Battle Through the Heavens Prequel - The Legend of Yao Lao Volume 1 Chapter 1

                The Legend of Yao Lao occurs before the events that occur in Battle Through the Heavens, telling us the story of Yao Lao, Xian Yan's mysterious teacher. It's by the same author, Heavenly Silk Work 天蚕土豆, and is not affiliated with Qidian because it was published as a physical novel.

                Yes I know someone else translated the first ten chapters already, but I'll reach that point in two weeks time so I don't consider it a big deal. Generally I felt that while the previous translation was extremely correct, it was a bit too off from Battle Through the Heaven's translation style which might throw off some readers coming from that story.

Volume 1: First Signs of Budding Talent

Chapter 1: The Yao Clan

                Within the Central Plains lies the Shennong[i] mountain range.

                At dusk, a fiery glow lit up the clouds as though they were burning. This mountain range spans many miles, and a bustling city was built on top of a certain tall mountain. At the peak of the mountain, people had flattened out the ground and on top of that surface was a town that exuded an aura of energy and vitality.

                This is the Yao clan’s ancestral land, where most people share the same surname – Medicine (medicine is pronounced Yao). There only are only some exceptions to this, such as disciples, or close relationships, or from distant relative’s’ dependants.

                No matter their origin, to be able to live on the Medicine clan’s ancestral lands meant that you had an indisputable relationship with the Medicine clan. However you would only be considered a branch member.

                The Yao clan: one of the 8 Ancient Clans[ii]. Their clan name is medicine, and they can be considered the best expert alchemists under the heavens. No matter where you went in the clan, if a clan member wasn’t an alchemist himself, they at least knew a thing or two about alchemy and appraising pills.

                At the utmost peak of the mountain lies an extremely large, mostly empty space. At the very center of it lies a towering stone monument. The monument is both simple and huge, exuding an air of cohesive majesty. This is a symbol of how consolidated the members of the Yao clan are – the Clan Monument.

                This monument is considered extremely important to the Yao clan. Only the most famous clan members can have their names, along with their parents’ names, engraved onto the Clan Monument. To the clan members, this is the absolute highest glory. There is even a saying amongst clan members: “to leave your name on the Clan Monument, your death would not have be in vain.”

                Looking at the Clan Monument, the four faces point to separate parts of the clan: the ancestral hall, the elders’ hall, the clan school, and the clan treasury.

                Just below the mountain peak is the inner ring where the members of the main bloodline reside. Immediately below are the houses of the clan members who have the prestige and power to live there. From this area there are many sporadic bursts of concentrated medicinal aroma. 

                Below the foot of the mountain is where the ordinary members of the clan live. The buildings here are not so eye-attracting; they look like any other town’s buildings and roads.

                On one street, a group of children around seven years old are playing an alchemy game. Although it appeared to be a game, all of them seemed to be reciting the words of actual pill formulas, and none of them were fake formulas, they were real formulas.

                While the kids were playing excitedly, a group of tall men walked over from afar. As they walked towards the sounds of the laughter, the setting sun caused their shadows to grow longer and longer.

                “Ah, you’re still playing outside, come home to eat dinner!”

                The children became even happier and threw themselves towards the group of men.

                “Dad came back!”

                “Dad, yesterday I learned about pill refining in the clan school….”

                When the children saw their dads coming towards them, their young voices became even more rowdy.

                The dads laughingly picked up their individual children onto their shoulders.

                Amongst the children, was a five year old boy who appeared extremely calm, but his hand was tightly holding onto his father’s hand. His father’s hand warmth gave him a sense of simple happiness.

                “Chen-er, what happened? Were you naughty again and caused your mom to be angry?”

                The child lowered his head, “Mom’s angry, she said she wouldn’t acknowledge me anymore… dad, you’ll coax mom, right?”

                “Haha, of course, let’s go, us father and son duo together can definitely make sure that your mom will make us some good food.”

                Yao Huo laughingly picked his child, placing him on his shoulder.

                “Yao Huo, your kid was being naughty again?”

                A sturdy man came walking over, with a rather fat child on his shoulder who was also around five years old.

                “Dad, Yao Chen used aunt’s favourite flower vase as a pill furnace,” the fat child reported loudly.

               “… Cough, Chen-er, it wasn’t that celadon flower vase was it?” Yao Huo asked with a cough, his eyebrows twitching.

                Yao Chen lowered his head, his hands roving across his father’s head in an agitated manner, “Mom really won’t acknowledge me again? She really will never make me chicken legs for dinner again?”

                “So it really was true… then it’s all over for you. Lao Huo wasn’t that the first gift you ever gave to your wife? Yao Chen, just wait to be punished,” laughed the muscular man carrying the fatty.

                “Hmph, f*ck off Luo Bing! Don’t try frightening my child, Chen-er isn’t scared. With me as your father, I will definitely make sure your mom makes you chicken legs for you to eat.”

                The fatty loudly asked, “Dad, what are chicken legs?”

                “Stuff that tastes bad, go home and eat mantou[iii].”

                “Yeah, meat buns are definitely the most delicious,” the fatty nodded his head as if he had understood something.

                Yao Huo gave Luo Bing a despising look, “Old Luo, you better go look for a different kid, this one’s so small, are you really willing to raise it?”

                Luo Bing stared back at him, “Hmph, you understand sh*t. Whatever, I’m leaving, let’s go home.”

                Yao Huo laughingly said, “We’re leaving now!”

                Yao Huo and Luo Bing were clearly this group’s leaders. As soon as they told everyone, everyone laughingly picked up their children and started walking home.

                The two were actually neighbours, so they started walking home along the same route.

                The fatty’s name was Luo Shu, and he was constantly chattering along the road, either about Yao Chen’s current misfortune or saying bad things about his older brother Luo Shan. 

                But every time the fatty would talk about Yao Chen’s situation, he would secretly glance towards him. It was pretty clear that he was trying to get Yao Chen’s attention.

                However, Yao Chen did not take to heart anything that he said. His father’s shoulder was very wide and he felt extremely comfortable. If only his mom wasn’t angry at him, then he’d feel even better.

                When the father son duo finally arrived home, Yao Chen jumped from his dad’s shoulder and announced “Mom, dad’s home now.”

                A beautiful figure came out of the house with a pleasantly surprised opened-mouth look. However when she saw a worried Yao Chen looking to see what was inside the kitchen, her lips curved slightly upwards in a smile. She quickly changed her expression and put on a fake angry look. “Hmph, you are finally willing to come home huh.”

                Yao Huo winked towards Yao Chen, “Haha, I’m kind of hungry, are there chicken legs for dinner? The chicken legs cooked by my dear pretty wife Yao Qing are the most delicious in this whole world, isn’t that right Chen-er?”

                “Uh-huh, uh-huh, uh-huh, mom’s chicken legs are the most delicious!” Yao Chen immediately nodded his head.

                “One old swindler, one young swindler, hmph, just who is your dear pretty wife.”

                “Of course it’s you…” Yao Huo innocently blinked his eyes as his hands affectionately held Yao Qing, who was still faking anger.

                “Dad, I’m hungry.” Yao Chen couldn’t bear to watch any more of this; his stomach agreed with him by emitting a rumbling noise.

                “Forget it, let’s eat.” Yao Qing laughed, her anger changed to laughter as she turned around and brought the father-son duo in to the kitchen. The dinner table was filled with plates covered with bowls. As soon as the bowls were lifted, a strong wonderful fragrance rushed out and assailed the noses.

                “Oh, mom is the best!” Yao Chen seemed was so happy felt like he could fly.

                “Say that mom is the most beautiful, females all like to hear this kind of talk,” Yao Huo laughingly told his son.

                “Mom is the mostmostmostmostmost beautiful!” Yao Chen learned very quickly.

                “You aren’t afraid to teach your son bad things?”

                “If we don’t teach him some bad things now, in the future how will he trick a beautiful lady to come home?”

                “My Yao Qing’s son actually needs to use tricks? Who do you think he is, you?”

                “Haha, that’s true… wait a second, why do these words seem a bit off?”

                “At the beginning, I also fell for your tricks.”

                “Mom, how did dad trick you?” Yao Chen, blinked his eyes, taking the opportunity to insert some words into this conversation. He was still very young and had been very worried that his mom would stop acknowledging him.

                “You really want to know?”

                “Uh-huh!”

                “Wait for when you’re older, then I’ll tell you.”

                “I’m already grown up! I’ve ever started to practice the Flame Foundation Skill.”

                Yao Chen wasn’t satisfied with just saying it out loud, he jumped from his chair and in front of his mom and dad he began demonstrating his cultivation technique. However his imitation of the correct form was very off, and his appearance caused his parents to let out a burst of laughter.

                Right after eating dinner, Yao Qing “forgave” Yao Chen for his mischievous use of the flower vase as a medicinal cauldron. Together they took a stroll towards to the top of the mountain. The light breeze was pleasing as it blew through the late evening air, and Yao Chen started to play and amuse himself along the mountain path. The family was very happy together.

                Arriving at the mountain top, the Clan Monument sat in the center of the public square, and there were already quite a few people around it.

                Yao Huo laughingly said, “Come, today I’ll bring you to a special place, originally that was where your dad was with your mom and….”

                “Yao Huo!” Yao Qing stamped her foot, on her jade-pure face appeared two red dots.

                “Hehe, let’s go, watching the sunset there gives you a kind of special feeling, if we get there too late it will be taken up by other people.”

[i] Shennong is the Chinese god of medicine and agriculture.

[ii] You’ll see this in BTTH, but I’m not sure what the translator will translate it as.

[iii] A Chinese steamed bread bun, generally with filling on the inside.

Chapter end