Waiting for you online - - - Chapter 5

Chapter 5

The Fengdu city at the foot of Mount Luofeng is undoubtedly the land with the most stories and the topic of conversation in Jiuzhou.

It is the barrier between mortal and ghost realms, a gateway to the underworld. It was the battleground between the demon supreme and Great Emperor Beiyin a hundred years ago. It is a transportation fortress. It is the world’s monastery where cultivators travel, hunt treasure and learn from each other. It is the black market and money-squandering establishments for influential officials and capable people.

Since the day Zhuanxu Sect blocked the path between earth and heaven and divided the three realms, there have been too many stories in this place. In Fengdu, the prosperity and desolation, secrets and markets, drunk and entranced, illustrious individual and hero among the ghosts, have jointly constructed this small world.

A Jianghu joke: a scholar with a three-inch tongue* cannot leave Fengdu city if remain poor for his whole life.

At this time, a pair of extremely handsome young men appeared in the street, dressed in black and white. Even among the crowds, they were exceptionally outstanding.

Xie Bi An introduced the local customs to Fan Wu She in a familiar manner. He had seen life and death since young, saw too many people squandering their lives to pursue flashy things and regret in the end. So, he was contented with what he had since young. Musical instrument, chess, poems, paintings, stars, moon, tea, wine, living a life of pleasure; there’s none that he doesn’t love.

After walking half a street, Fan Wu She already knows which shop has the best red date cake, which shop has the most accurate meat weighing, and which shop has the best fabric, but the tailor is the most famous among all. Xie Bi An was radiant with delight, looking as if very familiar with a matter. He watched quietly from the side, unwilling to disturb.

In the last few years, this man no longer laughs. Such a vivid and happy appearance, he thought he would never see it again.

“Boss, send these dishes to the third house in Qingtai Alley.”

“Alright mister, we won’t send to the wrong place even if you don’t say it.”

The two shopped all the way. Most of the items will be sent directly to Xie Bi An’s residence by the vendors, except the little things he bought for Bo Zhu, which he held them himself. Not long after, both of his hands were almost full.

When Xie Bi An bought the third sugar figurine, Fan Wu She couldn’t bear it anymore: “The sun is so strong, all will melt in a while.”

“Oh, right.” Xie Bi An got reminded, took out a cold ice charm from his arm, pasted it on the sugar figurine and asked Fan Wu She, “Are you feeling hot, do you want one?”

Fan Wu She’s face darkened: “No.”

“Seeing you are sweating, let’s go see some fabric. The fabric shop I just mentioned is next to an ice jelly shop. Rose ice jelly is the best. Go there to make clothes, eat enough for free.”

When they arrived at the fabric shop, Xie Bi An put down his stuff and picked up a cloth.

The boss introduced: “Mr Xie, these new ones arrived yesterday, you look at this brocade with grass, clouds, cranes and dispersed flowers prints, lustrous, smooth and finely stitched. Initially, I only ordered pistachio colour, after seeing the sample, I rushed to get 3 other colours.”

Xie Bi An touched the material and smiled: “This fabric looks nice, junior brother, what do you think of it?”

“Anything.”

“What colour do you like? How about this lake blue colour? Looks more vibrant, you wear…”

“Black one.”

“Little mister is young, it’s so dull to always wear black.” The boss said with a smile.

Fan Wu She glanced at the boss coldly.

The boss stopped talking immediately, thinking about how this person’s eyes looked like a knife at such a young age.

“Alright, let’s get a black one. The rest of the fabric, I’ll pick some and make him a few more clothes.”

After Xie Bi An picked the fabric, he sat down and ate the ice jelly delivered from next door while looking at the tailor taking Fan Wu She’s measurement.

That tailor praises while measuring: “Little mister’s body shape is so good, I’ve been a tailor in my whole life, never seen such a body shape, these arms and legs are so long, who knows how tall you’ll be in future, at least…ought to be…”

“170cm.”

“Ho yo, that’s a real tall one.”

Xie Bi An smiled and said: “If you want to grow so tall, you have to eat more.” He teased that tailor, “Uncle Xu, I’ve been here since young to get my clothes tailored, I have never seen you praise me.”

“How did I not praise you, I’ve been praising so many times since you were young, isn’t Mr Xie quite handsome now.”

“Then can I still get taller?”

When uncle Xu was about to answer, Fan Wu She said: “You can’t grow anymore.”

Xie Bi An was a little unconvinced: “How do you know?”

Fan Wu She lightly curled the corners of his lips: “I just know.”

Xie Bi An was surprised, and said: “Junior brother, did you just…smile?”

Fan Wu She’s face suddenly tensed, that smile he hadn’t noticed already disappeared, yet it left traces of guilty conscience on his face.

Xie Bi An blinked his eyes: “Don’t feel embarrassed, you look really nice when you smile, you should smile more.”

Fan Wu She turned his face away awkwardly.

Xie Bi An thought beautifully, he and his junior brother got closer a bit again.

After ordering the clothes, it’s noon. The two went to a teahouse for lunch.

This Jinyixuan is Fengdu’s famous restaurant, full of guests all year round. The two arrived late, so no pavilion was available. They could only sit in the lobby, just in time for storytelling.

The storyteller flicked his folding fan, talking loud and clear. After introducing himself, he said: “Today’s talk will be about the four ancient magic weapons.”

“The sky is blue-black, the land is yellow, the universe is formed in the state of chaos. The sun straightens and slants again, the moon rounds and unrounds again, and the stars were all over in the boundless space. Since Pangu created heaven and earth, they were separated. This world was originally full of spiritual aura, you and I can become immortal. Unfortunately, the good does not last long. When the number of immortals increases, the Gods became dissatisfied. The Gods became arrogant and the immortals became unhappy. So both sides fought endlessly. The mortals, ghosts and Gods started a huge war, countless people were plunged into an abyss of misery. In the end, the Human Sovereign Zhuan Xu, blocked the path between earth and heaven, completely cut off the channel between heaven and earth. From then on, the three realms were divided. Although heaven is still the lead, in reality, each realm governs its own, that’s how the three realms have peace.” That storyteller’s voice was cadence, his expression was vivid, which quickly attracted the attention of various guests, “After the war, the myth stated there were four ancient magical weapons stranded in the mortal realm. I believe most of you have heard before, that is the Eastern Emperor Bell, Shen Nong Ding, map of Shanhe Sheji and Xuanyuan Heavenly Secret talisman.”

About the four ancient magical weapons, they are well-known to the cultivators. Xie Bi An knew much more than what the storyteller knew. He even saw two of them before, yet he still listens attentively.

“Magical weapons, they’re not uncommon. The world’s accomplished cultivators, who have not had one or two magical weapons, but these four ancient magical weapons, each have its own devastating power to destroy the world. Anyone who owns one will become prominent in the world, anyone who owns two…” The storyteller lightly coughs twice and shook his head, “Cannot be said, cannot be said.”

Laughter and applause sounded from the audience.

Xie Bi An also laughed.

Fan Wu She sneered, why do you like to laugh so much, what’s so funny about it?

A young waiter started to serve food. Xie Bi An took a big plate of braised fish head and put it in front of Fan Wu She: “This is their signature dish, it’s very fresh, try it.”

“Let’s talk about the first of the four ancient magical weapons, the Eastern Emperor Bell. This is the magical weapon of the Eastern Emperor Taiyi, it can attack or defend, it can be invincible and strongly fortified. Everyone knows who this magical weapon belongs to and where it is.”

Someone shouted from the crowd below: “It’s in our Fengdu.”

“That’s right. The magical weapon was acquired by the military judge of the underworld, Zhong Kui, heaven master Zhong. Owning such a treasure, proclaim oneself as emperor and hero is not that difficult, but heaven master Zhong put this treasure in Fengdu to repair the barrier so that humans and ghosts do not disturb each other. In such a state, it’s really admirable, making mortals be far inferior.” The storyteller bowed to show respect.

“Heaven master Zhong is a living God.” A vendor yelled from below, “I have the latest portrait of heaven master Zhong pasted at home, can ward off evil spirits, only for three pennies.”

Xie Bi An chuckled: “They always painted him so ugly. Master always gets angry”

Fan Wu She glanced at the portrait of Zhong Kui. In the painting, a fellow with curly temples, eyes like bronze bells, tough and stocky, expression ferocious, it seems to be based on people’s imagination, how scary it is, paint it that way. He then thought of Zhong Kui’s drunken state, it’s really absurd and funny.

“The second ancient magical weapon is the Shen Nong Ding. It is the magic weapon of Emperor Shen Nong Yan. Everything in the world can be refined. It can refine the top magical weapons and elixir, Making all cultivators in the world go after it like a flock of ducks*. But this Shen Nong Ding, everyone knows where it is, everyone can see and touch it, but no one can claim it for himself.”

The Shen Nong Ding in Kunlun, transformed into a fairy mountain. It is indeed visible and touchable. However, there are very few capable users.

“This Shen Nong Ding is an active volcano. Throughout the year, it is dormant with the real fire of Samadhi. This fire can only be activated with spiritual power. In the process of refining, unless the spiritual power is unending and the fire does not extinguish, otherwise all efforts will be wasted. Currently, no one in the world is able to move this Ding alone. Trying it once consumes a lot of energy. The latest time this precious opens up was 6 years ago. Jinling’s Xianyue pavilion’s master gave his eldest son Lan Chui Han a sword.”

Xie Bi An quietly said to Fan Wu She: “That time master took me to watch for fun, Xianyue pavilion recruited a hundred high-ranking cultivators to protect Ding alternately for 3 days and 3 nights.”

Fan Wu She disapproved: “Heard before.”

Xie Bi An said admiringly: “That is a good, rare sword. Worthy of the reputation of the first mister in the world. Brother Lan’s character is good, knew the I like orchids, and gave me a petal of orchid from the maternal plant of hundred years. It’s extremely precious, I…”

Fan Wu She slapped his chopsticks down.

Xie Bi An was puzzled: “What’s wrong?”

Xie Bi An’s expression of admiring another man made Fan Wu She overflowed with jealousy. He ground his molars and squeezed out a word: “…spicy.”

Xie Bi An handed a glass of water to Fan Wu She: “Drink some water, I asked you just now, you said you can eat spicy food. time I will ask them to put less chilli.”

That storyteller had already started talking about the map of Shanhe Sheji.

“This map of Shanhe Sheji, is a magical tool of the Nuwa clan. Legend said that it has all-encompassing power, the power of moving mountains and filling the sea, has stayed in the treasure house of Emperor Song for hundred of years, and no one can use it, until someone stole it.” The storyteller pretended to say mysteriously, “Everyone knows what happened next. In the battle of Mount Luofeng a hundred years ago, this map disappeared without a trace. This map of Shanhe Sheji, is the most mysterious magical weapon among the four ancient magical weapons. Opinions differ regarding how effective it is. It is said that this map can make people feel like they’re in fairyland or in hell.”

“Hearing “Emperor Song” this word, Fan Wu She’s gaze became gloomy.

“That Emperor Song…” Xie Bi An suddenly said.

Fan Wu She’s heart suddenly stopped.

“If you’re interested in Song clan’s story, I will take you to Yulou next time. There is a gentleman who tells this story well.” Xie Bi An picked a piece of fish with his chopsticks and gave it to Fan Wu She, “Careful of the fishbone.”

Fan Wu She clenched his chopsticks tightly: “Doesn’t the folks dare not talk about Song Zi Xiao?”

“That gentleman is bold and open-minded to listeners. Besides, he doesn’t mention the name of the demon supreme and doesn’t talk about the things after Song Zi Xiao became bedevilled. He only starts from the creation of Song clan to proclaiming an Emperor, to how the two brothers Song Zi Heng and Song Zi Xiao quarrelled and the collapse of their relationship, from prosperity to decline. His story was sorted out clearly. I only listened to it twice, after that I bought a book he published, which was quite interesting.”

Fan Wu She’s heart surged, unable to calm down. In a hundred years, everything has been reduced to dust. Back then, one forgets, the other one remembers. Listening to this person talking about their past lives in a tone of gossip, that innocuous appearance only made him resent and hate.

The storyteller talked about the last magical weapon that the listeners were most interested in —-Xuanyuan Heavenly Secret talisman.

“This Xuanyuan Heavenly Secret talisman should have been told together with the map of Shanhe Sheji, because they were all possessed by one person. With these two magical weapons, this person almost destroyed the mortal and ghost realms.”

Hearing the guests’ surprised voices, obviously, they were excited.

“Xuanyuan Heavenly Secret talisman is the magical weapon of the Queen Mother of the West. She once dispatched Nine Heavens Profound Girl to help Emperor Xuanyuan to defeat Chiyou and taught her the “Three Palaces and Five Meanings of Yin and Yang, Taiyi Dunjia Liuren Step Fighting Technique, Yin Talisman Secret and Lingbao Five Talisman Five Wins’s script”, and gave her this talisman, which can command the soldiers of the three realms, Xuanyuan clan later wrote the [Emperor’s Yin Talisman scripture], also known as the [Emperor’s Heavenly Secret scripture] to describe the mystery of this talisman.” The storyteller got excited and said passionately, “Rumor has it that this talisman wandered in the mortal realm, but no one has seen it for millions of years. It is said that this rumour is not credible, but it was found by that unspeakable person. Since then, the world has changed, the universe is turned upside down. One voice of command, obtain a million Yin soldiers. Gods and Buddhas cannot even hinder.”

The inner lobby became silent.

After a moment of silence, a childish voice suddenly said: “Daddy, I want this talisman.”

The serious atmosphere broke through in a second, and laughter rang. The storyteller tried to hold his laughter back and said: “In short, after the battle at Mount Luofeng, this talisman was suppressed somewhere in Jiuyou by the Great Emperor Beiyin, and never had the chance to see the sun again. This little lady, don’t press your father la.”

Xie Bi An joined the crowd to applause. The apprentice of the storyteller was in the lobby, shuttled back and forth asking a superior to bestow a reward on the storyteller for his merit. He also prepared a bit of silver.

Suddenly, there was a commotion in the street. Xie Bi An looked out from the window and saw a group of cultivators wearing Wuliang Sect’s green robes were chasing someone.

three-inch tongue* [三寸舌] means a metaphor of eloquence

like a flock of ducks* [趋之若鹜] means to scramble for something