Chapter 1 - Waking Up

Yi Cheng woke up early, completely unaware that there would be a bounty on his head before nightfall.

Beside Yi Cheng only Liling Gong, a beautiful maiden of fifteen summers, was already awake in the courtyard of the city lord’s mansion where the Golden Melody troupe was allowed to stay during their visit to Green Tree City. The troupe had been invited by the Mu family to provide the entertainment during a wedding which would bind the junior mistress of their clan together with the junior master of the Futou family. Both families held esteemed positions in Green Tree City and placed great importance on the upcoming wedding.

It was very unusual that Yi Cheng was already out of bed during the hour of the tiger (03-05am). The rest of the troupe would probably not wake up before the hour of the snake (09-11am). The life of actors, musicians and entertainers was mostly lived at night.

“Where are you going this time Yi?” asked Liling Gong as she tended to the animals and the three magical creatures that the troupe possessed. The One-Horned Lion and Three-tailed Horse weren’t very rare, but the Scarlet Fox was the prized possession of the entire troupe. It was capable of using fire element. It was gifted to the troupe by the city lord of Thundercloud City in the past.

Yi Cheng grinned as he said, “Do you really need to ask?”

Liling Gong smiled, “Don’t you dare to get lost again. If you show up late, you know what is coming to you!”

Even though Green Tree City was only a minor city in the Thundercloud Prefecture it was still a city that housed more than three hundred thousand inhabitants. Being unable to return in time for the performance that the troupe was giving later that day during the wedding party would not be strange.

In most cities Yi Cheng would speed towards the marketplace or trade quarters since that is where he would generally be able to come across manuals, magic items or creatures capable of increasing one’s strength. Yi Cheng was considered to be one of the most promising and beautiful actors in the entire prefecture, but what he truly desired was to become a mighty elementalist and follow the path of his dao once he found it. He realized the foolishness of his desire, but he still hoped one day he would be able to purchase something that allowed him to step foot on this path. For now his entire fortune of three gold pieces, fourteen silver and thirty-three coppers, if he had brought it with him, was only enough to buy the most trivial of training manuals. Such manuals were simply insufficient for his grand dreams.

Green Tree City had something more interesting than even the allure of training manuals. The name of the city originated from the extremely large willow that stood in the center of the public park. This willow was different from other ones because its leaves were green year round and the tree had been there long before any humans settled in the area. Even if the entire region would be covered in a thick layer of snow the tree would be in full bloom. Ying Cheng had heard a lot about this tree and was eager to look upon it with his own eyes.

Before he could reach the park he was stopped several times by the city guards, running through the streets at this time was very suspicious to them, but they let him continue on his way after he stated who he was and why he was speeding towards the park. They even helped him in the right direction. Anyone else would probably have been questioned properly, but none of the guards doubted his identity. How could there be other adolescents in Green Tree City with such refinement, such beauty and such eloquence, it could only be Yi Cheng!

When he arrived at the park the hour of the tiger (03-05am) had almost passed and the hour of the rabbit (05-07) was almost starting. During the day the park was quite busy, but at this time it was practically deserted. Only a few daring couples were still hiding in the nooks and crannies of the park, but those would hurry home before the sun would rise.

Guided by the light of the moon which shone down upon him, Yi Cheng walked over the field of grass towards the large tree in the centre of the park that seemed to emanate its own light as the moonlight reflected upon its leaves.

As he came closer to the tree he realized that it stood in the middle of a large yet shallow pond. Few people would chose to cross the pond to reach the tree, but that is exactly what Yi Cheng decided to do. After removing his shoes and lifting his robes beyond his knees he waded through the water, slowly encroaching upon the trunk of the tree which was at least seven meters in diameter.

Yi Cheng who was generally very restless, unable to sit still unless custom or occasion required it of him, felt more and more at ease as he drew closer to the tree. As if his connection to the world was getting stronger and stronger with every step. He hadn’t planned on climbing the tree, but when his palm came in contact with the bark he felt a sudden urge to go up that he wasn’t able to resist.

When he reached half the length of the tree he came across a thick branch which reached further out than most, allowing him to view as far as the edges of the park. The urge to climb had waned and he sat down on the thick branch, leaning against the trunk comfortably.

He let his gaze scour the park for several minutes before turning his eyes upward towards the moon, remembering a famous poem which he was fond of before reciting it, “I long to fly on the wind. Yet dread those crystal towers, those courts of jade. Freezing to death among those icy heights. Instead I rise to dance with my pale shadow.”

After watching his surroundings for a few minutes he pulled out his bamboo dizi (flute) and started playing. Yi Cheng was considered as one of the promising actors of the entire prefect, but his musical skills were incomparably more profound.

Before he could join the Golden Melody Troupe he had to promise his mother to not let anyone hear him play an instrument. She was certain that his talent would invite nothing but trouble!

As he played his dizi all other sounds in the area seemed to stop, it was as if the world itself had held its breath to enjoy the songs played by Yi Cheng. Even though the world held its breath, something inside the heart of the willow awoke.

When the sun started to rise beyond the horizon Yi Cheng stopped playing. Instantly after he stopped playing a radiant green light flew out of the tree and stopped two feet before him. The light was so blinding that Yi Cheng could barely see, the strength of the light was burning his eyes, but it seemed to come out of something very small, at most a few inches in size.

“I never thought I would wake,” said the light with a voice that sounded very feminine to Yi Cheng. “I am lucky to have come across someone capable of waking me this quick!” said the light more enthusiastically.

Yi Cheng responded, “Noble emerald spirit, I humbly ask you to reduce your brilliance, you are as bright as the sun!”

The light replied casually, “Really? My light should only be able to blind ordinary mortals.”

Even though the green spirit had said this, it reduced the output of its aura, revealing something unexpected to Yi Cheng. In front of him there was a naked maiden so beautiful that it was vexing. Her green hair was decorated with countless flowers and reached beyond her waist, her skin was flawless like brilliant jade, her eyes were like two radiant emeralds, her lips were soft and full of secrets, her figure was sculpted by the heavens itself and she was only five cun (inches) tall.

When the tiny maiden noticed that the sun had almost replaced the moon in the sky she panicked. “Not enough time, not enough time,” declared the little creature with a stressed tone present in her voice. “YOU HAVE TO RETURN TONIGHT!” shouted the little creature in a demanding tone before pleading in a far more demure manner, “Promise me that you will return tonight.”

Yi Cheng was dumbfounded but managed to reply sincerely, “I promise! I PROMISE!”

By the time he repeated himself the green light had flown back into the tree at a rapid pace just as the moon vanished from the sky entirely.

After the green light had returned to the tree Yi Cheng needed some time to recover from shock. When he was finally able to piece his mind together he decided it was time to return to the troupe.

When he returned the majority of the company was still asleep, but Liling Gong was no longer the only one awake. He pondered if he should tell anyone about his strange encounter, but decided against it. Anyone willing to believe him should question his own sanity even though he was certain of what he had seen.