The boy breathed out a sigh of relief. “Ah! I was so scared, patrolling this cave tunnel…” He paused, noticing some deadpan looks that he had received from the group of mysterious cultivators.

Seeing that the others too had several glowing scrolls, the boy flushed when he saw how dirty his robe was in comparison to the cultivators’ pristine appearances and high-quality attires. Despite how clean his silver crescent necklace was, it only made the dirt and stains of his sky-blue robe stand out more. The boy stepped back, feeling the eyes bore into his skin.

“And…you are?” asked a young man.

The particular person possessed soft facial features with gentle brows, a good nose, and red lips. Moreover, the black-cladded cultivator wore a half-ponytail with a red ribbon. He crossed his arms and flashed a bright smile at the boy. The cultivator glanced back at the veiled maiden.

Initially, the boy felt judged by the strangers; however, the young man’s smile eased his worries.

Quickly, the little cultivator cupped his hands together and bowed his head. “Forgive me for my rudeness, seniors! I am Song Ai Guo of the Song clan. My fellow relatives and I were assigned to inspect these cave tunnels in search of some demonic cultivators.” He dared to look up. “W-Were you the cultivators that my Shixiong had sent for?”

“Unfortunately, we are not.” answered the red-robed maiden. Behind the veil that covered the bottom half of her face, she smiled. Her dark eyes, unknown to the other as formerly honey-gold, curved in twin crescents. They shined with kindness. “We did not come across anyone at all. We just happened to sense some spiritual energy of cultivators and made our way here.”

“Oh...” Ai Guo then lowered his gaze. “Well, Shixiong Ping went out a couple of days ago, and we had not heard anything since. While the Shan Qing sect covered the surrounding forests, the Xie sect sent the Song clan into the caves of this mountain…”

Ah, the Xie sect took the lead? Mei Ying noted this to herself. Under the impression that the Xie sect meant well, of course, the Shan Qing sect agreed with the arrangement. Seeing their ally, their single connection to the main cultivation world, comply, the Song clan naturally trusted the Xie sect and followed blindly.

It was also viewed as an opportunity to rebuild the clan’s reputation while the news of Song Mei Ying’s ascension was hot and still talked about with much excitement.

The boy noticed Mei Ying’s intense stare. “Hm? Is there something on my face?” He straightened his back to wipe a blue sleeve against his cheek– “I apologize for my unsightly appearan–”

“The cultivator looks fine.” Mei Ying wanted to sigh at her younger brother’s worries. “There is a saying: A person cannot be judged by their appearance in the same way as the sea cannot be measured with a bucket.”

The young Ai Guo swallowed, appearing stunned by the other’s nonchalant attitude toward his current state. He smiled back. “Thank you, Young Miss.”

Hardly anyone had ever given the boy such respect nor had recognized him as a ‘cultivator’ besides one of his Shixiong, his older sister, and the strange lady. Ah, well, there was that white tiger too.

Meanwhile, Mei Ying pondered over the boy’s words of the Shan Qing sect.

Surely, it would be miraculous if Li Qin and Nian Ze were part of the Shan Qing sect group that was stationed in the forests. Nian Ze, the strict senior hunter, would probably not recognize her. As for Li Qin, he had grown quite fond of the huntress… The shidi just might see through her disguise as he had during the martial arts tournament.

It was just the group’s luck that Ai Guo was a kind-hearted person which contrasted with his shifu's icy attitude.

As the cultivator led Mei Ying and the others back through where he had come from, Ai Guo talked about his clan, the floating village, and his recent travels. Holding his luminous scroll up for light, the boy kept moving forward in the cave tunnel.

As though remembering it, Ai Guo asked, “Ah, I apologize for not asking earlier but where did you and your group come from?”

It was the young man who chimed in, “Did you hear how chaotic this mountain peak was? You would think that there was a battle going on up there…”

“Yes, I heard some ruckus from above, but I dare not venture into some trouble.” It took Ai Guo a moment to realize what Jian Yu was referring to. He whipped around, walking backward this time. “W-Was that noise made by you all…?”

When the youth’s words trailed off, Mei Ying saw where his eyes had traveled to.

The huntress nearly retreated. She noticed that she had not let go of Jian Yu’s hand. Just as she tried to release it, the young man tightened his fingers against hers.

He refused to let go.

Jian Yu’s smile widened. “I will leave it up for your interpretation.”

Immediately, the boy whirled around. “I-I see…” Then, facing forward again, he asked, “By the way, what is your sect’s name?”

“We are from the Huo Xing sect.”

Oh, so, the story of the great ‘Huo Xing sect’ must continue, of course. Mei Ying knitted her brows together.

To her surprise, Jian Yu was keen on befriending her younger brother–instead of trying to argue with him. To be frank, the huntress could never quite figure her friend out. What would he benefit from buttering little Ai Guo up?

Regardless, it was good that Ai Guo did not recognize his sister and that Kong’s cold nature had no effect on his warm personality. In the same way, it was nice that Jian Yu was trying to make new friends for once. No worries there.

“Huo…Xing sect? This one is sorry to say that I have not even heard of it.” Ai Guo was being sincere, his voice thick with remorse. “I am still ignorant of the ways in the cultivation world.”

“Do not apologize for it, Little Brother. I can hardly blame you since our sect is still in its infant stage.”

“I-Is that so?”

❁❁❁

It nearly seemed like a dark eternity when, at last, there was another light source that greeted Ai Guo and the cultivators that he had led.

The boy smiled and glanced back over his shoulder, gesturing for Mei Ying and the others to hurry. The strangers were among the friendliest bunch whom he had encountered aside from the Shan Qing sect disciples. It would be good to show his fellow Shixiongs that there is another group of cultivators who won’t look down on the Song clan.

Upon entering a large, spacious cave room, Mei Ying’s ears were filled with the typical murmurs about the council of elders, the shamans, and evil spirit talks of Cheng Xiu Village. Not only that, she heard her own name here and there, along with Kong’s and something else about the demonic cultivators’ activities. Walking corpses were being sighted in the far north where they could not rot, and demons were rumored to grow in numbers from the west.

Jian Yu had long released the huntress’ hand, but the heat left behind still lingered. Like a reminder of skin longing to be touched again. Mei Ying glanced down at the white jade ring around her finger, with the edges being lit by the red tone of her sleeve and the campfire at the center of the toasty room.

“We sent you out to see if you could find the cultivators. Are these the ones whom we were seeking?” asked an older relative, jumping onto his feet. His sky-blue robe was disheveled, with the sash around his waist being crooked. Still, the silver neck ring shined gloriously against the crackling firelight. “They are not from the Shan Qing sect.”

“I think Shixiong Ping got lost... These folks here are not the cultivators whom we were seeking for the cave investigation here.” Ai Guo smiled, sheepishly. “They just happened to be in these cave tunnels when I ran into them.”

“HAH?!”

Before Ai Guo could react, the man shoved him out of the way.

With one arm, Mei Ying caught the boy before he toppled to the ground.

It only took a second for all the other Song cultivators to stop what they were doing and shift their piercing eyes. Brows lifted.

Though the veiled maiden was small, she speedily wrapped Ai Guo into her embrace and pulled him away from the unruly relative’s reach. Like a celestial, Mei Ying flashed back to her friends, holding onto the frightened boy.

“Y-Young M-Miss!” Ai Guo sputtered, breaking away from her arms. “You… You didn’t need to…”

“Ai Guo.” Gradually, a gold light glossed over the young woman’s figure, shining through her red robe and veil. She turned to meet the boy’s gaze with a tender expression, tinged with sadness. Her heart felt heavy.

Ai Guo’s eyes widened. He swallowed. “Ying…?”

“Young Miss!” The hot-tempered relative scowled at Mei Ying and put one foot out. He blitzed across the room. He glared through the red veil which covered half of her face. “How would we know that you and your friends are not demonic cultivators then?! Scram–”

Jian Yu’s wide black sleeve flew in, acting as a curtain between the cousin and Mei Ying, who nearly reeled back. “Huo Xing sect at your service, fellow cultivators.”

At once, the Netherworld Officials who had been hanging behind the entire group–rapidly flanked both sides of Mei Ying and Jian Yu. The playful Yong Nian was no longer smiling and brought out his gleaming scythe. The young Shao Qing had his sword. While it was sheathed, he was ready to draw it out as the Song cultivators were.

Another relative cut in, “It cannot be a coincidence for them to be hanging around a demonic cultivation site!”

“No, they must be demonic cultivators in disguise!” yelled the next person. “Or, perhaps, they are demons!”

As if biting back his tongue, Jian Yu stared down at the relative who started the problem. He did not refute; however, the energy of his presence shifted. It turned frigid like a winter so cold, it could burn someone’s hands off.

Sensing the aura, the three relatives hesitated and swallowed. They then exchanged glances with one another. The man who first offended the others…gnashed his teeth together and walked back to his clan members.

Mei Ying peered up at her friend’s expression. The ruby flames nearly burned up once more in those dark irises, sparking like embers. It seemed as though Jian Yu was restraining himself this time.

Then, in the next second, nothing could be felt from the young man. His presence was immediately sealed away. The effortless move shot chills down the Song cultivators’ spines.

Taking this chance, Mei Ying cheerily began, “Seniors, when we accepted Ai Guo’s generosity, he had recounted the grand tales of the Song clan and even claimed for the people to be honorable and respectful cultivators.”

She turned to the other Song cultivators, all of whom stood up with hands resting against the hilts of their scabbards. “Were we all mistaken to think that the Song clan, while fallen from their tenth seat of the major ten righteous cultivation sects of the world, still remained to be respected as one of the five founders of the ancient ghost-hunting arts and demonic exorcisms?”

“Ugh…” One after another, the relatives looked at each other again. Not a single person wanted to make the first move.

“Let us not be rash, Shixiongs.” As fast as he could, Ai Guo raced to the center of the cave room and stood in front of his clan. While the boy was the youngest, it was ironic that he too was the wisest of them all. Ai Guo shut his eyes and bowed. “We apologize for our rudeness, Huo Xing disciples. We have been stuck in this cave for three days and cannot leave unless we can find an artifact to take back to the Xie sect, alongside our Shan Qing sect friends. It has been stressful, and that had some of us agitated beyond the usual. Forgive us.”

At last, the twin servants made their way to join Yong Nian and Shao Qing, each sibling on one side.

“So?” It was Xiao Li, who loudly spoke up. He rolled his eyes. “It was you people who accused us of being demonic cultivators with no evidence to back it up. How dare you not address that issue when apologizing to us? We did not walk all this way, only to be treated like shit.”

Aiya… Mei Ying turned to the adolescent who glowered at Ai Guo, then at the other relatives. She tugged at Xiao Li’s black sleeve.

“Don’t bully my little brother, ah!” She whispered between gritted teeth.

The other froze. His eyes grew large like two mooncakes. Xiao Li was speechless.

“This boy is…?!” The twin sister, though, heard it all.

Mei Ying nodded, further confirming the doubts of the Netherworld Officials, Yong Nian and Shao Qing.

“So, that’s why you were willing to follow him so blindly.” murmured Jian Yu, stroking his chin.

“I thought you knew,” said the huntress, appearing confused. “Isn’t that why you were trying to befriend him?”

Her friend blinked his eyes. He glanced away, choosing to be silent.

What the f*ck was that supposed to mean?! Mei Ying opened her mouth, about to ask him–

“What’s going on here?” asked a voice.

In a flash, Mei Ying and the others broke up the circle that they had accidentally formed. Massaging the area between her brows, the huntress sighed before managing a smile. Her bright gold aura dissipated.

The young woman answered, “We were about to decide whether it would be better for us to go since it seems that the Huo Xing sect had troubled the Song clan…”

She stiffened.

“No, no, please stay…” There was a long yawn.

As the crowd of Song cultivators parted in half, the men and teenage boys made way for one person. For each step, it was clear that the speaker was a mighty cultivator, nearly as powerful as the shifu, Kong.

Then, facing Mei Ying was a young-looking man with a long, black side-ponytail, tied by a silver cuff. “Forgive this person’s late arrival. I was enjoying my nap back here when I heard the tigers and dragons fighting…”

Right away, the entire cave room went quiet. Realizing that their hands were still on the sheathes, every Song cultivator fell to their knees. Their heads bowed. Even Ai Guo did not hesitate to follow this.

With an icy gaze, the man pressed his red lips tightly together as he surveyed his relatives’ behavior and postures. When he was satisfied with their kneeling, the person also deepened his voice more and said firmly, “My Shidis.”

“We apologize for our rude behavior, Huo Xing sect!” cried all the men and teenagers.

“I apologize for my Shidis’ accusations and inexcusable hostility toward you all.” The cultivator bowed his head toward Mei Ying and the others too. He straightened his back and glanced around. “Get up, you all. Let us get ready for a night of rest.”

As the others jumped back to their feet, the man turned to Mei Ying and paused for a moment to examine her. He cleared his throat. “Ah, right. My name is Song Chu, the First Disciple of Song Kong of the Song clan.”

Mei Ying nodded and was about to speak, but Jian Yu pulled the young woman behind him. “This one is Yue, the Young Miss is my Lady Ying Tai, and the others are our Shidis from the Huo Xing sect.”

Cocking his head, the man smiled once more. This time at Jian Yu. “Yue, you make a fine bodyguard, don’t you?” He averted his attention to the veiled maiden. “Lady Ying Tai is exceptionally talented in the art of cultivation. So, my relatives are lucky to not have faced you then.”

To Mei Ying, First Disciple had become a rather admirable leader during the past thirteen years.

During the incident of Mei Ying going berserk when trying to protect Yue Liang, First Disciple Chu was indecisive, especially since he was more soft toward women and children. He was one of the few people who were good to Mei Ying, the outcast of Cheng Xiu Village. He never blamed the stupid discple at all for losing control of her feelings. While his Shifu accumulated a grudge against the child, Chu became more respectful toward her instead.

“Ai Guo!” Without looking back, Chu called the youngest over. The man sighed and patted the boy’s head. “Did the others bully you again?”

Hearing this, the Shidi flushed and glanced at Mei Ying. “Ah, no, I wasn’t!”

“You think I don’t know? Your robe is going to be rags at this rate if you keep letting them push you around. Kick your cousins’ asses if you need to. Think about your sister, ah. Though she has ascended, at least try to be a living example.”

“A living example?”

“Yes, a living example for others to look at and say, ‘Aiya, isn’t that the brother of Song Mei Ying? He is so strong, so brave, and so righteous. No wonder she was able to become an Immortal!’...”

At this, Ai Guo’s smile went stiff.

With one last pat on the boy’s head, Chu headed back toward the other Song cultivators, who were busy unrolling their bamboo-woven mats and cloth. “Find a spot to sleep on, honored guests. We’ll be working together in the morning!”

Ah, he had left the boy alone with Mei Ying and the others.

Why would he entrust Ai Guo with us? wondered the huntress.

“Big Brother…” Ai Guo’s smile quickly faded into a frown. He narrowed his brows at the young man. In what was barely a whisper, the cultivator stepped forward and asked, “You’re…a god, aren’t you?”