Tang Dynasty Hunter: 1-1 Down the Mountain

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Pei Jin must collect three drops of Sentimental Water to make an antidote for her Master, who was poisoned by a strong demon. She is told the first person she meets after descending the mountain will be her master's old friend.

Info

• Style:
• Gifts: Bygone Chronicle, Shrewd Steps
• Event Logs: Chang'an, Abode, Talisman, Royal Guard, Veiled Hat, Pitch-Pot, Drinking Games, Demon Hunter, Tang Empire
• Recommended: Bygone Chronicle, Shrewd Steps
• Perfect Score: ???
• Rewards: Blueprint: Dainty Painting, 3,000 , 3 Reader's Coupons, 1 Gift Material, 1 Crafting Material

Dialogue Choices

You: (Is Master... serious? How should I respond?)

• Nod and Agree
  • No change
• Make a Joke
  • No change

Transcript

Expand for script.

• In the middle of a dream, I faintly feel someone shaking my shoulder.
• A voice keeps calling for a "Jin'er" to wake up.
• Still half asleep, I open my eyes...

• Jiang Zhen: Jin'er, get up. I made you some new clothes, put them on.

• You: You are... my Master?

• I freeze, and countless fragmented memories flash through my mind.
• I've entered the world of another book. I am Pei Jin, a demon hunter in the Tang Empire.
• Jiang Zhen: Why do you keep getting up so late? You're too old for this nonsense.

• You: I know, I know, I'm getting up... Ah, Master! Don't take the blanket!

• Jiang Zhen: Come, try on these clothes. See if they fit.

• The new clothes feel just right. I stand to let Master take a closer look when she abruptly pushes me aside.
• Jiang Zhen: Jin'er! Move!

• You: (There's demonic energy...)

• Something lands outside with a boom. It's followed by a series of loud, crunching noises.
• A demonic aura fills our abode and an ominious wind blows in. I brandish a talisman in its direction.

• A black figure shrouded by the wind ignores the talisman and lunges for me.
• Jiang Zhen: Do not hurt my disciple!

• With a flick of her sleeve, Master flings several talismans into the air, flooding the room with golden light.
• The golden light clashes and entwines with the dark wind. As the wind grows stronger, I can sense an increase in demonic energy. Master's movements begin to slow...
• You: Master, watch out!

• But it's too late. The demonic wind strikes Master and she falls heavily to the ground. The blood drained from her face.
• Jiang Zhen: *koff*... Vile spirit! Retreat or face my wrath!

• I leap in front of Master to shield her, and point the talisman at the cluster of dark wind.
• You: (Despite her injuries, Master remains unwavering and berates the demon.)

• You: (The demon has the upper hand, but it refuses to approach us. Is it wounded as well?)

• I remember the protective spell cast on our abode. The demon must have been wounded when it slipped in.
• Jiang Zhen: Jin'er, don't be afraid...

• You: (Master is seriously injured, and with my inexperience, I am left with no other options.)

• You: Demon! If you persist, I shall reduce you to your original form.

• You: You may have injured my master, but you must have expended a lot of energy getting through our barriers.

• The swirling dark wind remains anchored in place. I tighten my grip on the talisman and suppress my dread.
• You: I may be inexperienced, but I will do everything in my power to stop you!

• Jiang Zhen: There's no reason for you to stay, demon. You've already got what you were looking for!

• The room suddenly darkens and I feel a gust of wind hurtling through it.
• Moments later, the wind dies down along with any trace of demonic energy.
• You: Let me help you up, Master.

• You: ...Master? Master!

• With Master too weak to get up off the floor, I rush out to get an elixir for her.
• The medicine rack has been knocked over. Dozens of differently-sized ceramic bottles spill onto the floor.
• I panic as I can't find the bottle of life-saving pills. My master weakly calls me to come back.
• I toss the ceramic bottles aside and quickly return to the inner room...

• Jiang Zhen: Stop searching... The demon took it.

• In contrast to my panic, Master is unusually calm... and it unsettles me.
• Jiang Zhen: The demon hit me with... poison.

• Master taught me that the world is in perfect balance. If there is a poison, there must be an antidote.
• You: What do you need, Master? I'll search for it down the mountain.

• Jiang Zhen: Three drops of Sentimental Water.

• You: Are those tears?

• Jiang Zhen: No, silly child. Regular tears won't work. I need the tears of the fated.

• You: What does that mean?

• Master points feebly at a corner, motioning me to retrieve something there.

• You: What is in this bamboo tube, Master?

• Jiang Zhen: Fireflies. Take this bamboo tube down the mountain. When you meet the sentimental souls I mentioned, the bamboo tube will vibrate.

• Jiang Zhen: When it does that, remove the stopper and follow the fireflies. They will lead you to the right person.

• You: What do I do after I find them?

• Jiang Zhen: See that stoppered vial? Bring it here.

• Jiang Zhen: When the time is right, you will receive tears of Sentimental Water.

• Jiang Zhen: When that person cries, catch their tears in this vase. Remember, you need only one drop.

• You: Then I'll need to find three different people to get three drops?

• Jiang Zhen: Yes. They must come from three different people. Only then can we make the antidote.

• You: Is there nothing I can do besides wait for the right time?

• Master looks at me askance, which she usually does when she's worried but also wants to reproach me.
• Jiang Zhen: You journey to Chang'an for two reasons. One is to collect the three tears for the antidote.

• Jiang Zhen: Two, to do your part in this world. Do not forget your role. You are one of the few demon hunters left.

• Jiang Zhen: Go down the mountain and do what demon hunters must do.

• You: Do what demon hunters must do...

• Jiang Zhen: I foresaw these events. A few days ago, I asked my old friend to meet you at the foot of the mountain.

• Jiang Zhen: The first person you see after you've descended the mountain will be my old friend. He will take good care of you, Jin'er.

• Jiang Zhen: He is prudent with his words and wise in his actions. I'll say no more, Jin'er.

• I pack my bag and prepare to descend the mountain before the sun sets. Before leaving, I bid Master farewell.
• You: (I've gone down the mountain alone to shop for supplies before, but I was never away from Master for very long. I'm afraid this trip will take many days.)

• You: I am leaving, Master.

• Jiang Zhen: Jin'er!

• You: Yes, Master?

• Master covers her mouth to cough. She slowly raises her eyes and meets my earnest gaze.
• Jiang Zhen: If you run into trouble, do not mention my name...

• You: Is Master... serious? How should I respond?)

Nod and agree

• You: Yes, your disciple will follow your orders. I will be mindful of that when I am away...

• Jiang Zhen: Oh, child. Why are you always so serious? Do you not know a joke when you hear one?

• You: Eh?

• Jiang Zhen: If my disciple is in trouble, how can I not do anything?

• Jiang Zhen: Your master's old weary bones, no matter how useless, are more than enough to protect you.

• You: But Master, you are poisoned...

• Jiang Zhen: *koff* What do you know. I... Ahem, anyway, you should set off now.

Make a joke

• You: Oh... Um, I also have something to say. I wish to speak freely in this moment of parting.

• You: You're feigning being poisoned, aren't you, Master?

• Jiang Zhen: Silence! Demon hunting and saving people is your calling, but you are not allowed to throw away[sic] your life away!

• You: Understood! When I return, I will bring you golden milk pastries and cauldron cakes.

• You: Don't eat too many snacks while I'm gone, or you'll get another toothache...

• Jiang Zhen: Insolent pup! You ungrateful imp, get out of my sight!

• Seeing how Master can still work up such a livid rage, my spirits lift a little.
• I bid Master farewell, leave our abode, and head down the mountain...

• Though the area is thickly forested, there are many young men sitting together, playing a game where they float wine goblets down a winding brook and recite poems.
• You: Are they... playing drinking games?

• Some men are also playing pitch-pot. Those who miss the pot must compose a poem.
• Man: ...The voices of the virtuous spread without the strength of the wind.

• Remembering Master's words, I do not stay very long. I look for the person she spoke of.
• You: (The first person I meet after descending the mountain will be Master's old friend, whom she asked to guide me.)

• You: (Master has never mentioned her friends before. Who could this person be?)

• As I think about this, I hear footsteps ahead, paired with a man's voice.
• ???: Demon! You cannot escape!

• You: Who's there?

• I turn around and see a steely-eyed man in black chasing a man with a veiled hat.
• Man in Veiled Hat: Huff huff! You've got quite a pair of feet on you, my lord!

• He sounds young.
• ???: Huh!

• The man with the veiled hat runs very strangely, as though he's just learned how to walk. His posture is rather amusing.
• The man in black comes close to catching him several times, but always misses by a hair... Veiled hat man must have used a spell.
• Man in Veiled Hat: Make way, lady!

• Quick as the wind, the man in the veiled hat wobbles past me.
• You: (If I hadn't dodged so quickly, he would've knocked me down. How rash.)

• The man in black nears my position. I meet his steely gaze.
• Only then do I realize I've unintentionally leapt in his path.
• Xie Cheng: I am Xie Cheng of the Royal Guard.

• Xie Cheng: Please stand aside, miss.

• You: Eh?

• I stand stupidly for several moments. He stares at me with a serious expression, his lower jaw taut.
• Xie Cheng: ...I am chasing a troublemaking demon.

• I follow his line of sight over my shoulder to find the man in the veiled hat sneaking up behind me.
• Man in Veiled Hat: Huff, huff, so tired... can't run... anymore...

• Xie Cheng: Surrender!

• Man in Veiled Hat: Help me, lady!

• He shoves me violently into Xie Cheng.
• You: Oof!

• With an agility born from years of practice, I jump to the side. Swaying, I force myself to stay upright.
• Xie Cheng lightly grasps my elbow, supporting me. I whirl towards the boy in the veiled hat and swing my hand.
• Man in Veiled Hat: Eh? Ahh!

• He dodges the slap, but I knock off his veiled hat, revealing a face that would make jaws drop...