" Evildoer! Where are you escaping?!"

  "You bald donkey, you've been chasing me for three days and nights; your stamina is impressive!"

  "Speak recklessly! If I don't capture you, I will renounce myself before Buddha!"

  "Hehe, your talent is cking, and your heart is crooked. I'm afraid Buddha wouldn't want you either!"

  "How dare you!"

  Under the moonlit night, amidst the mountain forest, a hazy mist intertwined with the pale moonlight, creating a blurred scene. The sound of rustling leaves and swaying trees filled the air. Suddenly, two figures appeared with a swoosh, one in green, the other in white, leaping out of the mist and soaring into the air. They raced across the sky, their silhouettes illuminated by the clear moonlight.

  "Hand over that item, and I might spare your life!" The monk in white robes, holding a staff in one hand and making gestures with the other, shouted angrily at the fleeing figure ahead.

  "You′ll have to defeat me first!" The moonlight caught a fsh of ke-blue hair fluttering in the night wind, and on the young face, a mocking smile could be seen.

  The monk grew even angrier. Chanting a spell, the clouds beneath his feet sped up, and he was quickly closing the gap, about to catch up to the blue-haired youth.

  "Damn it! Bad monk, you haven't eaten or drunk for three days, and you're still this fast." The blue-haired youth realized the danger and suddenly lowered the cloud beneath him, diving sharply toward the deep mountains below.

  The bustling of Chang'an city has always been indifferent to the changing seasons. The streets, constantly filled with all kinds of people, horses, and carts, never stop, and the buildings on either side—whether commercial shops or residential homes—stand with their distinct styles, each exuding the calm and grandeur of a head of a household, observing the people who come from either near or far. The wind, passing through narrow alleys, small streets, and the spaces between flowers and trees, is steady and soothing.

  It was the end of summer. After days of heavy rain, the coolness of autumn had finally begun to set in. Today, the sun broke through, and by early morning, the streets were packed with people, creating a lively scene. However, this peaceful picture of a busy yet orderly street was shattered by the sudden sound of thunderous hooves and a gust of wind. A pure white horse with piercing green eyes, carrying a young man dressed in purple, shot through the market like a bolt of lightning. The hooves kicked up a storm of dust, knocking over the small stalls along the way and sending hats flying off the heads of some unlucky pedestrians, exposing their embarrassed bald spots. Women, clutching their crying children who had been startled by the chaos, yelled angrily at the disappearing horse's rear.

  "Is it that troublemaker again?"

  "Just look at those green eyes on that horse; there's only one in all of Chang'an."

  "This little devil, always relying on his grandfather being a high-ranking official and his father being a wealthy merchant. He's used to causing trouble. Sigh!"

  Of course, Su Qiuchi could not hear such remarks, for no one dared speak so openly about him. The titles of "Chang'an's Little Demon King," "The Undefeated Ghost-Facing Troublemaker," or 'Little Overlord of Chang'an′ were far from undeserved.

  "Lǜ ěr, run faster! If we don′t catch that brat, I′ll write my surname backward!" Su Qiuchi urged, giving his beloved horse a firm pat on the head. The horse, like an arrow released from a bow, shot out from the western gate of Chang'an, the Yanping Gate, speeding into the distance.

  Within Chang'an, that brat was the first one to break Su Qiuchi's newly bought wine pot and then have the audacity to say, "Don′t you watch where you′re going?" Su Qiuchi grated his teeth in frustration. Today was truly unlucky. He had been waiting for his father to go to Yangzhou for a business trip, leaving the house without supervision. The weather was perfect, and the owner of the Huangzhai shop had even half-sold him the peerless "Dancing Horse Cup Silver Jug," which should have made for a day of delight and satisfaction. But no sooner had he stepped out of Huangzhai shop′s door than he was knocked over by a well-dressed young man riding a chestnut horse. Not only did the brat not apologize or offer compensation, but he also had the gall to insult him before riding off.

  Su Qiuchi, who had never been humiliated in such a way, immediately jumped onto his own horse and chased after the richly dressed young man. However, he pursued all the way to the foot of Cuiwei Mountain, only to find that the brat′s figure had already disappeared without a trace.

  Su Qiuchi halted his horse and looked around. The mountains were bathed in a shimmering glow, with flowers in full bloom and lush grasses covering the nd. Aside from him and his horse, Lǜ ěr, and the occasional chirping of birds, there was not a single other living creature in sight. Su Qiuchi wandered through the mountain for a while, following the winding path until he reached the middle of the mountain. He found nothing but flowers, grass, and rocks. As he moved higher, the path grew narrower and more treacherous to the point where it was no longer passable for a horse, leaving him with no choice but to continue on foot.

  By now, the sun was setting, and the mountain breeze had turned chilly. A wave of cold ran up his spine, making him feel an unexpected desire to head back.

  "Bah! You lucky bastard, if I had caught you, you'd be in trouble!" Su Qiuchi muttered angrily, wrapping his cloak tighter around himself. "Hopefully the heavens will have their eyes open and let some beasts catch you for dinner!"

  As the light dimmed, strange sounds began to emanate from the dense forest on either side of the mountain path. It felt as though a pack of wild beasts could spring out at any moment. Su Qiuchi swallowed nervously and quickly turned his horse around, heading back the way he came.

  But unfortunately, he was lost. He clearly remembered taking the left fork in the road, the one with a strange dark red rock beside it. However, after retracing his steps, he found himself not facing the open pins outside the mountain but instead a mist-filled purple bamboo forest. The pale, cold purple mist twisted around the bamboo stalks, their branches swaying in the wind, creating a constant rustling sound, like thousands of venomous snakes flicking their tongues in unison.

  Su Qiuchi, who was usually fond of drinking, felt strangely sober today, as if the heavens themselves had decided to intervene. With no alcohol in his system, there was no dizziness or misdirection to expin his situation. As he stared at the strange bamboo forest, which seemed both out of pce and foreboding, even his horse, Lǜ ěr, hesitated, unwilling to step forward.

  Just as Su Qiuchi was about to turn his horse around, intending to retreat, something caught his eye. Between the swirling mist, he saw an odd sight—amid the yers of purple bamboo, on the bck, muddy earth, y a figure. The white robe stood out starkly against the dark surroundings, like a gardenia petal fallen into the mud, its purity all the more striking in the grimness of the scene.

  A horse's whinny, unlike Luo Erduo's, suddenly echoed from the bamboo forest. As the mist parted slightly, Su Qiuchi recognized the horse—a familiar chestnut horse. His heart skipped a beat, and his expression shifted dramatically. Forgetting all caution, he spurred his horse forward, charging into the dense bamboo forest, heading straight for the figure lying there.