Suddenly, a dulcet chuckle erupted from among the swaying red opaque curtains. It resembled the finely tuned strings of a guqin, rich to the ears and soothing to the heart. The huntress raised her brows, curious of what was funny to the young man.

“I…am not laughing at you, just to be clear, Young Miss!” The person continued to laugh and withdrew a hand to cover his lips behind the red cloth. “Hahaha! It makes me happy to hear that you’d like to be my friend...”

At last, taking the small floral sachet from the huntress, the stranger set it next to his cup of tea. Bit by bit, the young man pulled the red rope. The tiny bag opened, allowing everyone in the dining space to see some of the glistening crimson petals. It was truly beautiful and ethereal indeed! Each petal appeared semi-transparent, sparkling like precious crystals.

The servant stiffened. His eyes were large. This aroma…!

Closing the sachet of brilliant multi-colored energy, the Young Master laughed, “Hahaha! I accept your red spiritual hanju chrysanthemum tea! Now, how may I address the Young Miss as?”

To be frank, Mei Ying did not think things through. She had initially begun the conversation to clear the uncomfortable air. One topic led to another, her excitement getting the best of her, and now…the huntress has enjoyed talking to the Young Master more than she had thought originally.

Turning to her friends, the white-robed maiden noticed that the hunters all had a fixated bizarre expression. They were sitting quite rigidly. There was no telling if they wanted to scold her or each other for agreeing to the person’s invitation. Otherwise, the group would not be at such an awkward dinner.

“You may address this one as Mei Ying.” replied the young woman, smiling at the mysterious person across from her. “Thank you again for inviting us here.”

Soon, two servants passed through the red cloth-door, each carrying large white marble platters of steaming rice and red roasted ducks into the dining room. These were then followed by a few more servants with plates of soy sauce chicken wings with charred edges, steamed green vegetables, fried tofu, and pork spareribs. Each warm dish was placed meticulously in an equal, patterned arrangement before a guest. Beneath each food was a large green banana leaf, perfect and fresh.

❁❁❁

The autumn night, sprinkled by crimson maple leaves, remained tranquil as the huge, front doors closed behind the drifting crowd. Gone were the roaring cackles and sing-song drunk voices of the glittering establishment, with its multi-storied feature and closed paper screen windows.

In silence, the three senior hunters glanced at the servant, who walked alongside them. He too did not seem content with his Young Master strolling ahead of him, accompanying the white-robed maiden. The cloaked youth remained silent and pulled the cowl over his face.

Unfolding her white fan, Mei Ying looked over her shoulder to watch her friends blink furiously at one another. Ah, they are using the Spiritual Communication Channel…

However, as the young woman casted her eyes away, she froze and tilted her head. “Oh!”

Due to her shock, the cultivator’s fan instantly dropped to the ground.

The naïve maiden could not unsee the golden sleeve reaching out of the third-floor window in a clumsy attempt to close it. Beside him was the dark silhouette of a beautiful woman, tearing her dress off. The Jin Sword sect disciple eventually turned around, his shadow also disrobing himself—

A pair of cold hands covered the young woman’s eyes.

“Mei Ying.” The voice was soft and caring.

Instantly, the veiled maiden’s cheeks went hot. “Young Master, I-I did not see anything…” Truth be told, she was not sure what exactly transpired on the building’s third floor. During the dinner, when she asked about the prohibited area, both her male friends told her to not worry about it. “W-We can keep walking now, ah.”

“Jin Sword sect! So shameless!” Both Nian Zu and Li Qin exclaimed.

“Mind your own business, you two!” Xia Qi hissed at them, already moving past the front entrance gates. “Yes, it is shameless, but let us be off now and find an inn for the night.”

Folding his arms, Li Qin went on, “It’s no wonder that the minor sects and even the no-name ones tend to drag us all down when they can, Xia Qi. How can people perform such acts in a place where many can see them?"

“Whether it is due to lack of manners or not—tomorrow is the first day of the Tian Shan Feng conference. We don’t want any trouble with another major sect before that!”

While the elder huntress bickered with her childhood friend, the hooded stranger slowly moved his cool hands away from the veiled maiden’s eyelids. He was standing so closely behind the young woman, that she could hear his slow breathing. The person’s cloak shifted against her rippling white robe.

Just as the cultivator opened her eyes, she studied the young man’s snow-white wrists. There was not a silver bracelet on them.

Perhaps, what Mei Ying saw earlier in the restaurant…was her imagination, after all.

A sudden rain of red leaves scattered over them as veiled maiden turned and gradually walked back a few steps. Earlier, before leaving the restaurant, her new friend was quick to put on a golden eye mask, followed by him putting the cowl over his head. It seemed that despite his playful nature, he really did not want other people to see his face. How confusing…

It was then that the Young Master handed Mei Ying her fan that she had dropped. Lowering her gaze, the huntress bowed her head to murmur thanks, still feeling rather embarrassed. She randomly tucked the folded fan into her sash. It was not like she could see at night. Mei Ying felt her legs wobble. Given the pitch-black surrounding, she could not recognize a shape or path at all.

From ahead, the young woman heard the servant leading the others out to the street, whispering to one another, and hissing here to there.

A wide sleeve brushed gingerly against Mei Ying's hand. “Hold onto me.” The Young Master teased, covering his hand over hers. Despite the maiden not being able to distinguish him, his voice was closer than before. “When you cannot see…I will be your eyes.”

Although she did not want to trouble her new friend, the huntress also did not want him to feel that he was untrustworthy. After all, despite concealing his face, repressing his cultivation aura, and leaving out his name—the person did not harbor any ill will toward the hunters. She did not retract her hand from his.

“This one was born with night blindness.” The veiled maiden wanted to be honest since the young man had already made observations. “It’s something that I’ve grown used to, not being able to see clearly.”

There was silence, followed by the person uttering, “…I’m sorry.”

Ah, why did he sound sad? It was not like her friend caused it or anything.

Shaking her head, the huntress laughed light-heartedly. “Don’t be…” Then, to ease his worries and curve away from the sad conversation, she allowed the person to lead her through the dark abyss. “It was probably a punishment from one of my past lives, ah. Perhaps, it is a necessary hardship.”

“Says who?”

Hearing Xia Qi shouting from up ahead, the young woman tried to recall her hazy memories. “A fortune-teller…once said so to my parents when they inquired about my night blindness. She said I was a mischievous person in a past life, who was rightfully punished.”

The young man stopped walking, nearly causing Mei Ying to ram into his back.

They had passed the front entrance gate and were heading up the long dirt street. If one were to keep traveling, there would eventually be lofty inns and smaller eating establishments lining up both sides of the main street. In the daytime, merchants and people would crowd the path, selling and buying various sparkling trinkets and oddities.

“That’s so stupid.”

Mei Ying thought she had heard him wrong. With her terrible vision, surrounded by nothing but darkness, the maiden could not tell if the Young Master was upset. His hand that covered over hers became firmer; however, it did not hurt.

Instead, what the young women felt was a sense of security and comfort.

There was a light scoff. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. For one mischievous deed, the person must bear the mark of punishment for not just one life but for future lifetimes as well?” Her friend paused. “Even if it is by the Heaven realm’s decree, I won’t allow my friend to think so badly of herself or think that she deserves such a curse. How would a mere fortune-teller know what is right for you?”

For some unexplained reason, Mei Ying felt her red lips partly opened. She wanted to say a few words but did not. Her heart softened. The young woman was rather touched that the hooded companion felt so strongly about such stories. Even if it is by the Heaven realm’s decree…? He seemed incredibly upset.

Her new friend was brave. Though they were alone, mid-ranked cultivators can hear conversations from a decent distance away from their original location. To say such blasphemous words in public, the huntress realized that her friend was truly unafraid of the consequences. No righteous cultivator would dare…utter such things.

Actually, no one in the entire world, as not even the civilians, would dare say it.

If others were to hear it, they would accuse the Young Master of being a demonic cultivator, someone who supports and worships the demon king and his unorthodox ways.

As the Song elders always preached, the values and beliefs of the skies were justified. Everything that the Heaven realm does or dictates, such as someone’s pre-written fate, one that is either marked by miracles or curses, cannot be questioned.

“The people who truly care for you…will not want you to hurt yourself by thinking that you deserve bad things.” The Young Master paused, briefly. He later laughed. “Also, your friends are from the Shan Qing and Shujing Jian sects… What brought you here without the other Song cultivators?”

Oh. The young man knew who Mei Ying was from the start!

But maybe it was due to the huntress did not giving the person an alias? At this thought, the young woman furrowed her brows together. Ah… She truly did not think things through. If Shifu was here, what would the elder say?

Seeing that the topic has changed, the veiled maiden forced a light laugh, “I needed to get away from Cheng Xiu Village, ah. But since I cannot go to the Tian Shan Feng conference, I should split ways with my friends and head on with my journey…haha.”

If Mei Ying went to the annual event, it might be a bit rude in the eyes of the cultivation sects there. She did not receive a formal invitation from any of them.

Moreover, the young woman was not a Shan Qing or Shujing Jian sect disciple, all of whom were urged to attend. Even if she goes, what would she do if the Song clan’s Chieftain and Kong are there?

It was too much trouble.

There was silence as the young man continued to lead the way. A brisk gust of crimson leaves swirled by the two as they strolled. The bickering of their group loomed closer and closer. Xia Qi and Li Qin were still yelling at one another. Aiya…

Her friend teased, “Hmm… The Child of Red Omen came out all this way to just travel and broaden her mind for cultivation purposes?”

“That’s…partly the answer.” The young woman stopped, then, in a more solemn tone, “Actually, I am trying to find someone. But so far, I have lacked luck in finding them.”

“…And who or what may that be?”

Mei Ying was not sure how to say her next words. “A demon.”

Hearing no response from her friend, the veiled maiden hurriedly added, “I have been hunting him for these past three moons, because he is only the lead that I have, actually.”

“What kind of demon is he?” In a nonchalant way, the young man kept walking while gently pulling the woman’s hand along, “As a righteous cultivator, I can only guess that when you find him, you will exorcise and scatter his soul. After all, the wandering deceased and anyone who is associated with the Netherworld is evil by nature.”

Oh. Was it just her—or was her friend mocking the standard manual guide of righteous cultivators? Mei Ying was surprised. However, since the young man was just as strange as she was, the huntress decided to take a risk.

“Young Master…” The young woman’s heart began to drum quite heavily. “…do you know any reliable information about the demon king?”

No matter how hard Mei Ying thought over it, nothing made sense.

While the elders hushed her and the others, all of whom tried to investigate the murder case, the huntress did not understand why the demon king would repeatedly risk his position. Twenty years ago, the floating village was attacked by raining fire on the night of her birth. Then, after turning twenty years of age, she found that the protégé of Shaman Xia was murdered…in the following morning.

A god is a god. The demon king, being as cruel and arrogant as he is claimed to be, would not benefit from dealing with such a small sect. It probably would have been more convincing if he did the same things to a major one like Shan Qing sect due to their history with disciples ascending into Immortality.

To be frank, the young woman had long suspected that the shaman protégé had received a dream vision of what was to come. Whatever she had seen…was potentially dangerous to whichever side that the entity belongs to. But it still did not change that Mei Ying was unable to do a single damn thing about it. It did not ease the ache of her heart nor the fury of the unjust way in how that lady had died. When all’s said and done, the protégé…was still Shaman Xia’s daughter.

Mei Ying went on, “Up until now, I have been hunting ghosts and demons, learning about them, and trying to figure out where the entrance to the Netherworld is. At the same time, I started thinking…”

“Thinking about what?”

“I started thinking about whether or not it is possible to reunite a scattered soul.”

The young man’s grip over the veiled maiden’s hand tightened. There was a soft laugh. It sounded rather hollow and bitter.

“Ha… What does that have to do with the evil demon king?” asked the Young Master.

Without glancing at her, the person continued to amble forward, “The demon king cannot help you reunite three souls especially if they were forced to scatter into different parts of who-knows-where. If it were that easy in transcending the boundaries between the Mortal realm and the Netherworld, would the Heaven realm have as much power as the gods and Immortals do now? There would’ve been no need to worship them, and there would’ve been no need to fear the Netherworld God.”

Young Master…seems to not like the Heaven realm. Upon this thought, Mei Ying continued to follow the person in the dark. She was very much astonished by her friend's words.

Framing the sparkling night skies overhead, a multitude of tall, massive trees seemed to arch toward one another in perfect harmony. The top branches were like fingers reaching out in hopes of joining as the trunks were deeply rooted on either side of the long dirt street. Floating high in the vast space of diamonds and silk, the large silver moon gleamed steadily.

Everywhere, brilliant crimson maple leaves showered the naïve huntress and the cloaked stranger as they walked, hand in hand. The young man kept moving forward, with the hood still covering his long, black hair. His back faced the veiled maiden in company of the long trail of crimson cloak that flapped against the cool autumn wind. It was as though the familiar hot, scarlet flames engulfed the person’s body just as it did once for someone whom she had known.

The shouting of those who awaited the two people’s arrival did not distract Mei Ying.

All she heard were the slow crunching of maple leaves from the young man’s boots as he guided the huntress in the dark. Though barely touching, her long snow-white gown billowed softly against the blood-red hue of his cloak.

With quietude, thousands of red leaves continued to fall gently for the veiled maiden and the hooded person. It was like a sweet storm of flying blossom petals that could go on for a whole eternity.

“So, tell me…” In a teasing tone, the young man continued, “What does Mei Ying hope to accomplish by confronting the demon king, no, the Netherworld God?"