My sister is Luna

A market town stretching for miles around the Great Wall.

This place was once very prosperous, but after a series of changes, including bandit robberies, demonic uprisings, and the recently concluded Great Wall Battle that still haunts everyone, this hundred-mile-long market town has become increasingly desolate and vicissitudes.

But ordinary people living in the desert have few places to go and little ability to go anywhere.

People came and went, returned and went, the houses were rebuilt, people gathered together again, and the Baili Market gradually regained its vitality.

Outside a small tavern, Su Lie sat on a wooden chair, his chopsticks slowly reaching for the food on the table, chewing slowly as if he were waiting for someone. There were a few other tavern patrons around him, each eating at their own table.

Su Lie mechanically repeated the slow feeding motions, his eyes vacant, lost in thought, recalling something in his mind.

After a while, Su Lie seemed to realize something, came back to his senses, and stared straight ahead.

"A poem, a jug of wine, a long song, a sword to the end of the world."

Before seeing the person, one hears their voice, a melodious poem.

"Haha, my dear Lie Lie, it's been so long!"

A handsome young man in white robes gracefully approached and came into Su Lie's view.

"Hey, Brother Bai! Long time no see." Upon recognizing the person, Su Lie immediately smiled.

The young man in the white robe had short chestnut hair, a handsome and refreshing face, and a slender figure. He had a wine gourd and a long sword hanging on his waist, respectively. His eyes were bright, like stars, and he exuded a free and unrestrained temperament in every move.

With a joyful smile on his face, the handsome man walked warmly and friendly towards Su Lie, sat down opposite him, picked up the cup of tea on the table, clinked it with Su Lie's cup, and then drank it all in one gulp.

The young man was none other than Li Bai, the famous and talented poet who captivated countless young men and women. He and Su Lie were close friends.

"Ha~ This tea is quite good," Li Bai said cheerfully.

"Lie Lie, it's been a long time. You've gotten even stronger." Li Bai patted Su Lie on the shoulder and said with a smile.

"Uh, Brother Bai, your way of addressing me..." Su Lie said somewhat awkwardly.

"Oh, you mean this? I learned about it from a Western businessman. It's a nickname used to express affection for close friends or family. Isn't it interesting? You can also call me Bai Bai."

"If you don't feel comfortable with it, then I'll switch back to the old one."

"Alright, thank you very much, Brother Bai," Su Lie said with a smile.

"Alright, Brother Lie." Li Bai said, then beckoned to a waiter and tossed him a bag of money. "Brother Lie, we haven't seen each other in so long, we've missed you terribly! Let us have some wine to celebrate. Come on, waiter, bring us your best wine!"

"Alright, sir!" The tavern waiter was delighted to have encountered such a wealthy customer and ran into the shop to greet him.

Not long after, a middle-aged, overweight tavern owner came in hurriedly, carrying a wine jar in his hand.

"Sir, this is our best wine. Please enjoy it. And if you need anything else, just let us know," the portly shopkeeper said with a fawning smile, rubbing his hands together.

"Okay, okay, you guys go ahead and do your work," Li Bai waved his hand and said.

"Yes." The innkeeper placed the wine on the table and returned to the tavern.

"Come, come, let's drink and be merry while we can!" Li Bai happily opened the wine jar and poured a cup for each of them. "We didn't come across many taverns on the way here, and the wine in our gourds was long gone. Now it's time to satisfy my craving, hahaha..."

They clinked their glasses together, and Li Bai downed his drink in one gulp, while Su Lie took only a small sip.

But Li Bai didn't care. He knew that Su Lie's alcohol tolerance wasn't very high, and although he himself wasn't much better, it wouldn't hinder his love for fine wine.

"This drink is not bad, but it tastes a bit weak," Li Bai commented, clicking his tongue as a blush began to rise on his face.

"What's wrong? You seem distracted," Li Bai said, looking at Su Lie.

From the moment Li Bai first saw Su Lie, he felt something was off. Su Lie seemed preoccupied and preoccupied.

"I'm sorry, Brother Bai, it's such a rare opportunity to meet, but I've spoiled the mood because of you..." Su Lie said apologetically, as if waking from a dream.

“It’s alright. If you have something on your mind, it’s not good to keep it to yourself. Tell me. I can be a poet, a swordsman, and a listener. As your friend, I won’t just stand by and watch you like this. Tell me quickly,” Li Bai said earnestly.

"Where should I begin..." Su Lie began slowly, and Li Bai listened attentively and silently.

……

"Because of this brutal war, I always felt powerless. If it weren't for Cain..."

"In the end, we are still not strong enough. There are still too many dangers hidden in this world that we do not know about. The Great Wall needs more capable people to join us, and the Great Wall needs even stronger people to guard it." As he spoke, Su Lie's fists gradually clenched.

He was truly terrified. If it weren't for Cain's arrow, he couldn't imagine the Great Wall being breached and his beliefs being extinguished.

"In my opinion, you have done your best and have a clear conscience. Your actions have been worthy of everyone's trust. You don't need to bear too much responsibility. I know you value the Great Wall more than your own life, but don't get caught up in the swamp of obsession and become obsessed..." Li Bai comforted him.

"Why worry about life when you're destined to be this way? Let's drink fine wine and climb to the top of the tower." Li Bai took a sip of wine, recited a line of poetry aloud, and at the same time drew his long sword and brandished it. "Brother Lie, what's the use of creating your own troubles? Just face the present and the future with confidence, isn't that wonderful?"

"Thank you, Brother Bai. I feel much better now." Su Lie breathed a sigh of relief, feeling relaxed all over, and said with a smile.

"I'm glad you've picked yourself up again." Li Bai scratched his head, seemingly embarrassed.

"If I could meet Cain, the hero who saved the Great Wall, in Chang'an, I would really like to get to know him. I must meet the hero who saved the Great Wall."

"I believe you two will get along very well," Su Lie said with a smile.

"Haha, I appreciate your kind words."

“By the way, didn’t you say the Great Wall needs more talent?” Li Bai suddenly said, “I happen to know someone who can help me.”

"Oh? Who is it?" Su Lie asked in surprise.

"The table next door," Li Bai gestured with his chin.

Su Lie followed Li Bai's gaze and saw a man in a gray robe lying on a bench, seemingly asleep.

Su Lie looked at Li Bai, waiting for him to explain.

“I met him on the road. He seems to be a wanderer, searching for his younger brother. You don’t know how long it took me to get close to him before I found out he’d lived near the Great Wall since childhood, so I brought him here. But whether he joins us or not depends on your abilities,” Li Bai said.

“His surname is Baili, but he didn’t tell me his given name. He seems to have some connection with this market.”

"Are you looking for your younger brother?" Su Lie asked gently.

“Yes.” Baili said simply and clearly. He sat up, and his large, fluffy tail peeked out from under his gray robe, revealing his identity as a half-demon.

"Although I don't know if it's him, I once heard Cain say that he was taken in by Mulan because he saved a red-haired half-demon boy, but he was the only one Mulan took in."

"Really? Is he still alive?" Baili's voice was excited and trembling. Su Lie seemed to see a tear slide down from the hood that covered his face.

"That red-haired boy may still be alive or he may be dead, but I believe he is somewhere on the Great Wall or in the desert, and he may be looking for you too."

“Join the Great Wall Guard. We can provide you with food and lodging so you won’t have any worries. You can search for your brother in the desert under the guise of patrolling, and the rest of us will do our best to help you find him.” Su Lie smiled and extended his hand to Baili.

“I’ll join.” Baili grasped Su Lie’s hand without hesitation.

A gentle breeze stirred, blowing open Baili's hood to reveal his calm, gentle, and handsome face, his white hair, and the wolf ears on his head.

Li Bai squinted and looked up at the sky. Above the clear blue sky, the midday sun seemed to symbolize the Great Wall's prosperous future.

"Welcome to the Great Wall Guards! We're family now. Could you tell me your name?"

"Bai Li... Shouyue."

……