I have a partner now!
On the evening of February 10th, mist suddenly rose from the southwest corner of Shangyun Mountain above Taijing, enveloping two peaks in just the time it took to burn half an incense stick. Many restaurants in the city offered a clear view of this spectacle, and people rushed to the windows to gaze at the distant mountains.
The clouds were light, the mist like gauze, floating ethereally as if it were auspicious vapor rising from beneath a dragon’s claw. Illuminated by the orange-red sunset, it seemed as though a celestial pond had descended to the mortal realm, sparking endless imagination.
Coinciding with the evening return of the birds, numerous sparrows and warblers gracefully descended into the woods below the mist, adding charm to the breathtaking scene.
Onlookers marveled at the sight.
Some even hurried down from the buildings, seeking open spaces for a better view.
Failing to find such a spot, they discovered that people had already climbed onto rooftops.
The mist lingered for about fifteen minutes. By then, half of Shangyun Mountain’s nineteen peaks were engulfed, leaving only the slender “dragon tail” and the towering “dragon head” visible. It was as if the dragon was moving through the sky, partially concealed and elusive.
As daylight faded, leaving only a sliver of twilight, the mist seemed to sink into the forest and gradually disappeared.
The streets and alleys of Taijing gradually lit up with candlelight and lanterns. People were still excitedly discussing the extraordinary scene they had just witnessed.
Taijing had always been a place of wonders, but in the past decade or so, tales of auspicious signs and wonders had become scarce. The older generation reminisced about them, while the younger generation hardly believed.
Although omens like the Jiahe White Deer occurred annually, skepticism grew with familiarity. If the Qi dynasty’s usurpation was indeed destined, why did Yongzhou suffer from drought and locust plagues for three years? Why couldn’t the south be pacified?
Emperor Lu Zhang’s usurpation had resulted in countless casualties in Taijing. The loyalty of the people couldn’t easily be swayed by mere claims of a divine mandate or avenging fallen nobles. Only those who had no personal pain and had recently moved to Taijing in the past ten years or so could be fooled.
The citizens longed for a peaceful and happy life. As long as they could survive, they would swallow their grievances and comply with the new dynasty, the new rulers of the world.
Better to be a dog in peace than a man in chaos.
Living in Taijing was already much better than many other places in the world.
In the past sixteen years, the city had gradually recovered, but it still fell short of the Chu dynasty’s grandeur.
Only in certain areas could one glimpse the former glory, such as the restaurants and brothels in each district.
The brothels, or ‘goulan’, meaning winding railings, served as stages and shelters.
The larger ones had over a dozen such stages, and anyone could enter for a fee.
Not just for singing, they also offered acrobatics, storytelling, shadow plays, puppet shows, ventriloquism, and drum performances, along with dancers from all over. These brothels had no doors and were open for business around the clock, all year round.
In Taijing, the districts were separated by high walls, and curfews were enforced outside the walls. Once the time came, the main gates were locked, but people could still visit restaurants, teahouses, and brothels within the districts.
Now, except for the wealthy North and East districts, brothels in other areas had declined, with only one or two singing and acrobatics troupes appearing occasionally.
Empty and neglected, some stalls in the brothels were used by locals as storage, cluttered with unusable, yet not worthless items.
Broken pots, wooden planks, and damaged stone mortars and pestles were common sights.
Some martial artists who had sneaked into the city were hiding in these places.
“I heard they started searching inns yesterday.”
“Don’t say that. Today, when I went out to buy meat and wine, I ran into patrol guards. They questioned everyone who didn’t speak with a Taijing accent and followed them back to their inns if they didn’t have their permits. Fortunately, my Mandarin is passable, and I didn’t give myself away.”
The speaker, a forty-something martial artist with stubble, continued irritably, “Taijing is so big, we don’t even know if the heads of the big sects have arrived or where they’re staying. I say we’d be better off exploring the mountains first!”
“Are you crazy? Here we have shelter, food, and drink. What’s in the mountains?”
“Exactly. With so many people after the treasure, we need to be more cautious. Let’s keep watching near the Lincheng Gate tomorrow…”
Before they could finish their conversation, someone rushed in, exclaiming anxiously, “Something happened! There’s trouble at Shangyun Mountain!”
The martial artists were startled and stood up to inquire, “What happened? Weren’t you near Lincheng Gate?”
They took turns scouting to determine where the elders and leaders of the major sects were staying, guessing that most would come via the road leading to Qing River from the Charred Willow Path.
With the evening approaching, it was about time for the city gates to close.
“What did you just say? Something happened at Shangyun Mountain?”
The breathless man confirmed, “Yes, suddenly, a lot of mist emerged from the mountain, like a dragon spirit appearing. Didn’t you hear the commotion outside?”
“…”
Martial artists, typically skeptical of ghosts and spirits, didn’t jump to conclusions about auspicious signs like others.
“Could it be that the Emperor’s tomb has been opened?”
Chen Emperor Li had built his tomb using immense resources and filled it with numerous traps to prevent future looting. They wondered if the mist was steam or poisonous gas released by the activation of these mechanisms.
They hurriedly left the stall and stepped out of the brothel to check.
However, the sun had already set, and the dark sky made it impossible to see the condition of Shangyun Mountain.
Still, the streets were abuzz with excitement, and the martial artists couldn’t help but stop and listen to the discussions.
By the time they understood what had happened, the district gates had closed, trapping them inside. They searched restlessly among the crowd for fellow martial artists while pondering the situation.
“Was there any trouble near the city gate today?”
“…Someone with a fake travel permit was exposed by the city gate official and then ran away.”
The one who had been scouting near Lincheng Gate, in order not to attract the attention of the gatekeepers, only dared to stay in the tea shop near the city gate. It was the closest shop to the city gate, but it was still some distance from the city gate.
Therefore, he hadn’t seen Meng Qi’s face or heard what he said, only barely distinguishing the shouts of the city gate official and judging the situation from the city guards’ reactions.
Seeing his companions’ nonchalant attitude, the scout added, “The person had impressive lightness skills. In the blink of an eye, I couldn’t see him anymore.”
“Oh?”
The martial artists were now slightly intrigued, but they still didn’t realize how dangerous this person was. Instead, they thought this person was a well-known expert who had been chased by the guards, which would be an embarrassing story to tell.
“Do you recognize him? If he’s an acquaintance, we can mock him later; if an enemy…”
They laughed together.
Only the scout remained troubled, worrying, “I don’t know his name or face, but I heard the city gate official shouting that he was caught because he was too good-looking.”
He repeated what he had heard.
The martial artists exchanged glances, trying to think of anyone in the martial arts world known for their extraordinary appearance.
Many fit the criteria, as big sects didn’t recruit unattractive disciples, and young martial artists from reputable families dressed decently.
However, handsome young men dressed like this were common on Taijing’s streets.
Thus, being “good-looking” wasn’t just a compliment; it meant being exceptionally attractive. But these rough-and-ready martial artists couldn’t imagine what that looked like, leaving them puzzled.
In the martial arts world, there were titles like “Number One Swordsman,” “Number One Master,” and “Number One Beauty,” but none for “Number One Handsome Man” or “Number One Young Gentleman.”
Nicknames like “Jade-faced Young Master” or “Ghost Rakshasa” did exist, indicating someone was either quite handsome or quite ugly. Most lower-tier martial artists, often unkempt and scruffy, could claim to be a “Jade-faced Young Master” as long as they weren’t reeking of alcohol and wore clean, somewhat expensive clothes with decent features.
“Could it be a woman in disguise with great lightness skills?”
“Possibly… But let’s focus on what happened at Shangyun Mountain!”
That night, Taijing was a hub of covert activity.
Martial artists whispered among themselves, sharing what they knew. Some decided to leave for Shangyun Mountain at dawn, while others chose to wait in the city for the arrival of prominent figures like the abbot of Hengchang Temple or other major martial arts personalities.
At the city’s imperial observatory, officials were overjoyed.
A recent celestial omen had displeased the emperor, causing him to vent his anger on them. Now, with this auspicious sign, they no longer had to live in fear.
Many officials quickly drafted flattering messages to congratulate the emperor on the auspicious omen.
Others pondered deeper implications: the recent celestial omen had been seen as a sign of instability in the emperor’s position. Now, with the mist over Shangyun Mountain, they wondered for whom this auspicious sign was meant. Was it for the Qi dynasty, the former Chu dynasty, or perhaps a new dynasty yet to emerge?
Fearing potential rebellions, they anxiously calculated who might be plotting against the throne.
Meanwhile, at Dragon Claw Peak of Shangyun Mountain, Mo Li watched as the tangible spiritual energy dissipated, exhaling deeply.
For a moment, he had thought the energy was about to lift Meng Qi away. It also seemed, perhaps mistakenly, that the energy wanted to take him along.
When the mist cleared, Mo Li half-expected to see not Meng Qi but a golden dragon.
Meng Qi remained human, not transformed into a dragon or a mouse.
“How do you feel now? Any discomfort?”
Mo Li closely observed Meng Qi, curious whether he had regained his memory and knew he was a dragon.
“…I feel vigorous and full of energy,” Meng Qi said helplessly. “I almost wanted to carry you up to Dragon Horn Peak in one go.”
That was the highest peak among the nineteen of Shangyun Mountain.
I have a partner now!
On the evening of February 10th, mist suddenly rose from the southwest corner of Shangyun Mountain above Taijing, enveloping two peaks in just the time it took to burn half an incense stick. Many restaurants in the city offered a clear view of this spectacle, and people rushed to the windows to gaze at the distant mountains.
The clouds were light, the mist like gauze, floating ethereally as if it were auspicious vapor rising from beneath a dragon’s claw. Illuminated by the orange-red sunset, it seemed as though a celestial pond had descended to the mortal realm, sparking endless imagination.
Coinciding with the evening return of the birds, numerous sparrows and warblers gracefully descended into the woods below the mist, adding charm to the breathtaking scene.
Onlookers marveled at the sight.
Some even hurried down from the buildings, seeking open spaces for a better view.
Failing to find such a spot, they discovered that people had already climbed onto rooftops.
The mist lingered for about fifteen minutes. By then, half of Shangyun Mountain’s nineteen peaks were engulfed, leaving only the slender “dragon tail” and the towering “dragon head” visible. It was as if the dragon was moving through the sky, partially concealed and elusive.
As daylight faded, leaving only a sliver of twilight, the mist seemed to sink into the forest and gradually disappeared.
The streets and alleys of Taijing gradually lit up with candlelight and lanterns. People were still excitedly discussing the extraordinary scene they had just witnessed.
Taijing had always been a place of wonders, but in the past decade or so, tales of auspicious signs and wonders had become scarce. The older generation reminisced about them, while the younger generation hardly believed.
Although omens like the Jiahe White Deer occurred annually, skepticism grew with familiarity. If the Qi dynasty’s usurpation was indeed destined, why did Yongzhou suffer from drought and locust plagues for three years? Why couldn’t the south be pacified?
Emperor Lu Zhang’s usurpation had resulted in countless casualties in Taijing. The loyalty of the people couldn’t easily be swayed by mere claims of a divine mandate or avenging fallen nobles. Only those who had no personal pain and had recently moved to Taijing in the past ten years or so could be fooled.
The citizens longed for a peaceful and happy life. As long as they could survive, they would swallow their grievances and comply with the new dynasty, the new rulers of the world.
Better to be a dog in peace than a man in chaos.
Living in Taijing was already much better than many other places in the world.
In the past sixteen years, the city had gradually recovered, but it still fell short of the Chu dynasty’s grandeur.
Only in certain areas could one glimpse the former glory, such as the restaurants and brothels in each district.
The brothels, or ‘goulan’, meaning winding railings, served as stages and shelters.
The larger ones had over a dozen such stages, and anyone could enter for a fee.
Not just for singing, they also offered acrobatics, storytelling, shadow plays, puppet shows, ventriloquism, and drum performances, along with dancers from all over. These brothels had no doors and were open for business around the clock, all year round.
In Taijing, the districts were separated by high walls, and curfews were enforced outside the walls. Once the time came, the main gates were locked, but people could still visit restaurants, teahouses, and brothels within the districts.
Now, except for the wealthy North and East districts, brothels in other areas had declined, with only one or two singing and acrobatics troupes appearing occasionally.
Empty and neglected, some stalls in the brothels were used by locals as storage, cluttered with unusable, yet not worthless items.
Broken pots, wooden planks, and damaged stone mortars and pestles were common sights.
Some martial artists who had sneaked into the city were hiding in these places.
“I heard they started searching inns yesterday.”
“Don’t say that. Today, when I went out to buy meat and wine, I ran into patrol guards. They questioned everyone who didn’t speak with a Taijing accent and followed them back to their inns if they didn’t have their permits. Fortunately, my Mandarin is passable, and I didn’t give myself away.”
The speaker, a forty-something martial artist with stubble, continued irritably, “Taijing is so big, we don’t even know if the heads of the big sects have arrived or where they’re staying. I say we’d be better off exploring the mountains first!”
“Are you crazy? Here we have shelter, food, and drink. What’s in the mountains?”
“Exactly. With so many people after the treasure, we need to be more cautious. Let’s keep watching near the Lincheng Gate tomorrow…”
Before they could finish their conversation, someone rushed in, exclaiming anxiously, “Something happened! There’s trouble at Shangyun Mountain!”
The martial artists were startled and stood up to inquire, “What happened? Weren’t you near Lincheng Gate?”
They took turns scouting to determine where the elders and leaders of the major sects were staying, guessing that most would come via the road leading to Qing River from the Charred Willow Path.
With the evening approaching, it was about time for the city gates to close.
“What did you just say? Something happened at Shangyun Mountain?”
The breathless man confirmed, “Yes, suddenly, a lot of mist emerged from the mountain, like a dragon spirit appearing. Didn’t you hear the commotion outside?”
“…”
Martial artists, typically skeptical of ghosts and spirits, didn’t jump to conclusions about auspicious signs like others.
“Could it be that the Emperor’s tomb has been opened?”
Chen Emperor Li had built his tomb using immense resources and filled it with numerous traps to prevent future looting. They wondered if the mist was steam or poisonous gas released by the activation of these mechanisms.
They hurriedly left the stall and stepped out of the brothel to check.
However, the sun had already set, and the dark sky made it impossible to see the condition of Shangyun Mountain.
Still, the streets were abuzz with excitement, and the martial artists couldn’t help but stop and listen to the discussions.
By the time they understood what had happened, the district gates had closed, trapping them inside. They searched restlessly among the crowd for fellow martial artists while pondering the situation.
“Was there any trouble near the city gate today?”
“…Someone with a fake travel permit was exposed by the city gate official and then ran away.”
The one who had been scouting near Lincheng Gate, in order not to attract the attention of the gatekeepers, only dared to stay in the tea shop near the city gate. It was the closest shop to the city gate, but it was still some distance from the city gate.
Therefore, he hadn’t seen Meng Qi’s face or heard what he said, only barely distinguishing the shouts of the city gate official and judging the situation from the city guards’ reactions.
Seeing his companions’ nonchalant attitude, the scout added, “The person had impressive lightness skills. In the blink of an eye, I couldn’t see him anymore.”
“Oh?”
The martial artists were now slightly intrigued, but they still didn’t realize how dangerous this person was. Instead, they thought this person was a well-known expert who had been chased by the guards, which would be an embarrassing story to tell.
“Do you recognize him? If he’s an acquaintance, we can mock him later; if an enemy…”
They laughed together.
Only the scout remained troubled, worrying, “I don’t know his name or face, but I heard the city gate official shouting that he was caught because he was too good-looking.”
He repeated what he had heard.
The martial artists exchanged glances, trying to think of anyone in the martial arts world known for their extraordinary appearance.
Many fit the criteria, as big sects didn’t recruit unattractive disciples, and young martial artists from reputable families dressed decently.
However, handsome young men dressed like this were common on Taijing’s streets.
Thus, being “good-looking” wasn’t just a compliment; it meant being exceptionally attractive. But these rough-and-ready martial artists couldn’t imagine what that looked like, leaving them puzzled.
In the martial arts world, there were titles like “Number One Swordsman,” “Number One Master,” and “Number One Beauty,” but none for “Number One Handsome Man” or “Number One Young Gentleman.”
Nicknames like “Jade-faced Young Master” or “Ghost Rakshasa” did exist, indicating someone was either quite handsome or quite ugly. Most lower-tier martial artists, often unkempt and scruffy, could claim to be a “Jade-faced Young Master” as long as they weren’t reeking of alcohol and wore clean, somewhat expensive clothes with decent features.
“Could it be a woman in disguise with great lightness skills?”
“Possibly… But let’s focus on what happened at Shangyun Mountain!”
That night, Taijing was a hub of covert activity.
Martial artists whispered among themselves, sharing what they knew. Some decided to leave for Shangyun Mountain at dawn, while others chose to wait in the city for the arrival of prominent figures like the abbot of Hengchang Temple or other major martial arts personalities.
At the city’s imperial observatory, officials were overjoyed.
A recent celestial omen had displeased the emperor, causing him to vent his anger on them. Now, with this auspicious sign, they no longer had to live in fear.
Many officials quickly drafted flattering messages to congratulate the emperor on the auspicious omen.
Others pondered deeper implications: the recent celestial omen had been seen as a sign of instability in the emperor’s position. Now, with the mist over Shangyun Mountain, they wondered for whom this auspicious sign was meant. Was it for the Qi dynasty, the former Chu dynasty, or perhaps a new dynasty yet to emerge?
Fearing potential rebellions, they anxiously calculated who might be plotting against the throne.
Meanwhile, at Dragon Claw Peak of Shangyun Mountain, Mo Li watched as the tangible spiritual energy dissipated, exhaling deeply.
For a moment, he had thought the energy was about to lift Meng Qi away. It also seemed, perhaps mistakenly, that the energy wanted to take him along.
When the mist cleared, Mo Li half-expected to see not Meng Qi but a golden dragon.
Meng Qi remained human, not transformed into a dragon or a mouse.
“How do you feel now? Any discomfort?”
Mo Li closely observed Meng Qi, curious whether he had regained his memory and knew he was a dragon.
“…I feel vigorous and full of energy,” Meng Qi said helplessly. “I almost wanted to carry you up to Dragon Horn Peak in one go.”
That was the highest peak among the nineteen of Shangyun Mountain.
