In a household, there was a lame man who loved to watch drama, a dog-like Golden Retriever, and an ordinary-looking short old alchemist from Starry Sky Pill Sect. Compared to the other two, the alchemist seemed the most normal.
The Golden Retriever and Zhang DaoMing still bickered and quarreled with each other, neither willing to back down.
Zhang DaoMing told it to mind its own business for the day and do whatever it should be doing. If it really couldn't handle that, it could go with Chen Xia to Broken City to watch people fight.
Sitting to the side, Chen Xia quickly waved his hands and said, "Forget it, just stay and watch him concoct pills."
"Watch me concoct pills?" Zhang DaoMing glared with furrowed brows, "You might as well keep me company till my death!"
Recalling how the Golden Retriever had instructed him on pill concoction last time, telling him to add salt and sugar, he wanted to give it a big slap. Even now, the memory still irked him. With a loud huff, he turned and strode out the door.
He probably went out drinking again.
Chen Xia shook his head and looked curiously at the Golden Retriever, "Why are you so chatty now?"
"I'm worried sick about this family!" the Golden Retriever started whimpering again, and it even began howling loudly.
Anyone unaware would've thought Chen Xia was abusing a dog in the yard.
He quickly waved his hands, "Alright, I know. But Zhang DaoMing is foolish, surely you aren't foolish too, bickering with him like that?"
The Golden Retriever wiped its nonexistent tears and nodded, "You're right, he's still young and going through what cultivators call a rebellious phase. His words and actions are too childish, I really should be more tolerant of him."
Chen Xia patted the dog's head and chuckled, "It's good that you understand. As adults, we should indulge him."
"Yes, yes," the Golden Retriever bobbed its head, seemingly enlightened. Suddenly it looked up at Chen Xia and smiled, "Then I'll go with you to watch people fight!"
"Scram," Chen Xia swiftly replied, already turning to limp out the door, tea cup still hanging at his waist.
Before leaving, he didn't forget to swing his crutch and slam the door shut.
Leaving the Golden Retriever alone in disorder.
The tavern Zhang DaoMing often went to was nearby, just a short walk away. It was a small tavern, with most of the drinking cultivators at the Primordial Infant Realm level.
But by the customs of this realm, even a small tavern like this saw many brawls, for all sorts of reasons.
Having grown up in this realm and drank for so many years, Zhang DaoMing had heard the most absurd justification - "You should fight after drinking, otherwise why drink at all?"
It was quite self-indulgent indeed.
These Primordial Infant Realm cultivators really held nothing back when they fought, and news of cultivators being beaten to death in the tavern came out frequently. The other cultivators were already numb to things like this.
If you died in this life, no big deal, just be more careful in your next life.
The folk customs here emphasized toughness compared to the outside world. Sword cultivators were the most respected.
Because sword cultivators had always been known as the most lethal. Legends of sword cultivators slaying enemies across realms were widespread here.
Especially Heaven Mending Realm sword cultivators could be addressed as Sword Immortals.
Of course, these Sword Immortals were nothing like real immortal swords. Immortal swords were for Emperors, Great Sages and quasi-Emperors could barely wield them, and those below would suffer backlash.
Whereas any Heaven Mending Realm sword cultivator could be called a Sword Immortal.
If a sword cultivator attained the level of Sage, they would truly have entered the Sword Dao, which was known as the most ferocious killing Dao in the mortal world, and commanded tremendous respect in the entire realm.
Even more incredibly, if someone from the legends attained sword cultivation, they would be nearly unmatched among peers, able to destroy myriad laws with one sword and fearing no other mystic abilities.
Upon reaching the Great Sage and quasi-Emperor level, sword cultivators were no longer as fierce, because other cultivators had also entered their respective Daos and developed their own skills, controlling time, space and other special Daos. Those Great Sages were actually more impressive.
But this realm had yet to see such special Great Sages, or even the Great Heaven. Legend said a Great Sage who controlled the time Dao could freeze a third of a cosmos.
But Zhang DaoMing had only heard such rumors, the truth still needed verification.
Carrying wine bought from the tavern, he slowly ambled home, frowning slightly in thought.
He wondered where this Golden Retriever had learned to be so talkative nowadays, acting recklessly as well. It was truly infuriating how it had used up all his ingredients, claiming it was for Chen Xia's health.
Why not just stew itself for Chen Xia's health?
Thinking of the wasted ingredients, Zhang DaoMing was reminded of the pill concoction duties from Starry Sky Pill Sect. But he wasn't worried, not one bit.
With the pill concocting genius Chen Xia around, what was there to worry about?
Even if Chen Xia couldn't concoct pills anymore, just his Sea Inversing Realm ability to match Heaven Mending Realm cultivators meant he could still secure a place in Starry Sky Pill Sect.
Zhang DaoMing was utterly carefree these days - drinking leisurely and not thinking about sect matters, just waiting for Chen Xia to resolve things by year-end.
He was a sword cultivator after all, not an alchemist.
Though he had barely started on the path.
Dusk came early again in the lower realm, as if hurrying people along.
Chen Xia slowly limped home, still with the teacup hanging at his waist. Still some distance from the house, he noticed Zhang DaoMing also returning home.
Zhang DaoMing raised his brows and silently mouthed "Dog?"
Chen Xia glanced inside the house.
The meaning was clear: It's home watching the house.
Satisfied, Zhang DaoMing didn't ask more. He and the limping Chen Xia reached the door together and pushed it open, peering inside.
"Xiao Zhang is home," a pleased voice rang out. The Golden Retriever clasped its hands behind its back, looking at Zhang DaoMing with a gratified smile.
Zhang DaoMing's brows furrowed deeply.
"Bring me the wine," Chen Xia said considerately.
Zhang DaoMing handed over the wine jar. Then he rolled up his sleeves, strode forward seven-eight steps, lifted his leg high, and kicked out.
Behind him, Chen Xia carried the wine jar and leaned on his crutch, an utterly delighted smile on his face.
The setting sun shone squarely into the yard like a warm, mellow light that didn't hurry anyone or dazzle at all.
Just ordinary sunlight.
Chen Xia leaned slightly against the wall, a faint smile also appearing on his face.
It had been so long since he'd had this feeling of being back in Tail Creek Town.
He used to love wandering the merchants' streets there and watching people argue dramatically. Sometimes the arguing parties would even ask him to arbitrate.
Chen Xia was an old softy. He would wave his hands for them to restate their points, then give his own take on each side, say they could continue arguing when free, and send both sides home.
The way the Golden Retriever and Zhang DaoMing bickered was similar to those scenes.
Smiling, he suddenly turned his head. Down the long alley behind him, it was as if he could see the Tail Creek Town of the past.
There was a lazy patrol officer who had taken candy apples from a peddler. He stood right in the middle of the intersection, an untroubled smile on his face.
That was back then.