Chapter 1, Beggar's Chicken

The man in the river is lying on a round stone, watching that oddly dressed fellow busily collecting scraps, as if he were a robber, stuffing everything valuable and worthless into that peculiar large box

A row of jade plates on the grass, containing lye, soap beans, essence, sandalwood combs, all neatly categorized, with small tags made of black sandalwood, covered with apricot-yellow silk to prevent the accumulation of non-existent dust. The young women have long trained their keen eyesight; in this darkness, if they need lye, they will not mistakenly take soap beans, and if they need towels, they will not take soap beans. Because they all know that if they make a mistake, their lives will be over.

The person in the water gazed with great interest at those on the shore. Their gaze, like that of a skilled artist, traced from the flat chest all the way to the pert hips

Alright

It seemed as if the sky had suddenly opened a seam, revealing a pale interior, and a strong light dazzled the eyes.

Are you a sissy? Do you want to eat Beggar's Chicken?

In the river, the person resting on a round stone, maintaining a pose of propping their chin and smiling in anticipation, watched as the fairy, with her garments fluttering, approached. With her fingertips, she slowly pinched a strand of water grass, folding it once, twice, and three times.

The visitor from beyond the skies has short, disheveled hair and a face marked by black and gray, revealing only a pair of eyes that are not particularly large but sharp. When they leap, their waist exhibits flexibility, and their long legs carve a sharp yet graceful arc.

On the grass, Tai Shi Lan gathered all the clothes and also picked up a few delicate fire starters, carefully studying their usage. Finally, he chose a loose-fitting white robe with a cross collar and put it on himself

The curses had not yet ceased when the crack suddenly closed like a door, squeezing out the person who was angrily shouting from above. A red-glowing arc fell diagonally, heading straight for the Luming River

At night, with neither stars nor moon, the vast sky envelops the spring scenery of the Southern Qi mountains and rivers

The corners of his lips curled into an intriguing arc, and without a care for his unclothed state, he slowly rose from the water

The sound of water splashed loudly, and he lazily stood up—wasn't it just a fall into an embrace? Could it produce any variation? Could it create a legend? ... Could it even result in a beauty that would refresh the ears and eyes of the bibliophiles...

Such delicacy and uniqueness momentarily stunned Taishi Lan, causing her gaze to blur as if suddenly embraced by a pure white cloud.

Indeed, it is very accurate; the person has fallen, yet still tightly grasps the jade plate in hand, and the neatly folded clothes remain undisturbed

Tai Shi Lan sat half-crouched with both hands resting on his knees, deep in thought for three seconds

Before the exclamation had faded, Tai Shi Lan turned over, grabbed a delicate fire starter that had already been placed at hand, waved it in the wind to ignite it, and then raised his hand to strike again.

In the innermost circle, there were no golden-armored guards as if facing a formidable enemy, nor were there shadowy secret guards lurking in the darkness. Instead, there was a group of young women, their laughter soft and melodious, adorned in sheer silk and delicate fabrics, with their hair styled elegantly and their faces blooming like flowers. They rolled up their sleeves, revealing their glistening white arms or legs, busily gathered around the water's edge.

Is it still some unknown treasure in the space-time rift

What is that kid doing

The sky above suddenly brightened.

Southern Qi, located in the southern part of the land, is characterized by gentle mountains and soft waters. This geographical feature is reflected in the distribution of mountains and rivers throughout the country. As one travels further south to Anzhou, the largest city in the southern region of Southern Qi, the terrain becomes increasingly gentle. Outside the city of Anzhou, Luming Mountain rises and falls on the horizon, forming a gentle arc that gradually extends from the bluish-gray city walls, crossing the lush green plains of spring, illuminating a silver jade belt—this is the Luming River.

The grassland was in disarray, and the young women had already scattered in panic. The security here was strict, and no one could approach within three miles. Therefore, the inner circle consisted entirely of weak women who were incapable of even binding a chicken, lacking any combat experience and instinct for defense or alarm. This cannot be blamed on them; who could have imagined that the enemy would descend from the sky

The dark mass of grass stirred slightly

The outermost circle consists of a large group of armored guards on horseback, patrolling from a distant high ridge. Each guard maintains a distance of three feet from one another, their gaze scanning an area of three yards, capable of detecting any sound within a radius of three miles. The slightest rustle of grass, the flutter of birds, the hiding of beasts, the passing of a farmer's flatulence, or the peeking of a lovesick maiden will all be immediately incorporated into the alert and expulsion range.

Amidst the cries of alarm from all directions, as everyone shielded their eyes and sought to evade, he, however, tilted his head back, squinting his inverted gaze reminiscent of the Southern Qi, fixated on that piercing light.

"Damn!" Tai Shilan seemed completely unaware of being watched. With a murmur, he tossed aside the small leather case and rubbed his painfully swollen fingers—what had he just pulled out from the crack? It was astonishingly hot.

Not wanting to conceal it, the sound of the man emerging from the water was very clear in the quiet night. Half-squatting with her back to him, Tai Shilan, who had been secretly listening to his movements, suddenly turned her head.

This person descended from the sky yet remained composed, instantly adapting to the unfamiliar environment. That kind of calmness, along with the nonchalance of playing tricks in front of the host, is truly... shamelessly exuding the demeanor of a great general

However, despite the dizziness, Taishi Lan's brain has always been capable of issuing simultaneous commands. While his eyes feasted on beauty, his hands, which were digging into the ground, moved without hesitation, suddenly raising his hand, "Smack!"

In the center of the circle, there seems to be no movement; the grass is particularly still, with not a single blade stirring in the breeze. A rabbit suddenly leaps over the grassy slope, and with another swift motion, it vanishes into thin air beneath the slope.

At this moment, within a radius of three li around the Luming River, it is divided into three circles

Since we are here, we shall make ourselves comfortable

Only three people remain in the venue: one in the river, one fainted from fear, and one from beyond the skies

At the foot of the hill, there is the sound of water splashing, the light of the water glistening, resembling a string of bright moons. Someone is lazily calling out in the river, their voice deep and enchanting, "Come here."

A glance from the eyes revealed a halo of jade white light, making the dim night seem to brighten. The figure walking bare in the azure water moved with poise and had a serene countenance. With each step, they outlined the most beautiful lines and rhythms of the human form against the contours of the night. One could not feel any ambiguity; rather, it evoked a sense of shame for one's own gaze that felt like a desecration.

The crisp laughter is brighter than the rippling water, as a snow-white long garment flows over jade-like fingertips, resembling a beam of moonlight being bent. Those delicate fingers, maintained daily with sheep oil, are to prevent them from becoming slightly rough like the tips of books, which would damage the intricate patterns woven with silver threads on the fabric.

Thus, no one noticed that on the dark horizon, a sudden streak of deep blue light appeared, swiftly approaching above the Luming River

The Luming River is the ribbon of Luming Mountain, a scenic spot in Anzhou, and a fertile ground for the exquisite writings of poets and scholars. However, it has recently been claimed by someone who asserts that the Luming River possesses the warmth of hot springs without the sulfurous odor typically associated with them; it has the purity of clear water without the narrow confines of a bathtub. Surrounded by mountains, in the quiet of a spring night, with wildflowers swaying and birds perched on slanting branches, it is only in such an ambiance that one can bathe without doing injustice to their pearl-like skin. It has the warmth of hot springs without the sulfurous odor typically associated with them; it has the purity of clear water without the narrow confines of a bathtub. Surrounded by mountains, in the quiet of a spring night, with wildflowers swaying and birds perched on slanting branches, it is only in such an ambiance that one can bathe without doing injustice to their pearl-like skin.

The fire stick came against the wind, a flash of light met a certain important part where the mud and water dripped...

The same face, the same makeup, the same fragrance, the same fall every night

Crossed over!

He smiled, with a hint of interest and a touch of boredom

"In the spring, tonight's incense will be of dahlia fragrance, as the master has instructed. Tomorrow is expected to be a cloudy day, so the scent should be brighter."

Oh, woman

A strangely styled object was pulled out, resembling a box, with a bit of red light still clinging to it. The person was relentless, grabbing the object with one hand while rummaging through the crack with the other, shouting, "Little Chicken? Xiao Ke? Wen Zhen Da | Bo, give it back! How dare you close the door... SHIT!"

The most beautiful maiden holds her garments in a jade plate, while the others smile enviously with pursed lips as they watch her. To be able to serve the master up close is the dream of all the young maidens in Anzhou.

The man in the river suddenly frowned; he felt that the neatly arranged white robe seemed to be somehow amiss, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it at the moment

The orioles sing and the swallows chirp, soft words from the southern land, beautiful women walk barefoot on the grassy meadow, resembling a group of enchanting fox spirits descended to the mortal realm

The person in the river moved a finger, gripping a stone, ready to call out to the strange boy who seemed oblivious to his presence, but then his gaze suddenly sharpened.

Clothing patterns, medieval style, don't say this is for filming—costumes for period dramas are rough and the illustrations in the books are crude. Even an undergarment is made so exquisitely; the production team must be at a loss.

This fellow is not at all unaware of his situation; he is clearly aware that there are guards outside and that he is in the river. He intends to disguise himself as him in order to break through the encirclement.

Without even glancing at the fainted woman, Tai Shilan crouched down, picked up a piece of clothing, examined it for a while, and then gasped in shock.

Amidst the exclamations from all sides, the man in the river remained unhurried, swiftly grasping the girl who was about to fall into his embrace and forcefully lifting her upward.

The person in the river was initially taken aback by her actions, but soon seemed to understand, and a glimmer of insight flashed in their eyes

He was so astonished that his eyes widened significantly

The girl, gracefully stepping forward while holding her garments, appears in the moonlight, silently radiating an aura of beauty, as enchanting as a fairy

The attacked individuals let out exclamations of pain and astonishment

Oh dear! The cry of surprise sounded just as he counted to the third time, and the girl holding the clothes stumbled, her slender waist bending perfectly as she fell into his embrace.

Shut up! Do not disturb the master while bathing

The person seemed to be ejected from the crack by some powerful force, staggering uncontrollably, and was on the verge of falling clumsily. Suddenly, the person reached out and forcefully pulled at the crack, shouting, "Return it to me!"

Looking around, there is a beautiful woman at my feet, shattered jade plates scattered all around, and many exquisite garments that are now torn and show signs of burning. The air carries a faint scent of sulfur from incomplete combustion.

From his physique, he resembles a handsome young man

Charming and enchanting. The dahlia is rich in fragrance, and the outer garment should not be overly perfumed; a subtle scent of the iris will suffice

His slightly raised eyes narrowed, and the light within them was less one of interest than of danger

Are there people who dare to take his belongings

A clump of already dug-up mud shot out from her hand, tracing a dark arc, precisely and neatly, striking the ... golden ratio.

Wherever you go, it all comes down to one word—live

meteorite

Within three seconds, she reminisced about the research institute, mourned the pet Yaoji from mhetushucom.com, recalled three close friends, and then it was over

There will be a late-night meal tonight

The brightest point is also the darkest; the outline of that intense light tears through the horizon, as if the heavens suddenly opened their deep-set eyes. Immediately, from that dark blue opening, a person suddenly falls out.

Tai Shi Lan straightened up, stepped over the woman on the ground, and casually grabbed a piece of clothing. She tore it open and fashioned it into a simple bag. The clothing was short and wide, made of exquisite and smooth material, and its design seemed somewhat familiar. Of course, Tai Shi Lan did not concern herself with such trivial matters; she focused solely on gathering the fragments of jade, gold, and so on, tossing them into the bag. She then placed the bag into her half-empty small leather suitcase. Next to the suitcase lay an inconspicuous gray-black stone, which felt slightly warm when she picked it up. She thought for a moment, recalling that before she fell, when she grabbed the suitcase from the crevice, she seemed to have brought something out from the crevice as well. Could this be it? She placed the bag into her half-empty small leather suitcase. Next to the suitcase lay an inconspicuous gray-black stone, which felt slightly warm when she picked it up. She thought for a moment, recalling that before she fell, when she grabbed the suitcase from the crevice, she seemed to have brought something out from the crevice as well. Could this be it?

She threw the stone into the box, and with a bang, it broke the PSP. Tai Shilan shrugged without a hint of remorse—here, the PSP was nothing but waste plastic, less useful than a piece of cake.

The last person who took his belongings has turned to dust... Oh no, there are no ashes.

Burn these clothes when they fall, this is the thing that burned your palm, right? Unknown objects are often dangerous, but they also represent immense potential value, so it might be better to keep them for now

With a dull thud, two bodies collided in mid-air and fell to the ground. The girl's startled cry and the sound of the jade plate shattering echoed. Faintly, a hissing sound was heard, and a subtle scent of charred material spread through the air. The fallen individual muttered under their breath, "Damn it!" and quickly scrambled to their feet.

The inner garment should be made of Huainan silk satin, and do not use Biroge, as it is coarse

Tai Shi Lan donned a white robe and rummaged through the unconscious woman's belongings, finding a box of rouge. He applied it all over his own clothes, the creamy rouge sticky and vivid like blood, making him appear instantly splattered with blood.

Three ... ... Two. ... ... ... One ... ! ... Slip !

If you are beautiful, then it means you are dull