Seventeen: One Ascends, One Falls

If he drank it, he might truly become a woman forever.

And honestly—how many mentally sound men would willingly choose that?

A moment later, seeing the next wave of heavenly lightning about to strike, he finally put on an expression like someone heading to the execution ground—

and drank the entire gourd in one go.

To prevent outsiders from discovering where he was undergoing tribulation, the white-clad youth had set up a barrier over the open ground.

So no one witnessed the drastic transformation of his body.

Naturally, no one heard the scream he let out as his body twisted in agonizing pain.

His height shrank at a speed visible to the naked eye.

His body lines softened.

Most importantly, the custom-made large-sized female opera costume he wore began to hang loosely.

At the chest, swelling curves gradually took shape, pressing against the fabric, ready to break free.

The water inside the gourd was, in all likelihood, the legendary water of the Formless Sea.

And just as he had said—

it truly turned an eight-foot man into a delicate young woman.

Barely clothed, the white-clad woman stood up without the slightest concern for exposure.

She pointed at the heavens and began cursing loudly,

“You damned Heaven—are you determined to stop me from ascending?!”

“I like wearing women’s clothes, sure—but I really don’t want to become a woman!”

“Just thinking about dealing with monthly cycles—and maybe even being pinned down by someone someday—honestly, you might as well strike me dead with lightning right now!”

“I’ve been told since I was a child that my fate was terrible!”

“I’ve struggled through cultivation and hardship just to live until now!”

“No matter what—I will keep living!”

“Even if I have to live as a woman!”

By the time she finished shouting, she seemed a little tired.

She grabbed the remaining half-jar of wine and drank it all in one go.

Then she smashed the jar onto the ground to vent her frustration—

though she didn’t truly use force, after all, it was Steward Xu’s property, and breaking it would’ve been a pity.

“I’ve endured so many strikes of lightning already!”

“This path to the heavens—are you opening it or not?!”

A final bolt of lightning tore across the sky—

the brightest, loudest one yet.

It illuminated the white-clad woman as she rose toward the heavens.

It also illuminated the black-clad youth—

who, after killing without pause, had exhausted the very last of his strength.

As he collapsed to the ground, the last thing he saw—

was that same oil-paper umbrella, still perfectly intact.

Smiling, he closed his eyes forever.

The surviving servants of the noble household tried to stab his corpse a few more times to vent their anger—

but a short Daoist wearing a bamboo hat suddenly appeared and stopped them.

“My apologies.”

“I must take this child’s body with me.”

Those were the last words those wicked lackeys ever heard in their lives.

The short Daoist in the bamboo hat looked at the two youths—

one in the heavens, one on the ground—

their fates completely different.

He let out a sigh.

Then he vanished, taking with him the black-clad youth’s battered corpse and the oil-paper umbrella.

The one who ascended—

and the one who died—

were both seventeen that year.

During that rainy season of their seventeenth year, there was a storm.

And within that storm—

both of them seemed to have changed their destinies.

But heaven, though beautiful, can send one falling into eternal ruin with a single misstep.

And hell, though dark, can still be climbed out of—if one clenches their teeth and keeps going.

Heaven and hell lie far apart.

But if fate allows they will meet again.

And there is no denying—these two are bound by fate.