On the fifteenth day of the lunar month just after the new year, I was sent back through Time. Unexpected and unfathomably, I came to the red pine coppice that Father found me when I was still a baby. Everything I saw seemed like a hypnagogic midsummer's night dream to me. Was it just a vision or had I really taken a step down the old lane of Time to witness everything myself? I could not say. But if I had really returned, why was everyone unable to see nor hear me? Why was I able to fly? Why was I not hampered by fatigue nor hunger? But if it was only a dream or a vision, why were my cigarettes and the contents of my wallet wet when I returned after the torrential deluge in 1976?
When I was trying to leave the forest, I began to realize thinking of walking out was an ignorant naivety on my part; the forest was just too wide an expanse for me to find my way out in a day or two. I had to start a fire that night but that allowed me to know a new friend in a geeky girl wh
I realized the confused and aghast expression on Qin Le's face and placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's fine. I am a human. Not a demon." After a heartbeat, I said to her again, "Ah, right. So with my sister here, I suppose we'll have no problem getting out of this forest. This is her domain, after all." I cast a glance at Sister and she nodded with a smile at me, attesting to what I just said. Then, it was time for explanations. Apparently, Sister was informed of my presence after I allowed the young little fox cub caught by my spirit wolf to go. It had scampered off to Sister and told her about me. The news of a young man with considerable magical skills and armed with a magical gourd appearing in the forest reminded Sister about Father, hence she led her retinue of foxes with her. To her dismay, she found only me instead. Only, when she first saw me, the little baby brother who was still wetting his bed when she last saw me was the last t
Sister delivered a powerful smack to the back of my head with pure indignance. "And what do you think I have been doing for centuries?! I've come a long way to reach where I am now!" Unlike most other demons, Sister has been studying in the same magic as Mother's, which made them similar to how humans achieved immortality and godhood. The greatest difference between Sister's methods and the rest of the Wudaxian beasts chasing the same, Sister practiced her magic by retaining her human form. The more her powers grew, the more she would be able to change more like a human. Considering Madame White Snake who took more than thousands of years for her to morph into a full-fledged human, Sister's ability to turn into a partially-imperfect lass with just barely a century-old of magic was a feat upon itself. I should be proud of her. Moreover, I must not forget that Sister once had her demonic powers stripped by Father 20 years ago before she had to start anew. That alone was
I woke up at daybreak the following morning to Sister's incessant shaking of my shoulders. Rubbing my eyes, I slowly clambered up from my bed and put on the old 90's fur-trimmed trench coat that Sister made herself. It was already nine in the morning, or so I gathered from the Sun perching cheerily up above. There was hardly any more reason for us to dawdle here, so I hurried Qin Le to get a move on. "Wait," Sister's voice came suddenly. I turned to see Sister, standing sheepishly behind me. She looked too embarrassed to speak, but I knew why. She must have been too lonely here and she must really want to come with me to see Father and Mother. "Do you like to come home with me, Sister?" I invited with a grin. But Big Sister seemed awfully apprehensive despite her earnest wish to say yes. But it was only understandable; Father and Mother had only met Big Sister once and it has been so long. She was worried if Father and Mother might not recognize her.
"SISTER?!" The tour guide yelped like a frightened pup, his eyes as large as the saucers at the pantry. "Err..." he stammered and I told him about Sister while making full sure to remind him that I was a human! At the end of my story, the tour guide nodded his head profusely. "So, would you like a drink, Master Shiyan?" Still, I had hardly any desire to acquiesce to his invitation. Citing my need for more suitable clothing for my sister, I declined. It was well past dinner when we got out. Fortunately, the busy streets of Baishan City were still bustling with people with neon signs of the myriads of shops still open blazing proudly overhead. I led Sister with me as we walked through the streets and Sister remarked uncomfortably, her eyes wandering to her fox's tail, ears and legs, "I do not feel right, Little Brother." "Relax, Big Sister. No one's looking!" Still, I knew what I said did little to ease Sister's nerves as she followed uncomfortably behind m
The hairs on my back stood up like needles as soon as I heard the shrill voice. Sister stood in front of me, crouching warily as if ready to pounce and her ice sword gleaming white-bluish in her hand. I weaved my fingers, making the hand seals to summon the Shiyan Blade to me. The air screamed with a sharp whistle and my sword appeared overhead, lowering itself gently into my grasp. The crisp, disembodied voice of the intruder came again from deep inside the alleyway, "Heh heh heh... You really are the Spirit of the Shiyan Blade! Remarkable!" "Who are you?" I growled into the darkness but Sister interjected brusquely, "Strike first, questions later! Show no patience for fiends like him!" Her fingers, forming the Seal of the Sword, moved and she directed her ice sword to charge at the enemy like a lunging spear. Suddenly, there was raspy ringing in the air like a chorale of chimes despite the lack of a breeze. Like the bells commonly worn on a person's bra
Aisin Gioro, the ruling clan that once occupied the throne of the Qing Empire. Contrary to the beliefs of many, the name Aisin Gioro was hardly a family name or a surname, but rather the name of the clan itself. Similar in nature to Clan Xuanyuan and Clan Shennong which descended from Huang Di of the Center and Yan Di of the South respectively. The sinicized surname Jin was adopted later following the fall of the Qing Empire, which could also mean that this eccentric stranger, Jin Qichen was a progeny that hailed from the line of emperors of the Qing Empire. Jin Qichen looked positively proud when the name "Aisin Gioro" was mentioned. So proud that he looked as if he was going to burst. "The Dragon-slaying Blade became missing after the fall of Manchukuo. Since then, my clan and that of the shamans have retreated into hiding until now." I rubbed my chin and asked a pondering question, "Your name is Qichen, you say? So you must be cousins with the famous c
I stared, bewildered and awestruck at the beam shooting right at me from Na San's staff! Then I felt a jolt; Big Sister shoved me aside and the ray of light shot between us harmlessly. Lurching sideways, a thought flashed across my mind: since when do shamans use laser technology?! But Na San, the boorish brute that he was, was already readjusting the direction of his staff to send another death ray my way! The beam blazed a trench no more than three fingers wide as it charged at me like a red spear and the cobblestones sizzled with protest with a long fuming and blackened streak as the beam headed straight at me. But I was already one with the Shiyan Blade; a state of harmony and union that allowed the Shiyan Blade to accord me unbelievable speed and superhuman strength. I leaped up, reaching as high as almost ten yards, cleanly jumping out of the trajectory of the laser beam. This is my chance to retaliate! I raised the Shiyan Blade before
I squirmed on my bed, feeling the throbs of cramps and soreness all around me. After a heartbeat of thinking, I replied, "Well, I guess we can only bring him back with us to Wu Zhong. We'll bring him to Father and let him decide." Big Sister nodded her assent. That was the only viable option we could take. The next morning, I heard a series of loud rappings on our door. The tour guide was knocking to find out if we intend to join his troupe back. Remembering that we still have a captive, I whispered through the narrow slit I opened at the door, "We'll find our own way back. I'd best not get you into trouble since my Big Sister has no papers with her and we can't well take a train. Moreover, I intend to stay for another couple of days here for fun." The door was barely shut for minutes when someone came knocking again. I opened it and put on a drowsy look to find Qin Le standing outside. She also wanted to know if we would be joining the tourists on our wa
Along the way, Qiao Yu asked the sword bearing youth, "The youth senior just now is ......" The sword-bearing youth replied with the same color as usual: "My old man." Although Qiao Yu had already heard the previous conversation between the two, but at this time the youth personally said number, or let Qiao Yu again ate a shock.The accompanying magistrates were all confused as well, and the martial youth laughed and said, "Don't you guys always talk about gods and goddesses, but this time you've seen a real one, why don't you all recognize it?" The crowd was instantly startled and turned back to look, even though they had long since left the place of the incident by a great distance. Qiao Yu at this time sighed: "Immortals can only, heaven and earth with spring. At today's sight, it is really so!"The sword-bearing youth laughed, at which point the shorter youth asked, "Do you think that this old Uncle Hai is the same person he was three hundred years ago, or the same p
And this is the end of the southern part of a place called Chao Luowo, the county's two big rivers, return to the township, artichoke transport through this place. Because Wuling has been very close to the sea sea water rise and fall along the river, up to this, so the name Chao Luo nest.The military rations of Xingzhou Zuotunwei and the nearby guards established by the imperial court had to be transported through here via the Huixiang River. Because of the return to the countryside of the river turned a corner here, the river flows here, and then with the tide upstream of the sea water meeting, will cause the river siltation. Nine floods in ten years, often affecting the transportation of military rations. Therefore, the court ordered Yutian to dredge the river. Qiao Zhixian field survey, decided to straighten the bay some, the project involves the shore of an ancient well, already do not know how many years. It was the digging of this ancient well that brought considerable
And said no end of the three absolute and Qiao Zhixian line back to the city, not yet into the courtyard will encounter a messenger led a little girl kneeling down in front of the four people crying for help. Negative sword youth went forward to pick up the child, this is a little girl of eight or nine years old, on the fat side, long and sturdy. Round face is very cute, negative sword youth asked her: "What's wrong ah? Saving whose life ah? Who is trying to harm you?" That child was very much in tune with the negative sword youth and hugged the negative sword youth's neck, saying, "Uncle save my father!"The officer who led her said, "This is my relative's child, who traveled thirty miles to the city to look for me, saying that her father had been lost for three days. The village can't find him, so I think the three masters can calculate what's wrong with this relative of mine!"The short youth shook his head like a rattle drum and said, "How can the child say her fathe
It is said that a family in a village in the southern part of Wuling held a wedding ceremony, and the groom died violently on the wedding night. The county magistrate, Mr. Qiao, received a report of the case and took the coroner to the scene to investigate.The pallbearer examined the body and saw that the groom had no visible trauma. Face serene, slightly smiling. Asked the bride, the bride said the morning found the groom sleeping, greeted get up did not answer, lifted the brocade quilt only to find the groom is dead! In-laws rushed to find their son died violently, rushed to find someone to the county to report! Lord Qiao saw that the groom had no external injuries and no signs of poisoning, so he could only conclude the case by saying that the groom had been over-excited on his wedding night and had died violently.Not a day and the people reported that the southern part of the county, a wedding night groom died violently. Mr. Qiao, the county magistrate bu
It is said that there is a Lian Sheng Inn in this Endless City, and this day a merchant came to live in the store.After the meal, the merchant greeted the fellows to ask the shopkeeper to come to see, see the shopkeeper, the merchant took out some loose silver, said to the shopkeeper: "My name is Wang Hui, is a few hundred miles to the west of Qizhou, do the business of medicinal herbs. I have a store in the capital, and recently I've expanded my business, so I'm planning to open another pharmacy in this city. Before staying in the store in the city around, to open a pharmacy is best with the city now several pharmacies to distance themselves. I have already looked at a street frontage and negotiated with the owner there, but the shopkeeper and the doctor-in-charge must have family members to come with them, so I need to buy another mansion not far from the store. Although I have found a house, I don't know if the owner is willing to sell it. I'd like to ask the shopkeeper ab
It was said that there was a village in Wufeng called Xijiatun. There was a villager named XI Maungzhao, who was a businessman. Catch this summer to Henan for business, unexpectedly Henan flood capsized the boat, folded the capital. And encountered porcelain extortion, only to engage in penniless, then picked up the eight rope. From the market on credit some vegetables, pick to the village to sell, to make up some money. After a lot of hard work, the next year only bounced back home. After coming back, he got very sick, and used up all the family's savings before he could barely save his life, but he could not work and often vomited blood.This day, sitting on the stone in front of the door to rest cool, came three guests passed by the door. Xi Maung Zhao recognize that these three is the famous endless three great, said that they have been unlucky for years, recently met the three immortals, I heard that some people know them, then mixed with the county's errand boy. Why don'
That said, the two to the county government office two people are still tearing. Qiao Yu busy asking why the conflict, the Taoist priest said that the fortune-teller to their own insults for no reason, but also blinded his eyes.Qiao magistrate immediately asked the short young man for what reason conflicts with Taoist priests, short young man said Taoist priests involved in plotting to take people's wives, killing and harming life, he is for the yin and yang line clean up the door. The specific case only need to Wan Zidong couple of Wan Jia Zhuang in the east of the city will be summoned to the hall, a question from the clear.Less inclined Wan Zidong brought, saw the hall kneeling that Taoist priest, immediately ate a shock.Qiao magistrate immediately slapped the shocking wood: "Daring Wan Zidong, how did you plot to take a man's wife to kill and harm life, tell us the truth!" That Wan Zidong shivering, can not say a word.The short youth said, "All you ne
And that out of the endless mountains, east out of the pass, is the Luanzhou territory. In Luanzhou, there was a Huang Xiu Cai, who had failed in his repeated attempts, and became obsessed with shadow puppetry. He traveled all over the country performing on weekdays to make ends meet.This day, Huang Xiucai is a village performance of shadow puppet theater, the stage down three dressed in strange costumes, one of the visitors actually still carrying a sword. Generally, the sword is across the waist, but this person is carrying it on his back is very strange! These three people did not watch the play in the front stage, but went around to the backstage to watch Huang Xiucai operate. The audience has never seen this dress of people, have wondered if the shadow man alive, a closer look, three people dressed and shadow man is not the same, then they have been curious to watch. For a while, no one watched the play, all around the three people, do not know what the origin of the thr
And say this day, no end of the mountain slopes in front of the path came a pick eight rope. What Wuling called "picking eight ropes" was in fact a cargo man. At that time, the income of the cargo man was not as high as that of the farmers, so he had no choice but to make a living.This pick eight rope, saw the hillside in front of a tree under the three people are resting in the cool, recognized that it is the Terminal Three, then went up to chat with the cool. During this eight rope picking, asked the endless three, said: "small Pu two, three masters of the magic power is profound, can you show me, I'm tired of running around every day, when I can buy a few acres of land, when an honest farmer ah?"The short youth of the Three Jedi smiled and said, ''Your requirements are not too high. Although people's lives are predestined by heaven, but it is not like the legend of the difference. This sometimes ah, the same opportunity, people's character is different approach is d