On Phoenix Mountain stands the Phoenix Temple, and inside the temple lives a fire phoenix.
Some say the phoenix is a divine bird beyond compare, and that a single encounter brings blessings to generations to come. Others say there's no divine bird at all, just a rooster with bright red feathers. Still others scoff and claim there's no bird or chicken, only a gimmick meant to attract attention.
Liu Ruyu's career as an official went nowhere, so he decided to become a monk, but a monk talked him out of it. After that, he roamed the martial world, surviving by scamming people out of food and drink. Most importantly, he discovered his greatest passion: looking at handsome men. He might be dirt poor, but that doesn't stop him from appreciating other people's good looks. (Drools.)
His catchphrase: "Drink today while there's wine today, and gaze at handsome men till your eyes grow tired."
One day, his gambling addiction got the better of him. He staked everything he owned and lost it all. With nowhere else to turn, he returned to Phoenix Temple to beg the monk Jikong for a few coins. But not long afterward, he heard that the monk had broken his vow of chastity and been expelled, and that his lover, Xishi, had died horribly in a pigsty.
To uncover the truth and avenge his benefactor, he climbed Phoenix Mountain for a second time, where he ran into the handsome man who had once tricked him into betting away all his money.
Fu Qinglian, a famous detective in the martial world. No one knows his background.
His hobby: picking on handsome men, and putting any man he thinks is better-looking than himself in his place.
The two meet by chance.
Fu Qinglian: "What a handsome young gentleman. I didn't expect we'd meet again so soon. How about a wager? Whoever solves the case first wins."
Liu Ruyu: "Everyone knows you're a famous detective. I'm not taking a bet that's bound to lose me money."
Fu Qinglian: "Five hundred taels of silver."
Liu Ruyu: "Amitabha. Gambling is risky, so bet carefully. I've turned over a new leaf."
Fu Qinglian: "One thousand taels of silver."
Liu Ruyu: "Ha! You couldn't sell me for a thousand taels."
Fu Qinglian: "You'll get to look at handsome men every day."
Liu Ruyu readily agrees: "Deal."
"And what if I lose?"
Fu Qinglian smiles mysteriously, opens his folding fan, and whispers in Liu Ruyu's ear: "I want you to admit, in your own words, that you're not as handsome as me."
Liu Ruyu: "In your dreams!"
Theme: To be determined
