Chapter 16

Falling Plum Wine

Suddenly, I recalled that Rou Li had mentioned seeing me before. So, was she the black-haired junior sister who had returned with my brother last time? Could it be that my brother was really on Qinghong Mountain? Of course! How could I be so foolish? He’s an immortal studying under a master; naturally, he would be here. 

I was about to ask more questions when a disciple came sprinting toward us, shouting, “Master! Master! A large number of monsters have appeared at the base of Qihu Peak, devouring people left and right! Several senior brothers went to fight them but have been seriously injured. Please, Master, come to their aid!” 

The master frowned. “Monsters at Qihu Peak? That area has always been kept clear. What do they look like?” 

The disciple replied, “They look like eagles but have horns, and their cries sound like infants wailing.” 

“Ah, gu diaos…” the master muttered to himself. “Gu diaos love water and normally live in flocks far from here. They shouldn’t appear within Qinghong Mountain’s boundaries.” Then he instructed, “Qingyun, take the disciples and check it out immediately.” 

Second Senior Brother responded, “Understood!” 

I wanted to ask Second Senior Brother more about Fu Chenzhi, so naturally, I couldn’t lose track of him. As he led the disciples down the mountain, I quietly followed. This wasn’t my homeland of Suozhao, where water was abundant, but I was familiar with Qinghong Mountain’s routes to its waystations. I quickly mounted a luan bird and flew to the base of Qihu Peak. 

Landing at a waystation atop the mountain, I could hear the screams of villagers below. Following the cries for help, I looked down and saw a small village at the foot of the mountain. A flock of enormous black birds was gliding through the air, diving down to attack the people. Using the sharp horns on their heads, they pierced villagers’ chests, then dragged the bodies aside to feast. Several disciples of Qinghong Mountain were struggling to fight them off. 

The scene was a massacre—corpses everywhere, blood flowing in rivers. 

Before long, Second Senior Brother arrived with reinforcements and joined the battle against the gu diaos in the air. However, the largest gu diao, seemingly empowered by some mystical energy, had glowing green eyes and was terrifyingly fierce. It moved with incredible speed, and spells seemed to have little effect on it. Even the immortals found it hard to keep up. Acting as the leader, it coordinated the other gu diaos, which continued their slaughter and feasting. 

Second Senior Brother flew into the center of the disciples’ formation, extended two fingers of his right hand, clasped them together, and summoned flying boulders from the valley. With a flick of his hand, he directed the stones toward the monsters. The boulders crashed down with a thunderous roar, slicing through the gu diaos like swords, taking out seven or eight of them in one strike. 

At this moment, the leader gu diao turned its attention to him, letting out a shrill cry. The rest of the flock immediately obeyed, swarming toward Second Senior Brother. He quickly cast a protective barrier to hold them off. They slammed into it with their horns, relentlessly trying to break through. No matter how other disciples attacked, they couldn’t stop the gu diaos’ assault. 

Sweat began to bead on Second Senior Brother’s forehead as maintaining the barrier grew more difficult. Despite this, the gu diaos showed no signs of retreating, attacking in waves with no regard for their own lives. Even Rou Li, watching from the rear, was shrieking in panic, utterly helpless. 

I paced anxiously, glancing upward to see snow on the opposite mountain peak. Meanwhile, the barrier grew thinner and thinner. Second Senior Brother lowered his arm slightly, shattering the barrier in a desperate move that took out another ten or so gu diaos. However, he had no time to erect a new one and could only retreat into the sky. The gu diaos, like spinning black blades, pursued him relentlessly. 

Just then, a small child emerged from the valley below, crying “Mother!” as he ran toward a lifeless body. The leader gu diao spotted him immediately, turning sharply to swoop down on the boy. Without thinking, I gathered the snow from the mountaintop into icy spears and hurled them down, stabbing the leader gu diao. Then I ducked behind a rock and bamboo signpost, clutching Xuanyue tightly. 

The leader gu diao let out an infant-like wail, clearly in pain. It flapped its wings violently and began searching for the source of the ambush. With its sharp horns, it shattered countless rocks, sending frost and snow flying. I had chosen a very concealed spot, one that should have been foolproof. However, at this critical moment, Xuanyue let out a loud sneeze that echoed through the valley. 

The leader gu diao heard the sound, its green eyes narrowing as it turned toward us. With its horns extended, it charged straight at me. Xuanyue, terrified, clawed wildly and howled, trying to break free and flee. I used every ounce of strength to hold it down, my heart pounding as I watched the gu diao close in. 

At the very last moment, as it was mere inches from me, I grabbed Xuanyue and darted out from behind the signpost. There was a deafening screech as the gu diao, unable to stop in time, drove its horn deep into the rock. It flapped its wings furiously and kicked its legs, trying to pull free inch by inch. The debris and sand flying everywhere made it nearly impossible to keep my eyes open. 

The snow on the nearby slopes had already been scattered by the gu diao’s thrashing, leaving me unable to use my ascent technique. I attempted to manipulate the snow on the distant peaks, but the range was too great, and I was powerless. Finally, an idea struck me. I shook Xuanyue. “Xuanyue, I’m going to jump off the cliff! Just like last time, at the last second, grab the back of my collar so I won’t fall to my death, alright?”

Tears brimmed in Xuan Yue’s large eyes, and it whimpered pitifully, making it hard to tell whether it was agreeing or simply scared.

I held it tightly and ran to the edge of the cliff, glancing down at the empty gorge below. It was so high that just looking made me dizzy and nauseous. By now, the giant Gu Eagle had already pulled out its horn. My voice trembled as I said, “I’m jumping now!”

“Awwooo!!” Though beasts can’t cry, I could swear Xuan Yue was already weeping…

At that critical moment, a sword descended from the heavens, piercing through the giant Gu Eagle from its head to its belly, nailing it firmly to the rock. Blood splattered everywhere, mixing with the dirt. The Gu Eagle didn’t even have time to let out a screech before it died.

The other Gu Eagles seemed to sense something and, realizing their leader was dead, swarmed downward toward me. Now, jumping off the cliff wouldn’t even help. Hugging Xuan Yue, I stood frozen, unsure of what to do next. But then, more swords rained down! Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang! Each resounding impact pinned one Gu Eagle after another to the ground.

Shortly after, a figure descended from the sky, wrapped an arm firmly around my waist, and carried me through the clouds to the heights above.

He wielded the sword in his hand, conjuring hundreds of sword shadows with his celestial technique, obliterating the remaining Gu Eagles in an instant. Calm and composed, his side profile took my breath away. Though still startled, I stared at him and softly called out, “...Brother?”

After eliminating the last of the Gu Eagles, Fu Chen Zhi twirled his sword in a flourish and carried me back to the mountaintop where the others had gathered.

The moment Rou Li saw him, her face turned beet red with excitement. She fidgeted awkwardly, unsure where to put her hands. But soon enough, her gaze fell on me standing beside him, and her expression instantly puffed up like a pair of goldfish cheeks.

Second Senior Brother shot a brief glance at Rou Li, then cleared his throat. “Junior Brother, you’ve returned.”

Fu Chen Zhi greeted him with a proper bow. “Greetings, Second Senior Brother.”

“You’re no longer under Master’s tutelage, so there’s no need to be so formal.” Second Senior Brother’s smile was strained. “Still, this sudden appearance of so many demons at Qinhu Peak is quite unusual.”

“On my way here, I passed by the Demon Refining Valley and noticed an eerie red glow seeping out, the surroundings quite abnormal. I suspect there may be a breach in the valley’s barrier…” Fu Chen Zhi turned to glance briefly at the mountain where I had been hiding earlier. “Wait here. I’ll go check.”

With that, Fu Chen Zhi leapt down and began inspecting the Gu Eagles’ corpses.

Skinny Monkey clicked his tongue. “Third Senior Brother’s really incredible now. Jumping from such heights without using celestial techniques—he’s truly a cut above the rest. A brilliant student from a brilliant teacher.”

Second Senior Brother’s expression turned increasingly sour, while Rou Li proudly raised her chin. “When Third Senior Brother was still with our master, he entered later than everyone else but was always the most accomplished. He’s always stood out from the crowd.”

By this time, Fu Chen Zhi had leapt back up, holding over a dozen glowing orbs in his hand. “As expected, the giant Gu Eagle harbored over a hundred kinds of demonic energy, along with these dozen or so inner cores. Judging by their glow, they’re inner cores of powerful demons, some with millennia of cultivation. This Gu Eagle must have slaughtered countless demons in the Demon Refining Valley to grow so strong and break through the barrier, leading its kin to wreak havoc here.”

“I see. If there’s truly a breach in the Demon Refining Valley, it’s as perilous as walking on thin ice. Thank you for your efforts, Junior Brother. We’ll report this to Master immediately. Everyone, return to Qinghong Mountain with me…” Second Senior Brother paused mid-sentence, glanced at Rou Li, then pointed at me. “By the way, Third Junior Brother, do you recognize Junior Sister Luo Wei?”

Fu Chen Zhi replied, “I do.”

We waited a while for more, but that was it. Such a curt and straightforward answer… Since he’d already responded, Second Senior Brother didn’t press further. Afterward, we all began our ascent back to the mountaintop. I, along with the half-immortal disciples who couldn’t fly, rode the luan birds, while the senior disciples soared on their swords or clouds.

Rou Li stuck closely behind Fu Chen Zhi the entire way, bombarding him with questions. His answers were always fewer than three words—either “Yes,” “No,” or “Don’t know.”

Perhaps because he had been adopted, my brother had always been this way since childhood: disciplined, serious, and reliable. He never actively sought attention, kept everything to himself, and was forever the most considerate child in our parents’ eyes.

He never went out of his way to please others. Even if he wasn’t particularly likable, he never tried to appear more approachable. It was the exact opposite of my personality—always cheeky and eager to take advantage. Back when he was still in Suozhao, many people kept their distance from him because of his demeanor. Yet Rou Li didn’t seem to feel the awkwardness at all. She kept up her endless chatter, completely unbothered.

Still, no matter how many questions Rou Li asked, Fu Chen Zhi didn’t once look back at me. Even Xuan Yue had recognized him, yet he showed no reaction. Rou Li, on the other hand, was like the Monkey King in Heaven—so smug she was about to burst. Every time she managed to get a few words out of him, she’d glance back at me to show off.

We exchanged glares several times, but deep down, I felt chilled to the bone. What was Brother trying to do? Did he think it inappropriate to acknowledge me here? Or did he already know I was merely a spirit and believed I wasn’t worthy to be the sister of an immortal? No, no, I mustn’t think this way. I can’t let myself sink into such thoughts...

By the time we returned to the summit, it was already dusk. The sea of clouds was bathed in the setting sun, and the fading light cast faint shadows through the mist. After bidding the others farewell, Fu Chen Zhi turned his back to me and said, “I’m staying at Danwen Pavilion. Come with me.”

“Alright,” I quickly replied.

But as we walked one behind the other, his demeanor seemed so… ordinary.

Hadn’t we been through life and death together? Didn’t he have anything to say? Then again, I couldn’t really blame him. He probably wouldn’t have guessed that so much had happened in Suozhao since his departure. Finally, we arrived at Danwen Pavilion. His quarters were on the second floor. He pushed open the inner curtain door, gestured for me to enter first, then closed the door behind us.

“Wei Wei.” He let out a soft sigh, then turned to face me. “It’s been a long time. I hope you’ve been well.”

I never could have expected that such a simple, eight-character greeting would cause my tears to fall in heavy drops. Growing up, I’d always been the one bullying him, and it was only ever him who’d been so worried about me that he’d cry. I’d never been this embarrassingly vulnerable in front of him. Truly, I’d lost all face.

But the grievances and bitterness of the past few months had piled up too heavily. The more I tried to convince myself not to cry, the harder the tears fell. Just as I lowered my head to rub my eyes, Fu Chen Zhi suddenly stepped forward and tightly embraced me.

At that moment, I completely broke down, crying out loud like a three-year-old child. In this touching moment of sibling reunion, Xuan Yue let out an untimely cry, seemingly quite startled.

I decided to ignore it, hugging Fu Chen Zhi back tightly while smearing my tears and snot all over his clothes. “Brother, I’ve had such a miserable time! So much grievance, so much suffering! You don’t know, after you left, how much hardship I endured… no one cared for me, no one loved me. Sometimes, I couldn’t even have a proper meal! Wherever I went, people despised me, and I was bullied by a bunch of ridiculous immortals. Brother, wuuu wuuu wuuu…”

The more I poured out, the tighter Fu Chen Zhi’s arms wrapped around me. Yet he just listened quietly, not interrupting me. Only after I cried to the point of hiccupping and couldn’t speak anymore did he pat my back gently and say in a soft voice, “It’s alright. With me here, no one will dare to bully you again. I’ll protect you.”

The scent on my brother hadn’t changed one bit. Whenever I caught this familiar fragrance, I’d think of the Rui Clouds in Suo Zhao, the moonlit nights of the Hua Palace, and the fragrant flowers that lined the streets of our hometown. No matter how beautiful the scenery in the celestial realm was, it could never replace those memories in my heart. Similarly, no one could ever take my brother’s place in my life.

Under the starry sky, with a clear breeze and a bright moon, I finally regained my composure. With my eyes swollen and burning, I sat down and recounted everything that had happened after Fu Chen Zhi left Suo Zhao. Listening to my account, he fell silent for a long time before saying, “So Kai Xuan Jun is this kind of person… we were all deceived by him.”

I fumed, “He’s nothing but scum, and Second Sister is a fool for believing in him.”

Fu Chen Zhi thought for a moment and said, “This matter cannot be left unresolved. We need to find time to return to Suo Zhao.”

“But with just the two of us, can we really defeat Kai Xuan Jun?”

“I’ll need to think this through more carefully.” Fu Chen Zhi seemed deep in thought. “Since you’ve already left Suo Zhao, from now on, stay with me.”

“Alright! Wherever my brother goes, I’ll go too!”

At this moment, Xuan Yue let out a soft “woof” and lay on my lap, its eyes brimming with tears as it gazed at Fu Chen Zhi, sparkling with admiration. Fu Chen Zhi glanced at it and smiled. “Of course, Xuan Yue too.”

Xuan Yue and I hugged each other, overwhelmed with emotion.

Fu Chen Zhi said, “I’ll take you to see my master first. He may not accept you as his disciple, but bringing you along shouldn’t be an issue.”

“Who is your master?”

“You’ll know when you meet him.”

So, Xuan Yue and I followed Fu Chen Zhi into the Yi Yao Hall. Seeing the name on the hall, a surprising thought crossed my mind. Then, we passed through the main hall and entered the rear garden. The winding path was serene, the winter plum blossoms vivid, and a pot of fresh wine seemed to intoxicate the full moon and the fine night.

Under the plum trees, fallen petals piled up and scattered blossoms swirled about, lifting the jade pendant and red tassel at the waist of the young man standing there.

He stood beneath the tree admiring the flowers, breaking off a branch of fresh plum blossoms to savor with his wine. From just his back view, I already recognized who it was. I quickly tugged at Fu Chen Zhi’s sleeve and whispered, “So you’re actually the disciple of the Grandmaster?”

Hearing the commotion on our side, Yin Ze lightly sipped his wine, his broad sleeves fluttering gracefully. He exuded elegance beyond compare. “Chen Zhi?”

Fu Chen Zhi cupped his hands and bowed. “Master.”

Yin Ze turned his head and glanced at me, his lips curving into a smile. “So, you know this little water spirit.”

Fu Chen Zhi solemnly replied, “Yes, Master. She is my betrothed.”