One Sings of Joy, One Slaughters in Rain

At the same time, the white-clad youth arrived at the entrance of a restaurant.

He pushed open the doors and stepped inside, repeatedly cupping his hands in greeting toward the crowd, who looked at him with gratitude.

Someone asked the late-arriving performer,

“Where is Young Master Cheng?”

“We’ve received so much from him—we must thank him properly.”

The white-clad youth smiled.

“The young master has already said it—today’s feast is simply for everyone to eat well and prosper together.”

“As long as everyone enjoys themselves, he will feel your gratitude.”

“Please, everyone, take your seats.”

“I’ll begin today’s performance.”

The black-clad youth sat among the ruins near a grand mansion, sheltering from the rain.

In his hands, he continuously smeared poison and toxic powders onto his blades.

His movements were clumsy and rough.

Quite a bit of the poison spilled onto the ground.

Yet, the oil-paper umbrella resting beside him—carefully kept at a distance—remained completely untouched.

That… was his light.

How could it be sullied?

Once he had finished preparing all his weapons, he stood.

With an umbrella in one hand and a blade in the other, he walked up and knocked on the vermilion gates.

On the stage inside the restaurant, the white-clad youth performed alone, playing a dan role.

His flowing sleeves danced gracefully, and his singing voice was exquisite.

Deep within the corridors of the mansion, the black-clad youth launched a surprise attack and killed the one he most wanted dead.

After that, he began slaughtering anyone he encountered.

The sounds of pleading, and the clash of bone, flesh, and steel—

together formed a strangely beautiful symphony.

A short Daoist wearing a bamboo hat stood atop a small building within the city, watching the two of them.

Their joys and sorrows did not intersect.

Some families rejoiced, while others mourned.

If such emotions could ever truly connect, one would be a sage.

No one would care what difference it made to them between the news that “the arrogant young master of the Mu family ascended to immortality years ago,”

and that “the well-behaved daughter of the Liao family was gang-raped to death earlier this year.”

The white-clad youth finished several songs and began urging the townsfolk to head home early.

“Young Master Cheng’s tribulation is approaching.”

“After this, the rain will only grow heavier.”

Meanwhile, the black-clad youth’s massacre in the noble estate drew the attention of guards.

The well-trained protectors surrounded him and struck back, leaving numerous wounds across his body.

Back at the restaurant, when only a mess of overturned cups and plates remained, the rain in the sky paused for a brief moment.

On stage, the white-clad youth removed his elaborate ornaments and tossed them into a box.

He prepared to go to the backyard to fetch water and wash his face.

Carrying a basin, he walked a few steps to the well and carefully washed away the makeup and disguise on his face.

He did not undo the carefully arranged feminine hairstyle.

As he washed, the single pink mica hairpin shaped like an epiphyllum flower swayed gently.

When the water in the basin turned cloudy, his original appearance was revealed.

He was the young Daoist who had eaten braised pork noodles at a morning tea stall earlier that day.

A man who was about to undergo his ascension tribulation yet had changed outfits twice in a single day, eaten local delicacies, and wandered the streets leisurely.

Truly a peculiar person.

Someone with an extraordinarily carefree heart.

“Young Master Cheng,” an aged voice spoke from behind him.

“Why are you still dressed as a woman?”

“When you reach the Immortal Realm, if Young Master Tao sees this, he’ll surely be angry again.”

The white-clad youth didn’t mind at all.

“Uncle Xu, you worry too much.”

“So what if my brother gets angry?”

“He dotes on me so much—he’s not going to kill me over this.”

Uncle Xu’s wrinkled face broke into a warm smile.

“It seems this old man has worried unnecessarily.”

“To see both young masters so close, and both so accomplished…”

“I can finally rest easy when I go to meet the master and madam.”