Fu Ran awoke surprisingly rested. By the looks of the bright pinks outside his window, he made it all the way until morning. He opened up his mouth to let out a large vocal yawn, and gave a stretch to his stiff bones. His fingers undid his inner robes and let it slide off of his thin shoulders, and then off his body. He stood up from his bed sleepily dragging his inner robe at his side, and walked over to where his clean robe hung on the far wall near his bath. The inner robes were easy enough to change into. Even in his sleepy state he could do so.

He decided that he should, sometime soon, plan a day to get Zhi Lao to wash his old ones. It’s been awhile since he had done so, and this was the last clean one he had. Fu Ran now had to hunt down his usual purple robes. Ah, the bed is where he left them. His feet tiptoed gently as he twisted around his body back to face his bed. His foot froze in place, almost unable to put itself down onto the wooden planks of his room.

What. The. Fuck? On the other side of his bed… not too far from his desk. Fu Ran saw a figure bowing low to the ground. He was going to take his worn inner robes to the bed and fold them for later cleaning, but the fabric slipped from his fingers and hit the boards by his feet.

A man sat, still stuck in the kowtow position, and his ashen hair lay messily sprawled onto the dark floors. “You...?” Fu Ran really couldn’t believe it had come to this! Embarrassment washed over his skin leaving redness on his shoulders and neck. The night of sleep had easily whisked away the idea that an invasion of his home could still be ongoing come morning.

Did Tian Han see? Surely not, or he wouldn’t have been able to avoid saying something had he done so. Though the touch of flush visible made Fu Ran second guess.

Tian Han’s ears had gone slightly pink, and his eyes squinted like he was in a great deal of trouble. His gaze slithered up to Fu Ran, but this action was short lived. As Tian Han met a lavender glare, his eyes shut tight.

Fu Ran, already tired of this game of stealing glances, waved his hand. He said simply, “Rise.” Fu Ran’s tone had not improved since the previous day. Just like his mood, it had plummeted into the negatives.

Only when the command fell from Fu Ran’s lips did Tian Han try to sit up straight. He remained sitting on his knees, but it was obvious that they shook wildly from the previous nights exertion. Fu Ran had the sinking feeling that the tyrant wouldn’t be able to stand if he tried. Before speaking more, Fu Ran made sure his expression and body language both were unmistakably: dismissal and disapproval. He wanted zero miscommunication. “Are you intending on doing this every single day until you get the answer you want?”

“If that is what it takes. I won’t move from this spot,” Tian Han said, smiling despite his voice sounding strained.

“I can see it from the rim of your headband. You are already red on the forehead, and I bet you cannot feel your legs.”

Tian Han laughed nervously, like he was caught in a desperate attempt to cover a lie. “This Peak Master would be completely correct on that assumption,” he admitted.

How foolish can one be?! Fu Ran was almost furious. How could he be made to look like the villain in this situation? To any others it would appear that Fu Ran asked a sad man, who was only concerned for his family, to bow to him all night while he slept like a baby! Fu Ran drew his lips into a straight line.

He wants to solidify Wan Yu a teacher? Is that really all? It was true that Fu Ran’s fear had nothing to do with Wan Yu. There was also the chance that denying the tyrant could end worse than agreeing to do as he asks. Perhaps this could even be used to his own advantage. If Fu Ran took good care in raising his family, then how could Tian Han treat him so abysmally? Under the right amounts of effort, perhaps his dreams would never occur at all.

Well, no matter the choice he wanted, there was a nagging fact that made it clear which he had to pick. He couldn’t have this future emperor prostrating himself here for the rest of his days. Tian Han looked like he was waiting so patiently for an answer. His face twisted in worry, and hints of desperation could be seen in those golden eyes.

“Fine,” Fu Ran said.

Tian Han’s lips upturned into a wide grin, even his teeth could be seen. “Really?” The tone of his voice changed to a more excited one. He tried to stand, but sloppily fell back to his knees. Despite landing back onto the hardwood flooring, he still smiled.

That dumb expression really bothered Fu Ran. Why is a grown man blushing like a child? It isn’t him that I agreed to teach, after all.

“Fu Shidi. Are you up already? I heard a thud.” Fu Ran stiffened. The voice was Zhi Lao’s.

Fu Ran grit his teeth. He knew he had asked for his Shixiong the previous night, but now the sight of his room was too much to explain! Please, do not come in and see a strange man stuck on my floor! After three years, why now did he suddenly forget how to knock? Had his martial brother walked through his door right now, Fu Ran would scream!

“I’m coming!” Fu Ran yelled before this scene could be exposed.

“No need. If you are already awake I can just tell you. Come to the Xing Xing Pavilion Entrance Hall after you get ready.” Zhi Lao spoke softly through the thin walls. Fu Ran felt relieved, and he suddenly wished to join Tian Han in prostrating. He wanted to thank any god that made his Shixiong suddenly understand privacy and reason! Fu Ran was nearly drawn to tears at this. “Did you hear me?” Zhi Lao asked.

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Not wasting this chance, Fu Ran quickly responded. “I did!”

“Don’t be late, understood?”

“I understand.” Fu Ran pressed himself to the door, and only after a few moments did he decide to open it and look. His entryway was full of plants and supplies brought from Xing Xing pavilion. He rarely even looked at this room, as it was only for storing the things he needed to live.

“Can you stand?” Fu Ran passed a simple glance towards Tian Han.

The future emperor nodded, and said, “I think so.” He had pitifully crawled over to the edge of the bed and used it as a prop. Even when he forced his legs straight, he still struggled.

After a few moments, Tian Han’s walking ability returned. Fu Ran properly put his robes on and tied his hair up, before the two of them quickly headed out.

Fu Ran was really wishing he could have a bath.

***

Arriving at the Xing Xing Pavilion, the two men joined the rest of the Peak Masters. It was sickeningly empty today. Even Fu Ran would miss hearing his fellow masters bickering in the mornings. He could count the remaining members on both of his hands.

We haven’t even begun a memorial service… The tarps with bodies are still here. Fu Ran’s thoughts had taken on a grim reminder of yesterday’s events. Fu Ran covered his face with his sleeve as there had begun to be the faint scent of death in the pavilion entrance hall. The other master’s would have noticed this too, but no one dared say a word. His gaze fell upon an elevated platform above the hall, and then to the man who stood above it all. Yi Yang.

His robes fell off his body is waves, and he dressed extravagantly in golds. Though he matched them in more black, likely due to the process or mourning. It had only been a day but surely the situation had been explained to him by now.

Still, Fu Ran found it hard to look at him more than a few passing glances. He grit his teeth and clenched his fists so hard his knuckled turned white. A mission to the demon realm was not something done in the cultivation world unless it was highly trained individuals. Whether this exam was planned perfectly, or not, it should not have involved children.

Shocked when he felt a hand on his shoulder, Fu Ran turned to look in offense. The only person near his was Tian Han, but the hand that tapped him had done so in a near invisible manner.

Fu Ran opened his mouth to speak angry sounding words to Tian Han, but was interrupted with the sound of a voice.

“Fu Ran,” Yi Yang said with a touch of gentleness in his voice. “You’ve arrived.” Bringing attention to his presence, the other masters also turned to look towards the door. Yet again Fu Ran was being seen with Tian Han connected to his hip. Yi Yang’s smile sent sent shivers up his spine, and he feared he would get further punished for barely arriving on time, but nothing of the sort happened.

"Since it seems everyone is present,” Yi Yang said, clearing his throat before continuing, “I have been well informed on the matter of what occurred in the demon realm during yesterday's entrance exam. I regret having to speak on the horrors that had happened… However, we lost five talented cultivators yesterday, bringing out numbers down to just beneath a dozen." Fu Ran wasn’t aware that Yi Yang could sound remorseful, yet he did. The pain was evident when he thought of the losses. “We have not had an incident where a high level cultivator had perished since the Last Eternal Fall Summit, 12 years ago.”

Upon Yi Yang’s mention of a banned topic, there was gossip and conversation in the room. Fu Ran couldn’t make out what was being said, as he was closer to the entrance rather than the throne where Yi Yang sat above the crowd.

His expression paled. 12 years ago, Fu Ran thought. Shizun, has it already been 12 years? Fu Ran's mind wandered to memories that had faded in time, but he dared not linger on them long. Instead, his eyes wandered to his two martial brothers still with him. From here, he only saw their backs. They don’t like to talk about it. They act like it never happened at all. I wonder...will they do the same this time?

Yi Yang gave a light tap of his sword to the white tiled floor to regain lost attention. "This meeting is to talk about obligations going forward. The dwindling number of available Peak Masters will mean those still with us will have to take on more work." Yi Yang stopped his speech for a moment and he nodded his head towards Tian Han. Quietly, he said, “This involves welcoming in more aid from outside, rather than relying on only those within the walls of An Xian Yun Peak.”

"Peak Elder Yi Yang, this guest thanks you for the acknowledgment," Tian Han stepped forward and raised his hands in a bow. Pulling his gaze from Yi Yang, he returned to Fu Ran's side with a smile, to which he was paid not a single glance.

With a single motion of his hand, Yi Yang signaled for Shesui Lang to step beside him instead.

Shesui Lang presented himself in a deep bow, before he stood tall. "As the Sect Elder has spoken. Not a single one of us can idle away the years. This means, taking disciples, going on missions, and fully helping your fellow Peak Masters where you can. We will need everybody, and every set of hands, available. For now, you all may be busier than you have been in awhile." A shiver ran up Fu Ran's back. That phrase, “idle away the years,” was directed at himself for sure. How evil his Shixiong were.

Fu Ran tried to hide away with expression, but he knew most of the Peak Masters had already cut glances of varying negative emotions in his direction.

The meeting continued with a few more details thrown about. There was planning for a memorial rituals. And of course there were talks of duties such as: Incomplete missions of deceased masters being divided among the remaining ones.

Soon the other master’s were dismissed, leaving only Fu Ran and Tian Hat sitting near the entrance door. Fu Ran didn’t want to leave things as they were, and now that the entrance hall had fallen into a solemn silence, there was only one single thought left weighing on Fu Ran’s mind. What would become of the disciples?

Under normal judging most all of them would have failed, but surely this event deserved more than just the basic levels of examination.

Those children had suffered, some mentally, and other physically. But they had also gained experience. Whether considered good or bad, it was invaluable. The lesson they learned was one of the hardest to accept: People you care for can die. That even on the road cultivating the path to immortality, can seemingly normal matters be smeared with death. It didn’t seem fair for them to gain nothing through such loss.

Luckily, Yi Yang had yet to leave yet either, and he began to walk down the steps. His dark colored eyes locked with Fu Ran’s pensive expression.

Yi Yang gave a small nod of acknowledgment to Tian Han, and then brought himself back to Fu Ran. “Is there something wrong?”

“You aren’t going to kick out the disciples after forcing them to go through horrors? Right?” Fu Ran said, words harsh. “After they suffered beyond belief at such young ages, should they be failed for merely surviving, I-”

“They will all be welcomed within An Xian Yun Peak, should they still choose it,” Yi Yang said, smiling. “Is that appropriate, Fu Ran?”

Fu Ran stood with his mouth agape, not expecting such a straight forward answer. He lowered his gaze away from Yi Yang and quietly said, “...Yes, Yi Shibo.”