Scene 1 – Wine Under the Moon
The night had finally settled.
The echoes of conflict, celebration, and ambition had all been swallowed by silence, leaving behind only the gentle rhythm of the Lin estate breathing under moonlight.
Lin Xian sat alone beneath the corridor eaves, one leg bent, the other lazily extended. The wooden pillar behind him was cool against his back, faintly damp from the night air.
Above, the moon drifted unhurriedly — pale, distant, indifferent.
Cicadas sang in uneven cadence, their calls rising and falling like waves. Somewhere deeper in the estate, faint music lingered — muted strings and laughter dulled by distance.
Lin Xian lifted a crude clay cup, swirling the dark crimson wine within. The scent reached him first — sharp, unrefined, lacking depth.
He took a sip.
His brows twitched.
> "Mediocre…" he muttered, almost disappointed.
The wine slid down his throat without resistance, leaving no warmth, no lingering resonance of spirit essence. It was wine meant to be drunk, not remembered.
At his side, Xiao Jian lay sprawled shamelessly on his back, four paws in the air, fluffy belly exposed to the moon. The small beast snored softly, each breath puffing faint white mist into the cool air. One paw twitched now and then, claws flexing — undoubtedly chasing spirit beasts or stolen snacks in his dreams.
Lin Xian glanced down at him and snorted softly.
> "You'd probably enjoy anything fermented," he said dryly.
He leaned his head back, gaze drifting upward as memories surfaced uninvited — ancient halls carved from jade, floating vaults sealed by heavenly arrays, and wine cellars where a single sip could ignite one's cultivation.
> "In my past life…" he murmured, voice low,
"Even the lowest spirit wine in the Immortal Vault had more soul than this."
His fingers tightened slightly around the cup.
> "The Celestial Cloud Brew…"
A faint smirk tugged at his lips.
> "That damned merchant. The way he diluted it and still dared to charge ten divine crystals per jar…"
The image came vividly — a broad-shouldered monk with careless eyes and a laugh too loud for any sacred hall.
> "The Unfettered Cloud…" Lin Xian exhaled softly.
"That old drunk…"
The breeze shifted, carrying the scent of night-blooming flowers through the courtyard. Moonlight washed over his silver hair, softening the sharpness of his features.
For a brief moment, something like nostalgia surfaced.
> "I wonder where you're drifting now," he said quietly.
"…old man."
Beside him, Xiao Jian rolled over, tail flicking once before resuming his snoring.
---
Scene 2 – The Wandering Merchant
(External POV)
Far away—
Beyond mortal domains, beyond righteous sects and imperial cities—
A massive carriage rolled lazily across the crimson plains of the Demon Realm.
Its wheels were engraved with ancient sigils, grinding over scorched earth without leaving a single track behind. The carriage itself was absurdly large — nearly the size of a small residence — its surface etched with protective seals that shimmered faintly under demonic skies.
And pulling it—
Was a red donkey.
Its hide glowed like banked embers, yet its eyelids drooped heavily as it trudged forward, each step taken with the enthusiasm of a creature profoundly tired of existence.
Hanging from the front was a wooden signboard that read in bold, elegant calligraphy:
>
The donkey yawned, jaw stretching impossibly wide.
> "Master Jiu Xia~" it drawled, voice thick with complaint,
"Do you ever plan to stop wandering?"
Its hooves clopped dully.
> "We've crossed six realms already. And you still owe me twelve bags of spirit hay!"
From inside the carriage came a lazy, wine-soaked voice.
> "Mn… debts are merely the weight of mortal attachment," the voice said calmly.
"You should learn detachment, my dear donkey."
The donkey brayed in outrage.
> "Learn detachment?!" "You drank my last barrel of Heavenly Spring Water yesterday!"
A pause.
> "Ah…"
"Did I?"
The voice sounded thoughtful.
> "Then it must have been a moment of enlightenment."
Thunk.
An empty gourd rolled out from the carriage curtains and struck the donkey squarely on the head.
The donkey didn't even flinch.
It simply sighed — long, deep, and exhausted.
> "One day," it muttered,
"You'll sell my soul to buy more wine."
The carriage slowed.
Ahead loomed a massive black palace, its towers wreathed in demonic flames, oppressive qi rolling outward like a living thing.
From within the carriage came a curious sound.
> "Eh?"
"A palace."
A pause.
> "And trouble."
---
Scene 3 – The Demon Sovereign's Gamble
The gates of the palace swung open with a thunderous boom.
Out strode a massive figure — the Demon Sovereign of Ironhorn Abyss — muscles bulging, wearing armor made from beast bones and dark iron. His wild hair and scarred face made him look more bandit than ruler.
Behind him followed several demon generals, each exuding enough killing intent to melt steel.
The Demon Sovereign cracked his neck and grinned, showing fangs.
> "Merchant of the Unfettered Cloud!" he boomed.
"I've come to buy the Mithril Spirit Jade! I'll pay in bloodstones — name your price!"
From the carriage, the curtain lifted — and out stepped a man whose presence seemed to make the world sway between serenity and absurdity.
Jiu Xia stepped down from his carriage barefoot, toes touching demonic stone without concern. The ground hummed faintly beneath him — the land recognizing something it did not dare challenge.
His hair was tied into a rough top-knot, a few silvery strands escaping to frame a rugged, handsome face lined by faint stubble. His monk's robes were half-open, revealing tattooed forearms — a maze of ancient seals, celestial maps, and faded runes crawling like memories of forgotten worlds.
A gourd the size of a child swung behind him as he stretched lazily, bones popping.
> "Ahhh~ good wine…" he muttered, then squinted at the demon.
Ah. This brat.
> "Oh?" he said lazily.
"Ironhorn brat. You grew taller."
Veins bulged on the demon's forehead.
> "I'm not a brat! I'm the ruler of—"
> "Mm. Brat it is."
Jiu Xia yawned. "So, what do you want?"
> "The Mithril Spirit Jade! Don't play dumb."
Jiu Xia's eyes glimmered with mischief.
> "Ahh… you do know the rules, yes?"
"No one buys from The Unfettered Cloud without gambling first."
The Demon Sovereign's eyes twitched.
> "Still with that ridiculous rule of yours?"
> "It's tradition," Jiu Xia said solemnly. "Tradition is what remains when chaos survives long enough."
---
Scene 4 – The Gamble
A small table appeared between them with a flick of Jiu Xia's fingers. Cards materialized mid-air, glowing faintly.
> "Three rounds. Big or small," said Jiu Xia, leaning back with a smirk. "If you lose, you give me something precious equal to the Mithril Spirit Jade's worth. If you win — you buy it."
The Demon Sovereign grinned, slamming a huge hand on the table.
> "Deal!"
Round One —
Jiu Xia rolled lazily, the cards flipping through the air.
The Demon Sovereign's eyes gleamed. "Small!"
The cards landed: Big.
Jiu Xia chuckled. "Heh."
The demon's eyebrow twitched.
Round Two —
The demon slapped his hand down faster. "Big!"
The cards fluttered — Small.
Jiu Xia raised his gourd. "Heh-heh."
The generals behind the demon began to sweat. Their master's expression darkened.
Round Three —
The demon roared, veins bulging. "BIG! THIS TIME, BIG!"
The cards danced midair, glittering like starlight—then landed softly.
Small.
Silence.
A snort escaped Jiu Xia, then a chuckle, then full-bodied laughter. 'Hahahahahahah!'
Jiu Xia and the donkey broke into simultaneous, uproarious laughter, howling and pointing at the defeated demon.
Then,
The donkey snorted and said flatly,
> "Congratulations, Sovereign. You just lost your pants."
> "WHAT?!" The demon stood up, face red with fury. "You cheated!"
> "Impossible," Jiu Xia said with a straight face. "I'm a monk. I don't cheat. You're just too stupid to understand the game.
He reached out his hand.
> "Now then… about your payment?"
The Demon Sovereign's hands trembled as his rage boiled over.
Cracks spread under his feet; demonic qi burst outward like an erupting volcano.
> "You dare toy with me, you drunken monk?!" he roared, his aura twisting the air, turning the crimson sky black.
The donkey instantly backed up several steps, ears twitching.
> "Oh great. He's going to do that thing again."
Jiu Xia's grin didn't fade. He took a long drink from his gourd, eyes glinting beneath the messy top-knot.
> "Careful, brat," he said, voice suddenly calm yet sharp as a blade.
"Releasing killing intent in my shop is rude—and against the rules. You're frightening the donkey."
The donkey backed away carefully, eyes rolling in disbelief. Clearly, it was not the killing intent that scared it—but the monk's very presence, sharp as a blade even in calmness.
The demonic wind howled; the palace trembled.
The Demon Sovereign bared his fangs, eyes blazing with fury.
> "Then I'll burn this shop together with your shitty donkey and the heavens above it!"
Jiu Xia sighed, setting down his gourd.
The tattoos on his forearms began to glow faintly — like constellations waking from slumber.
> "Ah… you just had to make me sober."
---