Eight months later…
Firecrackers crackled, breaking the silence of the peaceful morning.
Pan Chun jolted awake.
The other villagers really couldn't wait to celebrate the New Year[1], huh. She couldn't blame them though, she was pretty excited herself too.
Pan Chun got out of bed, changed out of her sleepwear, and exited her room.
(Two days after Pan Heng adopted Pan Chun, he and some other villagers, at his *ahem, firm* request, constructed a separate room in the house for Pan Chun. "You needed your own space. You can't exactly sleep or study easy with me snoring in the background, could you?" Pan Heng chuckled.)
Pan Heng stood at the doorway of his room, grumbling and groggily rubbing an eye. "Mornin' A-Chun."
"Good morning, A-ge."
Pan Heng stretched, cracking the joints in his back. "We need to get the offerings ready for the ancestors and the Kitchen God."
Pan Chun nodded, moving to help Pan Heng set the fruits and cooked dishes out on the altars.
Pan Chun paused as she set down an orange. This was just like back home...
"Thanh[2]. Make sure you set the offerings out on the altars of the Buddhas[3], ancestors, and Ông Táo[4]."
"Yes, Bố[5]."
Thanh's father, Mr. Huỳnh used a lighter to light some incense. He put the incense into a small container on each altar.
Thanh and her father clasped their hands together in front of their past relatives' portraits on the Huỳnh family altar, praying for good fortune in the year to come. Both of their eyes focused on Thanh's mother's portrait. Another year gone by without her. But at least they still had each other.
Once they finished, they prepared to head to the Lunar New Year Party at Thanh's uncle's house. That's where the whole family was gathering.
Thanh fixed the collar of her áo dài[6]. She hadn't seen her cousins in a long while so she couldn't wait to play Jackbox[7] on the tv with them in the living room. And of course, poke fun at her father for losing most of his money in a game of Bầu cua cá cọp[8].
"Thanh." Thanh's father came out of his room, also dressed in áo dài.
"Yes, Bố?"
Thanh's father held out a red envelope to her. Lì xì[9]. "I wish you good health and luck in finding a good job."
Thanh took the red envelope. "Thank you, Bố. I wish you happiness and good health."
Thanh pocketed the red envelope and smiled at her father. "Chúc mừng năm mới[10], Bố."
Her father smiled back, placing a loving hand on her arm. "Chúc mừng năm mới, Thanh."
"A-Chun? A-Chun!"
"Huh?"
Pan Heng gazed at Pan Chun with concern. "You're crying."
Pan Chun lifted a finger to her cheek. It was wet.
Pan Heng handed her a cloth. He didn't look irritated at all, his expression gentle. It was different from his usual grumpiness. "Are you all right?"
Pan Chun wiped her face with the cloth. "Yeah...I'm ok. I just miss my family, that's all. We do this back home too."
Pan Heng was surprised. "You also celebrate the New Year the same way as we do where you're from?"
Pan Chun nodded. "My parents were war refugees. Although they fled to an entirely foreign country, they kept their culture and traditions from Vietnam[11]."
"...Vietnam?"
Pan Chun paused. Oh right. Vietnam wasn't called by its country name in this era. How to explain it? "It's…a place that'd be around southwest of here."
Pan Heng mulled for a moment. "So...you are one of the Hundred Yue[12]?"
Is that what the Chinese called Vietnamese people in this era? "Yes, I suppose so."
Pan Chun's Vietnamese name was Thanh, family name Huỳnh[13], English name Tara. She only went by a Chinese name here so she wouldn't stand out as a foreigner. But she refused to forget her roots.
Chinese holidays and festivities, most of which spread across East and Southeast Asia, were celebrated in this world too. The Lunar New Year, the Mid-Autumn Festival[14], and the Hungry Ghost Festival[15], to name a few. Being able to celebrate some of the same holidays as she did with her family back home was...nice. There was comfort in familiarity.
Pan Heng placed a hand inside his coat, rifling for something.
"Here." Pan Heng held out a red envelope. "Pan Chun, I wish you good luck and wisdom."
"No. I can't accept this." Pan Heng had already done so much, housing Pan Chun and keeping her fed and healthy. It didn't feel right.
Pan Heng frowned. "Not accepting a red envelope that's being gifted to you is rude."
"But A-ge, you're not even married."
"Just take it," Pan Heng said gruffly.
Pan Chun gingerly accepted the red envelope with both of her hands. "I-th-thank you, A-ge. I wish you a long and happy life."
Pan Heng turned his head to the side, facing the wall. "Yeah. Of course, A-Chun. Thanks."
Was Pan Chun seeing things or were Pan Heng's cheeks actually turning pink? - Aw. Behind that grumpy shell is a softie.
Pan Chun was fond of Pan Heng for that.
The Lunar New Year celebration didn't really kick off until night came. People milled about, tugging their children along to enjoy the festivities. Firecrackers set off on the street. Children ran around, happily playing with kites and eating sweets.
Pan Heng and Pan Chun walked through the festival stands, browsing through the refreshments and toys being sold.
"So what zodiac[16] animal were you born under?" Pan Heng asked Pan Chun.
"Ox."
This year in particular was the Year of the Snake.
Pan Chun tugged at her coat, which noticeably did not have a translation talisman stuck to it. Her fluency in Ancient Chinese vastly improved over the past year, to the point where she rarely used the translation talisman anymore.
Pan Heng pointed to some children's toys. "You want any of those, A-Chun?"
Pan Chun shook her head. Her focus wasn't on the toys tonight.
Some nearby market stalls were selling meat. Sweet, juicy, appetizing meat. Sticks of pork sizzled on frying trays and wait...was that giò cháo quẩy[17]?! The appetizing smell wafted through the festival grounds.
Pan Chun's mouth watered.
Pan Heng followed Pan Chun's gaze, pinpointing what her attention was directed to. - Meat and youtiao[17] in one sitting? Such an appetite for a small child.
Pan Heng approached the food stand, purchased some pork and youtiao, and passed some pieces down to Pan Chun.
Pan Chun chewed on the pork and youtiao with relish. "Mmm~! Delicious!"
Pan Chun turned her head up to Pan Heng with a smile. "Thanks, A-ge!"
Pan Heng's cheeks turned pink and he cleared his throat. "You're welcome, A-Chun."
Later came the highlight of the night.
Fireworks shot up, covering the night sky with colorful displays. This was followed by a clanging of cymbals and the pounding of drums. A troupe of lion dancers made their entrance and marched through the streets. People made way for the troupe, standing at the sides of the street to marvel at the performance.
Pan Heng lifted Pan Chun on his shoulders so she could clearly see the lion dancers. He used a cultivation spell to soften the fireworks' loud booms, allowing Pan Chun to enjoy the fireworks without jumping on his shoulders every few seconds.
Finally, Pan Heng and Pan Chun made their last stop at the tavern so Pan Heng could drink some celebratory wine. Pan Chun, not a fan of alcohol, just ordered a cup of water.
A crowd of people gathered in the tavern not just for drinks, but for news of the outside world. Traveling merchants returned to their families in Xuhou for the Lunar New Year and they had all kinds of gossip to reveal.
"So what have the Five Great Sects been up to?" a villager asked.
One merchant dramatically slammed down his cup on the table, loudly declaring, "Ah! I've got a story to tell! Recently the QishanWen sect-"
Pan Chun choked on her water. - I'm sorry what?
"-completely absorbed another small sect near Lanling!"
The crowd gasped and murmured uneasily amongst themselves.
"Again?"
"Another one?"
"How frightening!"
"The other four Great Sects didn't make any fuss about it though. It can't be helped. The QishanWen sect has been at the top for centuries. Nothing the other sects could do but keep their heads down."
The merchant sought to reassure his audience. "Ah, but those are the affairs of the cultivation world! Whatever mess the cultivators make amongst themselves has nothing to do with us ordinary folk. We're safe from their machinations!"
In response, the tavern patrons agreed with the merchant, laughing heartily and toasting their drinks.
Pan Chun glanced at Pan Heng. There weren't that many wine bowls on his side of the table. So he was definitely sober enough to answer some questions. "Uh, A-ge?"
Pan Heng wiped his mouth. "Hmm?"
"Could you please tell me about the major cultivation sects?"
"You don't know?" Pan Heng asked, in disbelief that Pan Chun didn't have such common knowledge.
"You never did explain what the cultivation sects are, A-ge."
Pan Heng snorted. "You never asked."
"Fair enough. So please explain them to me now."
Pan Heng raised his hand up. "Waiter, I need to borrow a map and an ink brush."
The waiter brought over the map as requested. Pan Heng cleared the table, spreading the map out on top of it.
"LanlingJin, GusuLan, QingheNie, YunmengJiang, and QishanWen. These are the Five Great Sects of this world." Pan Heng used the brush to circle each sect's location, labeling them with their names as well.
Pan Chun paid close attention, having trouble believing what she was hearing. It couldn't be those same sects from that novel she read. Right? Right?!
"Each sect is headed by a sect leader, who is also the head of their clan. LanlingJin by Jin Guangshan, GusuLan by Lan Qizheng, QingheNie by Nie Fangjian, YunmengJiang by Jiang Fengmian, and QishanWen by Wen Ruohan."
Pan Chun sat silently, processing what Pan Heng said. - So it's true then.
Fucking hell, I'm in Mo Dao Zu Shi.
Pan Heng waved his hand in front of Pan Chun's face. "A-Chun? You okay?"
"Huh?"
"You've been staring blankly at the table for a whole minute."
"Ah. Ah! Yeah! I'm ok! Just thinking over what you just told me!" Pan Chun rubbed her head. This is a lot to take in...
Pan Heng continued. "Xuhou is located here." He circled a spot far south of Yunmeng. "The Great Sect that we're closest to is YunmengJiang. But Xuhou is still countless miles away from Lotus Pier and the other major sects. That's why cultivators, if any at all, never bother showing up around here."
"And why the villagers in Xuhou are so fond of you staying here?" Pan Chun added.
"Yes. Exactly. So clever of the villagers to give me good reason to stay." Pan Heng took a swig of his drink. "Ah! One simply can't say no to free alcohol."
Wen Ruohan was still in power. Jiang Fengmian and Jin Guangshan were still alive. Pan Chun didn't recognize the other two names. She figured they must be the fathers of the Nie and Lan brothers. But she needed more info to find out where exactly she was in the timeline. "Has anything major happened recently? Major enough to go down in cultivation history? Any great battles? Any wars?"
"Hmmm. Other than the Wen Sect's continued subjugation of other sects," Pan Heng's hand trembled slightly as he lifted a bowl of alcohol to his mouth, "No. Nothing noteworthy."
So the main storyline hadn't happened yet.
The burning of the Cloud Recesses.
The massacre of YunmengJiang sect.
The Sunshot Campaign.
Wei Wuxian's pioneering of demonic cultivation.
Jiang Yanli and Jin Zixuan's deaths.
The Siege on Burial Mounds.
Wei Wuxian's death.
Jin Guangyao's scheming and Nie Mingjue's murder.
Wei Wuxian's resurrection and Jin Guangyao's downfall.
Just death and suffering all around.
This was a storyline Pan Chun was staying as far away as possible from, thank you very much.
Besides, what did she matter in the grand scheme of things? She was just a random person brought here by accident...who just so happened to have knowledge of the future.
Nope. Nope. Nope. Getting involved with the plot was a death sentence.
As long as I remain plain and nameless in this world, I'll be fine.
…
...
Fucking hell, I'm in Mo Dao Zu Shi.
Glossary
[1] Lunar New Year: Based on the Lunar Calendar. Often known as "Chinese New Year". Particularly celebrated in East Asia (Japan, China, Korea) and some parts of Southeast Asia such as Vietnam.
[2] Thanh: Pan Chun's Vietnamese birth name, which means "bright".
[3] Buddhas: Beings who have attained nirvana in the religion of Buddhism. Buddhism is originally an Indian religion that spread across Asia. Different schools of Buddhism are practiced in countries such as China, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore, and more. Thanh's family is Buddhist.
[4] Ông Táo: The Kitchen God who monitors family households. Like the Chinese, the Vietnamese leave offerings for the Kitchen God so that he will bless their families for the New Year. The Kitchen God reports the business and behaviors of each family to the Jade Emperor. He's believed to ride a carp back to the Heavens so the Vietnamese tend to buy carps to release them in rivers and ponds.
[5] Bố: "Dad" in the northern Vietnamese dialect.
[6] Áo dài: A Vietnamese national garment that is a long, split tunic dress worn over trousers.
[7] Jackbox: A series of digital party games developed by American video game developer, Jackbox Games, Inc.
[8] Bầu cua cá cọp or Bầu cua tôm cá: A Vietnamese gambling game using three dice. It's the Vietnamese variant of the Chinese gambling game, Hoo Hey How. The dice has six sides, showing six animals. The six animals are a fish, a prawn, a crab, a rooster, a calabash gourd, and a crab. There is also a big mat, with big pictures of the same animals. You place your money on a picture, betting which animal will show up. If you manage to guess one die, you get the same amount of money you bet on that animal. If you manage to guess two die right, you get twice the amount of money you bet, and so on.
[9] Lì xì: What the lucky money red envelope is called in Vietnamese.
[10] Chúc mừng năm mới: "Happy New Year" in Vietnamese.
[11] Thanh's parents were war refugees of the Vietnam War/Second Indochina War (1955-1975). They fled Vietnam to the United States, where they met and birthed Thanh. So Thanh, this fanfic's MC, is Vietnamese American.
[12] Hundred Yue (or Baiyue in Chinese and Bách Việt in Vietnamese): "The Chinese referred to the various ethnic groups which occupied what is now southern China and northern Vietnam 2000 years ago were called the Hundred Yue" (Left Handed Asians-Vietnam: East or Southeast (Youtube)). There's also a more in-depth explanation in this Do-Vietnamese-have-Chinese-blood.
[13] Huỳnh: Pan Chun's Vietnamese surname. It means "golden yellow".
[14] Mid-Autumn Festival: The second most important holiday after the Lunar New Year. It celebrates the gathering of family, the harvesting of crops, thanks for the harvest, and praying for a good future. People often eat mooncakes.
[15] Hungry Ghost Festival: During the seventh month of the Lunar Calendar, it is believed that the spirits of ancestors and mischievous ghosts are allowed to leave their realm into ours. People prepare food offerings and burn paper material goods for their visiting ancestors.
[16] Chinese Zodiac: Zodiac based on the Lunar Calendar with twelve animals-rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog, and pig.
[17] Youtiao/Giò cháo quẩy: Youtiao (Chinese) or giò cháo quẩy (Vietnamese) is a long deep fried stick of dough. Commonly known as the Chinese breadstick, doughnut, or churro. Gosh, they're so addicting to eat.
A/N: The courtesy name of Nie Mingjue and Nie Huaisang's father was never revealed so I had to come up with one. Fang meaning "Square in the sense of correctness", and Jian meaning "strong".
Same for Lan Wangji and Lan Xichen's father. Qi meaning "arising or "wondrous". Zheng meaning "righteous".