Act 1
Siyue Town
A Long…Long Time After the Prologue
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"Making his rounds again, huh?" asked an older man.
He sat on a chair perched next to a merchant's stall, his elbow propped against the wooden surface. It unknowingly pushed against the few baskets of buns, irritating another man running that stall.
What had caught the eye of this scrutinizing elder was a huffed and heaving man, quite youthful in appearance. He was dressed in a blue robe and a ribbon to match, neatly pulling back his bone-straight hair.
The poor lad was in such a rush, he'd stumble along the cracked brick, hopping a few times, and readjusting himself before continuing onward. Through the busy street and against each bump, shove, and trip, his white boots padded along swiftly.
Without fail, this man was determined to get to where he had to be!
However, determination wasn't enough to prevent the hurdle of obnoxious crowds standing smack dab in the middle of a street, exactly where people were meant to walk.
This impatient man stopped ahead of a crowd of chattering folk, all refusing to pay attention to him. Hugging a book closer to his chest, he tried to speak over the them, his voice small and quiet.
That day in Siyue Town was busier than most, welcoming many new and questionable faces to the typically quiet and unheard-of town. To put this small backyard of a town into perspective, it only had a single street, and many didn't care to venture down it, let alone detour through.
That's what made Siyue Town so repulsively awful for any wandering daydreamer.
Thanks to this, the merchant's words casually drifted through the gentle morning wind, making it difficult not to overhear what wasn't trying to be subtle.
"What else were you expecting? He does this daily, Father," said the man behind the stall, about the same age as the one in question. In comparison to his lounging father, this one was actually working, mouthing "thank you" to each customer. "Fixation isn't healthy."
"You're too young to understand." The elder huffed. With every step forward his target made, the elder's dull eyes would ignite. "I mean, just look at him! Every day, without fail, he follows the same path…there's something annoying about a man who does the exact same thing daily. We should bet."
His son stalled with a light smack to his lips. He side-glanced his father and, judging by the way he continuously opened and closed his mouth, it was clear he had a lot more he wanted to say. But to fight with the older generation?
It wasn't worth it.
So, he continued doing the work designated for two, organizing the merchandise.
As the merchant's son focused on the baskets, refilling each by piling the new atop the old, he asked, "Have you spoken to Headman Tao, by any chance?"
Eyebrows perked, the elder turned his head toward his son. There wasn't much left to watch in a young man trying to squeeze through a densly packed crowd, and it wasn't like he'd be getting through the stubbornness anytime soon.
"No, I haven't. He returned from his trip already?"
"Did so! Just this morning!" said a customer. She was holding a basket in her arms, and the merchant's son was piling it with a few pieces of what seemed to be wrapped buns and flatbreads of many flavours. "At the first sight of daylight. He was talking to the fishermen about some ice ordeal."
"It's summer. Why would there be ice?"
"How am I supposed to know?!" She glanced over at the man in the street. He was now hopping on his heels, trying to see over the chattering old women. "You could ask his son."
Like an epiphany, the elder had a look on his face that made him question why he hadn't thought of such in the first place. Bringing his hands towards his mouth, he cupped it and yelled, "KID!"
Nothing. He was ignored. His son's eyes nearly popped out of his head with how hard he was rolling them.
So, the old man inhaled. This time, and with twice as much effort, he shouted loud enough that the entirety of the street—from the Southern Gate to the Northern Gate—could hear him.
"TAO HUA!"
Nope! Nope! NOPE! He had to go, and quick!
Urgency became of Tao Hua, and desperately he shoved the book under one arm and used his other hand to pry through the crowd.
This resulted in a slap to the hand, and a very angry look from a woman well past her expiration date. It was a strong stare, and any person could read that it meant she wasn't moving out of the way.
Most people in this small town were that way with Tao Hua. Typically jaded and miserable. So, in order to handle that misery, they did what most small towns did best! Put their misery onto another and call it a day!
Tao Hua was unfortunately the victim.
Siyue Town was a backwater town located deep within the heart of Buzhi Forest, known for its folktales and dangerous atmosphere.
In these folktales, Tao Hua read that many people often disappeared when bracing the shadows, citing vengeful spirits and dancing demons looming far within. Other stories suggested it was run by a demonic cultivator hellbent on entwining the three realms.
Whether or not it was true, reading the tales made Tao Hua shiver, declaring he'd never wish to step foot in the magically enchanted forest.
But Siyue Town?
It was safe against the threat of this forest!
Somehow.
Gifted by the Imperial Capital of Zhonglai, the villagers were protected by walls blessed by the best Daoist within all the country. A feature obtained by the headman of Siyue Town himself, Master Tao.
Protected or not, approaching the walls shadowed by tall pine trees always gave Tao Hua a bad feeling; therefore, he never dared tiptoe near.
Toward the woman, he tried to mumble an apology while blowing at the reddened impact on his hand, but she simply ignored him and turned away. Back to her friends, she continued to chat and blockade the street!
"TAO HUA! CHILD!" the merchant kept calling. "Is he deaf or something? I'm loud enough, am I?"
Tao Hua could feel his chest constrict. Groaning, he lowered both hands, held the book tightly, and dipped his head back.
In the peach of his eyes reflected a blue sky. Tao Hua watched as each gentle cloud drifted by slowly. They were lonesome but free, and oh how Tao Hua longed to be one of those clouds.
He'd always dreamed of being free of the shackles that contained him within the town's walls, tying him to the cage of hated. But, alas, there wasn't a soul in this world that had the brawn to save him, and he'd be stupid to try and brace the woods alone.
Additionally, he fully believed that there wasn't anyone alive capable of loving him enough to want to take him away from this cage.
At the incessant sound of snapping, his eyelids lowered, and he let out a sigh. Under his breath, he whispered, "Here we go…"
Another snap, and then a screech of a voice so shrill it nearly pierced Tao Hua's eardrums. When he looked over, he noticed the woman place her basket on the merchant's stall, and her entire face wrinkled with annoyance.
"Do you not know how to respond to your elders when they call for you?!" she demanded, crossing her arms. Her lips tightened through her fury, which made her look rather ancient. "What would your father think about this?! It's already bad enough he's sending you off with that poor Miss Chang, yet you still continue to tarnish his good name?! Listen when they're speaking to you, Young Master Tao."
To older men, there was something about having a woman stand up for them, as if they were the pitiful princess in dire need of help. Such was shown on this elder's childlike demeanour, almost pouting like a hit dog.
Tao Hua's shoulders deflated, and even if he tried to muster a small smile, it was already proven difficult.
But he had to play the part, lest the sun crept higher!
In a swift and seamless twirl, Tao Hua snapped his leg back into place the moment he saw the stall. All of his robe's hem, sleeves, and black hair fluttered outward and fell like a wandering jellyfish.
And most importantly, he took the book he had in his hands, and carefully held it behind his back. Away from the view of the testy villagers.
Swallowing, Tao Hua dryly mumbled, "Sorry, ma'am."
"Is that anyway to speak to a woman?" the elder asked. It was now his turn to play white knight. So, with every fibre of his being, Tao Hua displayed a smile—even if it was twitching uncontrollably.
"Y-You're right, Elder Sir. That was very disrespectful of me," he said through gritted teeth. "This invalid isn't worthy of your time, wouldn't it be better if I just—"
"You'll be forgiven if you answer my question," the elder interrupted, forcing Tao Hua to thinly press his lips together.
The son, who was now wrapping up more of the products, glanced up at Tao Hua, then toward his father.
"Why not just ignore him? Headman Tao and Miss Gui already have enough on their plate with preparations. I'm certain he's on his way to that now. Why not let him go, Father?"
Though there was a sort of grace extended from this young man, it was not at all done in Tao Hua's favour. He just took his job seriously, and having a hollering old man sitting next to a merchant's stall wasn't exactly a good look.
Rest assured, this young'n hated Tao Hua just as much as the next person in Siyue Town!
"Son, this is where you have it all wrong. I'm helping the headman by teaching him how to respect his elders."
This made both the son and Tao Hua glance away momentarily.
"Erm, I do have things I need to do, Elder Sir," Tao Hua said. Impatiently, he started to sway on his feet, quickening each movement the longer he stood there. "What's your question?"
"Get over here."
Nope!
"Oh...oh no, I like it here, Elder Sir." Tao Hua rocked to and fro, almost looking ready to whistle amid his playful demeanour. "It's nice and warm."
"Eh, whatever. Answer me this, kid—your fathe—"
"I haven't seen him since he left."
All three of them blinked before the older man furrowed his brows. "I guess that makes sense. Your father has more important things to manage."
Just as Tao Hua was about to turn away, the older man spoke up agian, now eyeing Tao Hua's lower half of his body.
"Another question."
Tao Hua let out a sigh and moved right back into place. His tolerance was growing thin.
"Yes, sir?"
"You just turned twenty? Am I getting that right?"
Not wanting to get involved, the younger one looked away and shrugged his shoulders. Instead, he turned back to the woman, filling up her basket with…well, whatever the fuck that stuff was.
"Um, yes." Gradually side-stepping with small, miniscule steps, Tao Hua answered, "I did a few weeks ago. Is this important?"
"Don't question me." The elder narrowed his eyes on Tao Hua's hidden book. "Don't you think it's time to start acting like an adult? Your father works his ass off for this village, while you go around wasting his money on useless things. Why not make a name for yourself. It's no wonder your father hates you."
His shoulders deflated at the state of his now weakened smile, and he swore he could hear his heart beat down by his boots.
Instead of facing the merchant, Tao Hua hesitated and filled the silence by tracing the grout of each brick, and only when he was ready, he'd quietly reply, "I…I guess he'll just have to deal with it a little while longer. Hah."
Of course, this was enough to aggravate the older man and draw in more attention that Tao Hua wanted. So, to handle it, he just endured each berating insult and drifted off into another world.
This was a fortress Tao Hua had built around the scrutiny, even if it wasn't all that well-built and often fractured. But during his time hidden behind the cracking walls, he'd travel off to worlds imagined—worlds that were stuck in a town of clockwork personalities.
…That couldn't even fucking tell the time.
Tao Hua snapped back to reality at the scream of the older man. The wrinkly hand flung into the air and declared, "Go on—you're already taking up too much room."
Ah! Now that was worth coming back to! Tao Hua took that opportunity with little grace.
"It was nice talking to you, Elder sir! Good luck with your rolls…? And stuff."
Another twirled, and Tao Hua was off once more! He didn't offer the merchant or gawkers a final reaction; he just bolted down that busy street.
In fact, he really didn't care!
Kind of.
Tao Hua long accepted that maybe these villagers had a point. In every situation, there was always a common denominator.
Which meant only one thing.
Tao Hua was the common denominator, and thus deserved every snarky insult or complaint thrown his way.
It wasn't always that way, though. As a teenager, the berating actually peeved him, and he'd typically respond with indignation—the type that had one shove their fists to their side and over-explain.
The truth?
No one wanted an explanation. Tao Hua quickly understood this as he matured, and stopped feeding into the insults, lest he wished to egg them on more.
In fact, he accepted that he was different.
Stories often embraced different; celebrated, even. This was Tao Hua's saving grace and the first step in his survivalist's pamphlet on detachment.
To escape these harsh realities, he'd travel elsewhere in prose, and each night, he'd live out every story in his mind.
This acceptance was best expressed through Tao Hua's way of coping: If the people of this town didn't want him, then some book tossed aside did.
Books crafted worlds where people actually cared about him…even if it was imaginative. He could be the prince and run into a beautiful princess. One who'd love him unconditionally and not label love under transaction.
How nice it felt, creating characters in his mind who wanted to be around Tao Hua. It was a dreadfully comforting thought. But even that heartwarming thought would be cut short with the abrupt interruption of "not paying attention."
With a slam, his book bounced onto the ground.
"Oof!"
Chapter end.
Art Note
I've been trying to figure out how to put art in the chapters since I'm so new to Webnovel. It'll have to be in the comments, which I'm not a fan of doing but I'll concede.
--> The comments just keep messing up each time I make an edit, it's easier to just check my profile for the illustrations. By god, Webnovel, allow illustrations!