Snow's Embrace: Chapter 1

Warning: If you did not read Snow's Embrace: Term Glossary, you may have missing context. It is highly suggested that you read this first if you do not already have a very solid grasp of Chinese philosophy, mythology, and xianxia genre conventions.

Reading Tip: Click on underlined words for annotations! Blue cultural annotations are significantly important. Bolded Blue are critically important concepts to understand, so it is recommended that you don't skip them.

Retranslation

The flows southward into the sea,

Another , there is a nameless mountain.

Upon it are many strange and wondrous trees, and plentiful

Yet, all who enter the mountain lose their way.

It is said, there is a god hidden here,

One must not enter without proper intentions.

It is also said, this god commands yin and yang, and governs the

He is called of the

— The Hundred Sacred Mountains Chronicles:

Fog rises in the forest in the clear morning, like a curtain draped from the canopy of Heaven. I carry a basket of fruit and follow the stone path.

In the wind, bamboo leaves lightly rustle. I vaguely sense something amiss and flip up in a leap, just as a few blades of ice suddenly stab into the spot where I was just standing.

MC: (That was for real! Damn Zayne…)

In the blink of an eye, the falling bamboo leaves all transform into flying blades that shoot towards me. I simply close my eyes and rely on intuition to sense the direction of the attack.

MC: (Right there!)

I catch a single leaf-blade between my fingers and fling it backhanded. Hearing the unexpected sound of a few chimes ringing, I open my eyes.

A flowering tree that blots out Heaven and covers Earth appears before me. Its branches, flowing with radiant light, bloom with countless tiny white flowers, layered together in endless clouds.

This tree has stood here here loftily for many, many years, and recorded just as many of the mortal world.

A person stands beneath the tree, grasping the leaf-blade that I had thrown. With a tall silhouette, and an exquisitely elegant and clean demeanor—it’s Zayne.

Zayne: Your speed of breaking through the is a bit faster than the past two days, a barely-acceptable pass.

MC: Are you unable to be just a little more lenient… What if I accidentally fell? I’d really be into a .

Zayne: If after , you’re still unable to break through such a simple formation—

He takes a seat behind a long, rectangular desk. Calm and composed, he pours a cup of tea.

Zayne: Either I haven’t been of any benefit to your cultivation—in which case, you should descend the mountain to find .

Zayne: Or your so-called “I want to remain here and learn skills” was just to deceive me.

MC: No such thing! Now I’m able to release and recall my power with ease, and my have become even sharper.

MC: This is all because of your strict standards. You’ve taught me well—.

Zayne and I have known each other for quite some time now. He’s never responded to the title of “Shifu.”

I also have no intention to determine whether this counts as a rejection or silent acceptance. Sprawling on top of the desk, I hand him a round red fruit.

MC: You set up the formation to test me first thing in the morning. You definitely haven’t had breakfast, right? Here.

Zayne: There’s no need.

I toss the fruit into my own mouth. Not long after, Zayne raises his eyes from behind a bamboo slip.

MC: Did I disturb you?

Zayne: Just to see what color your sleeve will be dyed.

MC: I rarely wear this kind of clothing.

I gather up my red-stained sleeve, but don’t expect the draped sleeve to be so wide—it knocks over the teacup, and I quickly reach out to catch it.

MC: Hiss, hot…

I hastily put the tea cup on the desk and .

Zayne: Give me your hand.

A gust of cool wind floats over. When I steady my gaze and look again, the hand Zayne had pulled over is no longer red.

MC: It’s probably better if I don’t remain here, right?

Zayne: Mm.

MC: Mm? At a time like this, shouldn’t you comfort me or try to get me to stay a bit longer?

Zayne: It’s rare for you to be self-reflective. Why should I stop you?

Just as I’m about to retort, a small single-horned goat-like creature burrows out from under Zayne’s sleeve and lazily yawns.

It’s the juvenile Bai Ze that has been by his side for many years.

MC: He’s the one who shouldn’t remain here the most, right? Little Bai, come here!

Zayne: He’s not called Little Bai.

MC: From my perspective, he’s always been called Little Bai.

The little Bai Ze nestles stubbornly in Zayne’s arms and refuses to leave. I scoop him up with a single arm.

MC: Look, his fur is all dirty. I’ll take him to the stream to wash up. I’ll take my leave first.

Zayne: …

After walking far enough, I place the little Bai Ze on the ground and firmly grab the horn on top of his head.

MC: It really pisses me off. I’ve never even gotten a head pat from him before. What gives you the right to in his arms!

He unhappily casts a glance at me and then lets out a loud cry.

I attempt to decipher him for a little bit, and feel like he’s probably saying something like, “If it weren’t for me, would you even have met Zayne?”

🇬🇧 English

🇨🇳 简体中文