They soon reached the Cat\u2019s Paw restaurant, which was filled with customers having a drink and chatting.<\/p>\n
\u201cCaptain, Administrator,\u201d greeted Jinbei, his shifty eyes looking around. \u201cIs there something you need?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re just here for a drink,\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n
Jinbei gave an inaudible \u2018phew\u2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, Senior Xie is right there,\u201d pointed out Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe fell asleep so I let him be since the lady customers like looking at him, heheh…\u201d said Jinbei.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll use the private tables upstairs,\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n
\u201cCertainly,\u201d said Jinbei, and sidling over to Lan Yinqiao, he rubbed his paws and added, \u201cDo you want extra \u2018service\u2019 that comes with the private tables? It\u2019s just five coppers per \u2018companion\u2019\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cNo thanks,\u201d interjected Heigou before Jinbei can finish his pitch.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnother time, perhaps,\u201d said Lan Yinqiao, looking a little disappointed.<\/p>\n
There were a few low tea tables upstairs on straw mats with soft cushions to sit on. In the corner was a well-used scratching post and feathered toys on strings.<\/p>\n
Heigou carried Xie Li upstairs and nestled him between them to keep him warm.<\/p>\n
\u201cBwee?\u201d A little dark-furred boar popped out from the shadows by Xie Li\u2019s feet.<\/p>\n
\u201cCangshi? Were you following this mister the whole time?\u201d said Lan Yinqiao, pleasantly surprised.<\/p>\n
\u201cBwee!\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAw, so cute~\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome join us for supper, little one,\u201d smiled Lan Yinqiao, patting her lap for Cangshi to sit on. \u201cI\u2019ll order some apple biscuits for you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBwee bwee~\u201d<\/p>\n
Despite their commotion, Xie Li remained fast asleep.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought Senior Xie would have woken up by now, being a light sleeper and all,\u201d whispered Jianjin, trying to keep it down.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s probably the medicine,\u201d whispered back Jianshi. \u201cThe prescription Physician Hong wrote had soporific herbs in it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is the young master\u2019s friend who came here in a coffin, isn\u2019t it?\u201d said Lan Yinqiao.<\/p>\n
\u201cPfft,\u201d snorted Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s the Dream-Wandering Immortal your Border Mountains bards sing about,\u201d said Heigou.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, he\u2019s real?\u201d said Lan Yinqiao. \u201cI thought the young master made him up to sell tea-wine and soap.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, I\u2019m sure that image is mostly made up,\u201d chuckled Heigou. \u201cI mean, look at the way Jinbei is using him to promote his tea sales.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWait, he has a soap line too?\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cShouldn\u2019t you be more surprised that Senior Xie is the Dream-Wandering Immortal?\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n
\u201cWait, he\u2019s a real person?\u201d said Jianjin, surprised. \u201cI always thought the Dream-Wandering Immortal was a ghost story my senior sisters told me to scare me\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cHow on earth did you interpret that into a ghost story?\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n
“An immortal who wanders the mountains on moonlit nights and isn’t seen in the day\u2014if that’s not a ghost then what is it?” asked Jianjin.<\/p>\n
“Apparently It was Senior Xie…?” answered Jianshi.<\/p>\n
Heigou and Lan Yinqiao chuckled as they watched the two boys\u2019 banter.<\/p>\n
\u201cLan Shijie,\u201d said Jianjin, eagerly. \u201cTell me more about yourself! It\u2019s not every day I get to chat with a senior sister from another peak.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cTone it down a notch,\u201d shushed Jianshi, pointing at the sleeping Xie Li.<\/p>\n
\u201cOh, right,\u201d said Jianjin, toning down his excited voice.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt feels nice to have juniors around for a change,\u201d giggled Lan Yinqiao. \u201cThe only other disciples I talk to around here are all my seniors.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cDo you feel lonely working here by yourself?\u201d asked Jianjin.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot at all. The townsfolk here are like family to me,\u201d said Lan Yinqiao as she fed another biscuit to Cangshi.<\/p>\n
Jianjin looked on with envy, so Lan Yinqiao placed a biscuit in his hand. Cangshi sniffed and pushed her snout into his hand to eat the treat.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou look comfortable being around demons, Lan Shijie,\u201d observed Jianshi.<\/p>\n
\u201cYeah,\u201d agreed Jianjin, trying to pat Cangshi\u2019s head but failing as she squirmed away. \u201cYou know what to do to make them like you.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s because I grew up with demons,\u201d smiled Lan Yinqiao.<\/p>\n
\u201cEh?\u201d said Jianjin. \u201cHow did that happen?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI was brought to Physician Hong for treatment when I fell sick as a child. When I recovered, I chose to stay with demons. Anyway, this is why I’m assigned to handle demon-related diplomacy after I passed my senior exams.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWow, Lan Shijie is so capable\u2026\u201d said Jianjin. \u201cWere the senior exams hard? I want to take them soon too.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cCloudrest Peak exams are very different from Mad Tiger Peak ones,\u201d chuckled Lan Yinqiao. \u201cYou should ask your senior sisters instead.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWord is that Cloudrest Peak processes more paperwork than all the other peaks combined,\u201d said Jianshi, seriously. \u201cAnd therefore all senior disciples must be highly proficient\u2026in paperwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYou mean the Bard Peak\u2019s senior exams aren\u2019t just music exams\u2026?\u201d said Jianjin, horrified at the thought of paperwork.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re right about the paperwork,\u201d affirmed Lan Yinqiao. \u201cThough if politics isn\u2019t your strength, you can also choose to focus on music-related\u2026paperwork.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cPaperwork,\u201d shuddered Jianjin. \u201cI\u2019m so glad I\u2019m a Mad Tiger Peak disciple\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that why Lan Shijie calls Di Shibo \u2018young master?\u201d asked Jianshi. \u201cIt seems that everyone who lives here calls him that.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI could call him senior Di, I suppose,\u201d said Lan Yinqiao.<\/p>\n
\u201cHm? Shouldn\u2019t it be \u2018Shishu*\u2019 or \u2018Shixiong\u2019?\u201d pointed out Jianjin.<\/p>\n
*Shishu = junior uncle, Shixiong = senior brother (cousin, in this case)<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cWell, the Hermit Moon Peak Lord refused to be the former sect leader\u2019s disciple and didn\u2019t martially acknowledge any of the Peak Lords, and neither did the young master\u2026\u201d said Lan Yinqiao.<\/p>\n \u201cEh? If that\u2019s the case, why are we calling Di Shibo \u2018Shibo\u2019\u2026?\u201d said Jianjin, scratching his head.<\/p>\n \u201cUm, I don\u2019t really know either,\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201c…\u201d<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n Auntie Ma and Old Niu tidied up the rooms at the Juxian Inn, wiping their foreheads when they were almost done.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t believe a first-class inn didn\u2019t offer us cleaning services,\u201d said Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe these rich people bring their own servants?\u201d wondered Auntie Ma aloud.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, that,\u201d said Gouzi, who walked past the opened door with a basket half filled with laundry. \u201cThis inn is meant for the elite clans, not commoners. Most clans also bring their own servants since the tools lying around may contain clan secrets.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHahah, I\u2019m so used to the Border Mountains Sect that slipped my mind that these cultivator clans really care about status,\u201d said Auntie Ma.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose it\u2019s safer if we clean up the rooms ourselves,\u201d said Old Niu, looking at a stack of papers with half-drawn talisman designs on them. \u201cLook at all these\u2026\u2019 top secrets\u2019 we have lying around.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh, Ah-Li and his books,\u201d sighed Auntie Ma, carefully putting the pile of papers into a box together with the books. \u201cI wonder where he is right now.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sure they\u2019re fine,\u201d assured Old Niu. \u201cValley Lord Di is with him, isn\u2019t\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Qing Lingfeng landed into the courtyard on his sword and strode up to them.<\/p>\n \u201cGouzi, go and meet Valley Lord Di at the White Crane Publishing House and follow his orders. Be quiet about it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Shizun,\u201d said Gouzi without question, dropping the laundry and leaving swiftly.<\/p>\n Qing Lingfeng sighed. His normally curious disciple now had the air of quiet professionalism. Maybe he was finally ready for the senior exams.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s wrong, Sect Leader Qing?\u201d asked Old Niu.<\/p>\n \u201cUncle Niu, Auntie Ma,\u201d said Qing Lingfeng. \u201cI think there\u2019ll be some trouble happening, so it is best you both return to Mountainside Town. I\u2019ll arrange for Yatou to escort you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere\u2019s Ah-Li?\u201d said Auntie Ma. \u201cYou told me to watch over him, Sect Leader Qing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d said Qing Lingfeng. \u201cYou\u2019ve done enough. There\u2019s no need to be responsible for him anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWith all due respect, Sect Leader Qing,\u201d said Auntie Ma. \u201cHe\u2019s my nephew now. If he\u2019s not safe, I will worry.\u201d<\/p>\n Qing Lingfeng had a strange expression on his face for a moment, that gave way to an amused smile.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t think brother Xie would be this popular,\u201d he said, shaking his head and chuckling. \u201cEven Gouzi was asking about him this morning.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh-Li might be a little eccentric but he\u2019s a good kid,\u201d said Auntie Ma, and added a sidenote: \u201cIt also helps that he’s pretty good-looking too.\u201d<\/p>\n Qing Lingfeng had that strange look on his face once again.<\/p>\n \u201cFor Sect Leader Qing to respectfully call him \u2018brother\u2019*, was Xie Li a former disciple under your father?\u201d asked Old Niu.<\/p>\n *term used is \u2018older brother\u2019<\/em><\/p>\n Qing Lingfeng shook his head. \u201cNo, nothing like that. I call him brother Xie out of respect as he is older than me by a year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEh? All this time I thought Ah-Li was twenty-five at most, but he\u2019s much older?\u201d said Auntie Ma. Then, a realisation hit her and she frowned. \u201cThe poor dear was unconscious for many years, so he\u2019s must still be quite spiritually young.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe does look young for his age,\u201d agreed Old Niu. \u201cTo lose all his cultivation at the peak of his youth from an injury, how tragic!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re just thirsty for a good story,\u201d said Auntie Ma, rolling her eyes at Old Niu. She turned back to Qing Lingfeng and tugged at his sleeve. \u201cSect Leader Qing, just send me to where Ah-Li is. He\u2019ll probably forget to eat if auntie isn\u2019t there to cook for him.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be dangerous,\u201d said Qing Lingfeng.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ve lived through the Calamity,\u201d said Old Niu. \u201cThere\u2019s nothing much I\u2019m scared of anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat he said,\u201d said Auntie Ma.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n A young man who looked no older than nineteen was helping out in the bookstore, arranging the latest arrivals when Gouzi walked in.<\/p>\n \u201cWelcome,\u201d grinned the young man, his black hair in a ponytail. He was dressed in black, similar to the standard dress of the Border Mountains, yet not adorned with any of the peaks’ colours. He walked up to Gouzi and said softly.<\/p>\n \u201cGouzi, come with me,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd call me \u2018shixiong\u2019*.\u201d<\/p>\n *shixiong = senior brother<\/em><\/p>\n Gouzi stared at him for a moment, reconciling the familiar voice and this disguise, then nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cGood,\u201d said Di Mie, leading Gouzi into the back alley behind the building.<\/p>\n \u201cI tracked down the places where stolen spirit weapons are traded in the city,\u201d said Di Mie, taking out a map and tapping a spot to show Gouzi. \u201cThey\u2019re operating out of this area. Be careful, as the entire street belongs to the black market.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEr?\u201d blinked Gouzi.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Jiutian sword went missing and turned up suddenly. You can\u2019t hide a powerful sword like that from the Rong Clan without powerful friends on the black market,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, I see. Has\u2026\u2019Shixiong\u2019 found a lead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMaybe,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cFollow me and play along. Act natural.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, sir,\u201d said Gouzi.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n The street was in the northwestern corner of Bainiao Lake City, close enough to the smaller west gates, but far enough from the surveil of the Du and Rong Clans. It was a place of second-rate brothels and gambling dens; different from the expensive ones for the rich in the central area. Beggars and thieves plied the streets next to pimps and bodyguards.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, young men, looking for a fun time?\u201d said a pimp, spotting Gouzi\u2019s awkwardness and running up to them. He pointed to a run-down brothel behind him and grinned, \u201cFirst time here? We\u2019ve got affordable, experienced older sisters who\u2019ll take care of you. Especially if you\u2019re inexperienced\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Gouzi blushed and looked away.<\/p>\n \u201cNo thanks,\u201d said Di Mie, holding a pouch of coins and looking at the gambling dens further down the street. \u201cWe want to increase our funds first.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHah, good luck with that,\u201d said the pimp. \u201cYou\u2019re better off getting your money\u2019s worth with our girls than over at that demon’s den.\u201d<\/p>\n Di Mie pulled Gouzi away from the brothels towards the gambling dens. The further they went down the street, the livelier it was. There were prominent escort agencies in the middle of the street.<\/p>\n \u201cEscort agencies?\u201d said Gouzi.<\/p>\n \u201cSmuggling,\u201d replied Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cOh,\u201d said Gouzi, realising he had much to learn.<\/p>\n \u201cHere,\u201d said Di Mie, turning the corner and squeezing into a crowded gambling house.<\/p>\n The gambling house had a signboard with an eccentric, foreign-looking hand, with the words “Huahu* Gambling Den”.<\/p>\n *Huahu = Flower Fox<\/em><\/p>\n The smell of fragrant incense filled the first floor of the room. The betting tables were so popular that there was a queue just to get a turn at betting. It was filled with noise as people yelled when they won and cried when they lost, goading each other into a betting frenzy.<\/p>\n Di Mie and Gouzi wove their way through the crowd to the grand stairs leading to the second floor. Gouzi had removed the blue from his uniform, and in their plain black uniforms, looked like disciples from some common cultivator sect.<\/p>\n A guard stopped them and pointed them to the tables out front, \u201cThe queue for small bets start there.\u201d<\/p>\n Di Mie smiled sheepishly and pressed a silver coin in the guard\u2019s hand. He shook the coin pouch in his hand, letting the sound of clinking silver coins do the talking. Leaning close, he hemmed and hawed, then said softly, \u201cMy Shidi is, um, fond of\u2026men, so he\u2019s willing to bet all his savings if he can just get a glimpse of the famous mister Hong\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The guard looked at the blushing Gouzi and grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re in luck, our boss is in today. You might just get a look from him if you play at the ten-silvers table,\u201d said the guard, letting them up the second floor to the larger tables.<\/p>\n Gouzi bit down on his lips, refraining from commenting about how ten silvers would be his entire month\u2019s salary. The thought of the numbers he\u2019d seen on Valley Lord Di\u2019s invoices calmed him a little, and he followed close behind.<\/p>\n The tables on the second floor were also crowded, but the people here were dressed differently. Some wore masks as if at a masquerade party. The courtesans and servings girls who went around the tables were dressed up in costumes and wigs, pretending to be demons as they flirted with the customers and plied them with wine.<\/p>\n The men here were rich, but not rich enough<\/em>. If they were truly wealthy, they’d be in the rich men’s square in the south instead of the seedy western quarter. Still, they flaunted their silver, trying to impress and one-up each other at the table.<\/p>\n A man with long red hair wearing a fox mask sat on a third-floor balcony overseeing the second-floor, enjoying a cup of wine and a smoke.<\/p>\n Di Mie strolled up confidently to the table with the biggest stakes and placed a gold coin on \u2018big\u2019.<\/p>\n The men around him gasped, not expecting a young lad like him to pull out a gold coin.<\/p>\n \u201cHe must\u2019ve stolen it,\u201d said one of the men at the table.<\/p>\n The courtesan tending the dice table did not dare take the bet for fear of losing it.<\/p>\n She and her fellow courtesans looked to their boss upstairs.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, mister in the fox mask,\u201d said Di Mie, shouting to the man upstairs. \u201cIs your shop going to accept my bet?\u201d<\/p>\n The man in the fox mask got up languidly, revealing the red beneath his white robes like an unfurling lotus as he walked down the steps. His long, crimson-tinged hair bore a golden phoenix crown.<\/p>\n He waved away the courtesan attending the table and smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cLet me, Hong Lian, serve you this round,\u201d said the masked man. Up close, his eyes were a dark brown, but when he moved, the light reflected in them would turn from red to blue. He had a perfect, unwavering smile that reminded Di Mie of someone.<\/p>\n \u201cYoung sir, will you be betting it all on \u2018big\u2019?\u201d asked Hong Lian.<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d said Di Mie, not even looking at the table as he smiled at the masked man.<\/p>\n Hong Lian shook the dice in a porcelain jar and then uncapped it to reveal the results.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s small,\u201d smiled the man. \u201cBetter luck next time, young sir.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne more time,\u201d said Di Mie, pulling out two more gold coins and placing them down.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you have the gold, why are you playing in my humble shop when you can go rub shoulders with the rich and powerful in the southern houses? All the famous courtesans there will attend to you as long as you have the coin.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re not interested in those\u2026ladies<\/em>,\u201d smiled Di Mie. Gouzi felt his ears burn at how Di Mie could say these things so easily.<\/p>\n The courtesans gasped. The other customers on the second floor also began to gather and watch.<\/p>\n \u201cI see,\u201d said Hong Lian. \u201cI\u2019m not cheap, though. Hmm, the sword at your waist would be a good trade.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell then,\u201d said Di Mie, leaving the coins behind and signalling to Gouzi. \u201cShall we go somewhere more private?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTwo of you?\u201d said Hong Lian, raising a brow.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not up to handling two swords?\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n Gouzi blushed even harder. A couple of men whistled and laughed at them.<\/p>\n \u201cHm,\u201d said Hong Lian, coming up close and brushing his hand across Gouzi\u2019s sword. Gouzi shuddered as he smelled a sweet incense off the other man\u2019s neck. \u201cIt\u2019s not bad, but it\u2019s not good enough either.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI guess you\u2019ll have to stay behind,\u201d said Di Mie to Gouzi, who just stared.<\/p>\n Hong Lian led the way and Di Mie followed. The courtesans watched in envy, and even men who saw the fox-masked man up close were swayed by his movement and demonic charm.<\/p>\n Once in his private room, the masked man dropped his coy act and folded his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cLet\u2019s drop that ridiculous act,\u201d said Hong Lian, huffing. \u201cYou Border Mountains people have been snooping around this area. What are you after?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI want the Jiutian sword,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cYour information is outdated. The sword\u2019s not here.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo it was<\/em> here?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTricking me is useless,\u201d said Hong Lian. He looked at the sword at Di Mie\u2019s waist. \u201cAre you operating on your personal interests? Your sword seems too good for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou look like a fox demon, but you smell like layers of enchantments,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cDemon or human, does it matter? You cultivators always think that anyone who looks different must be a demon,\u201d said Hong Lian, a bushy, spirit tail materialising out the base of his spine.<\/p>\n Di Mie gave a low whistle when he saw how Hong Lian materialised a tail of pure spirit aura. It was definitely not merely cosmetic.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, mister fox, I’ll get straight to the point. The smuggling trail converged right here to you. Why are you collecting spirit weapons?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s purely business,\u201d said Hong Lian, slowly closing the distance between them. \u201cCultivators just want money, power, and pretty faces to look at. Aren\u2019t you the same?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I want to see a pretty face, I just need to look in the mirror,\u201d said Di Mie, smirking.<\/p>\n “Arrogant brat,” said Hong Lian, as he reached a snaking hand around Di Mie’s sword.<\/p>\n Di Mie grabbed his hand. \u201cI\u2019m afraid Ashfire is not for you to touch.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAshfire?\u201d said Hong Lian, eyes widening as he jerked his hand away and stepped back. He grabbed a spirit sword nearby and it lit up upon his touch.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s a high-level cultivator like you moonlighting in a place like this?\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cCould it be that…the Rong Clan isn\u2019t paying you enough, mister \u2018steward\u2019?\u201d<\/p>\n Hong Lian\u2019s smile cracked.<\/p>\n \u201cWow, I was just taking a wild guess since your smile was annoying me, but it looks like I hit the nail right on the head,\u201d said Di Mie, amazed at himself. \u201cHey, mister ‘Second-Place’, what\u2019s up your new look? Also, weren\u2019t you supposed to be dead?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cValley Lord Di, I don\u2019t wish to get involved with the Border Mountains, so why don\u2019t we each take one step back?<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not even denying who you are,\u201d said Di Mie, drawing Ashfire.<\/p>\n “Neither are you,” said Hong Lian, holding out his sword. It crackled with an unstable light, as if unable to contain the immense spirit aura its wielder was channelling.<\/p>\n \u201cHahah, this is a fun sight,\u201d said Di Mie, charging his left hand with aura while he held his sword in his right hand. \u201cIt\u2019s hard to tell who\u2019s the human and who\u2019s the demon.\u201d<\/p>\n Hong Lian brought down his spirit sword, which crackled upon contact with Ashfire. Sparks flew as light met fire. Di Mie scooped up his left hand and a small ball of aura connected with Hong Lian\u2019s side and exploded.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was close,\u201d said Hong Lian, brushing off his side. His fox tail had sent a spirit wave barrier up with a swish to block Di Mie’s explosion in the nick of time.<\/p>\n “Looks like a whisk, acts like a third arm,” said Di Mie. “Having a tail is really useful.”<\/p>\n The aura was too much for Hong Lian’s sword and it cracked. He threw the broken sword away and picked up another one lying around.<\/p>\n \u201cAll this smuggling and you can\u2019t get a decent spirit weapon?\u201d said Di Mie, raising a brow at the mediocre weapons Hong Lian was picking up.<\/p>\n Suddenly, the door burst open and whips of water shot at the both of them.<\/p>\n They cut down the whips easily and looked at the newcomer who interrupted them.<\/p>\n A crow cawed at them, \u201cStop.\u201d<\/p>\n A hooded girl walked in; a black crow perched on her shoulder. Removing her hood, she revealed her white hair and red eyes to Di Mie. She was unmistakably a demon.<\/p>\n \u201cHei Xuan, what are you doing here?\u201d said Hong Lian.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2014\u201d said Di Mie, his eyes wide in surprise.<\/p>\n \u201cLong. Time. No. See,\u201d said the crow on the girl\u2019s shoulder. “Mie. Er.”<\/p>\n \u201c…Big Auntie,\u201d hissed Di Mie.<\/p>\n Lan Yinqiao \u84dd\u97f3\u5de7: Lan means \u2018Blue\u2019, Yinqiao means \u2018Good Sound\u2019 – pretty much a musician\u2019s name.<\/p>\n Jinbei \u91d1\u88ab: Gold-Back (cat)<\/p>\n Heigou \u9ed1\u72d7: Black Dog<\/p>\n The word used for soap is \u2018washing powder\/liquid\u2019 (since there\u2019s no word for \u2018soap\u2019 in this fantasy setting), but I translated it to \u2018soap\u2019 for simplicity.<\/p>\n Huahu Gambling Den is written as \u82b1\u72d0\u8d4c\u574a, meaning ‘flower fox gambling den’.<\/p>\n Hong Lian \u7ea2\u83b2 = Hong is ‘red’ and Lian is ‘lotus’.<\/p>\n Hei Xuan \u9ed2\u7384 = Hei is ‘black’ and Xuan is ‘mysterious; black’. Some explanations for relationship terms among masters and disciples! The \u2018Shi\u2019 in Shizun, Shibo, Shijie etc, means \u2018teacher\u2019. In this case, Jianshi and Jianjin are blood brothers, but they are also technically disciple-siblings as they are under the same Shizun. Their Mad Tiger Peak Shijie (senior sisters) are likely their ‘Shishu’ (senior aunts) who are Diao Suiyu’s junior sisters.<\/p>\n It\u2019s easy to see that they wouldn’t like being called \u2018aunties\u2019 so Jianshi and Jianjin just call them \u2018sisters\u2019. Anyway, it seems that the Border Mountains isn’t that hung up on decorum with the exception of Elegance Peak<\/p>\n Di Mie\u2019s official Shizun was the Hermit Moon Peak Lord, who did not acknowledge the previous Sect Leader as his master. Hence Di Mie isn\u2019t (martially) related to anyone at the Border Mountains.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" They soon reached the Cat\u2019s Paw restaurant, which was filled with customers having a drink and chatting.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-510","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-my-hermit-master"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n
\nTranslator\u2019s Notes
\n<\/strong>
\nThe \u2018Hong\u2019 in Physician Hong\u2019s name is written as \u6d2a, meaning \u2018flood\u2019 or \u2018vast\u2019.<\/p>\n
\nDi Mie specifically calls Hei Xuan ‘Big Auntie’ in Chinese, meaning ‘eldest maternal aunt’, so we know she’s his mother’s older sister. This word is also often used as a slang for a woman’s ‘time of the month’, eg. ‘My Big Auntie’s here’ = ‘My period’s here’<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>
\nBeing in a Sect is like being in a big extended family, so what you call each other depends on your generation and who your master is.<\/p>\n
\n\u2018Shizun\u2019 sort of means \u2018most-respected teacher\u2019
\nShibo = ‘older brother\/sister of your teacher’ (‘uncle’ is used as default to refer to both uncles and aunts)
\nShishu = ‘younger brother\/sister of your teacher’<\/p>\n