At the foot of Starbound Peak, Hui glanced around to make sure no one was around, then peeled the pig-skin mask off his face. He sucked in a breath and vigorously wiped his face. Ugh. Smells like pig. Feels like sweat. Xixing, your masks suck!

Well, I can’t complain too much. It got the job done, in the end.

He gazed up at the stars, so brilliant, so far above. Taken by their beauty, he slowed to a halt. Like diamonds in velvet. Were they always this bright?

One of the stars flashed. It streaked across the sky. “Ah! A shooting star!” Hui tipped his head back to watch it go. It grew larger and larger, hurtling down on him.

Eh? Huh? Is it falling on me?

Silver light dropped on him. Hui ducked, clutching his head. A sword whooshed by and stabbed into the ground inches behind him.

“Huh? It’s raining swords?” He glared up. “Hey, that’s danger-oof!”

Someone stepped on his face. Hui toppled backward. Before he could hit the ground, the foot’s owner hopped off him and delicately landed beside him, her robe swirling around her. She turned and caught him, scooping him up in a princess hold.

“I’m so sorry, I’m still learning!” Li Xiang said, gazing earnestly down at him.

Hui blinked. “You again?”

Li Xiang’s brow furrowed, and then her eyes widened. “Xiao Hui! It’s you? Aha, I’ve repaid the debt!” She hugged him close to her, grinning down at him.

Debt? Oh—I caught her last time, and she caught me this time. He frowned. But wait, she stepped on my face this time, how is that…

A pillowy softness pressed against him. Hui relaxed and leaned into her. All is forgiven.

As abruptly as she’d caught him, Li Xiang released him. Hui stumbled, swirling his arms, and found his footing before he hit the ground after all. Taking a moment, he brushed himself down, taking the moment to compose himself. When he looked up, it was with a smile. “What luck, to meet you again here!”

“Mm! I was wondering if I’d meet you again. Xiao Hui, you seem like an interesting person. I want to get to know you,” she said. Walking over, she yanked her sword out of the ground, cleaned it, and sheathed it.

“I as well,” Hui replied. You seem like a useful person, o idol of Starbound Peak. Ha, what a fortuitous meeting!

“How wonderful! Shall we go for a walk? I know this place down a ways that’s lovely this time of year,” Li Xiang suggested.

“Let’s,” Hui agreed.

Li Xiang led the way. For a while, they walked in silence. Hui followed slightly behind her, watching her walk. The simple white robes could look plain, but on Li Xiang, they only accentuated her upright figure. Her straight back, her soft curves, both brought out by the white of the robe.

Hui raised a hand to his chin, thoughtful. And yet…

“What are you looking at?” Li Xiang asked, glancing back at him.

“I was thinking… you’d look good in pink,” Hui said. She certainly deserves better than the same suits everyone wears. Too bad she’s not an inheriting disciple. Her fanboys would go nuts if they saw her in a proper fairy maiden’s gown.

“You think so?” She touched the pink lily in her hair.

Hui nodded. “Light colors compliment you.”

She turned and walked backward, looking at him. “And you… blue? Sky blue.”

“You think so?” Hui replied, smiling. Just like my usual robes. If only I could tell her—no, no, she’s useful like this. Worry about stupid things later.

“Is something on your mind? You’re so quiet today,” Li Xiang said.

Hui shook his head. After a second, he sighed. “I…”

“Hm?”

“I’ve been wondering about… Weiheng Hui.”

Li Xiang shook her head. “He crippled a fellow disciple. He’s clearly a bad person.”

Hui nodded, but left his hand on his chin, hesitant. “But… I heard he was almost killed by that disciple before he attacked them. I think… I think we haven’t given him a fair chance.”

“You… where did you hear that?” Li Xiang asked, pausing.

“In the dining hall, just now,” Hui said.

She tipped her head. “I thought you said you weren’t accepted to Starbound Peak. How were you in the dining hall?”

“Ah… I, I’m friends with some of the staff there,” Hui said honestly.

Li Xiang giggled. “No, silly. How’d you get past the barrier? Last time, I was with you. This time…?”

“I have my ways,” Hui said. Can’t lie, remember, I can’t lie! She’ll notice!

She tipped her head, then shrugged. “Xiao Hui, what an enigma. Hui… is it the same Hui as Weiheng Hui?”

Hui nodded. “I didn’t know it was such a common name.” Because it isn’t.

“Hmm. But for Starbound Peak’s dining hall to have such a rumor… I wonder if it’s true. You believe it,” she said, glancing at him.

“Yes. The serving lady tonight… she said she saw the whole incident happen. That she saw Chang Bolin attack Weiheng Hui unprovoked, with her own eyes.”

Li Xiang clicked her tongue. “I knew there was something off about Chang Bolin. He’s not a good person.”

“You… you believe me?” Hui asked, taken aback.

“Mm, of course I do. You’re a good person, and you believe that serving lady, don’t you? That’s enough for me.”

“Oh,” Hui said, touched. Internally, he threw his head back and laughed to the sky. Li Xiang, you are too easy! Too easy a target! Ah, what a fortuitous encounter indeed! The night is kind to me tonight!

“He’s not a good person, but master…” She frowned and bit her lip.

“Your master believes in him?” Hui guessed.

Li Xiang nodded. “He seems to have fallen for that child’s lies. I told him he was lying, but he didn’t listen. He was blinded. Blinded by…” She fell silent, cutting herself off.

“Blinded by?” Hui prompted.

She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. Ah, look, we’re almost there!”

Ahead, the forest fell away. A cliff jutted out from the mountainside, overlooking the land below. Li Xiang skipped up to the edge. “Isn’t it beautiful?”

Hui drew up beside her.

Under the soft moonlight, the land laid out below them. Fields, rolling gently over the foothills. Tiered paddies, glinting silver as they reflected the moon. A tiny town, little more than a cluster of buildings, all quiet and dark. Peering closer, he picked out individual straws on the huts’ roofs, stones in the road, even a stray bucket laid cocked against a well.

My eyes are much better than a mortal’s, now, Hui realized. It’s only been a few months since I’ve been able to cultivate, and already, I’ve left that life far behind.

Further out, other peaks reared into the heavens. Pale light glittered around one of the distant summits, twisting and twining like the aurora borealis. Lanterns blazed into the night, cultivators careless of the march of night and day. Hui counted one, two, three other sects within eyeshot. Further out from them, even, only faintly visible in the distance, dark, grim peaks bit into the heavens. Sharp, exuding a deadly aura, he only glanced at them momentarily before looking away. Something told him not to look too long, or else risk catching the attention of something dark and horrible.

“Master says we’re too close to the demonic sects. That one day, we’ll get swallowed up by them,” Li Xiang whispered, her eyes locked on those distant, dark peaks.

“Is the balance of power that fragile?” Hui asked quietly.

Li Xiang nodded seriously. She glanced up, into the night sky. “For a long time, the heavens have been in turmoil. The underworld… not so much. While immortals squabble, demons plot. For centuries, they’ve quietly grown their mortal sects without interference, while we receive no assistance.”

“Is there nothing we can do?” Hui asked.

Li Xiang shook her head. “Our many pleas to the ascended immortals have gone unanswered, ignored. This is but a minor loss to them, while the ultimate prize, the Heavenly Emperor’s seat sits in flux. I fear that our Starbound Sect may be long gone before a new Heavenly Emperor is crowned, and the heavens free to counter the underworld again.”

“Then… right now, there’s no Heavenly Emperor?” Hui asked, shocked. Isn’t that the same as saying there’s no highest god?

“No, there is one. If there wasn’t, the King of Hell would have no equal to balance his power, and the world would truly be in turmoil. But… he… no one knows how much longer he can cling to the seat. That’s why they’re squabbling,” Li Xiang said. “They all want to become the next Heavenly Emperor.”

Far, far overhead, beyond the clouds, gold lightning flashed. A brief blast of flames reddened the night sky. Ice pillars materialized and crumpled in the same instant, turning to snowflakes, which melted into rain and fell down upon the world.

Li Xiang held her hand out. Rain pattered down into it, drops wetting her fingertips. “See? Fighting again.”

Hui turned his head up and let the rain fall on his face. Though he squinted as hard as he could, he could make out neither hide nor hair of the heavenly figures battling far above. They’re so far above us, they’ve forgotten what it is to be human.

He clenched his fist. Swearing an oath in his heart, he whispered, “I won’t.”

Li Xiang turned and looked at him, tipping her head cutely. “Hmm?”

“N—nothing. Thank you for showing me this. I’ve been on the mountain so long I’ve almost forgotten there’s a world out there,” Hui said, laughing.

“Ah! I know, right? I can’t wait until master agrees to let me go out again. I miss it, that vibrant world, those beautiful people…” Li Xiang sighed.

Hui nodded. “Then why don’t we go out together?”

“Hmm?” Li Xiang asked, tipping her head the other way.

“I mean—go out into the world together!” Hui said, a furious blush crawling over his cheeks. “Once I—once I get a little stronger, let’s, let’s go outside the sect!”

“Can you? Don’t we disciples have to be at the third stage to leave the mountain?” Li Xiang asked.

Hui waved his hand. “I’ll ask my master for permission. He’ll let me go, I’m sure of it.”

Li Xiang nodded. “Then, it’s a promise!”

Thunder rumbled overhead. Storm clouds boiled on the horizon, blocking their view of the immortals’ battle. “Let’s head back before we get soaked!” Li Xiang said, jogging away.

“Good idea!” Hui replied, chasing after her.

Despite her effortless gait, she quickly pulled away from him, her pale robes vanishing into the night. Hui ran with all his might, but couldn’t catch up to her fading form. He laughed to himself, shaking his head at her back. Did she forget she’s a realm higher than me?

Slowing from a jog to a walk, he glanced back at the sky, brows furrowed. One day…

Lightning blasted a tree beside him. Thunder rumbled simultaneously, so loud his ears rang. Zhubi twisted over on his neck, playing dead.

Hui jumped and sprinted faster than he’d ever ran before. But not today! Today, this poor disciple needs to run home before he gets killed again!