Eternal Tale

”Ah, it’s over, it’s over. Why is Little Chi squatting on the roof? It has ears like the wind!”

Zhou Guanghan hugged her head with both hands, almost shrinking into Little Crane’s embrace. ”It’s going to bite me again, Sister Heling, I was wrong. I won’t speak ill of Brother Xun anymore.”

”Fourth Brother~”

”Woof!”

Little Chi barked mightily, exuding an air of dominance. It was the tyrant of Double Tree Alley, unmatched by anyone.

It would bark at Aunt Wang, Uncle Zhang, and even scare babies into silence at night!

Nangong Heling quietly pursed her lips. ”Guanghan, you mustn’t speak ill of your Brother Xun again, or I won’t protect you.”

”Sister Heling, I was wrong.”

Zhou Guanghan seemed unwilling to leave Nangong Heling’s embrace, acting spoiled. ”Brother Xun’s paintings are actually beautiful; it’s just that my knowledge is too shallow to understand them.”

”Hmph, you little girl know how to talk.” Nangong Heling’s voice was as if she were playfully scolding, making it hard to tell if she was truly angry. ”Don’t let there be a next time.””Uh-huh...” Zhou Guanghan nodded repeatedly, then changed the subject. ”Sister Heling, why does the old blind man at the alley’s entrance seem to be getting younger? But it seems only Brother Xun has been buying his paintings these years.”

”Why are you paying attention to these things?”

”I heard Aunt Wang and the others talking in the alley... They said Brother Xun might know some healing techniques, that the wine is actually medicinal, not bought.”

”My eldest brother does know some medicine, taught by a famous doctor, but he rarely practices now.”

”Oh... So Brother Xun is quite amazing.”

Zhou Guanghan nodded thoughtfully, completely convinced, and continued, ”Sister Heling, if my parents fall ill in the future, can we ask Brother Xun to treat them? Of course, we’ll pay for the consultation.”

”Hehe, then you should wait at the alley entrance for my eldest brother to return. You have to ask him yourself; I can’t decide for him.”

”Heehee, Sister Heling is so good to Brother Xun.”

Zhou Guanghan jumped off the stone bench, full of joy. ”Then I’ll wait at the alley entrance for Brother Xun to return and bring some food for the old blind man.”

”Alright, go quickly, but don’t run too fast. How many times did you fall when you were little?”

”Haha, Sister Heling, I know!”

Zhou Guanghan dashed out in an instant, shouting, ”Little Chi, bleh bleh bleh~~”

Little Chi glared fiercely. How dare Zhou Guanghan speak loudly to Brother Dog?!

”Woof!”

It barked loudly, leaping nimbly from the roof and said to Little Crane, ”Sister Crane, this human girl needs to be taught a lesson!”

”Fourth Brother, don’t bring a whole pack of dogs back; they have homes.”

”Got it!”

Little Chi howled and dashed out through the small gate.

Chaos erupted in the alley, with Zhou Guanghan’s excited shouts echoing. She loved playing with Little Chi the most.

A stick of incense later.

A young girl and a little red dog squatted outside the alley. Nangong Heling also came out, sitting beside the old blind man in the spot reserved for her eldest brother.

Strangely, the old blind man’s business was unusually good today, but most of the visitors were men, speaking elegantly, seemingly trying to attract someone’s attention.

Nangong Heling carefully examined the old man’s paintings, frowning slightly... She really couldn’t understand them, even after years of looking.

But she remained quiet, not disturbing the old man, instead picking up a mundane book to read.

Though mundane books lacked the profundity and mystery of those in the world of immortals, they carried a lifetime of experiences and insights.

They were the brilliant bursts of life in a short span, quite precious, with a unique charm. She saw the spirit of ordinary people in these books!

Time passed bit by bit, the evening glow spreading across the sky.

Outside the town.

A man in white, carrying a hoe and wearing a tattered straw hat, walked with a smile as radiant as the sunset. Beside him was a strong Black Bull, both strolling along the path back to town.

The man shouted loudly, knowing no one was around to hear. ”Bull, in this setting, isn’t it fitting for me to sing a song?”

”Moo~” Black Bull bellowed joyfully, having not plowed fields in ages. It felt as refreshing as rain after a drought, truly enjoying the mundane life!

”The heavens and earth connect, sparking endless imagination...”

Chen Xun began to sing loudly. If you looked closely, the surrounding plants seemed to wither a bit.

But he remained engrossed, for he was not only good at painting and fishing but also, damn it, at singing!

”Moo?!!” Black Bull’s joyful mood turned to horror, even quickening its pace until it ran. ”Moo~~~”

”Hey, hey?!” Chen Xun looked around. Where’s the bull?! His bull!! In the distant horizon, only a small black dot was running away. ”Damn it, Bull!! Get back here!!!”

In an instant, dust billowed on the country path as Chen Xun chased after with murderous intent. After all these years, the bull still dared to run when he sang!

They ran farther and farther, the glow of the sunset casting a comical light on their retreating figures.

...

As dusk settled, a faint starlight appeared.

Chen Xun returned, laughing, with his arms around Black Bull’s neck. Double Tree Alley came into view, Black Bull exhaling heavily, feeling down after a good beating.

At that moment, the old blind man was surrounded by five men, even armed with swords, clearly people of the martial world.

They seemed to be arguing, with Nangong Heling frowning deeply, a hint of disdain in her eyes. The old blind man, too, looked disdainful, unwilling to argue with them.

Little Chi sat at Nangong Heling’s feet with a wicked smile, while Zhou Guanghan looked anxious and scared, barely daring to speak, as the men held swords.

She moved slowly, eyes darting, planning to call for help from the alley when they weren’t looking! Clearly, these were lecherous scoundrels!

”Miss, are you really going to ignore us? It’s just a meal at the tavern. Don’t refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit. Do you know who we are...”

But before he could finish, a chilling killing intent locked onto them from behind. Though it was spring, they felt as if plunged into a wintry frost, shivering instantly.

”Damn it, brothers, attack! How dare they bully my sister!”

Boom!

Chen Xun charged from behind, wielding his hoe with controlled strength, striking their backs. Black Bull and Little Chi joined in, knowing not to kill, but to teach a lesson!

”Hey! Hey!!”

”Brother, it’s a misunderstanding!! Brother Zhang, get this red dog off me, it’s biting my... Ah!!! Ah!!”

”Ah~~~ Where did this wild bull come from?!! Ouch!”

”Chen Xun, are you fighting?!! Don’t hurt anyone!”

...

As they fought, Zhou Guanghan shouted into the alley, ”Help, someone is bullying the people of ’Double Tree Alley’!! Help, someone is bullying Sister Nangong!!”

”What?! Damn it, let’s see who dares! Grab your weapons!”

”Damn it, who dares mess with the people of ’Double Tree Alley’?”

”Guanghan! Get out of the way!”

...

With a rumble, the alley erupted, dozens of people charging out fiercely.

Zhou Guangyi, wielding a long stick, rushed out first, his face twisted with rage, roaring, ”Who dares bully my Sister Heling!!”

They charged out of the alley, wielding sticks, joining the fray, beating the five martial artists senseless, their heads pulled back forcefully, spitting saliva everywhere.

”Damn it, who dares bully my third sister?!” Chen Xun swung his hoe, and some of them cried out in pain, feeling an invisible force binding them, unable to escape!

The chaos grew, dust flying, with many women on the sidelines shouting in worry, hoping no one got killed.

In the end, the five martial artists sat slumped against the wall, lifeless, foaming at the mouth, their bodies twitching, even urinated on by a red dog, their bones nearly shattered.

They were spat on, for in the grand world, who was more despised than rogues and flower thieves?

They wanted to find someone to reason with but dared not speak, for the people of Double Tree Alley were too fierce... Their true qi was strangely suppressed, as if years of martial arts were suddenly rendered useless.

”Brother Zhang... Let’s just... accept our... fate. The people in this alley are too... fierce...”