Becoming a martial arts god starting from the mortician.

Lunar New Year's eve.

The mortuary is also closed.

Shen Qi finished practicing a set of Tiger-Taming Fist in the backyard.

As he finished his practice, his blood and qi surged, and heat rose from the top of his head, condensing into a wisp of pale white mist in the cold morning air. He flexed his wrists a couple of times, walked to the well, drew half a bucket of water, wrung out a coarse cloth, and wiped his face and neck. The well water was icy cold, but when it touched his skin, the surging blood and qi within him instantly warmed it, preventing him from even shivering.

After wiping himself down, Shen Qi changed into a clean blue cotton robe, tucking the hem into his belt neatly.

The courtyard gate was pushed open from the outside.

Zhao Youtian peeked in, wearing a newly starched maroon cotton-padded jacket. Although it wasn't made of any particularly fine material, it was starched perfectly, and even the buttons were polished to a shine. His round face was full of smiles, and he was carrying two strings of red firecrackers in his hand.

"Seventh Brother, Happy New Year!" Zhao Youtian greeted him with a bow and a cheerful smile. "It's New Year's Eve today, and there's nothing to do at the mortuary. I was thinking you'd be all alone in this backyard, while your wife's been up and about since dawn, preparing all the food and drinks. How about we come over to your place for a meal?"

Shen Qi draped the cloth over the wooden frame and shook his head slightly.

"Thank you for your kindness, brother. However, I already made an appointment with Lord Zhou a few days ago to spend New Year's Eve at his residence."

Upon hearing that it was Zhou Wenyuan, Zhao Youtian nodded repeatedly.

"Of course, of course. Lord Zhou is exceptionally good to Seventh Brother, it's only right that we go and visit him."

Shen Qi turned and went into the inner room. He came out a moment later, carrying three wooden boxes of different sizes, wrapped in a blue cloth bundle. He had bought these a few days ago when he went to the inner city to collect supplies. He gave Zhao Youtian a jar of fine Longjing tea, Zhao's wife a pair of silver earrings, and Zhao Shengming a set of newly engraved elementary calligraphy practice books.

The items weren't expensive, but everything was well-chosen.

"I've been busy these past few days and haven't had a chance to think about it. This is a little something for my brother, sister-in-law, and Shengming for the New Year." Shen Qi handed over the bundle. "Take it."

Zhao Youtian was stunned for a moment, then quickly wiped his hands on his clothes and carefully took it.

"Seventh Brother, how could I possibly accept this?" Zhao Youtian's voice was muffled, and his nose tingled with a slight soreness.

"Take it. After the New Year, I'll have to trouble you to take care of the mortuary matters." Shen Qi patted his shoulder, said no more, and turned to walk out.

……

Shen Qi passed through the outer city checkpoints and went straight to the gate of the Zhou Mansion in the inner city.

The snow on the lintel had been swept away, and a pair of brand-new peach wood charms were pasted on it. Shen Qi raised his hand and pushed open the half-closed courtyard gate.

Two people were sitting at a stone table in the courtyard.

Zhou Wenyuan, on the left, was wearing a dark blue padded jacket and was bending over, poking at the charcoal brazier beside his feet. The red-hot charcoal was burning brightly, crackling and spewing steam.

Jiang Xinyue is on the right.

Shen Qi paused slightly.

He hadn't expected Jiang Xinyue to be there as well.

Jiang Xinyue was dressed in plain white clothes, with a gray cloak draped over her shoulders. Her hair was casually tied back with a wooden hairpin, and she looked much more relaxed than usual. A wine pot sat in front of her, and she held a cup in her hand, slowly sipping her wine.

"You're here?" Zhou Wenyuan looked up and gestured towards the stone table with his lips. "Sit down."

Shen Qi walked over and sat down at the end of the stone table.

"The Chief Judge is also here."

Jiang Xinyue glanced at him and said lazily, "I have no family in Chengping County. Old Zhou's place is warm with charcoal and wine, so I'll shamelessly freeload a New Year's Eve dinner."

Zhou Wenyuan chuckled and poured Shen Qi a glass of wine.

"The chief has said that today we will not discuss official business, only drink. Anyone who mentions even a single word about official matters will be punished with three cups of wine."

"I understand," Shen Qi said, picking up his wine cup.

Jiang Xinyue raised her glass, looking relaxed: "Don't be so formal. It's New Year's Eve, all about family reunion and celebration."

The three of them clinked glasses.

The wine was Zhou Wenyuan's own aged yellow wine, smooth on the palate but with a strong aftertaste. The charcoal brazier burned brightly, reflecting the warmth of the three faces.

Zhou Wenyuan picked up a piece of braised beef, put it in his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and sighed, "Last New Year's Eve, I was the only one guarding this courtyard. This year it's quite lively."

Jiang Xinyue smiled, holding her wine glass, her gaze fixed on the courtyard wall. In the distance, sporadic firecrackers sounded, and a burst of sparks rose from the other end of the alley, exploding in the night sky and shattering into several dark red fragments.

Shen Qi sat at the lower end of the table, quietly drinking his wine. He picked up a vinegar-soaked peanut, put it in his mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and found it salty, fragrant, sour, and crunchy.

When he drank his second glass, he couldn't help but raise his gaze slightly.

Above Jiang Xinyue's head.

The lurking, coiled dragon silhouette was still clearly discernible. Its crimson-gold scales gleamed with an eerie light, its head slightly raised, its whiskers fluttering. But unlike the last time, the clouds surrounding the dragon's body were noticeably thicker, surging and churning in layers, their color much deeper, carrying a heavy, weighty feel.

The dragon's head was still discernible, but its tail had completely disappeared into the churning, thick clouds.

A dragon emerges from its slumber.

Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger.

For a dragon to ascend to heaven, it must first gather clouds. Once the gathering of clouds is complete, it will be a time of thunder and rain, a time of great wind and cloud gathering.

This is a good thing.

But once a dragon ascends to heaven, it will inevitably face a tribulation of thunder.

Having satisfied his curiosity, but also feeling a vague and inexplicable worry, Shen Qi withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, and drank his wine.

"You little brat."

Jiang Xinyue's voice suddenly rang out, neither too loud nor too soft, with a hint of laughter in her tone.

Shen Qi looked up.

Jiang Xinyue had put down her wine glass at some point, resting her chin on one hand, tilting her head, and looking over with a half-smile.

Those eyes were half-closed, reflecting the bright red glow of the charcoal fire.

"Am I that good-looking?"

Shen Qi froze.

Zhou Wenyuan was stunned for a moment, looked at Jiang Xinyue, then at Shen Qi, with a puzzled expression.

Jiang Xinyue reached for the wine pot and poured herself another cup.

"I've seen you sneaking around looking at me from the top of my head a few times before. Once or twice, I just thought you were bold and had never seen the world before."

He took a sip of wine and slightly raised his eyelids.

"Only later did I find out that you, brat, were actually looking into my fate."

The courtyard quieted down.

The charcoal in the brazier popped, sending sparks flying that landed on the blue bricks and extinguished.

Zhou Wenyuan put down his chopsticks.

Jiang Xinyue's gaze fell on Shen Qi's face, and she asked calmly, "Tell me, what did you figure out?"

Shen Qi gripped the wine glass, his knuckles tightening slightly.

Say?

What did you say? That a dragon is coiled above your head, gathering clouds and waiting to take flight?

He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Three or four explanations raced through his mind, none of them quite right.

Jiang Xinyue watched him as he pondered and weighed his options, a slight smile playing on her lips, and she didn't urge him on.

Shen Qi took a deep breath, and after a thousand thoughts raced through his mind, he finally made up his mind. Just as he was about to speak—

"Oh?"

A clear, melodious female voice drifted leisurely from outside the courtyard gate.

I'd like to hear it too.

The three of them turned their heads at the same time.

The courtyard gate had been pushed open at some point. A woman stepped across the threshold with a composed gait.

She wore a deep purple, narrow-sleeved long gown, cinched at the waist with a dark silver leather belt. Her black hair was tied up high, revealing a section of her slender neck. Her face was extremely beautiful, with a sharp look in her eyes and a playful smile at the corner of her mouth.

She stood in the courtyard, her gaze passing over Zhou Wenyuan and Shen Qi, and landing directly on Jiang Xinyue.

"What? Since when did Jiang Xinyue need someone to tell her fortune?"

Jiang Xinyue's hand, holding the wine glass, froze in mid-air.

His lazy, casual expression froze instantly.

Zhou Wenyuan suddenly stood up, his right hand already on his waist.

The atmosphere in the courtyard changed abruptly.

The woman stood in the glow of the lantern, neither flinching nor avoiding it, her smile undiminished.

"Junior brother, it's been a long time."