Sweetwater Town

After Yun Tian's first clash with the Heaven-Earth Alliance Leader, the plot fell completely into place, unfolding according to the anime.

Meanwhile, after Yun Tian rescued Nangong Wentian and his companions, they planned to defeat the Heaven-Earth Alliance Leader. Their first destination was the West Gate Region.

"It's so hot!"

"Yeah, I'm practically dying from the heat."

"Next time we draw lots, I'm definitely making you carry me."

The speakers were Nangong Wentian and his companions. They had reached the outskirts of West Gate City, and the West Gate Region was a scorching desert.

"Third Uncle, do you actually know where West Gate City is?"

"Uh..."

"Third Uncle, don't tell me you don't know."

"Uh... water!"

"Ah, really?"

Everyone looked in the direction Third Uncle pointed. Sure enough, there was a river. Although its water looked a little red, they couldn't afford to worry about that now. They charged straight toward it and, once they reached the bank, threw caution to the wind and started drinking. The result was that the heat had them all practically breathing fire. Watching from the shadows, Yun Tian was impressed too. These chilies really were something. He even worried whether Third Uncle could take it at his age. Still, spicy as they were, they made a pretty good hot pot base. As he spoke, he fished a few slices of fatty beef out of the pot in front of him. The chilies in it were exactly the same as those Nangong Wentian and his companions had encountered.

"Wait, don't drink that!" A girl ran over. She was about Wen Ya's age, sixteen or seventeen.

Unfortunately, she was already too late.

"So spicy! So spicy! Why is this water so spicy?"

"I told you not to drink it, but you drank so fast that I couldn't even finish!"

"What on earth happened?"

"The Heaven-Earth Alliance Leader's subordinate, Spicy General, did this. This place is called Sweetwater Town, and our river used to be sweet and refreshing. But after Spicy General arrived, he polluted it, leaving us without any water to drink."

"Ah, then how have you been getting by?"

"Yun Tian helped us. He came here and provided us with clean water."

"All right, I'll take you to the village first. We can talk once we're there."

And so Nangong Wentian and his companions followed her to the village.

At Chili Fortress.

"Mmm, so spicy! So spicy! This feels amazing! Chilies are absolutely delicious!"

The speaker was a greasy-looking man with his mouth stuffed full of chilies: Spicy General himself. How much did he love chilies? He ate chilies, drank chilies, and even lived in chilies. He was the sort who couldn't survive without them.

"Chilies are the most delicious food of all! I'll make everyone in Sweetwater Town eat chilies, drink chilies, and use chilies! Red Chili Porcupine, fire the chilies!"

"Yes, master."

After the barrage was fired...

"Hm? What's ringing?"

"Master, it's the communication crystal ball."

Once the connection was established...

"Lord Fierce Yama."

"Spicy General, word has it that Nangong Wentian and his companions, who oppose the Alliance Leader, have arrived in your territory. Go capture them."

"As you command, Lord Fierce Yama."

After hanging up the crystal ball, Spicy General mounted the Red Chili Porcupine and bounced off on his way.

At the village.

Upon reaching the village, Nangong Wentian and his companions saw a well filled with clean water.

"Look, this is the water source Yun Tian gave us. Thanks to him, we can keep living here."

"Come on, I'll take you to meet him."

With that, she led Nangong Wentian and his companions to her family's courtyard. As soon as they reached the gate, the girl called out.

"Yun Tian, I'm back!"

"Oh, Bailing, you're back. Perfect timing. I just finished making a pot of hot pot. Come try it."

"Okay, Yun Tian. I brought some people back this time. They're from out of town."

"Oh? Let me see." The owner of the voice emerged from the house. Nangong Wentian and the others looked toward the doorway too, wanting to see just who this Yun Tian was.

"Big brother!" Wen Ya exclaimed the moment she recognized him.

Bailing noticed that Wen Ya seemed to know Yun Tian.

"Yun Tian, do you know them?"

"We've met. I rescued them once before."

"Oh, I see."

Nangong Wenya asked, "Big brother, why are you here?"

"I'm traveling, wandering from place to place. I came here because this is where your first battle will take place, and where you'll face your first enemy on your own. I'm here in case something goes wrong."

"An enemy? Do you mean Spicy General?"

"Yes. Only by defeating Spicy General can you restore peace to Sweetwater Town. So you must give this battle everything you have. It will determine whether you have the strength to defeat the enemies ahead and walk the road that awaits you."

"Yes, we understand. We'll definitely defeat Spicy General."

"Bailing, see them out. Spicy General is on his way here."

"Okay, Yun Tian."

"Everyone, let's go."

Nangong Wentian and the others headed out, but another voice came from behind them.

"You can take a look to the west. One of your teammates is there."

Once Yun Tian saw Nangong Wentian leave, he immediately returned to his hot pot.

"My meat! It's all cooked to mush. If I'd known, I'd have sent them away sooner instead of playing the mysterious master..." That was right. Yun Tian had said all that just to act like a mysterious master and get them to leave, so they wouldn't fight Spicy General here and interrupt his hot pot meal. The place he had pointed Nangong Wentian toward was Ximen Xiao's location.

When Bailing returned, she found Yun Tian fishing meat out of the pot.

"Come eat, Bailing, or there won't be any left."

"Ah, Yun Tian, save some for me!"

The two ate hot pot together.

"Yun Tian, was what you told Nangong Wentian and the others really that serious?"

"No. I only said it because I was bored and wanted to show off. But I talked too much and overcooked the meat, so I hurriedly had you take them away."

"Oh, I see. Then, Yun Tian, can they really defeat Spicy General?"

"Don't worry. Absolutely. They're children of destiny."

"Yun Tian, what are children of destiny?"

"Children of destiny are born bearing fortune and favored by the Heavenly Dao. For example, if an ordinary person jumped off a cliff alongside one, the child of destiny would land on a stone ledge and discover a cave dwelling filled with treasures. They'd obtain those treasures and begin a life of showing off, while the ordinary person would get nothing and simply fall to their death. Some are even worse: every cliff they jump off has treasure beneath it. If there isn't any, the Heavenly Dao will conjure some up for them."

"Huh? Yun Tian, are they really that terrifying?"

"Yep. That's why they'll definitely win."

Outside the village.

Nangong Wentian and his companions headed west and, sure enough, found Ximen Xiao. For some unknown reason, Nangong Wentian and Ximen Xiao took an immediate liking to each other upon their first meeting. After exchanging just a few words, they began.

"Xiao!"

"Wentian!"

"Xiao!"

"Wentian!"

("Holy shit!" The sight left Yun Tian and Bailing stunned.

"Yun Tian, what are they...?"

"I don't know either! Could they be gay?")

Xiao Long watched them draw closer with every call, as though they were about to kiss.

"Wentian, what are you doing?"

Xiao Long's shout snapped the two back to their senses, only for them to find each other's faces-and lips-mere inches away. Ximen Xiao tried to step back, but his foot missed its footing and he fell straight toward Nangong Wentian, pressing their mouths together. Ximen Xiao was stunned. Nangong Wentian was stunned. Xiao Long and the others were stunned. Even Yun Tian and Bailing were dumbfounded.

Nangong Wentian cried, "No! I've been defiled! I'm no longer pure!"

Ximen Xiao cried, "That's disgusting! I actually kissed a man! My first kiss is gone!"

Xiao Long and the Heaven Crystal Beast cried, "Ah, my eyes! Someone give me a clean pair of eyes!"

(Bailing said, "Yun Tian, you were right. They really are gay."

Yun Tian said, "I never realized they had a taste for that before.")

While everyone was wailing, a chili fell from the sky and exploded, spraying red chili smoke.

"So spicy! What's going on?"

"It's Spicy General!"

"Hahahahaha! Nangong Wentian, I finally found you! Surrender!"

"Damn you, Chili General! A sneak attack? You have no martial honor!"

"Hahahahaha! Brat, what's martial honor? How much does it cost per pound?"

"Don't worry. Once I capture you, I'll lock you up with that short, dark, chubby fellow. I won't let you get lonely. After all, although your behavior is perverted-even more perverted than my eating nothing but chilies-I'll still grant your wish."

"Shut up! Damn it, I'm going to teach you a lesson! Heaven Crystal Beast, transform!"

The plot that followed was perfectly normal. Nangong Wentian defeated Spicy General with a single ultimate move, and peace returned to Sweetwater Town.

(Meanwhile, in the village.

Bailing asked, "Yun Tian, are you leaving?"

Yun Tian replied, "Yes. What's wrong? Can't bear to part with me?"

"Mm."

"In that case, come with me."

"Really? Yun Tian, you're not lying to me?"

"I'm not. So, are you willing to come with me?"

"I am!" Bailing was beside herself with excitement.)

After seeing Nangong Wentian defeat Spicy General, Yun Tian quietly left Sweetwater Town with Bailing. Just as when he had arrived, he departed without taking a single cloud with him.

After defeating Spicy General, Nangong Wentian and his companions returned to the courtyard to look for Yun Tian. They couldn't find him, only a message he had left saying that he and Bailing had already departed.

Meanwhile, with Yun Tian.

"Yun Tian, are we just leaving like this? Aren't we waiting for them?"

"No. They need to save the Jade Dragon Kingdom and fulfill their mission. We have our own mission, and it's even more difficult."

"Oh? What is it?"

"Didn't I tell you I'm a traveler? Naturally, our mission is to continue our journey."

"Huh? Yun Tian, isn't that just having fun? What's difficult about it?"

"Nonsense. How is that having fun? It's appreciating nature's beauty, broadening our horizons, witnessing the hundred faces of human life, and tempering our state of mind."

"Ah, really?"

"Of course, little Bailing. You still have a lot to learn."

"All right, let's go. This time, we're heading to the Beiming Xue Snowfield."