Storytelling

The girl in a plain white dress looked at Ding Songyan with both anticipation and concern.

"If you are unwell, perhaps you should go back and recuperate first. I-I'm not in a hurry."

Her voice was soft and sweet, exceedingly pleasant to hear.

Ding Songyan laughed.

"It's nothing, it's nothing. I've already been wandering outside Dangkang Temple for over an hour. It's just that my brain feels like someone poured paste into it, so it's still a little sluggish. If I stammer later, fail to speak smoothly, or forget my lines, I hope you'll be lenient, miss."

He was putting on his armor first. After all, he had never told stories before and had no idea whether he could pull it off smoothly.

As he spoke, he suddenly felt rather wistful.

Back when he had been on campus, he had scorned worldly social graces and hated cultivating connections. He had believed that his own intelligence, talent, and deep understanding of matters could solve every problem and bring him success. Yet after reality had hammered him down and his personality had been pieced back together bit by bit, gauging others' intentions, befriending useful people, and desperately maintaining relationships had somehow become instinct.

Over the past year or two, with his career succeeding and his need for self-fulfillment initially satisfied, he would sometimes feel utterly weary in body and mind. He was not suited to fighting and scrambling in the business world. He might as well return to the ivory tower, conduct research he enjoyed that did not involve too much scheming and intrigue, then drink, brag, and play games with a few friends when idle. Wouldn't that be blissful?

Of course, he knew that was somewhat pretentious. If he had not already amassed a considerable fortune, then truly gone to conduct unrewarding research purely to satisfy his interests, he would most likely have been terribly anxious and incapable of enjoying life.

Amid his sighs, Ding Songyan reached the patch of open ground that belonged to him. There were no chairs or stools, nor any of the tools of his trade.

He gathered his thoughts and considered which story he ought to tell.

After his gaze swept over the girl in the plain white dress and her maid in a blue-green gauze skirt, Ding Songyan had an idea.

He smiled faintly.

"Honored audience, today I shall tell you the tale of the Legend of the White Snake."

Before his words had even faded, he was already observing the expressions of the girl in white, her maid, and the man selling medicinal plasters nearby, watching how they reacted to the title Legend of the White Snake so he could judge whether a similar story existed in this world.

Still, it would not matter if there was one. Ding Songyan had already put on his armor just now. This was a newly learned legendary tale, not a newly written one.

If the audience said it differed somewhat from the original, then naturally he had cast off the old and brought forth the new, making adaptations.

Aside from drawing inspiration from the colors of the girl's and maid's clothing, Ding Songyan had chosen Legend of the White Snake because he had watched its corresponding television drama many times with his parents as a child. As an adult, he had also been familiar with all manner of adaptations. He knew the framework of the story extremely well and still remembered all the key plot points. Improvising detailed developments and character dialogue on the spot was about as difficult as presenting a story to investors while looking at a PPT.

This was also one reason Ding Songyan was not too worried about being accused of "stealing" someone else's script. Aside from the key plot points, he would have to make up everything else himself. No one could possibly tell it exactly the same way.

Seeing curiosity appear on the faces of the few onlookers, Ding Songyan secretly let out a breath.

At the very least, there was no Legend of the White Snake in Dingjiang Prefecture.

When he had listened to tales of romance and legend just now, there had only been celestial maidens descending to earth and falling in love with mortals, not the love, hatred, and tangled grudges between demons and humans.

The current open space was relatively quiet. There were no performers nearby beating gongs and drums as they displayed miscellaneous tricks, nor were there constant cries from martial artists performing and selling their skills. This had also been the market owner's intention: the "civil" trades that needed a quiet environment were gathered together, while the noisy "martial" trades were placed elsewhere, with businesses that neither required silence nor made a racket separating them, so they would not interfere with one another.

Standing in the open ground, Ding Songyan felt little nervousness. He was as practiced as if he had set up a projector, opened a PPT, and once again faced investors.

The feeling was strangely surreal, as though a lifetime had passed.

A lifetime had indeed passed.

After identifying the girl with upturned eyes and a dainty pointed chin as a potential "investor," Ding Songyan slowly began.

"In ancient times, beneath Mount Qingcheng in the southwestern lands, there lived a little white snake..."

Right from the start, he shoved the matter all the way back into ancient times, lest some nitpicker later insist on asking where Mount Qingcheng was, where West Lake was, and where Jinshan Temple was.

How would I know? This happened in ancient times, after all.

Ding Songyan began with the first Xu Xian saving the little white snake's life. To flesh out the details, he stitched in a scene of the frozen snake being tucked inside clothing and warmed by the heat of a belly, since he had long forgotten how the television dramas and films had portrayed it.

Afterward, the white snake cultivated in a cave for a thousand years. At last, she attained the Dao and could shed her mortal form, transforming into a human. Then, guided by a bodhisattva, she brought Xiaoqing along and set out to find Xu Xian's reincarnation, repay his kindness, and bring their karmic bond to its close.

As Ding Songyan spoke, he watched the expression of the girl in the plain white dress. He discovered that she was listening with utter focus. Even her breathing seemed to have softened, and though her clear black-and-white eyes held no tears, they still appeared limpid and watery.

The effect was not bad... The potential "investor" had responded well... Ding Songyan became increasingly confident.

He felt that the transition from Lady White merely seeking out Xu Xian's reincarnation to repay his kindness, to offering herself to him in marriage, needed some plot to fill the gap and sketch out the changes in their feelings. Yet he could not recall many details, so he could only rework several events from his own romantic experiences that had deeply moved his former girlfriends and add them in.

First came their meeting at West Lake, sheltering from rain in the same boat, the gift of an umbrella, and the exchange of names. Then Lady White claimed she had come to Lin'an to copy sutras at a Buddhist temple and fulfill a vow, but she did not dare truly go. She could only use poor health as an excuse. Xu Xian pitied her for being "frail and sickly," specially went to the temple, and spent several days copying the Buddhist scriptures. Later, after experiencing all manner of events, the human and demon, both already moved by love, went to make a wish beneath a great tree said to be highly efficacious for seeking marriage. When they lifted their heads, they happened to see one another.

Having made it this far, Ding Songyan planned to stop while he was ahead. If he truly wanted to establish a connection and build some rapport, then he had to whet the appetite of the girl in the white dress. How could he finish the whole story in just a few days? Seven or eight days would not be too much; ten days or half a month would be even more suitable. Only by meeting every day could they become acquainted.

When the time came, if something really happened and she had the ability to help, would she be more willing to help a stranger or someone familiar? The answer spoke for itself.

As he approached the ending, Ding Songyan felt that today's storytelling had gone too smoothly, without any major twists in the plot. Though he had already attracted several dozen listeners, that was mainly because his language was amusing and the theme of a human-demon romance was novel. If he let Xu Xian and Lady White marry smoothly today, then the audience would not have much to look forward to tomorrow.

With this in mind—especially since he needed the girl in white to be willing to return tomorrow—Ding Songyan abruptly changed tack. Before the wedding, he brought Fahai directly onto the stage, having him mutter to himself at the inn where Lady White and Xiaoqing had once stayed, "There is demonic aura here."

Seeing all the listeners reveal anxious, worried expressions at once, Ding Songyan made a snap decision.

"As the saying goes: West Lake's beauty blooms in March's sky, spring rain like wine, willow trees like mist. Those with fate may meet though a thousand miles apart; those without it cannot join hands face-to-face. If you wish to know what happens next, listen in the next installment!"[1]

The girl in the plain white dress opened her mouth, looking reluctant to part with the story.

At such a crucial moment, how could there be no more?

Ding Songyan looked around, then clasped his hands in satisfaction.

"I did not bring the tools of my trade today, so there is no need for anyone to give a reward. If you are interested, come again tomorrow."

He had not planned to accept the white-dressed girl's silver today. He wanted to leave her with a special impression, but he could not treat her differently alone. Unsolicited attentiveness easily made people suspect either treachery or theft, heightening their guard. Therefore, he treated everyone equally and accepted nothing from anyone.

"Second Brother Ding is too courteous!" an onlooker exclaimed in praise.

The girl in white, who had been clutching silver and intending to give it to Ding Songyan, could no longer offer it. She hesitated where she stood, and only after the audience had mostly dispersed did she approach with her maid.

"Second Brother Ding, will that monk Fahai find Lady White and Xiaoqing?"

Of course he would not find them. If he discovered them so early, how would I make up the rest of the story? How would I calmly have Lady White and Xu Xian open a pharmacy, love each other, and have children? How would I have Lady White and Xiaoqing use demon magic to solve problems and create satisfying moments? Tomorrow, I would only feint and brush the matter aside, then throw out a new crisis as a hook when wrapping things up... Ding Songyan smiled.

"We shall discuss it further tomorrow."

The girl in white puffed out her cheeks.

"All right."

She did not press him further and instead asked with concern.

"Are you still feeling unwell? I know several physicians with excellent medical skills."

You mustn't fail to come tomorrow...

"It no longer troubles me." Ding Songyan's thoughts shifted. "I was harmed by someone before, but I do not know who harmed me. I have been somewhat on edge, and my mind has grown rather muddled as well. That was why I did not dare come out to tell stories until today."

He was taking the chance to mention it. He did not seek any response from her; he merely wanted to leave the impression in her heart that such a matter existed.

The girl in white's watery eyes immediately lit up. She turned her head and exchanged a glance with her maid.

Her thoughts seemed written directly across her face.

At last, I've found a chance to uphold justice and aid the weak!

She cleared her throat and said to Ding Songyan with a beaming smile.

"Mm, I know a little martial arts. If there is anything I can help with, come find me at Tianyang Guildhall. Just say you are looking for, looking for..."

The girl stammered briefly, glanced at the maid in the blue-green gauze skirt, and then smiled brightly again.

"Just say you are looking for Xiaoqing!"

Ding Songyan was overjoyed.

"Thank you, heroine. I am deeply grateful!"

The girl's smile became even more radiant, yet she was too embarrassed to say much else. As she waved, the corner of her eye caught sight of an old man selling candied hawthorns nearby.

She immediately took out some copper coins, bought two bright red skewers of candied hawthorns, and handed one to Ding Songyan.

"Though you are not accepting silver today, I cannot listen for nothing. I'll share this skewer of candied hawthorns with you. It's very sweet!"

As she spoke, she licked her candied hawthorns and turned away contentedly, not giving Ding Songyan a chance to refuse.

She did not even ask whether I liked candied hawthorns... Ding Songyan muttered with amusement.

He directly bit off one and held it in his mouth, chewing.

It was already nearing noon, and Ding Songyan felt distinctly hungry.

After thinking it over, he believed that since no changes had occurred after the earlier man had been frightened away, it was likely because people constantly came and went outside Dangkang Temple. It was a key area monitored by watchtowers, so the people behind the scenes did not dare act directly.

Having considered this, Ding Songyan headed away from Dangkang Temple, pretending to look for a cheap eatery as he made his way solely through secluded streets and alleys.

Less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea later, just as he turned into an empty alley, clear footsteps suddenly sounded behind him.

Ding Songyan whirled around and once more saw that rosacea-nosed man wearing a headscarf.

Anger and fear mingled on the man's face as he glared at Ding Songyan.

"Second Brother Ding, why have you come back again?"

[1] Quoted from "Love Across the Waters," the ending theme of New Legend of the White Snake.