Time marches on, ceaseless and unchanging!
The foot traffic in the county town reached its peak on New Year's Eve. The streets were bustling and boisterous, making it nearly impossible to take a single step.
Mrs. Yu had sent Yu Fei out to buy two fish, but his shopping trip dragged on from the afternoon of the 29th all the way to the morning of the 30th. His original plan to get two sea bass had to be downgraded to crucian carp—he simply couldn't get his hands on anything else. The seafood section had been picked so clean that only the empty fish tanks remained; even the soft-shelled turtles were gone.
Fruits, vegetables, deli meats, and alcohol were nearly sold out in every major supermarket. The small county town had unleashed a year's worth of pent-up enthusiasm.
If one were to rank the cooking skills of everyone in the Yu Family, his older sister, Yu Miao, was the undisputed number one. Her cooking was the best in the family, with dishes that were a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate. It was a talent she seemed to have been born with.
Next was Mrs. Yu. Her cooking tasted wonderful, warm and rustic, though it lacked a certain refinement.
Back when Yu Fei was a child and his grandparents were still alive, the family had seven members across three generations. Cooking every day was a massive chore, so over time, Mrs. Yu's cooking became less delicate, but the taste was always superb.
Yu Fei's skills placed him third. His cooking was characterized by flashy presentation, but he often had trouble controlling the amount of seasoning. Still, it was within the realm of edible. Sometimes, if he got lucky, it was worthy of a top chef; other times, it was missing salt or vinegar.
The worst cook was his dad, Yu Zhiguo. Well! How to put it? If you were hungry enough, you could stomach it!
Yu Wei didn't count. She was the judge, and the above culinary rankings came from her.
"All the dishes are ready!"
His eldest sister, Yu Miao, served the final dish, named "A Belt of Riches."
The main ingredients of this dish were vermicelli noodles and shrimp tails. A slit was cut down the middle of each shrimp tail, and a strand of vermicelli was wrapped around it. The dish was steamed for five minutes, then splashed with hot oil and served with garlic sauce. It was already emitting a fragrant aroma before it even hit the table.
"You've worked so hard, Sis! Thank you, Sis! You're the best! Sis, you're unbeatable!"
Yu Wei took the final New Year's Eve dish, a constant stream of praise flowing from her lips.
Once everyone was seated, Yu Zhiguo raised his glass.
"Alright, cheers! Happy New Year!"
"Happy New Year!" the other four chorused.
In an ordinary life, a family reunion is the greatest happiness!
Yu Fei and his dad had drunk some fruit wine. He now stood on the balcony, watching bundles of fireworks shoot into the sky, his gaze distant and hazy.
Yu Fei hadn't traveled through time or space; rather, he had awakened the memories of his past life.
He was certain that he had died in his previous life, and that his past had been a wreck, full of absurdity.
He was Yu Fei, son of Yu Zhiguo, a fact he had no trouble accepting. Yet, he was ultimately different now. He had recalled his past life. Or perhaps it was all just a phantom dream, but the memories felt completely real.
The alcohol rushed to his head. Yu Fei's eyes grew hazy, and his thoughts began to drift.
'In the life he remembered, he seemed to have been alone from a very young age. He'd forgotten since when.'
'In that life, his parents had divorced when he was young, and he and his grandfather had relied on each other to survive.'
'He had been sixteen then, too. That winter was exceptionally cold, and his grandfather didn't live to see the New Year.'
'If reincarnation is real, I hope Grandfather has found peace and joy in this life.'
As Yu Fei thought this, he became lost in a daze.
...
In the year 836 of the New Calendar, the entire Yu Kingdom was immersed in the joy of the New Year, but for the Illuminati, things were in a sorry state.
Of course, they called themselves the Bright God Sect.
Di Yunliang trod on the thick snow, seven people following behind him. Carrying meager supplies, they crossed mountains and ridges, their destination: Tianning County.
They didn't dare take the main roads. A major catastrophe had befallen the Sect's leadership—a pile of high-ranking members were either dead or captured.
When the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. When a wall is about to fall, everyone gives it a push.
Their current situation was extremely dangerous, both from threats without and within.
The Sect had suffered heavy casualties during its retreat. Not only were they being hunted by the dogs of the Security Bureau, but their rivals in the field were constantly backstabbing them.
Uncertain how much of their membership list had been exposed, their entire group had undergone the Face-Changing Skill, performed by the Dust Sacrifice. Their target was a remote corner of the Yu Kingdom, a place where official power was weaker and they had virtually no rivals.
This was the main strategy of the Sect's "Dawn Plan."
They needed to lay low and secretly amass their strength.
Time would make people forget everything. Once they were fully-fledged, they would emerge once more to offer this prosperous age to the great God of Dark Ash.
"Stop! We'll rest for a quarter of an hour!"
Di Yunliang called out.
Even for Martial Artists, traversing the mountains in such harsh weather was taking its toll.
The men tightened their clothes, found a hollow sheltered from the wind, and took out jerky that was frozen stiff. They ate in silence, washing it down with snow.
There were no expressions of discontent; anyone who couldn't control themselves had already died on the run.
It was a good thing this group consisted of Martial Artists who were at least at the Second Realm. With their strong teeth, powerful digestive systems, and survival skills far surpassing ordinary people, they were able to endure.
Internally, the Sect called this escape the Winter March.
BANG!
In the distance, fireworks lit up the night, a dazzling festival of light in the darkness.
'It's the New Year!'
Di Yunliang stared blankly toward the other side of the mountain.
He was a priest of the Sect, a mid-level member, so he had a decent understanding of their current predicament.
Although the Sect appeared to be in a deep crisis, this also meant there were more opportunities, and the competition was no longer as fierce.
They had successfully escaped the Divine Capital, and the chances of being discovered now were infinitesimal.
Tianning County had a unique geographical position at the junction of three provinces. If things developed well, they could expand into the surrounding areas and perhaps accomplish something significant.
If he seized this opportunity and earned a reward from the Sect, he, Di Yunliang, might become a noble Apostle—and perhaps even rise higher still.
Thinking of these things, Di Yunliang's spirits lifted. And yet, as he watched the distant fireworks, a sense of desolation crept into his heart for reasons he couldn't explain.
He was from the south. Di Yunliang was born in a small coastal village, and his parents were both fishers.
Back then, his father would catch fish to make money and support the family. Life was hard, but it was also warm.
He hated the cold and loved the warm sea breeze.
He loved sweets and loathed spicy food.
For the past twenty-some years, he had roamed every corner of the Yu Kingdom, robbing, kidnapping, murdering, and performing sacrifices. The blood on his hands had stained the soil of every single province in the Kingdom!
'Why did he join the Sect, anyway?'
He remembered. It had been during the New Year's festival. He'd gotten lost and was sold to the Sect by human traffickers. He wanted to live, wanted to find his family, so he started helping them kill. It was no different from killing fish.
Normally, with his current power, finding his family should have been a simple matter. But each time, through some bizarre twist of fate, he ended up further and further away from that small fishing village.
Perhaps it wasn't a twist of fate. In his subconscious, Di Yunliang was terrified.
He was afraid he wouldn't be able to find his parents, but he was even more afraid that he would.
Pulling a flask from his inner coat pocket, he took a hard swig.
The strong liquor burned its way down his throat, and Di Yunliang's eyes grew cold once more. He turned, stared at the scum behind him, and said in a harsh, severe voice:
"Move out!"
He would not allow himself a moment of weakness. Die or burn—there was no other choice!
"Dark Ash above! May Your mercy shine upon the mortal world!"
Di Yunliang prayed in silence.