Chang Bolin’s ghoul leaned toward him, stumbling over his own feet. He stared dully, eyes glazed and white, coated with thick cataracts. His jaw worked slowly. Faintly, his brows furrowed.

“Eh? You already know him?” Fa Chuyou asked, covering her mouth with her hand.

“Ah—ah. Of course. I, ah, death cultivators… you know,” he said, nodding.

She nodded as well. “Naturally, naturally. You’re right. There’s so few death cultivators, it isn’t surprising the two of you already know each other!”

“Y… you,” Chang Bolin groaned. His stiff face twitched into almost a frown, and then his eyes slid off Hui. He turned back toward the square and wandered a step toward it.

“Hey! Watch it. That isn’t for you. You have to earn it!” Fa Chuyou insisted, blocking Chang Bolin.

Is this what an ordinary death cultivator is like? No wonder they’re treating me as such a treasure! Hui watched Chang Bolin, memorizing his jerky movements and twisted limbs. It’s too late to fake it better now, but for next time…

No, no. I’m missing the point. How did Chang Bolin end up here? How did he become a death cultivator? Was his grudge against me strong enough that he came back, or was he created somehow? How did a Starbound Sect disciple’s corpse end up in the hands of a demonic sect? How did a Starbound Sect disciple end up as a death cultivator? Was he not properly buried?

Hui shook his head. Too many questions, and no answers. I’ll have to poke around and see if I can figure it out.

Fa Chuyou grasped Hui’s hand with both of hers. Leaning forward, she looked up at him, her robes shifting slightly to reveal a glimpse of pillowy white expanses beneath. “Xie Hao, sh-shall we go? There’s so much to show you.”

“Ah… certainly,” Hui allowed. He licked his lips and again resisted the urge to spit from the horrid flavor of the skin. This woman… she’s slightly strange, isn’t she?

Oh well, she’s willing to help me. I won’t look a gift horse in the mouth.

She glanced at him, then away. Shyly, she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “Er, Xie Hao, could, could I…”

“Hmm?” Hui asked.

Blushing, Fa Chuyou rushed ahead. “Could I… show you the way? This way!”

“Of course,” Hui replied graciously. He smiled, but a shiver ran up his spine. Elder sister, please don’t tell me you’re into ghouls in that way! I know we’re in a demonic sect, but there’s limits to depravity!

Chang Bolin took another step toward the square.

Fa Chuyou’s face distorted, the blush gone. “Chang Bolin! Come with me. I can’t leave you on your own.”

Chang Bolin turned toward her, then, obediently, fell in line.

She sighed and shook her head at Hui. “It’s a critical point in the ghoul platoon’s refinement. I wish I could trust him, but not all ghouls are as intelligent as you.” She glanced up and down Hui. A blush spread over her face again, and she hurriedly turned away.

The uncomfortable sensation grew stronger. Hui’s smile turned more forced. Fa Chuyou! Please, I’m begging you!

She led Hui and Chang Bolin through the sect. The other disciples moved out of their way. Though they cast aggressive stares at Chang Bolin and especially Hui, they moved respectfully out of Fa Chuyou’s way. Fa Chuyou ignored them, as if none of them existed at all.

Hui glanced at Fa Chuyou. Subtly, he rotated his cultivation base, reaching out toward her. Hers resonated at the third stage, the same as his.

Hui raised his eyebrows. If I could rebuild my cultivation, this is how they’d treat me? Death qi, where’s my death qi!

Fa Chuyou drew to the edge of the black stone and pointed into a valley. It descended into the earth, a vicious cleft in the ground. Heavy forest grew tall around them, leaving the forest floor in a perpetual twilight. Strange cries echoed out of the valley, fierce and vicious.

“This is the Valley of Beasts. If you’re interested in creating beast hybrids, or hybrid undead, this is the valley for you! It’s full of strange creatures and hybrids our masters have created. Feel free to enter and kill as many beasts as you like! Your battles will serve as testing for the beasts. Of course, if you enter, your life is equally on the line. If you die or get injured inside, it’s your own responsibility to escape. No one will come after you.”

Hui nodded. I’d best stay out of that!

She led the way on. At the next valley, a thick red mist swirled in its depths, so opaque Hui couldn’t see more than a dozen feet into it. A cultivator descended into the mists as they watched. Before he’d taken more than ten steps, the mists suddenly strengthened. They rotated wildly, thrashing the man. His robes began to swirl, and then he vanished into the mists.

For the space of a breath, the mists whirled. Then they settled once more, receding. Where the man had been, only a few scraps of robe remained!

“The Blood Mist Valley. Enter at your own risk! It can provide enlightenment for those seeking the Dao of blood qi, but the mists eat many more cultivators than they provide enlightenment to! It’s said there’s a secret realm hidden deep in the blood mist, but if so, no one has ever reached it.”

Not for me, not for me! Hui nodded again, his face wooden. This demonic sect is far too dangerous!

“Ah! Here, here, look! The Corpse Refinement Valley!” Fa Chuyou beamed, practically bouncing where she stood.

A dark valley descended into the earth. It exuded a thick aura of death, putrid and ancient. Cold chills reached out, even this far. Ghouls wandered openly through the valley, and dozens of coffins laid along its floor, some open, some cold. A black river ran down the center of the alley, and occasionally, the ghouls would stand and stare reverently into it.

“It’s said the river that surfaces in the valley is sourced from the Yellow Springs—from the underworld! Ah, but don’t touch it. A single drop of the water can draw out your soul if your realm isn’t high enough!”

Hui resisted the urge to shiver. Are they all so deadly?

Mmm, Corpse Refinement… I wonder if there’s death qi in there? I can’t sense any from here, but—

Fa Chuyou led them to the final valley. Unlike the others, nothing stood out about this valley. Peaceful and quiet, its forests were normal-sized. A few birds and butterflies flitted about, at peace. “And last, the Valley of Hungering Ghosts! An ancient battle took place here thousands of years ago. The ghosts of those long-dead cultivators still linger. It’s an excellent place to cultivate ghost flags and ghost banners, or any other ghost-related arts. However, encountering the ghosts depends on your luck! Some cultivators have spent entire lifetimes wandering the valley, without ever encountering a single ghost. Others enter, only for their lifeless bodies to be encountered days later! The lucky few emerge with ghost flags of terrifying power!”

Hui nodded. It’s settled. This small cultivator is never entering a single one of those valleys!

“Well? Do you have any questions?” Fa Chuyou asked.

“Is there a good place to gather death qi?” Hui asked.

Fa Chuyou stared at him, then laughed. “That’s a good joke!”

Hui blinked. “It’s… yes, yes. A joke!” He laughed along with her, completely lost. What’s so funny about that? I’m a death cultivator, of course I’d ask about death qi!

Shaking her head, Fa Chuyou slapped his shoulder. “Where to gather death qi. How silly. If you want to gather death qi, just kill a few cultivators! What a jokester.”

Just kill a few— Hui stared for a second, then realized: Right, I’m in a demonic sect! Killing is commonplace. It’s ordinary to kill for fun, let alone to kill to advance one’s cultivation!

No wonder everyone’s glaring at me. I’d glare at death cultivators, too. Aren’t I essentially openly advertising that I’m a bloodthirsty maniac?

Except… all my death qi came from a plant. A plant that ate a lot of people, but still. And before that, it was flint.

I’m probably the only death cultivator to cultivate death qi without killing!

Fa Chuyou glanced at Hui. “Er, Xie Hao…”

“Hmm?” Hui asked.

“I… I know this is sudden, but you… I really…” She bit her lip and cast her eyes down. The bite made the red in her lip come out, and the glance accentuated her long, graceful lashes. A bashful expression spread over her face, and spots of red appeared on her cheeks.

Oh no. Oh no. Fa Chuyou, please! Don’t say it! Leave yourself some face! “I, er, I just remembered…” Hui said, backing away.

Fa Chuyou looked up all at once, decisive, her eyes flashing. “I really… want to refine your corpse!”