The storm was unyielding. The wind lashed the houses and trees without mercy, dark clouds blotted out the sky, making a ray of sunshine a rarity. It had been two days already since they stopped at the Serpent Gate village. Located in a small valley in the middle of the mountains surrounded by an endless sea of trees, the secluded settlement developed independently of the outside world. The only proof that they were indeed of the same people was in the language and the vaguely similar clothing and architecture they used. They had their own traditions, laws, and society. Even the roads leading to this god-forgotten place were built barely in the last decade. It seemed the Martial Alliance made contact with them and managed to negotiate some sort of peace. She wondered what they said to convince these people who never heard the word emperor in their lives to bend the knee peacefully. If Long Ju had to guess, she'd say they used overwhelming force to crush their fighting spirit before a battle even began. The martial world and imperial power had their issues, but they had one thing in common: they were decisive and ruthless in eliminating any threat on their territory. The Serpent Gate found itself in a complicated position, but they must have seen the potential benefits that would come out of peaceful coexistence and the annihilation they would face if they decided to rebel. The village was perfect as a node to connect different places across the mountains, she could see the immense development that awaited this unassuming valley. She could also see the divisions it was already causing among the community. The Serpent Gate was divided, even before the intervention of outside forces, into two main factions: the Divine Serpent Cult, and the Hu clan. The Divine Serpent Cult were the ones capable of communicating and commanding snakes, giving them great power and control over the village and its residents. It was centred around the Great Shaman, who acted as a religious leader and as the Oracle of the Divine Serpent. They were fiercely protective of their independence and refused to yield to outsiders. The Hu clan, on the other hand, was made up of ordinary villagers who were not initiated into this forbidden knowledge and wanted nothing more than to enjoy the benefits of being part of the Martial Alliance. They were led by the Hu family, and they weren't to be underestimated, since many in their ranks were poison masters and skilled alchemists. Long Ju could see the distrust and hostility growing between these two sides and wondered how much longer it would be before it boiled over into open conflict. Right now the balance was kept by the village leader, Zhang Ye, and the neutral faction, made up of hunters, the military, and the common people. The trade routes negotiated with the Alliance had brought many profits and technological advancements in the past decade, which was why the hostilities never blew up. The new talk of expanding the village and letting outsiders move in was creaking the already unstable equilibrium. Especially since many of the youngsters of the new generation were annoyed by the division and by the hold the Cult had over every aspect of their lives. As always, the young found it easier to adapt and embrace the new, discarding old traditions and rules.
Above all, towering over any opinion, change, and animosity was the Divine Serpent itself, indifferent to the plight of humans. Long Ju thought that like many gods, the Divine Serpent was an abstract being, an object of worship, a mix of legends and myths. But she soon understood that the Serpent was very real. An Aura Beast so powerful and ancient it was beyond the scope of even the Martial Alliance. She also understood why the Golden Bear trio were so worried. Beyond the valley, for who knows how many kilometres of forests and mountains, the Serpent claimed the territory as its hunting grounds and home. The Serpent Gate was quite a literal name in that sense, as only the people of the village had the means to appease the beast and grant a safe entrance into its lands. To be more accurate, only the Divine Serpent Cult and the Oracle could. Be it fortune or misfortune, this generation's Oracle was also the Great Shaman, a rare event in history, as the Oracle was chosen directly by the Serpent. It was common for the Oracle to be killed by either the fickle "divinity" or by the people. It was a difficult and unthankful role.
The fear and love the beast received over the centuries was so obviously one-sided that it would have been hilarious if the Serpent in question wasn't an absolute behemoth with Aura surpassing any common sense. Long Ju hoped she'd never lay eyes on such a monster.
"Little Tiger, your friends are here," said Jin Xiao, pulling her away from her thoughts.
Long Ju smiled. Despite the dreadful weather and the gloomy atmosphere, there were many curious youngsters who came to visit them. The three brothers found a few like-minded characters and formed a little clique, but she didn't feel that comfortable drinking with middle-aged men prattling on about the old times. She was also annoyed they forbade her from drinking any alcohol. It was on her secret quest to find good wine, she met a group of her own like-minded individuals. Soon, from strangers, they became friends, drinking stolen wine while the rain patted the windows. It was a fun night.
Long Ju quickly stepped down the stairs and looked at the faces of the two newcomers. She smiled brightly. "I'm glad you came, you've saved me from boring myself to death."
The two travellers, a young man and a young woman, were standing at the entrance wrapped up in towels to keep the rain off.
The girl had jet-black hair and bright green eyes, and her expression showed curiosity and excitement. Her name was Fu Daiyu, and she was a part of the Divine Serpent Cult. The young man, Hu Yan, was short and thin, with grey hair and cold brown eyes that darted around as he tried to take in his surroundings. He was from the Hu clan, and his hair had lost its colour while experimenting with poisons, a characteristic look shared by many in his family. He looked more serious than his companion, but there was still something about him that made Long Ju feel at ease.
"We're glad to be here," the young woman responded, her voice a musical tone that warmed Long Ju's heart.
Fu Daiyu took a step forward, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "I'm guessing there'll be some wine, right?" A mischievous smile appeared on her face as she looked back at Hu Yan.
Hu Yan's eyes flashed as he looked at Long Ju, then he turned away with a slight frown. "Why did you even follow me here?" he asked in a flat tone.
"To have some fun," Fu Daiyu responded with a shrug. "Maybe learn a few secrets." She glanced at Long Ju with a raised eyebrow. "Or see someone die of boredom."
Fu Daiyu turned her attention back to Hu Yan, who had remained stiff and unmoving as she spoke. "Oh come on, Hu Yan," she said with a mocking smile, "I'm sure an extra day of drinking won't kill you."
Hu Yan's face seemed to grow stony as he listened, and Long Ju couldn't detect even a glimmer of amusement in his eyes. He looked like a rock, but his hurried steps betrayed his excitement. Turmoil aside, the village was usually boring, and the occasions to have fun and meet new people were almost none.
Fu Daiyu's mischievous grin grew bigger, and she took another step forward. "Hey, I'm sure the wine won't grow legs and run away!"
Hu Yan's eyes snapped to stare back at her, and Long Ju could almost see the flames burning inside. Fu Daiyu took no notice, and continued her teasing.
"Last night we stole so much wine from the basement, and there's only three of us today," she said in a tone that was only partly joking, "I'm sure you won't miss one bottle."
Long Ju couldn't help but laugh. Hu Yan remained still and expressionless, his face like a mask, but she could see some amusement stirring beneath it.
Long Ju's smile widened as she watched the two banter. She couldn't imagine how someone from the Divine Serpent Cult and someone from the Hu clan managed to become close friends. These two were the perfect examples of how the youth in the village simply didn't care about these old traditions and prejudices. Hu Yan and Fu Daiyu were two sides of the same coin, she realized. They both saw through the village walls and rules and wanted something more for their lives.
She led them to her room, upstairs, and they sat together at the table. Everyone had brought some food and snacks, and Long Ju brought out a few jugs of wine from her secret stash.
Long Ju found her heart pounding in her chest. This had to be the most fun evening she'd had since she'd left the Long clan's mansion! If only someone could see her right now...she had to admit, she was slightly tipsy and her cheeks were slightly flushed from the wine. She couldn't remember when she'd had so much fun, laughing and joking with such lively and spirited people. She felt like she was alive again. Hu Yan and Fu Daiyu had somehow succeeded in lifting her spirits and making her feel welcome in a place where she didn't belong at all.