In the morning light, a clear, shallow river wound its way from the west around the village entrance, flowing off into the distance.
Several young women sat by the river, chatting as they washed their clothes. In the fields, quite a few villagers were turning the soil or watering crops. Under the large banyan tree in the center of the village, a group of children played while a few old men rolled dry tobacco, chatting amongst themselves while keeping an eye on the youngsters. Smoke rose from the roofs of every household, carrying the fragrant scent of cooking food.
Amidst this peaceful scene, a scholar in a green robe and a girl in a turquoise dress walked in from the western end of the village. The girl had a tiny book basket strapped to her back and a faint leaf-shaped mark upon her forehead.
These two were none other than Li Wangyi and Little Qianjun, who had left Hanshan Academy. On that day, riding the great wind and departing had merely been Li Wangyi's way of teasing the old man. In reality, once they descended the mountain, he still followed the Master's instructions: to read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.
Once they flew past the familiar surroundings of the small town at the foot of the mountain, he dismissed the wind-carriage and led Little Qianjun forward on foot. By today, they had been away from the academy for seven days and had traveled several hundred miles eastward.
Seeing strangers enter the village, the playing children immediately ran over. But when they caught sight of Little Qianjun's unusual appearance, they were instantly frightened and fled, hiding behind their respective grandfathers.
"Young scholar, are you... a Confucian scholar?"
At last, one of the old men—who had ventured out into the wider world in his youth and possessed some experience—recognized Li Wangyi's Confucian scholar attire. He also guessed that Little Qianjun was a domestic little spirit kept by him, rather than some malevolent monster entering the village.
"Yes, elder. May I ask if this is Xiuxia Village, and whether there is a Xiufeng Ridge ahead?"
"Indeed, this is Xiuxia Village. Young master, are you headed for Xiufeng Ridge?"
"Yes, we are going east and need to pass through Xiufeng Ridge."
As soon as Li Wangyi answered, the expressions of all the villagers present—old men and children alike—changed drastically.
"Elder, is something wrong?"
"Young master, you must on no account go to Xiufeng Ridge."
"Why is that?"
"There's a monster! There's a huge monster on Xiufeng Ridge, and it's terrifying—it eats people!" a child blurted out in a rush.
The other children loudly chimed in: "Yes, there's a monster! It has a green face and fangs, and it's terribly scary."
"It has a mouth like a blood basin and can swallow a whole ox in a single bite!"
"If you two walk over there, you'll definitely be eaten together!"
Li Wangyi and Little Qianjun looked at each other in dismay upon hearing this. In the end, they asked the old man from before, "Tell me, elder, is this really true?"
The old man nodded. "It is."
"What kind of monster is it?"
"A peach blossom demon!"
"A peach blossom demon?"
"Right, just a peach blossom demon!" The old man was completely certain.
Li Wangyi and Little Qianjun walked aside to discuss the matter.
"Eldest Senior Brother, I'm a little scared," Little Qianjun said timidly.
Li Wangyi found it rather amusing. "You're a little spirit yourself, and yet you're afraid of monsters?"
"I am scared." Little Qianjun nodded honestly. She was only a frail little blade of grass without a green face, fangs, or a blood-spilling mouth, and she had never descended the mountain before.
"Very well, let me think about it."
After eating breakfast in the village, Li Wangyi ultimately decided to continue toward Xiufeng Ridge. After all, taking a detour would add several dozen miles to their journey.
Xiufeng Ridge lay five miles outside Xiuxia Village. A gradually overgrown horse trail ran across the ridge, leading toward the east. This horse trail had once been an official highway, but for some unknown reason, it had been abandoned. Ever since the peach blossom demon began lingering on the ridge, fewer and fewer people dared to walk it. Many sections were already covered in weeds, interspersed with numerous wild flowers.
Li Wangyi walked among them with casual ease, as if out for a spring outing in the countryside. Little Qianjun, however, tightly clutched the hem of his robe, not daring to stray even for a moment, her large eyes darting from side to side in fear that the peach blossom demon might suddenly leap out. Seeing her nervous state, Li Wangyi smiled without a word, letting her be.
As they walked, the sound of galloping hooves suddenly reached their ears. Looking back, they saw three or four riders galloping rapidly in their direction.
"Whoa—"
Reaching the vicinity of Li Wangyi and Little Qianjun, the lead man reined in his horse and came to a halt. The other three riders stopped as well.
"Young master, are you a scholar of the Confucian Sect?" The man swept his gaze over Li Wangyi and Little Qianjun as he asked.
"I am. Do you have any advice, brother?" Li Wangyi replied, sizing up the other party as well.
The man was in his early thirties, robust and majestic, with a sharp glint in his eyes and a formidable presence—clearly a formidable fourth-realm martial artist of the mortal pugilistic world. Clinging close behind him was a woman in red whose eyebrows and eyes bore a certain resemblance to the leader. Her demeanor was similarly spirited and brisk, with several flying daggers tucked at her waist. The remaining two riders, one lean and one stout, both radiated impressive and extraordinary auras.
All four of them had a badge engraved with the words "Blade-Wielding Monster Slayer" on their chests, indicating they belonged to a team of monster slayers.
Sure enough, as soon as the words fell, the lead man immediately cupped his fists and said, "I am Guo Hengbei, a monster slayers of Hengzhou in Great Wei. These three are my younger sister Nanjun, the swift-blade Wei Lun, and the axe-wielding Feng Gu. Greetings, young master."
The woman in red Guo Nanjun, the swift-blade Wei Lun, and the axe-wielding Feng Gu all cupped their fists in greeting as well.
The Confucian Sect was the foremost of the Three Teachings and Hundred Schools of Thought, and the preeminent school of learning in the world. Aside from its classics and doctrines spreading across the Nine Great Continents, it was also the most formidable fighting force in the entire world. Therefore, seeing that Li Wangyi was truly a Confucian scholar, they were all very polite.
Li Wangyi also returned the bow with a salute. "You are too courteous. Li Wangyi of Hanshan Academy greets you all!"
Upon hearing the name "Hanshan Academy," a trace of strangeness flickered across the faces of Guo Hengbei and his companions, but seeing that he was only in the first realm, their expressions quickly returned to calm. Since he was only in the first realm, he must be from an outer branch of Hanshan Academy rather than one of those cultivation geniuses from the inner peak.
The countries surrounding Hanshan Academy all knew that the proud talents and outstanding figures of its inner peak only descended the mountain to travel and study once they reached the fifth realm, the Traveling Realm.
"Young Master Li, there is a powerful peach blossom demon ahead on Xiufeng Ridge, and it is ruthlessly vicious. Please rest by the roadside and wait for us to exterminate it before crossing the ridge," Guo Hengbei kindly reminded him.
"You are going to subdue the peach blossom demon?"
"Indeed. We have accepted a bounty from the Zhang family young master of Yuyang County, and we are sworn to slay it today to comfort the countless commoners who have suffered from its scourge."
Li Wangyi gave a lazy, casual salute. "Very well, many thanks, Hero Guo."
Guo Hengbei nodded, then spurred his horse and led his monster-slaying team away.
Before long, the lean man, the swift-blade Wei Lun, rode back and handed a bunch of pretty wild flowers to Little Qianjun, smiling as he said, "Little girl, these flowers are for you."
Little Qianjun was momentarily startled, but she still took the flowers with both hands. "Oh, thank you, big brother! My name is Qianjun!"
"What a fine name. Until we meet again in the pugilistic world, Little Qianjun!"
The lean man rode off, kicking up a cloud of dust.
The stout man, the axe-wielding Feng Gu, had also been watching Little Qianjun the entire time. Only when his companion returned did he ride off with him to catch up with the Guo siblings ahead.
***
About three quarters of an hour later, the monster-slaying team finally reached the summit of Xiufeng Ridge. True to its name, the peak was wreathed in white clouds and possessed breathtaking scenery.
Where the white clouds parted, there stood a massive grove of peach trees. In this season, the peach blossoms were in brilliant, glowing bloom, radiant and splendid. Beneath the flowering branches, a pink-robed maiden with a delicate and charming demeanor was bent over, weeding the earth.