《Drinking Under the Moonlight》 Chapter 1: Showdown "Mister, raise the price to 600 silver ingots!" A female cultivator in an Emerald green robe spoke. Her face was hidden with her hat. Nian Zhi arrived at the bustling marketplace, filled with cultivators and merchants vying for the limited supply of rare herbs. The rumours of the local sect''s price manipulation of valuable resources seem to be true. Nian Zhi did not want to give up on the batch of rare herbs which was currently in the spotlight. The red lights of the lantern revealed a smirk and unconcealed disgust on his handsome face. He retorted "650 silver ingots!" The shopkeeper was on tenterhooks since this aggressive bidding. The atmosphere in the market became tense. The resources had been scarce due to price manipulation in the cultivation market. It was hard to find one rare herb let alone a bunch of them. Nian Zhi cannot let this batch of herbs go! The female cultivator covered her mouth as she laughed. Her laugh was pleasing to ears enough to enchant a stranger yet her words contrasted with it " Mister, it''s of no use. I have no shortage of money. Go home." Both of them fixed their gazes on herbs which can enhance one''s cultivation and are of great medicinal use. These herbs were coveted by many cultivators in the world yet how many can get their hands on them? "We''ll see." He replied without so much of an ounce of worry in his tone. In truth, even though he had money, he has always been stingy when it comes to spending it. He internally gritted his teeth and swallowed the discomfort. "750" "800" "900!" Everyone gasped at the scene being played in front of them. Nian Zhi''s ambition drives him to secure the herbs at any cost, yet his stinginess urges caution and frugality. Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. He cannot fail to obtain it. Due to the rarity and the scarcity caused by price manipulation, I may not get another chance. Most importantly, this was his first time after eleven years to descend the mountain and I, Nian Zhi cannot lose to a cultivator of the Qing Cui clan! He stepped further and slapped the surface of the stall sending a shiver down the shopkeeper''s spine and turned around to look at the female cultivator. He confronted as he squinted his phoenix eyes at her, "Shameless! Feeling proud of playing dirty" The crowd also wanted to demonstrate this but they never dared to! The reason is the fear of The Qing Cui sect which is one of the most powerful sects in the world! The one in Emerald''s robe stayed calm and taunted him," Very good. You don''t have enough to pay. So you claim a false allegation against me. " She did not speak more than bidding higher. She appeared to be pleased by others making hard choices and had long seen through the facade displayed by him. "As expected of the Qing Cui sect. The seed doesn''t fall too far from the tree " Nian Xin feigned a charming smile and placed 1100 silver ingots on the stall. He was cursing inside yet maintained his cool on the surface. Everyone: .... The young female never felt so embarrassed in front of anyone, let alone slandering her sect at her face in public! Her grip on the sword hilt tightened. "How dare you-" Before she almost struck him, a fellow cultivator of her sect came forward from the crowd and held her back. He appeared to convey a message so, she calmed down to hear him. With an air of arrogance, she turned around to leave. Who would waste this much money on a mere batch of rare herbs? They had many in their sect. Besides, she has something important to deal with. In the end, Nian Zhi was able to get the batch of rare herbs. He rolled his eyes as she left. He didn''t know what to make of this victory. Although he felt conflicted holding it, to measure it approximately he felt three parts content to achieve it yet seven parts at a loss for over excessive spending. He had always been parsimonious. Tonight, at his first time down the mountain, he must have earned the reputation of a spendthrift. Shortly, he left for the mountain to deliver these to his Shifu. Nian Zhi is the only disciple of Master Xuan. He is the top disciple of the Tranquil Stream Sect, who started to cultivate at the age of 7 and formed a golden core by the age of 10. He is a true talent of the cultivation world. His only drawback is his short-temperedness and stingy mouth. Chapter 2: Shifu The Tranquil Stream sect is located on the Hexie mountain range. You Wu Peak is one of the mountain peaks of the Tranquil Stream Sect. This mountain is veiled in mist, secluded from the outside world, and embodies a sense of peaceful isolation and harmony. A dwelling stood nestled within the peaceful embrace of the secluded mountain as a testament to harmonious living. It was neither opulent nor austere, but rather a reflection of balanced simplicity and understated elegance. A winding path lined with wildflowers and fragrant herbs, led to the house''s entrance accompanied by a water lily garden, where delicate petals unfurled in shades of ivory, pink, and lavender, floated serenely on the calm surface. At the hour of Mao, the bamboo leaves in the forest swayed. Before the morning dew from the leaves touched the ground, they turned into a mist of cloud and condensed to form a thick veil of fog. Continous clash of blades resounded, and the collision of internal energy sent the leaves flying. Nian Zhi jumped onto a bamboo tree and maintained his balance like a bird parched on a tree. Alerted by a breeze on his shoulder, he dodged the incoming attack. Shortly, the other man changed his aim to his face, Nian Zhi''s sharp blade struck at the incoming assault head-on. The two white shadows exchanged several moves before Nian Zhi met a dead end. The middle-aged man stepped back and sheathed his sword. Nian Zhi bowed, " Shifu thank you for your pointers." The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Shifu nodded and told him to rise. They talked as they walked together to the courtyard. "Zhi-er, I heard that you spent a lot in the cultivation market." Elder Xuan''s tone is monotonous with no hint of emotions. Nian Zhi stopped in his steps and bowed, "To reply to Shifu, indeed I happened to spend more than needed for the batch of herbs. A cultivator of the Qing Cui sect aimed to buy the same." Elder Xuan understood the situation and turned to look at him, "Zhi-er money is not the problem. If this is the case, I am more worried about you." He did not wait for his disciple to speak and continued "A short temper lasts a moment, but regret lasts a lifetime." A gentle breeze blew past by the pair of Master and Disciple. Master stood like an enormous steady mountain in unwavered by the difficulties of the world. He revealed a light smile, the same he did when they met. The simple yet intricate light blue colored embroidery of waves on his hems and collar complemented his dignified and polished air generating an imposing presence. Nian Zhi hurriedly knelt and bowed. He had realised his mistake and intended to apologize even if Shizun didn''t bring it up. "I am ashamed to let my teacher down, it was my first time down the mountain and I earned a bad reputation." He is the disciple of Elder Xuan, he is his representation. "I shall always keep your teachings in my mind" Xuan Ming was taken aback on seeing his disciple kneel like this he hurriedly asked him to get up, Even though his words were stern and firm, it had a sense of care, "Quick, get up! Zhi-er I am not blaming you for anything, I am only worried about you. It''s obvious for young people to act impulsively and be reckless. Knowledge comes only with experience." He also added, "Reputation is like fleeting clouds, virtue endures forever." Nian Zhi felt grateful as he listened. He promised himself to fulfil his dream to bring glory to the person who saved him and be good enough to be worthy of being called the only disciple of Elder Xuan Ming. Chapter 3: First Encounter The trees swayed under the weight of heavy downpour, their leaves rustling with the strong wind. Water cascaded down the rocky land, forming temporary streams that rushed downhill with fervor. The forest floor became a mosaic mess of mud and puddle. A small leg of a child landed into the muddy puddle. The child shielded his face with his arm across his face. The relentless onslaught made each of his steps difficult. He appeared to have lost in the woods. The branches of trees twisted and contorted and thrashed about wildly leaving a cut on the child''s arm. If not for the rain, the child''s face would have been stained with tears. He looked like a six to eight years old boy, the occasional flashes of lighting tore through the sky, illuminating the forest in brief, stark brightness. Shadows of surroundings danced and stretched, casting eerie shapes on the landscape. The loud sobs could be heard along the swirling winds of despair. The child could barely see through his tears and torrent of heavy downpour. He slipped on the moss covered ground and fell on his butt. He let out a loud cry. For some time he had apprehension of ghosts following him. So, he tried to get up in a hurry but fell again. Suddenly A primal roar of thunder broke free from the heavens and echoed through the mountains. Its deafening rumble startled him and the eerie flash revealed a sinister silhouette of an enormous snake demon! Leaving behind a pair of bright eyes and glistening scales under the lightning. The powerless child shrieked and crawled backwards yet the insidious eyes came closer and closer. The snake demon pounced at him, revealing its sharp canines, and the child cried for help. He slightly bent to the side and raised his hands to protect his face while shutting his eyes tightly. A shadow out of nowhere blocked the attack. The child was tired and dizzy as a result of the tumultuous night. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. In the awful weather, he was carried by the man, who wrapped him in his arms and supported him by his chest. After an unknown amount of time, they reached an adobe where the child was given sets of dry clothes. The child was made to rest on a wooden bed. A small furnace was set up for him to warm up. He woke up at the break of dawn, still confused by the headache he found himself at an unknown place. His eyes widened with curiosity and apprehension, he supported himself by his arms and sat up on the bed, scanning the room. A man enters the room carrying warm edibles. At the sight of a stranger, the child cowered back a little. As if still not recovered from the last fright he screamed and hid himself in the blanket,"WHO ARE YOU?? WHERE IS THE SNAKE?!" Seeing the child freak out, the man stopped at some distance neither far nor near to the bed and replied in a low voice to not exacerbate the situation, "It''s gone" He was firm in his speech. The child poked his head out of the blanket and asked confusedly,"its gone..?" The man hm-ed. The astonished boy could not believe he queried meekly, "how...? It was so big...?" The man assured him "I chased it away." He walked closer and sat upright beside his bed. Their eyes met, the middle aged man, looking rather strict, smiled lightly as he passed a cup of warm water. The small boy agape, despite being thirsty, he hesitated before he accepted the cup, "Thank you...mister." After having the warm water and congee the child''s eyes shone with gratitude. He comprehended that the mister saved his life, the genuine care and compassion that permeated the stranger''s gestures, finally let his guards down. The man in white looked at the kid and dared not ask questions as he eats, lest he scares him.The child looked frail, his physique was thin, still he looked rather adorable. He had a few superficial scratches on his arm which were secured by medicine to prevent infection. The man softly asked him his name. The kid replied faintly, "Nian Zhi. My mother calls me Zhi-er." He continued, "Thank you for saving my life" The man acknowledged,"I ought to do it. What were you doing deep inside the woods?" "To collect the legendary herb, Moonlit Lotus" The mister''s brows furrowed. Chapter 4: Mother Little Nian Zhi''s eyes grew wide, glistening with unshed tears. His lower lip quivered and tiny hands shivered and clenched. A soft whimper left his lips which soon grew into a distressed cry. The man never had any experience in dealing with kids. He found himself at loss at the moment. He had seen mothers and others comforting a child. The man''s name was Xuan Ming. He was one of the teacher''s of the Tranquil Stream Sect. He is known as the hermit master because he rarely showed up and stayed in the mountains. He had seen other teachers comforting their little disciples. So, he tried to intimate them by squatting down and patted the little guy''s back softly. ¡° What''s wrong?¡± Zhi-er sobbed, his face was full of mucus and tears ¡°Please save my mother. Please mister, please¡± he begged him. Xuan Ming couldn''t disagree and promised to descend the mountain to save her. Zhi-er and his mother barely survived each day. They lived in a thatched hut beside a road. The house was small yet neat. Zhi-er walked in the small room, he called for her ¡°Mother, I am here.¡± Zhi-er looked somewhat relieved since the mister promised. The mother desperately called for her child from her bed. With the limited strength and weak voice she reprimanded him ¡° you silly boy, why did you go out at night? Mother was worried sick about you¡±. Her eyes were red and damp as she embraced the child towards her chest. The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation. She looked at the white clothed master. She felt embarrassed for the untidy display. The child jumped a little at the spot and told her while he held her arms with his tiny ones. ¡°Mother, the good mister saved me from a big snake when I went to collect medicine. He promised me to save you!¡± Zhi-er was feeling cheerful after he saw his mother. The woman did not look surprised to learn of Zhi-er''s motive. She smiled sincerely at Xuan Ming, ¡°thank you mister for saving my son''s life. I cannot repay this favor. This humble one, apologizes for the poor hospitality. ¡± and she caressed little Nian Zhi''s head. Xuan Ming greeted her and nodded, ¡°It''s nothing yet, may I ask to have some words with you?¡± He discerned that no amount of medicine can cure her. As if agreeing, the mother sent Nian Zhi away to play. The child and the mother lived together and sold sugar figurines in the market. The woman is called Xiao Xiulan. She tried to save the little amount she earned for her child. She always hesitated to use it for herself. Two years ago she fell ill and didn''t get herself diagnosed. On seeing her child worried about her, she decided to get it checked which cost half of their little savings. The doctor diagnosed her with tuberculosis. The medicines were costly, thus she decided to terminate the treatment. Now, it has turned into a terminal illness. Every day she coughs blood which makes Zhi-er anxious. Xiulan would lie to him about her health to make Nian Zhi calm down. Until recently when she fell ill and couldn''t leave the bed. Nian Zhi learnt about a magical medicine from a bunch of street kids. He decided to sneak out at night and get the magical medicine from the mountain. Chapter 5: The new Moon is like an eyebrow A canary perched on the branch of a willow tree besides the main hall¡¯s compound. The bird enjoyed the pleasant morning Sun. The crisp and cool breeze caressed its tiny body. It gazed below at the disciples standing in neat group of lines. In the compound a group of students leaned closer,"Why do we even have to go to their sect?!¡± The student emphasized the word ¡®their¡¯. ¡°Right! Don''t they even feel ashamed to invite the elders?¡± Another student taunted,¡±I heard their sect leader is planning to retire soon.¡± ¡°Really?! That weasel has been the sect leader for decades¡± Before they could finish their gossip, the students got startled by the warning cough of their senior brother. They hurriedly returned to their original position and greeted ¡°Shixiong, we apologize for gossiping.¡± Yu Lan''s hands were clasped behind his back. He hm-ed and nodded to acknowledge the apology. The students silently returned to their original positions. His back was as straight as a pine tree, when he saw elders enter the courtyard he released his clasped hands and walked towards them to greet them. Yu Lan was neatly dressed in a student''s robe and his hair secured in a bun. ¡°Greetings shifu and elders¡±, Yu Lan said sincerely. The rest of the students followed the suit. The sect leader replied ¡° very well. Everyone''s here. Let''s embark.¡± Nian Zhi, who came along with the elder Xuan, was riding a horse with others. The Qing Cui sect was neither too distant nor too close, so they got horses to travel by road. One of the disciples from earlier continued the conversation beside Nian Zhi''s horse. ¡°eh, the retirement I told you earlier in the courtyard. You know what?¡± You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. Nian Zhi scorned internally at these disciples for gossiping. He contemplated that he doesn''t do this petty stuff, but it''s okay to listen secretly as it has only been fifteen days since he came out from seclusion. A female voice asked ¡°what?¡± ¡°He is planning to give his position to his disciple!¡± ¡° To whom?¡± ¡°Who else can it be other than his favorite disciple, Yi Fan¡± Hm? Nian Xin took notice of this lad. Is he truly that good? He sped up and reached to the front, leaving behind the noises of chattering about others. The different shades of green surrounded the road. The calmness of the mountain and forest nature embraced him. Nian Zhi inhaled deeply and exhaled. He was quite nervous for his first visit to another sect. The Sun was past noon and they finally arrived at the gates of the Qing Cui sect. The gate was adorned with the motifs of a golden dragon with Emerald green eyes. The disciples of the Qing Cui sect lead them inside. The guy from earlier took the risk to talk to Nian Zhi, who looked stern, "Shixiong, you may not know, the Cang Qui sect loves to show off their wealth". "I see" The name of the guy is Rui Ming, he is also known as all talk, no action. He has long heard of Elder Xuan ''s disciple, Nian Zhi and wanted to befriend him. Receiving the plain reply from him, didn''t discourge him from his future endeavors! As long as there is a reply or no reply is okay too, as long as he breaths he will pursue who he wants to! He grinned brightly. The sect leader of the Qing Cui sect was standing in front of the entrance. He welcomed the guests along with a good looking disciple. ¡°Sect leader Liu, it¡¯s an honor to meet you again¡± The tranquil stream sect leader smiled in reply,"Sect leader Wu, it''s always enlightening to see you. Our encounters are always memorable.¡± ¡°You flatter me. Thank you for coming to my banquet, ¡± Sect leader Liu laughed. The disciple next to him sincerely greeted, "Sect leader Wu, it''s an honor to welcome you to our sect. I hope our hospitality satisfies you.¡± The disciple smiled gracefully at the guests. ¡° Yi Fan, it''s nice to see you too. You have grown into an admirably dedicated young man.¡± Yi Fan was none other than the prodigy of the new generation of cultivation world, who was also the direct disciple of the Sect leader Liu. ¡°Thank you, Sect master Wu, for your kind words. I am humbled by your recognition for my efforts.¡± Yi Fan replied. Sect leader Liu interjected, ¡°Alright, first, let us show you all the rooms to rest before the banquet begins.¡± Nian Zhi rolled his eyes as he walked to his room and thought Bah! Is he even anything other than a pretty eloquent boy?