The west quarter of the city was a bustling place in the day as the noisy gambling dens and colourful brothels ushered in customers from all over. The lights and noise they kept on hid what went on behind the streets\u2014a large, sprawling slum.<\/p>\n
What made the Huahu gambling den stand out among its competitors was the vibe of the place. The fun of being served by the ladies in colourful makeup and wigs reeled in customers, rich and poor, from all over the city.<\/p>\n
A group of women sat in the back room of the gambling den and enjoyed their break after their shift.<\/p>\n
\u201cBusiness is slow these days,\u201d yawned a courtesan with golden wig, pouring herself a cup of wine.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt can\u2019t be helped,\u201d said a waitress with blue lipstick. \u201cThose mercenaries hired by the Rong Clan keep coming to harass us.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re harassing all the shops around here,\u201d said another serving-girl with feathers in her hair. \u201cI\u2019ve got a cousin who was a servant-disciple at the Phoenix Manor. He got fired after an injury with hardly any compensation. I think he got off lucky if you ask me. He says that their mistress has dirt on everyone working for her.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s why most of our neighbours don\u2019t dare to stand up against them,\u201d said the courtesan, sighing. \u201cWhy isn\u2019t the Rong Clan\u2019s second young master doing something about this?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cMaybe he\u2019s already secretly done in by Rong Ci,\u201d whispered a serving-girl.<\/p>\n
An older woman with a gnarled bone hairpin in her grey hair walked in and sat at their table.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo noisy. Are you girls running a fish market?\u201d<\/p>\n
Her scolding fell on deaf ears as the women pulled her into their gossip circle.<\/p>\n
\u201cAh, Mama Luo! You must know about that child that Boss Hong brought in the other day,\u201d said the serving girl, quickly pouring her elder a cup of wine. \u201cIs the little girl he brought in the other day his illegitimate child?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mama Luo sat down, gulped down a cup of wine, and leaned forward to spread the gossip.<\/p>\n
\u201cBoss Hong told me that she is a cultivator from the north. If you ask me, I think her white hair is related to the Border Mountain Sect\u2019s Valley Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cA cultivator? But she\u2019s so young! Wait, did you just imply that she could be top ranker Di Mie\u2019s\u2014\u201d she gulped as she finished her sentence\u2014\u201cillegitimate daughter?\u201d<\/p>\n
Mama Luo stared at the girls for a moment then explained herself, \u201cTake your mind out of the gutter! I meant she suffered from \u2018aura deviation\u2019! Valley Lord Di\u2019s hair turned silver from aura deviation, didn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs that all?\u201d said the waitress, clicking her tongue in disappointment.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo whose secret child is that white-haired girl?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIs she Boss Hong\u2019s child after all?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy are you obsessed with illegitimate daughters\u2014ah, Miss Hei Xuan,\u201d called out Mama Luo.<\/p>\n
A girl looking no older than twelve had walked into the room. She had fluffy white hair and red eyes but fit right in with the dressed-up women in the room. Like a lost child, her gaze wandered about the room until Mama Luo got up, took her hand and guided her to sit at the table.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome, you must be hungry,\u201d said Mama Luo, putting a bowl of porridge in front of her.<\/p>\n
Hei Xuan picked up the spoon and ate clumsily, making the women giggle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere,\u201d said the courtesan, pointing to a corner of her mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cAhh?\u201d uttered Hei Xuan.<\/p>\n
\u201cLet Auntie Luo help you,\u201d said Mama Luo, taking the handkerchief and wiping a bit of green onion off Hei Xuan\u2019s cheek.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s so hard to believe this little girl is a cultivator,\u201d whispered the serving-girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cCultivator or not, she\u2019s just a child,\u201d said Mama Luo.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re one of us now. We\u2019ll take care of you while you\u2019re here, Miss Hei Xuan,\u201d promised the serving-girl.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat said, who are your parents?\u201d asked the waitress, eagerly.<\/p>\n
\u201cIs it the beautiful, mysterious Hong Lian, or is the popular and also mysterious Di Mie?\u201d chirped the serving-girl.<\/p>\n
The other women gushed along fantasizing about Hei Xuan\u2019s parentage.<\/p>\n
\u201cTsk, what a bunch of busybodies you lot are,\u201d said Mama Luo.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Rong Clan\u2019s ruffians are here again!\u201d yelled a neighbour.<\/p>\n
\u201cAgain?\u201d grumbled the waitress. \u201cThey always like to come and harass us when our boss isn\u2019t around.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cAhh?\u201d said Hei Xuan.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll go see what they\u2019re up to this time,\u201d said Mama Luo.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll come with you,\u201d said the other women in the room.<\/p>\n
Hei Xuan stood up, but the courtesan who wiped her mouth placed a hand on her shoulder to stop her.<\/p>\n
\u201cMiss Hei Xuan should stay here,\u201d said the courtesan.<\/p>\n
\u201cAhh,\u201d protested Hei Xuan, pulling at the courtesan\u2019s sleeve.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ll watch quietly from a distance, then,\u201d relented the courtesan, putting a finger to her lips.<\/p>\n
*<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone here knows the incidents at the Phoenix Manor were caused by in-fighting among the Rong Clan!\u201d shouted a shop owner.<\/p>\n
Rong Ci frowned.<\/p>\n
The Rong Clan disciples with her leapt into action, pointing their swords at the shop owner to shut him up. The head disciple quickly ran over and assured her that they would have everything under control.<\/p>\n
“The people here are as uncouth as this place,” said Rong Ci with a look of disdain on her face. “Just get the job done without getting the Du Clan involved.”<\/p>\n
The disciples saluted as the clan’s elite bodyguards escorted her out of the west quarter.<\/p>\n
Once out of earshot, the disciples turned their annoyance back to the workers of the street.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ll say it once more: it was the work of demons,\u201d said a Rong Clan disciple. \u201cYou people are safe because of our efforts. Now we are requesting that you do your part in supporting the extermination of demons.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat do you want this time, you ruffians? Aren\u2019t we already paying the Rong Clan a tenth of our earnings? \u201d said the angry shop owner, pointing his finger at them in frustration.<\/p>\n
The Rong Clan disciple swung his sword and cut off the business owner’s accusing finger, causing the man to cradle his bleeding hand and cry out in pain.<\/p>\n
\u201cI gave you a chance and you continued to insult the clan. According to the Rong Clan\u2019s rules, your life will be forfeit if you insult us a third time,\u201d said the disciple.<\/p>\n
The shop owners and workers quickly backed away and kept their mouths shut.<\/p>\n
The disciples handed out papers to the business owners as their senior explained, \u201cYou lot are to sign this contract with the Rong Clan for your own good.\u201d<\/p>\n
The business owners read the terms and gasped.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou want eight parts* of our revenue every month? Why don\u2019t you just kill me and take my shop?\u201d yelled out an angry red-faced business owner.<\/p>\n
*eighty-percent<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t be hasty,\u201d said the senior Rong Clan disciple who led the others. \u201cThis arrangement is for us to keep you safe from demons. If you don\u2019t let us protect you, who knows what might happen to your family\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n The angry business owner turned back and saw his scared children peering out his shop window.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it!\u201d cursed the business owner, biting his lip as he stamped his seal on the contract and gave it over.<\/p>\n \u201cSee? It\u2019s not that hard,\u201d grinned the disciple.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, newcomers. If you want to get paid, go to the shops and bring the other business owners here,\u201d ordered the senior disciple. \u201cAnd don\u2019t let anyone in the west quarter leave.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDibs on the brothels,\u201d laughed a mercenary loudly.<\/p>\n Hei Xuan watched on as the mercenaries and newcomers who joined the entourage eagerly rounded up the women from the nearby brothels.<\/p>\n \u201cAh,\u201d said Hei Xuan, pointing her finger in the direction of the Rong Clan\u2019s entourage when she noticed a familiar face\u2014a young man standing at the back, half-blended into the shadows of the buildings.<\/p>\n \u201cDamn it, my Big Auntie\u2019s here again,\u201d cursed Di Mie under his breath, knowing he was spotted.<\/p>\n \u201cYour \u2018Big Auntie\u2019* is here?\u201d whispered a newcomer next to him, horrified at what he heard. The courtesan pulled Hei Xuan towards the slums and whispered, \u201cHurry and go hide somewhere while I distract them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHey, do you think we can sell these women to the other brothels?\u201d said a mercenary as he looked at the women they rounded up.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Du Clan will have your head if you try that in this city,\u201d warned a Rong clan disciple who overheard him.<\/p>\n \u201cYes, but what if we smuggle them to the west? I hear there many rich buyers over there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd risk not being able to step foot into Bainiao Lake City again? I won\u2019t do that if I were you, considering the good money to be made here in the long term,\u201d advised an older mercenary.<\/p>\n \u201cHey, there\u2019s a kid running away,\u201d pointed out a disciple. \u201cSomeone go catch her!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll go!\u201d volunteered the newcomer standing next to Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cMe too!\u201d said Di Mie, seeing his chance to get away from the group without suspicion.<\/p>\n \u201cThese newcomers are so soft that they can\u2019t handle chasing a kid by themselves,\u201d scoffed a mercenary.<\/p>\n Di Mie followed the newcomer into the slums. It was not as bad as some of the other slums he\u2019d seen in other cities but the people here seemed wary of outsiders. Upon seeing the newcomer charge in after a white-haired girl with a sword, they scattered like mice.<\/p>\n Hei Xuan clumsily ran into the first alley she saw, only to find it was a dead end.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s nowhere to run, kid,\u201d grinned the newcomer as he blocked off her exit.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t get in my way, newbie. This one’s all mine,\u201d said the newcomer.<\/p>\n \u201cSure,\u201d said Di Mie, stepping back.<\/p>\n Di Mie watched as a crow swooped in and pecked at the newcomer\u2019s face.<\/p>\n \u201cOw!\u201d yelped the newcomer, covering his bleeding eye with a hand and swatting his sword at the crow with the other.<\/p>\n Thin whips of water lashed out at his legs, sending him crashing to the ground. The newcomer screamed but was quickly muffled by the water smothering his face. Hei Xuan released her whips once the man fell unconscious from suffocation.<\/p>\n Di Mie thought it resembled a giant squid attack and made a mental note to himself not to cross his aunt if he wanted to retain his dignity.<\/p>\n \u201cIs he dead?\u201d said Di Mie, kicking the man in the leg.<\/p>\n \u201cNot. Yet.\u201d said Hei Xuan\u2019s crow.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Rong Clan disciples have put up seals over the exits,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cWhat do you want to do, Auntie?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI. Hide.\u201d said the crow on Hei Xuan\u2019s shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll hide too,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cSince it seems the Rong Clan disciples don\u2019t intend to kill anyone, I won\u2019t interfere and risk Cloudrest Peak\u2019s wrath.\u201d<\/p>\n And so, they somehow ended up in someone\u2019s wood shed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve put up a barrier to block the sound, so we can speak comfortably without being heard,\u201d said Di Mie. He drew something on the ground with his finger and a moment later, his shadow wavered.<\/p>\n \u201cOink,\u201d came a low grunt from beneath his feet. Two more shadows split from his and took the shape of large boars.<\/p>\n Hei Xuan visibly jerked and backed away, waving her hands at the shadows.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, you\u2019re scared of Spirit-Devouring Beasts?\u201d grinned Di Mie, filing this information away for future use.<\/p>\n \u201cShiwei, go to the street and let me know if something happens,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n The shadow grunted and sped off.<\/p>\n \u201cShimei, you stay here and keep us hidden from view.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBwee,\u201d squeaked the shadow.<\/p>\n \u201cAhh,\u201d said Hei Xuan, swatting at the shadow spreading underneath them. She clambered up onto the dried twigs to get away from the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cThat looks comfortable,\u201d said Di Mie, smirking as he gathered a bunch of twigs and fashioned himself a seat as well.<\/p>\n Hei Xuan pouted and arranged the twigs around, building a nest in the corner of the shed. Her long white hair was a mess, with dried twigs and leaves sticking out from it.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, make yourself comfortable with this,\u201d said Di Mie, taking off his outer robe and tossing it over.<\/p>\n The robe landed on her head and she gave a little grunt. She lined her nest of twigs with it and settled in.<\/p>\n The crow flew over and landed on Di Mie\u2019s shoulder. With a swift grab, he caught it and glared at the squirming crow in his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cThis crow of yours,\u201d said Di Mie, clicking his tongue in displeasure as he felt an unmistakable aura coming from it. “I thought it sounded like my mother’s voice because you made it so. Why does it even have her aura?”<\/p>\n \u201cGift. No,\u201d said the crow in his hand, giving a short pause before finding the right word. \u201cKeepsake.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy mother gave you a bird?\u201d<\/p>\n The crow squirmed out of his grip and turned into a book that fell onto his lap.<\/p>\n \u201cA book,\u201d said Di Mie, picking it up and flipping through it. The book was worn out, each page well-thumbed and stained with watermarks. Despite that, the ink was well-preserved and unsmudged, as if enchanted.<\/p>\n With a wave of her hand, Hei Xuan summoned the book back into her hands.<\/p>\n Di Mie realised once he saw the book turn back into a crow and said, \u201cIt’s a bonded spirit weapon. What\u2019s its name?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNian<\/em>.”<\/p>\n \u201c’Nian<\/em>‘, as in ‘reading’ and ‘studying’?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAhh,\u201d nodded Hei Xuan. She pouted and pointed at the sword at his waist.<\/p>\n “Your. Sword.”<\/p>\n Di Mie took out his sword and showed it to her.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is Ashfire.\u201d<\/p>\n Hei Xuan touched the sword, felt its aura for a moment then burst out into a snorting fit.<\/p>\n \u201cDid you see the memories of this sword from just a touch?\u201d said Di Mie, raising a brow.<\/p>\n \u201cAsh. Fire. Funny. Name,\u201d said the crow while Hei Xuan continued her snorting laughter.<\/p>\n Di Mie looked at Hei Xuan and pouted.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a keepsake; good for you. I wish Mother had left me something,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cI left Night Vigil City when I was sixteen and couldn’t bring anything with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou,\u201d said the crow as Hei Xuan pointed at him.<\/p>\n \u201cMe?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKeepsake.\u201d<\/p>\n Di Mie could only give her a wry smile.<\/p>\n They heard a commotion outside and ventured outside to take a look.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Huahu gambling den\u2019s boss is back and fighting those damned cultivators! One man against ten, he\u2019s not backing down!\u201d yelled a resident running through the slums.<\/p>\n The residents came out in droves hearing this. The braver ones ran off to see the fight.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess that\u2019s our cue to leave,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cAhh,\u201d said Hei Xuan, holding out the outer robe offered to her just now.<\/p>\n \u201cKeep it. It\u2019s cold and you could use it,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cYou. Might. Need. It. Later.\u201d<\/p>\n Di Mie rolled his eyes at her prophetic choice of words but took his robe back.<\/p>\n The street was filled with injured cultivators writhing on the ground. The Rong Clan disciples were panicking as the business owners either ran off into the slums or locked themselves in their shops.<\/p>\n \u201cThat fox-demon cosplaying bastard is ruining our plans again! Get him!\u201d yelled the senior Rong Clan disciple, pointing in the direction Hong Lian had fled.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s too strong,\u201d groaned the newcomers on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the reward?\u201d said the mercenaries, grinning. This was a group of veteran cultivators whose clans were decimated during the Calamity and took up mercenary work to survive.<\/p>\n \u201cFifty\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s too little to split amongst us.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSixty\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The mercenaries folded their arms and dawdled.<\/p>\n \u201cFine. A hundred silvers,\u201d gritted out the senior Rong Clan disciple. \u201cTake it or leave it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThank you for your business, boss.\u201d<\/p>\n The mercenaries jumped onto their swords and took to the sky to go after their bounty.<\/p>\n Side Story: A Little Contest<\/strong><\/p>\n One fine day, a squirrel poked his head out of a hole in a tree. He shimmied up and down the branches collecting fruit and nuts. He paused in the midst of his work and tilted his head as he watched three men amble out into the garden.<\/p>\n \u201cOh man, I think I drank too much,\u201d said Jianjin, looking a little tipsy. \u201cI\u2019m drunk!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can\u2019t be,\u201d said Jianshi. \u201cI made sure to cook away the alcohol before giving any wine to you.\u201d<\/p>\n “Toilet~” whistled Jianjin.<\/p>\n “It’s under renovation today,” said Jianshi. “We’ll have to go out to use the public outhouse.”<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s too far! I\u2019m just gonna go behind a bush,\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cI guess we have no choice but to do that,\u201d came Di Mie\u2019s voice from behind him.<\/p>\n \u201cAhh!! Di Shibo! Why are you here?\u201d said Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean \u2018why\u2019? I drank a lot of wine too,\u201d said the teenage-looking Di Mie, looking barely old enough to drink.<\/p>\n \u201cBut Di Shibo,\u201d blinked Jianshi, puzzled, \u201cI thought cultivators at an advanced stage can go without food and bypass bodily functions?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, I can, but it\u2019s so much easier to just pee it out after drinking so much,\u201d said Di Mie.<\/p>\n \u201cToilet?\u201d came the softer voice of Xie Li as he walked out into the garden behind them.<\/p>\n \u201cThe toilet\u2019s currently unavailable,\u201d said Di Mie. \u201cLet\u2019s just go behind the bushes.\u201d<\/p>\n “Bushes?”<\/p>\n “Don’t worry. This is my garden. We can do whatever we want here,” said Di Mie, smiling a little too brightly.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, okay,\u201d said Xie Li, shrugging.<\/p>\n Jianshi nodded and suggested, \u201cLet\u2019s just take turns for privacy\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPissing contest! I\u2019m gonna shoot further than all of you!!\u201d interrupted Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cAh-Jin, you\u2019re drunk and I don\u2019t even know how,\u201d said Jianshi, facepalming.<\/p>\n \u201cYou picked the wrong guy to compete with, you brat,\u201d said Di Mie, walking up to Jianjin and jerking his thumb down in a show of confidence, looking every part like a cocky young man.<\/p>\n \u201cDi Shibo, why are you\u2014\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cBeat that, bro!\u201d said Jianjin, fumbling with his pants behind the bushes and shooting a stream on a rock three yards away.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re not a kid anymore,\u201d sighed Jianshi, joining him behind the bushes. He huffed and doubled the distance.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re using spirit aura? No fair!\u201d wailed Jianjin.<\/p>\n \u201cIs that all you boys got?\u201d smirked Di Mie, flicking his robe aside and shooting his stream to the edge of the garden and right into the hole of a tree.<\/p>\n The squirrel dropped his nuts in shock as he watched his home get destroyed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you all peeing all over the place?\u201d said Xie Li, tilting his head, confused.<\/p>\n Jianjin pouted as his face turned red in embarrassment over his lack of performance. He ran up to Xie Li and wailed, \u201cSenior Xie! Please avenge me! I\u2019m sure you’ll do better than Di Shibo!\u201d<\/p>\n Di Mie gave a sharp laugh and walked over, hand on his hip as he said with absolute certainty, \u201cNo, he can\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you so sure\u2014wait,\u201d said Jianjin, blinking in confusion as he watched Xie Li make his way behind the bushes and disappear from view.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, he\u2019s squatting,\u201d noticed Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy is he squatting?\u201d said Jianjin. \u201cDoes he need to take a dump?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s just how he does his number one,\u201d said Di Mie, dusting off his clothes.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, what?\u201d said Jianjin, shocked again. \u201cIs Senior Xie shy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d said Xie Li, emerging from the bushes after finishing his business.<\/p>\n \u201cSenior Xie! Why do you squat to pee?\u201d asked Jianjin so bluntly that Jianshi whacked him on the arm.<\/p>\n \u201cHm?\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cThat\u2019s what everyone does, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUh\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDid I say something wrong?\u201d said Xie Li, casually. He went over to the water barrel and scooped out a ladle of water.<\/p>\n Di Mie immediately held his hands out, washing them with water poured from the ladle. He took the ladle from Xie Li and returned the favour. Jianshi marvelled as he watched the both of them habitually move around the other as if they\u2019d lived together for a long time.<\/p>\n \u201cAh-Jin, come wash your hands too,\u201d beckoned Jianshi, following their example.<\/p>\n \u201cShizun is totally right,\u201d smiled Di Mie. \u201cEveryone pees squatting down. It\u2019s just that some people like to do it standing up.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat’s right,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cEveryone does that. That was how I was taught as a child.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t get it,\u201d whispered Jianjin to his brother, scratching his head in confusion.<\/p>\n “He grew up around women,” whispered Di Mie to the boys, taking pity on them after enjoying a full minute of the confusion on their faces.<\/p>\n \u201cAh,” said both of them.<\/p>\n *<\/p>\n The next day, Jianshi walked into the garden to find Xie Li tying a small wooden box on the sturdy branch of the tree.<\/p>\n \u201cThere you go,\u201d said Xie Li to the squirrel supervising him on the branch above him.<\/p>\n The squirrel shimmied down and examined his new home. It was filled with fresh fruit and nuts. This was an acceptable compensation. Satisfied, he shooed Xie Li’s hand away from the box and moved into his new home.<\/p>\n \u201cBwee!\u201d squeaked Cangshi.<\/p>\n “I’ll be careful,” said Xie Li.<\/p>\n He proceeded to promptly miss a footing on a low branch and fall flat on his face.<\/p>\n “Bwee bwee!”<\/p>\n Jianshi rushed over and quickly helped him up.<\/p>\n \u201cAre you all right, Senior Xie?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMn,\u201d said Xie Li, getting up and dusting the dirt from his clothes. He picked Cangshi up and stroked her head. “I’m fine. It’s hard to balance up there.”<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is Senior doing up on the tree?\u201d asked Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cA squirrel lost his home so I got him a new one.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh, from yesterday’s, uh, contest? It wasn\u2019t Senior Xie\u2019s fault. You could’ve asked us juniors to do it,\u201d said Jianshi.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s fine,\u201d said Xie Li. \u201cA master should take responsibility for his disciple\u2019s mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTaking responsibility for\u2014\u201d muttered Jianshi to himself. \u201cI\u2019m starting to see how the Hermit Moon Peak Lord might\u2019ve earned his reputation.\u201d<\/p>\n Translator’s Notes Hei Xuan\u2019s crow is a spirit weapon named \u2018Nian\u2019 (\u5ff5) The west quarter of the city was a bustling place in the day as the noisy gambling dens and colourful brothels ushered in customers from all over.<\/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-668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-my-hermit-master"],"yoast_head":"\n
\n
\n*Big Auntie: slang for ‘period’<\/em><\/p>\n
\n
\n
\n<\/strong>
\nThese boys and their shenanigans\u2026
\nDi Mie is a menace to squirrels.<\/p>\n
\n\u2018Nian\u2019 is a word with multiple meanings such as ‘to read’, ‘to speak’, ‘to study’, ‘to miss’, ‘to believe’ and ‘to remember’. It seems suitable seeing it\u2019s a book of poems that was often recited to her. Since it’s hard to pin down the meaning, I’ll use the original Chinese name in the chapter.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"