Wangxian County was divided into five major states, and among them was Northern State Yulin, where a mountain stood beside the state city. Whenever continuous autumn rains arrive, clouds and fog would spread between the mountains and linger for a long time. The Taoist temple on the mountain often seemed to be standing amidst the clouds and mist, with a rosy glow steaming up.
Although the mountain was not high, due to the creation of Heaven and Earth, it avoided the disaster of autumn rains and could observe the splendid sight of the sea of clouds churning. Three hundred years ago, a Taoist traveled here and passed down a branch of the Taoist Sect, known as the Cloud Middle Temple.
This was considered a marvelous view of Wangxian, the temple among the clouds.
Beneath the mountain, the state city of Yulin had been expanded several times, and the originally thick city walls had been completely dismantled, yet no one was worried.
In the eyes of the city's residents, although there were no thick bluestone walls or arrow towers and fortresses, the young man in green robes, the Confucian scholar, was regarded as the top-tier city wall, capable of repelling enemies on horseback and wielding a brush in front of a desk, and the passionate descendants of the Military Family served as impregnable arrow towers.
In my vast Great Qin, those who dominated were free to discuss in the imperial court, and the Yin Yang Family was hidden between the mountains and rivers.
Further, the Taoist Sect carried swords, the plain-clothed heroes of the Mo Family roamed the street markets, and the legalists of the Fa Family strictly enforced the law, arresting people across the land.
The larger the city, the more one could feel this confidence and grandeur, this era of universal peace, where nations came to pay homage.
This prosperity was achieved by generations of Emperors of Qin who wielded swords and lashed out at the world, with eighteen routes of iron cavalry sweeping across the lands. Military generals braved death, and civilian officials dared to counsel unto death. Although there were minor obstacles, they usually settled within a few days without disturbing the livelihood of the people.
About a mile outside Yulin City, there was a long pavilion named Willow Pavilion, spanning several miles with willows hanging on both sides, where close friends forced to part ways could say their farewells.
It was nearly the end of the year festival, and one could see many parting people everywhere. Among them, many were dressed as scholars, some of whom were planning to stay in the state city to visit fellow teachers for next year's spring exams, while others, already disheartened with white hair, were preparing to leave this sorrowful place and return to their hometowns.
Qin Fei sat under the Willow Pavilion, slightly lost in thought as he watched the official road.
Today's End of Year Festival was hosted by the Taoist Sect branch of Wangxian County, the Cloud Middle Temple, with Great Qin's Music Bureau and various academies participating fully, including the Military Family training grounds conducting martial displays today, with war drums and arms cheering on, creating a mighty momentum.
The official road was busy with carriages, all from dignitaries from different regions attending the festival, yet the young man in the blue robe was nowhere to be seen.
After another carriage passed by, Qin Fei refocused his gaze and casually picked up a cup of warm yellow wine from the table, drinking it all in one go. Next to him, a woman with elegant eyebrows, standing silently like a quiet plum, picked up a wine kettle from the stove, tilting it slightly with one hand while pressing the sleeve with the other.
The wine smoothly poured into the glass, not causing even a ripple, and was neatly stopped when it was about eighty percent full. The silver kettle was then placed back on the side.
She sat back down without speaking. Dressed entirely in white, even her overlapping cape was pure as snow. She held a small, delicately crafted hand warmer in her arms, carved with cranes dancing among pine trees, emitting tendrils of smoke and mist that further highlighted her clear and cold demeanor.
Though her gaze inadvertently strayed towards the indifferent, and even aloof, young man, curiosity filled her heart.
She was a disciple of the Music Bureau, distinguished in both talent and beauty. Although her music was far from matching that of the Nine Heavens Ring or the Great Sage's Lost Sound, it was already profound enough to stop flying birds and evoke melancholy in people. Dancing with twin swords, she had already mastered a touch of the thunderous style.
She was supposed to lead the sword dance at the festival today, but the mansion master had assigned her to accompany this young man.
The mansion master treated her very well, and naturally, she had no objections. She had thought he was just another pretentious admirer of beauty among the rich young masters, but this young man had always maintained a respectful distance. However, the little boy next to her was quite enthusiastic, knowing her name and preferences clearly, which was amusing.
As scholars gradually returned to the city, the glances thrown her way made her slightly uncomfortable, and she frowned slightly, saying:
"Miss Qiu may just call me Qin Fei."
The young man glanced sideways, his demeanor cold, causing her intended words to falter unconsciously. Qin Xiao looked up with a mischievous expression and said:
"Are you tired of accompanying him, Miss Qiu?"
"Brother Fei has become colder over the years. Ah Xiao has only seen someone disturb his composure once," replied the young boy cheekily.
Qin Fei's expression stiffened, and he glared sideways; the boy promptly shut his mouth, picked up a Mo Family mechanical puppet from his lap carefully, and moved it closer to the woman. His eyes sparkled with joy as he offered:
"Miss Qiu, why don't you come and play…"
"This is a Mo Family mechanical puppet, capable of emulating the swordsmanship of swordsmen, evolving the Mo Family's sword moves."
"In the market, you can only find ones that evolve up to thirteen moves. This one I had to seek out with great effort; it can perfectly execute seventeen sword moves, which is quite interesting."
The woman chuckled lightly, gently stroking the child's hair, and said softly:
"Thank you, Xiao... You go play by yourself."
The child smiled, seemingly unaffected by the rejection. He sat casually between her and Qin Fei, separating them. He lowered his head, playing with two wooden mechanisms. The twin wooden swords, following the child's manipulation, attacked and defended against each other flexibly, almost indistinguishable from regular swords, which indeed made people take a second look.
This Mo Family swordsmanship, much like the Confucian Sect's scholarly principles, was known by many in the world.
Years ago, Kong Taoist from the Cloud Middle Watch had discussed the global situation, saying, "Confucian and Mo followers are numerous, their disciples abundant."
If this world were to tip off balance, one hand from the Confucian Sect and one from the Mo Family would be enough to hold it steady.
Musical scores signaling the start of the End of Year Festival were already spreading throughout the city, making sounds close to the original music of the Dao, vast and grand.
Qin Fei frowned slightly and took another drink, feeling worried. Suddenly, a fiery streak flashed in the distance. The sound of a magnificent horse's long neigh, similar to a dragon's chant, rang out.
A green figure in the blink of an eye had swept across a great distance, easily dodging vehicles and pedestrians on the road and then, showing great human-like intelligence, stopped abruptly in front of the willow pavilion, apparently very pleased, it shook its head while its green mane danced like flames, and it lightly stamped its front hoof.
Qin Fei was momentarily taken aback, then saw a young man on the horse's back with a jade hairpin, his clean features pale as snow, he hesitantly said:
"Qin, Qin Brother..."
Upon hearing this, Wang Anfeng raised his head, noticing the boy in the white robe, and managed a faint smile.
Perhaps the Green-Maned Horse had been cooped up in his little courtyard for too long; its speed was almost terrifying, like lightning fast. He managed, only because his cultivation had gradually increased, to barely suppress the churning sensation in his chest and stomach, avoiding vomiting on the spot.
Barely settling the feeling in his stomach, the young man dismounted and, addressing Qin Fei who had risen to meet him, said:
"I am late today, I hope you'll pardon me."
Qin Fei responded, first noticing that the young man's eyes were no longer as sharp as unsheathed swords, which somewhat relieved him. He then looked at Wang Anfeng's pale complexion and hesitated, saying:
"The End of Year Festival is quite lenient; since you're here already, why not rest here for a while?"
Wang Anfeng shook his head in response, his demeanor calm, seemingly back to his usual self. But after speaking a single sentence, his chest and stomach churned again, and his face turned even paler. Qin Fei chuckled, gesturing with his hand, and said:
"Still, take a moment to rest before entering the city..."