The legend begins with becoming a white deer.

The largest restaurant in Yunqi Town, Qinglelou, is even busier than usual today.

The restaurant is a two-story wooden structure. The main hall is more than 20 feet high, with thick elm beams carved with intertwined cloud patterns. A row of vermilion palace lanterns hangs down from the beams, filling the entire place with warm yellow light.

The floor was paved with polished bluestone slabs, and against the wall were neatly stacked wine jars, half a person's height, with the words "Qing Le" printed in dark patterns on the mud seals. When the wind swept through the hall, the whole hall was filled with the aroma of mellow wine and hot food.

Today is the annual Homecoming Festival in the Kingdom of Bilin, a day for family reunions.

Most of the townspeople kept their doors closed and stayed home chatting around the fire, but many townspeople who were alone or simply liked to join in the fun flocked into Qingle Tower.

The table was filled with men, women, and children of all ages. The sounds of drinking games, laughter, and clinking glasses mingled together, creating a warm and lively atmosphere that almost lifted the roof off.

There's always been this unspoken understanding at the dinner table: after a few cups of hot wine, the conversation automatically begins.

After discussing everyday matters several times, the topic naturally shifted to the most sensational news in the country recently—the auspicious white deer.

At a table by the window, a chubby middle-aged man held a wine bowl, his cheeks flushed red from drinking.

His name is Zhong Chang. He is a peddler who travels all over the country year-round and is known for his great talkativeness.

Hearing everyone at the table talking about Bai Lu, he slammed his wine bowl down on the table with a "bang," stood up abruptly, and raised his voice so loud it could be heard halfway down the floor:

"Let me tell you, I've seen this auspicious white deer that you're talking about with my own eyes, up close."

As soon as he finished speaking, the people at the surrounding tables burst into laughter.

Someone tapped the rim of the bowl and joked, "Old Zhong, you're bragging again. Auspicious beasts are so rare; they're not something ordinary people can just see whenever they want!"

"That's right. I heard from a gentleman from the city that the white deer lives in the deep mountains, and ordinary people may not even catch a glimpse of its shadow."

Zhong Chang rolled his eyes and said stiffly, "Why would I lie to you? A few months ago, I was traveling as a merchant to Qinghe Town when I came across a huge crowd in the street. I squeezed through the crowd and saw a snow-white deer carrying an old hunter, slowly walking from the other end of the street."

Seeing that Zhong Chang's expression didn't seem fake, someone immediately asked curiously, "Auspicious beasts are high above, how could they be carrying mortals on their way?"

"The old hunter broke his leg in the mountains and was almost eaten by wild wolves, but luckily he ran into this auspicious white deer and was saved."

Zhong Chang picked up his wine bowl and took a big gulp, smacking his lips with a look of deep emotion: "I later found out from the townspeople that the white deer helped the old hunter drive away the wolves, and then, seeing that the old man was badly injured, it took the initiative to squat down and let him lie on its back, carrying him all the way back to town. Tsk tsk, it really is an auspicious beast, with such a kind heart. That old hunter was also very lucky."

Everyone at the table nodded in agreement. Some praised the auspicious beast for its compassion, some envied the old hunter for his incredible good fortune, and others stroked their beards and murmured, "A national auspicious omen, a blessing for the people."

Several men, dressed simply and with weathered faces, sat at the next table and spoke up after hearing this.

One of them sighed, "We moved here from the south last month. Our houses and fields were all washed away in the flood. We fled here and heard people say that thanks to the auspicious white deer, many people trapped in the water were saved during the flood. We were unlucky and didn't see it with our own eyes. If we could see it, it would be a life well-lived."

As soon as he finished speaking, several people around him showed expressions of longing.

Someone chimed in, "Who says otherwise? This white deer is an auspicious beast bestowed by the King of our Bilin Kingdom. If we can catch a glimpse of it from afar and absorb some of its auspicious energy, this year will surely be smooth sailing."

Someone mentioned, "Speaking of which, didn't a while ago, many martial arts practitioners went into the mountains in groups, trying to capture that auspicious white deer?"

These words were like a drop of water falling into a hot oil pan, instantly making the atmosphere even hotter.

"Those people are just blinded by greed!"

Someone slammed their hand on the table, their face full of indignation: "How dare they touch auspicious beasts? If they harm one, they'll be punished by heaven!"

"I heard that several groups of people went there, probably numbering over a thousand, but they all came back empty-handed, without even getting a single hair on the white deer."

The other person lowered his voice, with a hint of mystery: "I've heard it too. Rumor has it that the white deer is no ordinary creature. It's a deity from the mountains and forests that can control trees. As soon as those villains enter the mountains, all the trees on the mountain start moving and whip them until they cry for their parents. They're lucky if they manage to come back alive."

These words immediately divided the people at the table into two factions.

Some people nodded repeatedly, saying that the auspicious beast had its own supernatural powers to protect it.

Some people waved their hands and laughed, saying that this was too outrageous; it was just a deer, how could it command trees?

The two sides argued heatedly, their faces flushed, and their wine bowls clattered loudly.

At a table in the corner, a tall, thin man, so drunk he was almost staggering, laughed upon hearing this and leaned to the side, saying, "Who cares if it's a deity or not, as long as it brings good luck. If I happen to encounter one, I'll definitely go up and touch it a couple of times, getting covered in auspicious energy. After the New Year, I'll go to the county casino and wreak havoc, winning back all the money I lost before."

His friend next to him laughed and gave him a push: "Come on, quit gambling as soon as possible, that's the right thing to do. Auspicious beasts bestow blessings on good people, they wouldn't help you gamble, would they?"

"What do you know!"

The tall, thin man stubbornly retorted, "You've never even seen a white deer, how do you know if it cares about this? Maybe it's kind-hearted and will just casually bestow some good fortune upon me."

This remark caused everyone at the table to burst into laughter, and even the surrounding tables joined in the merriment.

The aroma of alcohol mingled with laughter, filling the air with the warm glow of the lamplight.

Amidst the clamor of the hall, no one noticed a snow-white figure crouching in the dense shade of a sycamore tree outside a window on the west side of the restaurant.

Qi Ji lay in the shadows under the windowsill, his bright, deer-like eyes peering through the cracks in the window, quietly watching the bustling crowd inside.

Amidst the clinking of glasses and the spontaneous laughter and banter, the warm, lively atmosphere of the room enveloped everyone.

Qi Jilu's eyes flickered; this scene suddenly reminded him of his past life.

When I was a child, Chinese New Year was like this too. The whole family would squeeze around one table, making a lot of noise, with the aroma of food mixed with the smell of firecrackers.

But the older he got, the less he liked joining in these kinds of fun activities.

Every Spring Festival, while others are busy visiting relatives and friends, he prefers to stay alone, finding the noise and bustle meaningless.

Who would have thought that one day I would be transported into the body of a deer, looking through a wooden window at this foreign land celebrating the Spring Festival, watching a room full of strangers gathered together drinking and laughing, and it would be somewhat similar to the Spring Festival in my memory.

"Ah...the lights of the world."

A complex feeling welled up in Qi Ji's heart.

There's a faint longing for the simple joys of everyday life.

There's a certain regret about being an outsider and ultimately unable to fit in.

There's also a sense of helplessness in the face of life's cruel twists.

In the end, it slowly dissolved into a sense of relief and nonchalance.

Both sides have their own paths to follow now. The world is bustling; just observe it and that's enough.

Lost in thought, Qi Ji's nose twitched slightly as a scent mingled with the aroma of braised meat, wine, and hot noodles wafted over on the breeze.

Qi Ji's ears twitched, and then a thought suddenly popped into his head.

"Although I am currently in deer form, I have undergone several rounds of physical enhancement and evolution. I wonder... if I can eat human food?"

Once the idea popped into my head, it grew wildly like weeds.

Qi Ji silently slipped away from the window, his hooves making no sound on the grass. He followed the wall of the restaurant, heading towards the kitchen where wisps of smoke were rising from the chimneys...