Chapter Text
Before the intimidating peak lord knocked on his front porch, Xi Feng was embroidering the outer robe of a client in the village. After his parents’ passing 2 years ago, he thought about working for money since even though his parent’s money is enough for at least 2 lifetimes, it doesn’t put him at ease. After all, there might be an emergency one day where he might need tons of money.
Looking at the half-finished embroidery of a golden cat carrying a dark puppy up the mountain, he was glad that he took embroidery and clothes making as his hobby back in his past life. Who knew that one of the many bursts of motivation he thought was useless back then would make him (kind of) survive in this life?
He became a known embroiderer in the village due to his fine needlework, his finishes looked of high quality even with the cheapest materials given to him. Just thinking of all the praises that they said made him feel more confident.
Speaking of which, his parents tried to make him meditate to grow his cultivation, but it seemed like it didn’t work all that much. Whatever position they made him do, whether it was closing his eyes, making him try to balance a pole, or helping in circulating the innate qi in him… he was not able to cultivate much. This made him scared of disappointing his doting parents, but thankfully, his parents may have looked perturbed but they didn’t become disappointed in him. They still treated him the same, their only son, just like before.
That was what he was thinking of before someone was gently knocking at his door. Xi Feng looked at the clock embedded with the qi of his father. It was nighttime in the first hour of the day.
‘I don’t remember any clients who wanted their clothes today. There also isn’t anyone he knows insane enough to knock on the door at midnight unless it was an emergency. It was highly unlikely since he lives in front of a clinic too.’ Xi Feng frowned as he stood up. ‘Not like it’s someone dangerous, right? I mean, there was a barrier in the village that barred any creatures with malicious intent.’
Pursing his lips, Xi Feng tidied up the clothes and needles on the ground and walked to the door, opening it a little and peering outside. There stood a genial-looking man holding what seemed to be a sealed scroll. Seeing me peek out of the door, he smiled gently.
“You must be Xi Yu and Xiao Dan’s child, am I correct?”
“Excuse me, Sir, who might you be?”
“Ah yes, I should have introduced myself first. This one is named Zhou Zhouyi, 12th Peak Lord of Cang Qiong Mountain.” Zhou Zhouyi takes a full look at me. “A close friend of the late Xi Yu and Xiao Dan.”
Xi Feng was taken aback by what he said, Cang Qiong Mountain….that name was familiar. Where did he hear that name again?
‘Wait’
‘Cang Qiong?!?!?!’ Xi Feng paled, face becoming as white as a sheet of bond paper from his past life. ‘Don’t tell me I reincarnated inside the trash novel?!?!?! Thanking my internet friend who had taught me their language, PUTANGINANG HAYOP KA KUNG SINO MAN NAGLAGAY NG KALULUWA KO DITO’ (Translation: you motherfucking animal who placed my soul here).
Due to the prolonged silence, the Peak Lord clapped softly in Xi Feng’s face, gaining back his attention.
“This one has introduced themself, may this one know of the one standing in front?”
“Ah I, this one apologizes to Peak Lord Zhou. This one is indeed the child of Xi Yu and Xiao Dan. This one’s name is Xi Feng.” Xi Feng bowed and faced the Peak Lord, sweating buckets.
“Hmmm” The Peak Lord took his hand and felt the wrist with his middle and index finger. Xi Feng felt uncomfortable with the sudden action but just stood still, this person was stronger than him after all.
“You have an abundance of qi but it seems like it was sealed by a higher being…interesting.” The man gently let go of my hand and rummaged his sleeve for what looked like an old scroll.
“Your parents gave this one a letter that has a semblance of their will for you. Do you know how to read?” Peak Lord Zhou handed the scroll to the still kind of outstretched hand of Xi Feng.
“Ah-uhm, mm” Xi Feng just nodded his head, not able to let much of his voice out.
*Back to the end of Chapter 1*
“Does…this one actually have a choice?” He asked tentatively, note sure how the peak lord would react to such a question, he thinks no one before has implied that they didn’t want to join Cang Qiong.
“No :) ”