White Snake: 1-3 Danger in the Market

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An assassin invades the forest sanctuary, and bumps into Xu Xian and company while escaping into the market. Danger lurks on the street, and someone steps in just in time.

Info

Style: Event Logs: Realgar Recommended: Golden Dewdrops Perfect Score: ~280 Rewards: 3,000 , 600 , 3 , 1 , 1 , Worldly Longing, Blueprint: Bejeweled Chime

Bejeweled Chime

Dialogue Choices

Note: Changing choices when replaying will cost 5

(I decide to...)

• Use my magic to fight
  • Unlocks ending "Restless Ghost"
• Not get carried away
  • Unlocks event log "Realgar"

Transcript

Expand for script.

• Xiaoqing and I warily leave town. We don't dare use our magic to return to our forest sanctuary until we reach a desolate spot.
• Looking back on the day's events, I find it all somewhat hard to believe.

• You: (I should laugh off such frivolous talk. After all, it was just strangers gossiping.)

• You: (But there were some familiar faces in the crowd...)

• You: Did you see that lady who sells fish soup next to our apothecary today, Xiaoqing?

• Xiaoqing: Now that you mention it, she was also there...

• You: She was our very first patient the day we opened the Bai Apothecary.

• Xiaoqing: Yeah, I remember. She said she'd been doing business for years no matter how wet or blustery the weather, but her wrists and ankles would hurt when it rained.

• You: That's right. I gave her medicine for rheumatism and instructed her to eat a light diet and drink less soup.

• You: A few days later, she came back with friends. She said she came to thank us and introduce the neighbors to us excellent doctors.

• Xiaoqing: She always begged us to put it on her tab, but she was a warm-hearted person.

• Xiaoqing: I suppose she's a penny-pincher because she's not so well-off, and because that's the nature of traders.

• You: She visited us quite often in the past few months, either to chat or teach us needlework...

• You: Her nagging occasionally grated on my nerves, but I know she meant well.

• You: She really cared about us when we first arrived here.

• Xiaoqing: Yeah...

• You: The sun was shining on our opening day, and there were many colorful kites soaring in the sky.

• Xiaoqing: That's right. You were clumsy and almost tripped over a kite string.

• Xiaoqing: Then she--

• You: Yes. She may look rough around the edges, but she was thoughtful and kind.

• You: Maybe she saw our empty Bai Apothecary that day and was worried that since we were new, we wouldn't attract customers.

• You: I had thought she was our most reliable friend in the neighborhood, but today...

• Xiaoqing and I fell into a long silence.

• You: Before today, when I saw these patients, I always thought...

• You: ...they were just cases for the medical merit record book that would help me become an immortal.

• You: But seeing them suddenly turn against us, I feel a sadness in my heart.

• Xiaoqing: Why bother with these lowly people, Suzhen? Let's not dwell on these insignificant matters?

• Xiaoqing: We should think about the future. When we become immortals, we won't have to worry about such trivialities.

• You: You know the mortal world is hostile to demons, Xiaoqing.

• You: Our master said demons are no different than humans, and that both can ascend and become immortal.

• You: Since the humans heard we're demons, they won't come to our apothecary anymore. How can we dream of collecting merits from our medical practice and becoming immortals now?

• Xiaoqing: It is a problem...

• Xiaoqing: There's something fishy about that rumor.

• Xiaoqing: We return to our sanctuary at sunset every day, and we never see anyone following us.

• You: The man of the apothecary described itself it with such detail. Whoever spread the information knows details of our daily lives.

• You: It makes my skin crawl.

• Xiaoqing: This won't do. We can't let this stalker continue to spread this information.

• Xiaoqing: We must find them and address this problem at the source. Only then can se relax and continue practicing medicine here.

• I sense a threat in Xiaoqing's words. I remember what she did at the Xu Apothecary, and rush to dissuade her.

• You: Do you remember what our master told us again and again before we came to the mortal world, Xiaoqing?

• Mother of Mount Li: I know how intelligent you are. I need to say more about how you should cultivate yourselves in the mortal world.

• Mother of Mount Li: There is one thing you must always remember.

• You: We know! You are the Mother of Mount Li, Master. Why not get back to your duties as an immortal.

• You: The Queen Mother of the West is waiting for Master to handle those edicts from the realm of the immortals.

• You: We've heard your admonitions at least a thousand times...

• Mother of Mount Li: Even another thousand would not suffice with Xiaoqing's temper.

• Mother of Mount Li: Remember, you must control your temper. It can hurt innocent people.

• Xiaoqing: Yes, Master. I will heed your instruction.

• Mother of Mount Li: You are going to the mortal world to save lives and do good deeds.

• Mother of Mount Li: Saving one life is better than building a seven-level pagoda.

• Mother of Mount Li: Good thoughts can turn you into a god. Bad thoughts can turn you into a devil.

• Mother of Mount Li: If you provoke a dispute for no reason and hurt innocent people, you will be cast into Samsara with no chance at rebirth as punishment.

• Remembering our master's admonition, Xiaoqing sighs softly.

• Xiaoqing: If not for our desire to become immortal, we could enjoy a life of leisure.

• Xiaoqing: Who would want to come here and suffer such mistreatment?

• I can't help but smile when Xiaoqing describes the immortal life she dreams of.

• Xiaoqing: After I become an immortal of the Medical Court, I'll enjoy humanity's offerings to the immortals to the fullest.

• Xiaoqing: If the offerings are not to my liking, I will enter the local governor's dream and send him a message, just like the East Sea Dragon King did.

• Xiaoqing imitates the Dragon King's thunderous manner.

• Xiaoqing: Not enough! Not enough! Not enough! I said I wanted 50 tons of good rice, but you only gave me 48. YOu think the Dragon King can't count?!

• Xiaoqing: You are fooling me again with Qiongzhou lychees. If you don't send Maoming lychees next time, you can look forward to an arid summer and a frigid winter!

• I yearn for the sights and sounds of the immortal realm as we reminisce.

• You: There are harsh and cantankerous gods in the immortal realm, ans well as strict hierarchies of position and age...

• You: But at least gods are respected by humans. Humans don't panic at the mention of gods, not like they did today at the mention of demons.

• Xiaoqing: Humans panic at the mention of demons because they have an inexplicable prejudice against us, to the point of leveling false accusations.

• Xiaoqing: If humans didn't invade our territory, demons would never hurt them.

• Xiaoqing: But humans? They make up insidious lies about us, even attacking demons under the pretense of protecting the people.

• In the midst of our discussion, the Silver Web inside the sanctuary begins to vibrate, ringing the bell below.
• When we took leave of our master, she gave us this artifact to protect ourselves. If someone intends to kill us, the Silver Web vibrates and the bell rings.

• You: (This is the first time since coming to the mortal world that it has vibrated so rapidly. There's an assassin here!)

• Xiaoqing and I leap out from the sanctuary to catch the assassin before we can properly assess our situation.

• In the darkness, I vaguely make out an assassin wearing a mask snooping nearby.
• When they see us, the assassin chants something under their breath. I recognize it as a spell used to force demons back into their true forms.

• Xiaoqing: A little trick fit for a little burglar!

• Xiaoqing: How dare you attack us in our home?

• Xiaoqing casts a spell to counter the assassin's spell and remove their mask.

• The assassin hastily casts a smokescreen before fleeing toward town. As I'm about to cast a spell and chase him, Xiaoqing yanks the corner of my dress.

• Xiaoqing: They tracked us here without being detected, and know advanced spells like smokescreens. They're no novice.

• Xiaoqing: The enemy is hiding in the dark, while you're wearing a bright dress.

• Xiaoqing: Change into something better suited to the darkness, then we can track him together.

• Xiaoqing and I chase the assassin out of the forest and follow them closely. There are often travelers walking home at night in these parts. We grow uneasy and do not use our Tao magic.

• Xiaoqing: Being so thoroughly covered up makes you feel like you're up to something!

• Xiaoqing: Show me your true face!

• Xiaoqing dashes forward and stretches our her hand, trying to remove the assassin's veil.
• They are swift. Xiaoqing's finger nearly touches their cheek, but they block it and quicken their pace.
• Xiaoqing and I exchange glances. We have the same idea.

• Xiaoqing: You must have a face as ugly as a dog. Why else would you cover it?

• Xiaoqing: Maybe a childhood disease left your face riddled with pockmarks?

• Xiaoqing continues to ridicule the assassin, but it doesn't slow them down at all.
• While I struggle to find the assassin's weakness, Xiaoqing runs out of insults and says whatever comes to her mind.

• Xiaoqing: You sneaky scoundrel!

• Xiaoqing: Who are you?!

• The assassin stops for a moment. I leap forward and try to cast a spell to lift their mask...
• ...but I'm blinded by a sea of street lights.
• Without realizing it, the assassin almost led us into the bustling night market.

• You: (The night market is full of people. We can't fight them here.)

• When I slow my pace, the assassin sprints away. They're going to escape.

• Xiaoqing: Thief! Stop!

• Xiaoqing dives at the assassin like a hawk hunting its prey.
• The assassin panics but still manages to dodge. Their strength exhausted from the chase, they stumble backward and fall to the ground.
• As the assassin struggles to rise, a vendor carrying a pole on his shoulder with teapots hanging off it passes by and trips over him.
• The vendor's teapot falls, dousing the assassin's left arm with scalding hot water.

• Masked Assassin: !

• Xiaoqing: Show yourself!

• The assassin can no longer run, so Xiaoqing tries to remove their mask.
• But when her fingertips touch the mask, she recoils and pulls back her hand, screaming as though stung by something poisonous.
• I check Xiaoqing's injury. The fingertips of her left hand are slightly burned. The assassin's Tao magic did this.

• You: (But this assassin is exhausted. They can't sustain their Golden Bell Shield for much longer.)

• You: (I could easily use a spell to unmask them now.)

• You: (This is our best opportunity to find out who they are!)

• The vendor runs away towards the night market, leaving his teapot on the ground.

• Xiaoqing: Remember what our master said, Suzhen...

• You: (I learned high-level Tao magic from our master, but I've never used it in the mortal world.)

• You: (I don't know how powerful my magic is. If I hurt an innocent mortal by accident...)

• The black-clad assassin holds their wounded left arm and stumbles towards town.

• You: (The assassin may have something to do with the rumor. This is my last chance to find out who they are.)

• You: (I decide to...)

Use my magic to fight

• I cast a spell to break their shield. Unable to resist, the assassin is quickly defeated. I'm astonished when I see their face.
• Then I hear Xiaoqing scream. I quickly turn to see that the vendor is sprawled on the ground, dead.
• I've made a terrible mistake, and I've dashed our hopes to pieces. Soon after we return to the forest, our master comes to us, sighing sadly...

Solving the mystery of the mask might satisfy your curiosity, but it goes against what you've been taught.
Ending [Restless Ghost]

Not get carried away

• I hesitate and slow my pace. The black-clad assassin has run into the bustling crowd.
• We try to follow the assassin, but the crowd gets in our way.
• All we can do is watch as the assassin disappears into the sea of people.

• Xiaoqing: Stay alert, Suzhen!

• That's when I notice the street is lined with sunflowers, rice dumplings, and something that makes my chest tighten--

• You: (It's Realgar wine!)

• The smell of Realgar is wafting from the food stands along the street. Enthusiastic vendors, holding cups of wine in their hands, eagerly invite passersby to have a taste.

• Vendor: Care to try this year's Realgar, ladies? It's brewed with fresh spring water!

• Vendor: It's hot and humid this Dragon Boat Festival, but a cup of Realgar wine will help keep the plague at bay!

• Xiaoqing and I politely decline and continue forward while dodging people drinking the wine at the roadside stands.

• You: (Xiaoqing and I are snake spirits. Realgar wine is what we fear the most.

• You: (If we were to accidentally touch the wine we would turn into snakes right here on the street. It would be disastrous!)

• The Dragon Boat Festival must be an incredibly lively celebration in the mortal world. The street is decorated with beautifully painted fans and packed with buzzing throngs of excited celebrants.
• However, all I feel is irritation. I just want to extricate myself from this crowded street and return to the forest to rest.
• Finally, Xiaoqing and I manage to break away from the market. When we reach a quiet alley, we slow our pace and breathe long sighs of relief.

• Xu Xian: Miss Suzhen! Miss Xiaoqing! Please wait!

• Xu Xian calls us, but Xiaoqing doesn't want to talk to him. She pulls me to leave without even turning her head.
• We walk only a few steps before a child of about seven or eight runs into my arms.

• Yue'er: Big sister!

• As I stand there dumbstruck, Xu Xian catches up with us and starts apologizing repeatedly.

• Xu Xian: I'm sorry. This is my niece. She likes meeting strangers.

• Xu Xian: You made such a fuss about seeing the festival night market, and now you won't even go?

• Yue'er: Who'd wanna go with you? All you do is show off your big head.

• Yue'er: I'm gonna go to the night market and see the lanterns with these ladies!

• This little girl's wit and charm make it hard to refuse her. I stroke her soft hair as I decide how to answer.

• Xu Xian: You don't even know these ladies' names, and you want to tire them out by making them accompany you?

• Yue'er: Oh! Right! I was so happy to see these pretty ladies that I forgot to ask...

• Yue'er: What are your names?

• You: I'm Suzhen and she's Xiaoqing.

• Yue'er: Now that I know your names, we can go see the lanterns together!

• Xu Xian is at a loss. He looks helplessly at us.

• Xu Xian: I really don't know what to do with her... If it's not too much trouble, could you please accompany us to the night market?

• I think about how to reply, when a nanny approaches from behind Xu Xian and calls Yue'er's name.

• Nanny: Come here. I want to draw a protection rune on you with this fresh Realgar wine.

• The woman gets nearer. Yue'er appears reluctant to get the rune, trying to evade the nanny by lodging herself in my embrace.
• The Realgar wine is only inches away from me. I want to flee in terror, but I'm held by Yue'er and can't get away.
• The woman stumbles as she chases after us, and the Realgar wine is about to spill from the cup--

• Xu Xian: Watch out!

• Xu Xian reacts nimbly, stepping in front of me. The wine splashes on his robe.
• Unsure how to thank him, I hug Yue'er, who is frightened and speechless. The woman apologizes to Xu Xian, who just smiles. He doesn't seem to mind at all.

• Xu Xian: Don't worry, it's just a common robe. I'm glad I managed to keep the wine from staining your clothes. Please consider it my apology for what happened before.

• You: There's nothing to apologize for--

• Xu Xian: I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused the last few days. I know Xiaoqing is angry that I stole your medicine recipes.

• Xu Xian: On the day of my first visit, my father was grilling me on my medical knowledge, even bringing in patients with complex illnesses. I was at my wit's end.

• Xu Xian: That's when I heard from my patients that an extremely skilled physician had moved in next door. And I thought I could get answers from you.

• You: That's why you took so long to ask me medical questions that day...

• Xu Xian: I thought the skilled physician would be a gray-haired old man. To my surprise, it turned out to be a lady not much older than me.

• Xu Xian: I felt so ashamed... I had wasted so much time neglecting my medical studies, but you were already a well-known physician.

• Xu Xian: I also thought the question I wanted to ask, while exceedingly difficult for me, would be a piece of cake for you.

• Xu Xian: So I hesitated, and the words got stuck in my throat.

• You: But you've made tremendous progress since.

• Xu Xian: Thanks to your guidance. You even taught me the medicine for the plague. I can't thank you enough.

• Xiaoqing: Playing the victim after taking advantage of us, I see!

• Xu Xian: Not at all. You misunderstand me, Miss Xiaoqing...

• Xu Xian: I found it strange that, several days ago, many of your most vocally loyal patients started coming to my apothecary.

• Xu Xian: This troubled me, and I had planned to talk to you about it when I received a letter requesting I leave town to pick up this little brat.

• Yue'er: Hey! Who are you calling a brat?

• That's why Xu Xian rushed out of town the other day. His frankness has resolved my doubts about him.

• You: You can ask me any questions about medicine. I don't mind.

• Xu Xian: That's what I was hoping for. I'm not as skilled as you are. If I encounter any rare disease, can I invite you to my apothecary to help diagnose it.

• Xiaoqing: How much longer do you plan to prattle on? Don't you hear the watchman? It's getting late!

• I bid Xu Xian goodbye. Just as I'm about to leave, Yue'er begins coughing violently. I'm taken aback by how serious her condition sounds, but it's too dark for me to make a diagnosis.
• I tell Xu Xian and the nanny to take Yue'er back to the Xu Apothecary and give her some medicine. I also ask them to bring her to our apothecary tomorrow.

• Xu Xian: You heard her, right?

• Xu Xian: Miss Suzhen is an excellent physician. She will cure Yue'er.

• The nanny thanks us and she and Xu Xian take Yue'er home.