The world whirled around Hui, and he squeezed out of the spatial passage and into a dark space. He stumbled, then fell over. Confused, he pushed himself up. Where am I? What’s happening?

In the distance, something roared fiercely.

Hui’s arms gave out on instinct and he played dead, lying on the stone floor in the dark space.

A few moments passed. When nothing appeared out of the darkness, Hui laughed lightly and pushed himself up again. “Right, right. Well, we did just enter the realm. There shouldn’t be anything too dangerous right at the door.”

Hot breath rushed into Hui’s face, fetid and gross. Huge teeth glimmered in the low light. A thick tongue brushed against his skin.

Hui dropped back down to the ground. Shit! Fen Long, how dare you put a terrifying beast right at the door to your realm? What about escalation? You can’t open with the most dangerous beast! That’s—

That’s… actually a really good idea. I mean, you want to keep people out, you put a guard at the gate, right? Come to think of it, why wouldn’t you put your most dangerous beasts right at the entrance to the realm, if you wanted people to keep out?

Hmm, I have to be careful. I’m being infected by this world’s thought process! No, no. If I ever build a secret realm, I’ll put the most dangerous beasts up front!

The beast sniffed Hui. It nudged Hui’s body a few times, then picked him up gently. Padding over the floor, it walked away.

Hui blinked, confused. I guess… it wasn’t hungry?

Ah… it’s probably taking me back to eat later. But I’d rather it took a bite now, in all honesty. It doesn’t want to eat me. I’m not meat, and with these sharp teeth? It’s definitely a carnivore.

Light crept in from ahead, and then they stepped out into daylight. Low clouds glowed with a strange, diffuse yellowish light. Amber grasses, heavy with grain, swayed with a will of their own. The air hung still, humid and thick. Hanging from the beast’s mouth, Hui found it oddly hard to breathe, but his lotus body rejoiced in the heavy humidity.

Come to think of it, Chen Wuya uses the Seven Steps of Autumn, but was trapped in a field of spring poppies. Fen Long… is trapped in autumn fields of grain? The two of them were in the same sect. I wonder… Hui frowned, still dangling from the beast’s jaws. “Senior, Fen Long was a disciple in the same sect as you, right?”

“Mmm, that’s right,” Chen Wuya said lazily.

“Then… did he also study a technique based on the four seasons?”

Chen Wuya bobbed his head, a very crow-like gesture. “The Five Steps of Spring, yes.”

Spring poppies. Autumn grains. This feels… almost… intentional? But… what does it mean? I know Chen Wuya is obsessed with Fen Long, but… I suppose this might mean that Fen Long is also obsessed with Chen Wuya.

At… at least it’s mutual…?

Hui sighed, shaking his head slightly. I guess it’s better that they had a mutual blood feud than that Chen Wuya one-sidedly held an obsession against Fen Long. I’d rather be friends with a man that has a feud than with a creepy homicidal stalker.

As he was carried, he reached out. Can anyone hear me?

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No response. Hui pressed his lips together. I guess not.

Other beasts roamed the grasses. In the light, their toothy maws stretched into dragon’s maws. Broad shoulders and hips held up a barrel chest, its back and limbs marked by tiger stripes. A long, fleshy tail sported a barb on the end. Their necks sported manes of long spines, not unlike a hedgehog’s. Paws like a tiger’s flattened the grasses, and feathery wings bounced as they walked. The long grasses reached to their knees as they stomped along, snuffling in the grass. One or two looked up, peering at their fellow beast’s prey, but no one dared to steal Hui away from the beast that held him.

I’d wonder if Fen Long literally put wings on a tiger, but it looks like he put a whole lot else on, too, Hui thought to himself.

Chen Wuya fluttered over and landed on Hui’s face. Hui scowled. “Senior…”

“You aren’t death-faking very hard,” Chen Wuya said.

“Well, it’s a beast. It won’t pay too much attention to the little details,” Hui returned. Though actually, it probably already knows I’m alive. Beasts are pretty smart about that. After all, Zhubi knew to play dead, and fully committed, even back when he was a little second-realm spirit beast!

One way or another, it’s taking me somewhere, whether I like it or not. When I arrive, I’ll figure out what my next steps are, but for now… for now, I think I’ll peacefully be this prey. It’s better than getting attacked by all the magical beasts out here all at once! I’ve essentially got a giant beast bodyguard to give me a preview of this secret realm. That sounds like a good deal to me.

Chen Wuya casually preened his wings. Feathers drifted down on Hui’s face.

Hui spat a feather out of his mouth. “Senior…”

“Hmm? Oh.” Chen Wuya continued preening his wings, ignoring Hui.

Sighing, Hui laid limply, waiting while the beast carried him along. The flat plains curved upward into a valley ringed by peaks, each one sharper and more imposing than the last. Tucked into nooks and crannies in the peaks, dark caves hid. Young beasts frolicked outside some of the caves, fluttering into the air to drop down on unsuspecting siblings, who rolled over to beat at the attackers. Hui smiled. They’re like puppies. Big, murderous flying puppies.

A large beast flapped down to the entrance of one of the caves, carrying a large deer-like beast with majestic, glowing antlers. The puppy-beasts jumped up excitedly, yipping and fluttering around the adult. The adult dropped the deer, and the puppy-beasts immediately latched onto it, tearing the deer’s body to shreds as they gulped down its flesh.

Hui swallowed. I… suddenly feel like I understand where this beast is taking me…

Oh well. I’m not too worried about fighting off some puppy-beasts. All in all, it could be worse. Honestly, they’re kind of cute, in a hideous way. I don’t really want to hurt them. Maybe I’ll just let them bite me and find out that I taste bad. There’s no need for conflict! Even in the beast world, we can still live a peaceful and happy life.

He glanced at Chen Wuya. “Senior, do you sense Fen Long’s energy anywhere?”

“Yeah. Everywhere,” Chen Wuya said flatly. He rolled his eyes. “Not only did Fen Long make this realm, but he’s been hiding here for centuries. This whole place is inundated in his qi. You’re asking where the hay is in the haystack. His qi is this place.”

“Ah, well… that’s inconvenient,” Hui murmured to himself. I guess it was too much to hope for that Chen Wuya could track Fen Long’s qi directly to him. Still, I imagine that Senior will know if we get close. After all, he recognizes Fen Long’s qi. When it gets stronger, he’d know best.

Though on the other hand, if this entire space is full of Fen Long’s qi, then all I have to do is find the thickest qi to find Fen Long.

“When we find him, I’m going to make him explain himself. Locking me away for all these damn years… he’d better have a good reason,” Chen Wuya growled, feathers fluffing up. He hopped once on Hui’s face, his claws digging into Hui’s flesh.

“Senior…” Hui complained, sighing.

As the beast approached the peaks that ringed the valley, it leaped into the air. Flapping enormous wings, it carried Hui up to a cave halfway up the nearest peak, one of the largest and sharpest of all. Three little beasts came tumbling out of the cave as the beast approached, yelping in excitement. Their wings fluttered desperately, still too small to carry their weight. They extended their claws and snipped at the air, showing sharp fangs.

Hui’s eyes widened. Oooh, this is going to hurt.

“Good luck,” Chen Wuya said dryly, taking to the air.

“Senior, don’t abandon me,” Hui cried.

Not hesitating a second, Chen Wuya flew away. In a few moments, he was nothing but a ragged black blot in the yellow sky.

The beast descended. Its children stood on their hind legs, pawing the air and letting out happy grumbles. Hui licked his lips, imagining the claws and teeth on his skin. Oh boy. Yep, this is going to suck.