Outside Cangyun City.
After several days of torrential rain, the rivers and streams had risen dramatically, transforming the landscape into a murky, yellow vista. Despite the ongoing downpour, some villagers took the opportunity to fish in the high waters. Besides the wild fish, some had escaped from the reservoirs, making for an unexpected bounty.
All was silent amid the deluge. Only the occasional, forlorn caw of an old crow echoed from the distant mountain forests. Barring any surprises, once the storm passed, the busy spring planting season would begin in earnest.
「A short distance away, on a road.」
Inside a sleek, high-end luxury van sat a young master and his maid—a seemingly mismatched pair, with one in the driver's seat and the other in the passenger's. Especially on Yuning Mountain, what kind of young master drove for his own maid? It was an unheard-of transgression. Yet, with these two, no one could find fault. In fact, there was even a hint of perfect harmony between them.
"Zhirou, I visited this mundane world once before, five years ago. Though much of it seemed unrefined, I found many aspects quite interesting," the young man said. Dressed in plain robes, his handsome face held a rebellious charm as he fumbled to light a cigarette. "Like this, for instance."
COUGH! COUGH!
He took too strong a drag and coughed violently. A blush appeared on his fair face, whether from the coughing or his embarrassment.
"Young Master, that's not good for you. It's best if you don't smoke," the maid, Zhou Zhirou, urged softly. She gently patted his back, her dark, spirited eyes filled with affection.
"Uh..." Unwilling to lose face, the young man took another drag. Feigning nonchalance, he pointed toward a distant Ferris wheel. "That looks interesting, too. After our business is done, shall I take you for a ride?"
"Okay." Zhou Zhirou nodded obediently, a contented smile blooming on her face.
She knew that under the strict hierarchy of Yuning Mountain, it was impossible for a servant to have a recognized relationship with her master. Besides, her young master had long been infatuated with Liu Qingmei of Red Lotus Valley, so she would never have a chance. But for her, being by the young master's side every day was already the happiest thing in the world.
"And..." she thought, turning to look out the window at the Ferris wheel, which was obscured by the heavy rain. In this mundane world, such rides are usually for children... or lovers. The mere thought filled Zhou Zhirou's heart with glee, and her eyes curved into crescents.
"Let's talk about this later." Unable to bear the smell any longer, the young man crushed out the cigarette and grinned. "This is the first time Qingmei has entrusted me with a task. It concerns her cousin—my future brother-in-law—so I naturally have to handle it flawlessly, without a single mistake."
Before Zhou Zhirou could respond, she looked up to see a convoy of vehicles speeding toward them from the opposite direction. On the left side of each car's windshield was an azure dragon symbol—the unique emblem of the Imperial Clan, recognizable to anyone in the know.
"Here they come!" The young man's expression sharpened. He immediately revved the engine and executed a sharp turn, audaciously blocking the road dead center.
SCREECH!
The sudden maneuver was met with a chorus of squealing brakes. In the downpour, the red brake lights were especially blinding.
A middle-aged man stepped out of the lead SUV, holding an umbrella. He pointed at the young man in the van and bellowed, "Who dares to block the Imperial Clan's convoy?"
In a rush, more than a dozen men poured out of their cars, swiftly surrounding the van.
"Get the hell out of the car, you suicidal idiot!"
"You dare block the Imperial Clan's cars? You must have a death wish!"
The men shouted and jeered.
The young man released the steering wheel and stepped out of the van. "Wait for me."
Another fight? Zhou Zhirou knew the answer but couldn't help asking aloud.
The young man opened his umbrella, took up his sword, and swept his gaze over the Imperial Clan members. He uttered two placid words. "Time to kill."
The wind and rain howled. A keen light flashed in the carefree eyes of the young man in the plain white robe. Dressed impeccably, the gloomy sky and relentless downpour seemed only to serve as his backdrop.
"Gentlemen, how about you return the way you came?" the young man spoke first, his tone calm and unhurried.
The Imperial Clan members were visibly stunned. It would be one thing if he didn't know who they were. But to know they were the Imperial Clan and still speak so brazenly?
"Heh..." After a moment, the leader pulled a combat saber from his car. He ran his left hand along the blade and grinned savagely. "You piece of trash. Not scurrying away was one thing, but you have the nerve to provoke us?"
"Be careful. This guy probably came prepared to block our path," a detached voice echoed clearly through the rain from the central SUV, where half a face had appeared in the window.
"Yes, sir!" the leader replied respectfully before sneering, "But the Imperial Clan is no pushover."
"He's just a wet-behind-the-ears punk, Commander. We can take him!" his subordinates chimed in, grinning widely. The rare chance to deal with someone who dared to challenge the Imperial Clan had them excited and eager for a fight.
The man in the central SUV peered through the rain, gradually making out the young man's face. His brow furrowed. He looks familiar... Where have I seen him before?
"We're in a hurry today. You'll get to practice another time," the leader said, waving his men off dismissively. Just as he prepared to swing his saber...
BOOM!
The leader instinctively looked up, alarmed by a blast of power sweeping toward him. He swung his saber to block on pure instinct, but in that instant, his entire arm was severed, saber and all.
Taken completely by surprise, the leader tumbled backward several times, crashing heavily to the ground.
The surrounding Imperial Clan members were stunned into silence, not daring to make a single move.
COUGH! COUGH! The leader's insides felt like they'd been violently rearranged. He tried several times to stand but couldn't. He stared at the young man, his eyes filled with horror and his face twitching with dread.
"So it's Shen Shaotian, the Young Master from Southern Dipper Academy!" The man in the central vehicle finally recognized the young man. He got out of the car and greeted him with clasped hands. "It was this bastard's fault for underestimating you. He was blinded by the prestige of the Imperial Clan and thought he could run over anyone."
The leader's pupils dilated, and his fingers trembled violently. "Southern Dipper Academy? You... you're from Yuning Mountain."
A wave of shock washed over the Imperial Clan members. Not just him, but every one of them drew a sharp, cold breath.
"Did you not hear me clearly?" Shen Shaotian asked, his tone flat. "What I meant was, all of you are to go back exactly where you came from. Now."
The men were speechless.
...