Falling in Love with a 500-year-old female elder - Chapter 10

Chapter 10: Storytelling Resumes! Anxious Listeners!

Time passed swiftly, leaving no trace behind. The large, round full moon cast a bright glow in the sky while a gentle evening breeze rustled through the mountain forest, enveloping it in silence.

Beneath the light of the full moon a young girl was perched on the trunk of a tall tree. A red umbrella rested in one hand while the book in the other. She was immersed in its pages; her Her legs, delicate lotus-like legs, swayed gently in the air.

“Era of the Fall of the  Emperor, Era of Immortals, Era of Chaos…”

“Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, Three Thousand Worlds, Eight Mortal Domains…”

“Desolate Territory, The Stone Kingdom, King Wu’s Palace….”

“Shi Yi, born with double pupils…”

“Shi Hao, gifted with supernatural power…”

Suddenly, the girl burst into a peculiar laughter, seemingly finding the story utterly fascinating.

“How intriguing!” she exclaimed.

She finished reading, swiftly arriving at the page that marked the end of the main text. Thereafter, additional detailed essays followed, offering deeper insights into the script. On the first day of storytelling at the Seven Blessings Inn, Ning Chuan, the creator had also included sharp remarks to Jiang Chenfeng.

Poring over the text, she noted, “Well, one of them… seems to be talking about me.” As she mused, she furrowed her slender brows, her gaze in the direction of  Lin’an City. A glint flitted past her eyes, hinting at profound thoughts.

In a flash, a decision seemed to crystalize within her. With a gentle movement, she wiped the bloodstains off the cover of the “Biography of the Emperor of Heaven”  and carefully tucked it  into her bosom. Then, she joyfully leapt off the tree trunk.

Amidst the stillness of the night, a red paper umbrella in hand, she gleefully skipped towards Lin’an City,  like a carefree child.

“Hehehehe, Ning Chuan, here I come,” she declared.

Her figure, the red umbrella in tow, disappeared into the distance, leaving behind eerie echoes of her peculiar laughter  through the silent forest.

……

As the sky brightened, a new day dawned, gently illuminating the world with sunlight.

The Seven Blessings Inn in Lin’an City buzzed with activity, its third floor packed with eager listeners. On the elevated platform, crowds gathered in anticipation.

Outside the inn, there were even more people squeezing in. The rich simply spent thousands of tales of gold and grabbed a VIP seat.

“Mr. Ning, the sun’s roasting our backs! Come out and continue the story!”

“Hey, Mr. Ning, I’ve waited three days! My patience is wearing thin!”

“Three days…! Do you even know how I spent them?!”

“Mr. Ning, I can hardly eat or drink, consumed by eagerness for your next chapter!”

“The first day, longing for Mr. Ning… the second day, longing for Mr. Ning…”

“Your pacing’s torturous! Continue the story already!”

“Mr. Ning, if this tale stalls, expect blades in the mail!”

“Mr. Ning! See this money ticket? Story or shreds, you decide!”

“One chapter every three days? Underestimating us this much? Give us three a day!”

Early morning saw the Seven Blessings Inn teeming with life, a vibrant hubbub pervading its halls.

Countless listeners yelled upstairs.

“Narrating once in three days is indeed a bit slow, and Mr. Ning ought to be scolded for that.”

Amidst the clamor, from their window-side seats, Nan Xiyue and Elder Fei Long exchanged knowing smiles.

Right in the midst of the commotion, a distinct sound rang through the inn…

CREAKKKKK

Silence swept across the establishment as all heads turned towards the door.

And there he stood Ning Chuan – Garbed in a moon-white gown,a cup of steaming tea in one hand, a white paper fan in the other, he descended from the stairs like an immortal.

“Apologies, dear guests, for the delay!”

A smile graced Ning Chuan’s lips as his eyes swept across the inn, greeting every assembled soul with warmth.

Mesmerized by his charming gaze, the restlessness waned, replaced by an anticipatory hush.

“Mr. Ning, no more suspense! Get on with it!”

“What transpired on that day?”

“Ning, seriously, you left us hanging!”

“I thought the story ended – don’t scare us like that!”

“Enough with the complaints! Continue, Ning!”

“Keep the tale going, Ning, or I’ll start tearing this money ticket!”

“One chapter every three days? You underestimate our craving!”

With patience fraying, Ning Chuan,, quipped, albeit a tad  sheepish, “Just a tea break, folks. Stay calm.”

A clearing of the throat, and a snap of his fan…

“Let’s continue  the story!

[“In the Stone Kingdom, in King Wu’s palace , two children were born.

“One child was blessed with double eyelids reminiscent of ancient saints and was named Shi Yi. His exceptional talents awed many.

“The other, Shi Hao, possessed divine strength and was equally remarkable.

“Though Shi Hao’s talent didn’t match Shi Yi’s, he was still outstanding. Appointed as Shi Yi’s right-hand man by King Wu’s Palace, he aided him in his grand mission.

“This remarkable tale spread through the Stone Kingdom – two Heavenly Prides, kin destined to shine.”

“Shi Yi and Shi Hao came to be known as twin stars across the Stone Kingdom. The elders wished they had a deep bond, and hence nurtured their friendship since childhood.  Alas, their personalities clashed, impeding them from walking the same path.

“Shi Yi, calm and introverted, devoted to cultivation, radiated an unapproachable aura. Truly, the Son of Heaven. Shi Hao, carefree and playful, treated all as equals. And yet, despite their differences, harmony prevailed.

“Until that fateful day…”].

As Ning Chuan paused for a sip of tea, the audience were left to dry in anticipation

Everybody who was listening with ecstasy suddenly became anxious.

“Say it! Keep talking!”

“What happened that day?”

“Ouch, master, my Ning, why did you break at such a critical time… Ah!”

“Mr. Ning’s pause scared me! I almost thought the story was over!”

“WTF… Forget it, don’t scold. Mr. Ning, you can continue talking quickly!”

“Come on, what really changed that day?”

“I’m so anxious!”

“He suddenly stopped at this moment. WTF, I really want to hit someone. Who will let me punch you?”

Faced with a hall of dissatisfied listeners, even if a little abashed, Ning Chuan remained unperturbed on the surface. With  a dry smile he reassured, “A brief sip, friends. Patience, please.”

Then, he cleared his throat and continued with gusto.

“Let’s delve into that day.

[“Shi Hao’s parents, Shi Ziling and his wife were tasked with finding the vanished Fifteenth Master of King Wu’s palace. As for Shi Hao, the little boy was left under Shi Yi’s mother, Yu Shi’s care. She was Shi Ziling’s eldest sister-in-law and had been by Little Shi Hao’s side ever since he was born. The little boy followed her around all day, calling her ‘auntie’. This was why Master Shi and his wife were naturally relieved to entrust their son to her.

“Having settled everything, Master Shi and his wife left the palace with a peaceful mind and went to the battlefield alongside hundreds of clans to look for the disappeared Fifteenth Master of King Wu’s palace.

“As for the little one, Shi Hao, he was just handed over to Yu Shi. All of this was originally not a problem until one day. Shi Yi’s talent for the Immortal Pupils soared, and he possessed the ability to see through all illusions.

“Relying on Immortal Eyelids , Shi Yi discovered that in the body of the little boy Shi Hao, there is actually a thing that is not inferior to the double pupil!”

“That heaven-defying thing can even change one’s fate, achieving the Supreme Being of Mortals!”

“At this point, a big change has finally begun…”].

……