Even though I had everything we needed… Well, I still didn’t know what exactly I had to do to start growing this thing.

Did I just plant ‘em next to each other and start singing? What did I sing at all?

Somehow I don’t think busting out the few thrash metal songs I actually liked would produce the desired results.

“You got any ideas, bud?” I asked Big D, and the rooster started to obviously ponder my question.

It had been a bit of a shock when I suddenly felt his Qi ignite. At first I had been confused about what had been going on, but Bailu and Seiyu had been adamant that he was now a Spirit Beast—a sapient, Qi Empowered animal, that was roughly as smart as a human.My little man hadn’t actually changed, well, at all really. I asked him what he had wanted to do with his life, but he just hopped on my shoulder, crowed, and then started attacking bugs like always.

Hey, if that's what he wanted, that was what he wanted. Hells, he even refused his own bed and spot at the table, instead continuing to sleep with me, so he clearly liked spending time with me.

He also seemed to have a sixth sense for when Bailu and Seiyu were doing something dumb again, and he always called me over so I could put a stop to it.

I looked at the little man pondering my question, when Big D nodded, before he leapt off my shoulder. He looked back and hopped up and down, clearly wanting for me to follow him.

So we went to the edge of the island, where Big D hopped up onto a large rock and crowed.

“You tell ‘em Big D.” I said out of reflex, as I clambered up onto the rock beside him, and looked out onto the vast horizon.

It was a beautiful view, the thousands of islands that made up Soaring Heaven Archipelago stretching out over a shimmering sea. The wind tousled my hair, and he spread his wings, as if to show me all of it.

I mean, I still had no idea what to do, but A for effort, little man.

I ended up falling asleep on that rock with my rooster, looking up at the stars above.

================================

That night, I had a rather strange dream.

I dreamed of a massive deer, as big as a house. His coat was a rich shade of brown, with a white underbelly. His hooves seemed to be made of stone, and his antlers were living, growing wood.

“What do you yearn for the most, child?” the great deer asked me.

I thought about the question, because it was a strange one. What did I yearn for the most? There were plenty of things I wanted. But what did I want the most?

I wouldn’t say I was content with my life, but right now, it wasn’t a bad one. My belly was full, I had Bailu, Seiyu, Big D and Minyan to keep me company.

But I knew it couldn’t last forever.

I had died twice, now, from circumstances outside my control. I was a person of interest for a sect that might kill me if the truth got out. I was locked to a tiny island. Unlike other protagonists, I didn’t even have a ring grandpa or a cheat system!

I thought for an eternity, and an instant on the answer, before I finally spoke.

“I want… I want to be free.” I told the great deer. “I want to see this great world, and everything it has to offer! I don’t care about politics, or getting stronger! I just want to see what's over the horizon!”

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Freedom from the stifling feeling living on this island gave me. Freedom from the fear of being found out I was a fraud. Freedom from the obligations and expectations.

Freedom to live my life as I pleased, forging my own path.

The Great Beast smiled at me.

“It is a good dream, little one.” he told me, and he reached forwards with his nose to press it to my forehead.

I blinked up at the beast, as it started to shrink, before it finally faded into mist, disappearing entirely.

All that was left was an old scroll…. And a strange feeling in my gut.

===============================

Bailu had a conundrum.

Her Young Master’s place on the rock looked supremely comfortable. Sleeping under the stars after a hard day and snuggled up to somebody would surely make her day.

However, the bastard bird was still awake, and looking directly at her, promising death…. Or at least waking their Young Master up and having him scold her if she tried.

She frowned at the Spirit Beast but it stood firm. Grudgingly, and only in the sanctity of her own mind, she had to respect the little ball of piss and vinegar. Bailu knew cultivators in the spiritual realm who when faced with her intent or the mere thought of her displeasure had pissed themselves and ran for their lives. Yet when it came to her Young Master, the bird had stood firm against her intent every time, gritting his beak and planting himself, yielding not a single step back to either herself or Seiyu.

It was good her Young Master had such a brave and loyal beast… though it would have been a thousand times better if the little shit would stop standing against her.

She sighed, and retreated. Maybe some other day she would have challenged the preening cock, but today…. Well. today.

“It's bad luck to leave such destruction in your wake.”

Bailu sighed as she replayed the words in her head. She had thought he was completely over it… but hurting him that badly had clearly left a mark. Stupid Bailu! Of course their Young Master was a conscientious soul, who, like one of the fairies of old, endeavored not to leave marks of his battles upon the world.

Bailu winced slightly as she replayed every battle she had ever had in her head. She wasn’t the Typhoon Wing for nothing. The shredding winds, blistering lightning strikes, and slashing rain that characterized her cultivation style tended to leave more than a bit of destruction in her wake, and Seiyu wasn’t any better.

The Tsunami Wing had a habit of simply pulverizing anything that got in her way, and considering how often they fought together… well. There may have been a few more mountains in the world before they got to them.

Nobody had ever really said anything to them before, though, other than don’t damage the sect… which is why they had been in the abandoned isles to hurt the Young Master in the first place.

Bailu frowned. It was bad that they had hurt him… but it was good that they met their Young Master.

Bailu pondered this duality.

She pondered it some more.

She was just starting to get frustrated at her lack of understanding when her Young Master abruptly stood, and began to Leak Qi. Bailu and Seiyu were instantly by his side, wary for some sort of attack.

But instead, they instantly recognised the signs; the signs of an enlightenment.

His eyes began to glow green; ethereal horns formed upon his brow; the seeds and core he had collected lifted into the air and began to whirl around his form.

And then he looked upon her.

His Yang Qi touched against her, questioning, but firm. Bailu flushed.

“Oh, Young Master~” How bold! How assertive! How like a proper Young Master!

How could she deny him, when he was like this? His Qi ran up and down her own Yin Qi, like he was asking her to dance, and she could tell it was doing the same to Seiyu.

It … felt right.

Bailu gave herself over to Her Young Master’s Qi, as did Seiyu, as their Young Master lifted the seeds, his Qi pouring off him.

A second instance of Yang Qi joined the first, of wind and fire, and Bailu huffed that the chicken had a role to play, adding his own spark to the seeds and the core.

But then it was her and Seiu’s turn. She felt her Qi mingle with her young Master’s as wings formed for a brief instant upon her back, and birdsong drifted in her ears.

Her Young Master’s voice rose in an ancient, nameless song without words, booming and deep; and their voices rose with his.

Neither were the leaders of this song; neither were the followers. Yin and Yang worked and mingled in perfect harmony.

The horns sloughed off his head; and the ground opened up to receive the seeds and the core.

The wings fell from their backs, feathers absorbing into the earth.

Her Young Master knelt, and gently covered the seeds.

And then, she heard her him begin to whisper; it was some manner of poem, or oath, defiant and proud.

“Take my love, take my land, take me to a place where I cannot stand; Take me out, far away, tell my mother, I’ve gone astray; You can burn the land and boil the seas—”

“But you can’t take my sky from me.”

There was a pulse of Wood and Earth-aligned Qi… and then all of them sagged. Bailu abruptly felt exhausted, and Seiyu was at their Young Master’s side as he suddenly slumped.

Her friend blinked sleepily, then eyed the rooster. This time, however, Bi De offered no screeching chastisements. He simply nodded… and pointed with his wing up at the stars.

….it looked like they got to snuggle up with their Young Master after all!

They walked to the rock, without looking back.

And little green shoots poked up from the ground.