Jiu Jue - Part 10

Today, the light rain in the early morning didn't stop until the afternoon. The empty Cuiwei Mountain looked immersed in cold and gray.

It had been five days since Li Huai last visited. Su Qiuchi kept saying that it would be great if the rogue monkey didn't show up again as it would save all the good wine he wasted. However, his eyes kept glancing outside the bamboo house.

"Not seeing that guy feels abnormal to you now, doesn't it," Jiu Jue easily saw through him. "That's right, it's good if you're worried about that fellow."

"Nonsense! Why would I worry about what a grown man does!" Su Qiuchi rolled his eyes at him.

"There's no one else here, no need to pretend," Jiu Jue chuckled. "If you still can't tell whether Li Huai is male or female after that sunset dance, then you really must be a blind wild boar."

"I..." Su Qiuchi blushed, then stuck his chin out and said, "So what if I know that fellow is a woman? This Great Master Su has seen more beauties than he has eaten in his life. Why should I worry about that fair-looking and bad-tempered tomboy!"

Duplicity is not necessarily the monopoly of women; men also have a share in it. Ever since the evening when Su Qiuchi realized Li Huai's true gender, an indescribable feeling seemed to surge within him whenever he thought about it. It wasn't quite admiration — after all, how could he possibly fall in love with a fierce woman that he'd met by chance, was of unknown background, and loved opposing him; and it surely wasn't appreciation — as if there was anything remarkable about that guy! And yet, he just couldn't shake the feeling that the two of them should be together. The more time Su Qiuchi spent with Li Huai, the more obvious this feeling became. It was truly baffling.

"Since we're idle anyway, let me do a divination for Lu Huai," Jiu Jue stopped arguing with him and asked Lan Ting to bring out his turtle shell and copper coins. He shook them a few times, and the coins inside the shell clinked as they rolled out on the table.

"How is it? That guy didn't fall into the river and get washed away, did he?" Su Qiuchi blurted out, staring at the three coins with different sides facing up and down.

"Your words have hit the mark," Jiu Jue glanced briefly and put away the coins. "It's a very bad omen." Su Qiuchi was momentarily speechless.

"Let's go!" He grabbed Su Qiuchi, "Let's go find her!"

"Do you know where she is? Even her name is most likely fake!"

"I am a god!" Jiu Jue dragged Su Qiuchi up into the sky. Seeing the white clouds rushing beneath their feet, Su Qiuchi closed his eyes in fear.

Lan Ting looked up at the two people hurriedly flying away, put the small dishes he was holding back into the kitchen before they were served, and sighed deeply, his face full of worry as he hid into a secret place…

Jiu Jue - Part 9

Everyone in the Su Mansion thought that their young master had been possessed. Ever since he bought a wine flask from Treasure House a few days ago, their Young Master Su, who was fond of the bottle, hadn't even touched a drop of wine at home. Moreover, he no longer set foot in places like antique shops and the Pavilion of Myriad Flowers. He, who always said "the most useless person is a scholar," actually held a collection of poems one night and read it attentively under the lamp for a long time. Furthermore, he often rushed out of the house without eating breakfast properly and returned sober, but with a lingering fragrance of alcohol on him.

Su Qiuchi had always believed that what repeatedly drew him to the black bamboo forest was the wine brewed by the unidentified immortal Jiu Jue. Li Huai thought the same. A chance encounter and a pot of fine wine brought together three individuals with no prior connections. In the wide world, under the warm sun and amidst the verdant mountains, the fragrance of wine lingered all day in Jiu Jue's utopia-like dwelling, occasionally accompanied by the melodious sound of a flute.

Sometimes, they would light a small stove in the bamboo house and slowly roast the mountain delicacies brought by Lan Ting. The three of them would leisurely eat and drink. Su Qiuchi and Li Huai always competed with their chopsticks, never giving in to each other. While they made a racket, Jiu Jue would seize the opportunity to grab the largest and freshest wild mushrooms to eat. Lan Ting never ate but stood aside, chuckling. Other times, they would spread out a straw mat on the ground in the courtyard outside, casually laying out cups and dishes. They paid no attention to etiquette or bearing; sitting or lying down, and they didn't even bother with chopsticks. They would grab the fragrant braised beef and put it directly into their mouths. They did whatever they felt comfortable with. They were free from the secular world and its countless restrictions. Amidst the seemingly boorish laughter and chatter, they discussed ancient sages, contemporary affairs, and extraordinary tales from around the world, full of wit and humor. When the mood was high, Su Qiuchi would even fall on the ground, kicking his legs while laughing uproariously, not even noticing that his shoes were flying away.

I'm happy here and don't miss home^[1]. Although neither Su Qiuchi nor Li Huai explicitly spoke these words, their manners and the expressions in their eyes conveyed it clearly. They liked this place, liked Jiu Jue's wine, and seemingly also liked Jiu Jue himself. After spending a considerable amount of time together, the mutual animosity between Su Qiuchi and Li Huai seemed to have diminished. Although they still bickered endlessly, although Li Huai continued his trick of digging a hole in the ground to trick Su Qiuchi into falling in, although Su Qiuchi also played the prank of secretly pouring half a can of salt into Li Huai's wine jug, it all appeared to have transformed into a form of amusement.

Once during a late afternoon, after three rounds of wine, the distant setting sun cast a perfect golden glow. It resembled rolling waves of the sea, and painted the scenery in front of them into picturesque lines with slow and distant strokes of its fingers. Jiu Jue took his bamboo flute, lazily leaning against the trunk of an osmanthus tree. With blowing blue hair, fluttering robes, and slightly parted thin lips, he played the world's most beautiful melody with a green bamboo flute. Su Qiuchi's literary talent was so-so but he was proficient in music. He had Lan Ting fetch Jiu Jue's guqin^[2] from inside the house. Sitting cross-legged and straight, he placed the guqin on his knees, and used drunken inspiration to pluck the guqin strings, harmonizing with Jiu Jue's flute. One flute and one guqin complemented each other perfectly. Witnessing this, Li Huai felt moved. He stood up and walked to the center of the courtyard, stepping to the beat, and started dancing lightly and gracefully. With steps like blooming flowers, sleeves flowing like clouds, and eyes shimmering, he swayed in this slightly intoxicated atmosphere. With every smile and frown, he seemed like a fairy descended to the mortal world, devoid of any trace of masculinity.

The beauty danced as the flute and guqin played harmonious music. These three individuals unwittingly painted the most beautiful scene in the world. Lan Ting leaned in front of the window, focused on the rare and exquisite scenery outside with his painting brush swiftly moving across the paper.

If time cannot stop, then let the beauty that belongs to the three of them be preserved in this painting.

---

Footnotes:

[1] Too happy to be homesick. It usually has a negative connotation that one has so much fun that they forget their origins, or that they have to return; to indulge in pleasure and forget home and duty. Titbit: Liu Shan was the Emperor of Shu Han. The Shu kingdom was conquered by the Wei. One day, the Wei regent Sima Zhao invited Liu Shan and his followers to a feast, during which Sima Zhao arranged to have entertainers perform traditional Shu music and dance. The former Shu officials present were all saddened, but Liu Shan was visibly unmoved. When asked by Sima Zhao if he missed his former state, Liu Shan replied: I am too happy here to think about Shu (此間樂不思蜀). This phrase has become a Chinese idiom — 樂不思蜀.

[2] Guqin is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. It has been played since ancient times, and has traditionally been favored by scholars and literati as an instrument of great subtlety and refinement.

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Jiu Jue - Part 8

Outside the bamboo house, the night had grown heavy, with sparse stars and moonlight. A few faint beams of light escaping from the sky, delicately dyed the black bamboo house. Light and darkness blended perfectly. In front of the bamboo fence in the courtyard, several osmanthus trees were in full bloom at their best moment, emitting a delicate fragrance that captivated people.

There were no tables or chairs in the courtyard. Jiu Jue leaned against an osmanthus tree, sitting on a straw mat with fallen osmanthus petals scattered around like stars. A jug of wine was placed in front of him, untouched. He gazed at the distant horizon with half-squinted eyes, although it was only a hazy blur of light and shadows far away.

"Master, is something worrying you?" Beside the osmanthus tree, Lan Ting's petite figure walked out of the void. His mouth didn't move, but he spoke clearly, his childish voice blending into the air.

"I've been saying it for hundreds of years, don't call me master." Jiu Jue didn't move, not even bothering to lift his eyelids. "With such a poor memory, no wonder you haven't made any progress in your cultivation for such a long time. You were a child when I first met you, and you're still a child now."

Lan Ting disdainfully curled his lips and said, "It doesn't matter to me if my cultivation level is low or high. But you…the Mid-Autumn Festival is approaching and your wish is about to come true, so what are you unhappy about?"

"I keep feeling something is wrong, but I can't put my finger on it." Jiu Jue tilted his head back, inhaling the fragrance in the air, and smiled. "I'm really a useless immortal."

"You've saved many people, including me! That's not useless!" Lan Ting was displeased.

"Haha." Jiu Jue opened his eyes, changing the subject. "If your cultivation level were higher, you could protect yourself if I'm gone one day."

Lan Ting lowered his head, silently pinching his fingers without speaking.

"Monk Sanjie and I are old enemies. There are old grudges since the time both he and I were in the heavenly realm. After he was demoted to the mortal world, he has been my enemy from age to age, and he's the most difficult in this life. Last time, Su Qiuchi ruined his big plan; he won't let it go easily." Jiu Jue flicked his forehead, "You better be more cautious. That monk may come looking for trouble at any time."

"He's not your match," Lan Ting thought carefully for a long time and said so.

"The opponent isn't really Monk Sanjie," Jiu Jue sighed, "it's Empress Wu."

"A mere woman."

"Although she's a woman, she doesn't love makeup; she loves power and influence. Dealing with her is even more challenging than dealing with ten Monk Sanjie." Jiu Jue picked up the wine jug, raised his head and took a small sip, then patted Lan Ting's head, "But it doesn't matter. I'll protect you until I can't. Now, go to sleep. We'll think about tomorrow's matters tomorrow."

"I'll sleep right here," Lan Ting sat down on the straw mat and lay down next to Jiu Jue, very much like a cat that has always relied on its owner. "It feels more reassuring this way." After saying that, he eagerly looked at the wine jug in Jiu Jue's hand and added, "Master, can I have some? Just a sip... it smells so good!"

Jiu Jue chuckled, conjured a cup, poured a shallow layer of wine, and handed it to him, saying, "Just this once."

After enjoying the fine wine, before long, Lan Ting began to hiccup. With each hiccup, his body shrank a little, until finally, he transformed into an unfolded scroll with four words on top — "Lan Ting Collection: Preface." At the final moment of transformation, a glowing sphere gradually emerged from the very center of the scroll, pulsing faintly as if alive. A book appeared from within the glowing sphere, and as the radiance dispersed, two characters became visible on the aged cover — "Awakening Dreams."

A cool breeze swept by and flipped the pages, revealing that there was nothing but emptiness beneath the cover. There was only one page left in the entire book. Seeing this, Jiu Jue put down the wine in his hand, took off his outer robe, and covered the book with it. Shaking his head, he said, "I've never seen a demon like you, who can't make any progress and reveals his true form after just a few drops of wine."

Yes, Lan Ting was a book. Monk Sanjie wanted this book, Empress Wu wanted this book, and throughout the past thousands of years, those who coveted this book were as numerous as the fish in the sea.

The Three Lives Awakening Dreams Book could see events through the veil of time. Accurately speaking, Lan Ting was a demon that has perpetually taken the form of a book. In the past, half of its lifetime was spent assisting those who sought its help in observing the so-called "Wheel of Fate," i.e. the working of destiny. The other half of its time was spent escaping for its life from the clutches of one evil-intentioned villain after another. The word on the street was that turning the Three Lives Awakening Dreams Book into ashes, steeping it in water, and drinking it would transform one into an unparalleled prophet, able to foresee the future and manipulate destiny. However, the truth is that even if someone consumes it, the ability to foresee fate will not transfer to that person. This irresponsible misinformation has caused nothing but great harm to this poor demon.

Three hundred years ago, Jiu Jue saved Lan Ting from being pursued and killed by the old demon Red Bear on Cloud Top Mountain. He learned that this stupid book demon always got caught up in being hunted down with those harboring evil intentions. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, it was relentlessly chased by a Daoist priest who sought to use it as an ingredient for an elixir. In a desperate escape, Lan Ting stumbled upon a drunken old scholar in the wilderness, who was fervently wielding a brush and splashing ink. Lan Ting cleverly hid its original body within the book being written by the old scholar. Unexpectedly, the old man named Wang was a scholar possessing great talent, as if he was the reincarnation of Wenqu^[1]. His whole body exuded a pure, austere aura that completely cleansed Lan Ting of its demonic energy. From then on, no one could trace Lan Ting's whereabouts based on its scent. As a result, "Lan Ting Collection: Preface" that has been circulated throughout the ages became the refuge of a demon, and basking in the fame of this work, Lan Ting's cultivation improved and it could now transform into a human form, albeit that of a child. It was satisfied with its new existence. It not only embraced a wealth of literary and poetic knowledge but also adopted the name Lan Ting, making it his own. Encountering the old demon Red Bear later could only be blamed on Lan Ting's love for alcohol, as it ended up intoxicated and revealed its hiding place in the woods. After being rescued by Jiu Jue, it regarded him as its master, accompanying him back to the dwelling in the black bamboo forest and becoming his pageboy, living a peaceful and happy life ever since.

Jiu Jue understood Lan Ting very well. His greatest virtue was his kindness, but at the same time, his greatest weakness was also his kindness. Faced with those who appeared troubled and sought answers about their future, Lan Ting always acceded to every plea, revealing the answers to their questions one by one. Little did they know that every time he answered someone's question, he burned a page.

Once all the pages are burned, you'll have nothing, you'll be nothing. Jiu Jue had warned. I came from nothing, I should return to nothing. I just can't bear to see those miserable people. If a little sacrifice can change their future, it's worth it. Lan Ting answered him like this.

After all, it was just a book. Even if it was labeled as a demon, its thoughts were pure and upright. But is it really meaningful to know the future and comprehend destiny? This is a question Jiu Jue secretly pondered for many years. However, the reality he had to admit was that one page from Lan Ting had once burned for him.

Two hundred years ago, he asked Lan Ting a question: When will I be able to find him? Lan Ting's answer was: Following the fragrance from a thousand miles, smiling at the reflection in the wine.

---

[1] God of Culture and Literature.

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Jiu Jue - Part 7

In Jiu Jue's bamboo house, someone arrived earlier than Su Qiuchi and was currently drinking and chatting happily with Jiu Jue.

"You, you, you..." Su Qiuchi rushed in like a sudden gust of wind, pointing at Li Huai with one hand and grabbing the wine jar on the table with the other. He shook it vigorously, then stomped his foot, yelling, "You guys actually finished all the wine! In my absence!!"

His frantic appearance scared away the guiding bamboo leaf dragonfly, which instantly flew out of the window, narrowly avoiding hitting the window frame. Li Huai remained calm and held up his cup with ease, deliberately smiling lightly, "Gentleman Su has never been an important figure, so it doesn't matter if he's absent."

Su Qiuchi assumed the pose of wanting to beat him up but was stopped by a smiling Jiu Jue, "There is nothing else in my humble abode, but there's as much wine as you want. Gentleman Su can rest assured."

Upon hearing this, Su Qiuchi's gloomy face immediately brightened, and he grinned at Jiu Jue, "My good immortal, then quickly bring out more!"

"In your previous life, you must have been trash who drowned in a wine barrel," Li Huai wiped his mouth with a refined manner, put down his wine cup, and remarked, "A boar-like roughneck like you drinking the wine here is nothing but a waste!"

"You, surnamed Li, don't think you won't get thrashed just because you look good!" Su Qiuchi, who had never been ridiculed like this before, rushed up in fury and punched Li Huai in the face. Unexpectedly, Li Huai was supremely agile, dodging swiftly. At the same time, his right hand had grabbed Su Qiuchi's right wrist, and yanked hard. Su Qiuchi really howled like a boar and simply threw himself at Li Huai. The two rolled and crawled on the ground, exchanging punches and kicks. Their once fine clothes were now covered in dirt, a really humiliating sight.

Jiu Jue didn't intervene. Instead, he retreated to one side with a wine jar in his arms, pointing at the two and jeering, "What a doomed^[1] pair! My hut hasn't been this lively in many years."

As the fight continued with no one trying to stop them, it became less amusing. Eventually, both got up from the ground, grumbling and cursing. Su Qiuchi had a black eye and a shoe print on his handsome face. Holding his bruised mouth, he roared, "You rogue monkey! Ever heard of not hitting the face when fighting?! How am I supposed to hang out at the Pavilion of Myriad Flowers after you've damaged me like this!"

"You really turned into a wild boar! You actually used your teeth! Sooner or later, I'll slaughter you and make mincemeat out of you!" Li Huai, nursing his red nose from Su Qiuchi's blows, raised his right arm with a clear row of bite marks, cursing bitterly.

"Hahaha!" Jiu Jue laughed so hard that he fell on the couch, thoroughly gloating. Only when he noticed the angry glares Su Qiuchi and Li Huai directed at him after reaching a tacit understanding did he stop laughing, sit up, and clear his throat, saying, "Well... as the saying goes, out of blows friendship grows^[2]. Another common saying is enemies in this life, husband and wife in the next life. And, vice versa. So, you two are fated in a way."

"Husband and wife?!" Su Qiuchi and Li Huai looked at each other, then vigorously spat at each other at the same time, "Bah!"

"I'm not a cut sleeve."

"I've no fondness for Long Yang."

Jiu Jue grinned at this spontaneously synchronized pair of enemies, "Such rapport^[3]."

"Hey, I didn't come here today to listen to your depressing remarks." Su Qiuchi, impatient again, went up and grabbed Jiu Jue, saying, "Quickly bring out eight or ten jars of good wine! Otherwise, I'll forget you're an immortal and burn down this shabby little house of yours, hmph!"

As soon as he finished speaking, an attendant, a young child of around ten with his hair in a loose topknot, walked into the room carrying a jug of wine. He wore a clean and neat white cloth robe with black patterns. He had bright eyes and looked serene, which made him appear somewhat different from an ordinary child.

Jiu Jue introduced him to the two, "My pageboy, Lan Ting^[4]." Lan Ting nodded slightly at them, not speaking. He set down the wine jug and stood aside.

A rich and refreshing aroma wafted from the jug, enticing anyone who smelled it. Su Qiuchi, ignoring the injuries on his face, hurriedly went over to uncover the jug and poured the wine into his mouth. However, not a single drop came out. Puzzled, he took the jug and shook it forcefully, hearing the sound of sloshing wine. Closing one eye and peering inside, he saw the jug was full, but when he tried to pour it into his mouth again, the jug was evidently empty again. Li Huai snatched the jug, but like Su Qiuchi, he could see the wine but couldn't drink it.

"Henceforth, if you want to freely enjoy the good wine at my place, there are rules." Jiu Jue slyly took the wine jug, "The previous invitation to drink was a favor as my gratitude for saving me. Starting from this jug of wine, you can't drink just because you want to."

"How much silver do you want?" Su Qiuchi responded quickly. Ever since he tasted Jiu Jue's craftsmanship, other wines no longer interested him. He was willing to pay any amount for such fine wine. Li Huai pushed him aside, saying only, "I'll double whatever he pays!"

"So, you truly stand together against a common enemy." Jiu Jue pretended to be troubled, spreading his hands dramatically. "My rule is simple. Each person must compose a poem. If I find it satisfactory, then from now on, you can drink fine wine as you wish."

Su Qiuchi and Li Huai exchanged glances and once again spoke in unison, asking, "How about giving silver?"

"That won't do." Jiu Jue shook his head. "Even if you two recite just one line each, it will suffice."

The skill Su Qiuchi was worst at in this life was composing poems and writing antithetical couplets. And judging by Li Huai's anxious and frustrated expression over there, he probably wasn't any better. With fine wine as a prize, whatever meager literary talent Su Qiuchi had churned within his mind for a while, finally spitting out a line — "Following the fragrance from a thousand miles." Meanwhile, Li Huai, having pulled out a handful of hair, responded with — "Smiling at the reflection in the wine."

"Following the fragrance from a thousand miles, smiling at the reflection in the wine." Jiu Jue was stumped for words for a moment, then raised an eyebrow and laughed, "No merit, no fault; just mediocre." Su Qiuchi and Li Huai blushed with shame, regretting not heeding the teacher's regular advice to learn more literary skills.

"Lan Ting, you fill in the last two lines." Jiu Jue gestured to Lan Ting.

Lan Ting approached the table, dipped a brush in ink, and wrote without hesitation — "Following the fragrance from a thousand miles, smiling at the reflection in the wine. Golden branch shakes jade leaf, woman not lesser than man^[5]."

Seeing this last line, a hint of panic flashed quickly across Li Huai's face.

"Haha, this doggerel is barely passable." Jiu Jue laughed, lifting the piece of paper and patting Lan Ting's head, "Fine, let's just say they pass the test."

Lan Ting grinned and nodded. Su Qiuchi glanced at the poem written by Lan Ting. With his considerable knowledge of antique calligraphy and painting, he felt that even just those twenty characters displayed remarkable variation. They had the elegance of floating clouds, yet also the vigor of a soaring dragon. The writing was cursive yet calm. He would never have believed that a ten-year-old kid had such skill if he hadn't seen it with his own eyes.

"You... um... you write really well!" Su Qiuchi's thousand words of praise finally boiled down into this simple phrase. Lan Ting smiled at him but remained silent.

Although Li Huai was not proficient in calligraphy, he could still sense the exceptional momentum of the characters. Impressed, he gave Lan Ting a thumbs up and asked, "Lan Ting, you're such a good calligrapher. Did your master teach you?"

"How can I teach him?" Jiu Jue hurriedly clarified, "Lan Ting's talent is innate." That's right, isn't Jiu Jue an immortal in the heavenly realm; an immortal's pageboy naturally can't be an ordinary person.

After the commotion, the group sat around the table. Lan Ting served several exquisite appetizers, and the fragrance of the food mixed with the aroma of wine filled the air. They sat by the window, enjoying the setting sun and the singing of returning birds, chatting freely while eating and toasting. After drinking three jars of wine, Su Qiuchi, who got his wish, gazed at Jiu Jue with eyes misty from intoxication, foolishly asking, "Are you really... some wine-making god?"

"You're such a sissy! He already said he's a god, and you still ask!" Li Huai, who was a lightweight, staggered as he pushed Su Quichi. He leaned against him while mumbling inarticulately, and gradually slipped to the floor while using Su Qiuchi's leg as a pillow.

"Hey... I think Jiu Jue looks familiar... You also look familiar... Do you both owe me a lot of money?" Su Qiuchi jabbed Li Huai's head. "You man... more delicate-looking than a woman... stronger than me... I feel like we're similar!"

"Bullshit! Who is like you... you're so ugly! Jiu Jue is prettier..." Li Huai punched him.

Jiu Jue smiled as he watched these two inebriated cats, shook his head, and one by one helped them to the bed in the inner room, covered them with blankets, blew out the candles, and closed the door softly.

---

Footnotes:

[1] 冤孽: enmity/retribution caused by bad karma.

[2] 不打不相識: friends are often made after a fight.

[3] Cut-sleeve and Long Yang both mean male homosexual. Lord Long Yang was the homosexual lover of King Anxi of Wei during the Warring States period. Cut-sleeve comes from Emperor Ai of Han cutting off his sleeve rather than disturbing his sleeping lover Dong Xian when he had to get out of bed.

[4] 兰亭: can be interpreted as "Orchid Pavilion."

[5] 千里循香来，笑对酒中影。金枝摇玉叶，巾帼斗须眉. Did I mention I suck at poetry? Well, I do. This translation is as literal as it gets. Anyway, golden branch, jade leaves is blue-blooded nobility, esp. imperial kinsmen. 

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Jiu Jue - Part 6

So immortals look like him.

Up until now, Su Qiuchi still didn't quite believe that he had seen a living immortal, even though the guy was very candid during self-introduction. How could a mortal turn a cup of plain water into fine wine in the blink of an eye? To say it was sorcery, was there any monster in the whole world that looked so pure and quick-witted? However, as long as he could get good wine from him, even if he was a devil, it didn't matter — Su Qiuchi's understanding of Jiu Jue underwent twists and turns, took shape, and reached a verdict in a short period of time.

He and Li Huai clearly stayed in Jiu Jue's bamboo house outside the Wuyou Pond in the black bamboo forest of Cuiwei Mountain for a few short hours. Then why, when he returned home, did each and every member of his family rush up weeping bitter tears, saying that he had been missing for a whole three days? His family had already reported it to the officials, and his grandfather had even dispatched a team of elite fighting soldiers to look for him all over Chang'an.

A day in the mountains, a thousand years in the world? Su Qiuchi could only think of this phrase. Of course, he didn't tell anyone about his adventures in Cuiwei Mountain, just saying that he was traveling through nature and lost track of time.

This evening, Su Qiuchi unusually didn't go out to spend his time drinking and having fun. Instead, he simply held the exquisitely crafted Dancing Horse Holding Cup silver flask in his hand, propped up his chin, and sat in a daze under the bedroom window. This wine flask, originally damaged by Li Huai's bump, had its chain connecting to the lid torn, but after Jiu Jue fiddled with it a few times, it miraculously looked as good as new. That day, Jiu Jue poured half a jar of his own brewed wine into this flask, and the taste was truly a hundred times richer and mellower than the finest imperial brew bestowed by the emperor. Now, the wine was gone, but the fragrance remained, indicating that what Jiu Jue said might be the truth.

Jiu Jue said that he was the God of Wine-making in the heavenly realm. Due to his duties, he often had to descend to the mortal world to find good ingredients for making wine. The monk had a personal grudge against him and took advantage of the opportunity of his descent to the world this time to try to snatch something from him. The two fought for three days and three nights, with Jiu Jue ending up at a disadvantage. So he had no alternative but to lead the monk into the black bamboo forest, using bamboo leaves as a substitute to hide his presence. Unexpectedly, the monk still refused to give up and, using the same spell, put his body and soul into a bamboo leaf, entering the other end of the space and relentlessly pursuing Jiu Jue. While the two were fighting and locked in a stalemate in a void in the sky that was invisible to mortals, luckily Su Qiuchi, led by Li Huai, stumbled upon them. He inadvertently broke the monk's substitute, freeing Jiu Jue from the predicament. The monk had hurt his vitality due to that blow and would take at least a month to recover.

In Jiu Jue's bamboo house, Su Qiuchi and Li Huai, after hearing his explanation, were left confused. Still in a daze, they were then escorted out of the black bamboo forest by Jiu Jue, and safely returned to the vast plain outside Cuiwei Mountain.

Su Qiuchi remembered that when he got on his horse and looked back, Jiu Jue was still smiling and waving at them not far away. When he turned back again, the mesmerizing lake blue-haired figure had vanished, as if the person who had just waved and smiled at him was nothing but a phantom. Li Huai's expression mirrored Su Qiuchi's, only he seemed even more reluctant to leave, looking back thrice for every step forward. The black bamboo forest, Wuyou Pond, Jiu Jue — everything seemed unreal, like a dream. At this thought, Su Qiuchi suddenly tightened his grip on the wine flask, took out a small brocade pouch from his person, glanced at it, abruptly stood up, and rushed out of the room.

The brocade pouch was a parting gift from Jiu Jue to him and Li Huai. It contained a dragonfly made of a bamboo leaf and a small porcelain bottle with a square mouth. Jiu Jue explained that he feared being disturbed, so he had set up a barrier using Fuxi's Natural Eight-Trigram Battle Array in the black bamboo forest where he lived, separating it from the normal space. Their accidental entry was just a lucky coincidence. If they wanted to visit him again, they only needed to sprinkle the water from Wuyou Pond on the bamboo leaf dragonfly after entering the mountain, and it would guide them.

Hurrying into Cuiwei Mountain, Su Quichi opened the porcelain bottle and sprinkled water on the bamboo leaf dragonfly as per Jiu Jue's instructions. In the blink of an eye, the bamboo leaf dragonfly fluttered its wings as if alive and flew towards the depths of the mountain forest.

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Jiu Jue - Part 5

At the fifth watch of the night^[1], within the Diligent Government Hall in the Palace of Great Brightness, the candlelight flickered dimly, and all was silent. Two young eunuchs on duty stood outside the hall, rubbing their hands together, occasionally yawning.

She had long been accustomed to concentrating on reviewing memorials at such a time and environment. Except for the two young eunuchs, everyone else had been dismissed, leaving only a single candle burning.

The vermilion imperial brush and the beautiful and exquisite writings should have been the responsibility of the country's monarch, but her husband used the pretext of wind chill to hand over all the affairs of the country to her. He claimed it was the tacit understanding and trust between husband and wife.

It wasn't until she closed the final memorial that the monk standing in front of her with his head bowed, not daring to move or make a sound, cautiously took a step forward from the shadows.

"Your Imperial Majesty, I fell just a step short. As soon as this humble monk recovers his strength, I will get the treasure from that evil-doer." The white-robed monk from the bamboo forest spoke with fear and trepidation. The woman before him was approaching middle age, yet her appearance was even more enchanting than in her youth. However, concealed within her brows and eyes was a majestic presence and heroic spirit that couldn't be matched by thousands of men. Clad in a plain muslin robe, she had elegantly pinned up her black hair in a high bun, adorned only with a nine-colored gemstone phoenix hairpin. Her black hair and the beautiful hairpin shone with colorful brilliance under the candlelight. This manner of dressing made her unique beauty stand out despite the murky night.

"Is Princess Duanyi still well?" She neatly stacked the memorials, not bothering to look at the monk.

"Well..." The monk broke into a cold sweat, "Originally, it should have gone as the Empress wished. But…but a troublemaker suddenly appeared halfway and ruined this humble monk's overall plan... May Your Imperial Majesty rest assured. Within a month, this humble monk will fulfill the Empress's decree. I will surely retrieve the Book of Three Lives Awakening Dreams and... the princess's life!"

"I^[2] truly don't know whether to reward you or punish you." She raised her eyes slightly, looking at the monk, "You are not clever enough. Never mind, I have other plans for the princess." She paused briefly, her gaze suddenly sharp, "However, concerning the Book of Three Lives Awakening Dreams... one month is the limit. If you fail to handle it, Master^[3] himself will be in danger of becoming a corpse."

"Yes, yes, this humble monk obeys the Empress's decree!" The monk wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"You may withdraw." She waved her hand slightly. The monk, as if granted a reprieve, stood up and retreated into the shadows. A burst of green smoke filled the air, and there was no trace of him left.

Taiye Lake exuded the fragrance of lotus flowers under the moonlight. Lotuses blossomed everywhere adorning every corner, and the emerald water rippled gently. The sound of the water resembled a lullaby a mother would sing to her child, tender and delicate.

She lay on a comfortable bed, the scent of incense wafting through the air.

"Is the sound of the water pleasant?" Someone walked in from beyond the layers of curtains, their steps light, akin to a lotus blooming with each stride.

"Who?!" She sat up in bed, parted the curtains, and immediately sneered, "Empress Wang, it's you again!"

"I just came to inquire whether the sound of the water in this Taiye Lake is reminiscent of the song you used to sing to your daughter in those days." The visitor stopped and mocked her, standing on the other side of the gauze curtain. Though her chest felt like it was pricked by needles, she continued to sneer, "So what if it is, so what if it isn't."

"Wu Meiniang^[4], back then, you did not hesitate to destroy your own daughter in order to snatch the position of Empress from me. Now, let me tell you, she has returned. The plum blossom mark on the palm of her hand is truly beautiful! She will avenge me and all the souls who perished under your ambition. She will demand everything from you! Hahaha." Laughter filled with bitterness echoed outside the gauze curtain.

"No one is qualified to demand everything from me!" She tried to get up but found herself unable to budge an inch.

"The gods can!" The person outside the gauze curtain declared triumphantly.

"I will stand in a position even higher than the gods." She spoke calmly, but every word was like iron.

A chill surged from her chest, and she abruptly opened her eyes. She was still lying down comfortably on her high bed and warm pillow. However, her back was covered in sweat. The layers of gauze curtains were still hanging low, and aside from the palace maids and eunuchs outside the curtain, there was no one else. She sat up and held her forehead in exhaustion. She couldn't count how many times she had repeated this dream over the years. Every time, she woke up in the cold grip of inner conflict. If I really reach a position even higher than the gods, will those things be trampled under my feet forever and  not remembered? She had asked herself many times, and the answer was always — yes.

No one could break her rules. What she wanted was not the phoenix hairpin but the dragon robe^[5]. Yes, that must be the case. She needed to accomplish something, but now, she still lacked that little bit of confidence.

---

Footnotes:

[1] Between 3-5 am

[2] She uses 哀家 here which is a first person pronoun employed by a widowed royal woman. Chiefly used in literature. Actual use in history is disputed.

[3] 法師: one who has mastered the sutras. It is also used as a title. In fantasy settings, it means wizard; mage.

[4] Wu Meiniang is Wu Zetian—the only female emperor (empress regnant) in Chinese history.

[5] In Chinese cultural symbolism, the phoenix hairpin is often associated with the empress. On the other hand, the dragon robe is a symbol of imperial authority and is traditionally worn by the emperor.

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Jiu Jue - Part 4

When it came to escaping, Su Qiuchi was also a top-notch expert in the city of Chang'an. After madly dashing all the way for who knows how long, he'd just wormed his way out from between two entangled black bamboo, when he felt a bright light before his eyes. A refreshing and impressive aura with a hint of moist warmth hit his face, and the sound of gurgling water also reached his ears — a vast open space in the mountains appeared before him. Dense rocks and trees surrounded an oval pond, where ripples danced and the bluish green water shimmered like jade. A not-so-majestic waterfall hung in the air like a silver chain, its snowy white color unexpectedly brightening the already dusk sky. Large birds that he'd never seen before glided through the air from time to time displaying their long, colorful tails. Su Qiuchi never imagined that there would be such a slice of paradise hidden in the small bamboo forest.

"Fool, go get that silk brocade bag quickly!" The handsomely dressed young man suddenly pointed to something red revealed among the pile of rocks in front of him on the left. "There's a Seven Alert sound arrow inside. Release it! Hurry!"

Su Qiuchi hurried to comply. But on seeing the sound arrow shoot straight into the sky and bursting into seven different colored flowers in the air, Su Qiuchi asked, "Asking for help?! This is the way to get out of the bamboo forest you mentioned?"

"What else?" The other party spread his hands, "Did you think I can lead you out?"

"Isn't that what you've been implying all along?!" Su Qiuchi exploded.

"My knowledge of Daoist techniques is limited, but I do know that this bamboo forest should not exist in this space and that each bamboo and stone here is arranged according to Fuxi's^[1] Natural Eight-Trigram Battle Array. Once you enter, without expert guidance, you can only die trapped inside. My skill can only lead you back to the way I took before, and find the sound arrow to seek help." The well-dressed young man was much calmer than him, eyes gazing at the sky. "I hope they can find me before we starve to death."

Upon hearing things like "space" and "Fuxi's Natural Eight-Trigram Battle Array," Su Qiuchi's mind was instantly blown.

"Sit there and wait. Maybe later I'll have to trouble you to carry me." The well-dressed young man pointed to a large bluestone nearby. "Also, what's your name?"

"Laozi's name is none of your damn business!" Su Qiuchi sat down with a huff, shooting him an irritated look. "But telling you won't hurt. I'm Su Qiuchi, known as Little Overlord of Chang'an, hmph!"

"I am Li Huai^[2], a native of Chang'an." The young man introduced himself with poise. "So, now that we've met and can also be considered comrades in adversity, if I've offended you before, please don't take it to heart. Today, I came out for an outing, but I didn't expect to mistakenly enter this place, and ended up involving Gentleman^[3] Su. It was really not my intention."

At least this guy spoke some human words. Su Qiuchi's anger subsided a lot, and he asked with a straight face, "How did you end up in this damned place and even had your soul go out of your body?"

"Well, I came down from Cuiwei Mountain. Seeing this novel and interesting bamboo forest, I came in to take a look and walked all the way to the pond. I saw that the water in the pond was clear and lovely, so I took a few sips. Since there was nothing else around, I decided to go back the same way. But something went wrong as I was walking back. The world spun, my body felt like it was on fire, and then I lost consciousness. When I woke up, I became like this, and I also lost the silk brocade bag with the sound arrow. And I found out that my soul cannot leave my body within a ten-foot range. Fortunately, you broke in. Otherwise, in my current state… Alas!" Li Huai lamented, "If I had known earlier it'd be like this, I would have stayed in the palace... I mean, I would have stayed at home and not come out."

"Bah! You unlucky trash!" Although Su Qiuchi cursed with his mouth, he also felt strange in his heart. Could this place be enchanted by some sorcery?

At this moment, a colorful bird descended from the sky and landed next to the pond between two large stones facing each other, singing melodiously. Observing the two stones, each the height of a person, translucent like jade with a faint blue glow, they were quite beautiful.

Su Qiuchi was attracted by the bird and the stones, unable to resist approaching for a closer look. Upon closer inspection, relying on his experience of playing with antique jade for many years, Su Qiuchi concluded that these were just ordinary stones. However, on the chessboard-like smooth surface on top of the stones, there was a pile of bamboo leaves arranged in the shape of human figures. Two bamboo leaf figures, each on one of the peculiar stones, and clearly in a confrontational posture.

"What's this?" Su Qiuchi found it strange. He randomly picked up the bamboo leaf figure on the right stone, lifted its "right arm" in passing and inspected it. Hey, it's a genuine bamboo leaf. Who's so bored to arrange them like this?

While Su Qiuchi was wondering, a white mist suddenly spewed out from the bamboo leaf figure that was missing an "arm." Accompanied by a furious roar of "hateful!" a monk in white robes unexpectedly emerged from the white mist, holding his right shoulder with his left hand, glowering at Su Qiuchi. On the stone opposite the monk, the same thing happened to the other bamboo leaf figure at the same time, and a man's figure slowly emerged from the white mist… Su Qiuchi exclaimed and fell awkwardly to the ground, pointing at the two figures that appeared out of thin air on the stones, too shocked to speak.

"Evil creature, today it's your damn luck! Next time won't be so easy!" The monk wrathfully declared to the man opposite him, then gave Su Qiuchi a fierce glare, muttered something, and turned into a burst of greenish black smoke, disappearing into the air.

"No matter how many lifetimes pass, some things never change." The man shook his head, shook his green robe, and jumped down from the stone.

"You..." Su Qiuchi wasn't sure if the man in front of him was human, ghost, god, or demon. All he could see in his line of sight were those lake-blue strands of hair and the clean, delicate, refined as jade face. If this man was a human, with such good looks, not only men, but even women would be envious.

"Don't be afraid, Gentleman Su." The blue-haired man politely extended his hand towards Su Qiuchi and smiled. "Get up quickly. Today, I truly must express my gratitude to you and Gentleman Li. If you hadn't intervened from the side, disrupting that bald donkey's formation, I might not have escaped unscathed."

"You..." Su Qiuchi stared blankly at the man. Feeling that the man's gaze was only friendly and not dangerous, he allowed the man to pull him up. After regaining his senses, he immediately jumped aside and questioned loudly, "What are you?"

The man smiled and clasped his hands towards Su Qiuchi. "I am Jiu Jue, a mountain villager^[4]." Su Qiuchi was surprised. "How did you know my surname is Su?"

"I overheard your conversation. How about helping Gentleman Li get out of trouble first." Jiu Jue walked towards Li Huai, who was anxiously looking around on the other side. Because that guy was bound to his physical body, he couldn't follow Su Qiuchi to the gap between the two stones and got all worked up, pacing and gesturing.

Su Qiuchi and Li Huai both felt that Jiu Jue didn't do much. He merely dipped his fingers into the pool, drew two strokes on Li Huai's forehead, flicked the remaining water droplets onto Li Huai's soul, leaped into the air to grab the hand of Li Huai's soul, and then moved it towards his physical body. In an instant, the seemingly lifeless body regained its breath, jumping up lively. Li Huai exclaimed in delight, patting his hands and feet, shouting, "Great! Great! I'm alive! I'm alive!"

"The pool of water is not for mortals to drink." Jiu Jue glanced at the green pool and smiled. "This pond is named Wuyou^[5]. If an ordinary person drinks the water directly, their soul will leave their body. If not rescued, they will have to remain as a lonely soul here for the rest of their life."

Su Qiuchi and Li Huai broke into cold sweats after hearing this. Li Huai muttered, "The name sounds rather nice, Wuyou..."

"All earthly troubles stem from this mortal flesh. If you throw away this shackle and free the soul, you can see things much more clearly, and naturally, everything becomes worry-free." Jiu Jue laughed heartily, changing the subject. "If you two trust that I am not a bad person, please follow me to my humble abode for a short rest. I have some aged fine wine that can be used for my distinguished guests." His gaze turned to the mountain forest behind the waterfall as he warmly invited them.

"Let's go, let's go! I'm in!" As soon as he heard that there was wine to drink, the wine bug in Su Qiuchi's belly began cheering incessantly, caring about nothing else. Li Huai gave Su Qiuchi a disdainful look and called him a "drunkard," but didn't object to Jiu Jue's invitation. To be honest, the bizarre events they had encountered throughout the day had left them exhausted. At this moment, resting somewhere and having a few drinks seemed like the perfect solution. The trio followed along the Wuyou Pond, heading towards the mountains behind the waterfall, led by Jiu Jue.

"This chap says this bamboo forest shouldn't be in this space. How did you and the monk end up here? How did you emerge from those bamboo leaf figures?"

"It would be better to discuss these things when we get to my place. Then I’ll talk about it one by one with Gentleman Su."

"Why is your name so strange, Jiu Jue? Is there such a surname as Jiu? Is your older brother named Ba Jue^[6]?"

"......"

"Su Qiuchi, say one more word, and I, Li Huai, swear that I'll throw you into the pond to feed the fish!"

"Shut up, you brat! If it weren't for me, you'd still be a lonely soul in the bamboo forest!"

"I'll definitely cut off your head when we get back!"

"You turn hostile even faster than a woman! You just said we're comrades in adversity, and now you want to cut off my head. Let me tell you, my grandfather is the current prime minister. It's uncertain who will be cutting whose head. Also, you broke my wine flask that I bought for 800 taels of silver. Pay for it!"

"You dumb goose, who asked you to block my way? I've already done you a big favor by not trampling you to death."

Along the way, Su Qiuchi and Li Huai were tit-for-tat at every turn, as if destined to be sworn enemies, thoroughly destroying the peaceful and distant atmosphere around them.

Watching these two restless young gentlemen, Jiu Jue just smiled and remained silent.

---

Footnotes:

[1] Fuxi or Fu Hsi, legendary Chinese emperor, mythical creator of fishing, trapping and writing.

[2] 李淮: Li (surname), li means plum. Huai is the name of a river.

[3] The word 公子 has been used a lot in this story arc. I've used "young man" and "gentleman" as I saw fit. Gongzi is son of official/nobility/privilege; scion; a title used to address young men in historical dramas.  

[4] Metaphor for a recluse.

[5] No worries.

[6] Jue means to faint; to lose consciousness; his; her; its; their. Jiu means 9, Ba means 8. In addition to the number joke, "八厥" (Bajue) and "八戒" (Bajie) sound somewhat similar when spoken aloud. Bajie is the famous Piggy or Pigsy in the English version of Journey to the West.

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Jiu Jue - Part 3

It's really him!

Su Qiuchi stared at the handsome young man who was unconscious in his arms. Thinking about the wine flask that he had broken, he should have been filled with anger, but when he carefully examined the appearance of this young man, his emotions changed. The person in his arms was about sixteen or seventeen years old, wearing a moon-white silk robe with luan^[1] and auspicious cloud patterns embroidered with silver threads. A purple-gold jade belt was tied around his waist, with exquisite craftsmanship. His black hair was neatly tied up with an ornate jade crown, and his face hid the freshness of half-opened flowers. His snowy skin was more delicate than silk. His sword-shaped eyebrows were beautiful, and his lips were as if daubed with cream. Despite the heroic attire, his stature was a bit petite, and the weight in Su Qiuchi's arms felt surprisingly light. Su Qiuchi couldn't help but wonder why this young man, who was clearly a wastrel born with a gold spoon, would faint here for no apparent reason.

While still in doubt, Su Qiuchi suddenly felt a not-too-light impact on the back of his head, and a pebble bounced off. Su Qiuchi covered the back of his head and looked around. Except for the two of them along with the red and white horses, there was no one else.

Thwack! Another shot. Someone was hitting his head like pranking him. "Who?!" Su Qiuchi was furious, standing up and cursing loudly, "Who doesn't have eyes and dares to tease your Grandpa^[2] Su!"

"Hey hey! Up here, up here!" a crisp voice came from above Su Qiuchi's head. He raised his head in surprise, only to see a guy floating in mid-air who was a carbon copy of the young man on the ground. His appearance, figure, clothing, and demeanor were an exact match.

Huh?... Twin brothers? But this thought was quickly dismissed because Su Qiuchi clearly saw that the guy in the air had no feet. Below the knees, there was only a translucent cloud in the shape of a snake tail.

"Oh my god! A ghost!" Su Qiuchi gave a weird cry, stumbling and falling to the ground.

"Don't faint!" the man in the air shouted urgently, scolding at the same time, "Imagine meeting a seven-foot-tall fella who's so gutless! Have you ever seen a ghost dressed so elegantly?! I see you're both blind and brainless; you deserve to have your lousy wine flask tossed!"

Being scolded like this, Su Qiuchi jumped up and pointed at the person in the air, yelling, "Say it again if you dare!"

"I'll say it a hundred times!" the man retorted without showing any weakness, his charming face turning red. Su Qiuchi rolled up his sleeves, ready to go and beat up the man.

"Hey, blind guy! Don't be impulsive!" Seeing his aggressive stance, the young man waved his hands and spoke in a more relaxed tone, "Let's settle personal grievances later. If you want to live up to the title of a manly man, you must save people from danger. Could…could you help me get back into my body? I'm not a ghost, just an out-of-body soul. Right now, I can't control my own actions and can't return to my physical body."

The phenomenon of a soul leaving its body was something Su Qiuchi had only ever heard about and never witnessed. Now that he saw it firsthand, he was still furious but also fascinated. Scratching his chin, he looked at the person lying on the ground and then at the one in the air. After a while, he suddenly clapped his hands in schadenfreude and laughed heartily, "Excellent, excellent! I knew a little rascal like you would get his just deserts. Haha, good job. Seeing you split into two is so damn amusing!"

Seeing that Su Qiuchi not only had no intention of helping but was also jumping for joy like a monkey, the young man's soul was initially very annoyed. However, he joined in the laughter a moment later and said, "If you don't want to help me, that's fine. But without me to guide you, I'm afraid you'll never be able to get out of this black bamboo forest in your life."

"Bullshit!" Su Qiuchi rolled his eyes at him and pointed behind him, saying, "I broke in in a straight line with no twists or turns, so there's no reason why I can't go back. Since you say so, forgive me for not accompanying you. Feel free to slowly float wherever. Goodbye!" With that, he turned to mount his horse, intending to drive Luer back the way he came. However, to his surprise, the straight path he had taken to enter had inexplicably disappeared, replaced by swaying clusters of endless black bamboo at some point, completely blocking the way out.

Those stupid bamboos that were standing there staring blankly resembled sly thieves who had succeeded in stealing chickens, each one smirking evilly.

Su Qiuchi rubbed his eyes hard, but what he saw remained unchanged; it was not an illusion. This was obviously a blatant scheme! He tugged on Luer, turning in circles, but the black bamboo branches were rigid and densely arranged, leaving no escape route whatsoever.

"You're so sinister!" Su Qiuchi returned to the original spot in frustration and pointed at the young man, cursing loudly, "You're not whole yourself, yet you want to drag me down with you! You vicious ba*tard! Tell me how to get out of this damn bamboo forest now!"

"Help me return to my physical body first."

"Tell me how to get out first!"

"You help me first, or we'll both live and die together!"

"You!"

"If you don't believe me, just try it!"

The final result of the bargaining was that Su Qiuchi followed the other party's instructions, lifting his physical body on his back. Following the young man's commands, he continuously changed direction and pace, swiftly maneuvering through the bamboo that seemed to move.

"Run faster! Why are you moving like an old lady!" The soul next to him had been maintaining a three-foot distance from his own body, and kept looking at the sky and urging Su Qiuchi incessantly.

Su Qiuchi became increasingly irritated. Before he could retort, the other party grabbed the chance and said, "You'd better not be angry! If we don't find what I need before the bamboo leaves above seal off the forest, we might truly become a pair of ghost buddies."

Amidst the increasingly violent rustling all around them, Su Qiuchi subconsciously raised his head. To his astonishment, the overlapping bamboo leaves above were rapidly growing at a frenetic speed, resembling an overwhelming swarm of locusts, swiftly devouring the sky. The light grew even dimmer due to the eerie padding of the bamboo leaves. Their encirclement was getting smaller and smaller. In no time, these suddenly growing bamboo leaves could completely seal them inside the forest like a lid.

"How can this be? What the hell is this place?" Su Qiuchi couldn't spare a moment for complaints or frustration, his feet swiftly weaving through the bamboo forest like wheels.

---

[1] A mythical bird related to phoenix.

[2] Chinese people like to use terms like laozi, laoniang, your grandpa/grandma etc. to refer to themselves in a somewhat arrogant or assertive way, usually to express anger or superiority. Here, it also has a confrontational tone. "Who doesn't have eyes" is basically "who is blind/stupid and…"

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Jiu Jue - Part 2

The prosperity of Chang'an^[1] had always been unrelated to the four seasons. All kinds of people, horses and wagons shuttled at the emperor's feet, filling every street without regard to time. The shops and residences towering on both sides were simple and traditional, each with its own charm. They observed the people who were either locals or from afar with the dignified demeanor of a family head. Faces passed through small streets and narrow alleys like the wind among flowers and trees, all exhibiting a stable and generous atmosphere.

It was the end of summer, and a few days of heavy rain had brought a hint of autumn chill. The weather finally cleared up today, and the streets were bustling with pedestrians since early in the morning. However, the lively and orderly scene was abruptly shattered by the sound of horse hooves rushing through like a gust of wind and sudden rain. A fine horse with snow-white skin and bright blue eyes, carrying a young man in a purple robe, rushed past the market like lightning. Dust clouds billowed under the horse hooves and the resulting air waves caused not only the overturning of light stalls along the way but also blew off the hat on the head of an unfortunate man, revealing an embarrassing bald patch. Women hugged crying children who were frightened by the spectacle, comforting them while loudly raining curses at the departing horse's butt—

"Is it that accursed^[2] again?"

"Just look at that famous blue-eyed horse, and you'll know. It's the only one in the entire Chang'an."

"This devil incarnate relies on the fact that his maternal grandfather is a high-ranking official in the royal court, and his father is a wealthy merchant in the region. He's used to being unruly, sigh!"

Of course, Su Qiuchi^[3] had never heard such comments because nobody had such courage. His "fame" such as "The Little Devil King of Chang'an," "Peerless Savage^[4]" and so on were not just empty praises; he truly lived up to his reputation.

"Luer^[5], run faster! If we don't catch up with that brat, I'll write my name backwards!" Su Qiuchi still found it not fast enough, patting the head of his beloved horse with force. Like an arrow leaving the bowstring, they rushed out of the Yanping Gate in the west of the city.

In Chang'an, that brat was the first hero to reward Su Qiuchi with the line "Are you blind?" after breaking his newly bought wine flask! Su Qiuchi gnashed his teeth. Today was truly unlucky. He had eagerly awaited his father's departure to Yangzhou for his birthday, leaving the house free of anyone who could control him. Coupled with the beautiful weather and the owner of Treasure House^[6] half-gifting him the unparalleled Dancing Horse with Cup engraved silver flask, it should have been a day of carefree complacency. Unexpectedly, just as he stepped out of the gates of Treasure House, he was knocked flat on his back by a handsomely dressed young man riding a big date-red horse. Not only did that despicable fellow not dismount to apologize or compensate, but he also insulted Su Qiuchi before galloping away. Su Qiuchi, who had never endured such humiliation, naturally mounted his steed and fiercely chased after the well-dressed young man. However, the pursuit led him all the way to the foot of Cuiwei Mountain, yet even his back was nowhere to be seen.

Su Qiuchi reined in his horse and looked around, but all he could see were the vibrant colors of the mountain, with abundant flowers and lush grass. Apart from him and Luer, and the chirping birds, there was no sign of any other living creature. Su Qiuchi wandered aimlessly in the mountains for a long time, and followed halfway up the winding mountain path. He found nothing but greenery and rocks. As he continued upwards, the mountain path became narrower and more treacherous. It was no longer possible to pass through on horseback; he would have had to continue on foot. At this moment, with the sun setting and the mountain breeze turning colder, a sudden chill ran down his spine, prompting him to consider heading back.

"Bah! Consider yourself a lucky ba*tard, brat, for not being caught by this young master!" Su Qiuchi wrapped his clothes tightly around him, spat in frustration, and muttered, "May heaven have eyes and let the ferocious beasts catch you for dinner!"

In the dense forest on both sides of the mountain path, strange sounds grew louder as the light dimmed, as if a group of wild beasts would rush out at any moment. Su Qiuchi swallowed nervously, quickly turned his horse around, and rushed back the way he came.

Unfortunately, he got lost. He distinctly remembered coming up from the left fork in the road, where there was a dark red rugged rock beside the road. However, upon retracing his steps, instead of the open plain outside the mountains, he found himself in a black bamboo forest enveloped in deep fog. Amidst the pale and cold dark purple entanglement, the bamboo branches swayed in the wind, colliding and making a constant rustling sound, as if thousands of venomous snakes were simultaneously hissing.

The heavens can witness that Su Qiuchi, who usually enjoyed drinking, had not touched a drop of wine today, so there was no possibility of getting lost due to dizziness. Observing this unexpectedly encountered and thoroughly peculiar bamboo forest, even Luer hesitated and refused to move a hoof forward. Feeling uneasy all over, Su Qiuchi was about to turn his horse around when, casting his gaze into the bamboo forest, he noticed something unusual in the gap created by the shifting mist — behind the layers of black bamboo, on the pitch-black muddy ground, lay a person. Dressed in moon-white garments against the dark backdrop, the figure was particularly eye-catching, just like gardenia petals fallen into the mud.

A burst of horse neighs that did not belong to Luer came from the bamboo forest. Waiting for the mist to move away again, Su Qiuchi saw a familiar date-red horse stopped not far from the figure. White clothes, red horse... Su Qiuchi's expression changed abruptly. In an instant, he forgot all the strangeness around him and urged his horse into the bamboo forest, heading straight for the person in the forest.

---

Footnotes:

[1] In the introduction, Shaluo and Jiu Jue are in Xi'an. Chang'an is the ancient name of Xi'an. It was the capital of China during the Tang Dynasty.  

[2] 禍胎: root of the trouble; cause of the ruin.

[3] 苏秋池: Su (surname); su means to revive. Qiu means autumn. Chi means pond, lake. So, 苏秋池 can be interpreted as "Revived Autumn Pond" or "Awakened Autumn Lake."

[4] 鬼見愁: ferocious person

[5] 绿耳 means green ear. A ridiculous name for a white horse.

[6] 古煌斋 can be translated as "Ancient Bright Abode" or something along those lines. Not important to our story.

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