Black Myth: The Legend of Tianpeng Seeking Demons

After settling Old Man Li and his grandson in, Zhu Feifei, along with the two goddesses, Bihan and Bishu, found a reasonably well-maintained tavern in the village to stay at.

The tavern had an old, worn-out feel to it; the tables and chairs were crookedly placed, and much of the paint on the walls had peeled off, revealing the mottled base color.

"This awful weather is making everyone anxious and worried! It's really distressing!" The tavern owner sighed and complained as he wiped the table with a tattered rag, his face full of exhaustion and helplessness.

"Sir, you must be from out of town! Come, come, sit down and rest your feet, have a hot drink to warm yourselves up!" the owner greeted them warmly.

"Thank you, boss." Zhu Feifei gave a friendly smile and found a seat by the window.

The windowpane was a little blurry, through which you could see the lifeless streets outside, battered by the bad weather.

"Boss, bring us a few jugs of your best wine, and some of your signature dishes!" Zhu Feifei said loudly, his tone full of generosity. "Also, prepare a few clean guest rooms for us."

"Alright!" the owner shouted in response, his voice echoing in the empty tavern, before turning around and bustling off to prepare the food and drinks.

"You two goddesses, please have a seat too." Zhu Feifei warmly invited Bihan and Bishu to sit down, her face beaming with smiles. "You must be tired from your journey. Have some wine to warm yourselves up first."

Bihan and Bishu exchanged a glance, a hint of barely perceptible disdain flashing in their eyes, but they still silently sat down.

Bi Han was dressed in white, as white as snow, and her aloof temperament seemed to freeze the surrounding air.

Bishu wears a bright red robe, with faint flames dancing in her hair, like a burning flame.

"This tavern is really shabby, it doesn't even have a decent cup." Bishu muttered under her breath, her tone full of disgust. She frowned, picked up a chipped wine bowl, and gently swirled it.

"You should be content! It's good enough to have something to eat." Zhu Feifei said with a smile, casually picking up a similarly chipped wine bowl, pouring herself a bowl of wine, and then tilting her head back to take a satisfying sip.

"This wine may not be the best, but it has its own unique flavor! At least it's much better than eating and sleeping in the open. If we were in the wilderness, we might be starving!" He smacked his lips, looking quite content.

"Hmph, vulgar." Bishu curled his lip and gently put down the wine bowl.

"You little rascal, you're quite picky!" Zhu Feifei laughed, her eyes narrowing into slits. "Back in the day, when I, Old Zhu, was in Heaven, I was..."

"Ahem!" Little White, the Ringwraith, coughed secretly, interrupting him.

"Oh, right, right, I almost forgot." Zhu Feifei quickly corrected herself, an embarrassed smile on her face. "Back when I was just an ordinary person, I traveled all over the country and endured all kinds of hardships. This little bit of hardship is nothing! It's like a mosquito bite, not worth mentioning at all."

Bihan and Bishu did not speak, but listened quietly.

A short while later, the tavern owner came over with several steaming dishes.

He carefully placed the dishes on the table one by one. "Sir, your dishes are here!" the owner said, his face full of smiles. "These are all our local specialties. Please try them."

"Mmm, it smells so good!" Zhu Feifei took a deep breath and exclaimed exaggeratedly, "Boss, your cooking skills are really good! You could go into a cooking competition and win the championship!"

"You flatter me, sir." The owner smiled and scratched his head somewhat embarrassedly. "These are just ordinary home-style dishes, nothing to mention."

"Boss, we'd like to ask you something." Zhu Feifei put down her chopsticks, her expression turning serious. "Do you know the whereabouts of the 'Four Seasons Harmony Jade'?"

"'Four Seasons Harmony Jade'?" Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper's expression changed slightly, his grip on the rag tightened unconsciously, and a hint of panic flashed in his eyes. "Sirs, why are you asking about this?" His voice trembled slightly, as if the name were something taboo.

"To be honest, we came here to mediate the conflict between the two goddesses, Han and Shu," Zhu Feifei said earnestly. "We heard that the 'Four Seasons Harmony Jade' can appease the anger of the two goddesses and restore the seasons to normal, so we want to find this treasure."

“Alas, your intentions are good, but…” The shopkeeper sighed, a helpless expression on his face, “The ‘Four Seasons Harmony Jade’ has been missing for many years, and no one knows its whereabouts.”

"Disappeared?" Zhu Feifei was stunned, her eyes widening in surprise. "How could this be? Did it grow wings and fly away?"

"I don't know the specifics either." The boss shook his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.

"I've only heard that the goddesses of cold and heat became enemies back then, and the 'Four Seasons Harmony Jade' was lost in that great battle. Some say it was destroyed; others say it was hidden in some secret place; still others say it fell into the hands of Lord Zhujiuyin..."

"Zhu Jiuyin?" Zhu Feifei's heart skipped a beat, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Who is this Zhu Jiuyin?"

"Shh! Keep your voice down!" The shopkeeper quickly made a shushing gesture, his eyes filled with fear. He nervously glanced around, as if afraid someone would overhear. "Lord Zhujiuyin is the most powerful being in our world. His name is not to be mentioned lightly! He is a great god who controls day and night. With the opening and closing of his eyes, day and night alternate. He is incredibly powerful!"

"Oh? How powerful?" Zhu Feifei's curiosity was completely piqued. He leaned closer to the boss and asked in a low voice, "More powerful than the two goddesses Han and Shu combined? Then he's practically invincible!"

"It is said that Lord Zhujiuyin's strength is greater than that of the two goddesses Han and Shu combined!"

The boss lowered his voice and said mysteriously, "He has always lived in seclusion, and very few people have seen his true face. However, his influence spans the entire world, and even the goddesses of cold and heat are wary of him. Perhaps if he sneezes, the whole world will tremble!"

"That's amazing?" Zhu Feifei clicked her tongue in amazement, her mouth agape.

"Sigh... When the gods are angry, it's us ordinary people who suffer." The shopkeeper shook his head, a helpless expression on his face.

"It seems that this Zhu Jiuyin is also a key figure!" Zhu Feifei thought to herself. "I need to find out more about him. Maybe he's the key to solving the mystery!"

Just as Zhu Feifei was deep in thought, a drunken voice suddenly came from the side: "What... what are you talking about? What Lord Zhu Jiuyin? What 'Four Seasons Harmony Jade'?"

Zhu Feifei turned her head and saw a drunkard with a stubble-covered face and tattered clothes staggering over.

His steps were unsteady, as if he were walking a tightrope, and he reeked of alcohol.

"Go away, get out of here!" the tavern owner said impatiently, waving a rag in his hand. "Don't cause trouble here!"

"I... I didn't cause any trouble!" The drunkard burped, exhaling a pungent smell of alcohol. "I know everything you were saying!" He patted his chest, looking smug.

"Oh? You know?" Zhu Feifei's eyes lit up, as if she had discovered a new continent. "Do you know where the 'Four Seasons Harmony Jade' is?"

"Of course... of course I know!" The drunkard chuckled, revealing a few broken teeth. "Not only do I know where the 'Four Seasons Harmony Jade' is, I also know... I also know Lord Zhujiuyin's secret!" He winked mysteriously.

"What secret?" Zhu Feifei asked hurriedly, leaning forward as if she couldn't wait.

"Want to know?" The drunkard held up a finger, making a money gesture, a sly smile on his face. "Give... give me some money for the drinks, and I'll tell you!"

"Of course, of course!" Zhu Feifei quickly asked the boss to pour a bowl of wine for the drunkard.

The drunkard took the bowl of wine, his eyes lit up, and without saying a word, he tilted his head back and drank it all in one gulp, then let out a loud burp.

“I’m telling you, the ‘Four Seasons Harmony Jade’ is right here…” He leaned close to Zhu Feifei’s ear and whispered something.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Feifei's expression changed, and his eyes widened. "Are you telling the truth?" His voice carried a hint of surprise and doubt.

"Of course... of course it's true!" The drunkard slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "I saw it with my own eyes! Would I lie to you?"

"Okay, thank you!" Zhu Feifei said, and then asked the boss to pour a few more bowls of wine for the drunkard.

"Keep drinking! Keep drinking!" the drunkard said happily, clutching the wine bowl tightly in both hands as if it were a precious treasure.

"Goddesses, let's go!" Zhu Feifei said to Bihan and Bishu, her face beaming with excitement. "I know where the 'Four Seasons Harmony Jade' is!"

"Where?" Bihan and Bishu asked in unison, their eyes revealing a hint of anticipation.

"You'll know when we get there." Zhu Feifei smiled mysteriously, her eyes narrowing into slits, before leaving the tavern with Bihan and Bishu.

After the three left, the tavern owner looked at the drunkard and asked, "Was everything you just said true?"

"Hiccup... Of course... Of course it's true..." The drunkard hiccuped, then slumped onto the table and fell fast asleep, muttering unintelligible words from time to time.

The shopkeeper looked at the drunkard, shook his head, and sighed, "Sigh, another poor soul driven mad by this awful weather..."