Th-this, this this this…
Pei Xiu’s mind went completely blank. He stared, eyes wide in shock, at the collapsed mountainside.
Massive boulders had tumbled down, blocking the mountain path and piling high—some even rolled into the river, smashing up monstrous waves.
Amid the mass of debris clogging the road, Pei Xiu could make out the twisted bodies of wild beasts crushed to death in the landslide. The horrifying sight sent a fresh chill down his spine. Just imagining that if not for the boy halting them moments earlier, they would now be buried like those beasts… cold sweat soaked his back.
The noise outside finally startled Madam Pei out of the carriage. Holding their daughter tightly, she carefully stepped down.
«What is…!?»
«Mother!» Pei Hongxuan rushed to her, still visibly shaken, and quickly recounted everything that had just happened.
At the same time, Pei Xiu forced himself—despite the trembling in his legs—to rise. Facing Xuan Yuan , he gave a deep, formal bow.
«Many thanks to Your Excellency for saving our lives. Had you not intervened, my entire family would now be dead and buried!»
«Prefect Pei holds the world’s people in his heart. Such a man shouldn’t die in such a meaningless way,» Xuan Yuan replied, eyes glinting with amusement, showing no concern at all for the collapsed mountain just behind him.
«Come, sit. Have a drink with me. I’ll send you across afterward.»
Though Pei Xiu didn’t know how Xuan Yuan intended to help them bypass a road now completely buried, he didn’t ask.
A man of higher cultivation naturally had his own unfathomable methods.
Noticing that his wife and daughter had also stepped down from the carriage, Pei Xiu paused for a moment, then gestured them over, a thought crossing his mind.
«It is only proper that Your Excellency be introduced. This is my humble wife, of the Yang clan. My son, Pei Hongxuan. And my daughter, Pei Wenyao.»
«Wife, Hongxuan, Wenyao—thank our honored savior for his kindness in saving our lives!»
Pei Hongxuan quickly cupped his hands and bowed. Madam Pei gathered her skirt and curtsied. Little Pei Wenyao, though shy, followed her mother’s lead and gave a bashful salute.
The customs of Great Zhou were rather similar to what Xuan Yuan remembered of the Tang Dynasty. Gender segregation wasn’t particularly strict, and women like Madam Pei and Pei Wenyao could appear freely before men outside the family.
The nearby house guards and retainers all followed suit, cupping fists and bowing in unison. Their gazes toward Xuan Yuan were filled with awe and wonder, mixed with fear and longing.
They had merely been escorting their master to a new post—yet had, midway, encountered a celestial immortal who saved their lives. This was the kind of story they could boast about for a lifetime!
Little Pei Wenyao was still under ten. After bowing, she blinked her big eyes, full of curiosity, and stared at the beautiful young man before her.
«Is Young Master a celestial immortal?»
Xuan Yuan gently shook his head.
«I wouldn’t dare claim to be such.»
Then he lifted his gaze, sweeping it across everyone around him. After a brief pause, he spoke:
«But I can’t let you all stay out in the wind and snow…»
With that, he lightly clapped his hands in front of him—a crisp sound rang out.
Immediately, everyone felt a warm breeze flow over them. The invisible barrier that had kept the wind and snow from Xuan Yuan now expanded, enveloping the entire group.
«Ah! So warm!» Pei Wenyao’s eyes sparkled. She’d been feeling the cold earlier, but now she closed her eyes in contentment and smiled, revealing a dimple.
This miraculous scene sealed the truth in the hearts of the Pei family—even if Xuan Yuan didn’t admit it, to them, he was a celestial immortal.
Pei Xiu’s demeanor grew even more respectful. Though he was a scholar and prided himself on maintaining a rational distance from superstition, claiming not to speak of ghosts and celestials in everyday matters—confronted with something that clearly defied all logic, even he couldn’t keep a calm, secular heart.
«Please, taste the wine. I have something I’d like to ask of Prefect Pei shortly.»
«At your command, immortal master!» Pei Xiu replied, clasping his hands together again—his form of address changing once more, now filled with reverence.
Just as the words left his mouth, he saw Xuan Yuan wave a hand. On the snowy ground in front of his house guards, several wine gourds suddenly appeared out of thin air.
«You’ve all traveled far. Please, drink this wine to warm yourselves.»
As he spoke, Xuan Yuan conjured a translucent, flawless glass goblet from nowhere. Inside, a vivid orange liquid shimmered.
«Little miss, how about you try this? It’s not wine—I think you’ll like it.»
Pei Wenyao had been raised with strict etiquette. She immediately looked to her father, eyes full of hopeful anticipation.
When Pei Xiu gave a slight nod, she beamed, took the glass in both hands, and took a sip.
Her whole face lit up like a lantern.
«It’s sweet!»
Pei Xiu, seeing this, no longer stood in the ceremony. Encountering a celestial on the road—this was a fate-altering blessing. To be personally served divine wine by an immortal—even emperors wouldn’t receive such favor.
The house guards were overjoyed. Though there were only three wine gourds, there was enough for everyone to take a few sips.
In this era, people only drank wine warmed over heat. Yet this celestial brew was chilled—and still, the moment it touched their lips, warmth spread from the belly throughout the body. In no time at all, they were steaming with heat, all cold banished.
«Amazing wine!»
«This is what they call celestial wine, isn’t it?»
«Now I can say I’ve drunk immortal wine too—hahaha!»
Laughter and cheer filled the crowd. Madam Pei sat beside her husband, children at her side. She took the initiative to pour Xuan Yuan a cup, then filled one for her husband as well.
Pei Xiu drank a mouthful of wine, then tasted some of the dishes. Instantly, his senses were flooded with flavor—delicious beyond anything he had ever experienced. No delicacy he’d tasted before could compare.
Xuan Yuan , watching silently, gave an approving nod.
Indeed, this Great Zhou resembled the Tang Dynasty from his memories in many aspects. Even the cuisine was similar. It lacked the various spices and cooking methods that became common during the Song Dynasty, and of course, none of the industrially produced »flavor bombs» like MSG. Yet even with just a few simple dishes, it was enough to amaze a seasoned court official like Pei Xiu.
Still, Pei Xiu was no stranger to the world. He wasn’t a glutton. After just a few bites, he couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer.
«May I ask what instruction the immortal master has for me?»
Xuan Yuan thought for a moment, then asked:
«Prefect Pei—are you headed to Xiangzhou to assume your new post?»
In Great Zhou, the highest level of administrative division was called a Dao, just like in the Tang Dynasty.
Each Dao’s top official held the title of Ancha Shi (Inspector), Caifang Shi (Visiting Inspector), or Guancha Shi (Observer). Due to the vastness of their jurisdiction, these titles were often ceremonial, with little actual power over the local bureaucracy beneath them.
But as history progressed, these titles slowly gained substance, their authority expanding, until they evolved into the mighty figures known as Jiedushi—regional military governors.
The Southern Dao (Shannan East Dao) had jurisdiction over eighteen prefectures, and Xiangzhou was its administrative center.
As incoming Prefect of Xiangzhou, Pei Xiu naturally also held the honorary title of Southern Dao Observer.
«That is correct,» Pei Xiu answered.
«Good,» Xuan Yuan nodded. Then came a bombshell:
«Three days from now, at the sixth ke of the Xu hour (8:30 p.m.), in the village of East Li in Xiangzhou—a dragon will stir beneath the earth. The river embankment will collapse. I urge Prefect Pei to make preparations in advance.»
«R-Really!?»
Pei Xiu’s eyes went wide. His face paled with shock.
«I have said all I came to say. I hope Prefect Pei will place the people above all else. Now, please—proceed.»
As he spoke, Xuan Yuan pointed toward the river beside him.
That winter river, dotted only with a few drifting chunks of ice, suddenly began to exude thick, bone-piercing white mist.
In the blink of an eye, the entire river surface froze over—forming a thick, solid sheet of ice wide and smooth enough for carts and horses to pass with ease.
Pei Xiu stood frozen, staring at the frozen river. When he turned back—
The youth who had sat across from him only moments ago had vanished.
All that remained was the still-steaming table of food and drink.
Pei Xiu’s lips twitched. Slowly, he stood.
Then—facing the place Xuan Yuan had sat—he swept his sleeves, cupped his hands, and gave a deep, ceremonial bow.