A small alley, the bluestone slabs on the ground reflected wisps of green light under the moonlight.
Deep in the alley, a man in his early thirties was half-lying by the wall. Seven or eight wine gourds lay askew in front of him, from which came sounds of snoring.
However, as the alley was quite deep, the sound was surprisingly pleasant.
Dawn broke, the sky began to lighten.
"Burp..." With a belch, the middle-aged man staggered to his feet. His steps swayed as he walked forward, and a crisp clinking sound came from behind him.
"Oh, to encounter this drunkard so early in the morning, what bad luck!" A middle-aged woman carrying a basket of vegetables saw the swaying man approaching and immediately covered her nose, skillfully rerouting her path with a look of disgust.
"A drink today, worry not about tomorrow. Burp... Haha..." The middle-aged man seemed accustomed to this, let out two loud laughs, and slowly disappeared onto the street.
Day after day, year after year.
The middle-aged man appeared daily, always in a state of utter intoxication.
Winter was fast approaching; it was already deep winter.
"Strange, why haven't I seen that drunkard for several days?"
"He's probably passed out drunk somewhere again. Why bother worrying about a drunkard who does nothing all day?"
"He's still one of our town's people, after all. He hasn't been seen for three or four days. Could something have happened?"
"..."
On the fifth day, a foul odor wafted from the alley. The middle-aged woman passing by frowned slightly, then couldn't help but peek into the alley.
"Oh, heavens! This drunkard has drunk himself to death."
The middle-aged woman's eyes widened. The middle-aged man, who had not appeared for several days, was lying askew in a corner deep within the alley.
Several rats were already gnawing at his body.
Although the early market was sparsely populated, it wasn't entirely deserted.
Coupled with the middle-aged woman's loud exclamation, it quickly attracted four or five scattered individuals.
"What a waste, dying in his early thirties. He probably got drunk and couldn't withstand the cold night, so he froze to death," said a vendor carrying a basket of vegetables, glancing at the scene.
"Isn't that the truth? In this cold weather, what was he thinking? Alas, he was one of our townsfolk. With his death, the Li family's lineage is broken," said an old man with a regretful tone.
"Ever since his wife, Madam Yue, died of leprosy, he's been like this. Alas, perhaps death is a release. We are all neighbors; we can't just leave him to be exposed here. Young Liu, you're younger, please be so kind as to invite the Town Guardian to come over," a wise old woman sighed regretfully. Looking at the vegetable vendor, she continued.
"Certainly, it's the least I can do. Wang Auntie, I'll have to trouble you to keep an eye on these two baskets of vegetables for me." The vegetable vendor immediately nodded and quickly ran towards the main street.
...
In the Yan Hui Kingdom, the Li Manor.
The two snow-white seals on the gate were particularly conspicuous.
"General Li led the army to the border to resist the Liao army for three years, only to suffer a crushing defeat. It is said that General Li, who had a heroic life and distinguished service, was stripped of his official post and held accountable for this single loss. Can the realm still be at peace?"
"Corrupt officials are in power, and the emperor is incompetent. The chaos in our Yan Hui Kingdom is not something General Li alone can reverse. I fear our Yan Hui Kingdom cannot hold on for much longer."
"The Li family army was disciplined and invincible. This loss was solely due to the delayed supply of provisions for the follow-up troops. Yet, the blame was placed on General Li and the Li family army. These treacherous villains are truly detestable!"
In front of the gates of the Li Manor, numerous commoners looked at the guards stationed there and spoke with heartfelt sorrow.
In the main hall of the Yan Hui Kingdom's government, a middle-aged man in dragon robes leaned on his imperial couch. Two old men stood to his left and right below the hall.
And along the sides of the hall, dozens of guards stood holding spears and blades.
Everyone's gaze was fixed on the man kneeling in the hall, some with schadenfreude, others with sympathetic helplessness.
"Li Guangfei, for the loss of the border and the displacement and death of countless people in our Yan Hui Kingdom, as the commander of this army, do you know your crime?" the old man on the left sternly rebuked.
"I do not know what crime Prime Minister Qin wishes to convict this general of?" Li Guangfei looked directly at the old man on the left, his gaze so piercing that the old man was momentarily speechless.
"How dare you, Li Guangfei! Firstly, the border was lost, leading to the displacement and numerous deaths of civilians. Secondly, you disregarded three imperial decrees to return to court and insisted on assassinating the third prince of Liao. If not for the death of that third prince, would our Yan Hui Kingdom have had to cede five cities!" the old man on the right exclaimed upon seeing this.
"This general was ordered to campaign against the Liao army. Had it not been for insufficient military supplies, how could I have failed? If Prime Minister Qin and Prime Minister Hui's promised reinforcements had arrived, would those civilians have died in vain?"
"As for the decree, at that time, this general made the only possible judgment. Moreover, a general in the field is not bound by the emperor's orders. Does Prime Minister Hui not even know this?" Li Guangfei snorted coldly.
"How dare you, Li Guangfei, try to shift the blame onto us! After you set out on your campaign, the Liao country sent a letter stating they would withdraw their troops, yet you obstinately killed the third prince of Liao. You did not even obey the emperor's decree. Do you truly think you are too powerful for the throne?" Prime Minister Qin rebuked sternly.
"Withdraw their troops? If they sent a letter after this general set out, why was the city filled with the stench of corpses when I arrived? If you wish to accuse me, why do you need an excuse!" Li Guangfei said coldly.
"You speak falsehoods! Your Majesty, this Li Guangfei refuses to admit guilt, which is truly detestable. I implore Your Majesty to preside over the situation and console the souls of the innocent who have died!" Prime Minister Qin immediately turned and spoke to the man on the imperial couch.
"I request Your Majesty to uphold justice!" Prime Minister Hui also bowed and said.
"What do my two esteemed ministers consider an appropriate punishment?" The man on the imperial couch slightly opened his sleepy eyes, glanced at Li Guangfei, and then directly asked the two old men.
"Your humble servant believes that Li Guangfei, relying on his past merits and disobeying decrees, coupled with the loss of this campaign that led to the displacement and numerous deaths of civilians, his crime is unforgivable and he should be executed!" Prime Minister Qin and Prime Minister Hui exchanged glances, their eyes chilling slightly.
"Your humble servant concurs!" Prime Minister Hui immediately seconded.
"Then it shall be as my two esteemed ministers suggest. Tomorrow at noon, you two ministers shall preside over the execution." The man on the imperial couch nodded.
...
Bai Yang Sect, an ordinary sect.
"Quick, look, Li Buli is about to attempt the breakthrough again." A loud laugh rang out, immediately drawing jeers.
Under everyone's gaze, a man in his early twenties, his face flushed red, glared at the crowd before plunging into the waterfall.
"One, two, three..."
BOOM!
Everyone counted in unison. As soon as the word "three" fell, a rumbling sound erupted, and a figure was quickly ejected. This person was the man who had just rushed into the waterfall.
"Hahahaha, I knew it! Li Buli will only ever remain in the Qi Refining realm." As Li Buli emerged, the man who had spoken earlier burst into laughter.
"I say, Li Buli, you've been at our Bai Yang Sect for ten years, and you still can't reach the second level. If I were you, I'd find a piece of tofu and smash myself to death."
"Master too, why keep this good-for-nothing in the sect? He's a waste of resources, not to mention food."
"Who told you that Li Buli cooks, fetches water, and washes clothes for Master every day? Even if Master has reservations, it's not easy for him to ask him to leave."
"Hahahaha..."
Amidst the laughter of the crowd, a faint mist of tears welled up in Li Buli's eyes. However, he endured the intense pain in his body, gritted his teeth, stood up, and walked away.
Ten years later, outside the waterfall.
"Master, do I truly have no talent for cultivation?" Li Buli, having fallen into the pool again, looked somewhat lost.
"Cultivation is like doing anything else. You repeat the same task every day, without haste or impatience, in an orderly fashion. One day, when you find that you can complete this task with ease, even with your eyes closed, you will be able to elevate yourself further."
"Cultivation is the same. Although you are still at the first level, as long as you persevere, there will be a day of success."
As soon as Li Buli finished speaking, a figure slowly appeared behind him.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master. Your disciple remembers." Li Buli immediately turned and bowed upon hearing this.
...
In the void, Dan Wushuang slowly opened his eyes.
"This foolish child, it's no wonder his consciousness is scattered; he actually divided his consciousness and entered an infinite loop space. However, thankfully, his bloodline power is strong enough to maintain the repair progress of his soul."
"It seems that to awaken his consciousness, I can only let him continue. But I must alter this dream space."
Dan Wushuang murmured to himself, then pressed his finger again and disappeared.
In the alley, on a winter night.
A figure slowly appeared, looked at the drunkard before him, flicked his finger, and then disappeared again.
"At this late hour, I need to eat glutinous rice cakes! This damned woman, always causing trouble!" A yawning voice rang out, followed by a figure approaching the alley entrance.
The figure glanced around before running into the alley and unbuckling his belt. "If I weren't so desperate to pee, I wouldn't bother with you, you damned woman."
"Ah... that feels good." The figure pulled up his pants, and his gaze fell upon the drunkard on the ground.
"Sleeping here in this cold weather, aren't you afraid of freezing to death?" The figure muttered, then kicked the drunkard with his foot. "Hey, drunkard, let's go drink. Drunkard, drunkard?"
"If it weren't for your plight, I wouldn't bother with you. This woodshed, you can live here for now." Fifteen minutes later, after being thrown onto a pile of hay, the drunkard gradually began to breathe.
...
"I implore Your Majesty to uphold the situation and show fairness!" The two old men finished speaking, both bowing with clasped fists and looking at the man on the imperial couch.
"General Li fought for our Yan Hui Kingdom with his life and achieved great military successes. If it weren't for the two of you delaying military affairs this time, how would our Yan Hui Kingdom have ceded five cities?"
"If we are to assign blame, you two deserve death! Guards, take them down! Tomorrow at noon, they shall be executed at the Famen Temple!"
The man on the imperial couch slowly sat up, his eyes flashing with a dazzling brilliance. In a flash, he issued the order.
"General Li, you have been wronged. For these years, Prime Minister Qin and Prime Minister Hui have controlled the court. If I hadn't found leverage this time, I truly wouldn't have known how to eliminate these two."
As the two old men were led away by guards who had been lying in wait, the man on the imperial couch quickly walked up to Li Guangfei and helped him to his feet.
"To share Your Majesty's burdens is my duty!" Li Guangfei bowed in response.
"Good, very good. General Li, I appoint you as the Grand General, to lead the three armies, reclaim our Yan Hui Kingdom's cities, and avenge those innocent souls who died. Can you accomplish this?" the middle-aged man nodded.
"Your subject shall complete the mission even unto death!" Li Guangfei replied with a straight posture.
...
Bai Yang Sect, outside the waterfall.
"One, two, three, four... ten, eleven... What's going on? Li Buli hasn't come out yet?" The crowd, initially full of mockery, gradually lost its smiles as they counted.
Li Buli had actually endured in the waterfall for so long. It was worth noting that only a handful of them could last more than ten seconds.
"It's already been a minute..." a man in white robes stammered.
"Master has arrived!" a sharp-eyed man shouted upon seeing him.
"Greetings, Master." Everyone bowed in unison upon seeing him.
"How long has Li Buli been inside?" the old man asked, nodding slightly.
"Replying to Master, it's been two minutes..." the disciple who had been counting swallowed nervously.
"It seems our Bai Yang Sect is about to have an extraordinary disciple." The old man nodded with satisfaction, his face filled with joy.
Five minutes passed, and the waterfall began to thin. In a short while, the waterfall actually flowed backward. A figure slowly appeared in everyone's eyes.
"It's Li Buli!"
"Such powerful momentum! He, he actually broke through to the fifth level in one go!"
"What happened? How did he do it?"
...
In the void, Dan Wushuang's face turned slightly pale. After glancing at Li Fan in front of him, he rapidly formed seals with his hands.
Then, streaks of hand seals shot into Li Fan's body. His complexion, which had already regained its color, now became even more rosy.
Having done all this, Dan Wushuang's eyes widened, and he shouted, "If not now, when will you awaken!"