The sun beamed down on Unrivaled Under Heavens Peak, illuminating the slender tendrils of mist that clung to its upper reaches. Trees and greenery clung to its sides, lending it the appearance of an immortal paradise. A lone wolf wandered the peak, its hoary shoulders shifting powerfully under the noon light. It raised its head and howled, the sound echoing off the peak and through the blackened valley of death outside it.

All the surrounding peaks hung dead and gray. Death qi curled darkly even under the weight of full sunlight. The cultivators’ bodies proved too powerful to decay the way mortals’ would, but instead, as their qi faded, the light and power that surrounded them became tainted with the auras of decay and death until nothing else remained.

At the far perimeter, Zhi Ahn, All-Heavens cultivator, looked over and scowled. “It’s that wolf again.”

“Someone should kill that beast already, sell its beast core and make a killing. I’ll take a wolf steak while you’re at it!” a fellow All-Heavens cultivator declared boldly.

Lu Lintei scoffed. “Ha! Good luck breaking the barrier on that peak. If even Peak Lord Gui Delun and his army couldn’t destroy it, what makes you think you can?”

Abruptly, a brilliant aura of white light pierced through the heavens. The All Heavens cultivators reached for their weapons, only to scowl yet deeper. “Not again.”

“Seriously, someone stop her,” one of the guards complained.

Lu Lintei raised a hand to her eyes, squinting after the bolt of white light. “Did you see what she did to Fu Yin? He’ll thaw sometime in the next century, if he’s lucky! Do you want to become a glacier, too?”

Zhi Ahn sighed. “Has someone notified Gui Delun?”

Ding Qinwen shook his head. “All the messengers forget to mention her.”

“Ha! You mean, they pass through Twin Elemental City and ‘coincidentally’ attend a dinner at the Bai Clan, right?” Lu Lintei snickered. “Actually, can I go next time?”

Zhi Ahn shook his head, tired.

“Well, I mean. It’s not like she’s doing anything terrible,” one of the guards reasoned.

“Right, right. We should stop her, but I’m not risking my life. Besides, the Bai Clan provides mystic ice and fire sources to All-Heavens Sect. If we harm their heir, what’ll happen to our business relationship?” Lu Lintei pointed out,

Ding Qinwen nodded. “Exactly. We’re guarding against that criminal Weiheng Hui and the dregs of Starbound Sect, not against the Bai Clan. So what if she has an odd fascination with that peak? She isn’t harming anyone, nor disturbing the dead.”

“We should at least chase her,” Zhi Ahn argued.

“Right. Shall we?” Ding Qinwen asked, leaping on his sword.

Lu Lintei waved her hand lazily. “You guys go. I’ll hold down the fort here, keep an eye out for any…” she yawned, “accomplices.”

“You mean, you’ll laze around and do nothing while we do all the hard work?” Zhi Ahn snarked back.

“Zhi Ahn, make haste! There’s no need to question your martial siblings’ division of the work.” Ding Qinwen reproached him.

“What work,” Zhi Ahn muttered under his breath, casting a glare at Lu Lintei as he hopped on board his sword.

Lu Lintei pushed herself to her full height and glared in return, but had to stifle a yawn halfway through the motion. “How dare you question your elders. I’m fifth stage now, don’t you know?”

“How the Heavens overlooked that one and let you through, I’ll never know.” Shaking his head, Zhi Ahn chased after Ding Qinwen and the white bolt, and the other guards followed after them.

Wiping the sweat off his brow, Peak Lord looked up from splitting stone to watch a streak of white light blow past the encircling All-Heavens guards. He smiled and waved.

A moment later, Bai Xue landed beside him, a small bird-shaped jade token held out before her. Unlike the jade token that had protected Hui from the immortal, this token was carved with the key to the peak’s barrier. “Xiao Hui! Long time no see.”

“It’s only been a day, Elder Sister,” Hui replied, bowing.

She looked him up and down. “You’re looking fine today.”

Hui glanced down. He wore his robes wrapped around his waist, baring his upper half. In one hand he held a pickaxe, his foot propped against the limestone slab he’d chosen. “I was busy with manual labor. Naturally, I’d dress casually. If it offends Elder Sister—”

“Offends? Not at all,” Bai Xue replied with a chuckle. She nodded at the stone. “Are you done digging that hole of yours, then? Carving stone instead?”

“Ah, yes. I can’t say why, but I feel that it’s extremely important that I do this,” Hui said. He lifted the pickaxe and slammed it down. The talisman formula carved in its surface resonated through the slab, and it broke into even, neatly carved slabs, their surfaces flat and dimensions even.

With another gesture, Hui piled the stone onto his shoulder and gave Bai Xue a nod. “Will you walk with me?”

“Happily,” Bai Xue said.

The sun blazed down, highlighting the green tones in Hui’s pale flesh. His shoulders and the uppermost planes of his chest were the darkest green, as if they’d been sunburned to green instead of red. Bai Xue’s eyes lingered there, and a faint softness appeared in her eyes. “At the end of the day, this is only a clone, after all.”

“Eh? I didn’t catch that, my apologies,” Hui asked, turning.

“No, no. Nothing.” She waved her fan, watching him walk from the corner of her eyes.

At last, they reached the hole. Hui descended into it, still carrying the stone. The hole sloped gently downward, its ceiling supported by wooden beams, until it reached a large, round chamber. There, stone pillars and panels already stood, decorating the walls or supporting the huge stone block that made up the ceiling. Hui set the slabs down on the floor, slotting them into place, then turned to Bai Xue. “What can I do for Elder Sister today?”

Bai Xue narrowed her eyes at him, a small smile touching her lips. “You know, when you came and kidnapped me boldly from my sect, I thought you knew exactly what you could do.”

“That was—that was a moment of passion and thoughtlessness that this small coward greatly regrets,” Hui replied, glancing away. A blush crept up his neck and cheeks.

“I must say, I wasn’t expecting my kidnapper to suddenly ‘drop dead’ when my mother confronted him… ah, though you did persist admirably, even after you were frozen to death. If I wasn’t there to remind her of our official relationship, she might have killed you for real.”

“No, no. I made a mistake,” Hui said, waving his hands. He sighed. “Bai Xue, do you have to bring this up every time you stop by?”

“Hmm. Perhaps,” Bai Xue replied, slowly wafting her fan, her eyes slits.

Hui sighed. I guess I do deserve it, for getting cold feet and playing dead halfway through. “Still, I’m grateful for your presence. I am all alone here, trapped in by All-Heavens…”

“You broke out once,” she pointed out.

“Ah, but still. Someone has to tend to the growing clones,” Hui replied.

“And dig a hole,” she added.

“I’m carving stone now, Elder Sister.”

She sat down on the edge of the slabs and gestured for Hui to sit down beside her. Hui obliged, pulling his robes back on as he did so. “You know, Hui… although I did somewhat trick you into being my fiancé, I do want you to become my official husband.”

“Ah… ah?” Hui asked, startled. Where is this coming from? What? Can I get a heads up? Maybe a hint to buy a ring? No—I mean… I should at least… have something!

Bai Xue nodded. “There are few men with your unique qualifications. I admit, it is appealing to me to have a husband who will not object to my cultivation method, nor fight to monopolize my time. I wish to have a harem… a wish we share.”

“Yes,” Hui replied, nodding. Or at least… at least also Li Xiang.

After all, I do find Bai Xue attractive. Who wouldn’t? Since Li Xiang doesn’t object to me partnering with her, I don’t see a need to hold back. And it’s been my dream since forever to have a harem. It might not have worked out as I imagined, but… what ever does, in life?

“As you can imagine, most men outside of the family object to this. Since a member of the Bai Clan has to bear my children for me to pass down the bloodline, I’m forced to either partner within the clan… a prospect I find distasteful, or find a man who’s willing to pair with me, and accept everything that comes with that. Like yourself,” Bai Xue said, nodding at Hui.

“Yes,” Hui said. Say something other than yes! Come on, you can think of something! Something, for sure!

His mind remained blank. He stared at the floor, not sure where else to look.

Bai Xue reached out and took his chin into her hand, forcing him to look at her. “Then, Xiao Hui, will you give me a child?”

At that, Hui’s mind went entirely blank. “Eh?” Is this a joke? It must be a joke. But she looks so serious. She’s beautiful, too. Unlike anyone else, a beauty all her own. I do… I want to, but, but, but… He swallowed. His mouth started to form words, but he words faltered at his lips.

“Yes?” Bai Xue prompted him.

“I… that is, no one will kill me?”

“If you… sleep with me? Xiao Hui, how many people do you think have slept with me?” Bai Xue asked.

“I mean… but there’s a difference between that, and becoming your husband,” Hui said nervously. “Oh, and Li Xiang demanded to be first wife. I…”

“You can be my official husband, and she can be your official wife. I have no problem with that. In terms of successors, my child will succeed the Bai Clan, and yours and Li Xiang’s can be the first successor for your and her techniques,” Bai Xue said simply.

Hui blinked. “You’ve really thought this out, haven’t you.”

“Of course. It is the one thing preventing my mother from marrying me off to someone without my consent. I’d prefer to be able to choose… and I’d like to choose you,” Bai Xue said.

Hui took a deep breath. He clenched his fists and glanced down, then looked her in the eyes again. “Bai Xue… is it only because I’m convenient to you that you—”

“You’re handsome and you have an incredible cultivation speed. I find you funny and easy to be around. What else do you want?” Bai Xue asked.

When you put it like that… well, she has a point. I can’t say I feel what might be considered traditional romantic love toward her, but I have a strong friendship toward her, and I would like to sleep with her. Hui looked at her again. “Even if I don’t fall in love with you—”

“I’ve never put much weight on romantic love. Xiao Hui, with my cultivation technique, I honestly prefer men who don’t fall in love with me, but see our relationship as casual and consensual fun. If that’s how you see me, that is more than acceptable to me,” Bai Xue replied.

“Ah. So…” Hui said.

“The only reason I haven’t pushed you down already is because I respect you,” Bai Xue said, chuckling. “After all, you seem like the type that needs to be pushed, rather than the type that pushes.”

Hui waved his hands. “Elder Sister! I, I, I have no idea about these—”

“But if you find it acceptable,” Bai Xue said, leaning in.

Hui gazed into her red eyes and gulped. Her soft white hair brushed the place on his chest where his robes hadn’t fully closed, and he felt her breath on his face. “I do.”

She smiled and leaned in. Their lips met. He melted, falling backward to the stone floor, and she pressed him down.

“Even if it’s a clone, it’s still you, isn’t it?” Bai Xue said, parting for a moment.

Hui nodded breathlessly. “It’s still me.”

“Then, become mine.”