There is a mountain in the Far East, deep inside is a village surrounded by snow, winter its master. In the top of the hills, there is a demon that defies the heavens and destroys nations; with his army and his will, he conquers all. Be afraid, and kneel to the Snowfall.
- Records of Mu Mountain
Snow drifted down from the clouds, a sheet of white covering the village, and the moon shining in approval. This village didn't have a name; it wasn't a piece of territory owned by any noble, mostly because it held no strategic advantage for either trade or military use, especially considering it was too deep in the mountains.
In the far left of the village, there was a small tavern, the warm light from within seeping to the outside. It was boisterous, the chatter of men and shouts of women, their bodies being warmed by the burning liquid poured down their throats. In the center of the room, there was a crowd of young men and a pair of figures placing cards on the table with the clinking of metal coins. A young man sat in the middle, an average face, but his grey eyes and large smile made him seem a bit odd in the head. "Are you planning to fold or call my bet, Bastian", he said.
"You are cheating, Riz!" Bastian shouted as he stood up, his eyes flaring and his large figure becoming evident.
"Lady Luck just favors me, she can't help it with how handsome I am," Riz said smiling.
"The whores in alleyways wouldn't sleep with you even for five silvers" Bastian mockingly replied.
"Five silvers? I can give them a gold coin, after all the money I steal from you. Riz shrugged his shoulder, his feet mockingly placed on the table, "Oh, I meant earn from you. Then afterward I should visit your sister, and see if she needs the extra coin."
"Bastard!" Bastian furiously shouted, his hands flipping away the table, and his body struggling towards Riz as the crowd restrained him.
"No need thank me, I am just giving back to the community," Riz replied as his figure swiftly moved away, his hands sweeping the coin on the floor with his legs then quickly escaping through the doors.
Riz briskly walked through the snow trodden path, wondering if he should avoid the tables for the week, and then he suddenly halted. A petite figure slowly emerging, her face sculptured like an angel, and her eyes glaring towards him.
"Risha, you are looking especially angry tonight, did you do something to your hair? Riz asked, his eyes looking around for a path of escape.
Risha stood there, a sword materializing in her hands, her foot pushing the ground as she appeared in front of Riz and slashed downwards. Her blade stuck to the ground, an inch away from his family jewels, leaving Riz dazed as he fell flat on his back.
"My descendant will curse you knowing how close you almost killed them!" Riz shouted, his voice trying to mask his nervousness.
"Were you out playing, Senior Brother?" Risha snarled, her face devoid of any emotion, as her sword stabbed repeatedly on the ground.
"Junior Sister, if you keep stabbing closer and closer, won't I be called your Senior Sister? Riz hurriedly said, his figure inching away from the sword between his legs. Risha stood there stunned, her sword disappearing, as she blankly stared at him.
"Is Master calling for me?" Riz asked
"If Master was looking for you, Senior Sister would have hunted you down, I am just here to make sure you aren't causing trouble," Risha snorted.
"When have I caused trouble, I am a blessing to this lifeless dreary frigid land." Riz laughed
"If gambling and acting foppish like a young noble is a blessing, then the capital is truly blessed" Risha rebuked.
"I am teaching them lessons, and the winnings are just a fee for the lesson."
"What did you teach them, Senior Brother?" Risha mockingly asked
"I taught them to call a woman a whore means to lose the favor of lady luck, a lady is a lady, calling them whore just leads to karma punching them in the face" Riz teasingly replied.
Risha stood there, eyeing him, her face conveying her doubt about his intentions.
It was a good thing he planned for this, Riz thought. "Why don't we head to the temple, I prepared roast duck for you, it's fine if I am hungry but you are still growing Junior Sister." Riz urged.
"Roast duck?" Risha quietly replied, her eyes twinkling.
"It'd be a shame if it became cold, I ordered it fresh from Mother Wu, wouldn't she be sad if she heard we wasted it?" Riz stood up, and then blatantly looked at her chest. "You need nutrients to grow, or else it'd be such a shame, Senior Brother is only thinking about you," Riz said smiling.
"Don't you think you are very Shameless!" she scolded, her face slightly blushing.
"Don't you find it charming? Being shameless is my most handsome quality!" Riz said smiling, his voice brimming with pride. He slowly walked forward through the snowy night, his eyes laughing, and his face covered in joy.