Imperial Year 10, Southern Capital Prefecture of the Divine Zhou Empire, Xiejia Mansion on Mingling Mountain
"Quickly! Hurry up! Be more efficient with your hands and feet! Hey! You over there! The wires are not supposed to be arranged like that. Yes, you! I'm talking to you! The rainproof canopy must be set up properly!"
A servant dressed in a dark blue cloth robe, wearing a matching headscarf, and holding a pinewood staff, barked orders loudly in the expansive garden of the Xie family mansion, directing the temporary workers.
"This afternoon, the grand birthday banquet for our Elder Xie is about to begin. The guests invited by Elder Xie are all distinguished figures from across the empire. Any mistake here would be something you cannot afford to bear!"
Just as the servant was about to say more, a voice interrupted him from the corridor behind.
"You! Why are you shouting so loudly?"
The servant turned around and saw a young man emerging from the long hallway. He recognized him immediately—it was a member of the prominent Chen family and an official of the empire.
Understanding the identity and intentions of the visitor, the servant was overwhelmed with nervousness. His body trembled uncontrollably at the unexpected question.
Frightened, the servant quickly cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. "Master Chen, I was instructing the workers to hasten the preparation for Elder Xie's birthday banquet."
Seeing the servant's fearful demeanor, the young man dressed in an embroidered long robe smiled gently and waved his hand.
"I know you're trying to ensure the banquet proceeds smoothly, but sometimes good intentions can lead to undesirable results. Don't worry, I won't report this to Elder Xie, and no one will hold you accountable."
"Thank you, Master Chen! Thank you for your magnanimity!"
Watching the relieved servant, Master Chen walked forward and patted his shoulder reassuringly.
"Continue your work, but remember: today is Elder Xie's 80th birthday. Be careful not to make too much noise. I've heard Elder Xie values feng shui above all. You wouldn't want to offend the honored spiritual masters he's invited."
"Understood! I'll be careful."
The servant scurried off to quietly coordinate the workers, leaving Master Chen standing at the garden's entrance. Without lingering further, he crossed the massive outer garden, heading straight toward the main house.
The garden was adorned with exquisite bonsai and artificial rock formations, all crafted by skilled artisans. The Xie family's mansion was spacious enough to host these priceless decorations.
At the center of the outer garden was an artificial, winding stream. Its design followed the principles of yin and yang, forming a Tai Chi-inspired layout. This particular feature was a landmark, built under Elder Xie's personal directive. The gentle flow of mountain spring water added a sense of vitality to the garden.
Yet, despite its apparent elegance, the arrangements emanated an eerie and unsettling aura that caught Master Chen's attention.
"Is this how proper feng shui is supposed to feel?" he muttered under his breath as he neared the edge of the outer garden.
Crossing the arched stone gate that divided the inner and outer gardens, Master Chen entered the smaller, more refined inner garden. Though smaller in size, this area was the centerpiece of Elder Xie's 80th birthday banquet. The servants had already arranged the tables and chairs, all crafted from the finest wood, radiating a subtle glow of wealth and luxury.
"Can the Xie family's generations-old pharmacy business truly have amassed such immense riches?" Master Chen wondered as he walked through the splendid scene, puzzled by the opulence on display.
Finally, he reached the main house of the Xie family mansion. Standing before its grand red doors, he paused, pressing his ear to the entrance. Silence greeted him from within.
Pushing open the heavy doors, he stepped over the high threshold and entered the main house.
As soon as he entered the room, he saw an elderly man with white hair trembling as he rose from a grand armchair in the distance. Even from this distance, Chen could clearly see the man's nearly bald, smooth head beneath his sparse hair.
"Oh, my dear nephew, what wind has brought you here today? Ah, my apologies for not coming out to greet you sooner. Such discourtesy is truly inexcusable," the old man said, his voice warm but quivering as he shuffled toward Chen.
Seeing the elder tottering in his direction, Chen quickly stepped forward to support him and responded with a gentle tone.
"Please, Elder Xie, there's no need to be so formal. I specifically told the servants not to announce my arrival. Besides, the Xie and Chen families have been close for decades. Attending your 80th birthday banquet is only natural. Moreover, I've brought you a special gift."
"Receiving such regard from the Chen family—this old man hardly deserves it."
"Oh, don't say that. Elder Xie, your longevity is as enduring as the heavens. As for the gift, I've already entrusted someone to place it in the storeroom. It will be delivered during the banquet this evening."
"Haha, you've truly gone to great lengths, dear nephew."
Just as Elder Xie was about to exchange more pleasantries, his gaze was drawn to a figure standing in the shadows of the room. With a slightly forced smile, he turned back to Chen, saying:
"Well, my dear nephew, I must confess that my family has fallen on hard times lately. We lack capable descendants to host you properly. On top of that, I still have many pressing matters to oversee personally."
As he spoke, Elder Xie gently but firmly guided Chen toward the door. "Please make yourself comfortable in this humble estate. If you need anything, feel free to ask my adopted son to assist you. I deeply regret that I cannot accompany you further."
"You're too kind, Elder Xie. You truly work hard."
After being escorted out of the main house, Chen turned back to see the elderly Xie carefully closing the heavy redwood door behind him. Only then did Chen let out a long sigh, shaking his head as he muttered under his breath:
"Ah... making polite conversation with the older generation is truly exhausting."
He glanced back at the Xie family's grand main house, constructed entirely of rare redwood. Without the Xie family's immense wealth, there would be few in the southern region capable of living in such a luxurious mansion.
Yet the more Chen stared at the opulent structure—with its intricate carvings and floor tiles laid out in a grid-like pattern—the more an inexplicable chill crept up his spine.
"Honestly, I don't know what my father was thinking. He didn't come himself but insisted I attend. Mingling Mountain is supposed to be a land of fortune? Even children know that's a tale from years past."
Inside the main house, through the narrow crack of the door, Elder Xie watched Chen's figure gradually fade into the distance. Slowly, he straightened his posture, his previous frailty disappearing in an instant.
It was as if the so-called "Elder Xie," the eighty-year-old man, had vanished altogether, replaced by a man in his prime—Xie Lingtian.
The only traces of age left on him were the wrinkles on his face and his sparse hair.
Xie Lingtian strode purposefully into the shadowy corner of the room, where another figure waited. Standing before this man, Xie spoke firmly:
"So? Ghosthead Qi, are the preparations complete? Do we have enough for the ritual?"
The man in the shadows, known as Ghosthead Qi, displayed a faint, ambiguous smile on his face. Upon hearing the now-vibrant voice of the "old man," he replied softly but without expression:
"Enough. The offerings are more than sufficient. However... Elder Xie, your act of feigning weakness was truly something to behold."
"You wouldn't understand," Xie Lingtian replied, a hint of disdain curling at his lips. "This is called naturalism. An eighty-year-old man should never behave like someone in their thirties or forties."
His smile deepened into something sharper and more sinister.
"Hmph. Those who try to stand in my way have all been utterly crushed."
Ghosthead Qi, however, found no amusement in the boasts of a balding, wrinkled man waxing poetic about his age.
Standing motionless in the shadows, he merely listened as Xie Lingtian spoke.
It was almost as if Ghosthead Qi feared exposing even a fraction of his body to the light outside.
"Was it necessary?" Ghosthead Qi finally asked. "So many offerings... wasn't the previous amount sufficient to maintain everything?"
Faced with the perplexed inquiry from Ghosthead Qi, Old Master Xie's expression darkened slightly as he replied sternly:
"This is the last time, do you understand? The last time! Naturally, the dosage for this final attempt needs to be greater."
"But, Old Master Xie, aren't you concerned about the physician's advice anymore?"
"Hmph, now that I've uncovered the patterns, there's no need to heed those overly cautious words. Over the years, I've exhausted every ounce of effort seeking the path to immortality from secret recipes, schools of thought, and various techniques. Now that I'm finally on the verge of fulfilling my lifelong dream, how can I possibly stop?"
As Xie Lingtian spoke, his tone grew increasingly agitated. Were it not for Ghosthead Qi gesturing to remind him that there were outsiders nearby, Xie Lingtian might have erupted in loud exclamations.
Once his emotions had calmed down, he smirked and licked his cracked lips, whispering to Ghosthead Qi:
"Once I attain a lifespan rivaling the heavens, I'll naturally be able to acquire much more…"
"Alright, alright, Old Master. Today is your birthday, after all. You're the boss, and what you say goes. I'll just get back to my dirty work."
With that, Ghosthead Qi turned and disappeared into the shadows of the room as if vanishing into thin air. Old Master Xie called softly after him in the direction of the shadows:
"Make sure the sacrifices are prepared."
A faint reply seemed to echo from within the shadows. Then, Old Master Xie gradually bent his back further, his trembling legs moving with an unsteady gait. With shaky arms, he pushed open the door to his quarters. As he stepped out into the main courtyard, he glanced up at the drifting clouds in the sky and the pale celestial dome that spanned the heavens, murmuring to himself:
"It seems it's going to rain tonight…"
The "Celestial Dome Phenomenon," a pale canopy stretching over the empire's territories, had been present for months. Though initially unsettling, the citizens of the empire's five major cities had gradually adapted to life under this strange sky. Life remained largely unchanged, as even seasoned sky-watchers like Xie Lingtian could still predict the weather by observing the clouds.
Hours of bustling preparations by the Xie family's servants culminated in the completion of Old Master Xie's grand birthday banquet just as the sun was setting. High rainproof tents were erected, and the power systems connecting various devices were activated. The Xie family manor on the mountainside of Mingling Mountain lit up brilliantly, its radiance visible for miles even from the base of the mountain.
Guests arrived one after another, bearing lavish gifts. The stewards announced each offering with gusto, adding to the lively atmosphere. Among the visitors were heirs of prominent families from the southern capital and imperial officials with past ties to the Xie family. However, contrary to expectations, these dignitaries were not seated at Old Master Xie's table. Instead, his table was filled with unfamiliar figures, many dressed in unconventional attire that clashed with the festive occasion.
One early arrival, Mr. Chen, found himself seated near the outer edge of the garden, far from the main table. Perplexed, he struck up a conversation with a neighbor, Mr. Feng, whom he had just met:
"Brother Feng, do you also think Old Master Xie has gone too far, relegating us imperial officials to such a remote spot?"
"Ah, Brother Chen, you may have misunderstood. Perhaps Old Master Xie, in his advanced age, has become a bit muddled. Let's not take it to heart as juniors."
"You're right, Brother Feng. Your perspective is indeed wise."
Just as Mr. Chen and Mr. Feng wrapped up their discussion, Old Master Xie's voice boomed from the central pavilion. Seated at the head of the grand round table, microphone in hand, he delivered the usual polite remarks expected at such events. However, Mr. Chen, listening from afar, couldn't shake the feeling that the words lacked sincerity, as though they were mere formalities.
As he pondered this, a deep rumble of thunder pulled him from his thoughts, followed by a sudden downpour.
"Guests, please remain calm! The tents have been prepared in advance. Rest assured, everything is under control," Old Master Xie reassured them.
Moments later, steaming dishes were brought out from the rear courtyard. The feast, as always, was lavish and extravagant, featuring an abundance of delicacies. The exquisite food gradually soothed Mr. Chen's earlier discomfort, and he turned to Brother Feng, exclaiming:
"The Xie family truly spares no expense. This banquet is magnificent, don't you agree, Brother Feng?"
"Ah… yes," Brother Feng replied, his face tense and uneasy.
Though puzzled by Brother Feng's reaction, Mr. Chen was too engrossed in the feast to dwell on it. After enduring hours of travel on bumpy mountain roads, he resolved to make the most of the meal.
Meanwhile, at the main table, Old Master Xie sat flanked by his adopted son and the enigmatic Ghosthead Qi. The rest of the table was occupied by mysterious figures, their presence unsettling the servants. One of the servants approached a guest carrying a curved blade and a laser pistol, hesitantly requesting:
"Sir, could you kindly put away your weapons?"
Old Master Xie's expression darkened immediately. He reprimanded the servant sternly:
"Foolish child! These are heroes of the land. Their weapons are their lifelines. Asking them to part with them is as good as asking them to sever their limbs!"
"My apologies, Master. I was wrong!"
"Then get out of my sight!"
The servant scurried away, and the armed guest laughed, raising his cup in a toast:
"Old Master Xie, you truly know how to speak to a man's heart!"
"Haha, it's nothing. You and all the heroes here have supported me countless times. My gratitude knows no bounds. Such gestures are but trifles in comparison."
"Cheers to that, Old Master!"
As the banquet continued, the guests indulged in food and drink, unaware of the impending darkness. Suddenly, all the lights in the manor went out simultaneously, plunging the gathering into pitch blackness.
"Don't panic, everyone! It's likely a lightning strike. The backup power will be restored shortly," Old Master Xie reassured the crowd.
But his adopted son whispered urgently:
"Father, there was no lightning just now."
"What?!"
As the guests quieted down, a peculiar sound emerged. It wasn't the rain, footsteps, or the faint clinking of utensils—it was a heavy, labored breathing, eerily distinct.
What is this? Why does it make me feel so uneasy?
Clutching his chest, Old Master Xie tried to steady himself, his mind racing to identify the source of this invisible pressure. Suddenly, a thunderclap tore through the sky, briefly illuminating the courtyard. In that fleeting moment, Old Master Xie spotted a shadowy figure standing at the entrance to the inner garden.
"Who is that?!"
Just then, accompanied by the crackling of unstable plasma, a crimson light ignited in the darkness...