Chapter 0: Flowerless Palace
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On the shores of the East Sea, a vast expanse dotted with nearly a thousand islands, lies the hidden Flowerless Palace.
The fishermen on these islands occasionally catch a glimpse of a fairy in white drifting by, but without exception, they humbly bow in reverence, showing their great respect.
However, if you were to ask them where the Flowerless Palace is located, not a single one would have a clue. With the ocean so wide and the islands countless, the fairies live in their ethereal realm, and how could mere mortals ever hope to know its location?
On this particular day, as the fishermen toiled in the sea, they spotted a long flying sword zooming by with three figures on it.
Without missing a beat, they dropped to their knees, muttering a prayer like it was a religious ritual.
Seeing a sword carrying three people was a first for them, and they were in sheer awe, terrified that if the fairies took offense, a storm of epic proportions would brew.
A child, around seven or eight years old, was pressed onto the wet deck by his parents, but with the mischief of youth stirring within, he discreetly lifted his head when no one was watching.
Just in time to see the flying sword pass not too far ahead of him.
At the forefront stood a lady in a light pink gown, gracefully dancing in the wind—truly a fairy-like figure with an ethereal quality.
In the middle was another lady in a white gown, but her posture was a bit more robust. Compared to a regular woman, she lacked a touch of daintiness and exuded a stronger presence instead.
Trailing behind her was a plump girl in a colorful skirt, who made the sword seem like it had a dent in it as she bounced with every gust of wind, making it look as if she might tumble right off.
Maybe there really is some sort of telepathic connection in the universe because just as the thought crossed the child’s mind—would that chubby sister fall?—she actually did wobble and plummet from the flying sword with a loud scream.
Luckily, that sword was fast enough,
It spun in mid-air and swooped back to catch the plump girl, who continued to sway unsteadily as it shot off in the distance.
The child was left utterly dumbfounded.
Meanwhile, the fishermen remained dutifully flat on the ground, too scared to even budge.
“Dad, Mom, a chubby sister just fell!”
“Don’t talk nonsense! Oh dear, that’s a sin!”
“But I really saw it…”
……
“Fatty, could you be more careful?” the male character scolded.
“It’s not my fault! Who knew this skirt was so long? I accidentally stepped on the edge and lost my balance!” the Fatty pouted.
The male character sighed, “Master Sister took us to the Flowerless Palace, which is a huge risk! You better not drop the ball at a crucial moment.”
The Fatty rolled her eyes, “I know! I, the great Fatty, have quite a way with the ladies. There won’t be any issues.”
Luo Ying took a sip of her drink and chuckled, “Just so you know, if you two get discovered by the Flowerless Palace, I won’t be covering for you.”
The male character, “……”
The Fatty, “……”
“Of course! Even if Master Sister were to sell us by the pound, we’d help you count the money,” the male character joked.
Luo Ying burst into gales of laughter, her cheeks flushed, and with her dreamy, intoxicated eyes, an irresistible charm surrounded her.
Goodness, this guy never misses a chance to butter someone up, and look at how happy it made Master Sister.
The Fatty shot him a resentful glance, feeling like he always got the one-up on her.
After flying for a while and gliding through a light fog, a large landmass gradually appeared at the boundary between sky and sea.
Luo Ying said, “We’re almost there! Hold on tight.”
The flying sword dove rapidly, and the rushing wind drowned out all other sounds, whipping their clothes and hair up like a blazing fire.
From a distance, other than the Fatty’s figure being somewhat off-putting, they looked quite majestic.
Just as the flying sword was about to reach the land, two Qing Yi (female) figures suddenly swooped in from below.
In unison, they chimed, “Who goes there? State your names at once!”
Luo Ying hit the brakes, causing the Fatty to tumble into the male character, nearly knocking his head into Luo Ying’s, and despite his best efforts to maintain his balance, the two ended up rolling off the sword in a tangle.
“Fatty, we absolutely cannot let the Heavenly Sword Sect lose face!”
In those few short seconds in mid-air, they synchronized like seasoned acrobats, flipping over to balance on their hands and maintaining a horizontal position, then gently landing on the ground in a premeditated manner.
The two Qing Yi ladies were momentarily dumbstruck.
They had never encountered such a precedent where someone just breezed onto the island without announcing their identity.
Before they could react, Luo Ying downed a sip of her drink, smiling, “Ladies, don’t mind these two; they’re just teasing you.”
One of the ladies, flustered, exclaimed, “Wait, who are you? If you don’t tell us, we’ll have to call for help!”
“Don’t fret, dear; I’m Luo Ying, the lead disciple of the Heavenly Sword Sect, here to see your Second Palace Master.”
The two exchanged glances, and one folded her hands in greeting, “Please wait a moment; we’ll inform the Second Palace Master before proceeding.”
“No problem,” Luo Ying said as she landed and put away the flying sword.
Their efficiency was commendable.
After a short while, a woman in a white dress flew in from afar.
Before even seeing her face, her hearty laughter erupted ahead of her.
“Ah, Luo Ying! You didn’t give me a heads-up! Were you planning a surprise attack?”
As the white-clad woman approached, it became clear that she was quite different from most women—a short hairstyle that would have been scandalous in ancient times left the male character and the Fatty stunned.
For their disguises, they’d at least worn wigs, and even with their boldness, they wouldn’t dare stand out like the Second Palace Master.
“Greetings, Second Palace Master.”
The Qing Yi ladies accompanying Luo Ying hastily knelt in respect.
The Second Palace Master chuckled, “Get up.”
Just as she finished speaking, her gaze landed on Luo Ying, her eyes fiery like those of a lover who hadn’t seen their partner in ages.
“Yingzi, I’ll host a welcoming feast for you tonight—drunkenness is mandatory!”
Luo Ying replied, “As you wish. Of course, I’d be happier with some wine.”
After a few moments of warm conversation, the Second Palace Master finally noticed the male character and the Fatty.
“And who might these two be?”
“Just two female disciples from Loxia Peak who came to visit, so I brought them along.”
“Excellent! Though the Flowerless Palace is remote, we have everything the Heavenly Sword Sect does. I won’t let this sister go hungry, haha.”
The Fatty, “……”
The male character murmured, “Fatty, you’ve successfully caught the Second Palace Master’s attention; keep it up.”
“Are you kidding me? I’m a loyal follower of Master Sister! How could I easily fall for someone else?”
“Come here, chubby sister! You’re adorable! I like you, let’s go have some fun!”
The Fatty’s face lit up with delight, “Sounds great!”
Wait, hold on—did I just agree to that without thinking it through?
I’m not that kind of person!
“All women! Don’t be shy! Wrap your arms around my waist, let’s go drink!”
With the Second Palace Master’s forceful demand, the Fatty excitedly wrapped her arms around her slender waist, her eyes nearly squinting with glee.
Luo Ying glanced at the male character and teased, “You want to do the same?”
The male character was taken aback, thinking, “What kind of d*ath wish is this?!”
Of course, agreeing would be insane.
But unexpectedly, Luo Ying leaned in and placed his hands on her waist.
Just as his heart started racing,
Luo Ying whispered,
“Something feels off.”
p.s.: Bonus chapter at eight tonight! Vote for monthly tickets!
