Ying Lin finished her talisman and activated it, lifting a block of earth out of the ground. Hui glanced at his hut, finished in a single talisman, and stepped forward. “Ying Lin, don’t be disheartened. This is already a good start! For a second-tier cultivator—”

“Why would I be disheartened? Master is a great many realms above me. This much is expected,” Ying Lin replied. Ignoring Hui, she drew another talisman and continued, methodologically raising a hut one block at a time.

Hui opened his mouth, then closed it. He put a hand on his chin. What disciple says is indeed reasonable. I can’t fault her for being diligent. Then, I’ll leave her to it. One way or another, it's good practice!

A few blocks in, Ying Lin huffed and threw the talisman materials aside. Instead, she made hand signs, then threw her hands out. The earth rose, forming walls smoothly and neatly. She spun one hand, making a doorway, then let out a sigh and fell backward, wiping her brow.

Hui stared. “Eh?”

“Ah, Master. I started making the talismans, but it was too clunky. Hand signs feel right to me. Instead of clunky talismans, handsigns are much more flexible! It’s as easy as…” From the floor, she gestured, and the flow of qi changed swirling around her. She threw her hands out, and a roof of hardened earth appeared on their hut.

Hui stared. Er… did she just adapt my talisman to a hand-based spell? Is that something that can be done so easily?

Well, I guess Master had his comprehension, and I have my talismans. It’s only natural that Ying Lin has her own aptitudes.

Nodding in approval, Hui put his hands behind his back. “Good, good! Ying Lin, it seems you have karma with hand signs. Study them, and progress your cultivation on your own path. Don’t be constrained to mine!”

Ying Lin smiled. She wavered where she sat. “Master, I’m… exhausted. I’ll sleep now.”

“Sleep, sleep,” Hui agreed. He stepped forward and caught her, then carefully lifted her and carried her into the hut. Throwing out a wood talisman, he created a wooden bed for Ying Lin and set her atop it, then exited the hut and sat outside to wait for Ji Taiyu to emerge.

When Ji Taiyu and Bao Huli finally emerged from the temple, the sun had long set, and night claimed the sky. Hui opened his eyes and broke his meditation, standing to greet his temporary master. Surreptitiously, he checked the man’s clothes and hair, but both were in perfect form, as were Bao Huli’s. He frowned slightly. What were he and that fox up to, then?

“Do you have the movement technique mastered now, Bao Huli? You won’t fall through any more rotten wood?” Ji Taiyu asked, slightly exasperated.

“I—I, probably?” Bao Huli said, faking nervousness. She looked equally exasperated, though there was a certain frustration to her exasperation.

For a fox demon, she’s certainly slow in bagging her prey. And not for lack of trying. Could it be? Is Bao Huli… is this her first time hunting? That’s… kind of cute, isn’t it?

I doubt it is, but until I know better, I’ll go ahead and imagine it! Hui nodded to himself happily.

Bao Huli narrowed her eyes at him. “Second Disciple has a strange look in his eyes. I think he should go practice under a cold spring for body purification.”

Oh, hey! What did I do to hurt you? Hui thought, scowling.

“Good suggestion, First Disciple. I know a place near here. We can all stop by after this. I think we would all benefit from it,” Ji Taiyu said, stepping slightly away from her with an expression that said, especially you.

“Master!” Bao Huli protested.

“Where is Third Disciple?” Ji Taiyu asked, looking around.

Hui bowed. “Third Disciple exhausted herself building tonight’s resting place. She’s resting inside this hut.”

Ji Taiyu glanced at the hut, slightly dissatisfied. “Second Disciple, weren’t you going to build the huts?”

“The two of us worked together. It was Second Disciple’s oversight that Third Disciple took on more of the task than she was capable of. Second Disciple accepts Master’s punishment,” Hui said, bowing deeper. It’s not like he can hurt me, even if he wants to.

Ji Taiyu waved his hand. “It’s fine, it’s fine. Don’t be so careless in the future. We should keep a watch tonight, in case the monsters come. Second Disciple, as your punishment, take first watch as well as Third Disciple’s watch.”

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“Then, Second Disciple will take the first two watches,” Hui offered. I’ll keep watch all night whether you ask me to or not. I don’t need to fully submerge myself in meditation right now, after all.

“First Disciple will take third watch,” Bao Huli said. She gave Hui a threatening look, daring him to speak up.

Bao Huli, you haven’t taken a single watch since I’ve been here. I understand already, Hui thought, rolling his eyes back. Besides, you’re the one with a ‘cultivation level so low you have to sleep at night.’ I understand!

Ji Taiyu nodded. “I’ll go circle the temple a few more times before I rest for the night. First Disciple, Second Disciple, call if you find yourselves in danger.”

Hui saluted silently. Bao Huli hurried to Ji Taiyu’s side and followed him back toward the temple, whispering about something or another. She shot Hui a dirty look as they vanished around the corner.

What did I do? Hui wondered. After a second, he sighed and shook his head. It doesn’t matter. Bao Huli shouldn’t openly move against me, and even if she does, it’s no matter. I’ll simply find someone else to attach to. Maybe that trader…

He settled down to wait as the night grew dark. After a time, Ji Taiyu and Bao Huli returned, Ji Taiyu nodding as he vanished into his hut. Bao Huli shot Hui a scowl. Hui ignored them both and sat quietly, listening to the forest at night.

Bats fluttered around, darting here and there. Nighttime creatures scurried in the undergrowth. A lonesome owl hooted, to no response. Hui swept his mental energy around, using the night as an excuse to practice expanding it.

Cold blue flames materialized in the air. An uncharacteristic silence fell upon the glen. Hui’s mental energy hit a sudden block as a heavy pressure fell upon the area and suppressed him. He opened his eyes. What is it? Bao Huli knows I don’t care, right?

Bao Huli stood over him, her fox ears and fangs both out. A clawed hand closed around his throat, and she dragged him into the hut and slammed him up against the wall. She leaned close, slitted eyes glowing, and hissed, “You won’t take Master from me.”

Hui cut his eyes at Ying Lin, but she slept peacefully. A trace of Bao Huli’s energy swirled around her head, and he recognized the traces of a sleeping spell. Good. I don’t want her to wake up.

“Elder Sister, I have no interest in taking your Master. I’m merely a wanderer who—”

Bao Huli interrupted him by slamming him against the wall. “I heard you speaking with that man of dual cultivation. If those are your tastes, there is only one man here, and he is mine!”

Hui blinked. Greenish blood ran down his face from where Bao Huli had slammed him into the wall, but he barely felt the pain. Ah. I understand now. “Er… Elder Sister, that Elder Brother has some… special circumstances. I’m no cutsleeve. I prefer women.”

“Prefer? Prefer is not require,” Bao Huli snarled.

“Listen, listen, Elder Sister. That person I was talking to was Bai Xue. Bai Xue, of the Bai Clan! He can become an Elder Sister as well. In any case, he’s the kind who flirts with anything that has a pulse, anything! It’s impossible to have a pure conversation with him. It’s no fault of small cultivator. Elder Sister, I have no interest in your Master. Please believe me.”

Bao Huli hesitated. She lifted a claw and pointed at Ying Lin. “Then the girl.”

“Ying Lin is my disciple. She’s only a child,” Hui argued.

Bao Huli narrowed her eyes. “And your other disciples?”

“Small cultivator only has one! Please, Elder Sister. I have no desire to get in your way. As long as you don’t outright kill Ji Taiyu, whatever happens in your hut is between you and him,” Hui replied earnestly.

At that, Bao Huli finally drew her claw away from his neck. Hui rubbed his neck, the soft plant flesh quickly healing the lacerations there. He bowed at Bao Huli. “Thank you, Elder Sister.”

“I don’t fully trust you, but you haven’t revealed me yet,” Bao Huli replied. She flicked her tail, looking down on Hui dismissively. “In any case, rest assured. I have no designs to kill Ji Taiyu.”

“Eh? Why not?” Hui asked. Isn’t that what fox demons do? Seduce men and drain their yang energy?

She flicked her tail again and looked away. Although it was dark, Hui thought he saw a hint of a blush on her cheeks. “You do not need to know.”

“You love him,” Hui guessed.

“I do not,” Bao Huli insisted, scowling, but her tail flicked back and forth faster than before.

How cute, how cute! Ah, Bao Huli is incredibly adorable when she’s embarrassed. Hui couldn’t help a smile at the sight.

“Stop looking at me with those filthy eyes. I’ll drain your energy,” Bao Huli threatened, raising a claw toward him.

“Respectfully, Elder Sister, even Bai Xue hasn’t accomplished that yet,” Hui replied.

“You don’t need to be intimate to—”

“I’m aware, I’m aware,” Hui said. Of everyone in this world, I might be the most aware!

Bao Huli stared at him, then backed away. “If you won’t say anything… then I’ll let you live for now. But if you ever open your mouth…” She flexed her hand, baring her claws at him.

Hui nodded. “Elder Sister, how did you end up falling in love with Ji Taiyu?” A fox demon like her… it isn’t every day that demons and humans fall in love, after all.

Bao Huli showed him her fangs and backed away. “Not a word. Not a word!”

“Hmm… Ji Taiyu seemed familiar with this temple. Could it be…? Has he come by before? That time… were you the man-eating monster?”

“Not a word!” Bao Huli snapped. “Besides, I didn’t eat people. They taste bad.”

Hui smiled. Is she embarrassed? How cute! To think I was scared of this adorable fox. Maybe I should find a fox demon to keep as a pet. They’re too cute.

Around his neck, Zhubi hissed.

“No, no, you’d always be my favorite,” Hui insisted, petting his head to placate him.

Bao Huli paused at the door. She looked back at Zhubi, her golden eyes reflecting the moonlight. “Why don’t you manifest?”

Zhubi hissed at her and tightened around Hui’s neck, displeased.

“You’ll regret it, remaining like this forever.” Whirling about, Bao Huli vanished into the night.

Hui patted Zhubi’s coils. “Zhubi… can’t breathe…”

Zhubi loosened his coils. He settled down against Hui’s neck quietly and sat completely still, drooping like a soggy noodle.

“What is it? If you want to manifest, manifest. I’ll like you either way,” Hui promised.

Zhubi shook his head. He slithered around and darted into Hui’s robes, wrapping around his upper arm instead.

“Eh… okay,” Hui said. He shrugged. Why do I feel like I just mediated a fight between a cat and a dog?