The First Book: The Chapter of Birth - Chapter 1: A Lone Goose on a Cold River Under the Autumn Moon

  White clouds are floating, gentle breeze is blowing, sunshine is sprinkling on the body, warm and cozy.

  The phoenix is soaring in the sky, and the qilin is roaming on the grass. The lake water is rippling with a subtle wave, reflecting a magical and beautiful color.

  A young man sat by the lake, his eyes staring blankly ahead. The picturesque scenery and rare birds and beasts around him were completely unnoticed, as he gazed intently with a dazed expression.

  In front of the young man, three feet away, a girl in purple clothes was dancing. Her dance was light and graceful, her expression floating, her beautiful face full of smiles. The light penetrated through her thin dress, her skin faintly visible, her slender figure making everything else pale in comparison.

  In an instant, the sun sets in the west and the moon rises high. The girl jumps tiredly, walks over to lean against the boy and sits down, resting her head on his knees, raising her head to smile at him. Her charming posture exudes cuteness, with tender feelings flowing in her eyes, and a faint glimmer of tears, that is the lovable expression of a girl who loves to the extreme.

  The young man licked his lips and tried to calm himself down, asking: "Miss, who...who are you?"

  The purple-clothed girl smiled cleverly and opened her peach lips slightly, saying: "Woof woof!"

  The young man was inexplicably surprised and asked: "What?"

  But then the girl lowered her head and bit down on the boy's arm, causing him to gasp in shock and cry out: "Miss, what do you mean by this?"

  Suddenly, a loud "Wang Wang" sound was heard. The young man suddenly opened his eyes. What phoenix, what qilin, lake water and grassland, all disappeared in an instant. In front of him, a big mouth drooling, red tongue hanging long, it turned out to be a big yellow dog covered with scabies.

  A shopkeeper-like man with a plank on his shoulder opened the door behind him, looked at the young man and said disdainfully: "Calling a mother dog a maiden is indeed a beauty in the eyes of a lover."

  The young man stood up, only to realize it was just a dream. He shook his head and let out a faint sigh, ignoring his friends' teasing, and slowly walked forward along the long street.

  It was late autumn, with the morning glow barely visible on the horizon. The city of Guanxian was shrouded in mist. The markets had not yet opened, and the streets were quiet and deserted.

  The young man walked for a while, feeling drowsy, and the image of the purple-clothed girl kept appearing in his mind. Before he knew it, he arrived at a low-rise building, looked around, and found that this place had no street shops or annoying dogs, so he wrapped his tattered clothes tightly, found a sheltered corner, and fell asleep.

  A person who has fallen into despair finds great pleasure in having beautiful dreams.

  As expected, as soon as he closed his eyes, the young man felt a fragrant breeze swirling around him, and he floated up to the heavenly palace. Suddenly, he found someone standing in front of him, and when he looked closely, it was that purple-clothed girl again! Her smile was still lovely, her demeanor still gentle. This time, the young man paid attention, carefully observing her from head to toe, and saw that every strand of her hair was clearly visible, which made him realize that she was not a dream or an illusion, but a real person!

  "Could it be that the big yellow dog has become a demon and is haunting my dreams?" As soon as this thought emerged, the young man regretted it immensely, almost slapping his own mouth - how could such an elegant and pure girl be associated with a dog demon?

  The girl pulled his wrist and led him forward slowly. The boy looked around, his eyes wide with surprise. It turned out that this was the bridal chamber of a newlywed couple, with dragon and phoenix carvings on the beams, red lacquer furniture shining brightly, and "double happiness" characters everywhere. The boy's face lit up with delight, and he asked: "Is today our wedding day?"

  The purple-robed girl nodded, pulling him to sit on the bed. The embroidered quilt was soft and warm to the touch. The girl's body emitted a faint, intoxicating fragrance that made his soul dizzy. She grasped the boy's right hand, her movements gentle, guiding it into her own clothes, upwards, further upwards, until they reached her chest... The boy felt the tips of his fingers slipping smoothly, his palm warm and soft as cotton. His heart throbbed wildly, and he felt a wave of dizziness wash over him.

  The candlelight flickered with a "pop", he suddenly came to, remembering that important sentence, and hastily asked in a loud voice: "Miss, miss, may I ask your name..."

  The girl hadn't even responded when a loud "splash" of hot soup poured down on her head. The young man came to his senses, looked up and around, only to see a short-legged building window with a horse-faced woman sticking out, covering her mouth with a handkerchief and grinning strangely.

  The horse-faced woman raised her hand with a small wooden basin, laughing: "Hey, looking for a girl so early in the morning? Little brother is quite enthusiastic, I'll give you some foot-washing water to taste, hahaha."

  The low building was a small brothel, and "sisters" was also a colloquial term for prostitutes. The young man lived in a dirty place, spoke vulgar words, and couldn't avoid some unprovoked disasters. He stood up, smoothed his sleeves, smelled the wet clothes, and found that the fragrance of cosmetics mixed with the smell of blood, which might be the washing water of women.

  That prostitute herself leaned forward and backward, her mouth and flesh bursting open, compared to that dream girl, she looked like a Rakshasa mother covered in human skin.

  The young man furrowed his brow and shook his head, sighing: "This year is unlucky for me, I'm doomed to be jinxed."

  He lifted his hem to wipe it hastily and hurriedly left the low-rise building. The more he walked, the more confused he became, with the purple-clothed girl's smile lingering in his mind. Suddenly, he stopped in his tracks and muttered to himself: "It's absolutely not a dream! Her appearance I will never forget for the rest of my life, if it were an illusion, how could it be so profound?" He twirled his fingertips, still retaining the warmth of the girl's fragrance, his face flushed, and a gentle warmth surged in his heart.

  Continue walking forward, gradually approaching the end of the street. On the right side, the sound of waves crashing, the rolling and rushing Min River stretches to the sky. The cold river wind blows over, freezing the young man's teeth chattering like a sieve. Wanting to dream again but unable to fall asleep, the young man hugs his elbows, faces the river and becomes lost in thought, suddenly having an odd idea "A drop of water, no matter how it flows, will eventually find its way to the ocean. If I have fate with her, we must meet in this life."

  At this thought, the young man was overcome with emotion and pointed to the sky, shouting loudly: "Whether it's a human or a demon, as long as she exists in this world, I will definitely find..." Before he could finish speaking, golden stars began to flash before his eyes, and his stomach growled with hunger. The young man took a deep breath and thought to himself: "First, I need to find something to eat, fill my belly, and then I'll have the energy to think about the beauty." He tightened his belt and headed towards the market, avoiding the wind.

  On the right bank of the Min River, there is a temple dedicated to Li Bing and his son of the Qin Dynasty. The spacious square in front of the temple has long been a gathering place for merchants. As the young man walked slowly to this place, he saw only red lanterns shining brightly, and flags fluttering like a forest. Those restaurants, wine shops, tea houses stood one after another; more than ten stalls selling cooked meat, steamed buns, and rice cakes lined up in rows, filling the air with savory aromas that attracted passing tourists to stop and linger.

  In the vast and dusty world, in the boundless sea of people, where can I find the faint trail of the purple-robed maiden?

  The young man gazed out at the distance with a bewildered expression, shaking his head and smiling wryly to himself for his wild fancies. He reached into his pocket and found only five copper coins left, and laughed: "Just enough to buy five steamed buns! Ha ha, hot steamed buns filling my belly, feeling comfortable all over, better than the empty joy of a beautiful dream." Having made up his mind, he walked quickly towards the food stall.

  At this moment, someone in the distance called out: "The heavens are vast, and human affairs are small calculations. If you encounter a tricky situation, ask me Wang Half Immortal."

  The young man's mind stirred, and he turned his head to look. He saw a table with eight immortals beside the fish stall, with an umbrella propped up next to it, on which was written "Divination and fortune-telling, all accurate" in eight black characters. Behind the table sat an old man, with a crab-shell face and a few yellow whiskers, shaking his abacus and shouting: "I can divine good or bad luck, ask about prosperity or disaster, lost family property, missing cattle, and know everything."

  The young man touched the copper coins, hesitated for a long time, and suddenly gritted his teeth: "Forget it, forget it. This matter is unclear, and I won't even enjoy my meal." He walked up to the table, bowed to the old man, and said: "Excuse me, sir."

  The old man narrowed his eyes and saw that the young man's clothes were tattered and worn out, and he asked indifferently: "Are you a fortune teller?"

  The young man asked: "Just now I heard you talk about measuring lost cattle and horses. Dare I ask if it can measure people?"

  The old man said: "Is it that your father is gone or your mother has run away? Hurry up and report to the authorities, don't delay my business."

  The young man silently took out five big coins and arranged them one by one along the edge of the table. The old man's eyes lit up when he saw the money, fiddled with his abacus, cleared his throat, and said seriously: "Young man, what do you want to have divined?"

  The young man hesitated and said: "This matter is too strange, I don't know where to start."

  The old man looked him up and down, saying: "Alright, let's take it slow. Hmm, I observe that young master's facial features are indeed those of a good family's son. Due to avoiding disaster, he left his hometown and wandered from Hunan to Sichuan."

  The young man's face showed a look of surprise, and he nodded: "It is indeed Wang Banshan, not one bit different. I was indeed taking refuge here, but unexpectedly used up all my money."

  Actually, just by his accent, anyone can tell he's from Hunan; looking at his clothes again, although they're tattered, the fabric is good, not like those of a beggar who's been struggling for a long time. Wang Banshan secretly smiled to himself, thinking "This kid doesn't know the ways of the world, probably it's his first time leaving home." With the intention of probing into his background, he said: "Since you're asking about mysterious things, first tell me your name and explain the reasons behind and in front, little brother."

  The young man replied: "Xiao Ke's surname is Tao, her name is Yao Yao, and she is from Wuling, Hunan Province."

  Wang Banshan smiled secretly, "What a strange name, only knowing how to escape when things happen, isn't that being a coward? It can be seen that his parents are also foolish." He asked again, "How old are you? When were you born?"

  Tao Xiaoxiao replied: "I'm ten years old this year. I was born at 4:00 am on April 15th."

  Wang Banshen blinked his eyes and shook his head, deliberately speaking in a mysterious tone: "The hour of the Tiger belongs to Yin, my surname belongs to Wood, it should be that the yin energy is offending the Peach Blossom, are you asking about romantic affairs?" He muttered to himself, thinking "This young whippersnapper has just begun to understand the taste of love, apart from the entanglements between men and women, what else can he possibly think about?"

  The young woman hesitated, then said: "Sir, you are wise and can surely dispel my doubts. Listen to the whole story... Recently, for nearly half a month, I have been dreaming of the same woman every night. She is extremely beautiful and elegant, with manners indistinguishable from those of a real person... except that she never speaks." After detailing her situation, she asked: "I hope you can instruct me, sir - where should I go to find that woman in purple?"

  Wang Banshan had just taken a sip of tea, and almost spat it out on the spot. He secretly laughed to himself, "Young people having spring dreams is normal, but this fool actually believed it!" His face was serious, and he solemnly said, "It's a matter of life and death, fortunately you met me. Let me tell you from the beginning, in this city there are often fox demons causing trouble..."

  Before he could finish speaking, Tao Xingxing hastily said: "She is genuinely in love with me, she's definitely not a fox spirit!"

  Wang Banshan changed his tune again, one moment saying it was a female ghost, the next saying it was an evil spirit. Tao Yaya shook her head repeatedly, denying everything. Wang Banshan grew impatient and thought to himself, "Five big coins wasted on so much saliva, I'd better just hit him!" He picked up his abacus and began clicking away, staring with wide eyes as he pretended to say, "No wonder it's hard to measure, turns out it's the Purple Cloud Fairy who has an unfinished fate with your old man, that's why she's been haunting you in your dreams. The Purple Cloud Fairy is a fairy from the mortal world, only men with exceptional roots and talent can see her."

  "Alas! Half believing and half doubting, she said: 'My father? I haven't been born yet when my father died, what relationship does he have with the fairy maiden?'"

  Wang Banshan said: "Heavenly secrets cannot be leaked, let alone Laozi's romantic debts, how can the son afford to listen?"

  Tao Yao was interrupted and couldn't ask further, so she said: "Please, sir, instruct me on how to pay respects to the Purple Cloud Fairy."

  Just then a young girl was supporting an old woman, who came forward to ask for divination. Wang Banshan was busy soliciting business and hastily replied: "Leaving the city and heading west for forty miles, everything will be auspicious, go quickly."

  Tao Yaoyao turned around and walked two steps, then came back and said: "If we can't find that immortal maiden, what should we do?"

  "Wang Banshan said: 'If you can't find it in one day, look for two days; if you can't find it in a month, look for two months. If there's still no result after two months, then come back and smash my stall.'"

  The fortune teller's rule of thumb is to change locations every half month. Some fortune tellers travel far and wide, fearing that their clients will come after them later to settle accounts. If they're asked to verify the results of their divination two months later, who can be found then? Tao Xiaoxiao didn't know the ways of the world, but listening to Wang Bixian's words, which seemed so certain and convincing, she felt a sense of relief in her heart, glad that she had finally learned the whereabouts of the purple-clothed girl.

  At the moment, she determined her direction and strode towards the west of the city. After a short while, her legs felt weak and sore, and she couldn't walk anymore. Tao Yan wiped the virtual sweat from her forehead, thinking to herself "If only I had spent two more coins on a pancake, it would have been better than this, with my stomach growling and my face looking like a hungry ghost, even if I saw an immortal, it would be a desecration." She looked up and saw the bustling restaurant across the street, with platters of greasy lamb hanging from the shelves, plates piled high with pig's feet, roast duck, braised pork, beef balls, filling the air with savory aromas. Tao Yan stretched her neck, swallowing saliva, wishing she could fly out of her throat.

  When the eyes were hot, a small beggar suddenly appeared at the table, five charcoal-like fingers stretched into the bowl of noodles, and then smiled and escaped several steps. The guest who was eating noodles thought it was dirty and didn't dare to chase after the child, so he had to put down his bowl and leave. The little beggar achieved great success, came forward to grab the noodles, and ate them with a "gulp gulp" sound.

  Taoyao thought to herself, "This is a good idea, but it's not very gentlemanly." She then reconsidered and thought, "What's the point of being a gentleman or a petty person? It's all laughable! As the saying goes, 'A starving dog will jump over a wall, a hungry rabbit will bite people.' When someone is starving, they don't have many scruples. Only when you're full do you have the energy to look for fairies." As soon as she thought of the purple-clothed girl, her courage increased twofold. Taoyao carefully observed and spotted the restaurant waiter carrying a copper pot, carefully placing it in front of the counter. The pot was heavy, and the fragrance of oil wafted out, surely filled with delicious food.

  The owner of this restaurant believed in Buddhism, and every day he lit a big lamp and recited scriptures. The pot inside was filled with boiling hot fragrant oil. Tao Xiaoxiao's thieving heart was nervous and didn't dare to look closely, so she quickly ran over, stretched out her hand and inserted it into the bottom of the pot. Instantly, she was scalded and let out a loud cry: "Oh my mother!" She jumped up, turned around and ran away. The restaurant staff were shocked and secretly praised this person for being bold enough to scoop oil from the pot with their bare hands.

  Tao Yaoyao ran wildly, sprinting past the South Bridge to Xinghua Street before finally stopping to catch his breath. He raised his hand to look and saw that his skin was all red and swollen. His easygoing nature didn't make him mind much, but he couldn't help letting out a bitter laugh: "I tried to steal a chicken but ended up losing the rice instead - what is this 'mold' thing in the world? It's enough to make one blame oneself!" After struggling for a while, he didn't feel too hungry anymore and walked along the street with a carefree stride.

  Xinghua Street is near the city suburbs, far less prosperous than the city. Although there are many buildings on both sides, they are tea houses and tea shops, places for elegant and quiet conversations. At this moment, it's still early in the day, and tea customers will only arrive after noon. In the teahouse on the street, only a few idle people are scattered about.

  The Taoyuan remembered the "Purple Cloud Fairy" and walked west on the street for half a mile, with the city gate visible in the distance. Suddenly, someone shouted loudly, turned his head to look, and saw a blue-shirted young man sitting in a teahouse by the street, wearing copper-plated arm guards and a five-foot treasure sword at his waist, dressed as a martial arts young master. The young man leaned against the table, sipping tea and listening to the old master's storytelling, clapping and cheering whenever he heard an exciting part.

  The table was filled with peanuts, zongzi, cloud-shaped cakes, sesame candies and other snacks. She couldn't help but drool, her stomach burning with hunger. She thought to herself, "If I can't sneak a snack, I'll just pretend to be a guest. After all, Confucius didn't starve to death when he traveled around the country, thanks to his smooth talking and ability to eat and drink everywhere."

  The plan was set, and he slowly approached the table. The blue-shirted young man listened intently to the storytelling, unaware of someone approaching. The teahouse was in a quiet period, rarely having customers, so the host was energized, and the sudden "slap" sound shook the air, spitting out saliva five feet away. He was telling the story of "Tianxuan Wudang Moji" - the True Martial Emperor led the turtle-snake two generals, gathering various immortals, and fighting fiercely with demons and monsters from all sides. The blue-clothed young man licked his lips, his face full of eager expression.

  Tao Yao Yao sat down with a slant, her right hand moving on the table, her little finger hooked around a cloud-shaped pastry, slowly pulling it in front of her. The tea master who was brewing tea saw this and stared with wide eyes. Tao Yao Yao quickly pretended to be listening to a story, clapping and shouting: "Good! Wonderful! So refreshing! It's as if Liu Jingting has come back to life!"

  The young man in blue turned his head and found that there was an extra person opposite him. He asked: "Brother, do you like listening to books?"

  Tao nodded repeatedly, boasting: "I love it, I really love it. Xiaoke has loved storytelling since childhood and had a motto that said 'Better to eat no meat than live without books'. Therefore, there is no book that he doesn't understand."

  The young man in blue was filled with emotions and wanted to talk to someone, so he happily said: "So you're familiar with 'Xuanwu's Demon-Subduing Chronicle'? Among the many books about gods and demons in the book market, such as 'The Investiture of the Gods' and 'The Legend of the White Snake', if we're talking about the magical techniques of immortals, 'Demon-Subduing Chronicle' is the most wonderful...". He then went on to talk about how that immortal moved stars and changed fate, how that divine general was invincible, and what wonders those various magical treasures had, listing them off one by one like a treasured collection.

  After chatting for a long time, the young man picked up his teacup and drank tea. Tao Yao took the opportunity to put a cloud-shaped pastry in her mouth, seeing that the other party was not paying attention, she also ate a piece of colored sugar, thinking "This old brother is straightforward and nice, but he's infatuated with immortal techniques and talks nonsense."

  The young man put down his tea cup and sighed, "What a pity that the storytelling is good, but it's hard to describe the heroic bearing of the children of the mysterious gate. The immortals and heroes roam freely in the three realms, riding on clouds and stars, with all sorts of magical powers and Taoist arts, beyond the imagination of ordinary people."

  The peach blossoms fell, and the almond cake was served. The host continued: "What you said is absolutely right. There's a common saying that 'it's better to be an immortal's donkey than an emperor's horse.' If one can accompany immortals on their heavenly travels, they'll be carefree and live forever. Isn't it much better than toiling year after year, bowing down for just five pecks of rice?"

  The young man's face lit up with a smile, and he applauded, exclaiming: "Well said! It's a great fortune to meet someone who understands you in life!" He then ordered the tea doctor to take away the teacups and called for wine and dishes to be served. Next door to the teahouse was a small wine shop, and after calling out twice, the waiter brought over large plates and small cups.

  In an instant, the wine was hot and the dishes were ready. While listening to the book, they chatted with each other. The two of them exchanged names, and in order of age, called each other brother and younger brother. The young man in blue shirt was named Lu Kuang, styled Dafar, eighteen years old this year, his ancestral home was Quanzhou, Guangdong Province, and his family had been engaged in maritime trade for generations, with a very prosperous family business. Tao Yan didn't want to talk much about her own life, and reluctantly stammered out a few sentences, changing the subject by saying: "Brother Lu has come from afar, I suppose you must have something important on your mind."

  Lu Kuan-tao said: "To be frank, I came to Szechwan specifically to seek immortality. For a long time, I have heard that the Hsuan Men of Mount Omei is full of wonders and magic, so I intend to pay homage to the mountain and become a disciple."

  "Seeking immortality? Becoming a disciple? What would you learn?"

  Lu Kuan said: "Learning the immortal art. My late father sailed out to sea in his early years, and the wind and waves capsized the boat. Fortunately, Emei Xianke Luandajun passed by and used his magical powers to save my father. From then on, my father cherished the kindness of the immortal and often said that if he didn't have a wife and children at home, he would definitely follow the immortal to learn the Tao. My younger brother has been admiring the Sichuan mountain immortals for a long time. Now that the family business is managed by my older brother, I am free to seek out the immortals, which can also be considered as fulfilling my late father's wish."

  Tao's face turned red as he shook his head slightly, thinking to himself "I've eaten his food, I shouldn't always be flattering him, I should advise him on the right path." Putting down his wine cup, he spoke seriously: "Please forgive me for being presumptuous, but nowadays all scholars and gentlemen consider obtaining honors through examination as their proper vocation. Brother Lu, with your dignified appearance and noble demeanor, you are precisely the kind of person who should pass the imperial examinations with high honors and bring glory to your family. Why do you foolishly indulge in these absurd and heretical practices?"

  Lu Kuan sighed, "Alas, as the saying goes, 'exam, exam, exam, thousands of horses and soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge', if success and fame were that easy to obtain, there wouldn't be so many bookworms in the world. My second brother studied hard from a young age, burying his head in books every day. Later, after much difficulty, he became a xiucai and was sent to the Imperial Academy in the capital for further study. As it turned out, apart from the eight-legged essay, he knew nothing else, not even how to open an eggshell, and had to ask others to teach him how to crack it open. What's the use of reading books?"

  "Anyway, it's better than asking for trouble. Dealing with the Xian family will only get you into trouble, and once you're entangled, you can't shake them off."

  Lu Kuandao said: "From your tone, it seems like you have a deep connection with the Xian family?"

  Tao Yao suddenly felt that she had misspoken and hastily said: "I was just talking nonsense, Brother Lu don't take it seriously."

  Lu Kuan raised his cup and drank, stroking the hilt of his sword with a gentle hand. He said calmly, "Younger brother underestimates the Xuanmen too much. There are many heroes who possess extraordinary skills to slay demons and evil spirits. If I can learn from them, I will surely eliminate all injustices in the world!"

  Tao Yao's eyes widened in surprise, and she asked: "Can't be cleaned up?"

  Lu Kuan's expression was proud and heroic, he said solemnly: "Exactly! To uphold justice and righteousness is our responsibility! If I succeed in my cultivation, I will definitely support the just and eliminate the evil, even if it means sacrificing my life!" After finishing speaking, he strummed his sword and recited a poem from the Tang Dynasty - "Ten years of sharpening one sword, its frosty blade has never been tested, today I'll show it to you, who will be unjust?"

  "Others seek immortality to roam the world, I seek it for a beautiful dream girl. What a difference between high and low." Her face slightly red, she wiped her cheek with her sleeve, pretending to say: "Good wine, really strong."

  Lu Kuan smiled slightly and said, "Brother, your expression is cold and thin, I suppose you are having a hard time here. I have some gifts for you, brother, it's better to go home early. The world is full of dangers, someone as weak and timid as you, it's better to stay at home reading books and managing the family business." He took out a few pieces of silver and threw them on the table.

  Tao Yan didn't decline, raised his hand and put the silver into his bosom, smiled and said: "Thank you for your generosity. Brother Lu is generous by nature, but he still needs to take good care of his purse, otherwise he will end up like me sooner or later."

  Lu Kuan's eyebrows slightly raised, and he asked: "Younger brother also loves to help the poor?"

  "Exactly, I had money when I went out, but then I met poor people and gave them alms, and in no time I became poor too."

  Lu Kuandao said: "No wonder we two have a good affinity, but also share a heroic and just heart to save the world."

  The two nodded at each other, and suddenly burst out laughing together, with a sense of regret for not meeting earlier. Then they talked about their experiences in various places, Lu Kuang spoke freely and grandly, with great passion and enthusiasm, while Tao Yan only had the chance to nod her head in admiration. Just as the conversation was getting lively, a wailing cry suddenly came from the street, mixed with the sound of metal clanging and dragging.

  Lu Tao and the other person stopped their cups and looked away, only to see more than 30 girls walking from the street corner, the older ones were 13 or 14 years old, and the younger ones still had runny noses. Their hands and feet were all shackled with chains, and several men in green clothes followed closely behind them, each one as fierce as a wolf, wielding leather whips to drive away the surrounding onlookers.

  Tao Yanyan saw this and felt suspicious, saying: "This is strange, a little kid has also become a prisoner? The government has arrested the wrong person?"

  The tea doctor who was ironing clothes next to him said, "Where is the government arresting people? These little girls were forcibly taken from nearby villages, all of them are innocent daughters of good families."

  The two were shocked and asked: "In broad daylight, you dare to rob someone and still swagger around?"

  The Tea Master waved his hand, indicating that they should not ask any more questions, and retreated into the inner room. The master of the house also retreated, holding his family's belongings and slipping away with a low head. At this time, the girls on the street could no longer move, and one after another sat down on the stone pavement. The men were about to whip them when a young man appeared from behind, wearing a white robe with arrow sleeves, looking like the leader of the group. He waved his hand to stop the crowd: "They are the spiritual objects used by our master for practice, and must be transported with care. Since we set out early this morning, let's take a short rest."

  Tao Yanyan was shocked and suspicious, pulling out Tea Doctor to ask for details. Tea Doctor shook his head repeatedly, refusing to speak. Tao Yanyan frowned: "As a respectable family's daughter, why are you bound by iron chains? A strong man commits violence in the street, while neighbors stand idly by - is this the custom of Sichuan?"

  The tea master glanced at his tattered clothes and sneered: "Sir, it's fine to swindle food and drink in the autumn wind, but what business is it of yours?"

  The young Taoist pulled out the silver from his bosom and handed it all to Tea Doctor, saying: "Tell me the reason clearly, and the silver will be yours." Lu Kuan looked at him with a hint of displeasure, thinking to himself: "You're quite generous, I'll give you money, and you'll spend it lavishly in front of me."

  The Tea Master measured out the silver, more than two taels, and swallowed his saliva with a "gulp". He smiled and said: "Sir, you are an outsider, don't provoke trouble, the local market is very treacherous." He nodded towards the white-robed man outside and lowered his voice to say: "That's the young master of the wealthy family in this city, named Zhou Tian Sui. His family has thousands of guests, gold and silver treasures piled up like mountains, no one dares to look him straight in the eye within a hundred miles."

  Tao Xiaoxiao asked: "What did they catch the girl for?"

  "Master Zhou's father, Zhou Shangyi, is particularly fond of Taoist arts and is said to be the leader of the Qingcheng sect. Recently, Old Master Zhou has taken a foreign monk as his master and resides in the Golden Wheel Temple in western Sichuan, calling himself 'Ruyi Xiansajia Fawang'. He claims to need young girls who have not yet reached puberty to practice his magical arts. That's why Master Zhou is bringing people to various villages to abduct young girls, sending them away every few days."

  "What kind of magic requires a young girl's cultivation?"

  The Tea Master's face turned red with difficulty, and he sighed: "Inside the situation, how can we small surnames know? Hmm, those parents who lost their daughters also searched everywhere... Later they found the children, naked and horizontal in the wilderness, all of whom were raped before death, and the dead were very miserable... Alas, at a young age, it's really sinful."

  Tao Yaoyao suppressed her anger and said: "What does the government office eat? Don't they care?"

  "County Master Zhou is wealthy and powerful, with influence that reaches the heavens. The County Magistrate is his protégé, and the Prefectural Governor is related to him by marriage. Who dares to swat a fly on a tiger's head? Previously, several victims jointly accused the Zhou family, but were instead found guilty of 'oppressing the government and slandering officials', and were beaten half to death. They were paraded in front of the county yamen, and to this day they cannot escape their suffering, nor can they die."

  Tao's face turned red with rage as he jumped up and shouted: "Is there such a thing in the world? Brother Lu! When you see injustice on the road, what should you do?"

  Lu Kuan looked down at the street, saw the man in green clothes with a big waist and a fierce appearance, and couldn't help but feel a little afraid. He said, "Brother, speak softly, don't be rash."

  "Hey, aren't we supposed to be chivalrous and righteous?"

  Lu Kuan's face turned awkward, and he stammered: "This... a heroic act also requires skill. What I meant was... after mastering the sword technique, then..."

  "Sir, don't be reckless with your bravery, you'll only end up losing your life for nothing."

  Noticing the commotion in the teahouse, several men looked over this way. Lu Kuan's face turned pale and he hastily hid his treasured sword behind him, trembling as he said: "Tao Xian, there is a saying that 'a gentleman plans before acting'. If we were to cultivate our magical arts and help those in trouble, naturally we would be respected. But now you and I are isolated and weak, with limited abilities, what's the difference between recklessly taking action and seeking death? Do you have family at home? You dying in a foreign land would only cause them unnecessary worry, how can that be endured?"

  The whip cracked with a loud "crack", the girls let out a shrill cry, it was unbearable to listen.

  At this time, an old man came running from the direction of the city gate, wearing a linen robe and hemp shoes, stumbling and shouting: "Clouds, Showy, my children..." Two little girls in the crowd responded: "Grandpa, grandpa!" Stretching out their arms and waving. The three generations faced each other and wailed. When the old man stumbled closer, the man in green clothes sneered: "Old scoundrel, Buddha will enjoy your granddaughter, this is the blessing of your family for eighteen generations." He lifted his leg and kicked the old man's chest violently, kicking him until he was out of breath and fainted, vomiting blood on the spot. The neighbors on both sides dared not speak out in anger, watching as the big men turned around, before they plucked up the courage to carry the old man into a tea house. In an instant, all the shops closed their doors, and the once bustling Xinghua Street was empty and desolate like a wilderness.

  Those two little girls were still crying and shouting "Grandpa", heart-wrenching, voice after voice entering Tao's ears. His face turned red and white, his buttocks felt like sitting on a nail board, suddenly he jumped up and muttered to himself: "Am I dead? Being unmoved by such a miserable thing, living is also in vain!" After that, he didn't look back, and walked out of the teahouse with his head held high. Lu Kuan and Tea Doctor saw that things were not going well, and hastily retreated into the inner room, peeking through the curtain to watch.

  Tao Yanyan strode into the street, taking big steps. The group of men had already walked seven or eight zhang away. Tao Yanyan shouted loudly: "Halt!" The burly men didn't expect anyone to dare cause trouble and didn't turn their heads, continuing straight ahead. Tao Yanyan grew anxious, rushing to the last man's backside, kicking his buttocks fiercely with her foot, cursing: "You dog slave, I told you to halt, are your ears deaf?"

  That big man suddenly turned his head and glared at Tao Xiaoxiao, only to see that the other party was a weak and thin young boy. He couldn't help but burst into anger: "You little brat, are you crazy?" With a loud shout, he pushed Tao Xiaoxiao to the ground with both palms. The man wanted to kick and beat him up, but his companions in front urged him to catch up, so he reluctantly walked away. Tao Xiaoxiao looked at Zhou Tian's receding back, afraid that she couldn't catch up, and suddenly opened her throat to cry out: "Zhou Tian, my son! Your father Zhou Shangyi is so miserable!"

  Zhou Tian's ears were slightly startled, and he stopped in his tracks. He saw a young man in tattered clothes walking towards him with an unsteady gait. Several burly men raised their whips to strike, but Zhou Tian held up his hand to stop them. "Who are you?" he demanded. Tao Yao shook her head and didn't respond, instead shouting loudly: "Zhou Tian's good-for-nothing son, a disobedient beast! You've brought ruin upon your father..." The burly men were stunned, unable to believe their ears. The nearby neighbors' hearts skipped a beat as they nervously sweated for Tao Yao.

  Tao walked to the front, turned around with his hands on his hips, a smile on his lips, and actually blocked the team's path. Zhou Tianyuan looked at him with strange behavior, fearless and suspicious, and asked: "That young man, why do you speak so recklessly and insult me? What grudge do you have against my Zhou family?"

  Tao Yaoyao still didn't respond, and instead pretended to cry: "Son, our Zhou family has committed evil deeds and will eventually face retribution! I'm about to die soon, and the underworld has already recorded thousands of iron rods against me. You're not even trying to make up for my sins, but instead you want to harm innocent girls? You're really an unkind and unfilial beast! If you don't stop and repent, it's not just me who will be thrown into the oil cauldron, you'll also suffer a terrible fate, and in your next life, you won't even have an anus!"

  He laughed and scolded without restraint, but his words were laced with advice. The neighbors on both sides heard him and couldn't help but raise their thumbs in approval, whispering "Well said!" A young girl listening to his jokes couldn't help but giggle out loud. Only Lu Kuan shook his head repeatedly, thinking "Brother Tao is an educated man, how can he speak so crudely?"

  Zhou Tian Sui gazed at Tao Wanwan, thinking to himself "In recent years, my Qingcheng Sect has shaken the Jianghu with its power, attracting the jealousy of many other sects. Could it be that this young man has a powerful backer and is here specifically to provoke me?" Thinking thus, he clasped his hands together in greeting and said: "I am Zhou Tian Sui, seventh generation disciple of Qingcheng Sect's Daozong. May I ask your esteemed name and which mountain's senior you are the master of?"

  Taoyao also cupped her hands and said: "Zhou Shangyi, the inferior official of Guanxian, allowed his son to commit murder and harm the local people. The various mountain immortals can execute him."

  Zhou Tian's anger grew, his right shoulder slightly sank, and his left hand's two fingers were slightly bent. He said in a stern voice: "Since that's the case, I'll teach you my sword technique." As soon as he finished speaking, a burst of sword energy shot out from his fingertips. This was the Qingcheng Sword Technique 'Shen Yu Broken Day'. Zhou Tian didn't know his opponent's background and only used half of his strength to test him. Suddenly, a green light flew across the sky, stabbing towards Taohua's right chest. He let out a muffled groan and fell backwards, accompanied by violent coughing, as fresh blood gushed out from his mouth and nose.

  Zhou Tian let out a sigh of relief, thinking to himself "This kid doesn't know any magic." He crossed his arms and sneered coldly: "You nameless rat, how dare you touch the tiger's whiskers? Aren't you afraid I'll skin you alive?"

  Tao's face was pale as he clutched his chest and panted, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth. He gritted his teeth and struggled to get up, laughing: "I'm afraid of ghosts, I'm afraid of monsters, I'm afraid of my wife, but I'm not afraid of being ruthless and fierce. Zhou Tianxiao, you rascal, if you don't let these girls go, I'll... I'll never be done with you."

  His injuries were not fatal, but he had lost a lung lobe and was still having trouble breathing. However, he was still smiling and scolding as usual. Zhou Tianxiao, who was used to seeing heroic guests in the Jianghu, couldn't help but admire his toughness and shouted: "Old man, I'm in a hurry, no time to fool around! Spare your dog life, get out!" With a swing of his right palm, he slapped Tao Xiaoxiao's ear. The palm wind contained powerful force, lifting him up and slamming him heavily onto the stone steps of a street-side grocery store.

  Zhou Tianxiao waved his arm and ordered everyone to hurry along. Just as they had taken three or five steps, suddenly Tao Xiaoxiao propped himself up with one hand and crawled onto the main road, blocking their way. Half of his face was swollen high, his eyes were dazed, and he raised his head, saying: "Good son, you have guts to kill Young Master! Otherwise, don't think about escaping, Young Master has plenty of time to play with you until the end of the world..." Finally, his strength gave out, and he fell face down, still cursing in his mouth.

  Faced with such a stubborn and unreasonable young man, the crowd was in an uproar. Zhou Tianxiao's eyes gleamed with a fierce light, his killing intent already stirred, step by step he approached Tao Xiaoxiao, grasped the hilt of his waist knife, and coldly said: "You good-for-nothing rascal, not knowing what's good for you, I'll send you to the afterlife!"

  As soon as he finished speaking, his hand rose and the knife fell, and a bright arc of light flashed out. The girls let out a shrill cry... Only to see blood splashing everywhere, an arm falling to the ground, it was Zhou Tian's right arm!

  The peach blossoms were in a daze, vaguely seeing a purple figure floating by, like smoke and fog, disappearing in an instant. Then he fainted, with a surprised smile on his face.

  That shadow was the purple-robed girl he had been dreaming of.