“If you draw the sword, might as well cut something, don’t you think?”
Since we came all this way, it’s a job we can’t go back empty-handed. I and the party decided to enter this mysterious village.
In contrast to the rough route we had traversed so far, the path leading to the village was smooth enough to roll. Of course, I didn’t mean it literally rolled.
“Kyaang…!”
As we reached the entrance of the village, the rabbit in my arms exclaimed in admiration.
It was understandable because the entrance was adorned with beautiful harmony decorations.
As if welcoming visitors.
‘Wasn’t this supposed to be a closed village…?’
With doubt in my mind, I exchanged glances with the party and cautiously took a step forward.
As we descended a slightly steep hill, an unbelievable sight unfolded.
‘Wow… What on earth is this place?’
It truly deserved the expression ‘breathtaking scenery.’
The village, nestled between the high cliffs with a waterfall pouring down and the lake formed by the waterfall, looked like a place straight out of a fantasy movie.
Houses made of wood and stone were scattered around as if blending into nature, adorned with various harmony decorations on doors, fences, trees, and more.
“What kind of festival is going on…? Anyway, it’s really amazing. I’ve never heard of a place like this in the world.”
Anna said with an admiring voice. She, as well as others, including Arwin, were all gazing at the village with lost expressions.
“This seems to be a very beautiful place. I feel a bit jealous of Dragon Beastkin living in such a place.”
Although he said it jokingly, Arwin seemed half-serious. I pondered over the question that came to my mind and subtly asked.
“When it comes to Black Dragons, don’t they usually like lava fields, wastelands, and deep caves? They tend to hoard gold and gems in such caves…”
Upon hearing that, Arwin raised his eyebrows in disbelief.
“What kind of biased statement is that? While it’s true that Black Dragons generally have such tendencies, I’m not like that. I have my own preferences.”
I see. Nodding my head nonchalantly, I asked another question.
“Do you dislike gems then?”
“I like them.”
“What about caves?”
“I like dark and cozy places.”
“And boiling red lava and hot, pitch-black volcanic rocks?”
“I prefer fire to water.”
What the heck, he’s just a Black Dragon. I rolled my eyes at Arwin. Only then did he hastily add, seeming to realize something.
“But liking them doesn’t mean I’m obsessed. I prefer peaceful forests or a library full of books.”
I see. With a half-hearted acceptance, I nodded, and Arwin, looking displeased, glanced at me. I just pretended not to notice and continued walking.
As we ventured deeper into the village, the festive atmosphere intensified.
And finally, we were able to meet the people who seemed to be residents of this village.
At first, they were shocked to see us, then quickly impressed, and eventually, they were very pleased. They referred to us as guests who had come to the village after a hundred years.
‘A hundred years…’
This village was no joke when it came to its closed nature.
It’s quite remarkable that they’ve maintained isolation for so long, being both a closed-off village and surprisingly friendly to outsiders.
“However, just because we’re here doesn’t mean we spend every day in the village. We go out to buy things and travel. It’s just that when we leave or return to the village, we try very hard not to reveal its location.”
“Ah, I see…”
From the rough story I heard, it seems this village is where lizard and snake Beastkin, who worship the Azure Dragon like a deity, reside.
‘No wonder everyone has scales on their skin. Their pupils are vertically slit.’
But it’s not only reptilian Beastkin among the residents.
“My wife is a Blue Magpie Beastkin. By the way, a Blue Magpie belongs to the crow family. Since marrying her, I haven’t eaten bird meat at all. Doesn’t that sound a bit awkward? Hahaha.”
Well… it does sound a bit awkward. Just like I can’t eat rabbit meat. Our rabbit eats any kind of meat so well, I’m afraid it might even eat rabbit meat.
I smiled and opened my mouth to the snake Beastkin uncle who kindly explained everything to us.
“Thank you for sharing your story. But… is there a festival going on in the village right now? People’s attire is fancy, and I see flower decorations everywhere.”
“Oh, this is not a festival…”
The snake uncle smiled charmingly and continued.
“It’s a funeral.”
“…?”
Wait, a funeral?
With such a festive atmosphere like this?!
Whether my astonishment was evident or not, the snake uncle chuckled awkwardly.
And then, he continued to explain,
“We don’t regard death as a sad event in our village. We see it as a kind of passage ritual. Through death, our physical bodies return to the earth and become nourishment for other lives in nature, while the soul is believed to be reborn, gaining a new life.”
…So that’s how it is.
Male lead is a Divorced Husband
She said to him: “Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change it!”
Liu Changning transmigrated into a female cannon fodder character in a female-dominant novel.
After reading the first half of the novel’s plot, the first thing she did upon transmigration was to divorce the Pan Jinlian-style male protagonist she had just married.
She indulged herself, pretending to be ugly and poor.
But as time passed, the way that man looked at her became more and more unusual…
Liu Changning was dumbfounded: Tell me, what makes you like me? I’ll change!
――
This lifetime, Pei Yuanshao was rejected by the same woman twice!
The first time, she drove him away. Forced by the situation, he endured the waves of anger in his heart, yielding and humbling himself.
That person lay slanted on a rocking chair, her sallow face emotionless: “If you don’t want a divorce, go cook!”
Pei Yuanshao’s face was dark and gloomy: “You!”
The second time, after the crisis in Jinling City was resolved, the new emperor sent someone to pick him up. He turned around, stammering: “I… I have to go. If you keep me…”
That person lay on the kang bed, her back to him, as if she had long anticipated this day, crisp and clear: “Goodbye!”
Pei Yuanshao was so angry his fingers trembled: “You… you!”
The mission of family and country made him restrain himself, averting his eyes and turning to leave this broken household.
Two years later, they met again. Seeing her ethereal face, his body shook like a sieve.
“She was originally a ‘she’!”
At the Qionglin Banquet, the top scholar of the imperial examination, a talented person with exceptional speech and conduct, all the unmarried young gentlemen from aristocratic families looked at her with shy and timid eyes.
The peerless imperial official Pei Yuanshao felt the anger in his heart erupt. He pointed at the woman surrounded by the crowd at the Qionglin Banquet, his thin lips slightly curled: “Little sister, I wants that person to be the wife-master of my Mingde Prince Manor.”
[Touch the gear icon in the bottom right corner of the screen to move to the next chapter if you want.]
