Chapter 001: The Distress of the Golden Dragon

My name is Yan Ziyao, and from now on, you shall call me Master Ziyao. The woman in white did not refuse; instead, she happily accepted him.

In a moment, a pound of Drunken Immortal Green was completely consumed by Yan Ziyao. She tossed the bottle to the ground and let out a long, comfortable sigh.

Hmm? Three... three... Yan Ziyao clumsily extended her finger to count, "Isn't this ten years?"

Master Ziyao, your wine... Golden Dragon knelt down obediently on the ground, presenting the wine before Yan Ziyao.

The master once said, those who focus solely on cultivating their qi cannot become good alchemists, and those who concentrate only on martial training cannot become good martial instructors. To learn the art of mutual forgetting, one must draw connections across various disciplines, using the strengths of many to compensate for one's own weaknesses

Uh, this... Huang's father glanced at that corner with guilt, "How would I know how many helpers your mother hired? I only take care of the kitchen. Ah, I will go back to the kitchen to check now." Having said this, he awkwardly lowered his head and slipped into the backyard.

The departure of Mr. and Mrs. Huang instantly restored silence to the Yanque Tower. The noise from earlier still echoed in Huang Jinlong's ears as he took the one pound of Zui Xian Bi from the hands of his associate, Wang Er, suddenly overwhelmed by an impulse to break the seal of the wine and drink it all in one go

"Have I ever mentioned this to you? Hmm, at that time I must have thought you were a person of great potential..." Yan Ziyao murmured while scratching her chin

Son, are you just going to watch your mother being bullied without saying anything

Ah, brother, did you also happen to be born in the wrong body like me?" Huang Erdi asked in surprise

"Enough, enough, let's all say a little less. Oh dear!" The noise from the argument was so loud that it nearly made Huang Jinlong's ears bleed. He could only cover his ears and walk over to the middle-aged woman, whispering, "Mother, the Tofu Beauty, Wei A-niang, is not a woman; how could she possibly be my father's second wife?"

Brother, do you still not understand me? I am a mistake made by heaven, born into the wrong body, endowed with a heart as fluid as water, yet forced to wear a shell of earth. This attire of a lady is my attempt to reclaim my true self. I ask for nothing more than for you to understand my plight. " Huang Erdi gently pointed to the dimples on her face with her finger, speaking sorrowfully.

"Disciple, has the wine arrived?" Today, Yan Ziyao still appeared disheveled, her clothing the same piece that Huang Jinlong had washed for her last month, now turned gray. Inside the simple dwelling she occupied, cobwebs were thick, cockroaches scurried about, and the sound of mice chirped, creating a scene of utter filth and disorder. The only clean thing in the entire room was likely Yan Ziyao's own skin. Huang Jinlong found this curious; regardless of how dirty and chaotic the environment was, Yan Ziyao's skin always shone as if new. Perhaps this was the reason she was indifferent to her surroundings. The only clean thing in the entire room was likely Yan Ziyao's own skin. Huang Jinlong found this curious; regardless of how dirty and chaotic the environment was, Yan Ziyao's skin always shone as if new. Perhaps this was the reason she was indifferent to her surroundings.

Um, the masters of forgetting each other are divided into refining masters and military masters. The refining masters are further divided into external refining masters and internal refining masters. The military masters are divided into long-range military masters and close-range military masters. The external refining masters include boxing masters, while the internal refining masters are categorized into five elements masters, yin-yang masters, and sword control masters. The long-range military masters are divided into control masters and flying device masters, while the close-range military masters are categorized into five forms: knives, swords, staffs, spears, and whips. The five elements masters are divided into... The Golden Dragon was about to continue speaking at length, but was interrupted by Yan Ziyao raising her hand. The five elements masters are divided into... The Golden Dragon was about to continue speaking at length, but was interrupted by Yan Ziyao raising her hand.

Yan Ziyao grabbed the wine bottle, tore off the seal, and began to drink heartily.

"Huang Dasha, are you here to bring wine to your master again?" The sharp voice of the waiter pierced the ears of the young man, making him feel particularly annoyed

Son, do you think your father is wronged or not

Cough, cough, what is this? Even after scolding him like that, he still won't clarify the situation, truly. Huang's mother immediately lost her temper, merely glared at Huang's father, and hurriedly took a few steps upstairs to hide away.

"You are mistaken. You once told me that the greatest taboo in practice is to train in a dull manner. One must first cultivate an interest, then understand the origins and principles of the techniques, and have a clear vision of the future prospects of the art. Only then can one devote oneself to diligent practice, complemented by diverse experiences, to ultimately achieve mastery of the craft," said Huang Jinlong.

I, at Yanque Tower, am better off without you; you may seek a better opportunity elsewhere, feel free

His name is Huang Jinlong, the young master of Yanque Tower, aged fifteen. People in the tavern call him Young Master Huang. He has a gentle and amiable round face, small yet bright eyes, and when he smiles, his cheeks rise, his eyes squint into a narrow slit, and the corners of his mouth curve into a perfect arc, giving a warm impression as if there is always a reason to be happy even if the sky were to fall. However, at this moment, he clearly does not have the mood to smile.

Holding a half-open wine bottle, Huang Jinlong walked with uneven steps up Liu Hua Mountain near Penzhou. Liu Hua Mountain is nestled within the embrace of the Lotus Mountain Range in the northern region, boasting a rare humid climate for the north, and is known as the "Little Jiangnan of the Frontier." The mountain is lush with dense forests and diverse tree species, adorned with blooming flowers throughout the four seasons, and teeming with various birds and animals, making it an excellent place for retreat and leisure. During the summer and autumn seasons, the local aristocracy of Penzhou often organizes grand mountain excursions, adding a touch of charm to life in Penzhou.

"Alright, let me ask you again, do alchemists specialize in cultivating Qi, and do military masters specialize in training soldiers?" Yan Ziyao inquired

The capacity of the human brain is limited; what is the point of remembering trivial matters and *illustrations*? At this point, Yan Ziyao suddenly noticed the small mouse in her hand, startled, and quickly loosened her grip, tossing it aside

I was born into the wrong family

Master, you should still remember that you said you would formally teach me the art of mutual forgetting today, right?" Huang Jinlong asked, trembling with fear.

Master Ziyao, I am doing several things together

A middle-aged woman, still possessing charm, descended the stairs with a fierce demeanor, wearing an apron and rolling up her sleeves. Following her was a gray-haired man, his face flushed with anger, who shouted after her: "Go ahead and make a scene, let everyone hear. I have indeed had an affair with the tofu vendor, so what? Weren't you once flirting with the second manager of the Yanque Building? You can criticize others, but not yourself. Let everyone hear. I have indeed had an affair with the tofu vendor, so what? Weren't you once flirting with the second manager of the Yanque Building? You can criticize others, but not yourself. Son, you’ve come at the right time; you can help settle this. With your father's skills, who wouldn't thrive in marriage? Have I wasted my skills at the Yanque Building?"

The speaker is a young girl dressed in a pale pink lady's outfit, her face adorned with pure white powder as white as snow. All the eyebrows above her eyes have been shaved off, leaving only two faintly drawn eyebrow points.

I would rather leave, whether it be running away from home or becoming a monk, than stay here listening to your incessant chatter

"Of course, Lady Wei, you should know this by the name. Think about our second child’s situation; Father treats him with kindness and affection, which is also a reflection of his love for the family. Why are you getting upset here for no reason?" Huang Jinlong said with a pained expression

Oh... Yan Ziyao picked up a passing mouse from the ground and held it in her palm, playing with it. "Come, tell Master, how many types of mutual forgetting are there in the teachings?"

"Uh, Master Ziyao and Father Tushu, we have been master and apprentice for three years, not ten years," said Huang Jinlong

"Hey, you foul woman, if you have the guts, don't leave. Today, let's clear everything up!" Huang's father, having gained the upper hand, immediately became imposing.

"Stop the nonsense, quickly serve me a pound of Drunken Immortal Green," said Golden Dragon, closing his small eyelids and speaking in a carefree manner.

"Oh, it's only been three years..." Yan Ziyao said, waving her hand vigorously

"Master Ziyao, please do not use the word 'only'. I have adhered to the rules you set: three years of washing clothes, three years of gathering firewood, three years of sweeping the floor, and one year of running errands and doing miscellaneous tasks. I have done everything to the best of my ability." Huang Jinlong said in fright

Elder brother, you are truly impressive; with just a few words, you have made our parents compliant. Tell me honestly, does father know that Wei A-niang is a man?

With a sharp pop, the golden dragon lifted his hand to remove the seal from the wine, raised the bottle, and took several hearty swigs. Shaking his head vigorously, he sighed deeply and said, "In fact, I am just like you."

Thus, he seized the only opportunity available, rushed in front of the woman in white, and bowed his head in reverence, hoping that she would accept him as her disciple

Xiaolong, you have come at the right time. Come and reason with your mother; do you think your father is being shameless? He actually dares to flirt with the tofu vendor, Wei A-niang, across the street. I am not dead yet, and he is already making arrangements to find a second wife. If I were to die, wouldn't this Yanque Tower be ruined by that vixen? Huang Cainu, let me tell you, don't think that I am unwanted; if it weren't for you relentlessly pursuing and blocking me back then, I might have married someone much better. A sharp and piercing voice came down from the second floor of Yanque Tower, causing Huang Jinlong's ears to ache painfully. Huang Cainu, let me tell you, don't think that I am unwanted; if it weren't for you relentlessly pursuing and blocking me back then, I might have married someone much better. A sharp and piercing voice came down from the second floor of Yanque Tower, causing Huang Jinlong's ears to ache painfully.

"Second brother, how many times have I told you not to dress like this? How will you let our parents go out to find a match for you in the future?" Huang Jinlong said, pressing his head, feeling a headache.

Three years ago, he met his master, a hermit known as the Forgetting Master. He identified her as such because she appeared to be in her thirties, yet also seemed to be around fifty, while her manner of speaking conveyed the innocence of a twenty-year-old girl. Possessing knowledge and skills beyond that of ordinary people, unbound by worldly laws and trivial formalities, her age remained unchanged by the dust of the world—these are characteristics unique to the Forgetting Master. In the heart of Huang Jinlong, the Forgetting Master represented a transcendent freedom from the mundane world, a hope that could liberate him from the constraints of reality. For many years, he had dreamed of finding a master who could guide him to comprehend the ultimate truth, yet he had never had the opportunity until that fateful day three years ago.

I would rather eat excrement than eat braised pork here

At that time, he did not know that this was merely the beginning of his three years of hard labor

Ah? Is that so? The middle-aged woman was taken aback

"Master, have you forgotten the past again?" The Golden Dragon was taken aback.

Father, the second shopkeeper has been dead for nearly ten years, why do you still hold on to it? His son is still working in the tavern, you see him every day, so when you argue, don't drag him into it.

"Disciple, how long have we been master and apprentice? Has it been ten years yet?" Yan Ziyao asked, stifling a burp.

No one wants you to be a monk; can you endure a day without eating meat

"Diligently practicing is the most important thing, isn't it?" Yan Ziyao asked sternly again