Having just placed the steaming, freshly cooked dishes on the table, Shopkeeper He retreated behind the counter, reopening his ledger and pretending to be calculating, but his eyes occasionally darted towards the guests in the little shop.
Zhou Yixian, Xiaohuan, and the Dog Daoist were now seated at the table with the three-eyed, gray-furred monkey, Xiaohei. The newly ordered dishes naturally arrived at their table, yet they had no appetite. Only Xiaohei appeared to be in high spirits, eating and drinking heartily, thoroughly enjoying himself.
The eyes of Zhou Yixian, Xiaohuan, and the Dog Daoist, however, were not on Xiaohei, but rather silently fixed on the man lying on the table.
Xiaohuan remained silent for a while before slowly reaching out and pushing the man, softly calling, “Gui… Li.”
The man’s body shifted slightly from her push, but there was no other reaction. Zhou Yixian and the Dog Daoist exchanged glances, looking at each other in confusion.
The man’s build and appearance matched that of Gui Li, the infamous figure who once struck fear into the hearts of many. Yet, now, he was so destitute that it took them a moment to process the change.
Xiaohuan turned and asked in astonishment, “How did he end up like this?”
Zhou Yixian scowled and shrugged, “Don’t ask us.” After a brief pause, he suddenly frowned, turning to Xiaohei, who was still sprawled on the table, and smiled, “Little monkey, what’s wrong with your master?”
Xiaohei’s three eyes spun as he glanced at the elderly man with an air of immortal grace. He didn’t react further, except for his tail, which stood up and swayed a few times. A moment later, he spat a “tsk” and arrogantly turned his head to take another swig of wine, completely dismissing the old man who looked like an immortal.
Zhou Yixian, feeling humiliated, fumed, “You insolent monkey, how dare you show me such disrespect! If you anger me, I’ll use my immortal magic to imprison you under the Azure Ethereal Vapors, sealed away for a thousand eight hundred years, and see if you dare—”
Before he could finish, Zhou Yixian heard a whistling sound, and something dark hurtled towards him. He was about to dodge, but Xiaohuan also cried out in alarm. Fortunately, a swift hand pushed Zhou Yixian, causing him to fall to the ground.
Taken by surprise, Zhou Yixian fell flat on his back, utterly losing his dignified appearance and looking very disheveled. However, this saved him from the object, which hit the wall with a dull thud and turned out to be a chicken bone.
Everyone, including Shopkeeper He, turned to look. They saw Xiaohei happily munching on a chicken leg, leaving them wondering whether he had thrown the bone or spat it out.
Zhou Yixian gritted his teeth in frustration, but knowing the monkey was a rare and temperamental creature, and considering its fearsome master, he decided not to provoke it further.
He grumbled as he got up, glaring at the Dog Daoist and snarling, “Were you trying to kill me? Why did you push me so hard?”
The Dog Daoist, who would have normally retorted, merely turned his head away, ignoring Zhou Yixian.
Zhou Yixian, even more furious, was about to say more when Xiaohuan scolded, “Grandfather!”
Zhou Yixian, who feared this sharp-tongued granddaughter, muttered under his breath, clearly disgruntled.
Xiaohuan ignored him and turned to Xiaohei, smiling, “Xiaohei, do you remember me? I gave you candied haws once.”
Xiaohei blinked his three eyes, then nodded, grinning and even wagging his tail, perhaps a habit learned from the yellow dog, Dahuang, on the Greater Bamboo Peak of the Azure Ethereal Conclave.
Xiaohuan chuckled, “I’m surprised you remember. Come here.” She reached out to beckon the monkey.
Xiaohei, holding a flask of wine in one hand and a chicken leg in the other, scratched his head with the greasy chicken leg, leaving a few oil stains.
Xiaohuan giggled, and Xiaohei, seeing her smile, grinned back. He then slowly moved over to sit in front of her.
Xiaohuan examined the monkey and took out a silk handkerchief, frowning, “Put down what you’re holding.”
Xiaohei hesitated, chirping unwillingly. Xiaohuan patted his head, “Quickly!”
Xiaohei reluctantly put down the chicken leg, giving it one last look. Before setting down the wine, he took a big gulp, then placed it on the table.
Xiaohuan shook her head, “How have you become so greedy?” She took Xiaohei’s hands and carefully wiped the grease off with the handkerchief. Xiaohei let her do as she pleased, showing a strange fondness for her.
Strangely, aside from his master, Gui Li, the three-eyed spirit monkey seemed to only like a few women and disliked men like Zhou Yixian and the Dog Daoist.
After cleaning Xiaohei’s hands, Xiaohuan looked at the unconscious Gui Li, asking, “Why is he like this?”
Xiaohei scratched his head, chirping and gesturing wildly. Realizing no one understood, he stopped and pointed at Xiaohuan, almost poking her face. Xiaohuan was startled, and the Dog Daoist moved to intervene, but Zhou Yixian pulled him back, saying, “Let’s watch.”
Xiaohei, pointing at Xiaohuan, did a somersault on the table, landing in the middle, and made more gestures, then traced his body with his hands.
Xiaohuan, bewildered, watched as Zhou Yixian furrowed his brow, “A woman?”
Xiaohei nodded, then pointed at Gui Li, making a gesture of clasping his heart, and then fell backward, mimicking being knocked out.
Xiaohuan gasped, “Be careful!”
But Xiaohei, too engrossed in his performance, forgot the table’s size and fell off with a splash. Xiaohuan, both amused and worried, checked on him, but he sprang back up, grinning at her.
Relieved, Xiaohuan petted his head, and Xiaohei blinked, looking at her.
Xiaohuan pondered, then looked at Gui Li and turned to Zhou Yixian, “Grandfather, do you think…”
Zhou Yixian frowned, “Could he have been harmed by a woman? With his powers and the influence of the Ghost King Sect, there are few women capable of such. Perhaps it was Water Moon of the Azure Ethereal Vapors, or Sanmiao of the Demon Sect’s Bliss Faction…”
The Dog Daoist, sitting quietly, suddenly spoke, “I don’t think so.”
Zhou Yixian snapped, “What do you mean, saying I’m wrong?”
The Dog Daoist, staring at the unconscious form, said, “From what I know, he doesn’t care much about winning or losing, and there are no visible injuries…”
Zhou Yixian sneered, but Xiaohuan interrupted, “Enough, stop it!”
Zhou Yixian and the Dog Daoist stopped, glaring at each other.
Xiaohuan, making a decision, told Xiaohei, “Xiaohei, come with us for now.”
“What?” Both Zhou Yixian and the Dog Daoist shouted, startling even Shopkeeper He.
Xiaohuan, unfazed, replied, “Why are you scared? I’m not. He saved my life in the Dead Marsh. And, Grandfather, do you remember the incident with the dog poop luck fifteen years ago?”
Zhou Yixian, blushing, protested, “Why bring up old debts?”
Xiaohuan, indifferent, said, “I can’t ignore this.” She turned to check on Gui Li, noting the deep lines of worry on his face, even in his drunken state.
Xiaohuan remembered the day outside the Dead Marsh when he came to her fortune-telling stall and said, “You’ve grown up…”
Unaware of her thoughts, Zhou Yixian grumbled, “We’re not a charity, why do you keep taking people in?”
Xiaohuan, firm, said, “I can’t turn a blind eye. Now, let’s go.”
As they prepared to leave, Xiaohei, noticing the empty wine bag, signaled to Shopkeeper He, eagerly wanting more wine.
Shopkeeper He, understanding, refilled the bag, but Zhou Yixian, exasperated, shouted, “Enough, enough!”
Xiaohei, annoyed, threw a dish at him, breaking it. Zhou Yixian dodged, and Xiaohei threw more, causing Shopkeeper He to beg, “Stop, I’ll give you the rest of the wine for free.”
Xiaohei finally stopped, and Zhou Yixian, panting and cursing, avoided the angry monkey.
Xiaohuan, checking on Gui Li again, noticed the Dog Daoist, with a strange glint in his eyes, watching them.
—
On the Azure Ethereal Vapors, the grand Jade Clear Hall stood before the clear blue waters. The legendary water qilin, the guardian beast of the Azure Ethereal Vapors, lazily flipped in the water, creating magnificent waves.
Li Xun, a disciple from the Incense Valley, marveled at the sight, turning to Xiao Yicai, the most renowned disciple of the Azure Ethereal Vapors, and remarked, “I’ve heard the water qilin is a thousand-year-old beast. It truly lives up to its reputation.”
Xiao Yicai smiled, “Indeed, our Ancestor Qingye tamed it. His legacy is truly awe-inspiring.”
Li Xun, impressed, said, “No particular reason, just delivering a letter to Patriarch Daoxuan.”
Xiao Yicai, intrigued, led Li Xun to the Jade Clear Hall. As they walked, he noted Li Xun’s expression when mentioning Lu Xueqi, hinting at some unspoken tension.
Reaching the hall, Li Xun, unable to contain his curiosity, asked, “How is Lu Xueqi?”
Xiao Yicai, masking his surprise, replied, “She’s fine. In fact, she’s here with her mentor today. You can meet her.”
Li Xun, pleased, nodded, and they entered the majestic hall, ready to meet the patriarch and continue their conversation.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage