The year, early January.
Li Xuan's little aunt brought a portrait of Tian Yuan.
It was a gentle and intellectual young lady, with smiles at the corners of her eyes and lips, and two small dimples on her cheeks. Not a beauty capable of causing a kingdom's downfall, nor quite alluringly beautiful, yet there was something striking about her.
The matriarch liked it and pulled Li Xuan over to take a look.
The little aunt laughed and said, "Yesterday, we showed Tian Yuan a portrait of Xiaoxuan, and she nodded. Xiaoxuan is quite handsome, what girl wouldn't be moved?"
Such talk from family, Li Xuan just listened.
He was handsome, but not to the extent of "no girl could resist."
Yet this bunch of relatives liked to boast about him outside, saying he was sensible, capable, handsome, and loyal, even his laziness was spun as "thinking about his brother's future, allowing a chance to study for his brother"...
At this moment, Li Xuan looked at the girl in the portrait, feeling her warm smile was like a gentle touch to his heart, and her brightly shining eyes seemed to penetrate the paper, giving him a stunning sensation akin to "seeking her a thousand times, only to turn suddenly and find her at a dimly lit place."
He nodded, expressing his liking.
The little aunt, seeing him nod, smiled at the matriarch and said, "Sister, our two families are drawing closer again."
The matriarch chuckled and began discussing plans for proposing and the details of the betrothal gift.
Li Xuan was instead set aside and soon slipped out, only to see Rose arriving at the matriarch's courtyard to "report in."
The "lovely couple" exchanged glances and brushed past each other.
...
Outside, a group of friends he used to play with came to pay New Year's greetings, and everyone gathered, laughing again as the atmosphere returned to the scene before "Li Xuan encountered the demon leopard."
The group chatted about women, planned banquets, discussed who obtained unusual treasures, then talked about recent demon leopard attacks and flower thief incidents, among other topics.
Suddenly, a boy from the Ding family, calling Li Xuan "big brother," loudly tried to draw attention by shouting, "Demon leopard? What's so strange about it? Didn't you know? Demon beasts have appeared in other cities for a long time now!"
Xiongshan County's three major families: the Li family, the Tian family, and the Ding family.
The Li family's industry is concentrated in textile shops and martial arts halls, with the core businesses being mines and blacksmith shops.
The Tian family's core business is in trade associations, and besides that, they are the largest local landowners, with more fields and tenants than the Li and Ding families combined.
The Ding family mostly operates inns and brothels, catering to a mixed crowd, leading them to know many things.
Soon, the Ding family boy began to flaunt the news he had heard.
Li Xuan listened with slight interest and couldn't help asking, "Xiaoding, demon beasts existed before?"
The Ding family boy replied, "Brother Li, yes, always! They only just emerged here, but they appeared in other places years ago. In the beginning, everyone kept it under wraps, information was blocked, so it didn't spread much."
Li Xuan, curious, asked, "Why keep it under wraps?"
The Ding family boy whispered, "Brother Li, really? You don't know?"
Li Xuan thought for a moment, suddenly recalling something.
Now, the Emperor of Great Yin was extremely superstitious. If you told him that demon beasts appeared in your place, leading to many deaths, he might consider it a "sign of disaster" and blame it on "local officials' incompetence," even possibly removing them from office or executing them as sacrifices.
In this case, which official would want to mess with such bad luck? Therefore, they all kept it hidden.
Li Xuan wanted to confirm it, gesturing to the sky.
The Ding family boy understood and replied, "Exactly, exactly."
Then continued mysteriously, "But now, as the time passes, they're slowly letting it out."
Li Xuan listened, feeling a heavy heart.
Turns out, demon beasts had existed for many years, and Xiongshan County only encountered them recently.
Meanwhile, a Tian family boy came closer to Li Xuan.
Although this boy was two years older than Li Xuan, he still called him "Brother Li" and said, "Brother, I heard our two families are going to form an alliance again?"
Li Xuan smiled and nodded.
That Tian family boy laughed heartily and said, "Invite me to a meal, invite me to a meal, or else I'll tell my cousin bad things about you."
The nearby boys, hearing it, gathered around, chatting about Li Xuan's marriage. Upon learning the bride was Tian Yuan, they began discussing Tian Yuan herself.
After listening for a while, Li Xuan finally learned why Tian Yuan hadn't been seen much these past few years.
After losing her mother, she wasn't favored in the Tian family, so she worked hard, attempting to manage trade association affairs, and through determination and perseverance, climbed to a high position, earning recognition from many. While others were engrossed in falconry, dog-fighting, feasting, drinking, and indulging in luxury, Tian Yuan remained focused on her efforts.
Li Xuan nodded to himself, secretly thinking: A girl who allows me to continue my carefree lifestyle and concentrate on my cultivation...
...
...
At noon, the wife of County Captain Shan, also Li Xuan's second aunt, came to the Li family to visit relatives.
But she came alone.
As for Li Xuan's eldest aunt and other relatives, they didn't come because they were across the county and had trouble due to the demon leopard events; similarly, some Li family visits needing crossing counties were canceled, to be arranged later.
At the family banquet, Li Xuan's second aunt kept complaining.
While the matriarch held her hand, saying, "Shan Jian is busy, wanting to catch the flower thief soon."
Li Xuan's second aunt angrily said, "Not returning on New Year's Eve is one thing, but he disappeared yesterday too, and today he wouldn't rest or come with me to the Li family, it's so maddening."
Li Xuan said a couple of words in defense of Shan Jian, asking his second aunt to remind County Captain Shan to be cautious of the flower thief, and not to underestimate them.
The second aunt replied indifferently, "Why would he underestimate? This time he's serious. Although Xiongshan County seems to be celebrating the New Year, he secretly laid a net with his men to catch the thief. They are too sly, and they really upset him yesterday."
While speaking, the second aunt recounted how Shan Jian set a trap yesterday and mistakenly caught the wrong thief.
Everyone sighed at the thief's cunningness, while Master Li patted his chest and said, "If the Li family is needed, let County Captain Shan speak freely."
The second aunt nodded.
After a round of feasting.
Li Xuan went to visit Wei Yao, who had already awakened, with the rotten flesh on her body completely gone.
The two chatted for a while, and Li Xuan told her about his own matters.
Wei Yao, somewhat like a scapegoat, coldly said, "Why tell me?"
Li Xuan replied, "I promised to marry you, so naturally, I should let you know what's happening on my side."
Wei Yao remained silent, her pretty face hidden in the darkness.
Li Xuan asked, "What? You don't want me to marry you?"
Wei Yao said, "I... I'll think about it seriously."
Previously, her body was burnt, but now it mysteriously healed, and her initial inferiority was gradually disappearing.
Li Xuan laughed and said, "What are you thinking about, just stop thinking."
Wei Yao turned her head away, not looking at him.
Li Xuan got up to leave.
In the darkness, Wei Yao watched his departing figure, her eyes moved, and the black pupils in the middle of her eyes suddenly turned... blood-red.
...
...
Although the new year had passed, the festive atmosphere in the little county lingered.
Li Xuan temporarily didn't go to Chaotic Crow Ridge, staying alone in the small courtyard to cultivate, pondering how to establish channels to acquire other advanced cultivation techniques; how the "nonsensical realm" could change; and how the "Nine Grid Blood Box" could light up the second grid.
The Li family's betrothal gifts were also sent to the Tian family. In return, the Tian family gifted quite a few items, including a Flatfish Pendant, which the person from the Tian family said was an engagement token from Tian Yuan to Li Xuan.
The person mentioned the engagement token was also left by Tian Yuan's mother.
Obviously, Tian Yuan valued Li Xuan greatly and was fond of this marriage arrangement.
Li Xuan kept the Flatfish Pendant close, and then engaged in calligraphy, writing the line "Two hearts beating as one, although without colorful phoenix wings" to return to Tian Yuan.
This line is very beautiful, speaking of mutual longing and is an outstanding romantic poem.
...
...
Another day, at night, heavy snow blanketed the ground.
A carriage stopped in front of the Li family.
The curtain of the carriage was drawn back, and Li Xuan's second aunt angrily jumped out of the carriage, then sought out Master Li to angrily criticize County Captain Shan.
You ask why?
It was that County Captain Shan managed to stay home for once, but upon hearing some rumors seemed to arm himself with a knife, grabbed a spear, and ran out.
Master Li and Li Xuan's second aunt talked for a long time, only then sending someone to take Li Xuan's second aunt home.
But Li Xuan's second aunt insisted on not returning, defiantly saying, "Since he's not home, must I definitely be at home?"
Master Li was helpless, thus the great lady took Li Xuan's second aunt to sleep in her room.
Next morning...
Thick snow accumulated.
The sky cleared, households swept the snow from their doorsteps.
Li Xuan's second aunt spent a night, her anger dissipated, only then taking her servants back home.
She returned to the mansion as usual, but as soon as she reached the front, something felt wrong. All the maids and servants, even those from the nursing home stood frozen on the spot, trembling.
"What's the matter?" Li Xuan's second aunt grabbed someone to ask.
That person pointed fearfully at the distant spot, saying, "Old... Master... Old..."
Li Xuan's second aunt quickly walked over, opened the door, looked inside, and her heart suddenly stopped in fear, falling to the ground with an extreme scream of horror.
...
Soon enough.
The Li family members also arrived at Shan Mansion.
Li Xuan followed his father to stand at the entrance.
In that room, Shan Jian's body was gone, only a bare human head was placed on the table.
Soon after, people from Shan Mansion came to report, saying a headless body was found in the corner of the courtyard buried in snow.
Everyone went to check, only to see the flesh of that body had been carved like a punishment, leaving only a bloody skeleton, terrifyingly eerie.
Li Xuan looked at the scene.
A surge of immense anger welled up in his heart.
His eyes turned cold.
...
...
Not far from the Shan Mansion at Pure Yang Martial Arts Hall.
A beautiful and curvaceous female martial artist was walking down a small alley, suddenly stopping and exclaiming, "Senior Brother?"
A man walked out of the alley, not particularly tall, nor of moderate build, but rather short and stout, appearing very reliable.
"Junior Sister." The man said, smiling as he approached.
The female martial artist said happily, "Senior Brother, when did you return?"
The man stepped forward, talking and laughing with her, conversing as they headed towards her residence.
Deep within those seemingly honest eyes, there was a hint of impatience mixed with lechery and cruelty...