Zhi You refilled her cup again: “That’s good then.”
The clear wine swirled gently in the cup, and the moonlight stealthily jumped into the cup. When he drank the wine, it was as if he had swallowed the moon into his stomach.
“No… Are you two really going to drink it?” Chang He saw that Zhi You and Jiu Hui were actually tasting the wine given to them by Lord Fuguang and said anxiously, “Lord Fuguang has been living in seclusion in Fuguang Palace for five hundred years and has never given anything to the outside world. How can you bear to drink the wine?”
“But Immortal Lord Fuguang’s note said that this was a gift for New Year’s Eve. If we don’t drink it now, when will we?” Jiu Hui shook the wine jug, which was already half empty. “Besides, this wine contains moon essence. Drinking it will benefit us greatly. If you don’t want to drink it, Zhi You and I can finish it for you.”
“Moon essence?” Chang He was skeptical. “Is there really such a thing as moon essence?”
Jiu Hui raised her wine cup and clinked it against Zhi You’s. “You’ll know once you try it.”
“I haven’t tasted moon essence before, so how would I know what it tastes like?” Chang He carefully poured himself a small half cup and slowly swallowed it. A surge of spiritual energy flowed with the alcohol straight into his spiritual platform, and even his mind felt clearer.
“It’s actually true…” Chang He put down his wine cup in a daze: “Why would Lord Fuguang give us wine?”
“Could it be the reward for Zhi You and me stopping the demon cultivator from destroying Zhenhe Cauldron?” Jiu Hui’s cheeks flushed slightly as she raised her cup towards the north, the direction of the Fuguang Palace. “Cheers.”
“I see,” Chang He said with sudden understanding. “Doesn’t that make us the only ones to whom Lord Fuguang has given wine?”
The disciples of Wangshu Pavilion were not the only ones who received wine from Lord Fuguang. The Jiutian Sect, Qinglan School, Wenxing School, and Wanhuo Sect also received wine from Lord Fuguang.
Bu Ting looked at the jug of wine on the table with a solemn expression.
“Master.” Nan Feng pushed the door open. “The Qinglan School, Wanhuo Sect, Wenxing School, and Wangshu Pavilion have all received wine gifted by Lord Fuguang.”
“This is the first time Lord Fuguang has sent something out.” Bu Ting reached out and caressed the body of the pot, murmuring in a low voice, “What is he trying to do?”
“Could it be that Lord Fuguang knows about the Zhenhe Cauldron, so he gave the wine as a gift?” Nan Feng saw that his master’s expression was solemn, and whispered, “Apart from those related to the Zhenhe Cauldron, no one else has received wine from Lord Fuguang.”
Bu Ting poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip.
It was bland and tasteless, and could not be considered good at all.
A person who had been living in seclusion in the mountains since birth and had never had any contact with living beings, how could they know what good wine was?
He put down his wine cup and said in a flat tone, “Over the years, countless letters have been sent to the Fuguang Palace. It’s rare for this Immortal Lord to have the interest to read them. You can take this wine and drink it.”
Nan Feng took the wine back to his courtyard and poured himself a cup to drink.
Hmm… was this really wine?
He suspected that the Immortal Lord had filled the wine jug with melted snow water and sent it to them.
-—–
“Good wine, good wine.” Chang He said drunkenly, “The wine sent by Lord Fuguang is truly a rare and wonderful thing.”
He shook the empty wine jug. It was a pity that the jug was too small, and he had finished the wine in no time. He turned to Zhi You and said, “Junior Brother Zhi You, it seems like you haven’t touched your wine yet. How about I help you finish it?”
Zhi You moved the wine jug away. “Senior Brother Chang He, this is for Jiu Hui.”
“Mine, mine.” Jiu Hui hugged the wine jug to her chest. “Senior Brother, you can’t take it from me.”
“Tsk.” Chang He snorted. “I knew it. Whenever Junior Sister wants something, there’s no way I’ll get any of it.”
Zhi You explained earnestly, “Senior Brother, Jiu Hui is still young…”
“No need to explain, I understand.” Chang He drunkenly stood up and shamelessly asked Yan Bo, the oldest one, for a cup of wine.
The little one couldn’t get it here, so he went to the oldest one to ask.
After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Jiu Hui shook her slightly dizzy head and carried the lantern that Lord Fuguang had given her as she walked out of the restaurant with her Senior Brothers and Sisters.
The night was already deep, but many people on the street were still reluctant to leave. Jiu Hui noticed several cultivators sitting at Boss Song’s dumpling stall, eating hot dumplings. Boss Song had a fragrant pouch hanging from her waist, and the pouch was covered with complex talisman patterns.
She recognized at a glance that this talisman was drawn by Sect Uncle Mo. In the entire Wangshu Pavilion, Sect Uncle Mo was the most skilled in the Dao of Talismans.
No wonder Boss Song dared to set up a stall today. It turned out that Elder Mo had helped her conceal her yao energy.
“Immortal Chang He, Immortal Luo Yan.” Boss Song recognized Chang He and Luo Yan at a glance. Seeing that they were all drunk, she invited them to sit down and have a bowl of rice dumplings to sober up.
“I can’t eat anymore, I really can’t eat anymore.” Chang He waved his hand. “I’ll come again next time, I’ll come again next time.”
Boss Song saw that they were really leaving, so she stuffed the osmanthus cake that the next-door pastry shop had given her into Luo Yan’s hand: “You all must come again next time.”
“Boss Song, two bowls of peanut dumplings here,” the helpful auntie shouted. “And three bowls of sesame dumplings.”
“Coming.” Boss Song smiled at the people from Wangshu Pavilion, then wiped her hands clean and went to cook the dumplings.
“Sister Song.” A child eating dumplings at the table walked over to Boss Song with a bowl in hand. “That sister in red is the one who asked me to tell you to cook the dumplings early a few days ago.”
Boss Song scooped a few cooked dumplings into the child’s bowl with a spoon and looked up at the back of the girl in the red cloak.
She was probably a little drunk, and she was swaying slightly as she walked. The young master beside her carefully supported her arm through the thick cloak, preventing anyone from bumping into her.
“My head is a little dizzy. I may have had a little too much to drink.” Jiu Hui rubbed her temples, vaguely hearing someone calling her name.
“Who’s calling me?” She looked left and right, and finally saw Prime Minister Wu’s half-exposed head in the moat.
“Prime Minister Wu?” Jiu Hui leaned on the fence. “What are you doing here?”
“The Pavilion Master was worried that you’d get dead drunk, so he sent me to pick you up.” Prime Minister Wu looked at the eight people reeking of alcohol with disdain. “You’re all so young, yet your alcohol tolerance is so poor. Get on my back, and I’ll carry you back.”
It swiped its front paw, causing the frozen river surface to crackle.
Zhi You helped Jiu Hui jump onto Prime Minister Wu’s back, and used his foot to fish Chang He out of the water: “Thank you, Prime Minister Wu.”
“No need to be polite, just hold on tight.” Prime Minister Wu carried the eight people quietly along the moat and out of the city. After confirming that no one was around, it kicked off with all four limbs and soared into the air.
“Minister Wu, you’re so amazing. Not only can you make your body so big, but you can also swim in the air.” Jiu Hui lay on the turtle’s back, the night wind making her even more dizzy.
“What’s this? I’ve traveled the four seas and ruled the entire ocean. These are just minor tricks.” Prime Minister Wu flicked his tail, extremely proud.
Suddenly, a demonic wind rose, and Prime Minister Wu desperately paddled his limbs, forming a protective barrier on his back: “Who dares to cause trouble here?”
“Look what I found?” A woman in a black dress descended before the group, riding a black lotus from the dark clouds. Her body radiated a murderous aura, and her gaze alone made it hard for Chang He and the others to breathe. “An old turtle and eight little kids?”
“I’m in a good mood today, so I can spare your lives.” The woman’s bewitching face revealed a mocking smile. “But I can only let you go if you, the disciples of these so-called righteous sects, kneel down and beg me to spare your lives.”
She knew these disciples of the righteous sects best. They would rather die than suffer the slightest insult. She loved their stubbornness, which made killing them all the more interesting.
Plop.
Plop.
As soon as the enchanting woman finished speaking, most of the people on the turtle’s back knelt down one after another: “Please, beautiful sister, spare our lives.”
Jiu Hui pulled Zhi You down to squat. She hid behind her senior brothers and sisters and said in a loud voice, “Sister, you are as beautiful as a flower and your cultivation is profound. Please let us go.”
The enchanting woman’s smile froze on her face as if she had seen a group of monsters.
“Kneel, kneel,” she said. “Where’s your backbone?!”
What kind of righteous sect was this!!
Author’s Note:
Everyone from Wangshu Pavilion: “Look at what you’re saying, beautiful lady sister. No one else is here. We’ll kneel if we have to in order to save our lives. What dignity do we need?”
Little Garlic Chive: If that’s not enough, I can praise you a little more.
Zhi You: Ah? What happened?
Fuguang: I gave everyone wine fairly and justly.
Immortal Crane: What’s wrong with us cranes being bald? What’s wrong with being bald?!
Xiqin: That’s right, xiqin is my elegant name. I also have another name called erhu, heehee.