That beast of a great-grandfather of mine caused trouble for future generations even after he died. To stay alive, I became a forensic assistant, dancing on the edge of a knife and borrowing years from the Yellow River.
A plea for the soldiers’ help: “Mortals point the way, but the road is blocked. Ride a crane westward to the Dragon Palace. We beseech the Lady to descend in her true spirit and grant ten years of life, though they vanish like the autumn wind.”
My name is Chen Qi. I have to survive. I’ll protect the people I care about, and those who care about me.
It's well written, and it laid a lot of groundwork in the early stages. It seems that there will be more to come later, so please keep up the good work, author!