Yue Liang… A chilling shiver slid down the girl’s spine. Nothing else in her short lifespan could compare to the absolute horror that she felt as the boy glower at her.

It was only for a moment when Mei Ying blinked. Unexpectedly, the black-robed person had already shoved her toward the rough rampart.

Right away, the disciple was sent flying. She felt alarmingly light like a flickered pebble across a wide lake. Mei Ying’s back slammed into the cave wall. Soreness throbbed all over her. Having lost her balance, she slumped against the rocks. Her heart continued to beat faster and faster.

Suddenly, the girl’s legs gave out under her own weight. She could not get back up. A few wet drops dripped onto the disciple’s hand as she went to wipe her mouth. Ah, there was a whiff of salt and rust. Blood.

Mei Ying knew that she should have been dead. Warm sweat dripped down the side of her face.

Yue Liang…was absurdly strong. His strength rivaled—no—probably outmatched Shifu’s, given that none of the Heaven Immortal’s magic licked a scratch on him. If he wanted to, he could easily kill her anytime. The second when that demon had touched her shoulders, the soft, moon porcelain flesh should have been crushed.

Pulling his right hand back, the boy’s expression turned ice-cold. It was hard to tell that he was once the disciple’s friend. Red claws grew and elongated from his beautiful fingertips. Innumerous radiating balls of light drifted closely against his silhouette, which slowly approached the little girl.

“If you can’t choose between your given paths…!” growled the demon. His eyes flashed bloody-red upon the pale-faced child. “THEN, I’LL PICK ONE FOR YOU!”

As the boy sprang forward, his black outer robe floating back quite gracefully. Mei Ying turned. Metal glinted from the corner of her peripheral. She closed her eyes shut. Crimson maple leaves flitted into the air.

Salt and rust flowed into the girl’s small white marble hands. The lower half of her dirty blue outer robe reeked of warm, wet blood.

Little by little, the disciple opened her eyes. The sword’s beaming sharp edge had slipped into Yue Liang’s body, wedged deeply under his ribcage and into the…heart.

Mei Ying could not bring herself to let go of the weapon. It felt so unreal, her entire body froze. Everything was numb.

Her hands, arms, and legs were glowing in gold light. Despite the child’s panicked state, the instinctive will to survive had finally activated her spiritual energy. She had grabbed the sword from the earth and barely picked it up when the boy launched himself toward her, exerting his weight against the sharp edge. The disciple did not have to do much.

But… A burning tear slid down the little girl’s cheek. “Y-Yue…Liang…”

Mustering a faint smile, Yue Liang held onto the glimmering blade that pierced into his flesh. He collapsed onto his knees in front of the immobilized girl.

You are not evil. The small child’s breaths quavered. From her ears, the drums of her heart pounded steadily. Her hands were shaking.

If the boy was cruel and evil like what others made him to be, would he not have eaten the stupid disciple’s heart already? If he wanted to, the demon would have shattered her frail bones at any given time too. Why, he even gave the girl spiritual energy…instead of taking it from her.

“Why…?” Mei Ying’s voice was faint.

Everything did not have end up like this.

Upon listening to his friend, the boy’s crimson eyes were soft and bright once more. Tilting his head, the high ponytail and beaming hairpin that decorated it only made him appear more handsome than before. It was also rather painful. Red trailed from his lips.

I did not…want to hurt you. Mei Ying trembled. I did not want to hurt you.

Gradually, the demon’s body began to disintegrate into many red orbs of gentle lights. As he did, the fireflies swarmed fiercely into the black abyss.

The girl did not want to believe what was happening; yet she did not want to tear her gaze away. Her mind was in chaos, flooded with questions and conflicting thoughts of denial.

“Ying Ying…” There was a soft innocent laugh. “…do you know…how beautiful…those red flowers were?”

“What?” The little disciple paused, realizing that the demon was referring to the cosmic-sized red flowers that she had summoned earlier to her aid. “Why are you…?”

“Do not be ashamed…of who you are.” uttered the boy. “Your floral birthmark makes you…you. There’s no one like you…at all. I know…because I have seen many flowers...but none are like yours.” A few more luminous orbs drifted past his ears, fading into the shadows. "You are not a waste... Because...I believe in you."

With that said, Yue Liang coughed, and more blood spurted out to the ground. Even with red dribbling down from the corner of his mouth to his chin, he was still dear to the little disciple.

“St-Stop talking!” Mei Ying cried out. “Yue Liang! Just wait…”

Don't leave.

Closing his eyes, the good-looking boy smiled warmly upon her. Shortly, his red lips fluttered, spilling deep-ocean hushes.

His time with the little disciple was much like a dream that he never wanted wake up from. It was unfortunate that they ended up this way as all the best dreams are brief and must always end. Only when they do, the dreamer can face the reality for what it really is.

Hearing the sea of whispers, the girl held her breath. Her eyes widened.

Don't leave me.

Then, unable to contain the excruciating torment in her chest, the little disciple reached out with her free hand. Frantic, she grabbed onto the demon’s cold silver bracelet that shimmered shyly at her.

In an instant, Yue Liang burst into a million red scattering lights. All of them danced away from the girl’s reach. Even the blade dissolved into the black satin space, now empty of a precious existence. After all, the sword wanted to follow its beloved master.

“Yue…Liang?” Little Mei Ying whispered out. “Yue Liang?”

He was gone.

By and by, standing before the child—was a large crowd of blue-robed cultivators with bone-pale faces and large eyes. From the opposite far side of the area, they were either gaping or looking at one another and back at her.

The men, who had long watched, swallowed. In their hands were either glowing talismans for light or bright, flaming torches. Both items are commonly stored in magical storage bags or rings. Earlier, the relatives probably rushed into the area when the scuffle started.

At the front of the mass, Kong stood, holding onto his sapphire-studded longbow. When the little girl met his eyes, he coolly turned away.

Then, like parting willow vines, Kong and the disciples made way for the ancient person to walk through. Their white outer robe had remained impeccable during all this time, without so much a speck of dirt on even their broad sleeves. Following En Lai was the enormous white tiger and their swishing tail. The scourge was nowhere to be seen.

When Shifu towered over the little girl, Mei Ying glanced down. These small hands were dyed in her friend’s blood.

Before long, the Heaven Immortal swiped the air a few times with two fingers. Silent Seal! With the spell activated, no one except En Lai, the beast, and the child can hear what each other has to say.

Yesterday was the last day of the late shaman’s seven-day funeral.

Truth be told, the celestial was never good with children and did not think much when Mei Ying asked for them to stay with her. In response, En Lai simply told the girl no and to cultivate. Ah…the shifu did not think much of the child’s lonely heart when they took on a mission to help cleanse yin territories. They had abandoned her too.

But once Kong had notified them of the child’s disappearance—the Heaven Immortal quickly opened a portal and reappeared outside of Cheng Xiu Village.

“Try to think of what makes you happy. Only when you do will you realize what truly makes you stronger.”

The child lifted her head. Though her eyes were devoid of light, her brows slightly furrowed together at the pristine Shifu, who seemed a bit stiff yet melancholic. Ah, that woman rarely showed such emotions…

A deep line formed into the Heaven Immortal’s lips.

“Isn’t that what the late Shaman Xia used to say to you?” Slowly, the white-robed person sat down in front of the disciple. Truth be told, they are not good with words…

“Yue Liang.” Her long eyelashes quivered, trying to suppress her waves and waves of emotions. At long last, the child understood what the late Shaman Xia’s words meant. “He…made me happy.”

Hearing this, the ancient shifu’s back became rigid. Standing by their side, the Immortal beast turned to glance at En Lai.

“I…was not strong enough to protect Yue Liang.” The girl went on, “But if I become stronger, and we meet again, will I be able to save him?”

So, she blames herself for him choosing death… The Heaven Immortal lowered their eyes. It has been known that scattered souls can never reincarnate again, especially those that had been exorcised…

“It depends.” Slowly, En Lai met Mei Ying’s gaze.

Aside from that, the child…has finally accepted her destiny.

“One may become stronger for what makes them happy, because that is the superior way of cultivating.” The Heaven Immortal explained, nonchalantly. “When they only become stronger for what makes them angry, sad, or hateful by any means…there is only disaster.”

Disasters of that kind are known to disrupt boundaries between the Three Realms that are otherwise known as the Heaven realm, the Mortal realm, and the Netherworld. To cause the imbalance is asking for death from all three. Powerful righteous cultivators seek to maintain balance. Powerful evil cultivators seek to destroy them.

The Heaven Immortal asked, “What do you want to do now?”

Perhaps, En Lai heard it wrong when his disciple then answered, “I want to protect the ones I love.”

Raising an eyebrow, the ancient shifu watched the child straightened her back.

Gently, silver moonlight shifted and began to only shine on the disciple. How bright the little girl appeared to be, glowing immensely despite the darkness! For someone so young, Mei Ying exuded an ethereal aura that resembled someone whom the Heaven Immortal was once familiar with.

“Whether they are mortals or not...” The girl’s autumn tinted eyes glimmered with deep resolve. “…I will protect all those whom I love. To do that…”

Mortals or not… Upon listening to this, the ancient shifu knitted their brows together.

When beings from different realms walk together, they are never looked upon with kindness or approval. They are far too different like Heaven and Earth. Some could say that the Three Realms tend to curse such abominations.

Though contemplating the mental state of their disciple, En Lai did not disrupt the girl. Both the tiger and the shifu wanted to hear what she has to say next.

“To do that…” Mei Ying’s gaze hardened. “…I must grow so strong, that all the Three Realms will concede to peace. Then, there would be no war between the Heaven realm and the Netherworld.”

The ancient person’s eyes widened. Ah, yes. It would have been futile if the weakest realm’s inhabitants scatter to take sides.

But to persuade all Three Realms to yield to peace? On whose terms?

Who else... Narrowing their brows, En Lai realized why half the Song clan was skeptical of the child as a savior or villain… On the child's terms...

Clearly, the little disciple’s way of thinking was quite unorthodox. Upon this understanding, En Lai did not know how to feel. They pursed their lips together.

Despite it, for such a young child, Mei Ying understood the basic ways of the cultivation world as well as her position in the Red Omen prophecy better than expected. But doesn’t she blame this old person? It would make sense if she outright resents the world for the fate that was forced upon her.

But from the time that the ancient shifu had spent with the small girl, Mei Ying's heart had always been good and clear like a glistening mountain stream. It had been untouched by the evils of mortals and unaffected by dark thoughts.

Inside, En Lai felt the itch of several hundred years come by. They swallowed. Yes, a child is a child until they are no longer...and then, their actions would be inexcusable. The disciple would need careful guidance.

Slowly, the celestial averted their attention elsewhere. “If…you wish to accomplish what you have just told me, do not stray from the righteous path. Remember the person who has made you happy.” They paused. “Never forget how they made you feel. Only then will you know what truly makes you stronger as a righteous cultivator.”

Power alone would not create a smooth ascension to Immortality. There is direction to be considered, the fortification of the mind, and other types of battles to be fought and triumphed.

Facing their shifu, Mei Ying nodded. She cupped her hands together and bowed. “This disciple will not forget.”

With a flick of their wide sleeve, En Lai undid the spell of silence that blocked off the Song cultivators’ hearing of their conversation. Rising to their feet, the Heaven Immortal gestured for the child to stand as well.

“We should all be heading back together before it gets too late.” The ancient person said, glancing over their shoulder at the disciple. “Though the thick miasma of yin energy dissipated before our arrival, we can never be too…”

What En Lai saw caused their words to trail off.

Quietly, the Heaven Immortal watched the little girl take one last look at the spot where Yue Liang once knelt on. But the child did not cry. Neither did she wear a painful expression.

Instead, there, between her brows, bloomed a small but bright red floral mark. Its presence was clear as daybreak. It was beautiful like the crimson flowers that are summoned to her aid, alongside with the Earth element. Such blossoms signified the end of warm seasons and welcomed the autumn days that will lead into ice and snow.

Soon, remorse trickled into the white-robed person’s chest. While suppressing the warmth of their eyes, the Heaven Immortal also tried to shake off the words that they wanted to say. Let this hypocrite repent for all the suffering and mistakes that I have made you all endure.