Chapter One: The Essence of Milk

“You old fossil, look at the mess your precious disciple has made—he’s stolen all my milk! If you don’t give me an explanation today, this won’t end here!”

Deep within the Ten-Thousand Great Mountains, in a secluded mountain village, a middle-aged woman stood with her hands on her hips, glaring fiercely at the old man before her.

The old man’s lips twitched. “Widow Li, that’s the milk from your family’s cow, not your own! A single word makes all the difference!”

“Cut the nonsense! I’m asking you, what are you going to do about it?” Widow Li demanded aggressively. “I have several children at home waiting for the milk to nourish them, and Ye Fei has gulped down all of it!”

“He’s already drunk it, what do you expect me to do?” the old man replied helplessly. “Besides, if the cow’s milk is gone, aren’t you still here…?”

“What did you just say? Say it again? You wicked old thing! Not only are you refusing to own up, now you’re insulting me!” Widow Li, like an enraged tigress, rolled up her sleeves and charged at the old man. “Today I’ll see to it that you pay!”

“Damn!” The old man’s expression changed. Though age hadn’t dulled his strength, one couldn’t possibly fight with a woman.

Discretion is the better part of valor.

He spun around and locked the door tightly.

“You old fossil, you dare hide? Open the door, you hear me!” Widow Li hammered on the door, making it rattle.

“Women and petty people are truly impossible to deal with—the ancients never wronged me!” the old man sighed, then caught sight of Ye Fei snickering on the side. He shuddered with rage. “You think this is funny? You just can’t get through a day without causing trouble, can you? Who else would raid someone’s cow like that?”

“Master, you can’t blame me for this,” Ye Fei replied, patting his stomach as he flopped onto a chair. “Training’s been exhausting lately, and since Widow Li’s cow was producing milk, I just helped myself!”

“You…” The old man was momentarily speechless, then suddenly spoke in a solemn tone, “Hm, not bad! Ye Fei, your skills have become stable and refined lately—you’re already a peerless master. Pack your things and head down the mountain.”

“What? Down the mountain?” Ye Fei sat up with a jolt. “Master, isn’t this a bit much? You’re sending me away just for drinking some milk?”

“No!” The old man raised a finger and wagged it. “I’ve taught you everything I can. There’s no more point in you staying here. Didn’t you always want to return to Hangzhou to search for your origins? Go on, then!”

“Really?” Ye Fei’s eyes lit up.

He’d been an orphan since childhood, found and taken in by the old man in Hangzhou. His greatest wish was to find his birth parents.

Now that his master was finally letting him go, excitement was inevitable. In no time at all, he packed his bundle.

“You’re in such a hurry to leave? Not even a trace of reluctance for your master?” The old man’s face darkened.

“You’re just a cranky old man, what’s there to be reluctant about…” Seeing his master’s face about to erupt, Ye Fei quickly changed his tone, grinning. “The sooner I finish my business, the sooner I can return and keep you company in your retirement!”

“That’s more like it!” The old man snorted. “There are a few things you must remember. First, a few years ago while passing through Hangzhou, I arranged a marriage for you with the eldest daughter of the Sun family. When you arrive, marry her promptly and carry on our lineage!”

“Marriage? Carry on the lineage?” Ye Fei was dumbfounded. “Master, what era is this? We’re still doing arranged marriages? What if this Sun family daughter turns out to be horrendous? That’s unacceptable—absolutely not!”

“I can see right through your little schemes!” The old man tossed over a photograph. “Would your master’s judgment ever be mistaken?”

Ye Fei took a closer look and saw a pure, beautiful girl with an elegant figure—at least an eight or nine out of ten!

“Master, since ancient times, marriage is subject to parental arrangement and the matchmaker’s word. I’ll obey you!”

“Shameless!” The old man scolded, then continued, “Second, apart from you, I have nine other female disciples. They aren’t all direct disciples, but I’ve taught them all something, and each has achieved success in her own field. Once you’re in the city, seek out your senior sisters. Your second, eighth, and ninth senior sisters should all be in Hangzhou.”

“I have nine senior sisters? Master, you’re something else! Keeping this from me all this time!” Ye Fei clicked his tongue. “Are they beautiful? Do you have photos?”

“When I took them in, they were all still children—how would I have photos?” The old man rolled his eyes. “But with my judgment, each of your nine senior sisters is a beauty in the making—they won’t disappoint.”

“If you’re capable enough to win them over, I have no objections. The more prosperous the lineage, the better. Besides, each of your nine senior sisters possesses an extraordinary constitution, essential to the Nine Dragons Divine Art!”

“So you must find them and ensure their safety.”

“What do they have to do with the Nine Dragons Divine Art?” Ye Fei asked.

“When you’ve found all nine of your senior sisters, you’ll naturally understand,” the old man replied mysteriously.

“Alright,” Ye Fei said, knowing his master’s temperament—if he didn’t want to explain, pressing further was pointless.

Still, he felt a surge of joy, as if he’d suddenly won the lottery.

He hadn’t expected that, on top of having a beautiful fiancée, he also had nine senior sisters!

“Don’t get ahead of yourself—there’s a third matter, and it’s the most important.” The old man’s face grew serious. “The Nine Dragons Divine Art I taught you is a supreme technique. Unless absolutely necessary, never reveal it lightly, or you’ll bring enormous trouble upon yourself! The miscellaneous skills I taught you should be enough to handle the mundane world. Remember this!”

Ye Fei drew a deep breath.

Ever since he began learning the Nine Dragons Divine Art, he’d known how powerful and crucial it was. Naturally, he didn’t dare take it lightly. “I understand, Master. I’ll keep it in mind.”

“Good!” The old man nodded. “It’s getting late. Off you go!”

“Master, I’ll finish my business quickly and return to honor you!” Ye Fei knelt and bowed three times before turning to leave.

Watching his figure disappear into the distance, the old man sighed quietly, “Once you go down the mountain, the affairs of the mortal world are never so simple. Besides, you are a true dragon—destined to stir the winds and overturn the heavens. How could you return to keep me company in old age? It’s time I left this place as well. Fate, everything is fate…”

On the plane to Hangzhou.

Ye Fei lounged in his seat, turning the photo over in his hands, liking it more with each glance.

His future wife was truly a beauty!

“Lunatic!”

A beautiful woman seated beside him caught a glimpse of his expression and silently cursed, edging away.

Suddenly, something caught her eye. She stared at the photo. “Hey, where did you get that picture? What’s your relationship with the person in it?”