Peach Blossom Village is confusing as far as story consistency goes although the whole thing starts out simple enough. With a fight of backwater vigilantes (us) vs. the Mafia (them).
Servant of the Li family: You want your son back? Oh... well, first you'll need to pay back the money that you owe us. Otherwise he'll stay with us to work it off. Come on, grab the child and let's go!
: Ha! Quiet bold to kidnap a child in broad daylight.
Bold and really not worth the trouble as the fiends soon find themselves face down in the dirt.
: Sir, are you all right? Are you hurt?
Uncle Fang: Many thanks to you, young lady. But I'm afraid that they will return once you've left.
: Worry not. Tell me why they did this to you.
Uncle Fang: I wanted to save the son of my grandchild, so I borrowed ten gold pieces from the Li family to buy medicine. I wanted to repay them later when we sold our harvested wheat...
: Easy. Tell us slowly.
Uncle Fang: But...but... I would have never thought that Li San, the head of the Li family, would manipulate my bond. I wrote that I would borrow ten gold pieces and pay triple the sum during autumn. A fair and just thing. But he changed the ten to one thousand. Now I must somehow come up with three thousand gold pieces. I couldn't earn that much in my lifetime!
:
1. That, Li...San... sounds like a real bastard. Let me have a word with him.
→ 2. So, the debt is now repaid. But the bond is still in their hands. Now we must think about how we can get it.
In case you didn't guessed it, Lan Wei prefers the all frontal approach in such affairs.
Li San: Who are you? How dare you entering my home?
: Are you Li San? We're friends of Mr. Fang. We heard that he owes you a great deal of money. Is that true?
Li San: Very true. After he lend the money he now owes me three thousand gold pieces. And he is already in delay for two days. Together with daily taxes that would now be three thousand and five hundred gold pieces.
:
1. I will pay his debt. And this is also a warning. Don't bother him anymore or you'll be hold responsible.
→ 2. So, this is how it works? He lends ten gold pieces and must pay three thousand and five hundred to you?
Li San: Bah! In this village, little girl, the Li family makes the law! Attack me and your life will depend on my goodwill.
: Very well, you old goat. Let's try it. I'm standing right here!
We have another little chat with Uncle Fang once all the bodies have been discreetly disposed.
: Sir, I paid for the loan. They won't be pestering you any more.
Uncle Fang: Really? You were able to help me?
: Sir, could you tell us why the Li family did this to you?
Uncle Fang: All that because they want to earn their dirty money from the misfortune of others.
: What do you mean?
Uncle Fang: There was a wealthy family called Shi living in this village. The head of the family was a very generous and kind man. Tragically his son fell over a cliff and all the money the family had was spent on his treatment which drove them into ruin. It was also tragic that the old man died months before the son finally regained consciousness.
: Master Shi was indeed fortunate to survive such a fall at all.
Uncle Fang: Yes, Master Shi was lucky. But he was greatly disheartened because of the his father's death. He doesn't speak any more and tears run over his face when the name of his father is even mentioned. Oddly enough he shows great compassion for the damaged mums on the market and buys every one of them without any hesitation.
: Mums? Why does he care about damaged mums?
Uncle Fang: No one knows. But Li Tu got wind of it and now damages the flowers on purpose to steal the money out of the boy's pocket.
:
→ 1. Yes, this Li Tu surely is corrupt. It appears that the entire family is corrupt and that bothers me somehow. A lot even.
2. Well...if....if I would have the time...I would give the entire Li family a fair beating.
Ok, we're off to deliver another friendly warning then. Instead of entering the house however we get an opportunity for an eavesdrop operation.
Li Tu: Let me thank you with this first cup of wine that you saved my life. Cheers!
Qing Kong: Eh, it was nothing worth mentioning. You are very polite. Cheers!
Li Tu: Let me thank you a second time. For your future success in defeating the evil spirits that are hunting me.
Qing Kong: Hear, hear! Don't be concerned, my friend. Those two creatures have grown soft after so many years amongst us. Their magic is weak. Tomorrow will be their last. I guarantee you.
Li Tu: Hahaha... you are a brave man, Qing Kong! I again raise my cup on your bravery.
Qing Kong: And on yours! Cheers! [sip] We'll have to be prepared for every eventuality tomorrow. Do you think that you could send some soldiers to the bottom of the mountain to support me? Future historians are going to tell about your helpfulness, I assure you.
Li Tu: I already thought of that. I hired additional soldiers for you two days ago.
Qing Kong: Splendid! Come, fill my cup again! Let us salute on your wisdom and foresight!
Li Tu: Thank you! The same to you! Cheers! [sip] That was a wonderful evening. It is sad that it must end, but it is getting late and there is much we must do tomorrow. We shall continue where it ended tonight after our victory, what do you say? [exits]
Qing Kong: Hahaha. Yes, tomorrow morning the ancient powers of Clear Fountain and Flying Swallow will be mine.
: Clear Fountain and Flying Swallow? Oh no, we've got to stop them! If we act now they will have the advantage. We should better go to Shi Guiyi's house first.
Quiet frankly I've got no idea how she manages to make those leaps of logic but we'll ride on the wave while it's still there. Turns out that Shi fellow really does like flowers.
There is also another unexpected visitor present.
: A beautiful young woman is talking with Shi Guiyi, a sick, bed ridden man. “It is all because of you. My older sister is dying but you couldn't understand. Even if you recover from your illness, you'll never see her again, it is pointless. I can't allow it. I must kill you now to save my sister.”
: Hold it! How can you kill an innocent man?
She disappears in a puff of smoke without any explanation or lead. We'll need to do another leap of logic and talk to a new NPC that appeared in front of the Li house.
: Hello! We came to the village and heard that the Li estate is haunted. What on earth happened there?
Servant of the Li family: Well, we've never been haunted by a monster before. But my master saw ghosts and then he dreamed about being cursed by a woman in purple, and another one in yellow because he gained money by corrupt means. He became very sick shortly after the dreams started.
: What did you do?
Servant of the Li family: We thought that there was a spook in the house. So Master Li hired a wizard called Qing Kong to chase it off. The wizard helped curing Li but he didn't expel the ghosts. He said that he would have to stay to reckon the right day to banish them. Whatever that means. Somehow, he's been living here ever since then. He's also eating a lot.
: Did Qing Kong ever mentioned a date?
Servant of the Li family: Are you joking? I think he stays as long as he can get food for free and is paid. I'm certain that his 'magical' day will suddenly come up as soon as he decides to leave.
: As long as there are no ghosts that scare the villagers I think it is a good thing.
: The woman that we've met yesterday was in purple. And she said that she has a sister with magical powers [or maybe not. I'm starting to get the impression that we make this stuff up as we go]. I wonder if they might be the ghost from Li's dream?
: Qing Kong is good at what he does. He must be after something other than food and drinks.
: If it is true then those two girls were handling the bad guys for us. The younger sister said that her older sister was dying. We should go to them and help.
: I think so too. I believe that they are at Thunder-God Mountain. We have to get there before Qing Kong.
You face death itself in the form of 1 purple red mum.
: How can a purple red mum grow here?
Unsurprisingly the flower turns out to be the woman from back at Shi's in disguise.
: I didn't believe that you could get here this fast. My elder sister is dead! Fight me, so that I can rejoin her. I don't care about this life any more.
: We don't want to hurt you, we're here to help your sister.
: Help us? Bah! You're here to steal our magical essence, our powers of purity and of freedom!
: No, we're not. We're here to help you. We overheard your conversation with Master Shi [that part about killing the disabled in the name of family love] and it moved us. Let us help.
: That was you in Master Shi's home?
: Yes! We believe that the illness has somehow connected Master Shi and your older sister. We're adventurers with a good heart and if you want, we would like to assist.
: Connected? Yes, that could be true. If you can save my sister I'll give you everything, I swear on my life!
: That won't be necessary. We're glad to help you out. Maybe you should tell us what happened.
: There is a thoughtful expression on Fei Yan's face for a moment. “Thirteen years ago, the flower that my sister was turned into was dug out by an herbalist. He sold her on a nearby market to someone called Li but Li planted her in a rocky area and, out of despair, she stopped to blossom.”
: <Continue to listen to Fei Yan>
: My sister dried out in the heat of the autumn sun. Then a young man who was passing through rescued her. Master Shi Guiyi took her with him to his home and cared for her. She began to thrive and to bloom. After a while Master Shi allowed a servant to bring her back to Thunder-God Mountain, from whence she came. Master Shi saved her life.
: Master Shi must be a very kind man.
: Ten years later, Master Shi fell over a cliff. And this time it was my older sister that saved him. But he was severely wounded. She allowed him to stay with her for almost half a year. During that time of recovery, they talked about memories of the valley of Master Shi, about green plums and about tee sweetened with osmanthus. They remembered watching plum blossom during full moon, and they started to fall in love.
: That's a sweet story.
: But to save Master Shi, my sister had to rejuvenate the source of her power, the magical essence of purity. To do that she had to return to the form of a flower. I myself was just renewing my own power at the time and was still a flower as well. Shi Guiyi recovered within six months and returned home. My sister hoped desperately that she would be restored soon, so that she and Master Shi could marry.
: Really? What happened then?
: But when Shi Guiyi came home, he heard that his father died. He was so distraught by this that he fell into deep despair and no medicine could cure him. I told my sister that I was certain that we could save him with our purity and freedom.
Now we'll have to decide whether to believe the story of Uncle Fang or hers since both don't exactly match up. It's like a chose your own story book or somethin'.
: Then why did you try to hurt Master Shi?
: We couldn't bare the insults that Li spoke out against Master Shi and the other villagers. But the magic of our punishment attracted a powerful, evil wizard who is longing for our powers of purity and freedom. He is waiting for us to blossom once more, then he will steal our souls and with them our powers.
: What will you do?
: My sister must abandon her power of purity to save Master Shi. But if she does so then I know that it will kill her. I tried to convince her not to do it but she doesn't want to listen. I couldn't bare to lose her, so I decided that the death of Shi was the only way to save her. But the gods must be on her side, because I failed. I was on my way back to wait for the evil wizard that wants to steal our powers when I met you.
: Fei Yan, the wizard left during the early morning. He could already arrived at the Black Water Lily Cave. You must bring me to your sister at once.
Whatever. I lost track of what this quest is all about a few dialogues ago. The least you could do would be to present a clean cut showdown.
Qing Kong: If you want to save this man then hand over Clear Fountain and Flying Swallow to me.
: Shi Guiyi is sick. He will die without the flowers. If you take them, then your wickedness will grow even worse, and no one of us will have peace. We should rather die before it comes to that.
Qing Kong: Pitiful creatures! Don't underestimate me, only because I'm human. I have the power to defeat you. But no one shall say that I'm without compassion. Give me the flower and I promise that I'll save your lover. That is the least I can do for a fellow human being. Otherwise you can watch as he dies a slow and agonizing death.
Wait, I thought she was the flower.
: You've lied to us too many times in the past for us to trust you.
Qing Kong: Destroy the flower and Shi Guiyi will die for sure! Give it to me and I'll heal him, I swear. Even better: I will teach him how to become immaterial and he will become an immortal spirit. What could you want more? You'll be together forever – isn't that what you wanted? Go on, make your choice!
: I... I don't know...
Hold it right there villain!
: Don't listen to him! He would promise anything to get your precious flower.
Qing Kong: Who are you to judge my good deeds, you little, wild ruffian!
Very well. It is a shame: Shi Guiyi is loving you so much, even though he must realize that his life is less worth to you than two stupid flowers. Do you think that he'll be disappointed when he wakes up in hell?
: Chuan Yun!
The faeries pass out in a convenient manner for the boss fight. Qing Kong fights like an upgraded version of Lu Sheng so there are again a lot of big rocks falling on our collective heads. It's not exactly a hard battle but you only get five minutes to kill the wizard before Shi Guiyi dies and the quest fails. Lan Wei handles him in two. After that Lan Wei gets a biowarian choice to either let Fei Yan turn herself into a flower so that we can take her essence of freedom to save her sister or vice versa with the essence of purity. Both cases end unsatisfactorily for poor but cured Shi since even Chuan Yun will rather abandon him in favour of her sister but at this stage I'm just glad that this instance of bad narration is over and done with. Further investigations reveal however that the village is having more problems with a faery when we hear daddy exposition lecturing his son.
Man: Xiao Bao, there is a monster in our village. Don't go out to play. If it catches you then you will become as retarded as the son of Miss Zhang, Da Tou. And like Ya Zi who lived at the city gates. Everything she can do now is laughing to no end without a thought in her head.
: How can you tell that this was the doing of a monster?
Man: I saw it with my own eyes. It was a black, shadowy creature. He was standing over Ya Zi and turned into dark mist and disappeared. Since then Ya Zi is nothing more but an idiot, incapable to understand anything. Same thing happened to Da Tou, the son of Miss Zhang. This thing must be a demon.
: Could this all be true?
It appears we're going to find out as the kid starts screaming as soon as we leave their home.
Man: The man looks terrified. “The demon was here to take Xiao Bao. He ran away when he saw you coming, jumped out of the window back there!”
: I have to take up the chase!
The creature didn't get far.
: Halt! Don't move a muscle!
: Now that I'm revealed, I don't have to disguise myself anymore.
: What?
: This is my true face.
: Back off, demon! Go back to hell!
Other than the obvious furry jokes, this fox fairy is a quiet dangerous foe mostly because she is likely to go after Lan Wei and is able to kill things fast but that's why you bring a wall like Liang Hu along.
: Stop! Don't attack me!
: What? Then explain why!
: I'm a fox fairy. I would never hurt anyone.
: You wouldn't hurt anyone? Then how do you explain what happened to the kids from the village?
: I... I just absorbed their wisdom. It... it isn't dangerous. In a few years they will be...restored.
: Terrible! You hurt others for your own gain. We should kill you!
: Please don't kill me! I already stopped taking what I need. I will die soon. But I still have something left to do. Please.
: What is it?
: Believe me, I beg you, let me return to my cave one last time!
: All right. Move!
Smells like a trap.
But it is just the Han Xing debacle all over again.
Young Man: Leave us alone! Don't hurt my mummy!
: Mummy? This thing is your mother?
Young Man: She is my mummy. Some bad soldiers killed my family a long time ago. They blinded me and since then every other kid is picking on me. But mummy always protects me. She always watches over me.
: I understand, little one. Don't be afraid, I won't hurt her.
Young Man: Thanks! My mummy is the only one in the world who cares for me and protects me. You shouldn't be mean to her.
: Would you go out for a minute? I must tend to her.
Getting an Old Yeller vibe here.
: Thank you for letting me go. I have seen his face before I die. Now I'm satisfied.
: Why is this kid with you?
: This boy has always been in a bad condition since his birth. But he was very kind to me. He saved me when I lost all of my magic. To repay him for his kindness I've learned to live with him without feasting on him.
: What are you doing now?
: A year ago, Qin soldiers burned down his house. They also burned his eyes and blinded him. I cared for him like he was my own child. But the children of the village were always picking on him because he was blind. I didn't saw any other way to protect him. The villagers would have killed me if they would have seen me.
: So you disguised yourself?
: One day I learned that by eating children's minds, I could turn into human form. I practised long and hard until I mastered it. Now I do it only when I have to protect my child.
: And why are still hurting the other children now?
: “Because... because...” The eyes of the fox fairy are getting filled with tears, “If I stop, I must again become a fox fairy. I have to. I must decide if I want to be half human or an evil fairy.”
: …
: My powers are now gone. I will soon die. When my time comes, that what is left of my essence will turn into a magic pearl. Please bring it to my child and let him swallow it. It will give him strength and he will then be able to take care of himself.
: I understand. Please – you can go in peace.
That she does.
Young Man: Will mummy get better again?
:
1. We killed your mummy, little boy. She was a demon who was hurting a lot of people.
→ 2. Here, little boy. Your mother left you some medicine. You must swallow it for her sake.
Young Man: I know that my mum died. I will not take the medicine. It smells like my mummy. That would forever make me think of her.
:…
Ah well, what a waste. The pearl was the best crafting item for potions there is. All the things you do for kidz love. We're about to continue our chase after Chi You when a guard provides us with a vital pointer.
: There is man called Fang Zhong. He knows everything, from the skies to earth. He knows, what happened five hundred years ago, and what will happen five hundred years from now on. He is a divine man or some such. He cured Granny Zhang once, who had been plagued with a smelly foot for twenty years.
: Fang Zhong?
: You know him, Gai Nie?
: Possibly. I once knew a Fang Zhong. He was a disciple of Mohism – a philosophical – religious movement – an intelligent man with many talents, who was a master in the use of magic. He fought together with General Li Mu. It was there that I met him.
: Shall we visit him?
: We didn't have much in common, he was just a fleeting acquaintance. And we don't have time for an unnecessary visit at the moment. We should press on.
Gai Nie doesn't seem too fond of the guy. We should visit him right away.
: Fang Zhong's eyes flash up in surprise as he catches sight of Gai Nie. “Gai Nie! What are you doing here?”
: We're just passing through. I would have never though that you would settle here after you left the Realm of Zhao.
: <Thinks> Strange. Gai Nie doesn't look too happy to see Fang Zhong. Why is that?
: Fang Zhong's eyes are pointed to the floor, his head weights heavily downwards. “It is an old story... not worth to be told.”
: What...? If you wouldn't have convinced your division to run away, General Li wouldn't have died during the battle! Your men were always talking about virtues and morals but they let the people of Zhao down when they were needed most. This old story, you jackass?
: Fang Zhong is getting angrier more and more while he listens. “You arrogant bastard! I'm not an infant who craps his pants by the first signs of danger. What happened was unavoidable. And it is in the past. I can not change it but you can stop insulting my men!”
: You were ten Li away from Han Dan! But you refused to help! What possible explanation is there other than the fact that you're a weakly insect without an ounce of honour in your rotten bones? Please tell me. I'm sure that the dead General Li and Shuang are eager to hear your story.
: Fang Zhong's eyes widen in terror, “What do you say? My sister... Shuang... she's dead?!”
: Yes, Shuang is dead. Killed by Qin soldiers... while she was alive, she always told me how ashamed she was because of you when you and your soldiers fled the battlefield.
: Fang Zhong falls on his knees and moans: “Oh gods! It is my fault! I brought this shame onto her. But... but there was nothing else I could do! What happened was the worst thing that ever happened to my troops but I couldn't talk about it openly. I couldn't. But now... when the army reached our gates we were well prepared – for a fierce battle. But then something happened what we didn't expect.”
: What do you mean?
: Someone from our own ranks betrayed us. I never thought that possible. He poisoned our food and water and we were left without strength. When we finally recaptured Han, Dan had already fallen.
: Did you never find out who the traitor was?
: I did. It was my protégée.
: Zhao Ba? But the Qin killed all his relatives. Why would he do it?
: “Who knows? We couldn't believe it as well... but it destroyed our morale. The army disbanded. I spent the last couple of years on my research for a book about the changes of the five elements. Everything I wanted to do with my life had been lost forever...” His eyes flash as he remembers something. “There is nothing here, everything is abandoned, why are you here?”
: <Tell everything that happened>
: So that's the situation! No wonder that the earth in the north shifted two years back. What will you do now?
: We have no choice. We must stop Chi You, even if it means our death.
: It will be a difficult battle. Very difficult. Wait a moment. I have something that might help you. It is a package my teacher left me. Inside you'll find a tradition about the gods and the five elements.
: Is there a connection to Chi You?
: According to the tradition, every god, including Chi You and the Yellow Emperor, have their origin in the five elements. Those elements support and constrain each other. Not one element is preferred over the others or neglected. This is why the Yellow Emperor was never able to defeat Chi You... and the other way around. They are in complete balance.
: If that's the case then the Yellow Emperor must have had access to another power that made it possible for him to imprison Chi You.
: Possibly. Sadly I don't know who or what it was. Take this and read it carefully. Maybe you'll find something in there that will help you to defeat the demon.
Lore dump dead ahead.
When Pan Gu ended the chaos, he used his bones to create Fu Xi, and his blood to create Nu Wa. Together those three filled the world with life. At first Pan Gu's spirit filled heaven as well as the earth, but after 100.000 years it scattered and became the five elements. These five elements complement each other in an endless cycle of coming and going: Yin and Yang. After another 100.000 years, from those five elements, new gods emerged. Each element had a main deity as its guardian. The deity of metal was West Wangmu; the deity of wood was Yan-Emperor; the deity of fire was Chi You; the deity of water was Gong-Gong; and the deity of earth was the Yellow Emperor. Another 100.000 years they reigned in even harmony over their given realms. Until Gong-Gong and Zhu Rong, a lower god of fire, started to fight one another at Buzhou Mountain. Their rage divided heaven and almost doomed all of mankind, Nu Wa, who responded quickly, collected the scattered pieces of the five elements and used them to close the hole in the sky in one hundred days. But some of the elemental stones were left unused. Those were again scattered around the world of men and are now known as the Imperial Stones.
Soon we'll reach Chengdu, Yan Hong's old home, where he'll have to face the shadows of his past and where the story of two notorious lovebirds draws to a close for better or for worse.
Skill Corner
Lan Wei
: Seven Flower Poison (Offensive)
Requires: Senior level of Insect Swarm, 60 points of
water
Additional Effects: +1% additional group damage for every five points of
water
Notes: I'm not quiet sure if they mean group damage or collective HP absorptions from hits on the cursed target. Either way doesn't sound too bad
Liang Hu
: Warrior's Fire (Offensive)
Requires: Senior level of Set the Place Ablaze, 30 points of
fire +
earth
Additional Effects: Skill can no longer be interrupted nor dodged
Notes: Rather imperative if you want to use this skill at all as interruptions happen way too frequently with this attack
: Ashes and Smoke (Offensive)
Requires: Senior level of Set the Place Ablaze, 60 points of
wood and an equipped wood weapon
Additional Effects: +30% HP absorptions
Notes: Considering that the attack can do up to 200 points of damage and upwards, this is not a small factor to consider
Yan Hong
: Sting to the Heart (Defensive)
Requires: Senior level of Summon Fire Demon, 60 points of
fire
Additional Effects: The attacks of the Fire Demon ignore any armour completely
Notes: :twisted:^2
Cai Xin
: Tremendous Thunder (Offensive)
Requires: Senior level of Frightening Thunderbolt, 30 points of
fire +
wood
Additional Effects: Attack stuns all enemies when executed as a final combo attack
Notes: Worth to be considered as the attributes costs are fairly low and you can stun a lot of enemies in one swoop if you attack from the right angle
Gai Nie
: Unchangeable Gold (Defensive)
Requires: Senior level of Protection of the Golden Bell
Additional Effects: +3% protection against abnormal effects for every 5 points of
earth
Notes: This might be the first instance where the name of the skill perfectly fits its application