In All-Heavens Sect, a teleportation formation shone with bright white light. Merely one of many, this specialized teleportation formation stood in a corner of the sect’s teleportation plaza, a distance away from the large, main teleportation formation. The guard startled, checking his list. He turned to the guard beside him. “Did we expect a guest today from Starbound?”

The other guard shook her head. “Prepare yourself.”

A moment later, two cultivators materialized in it. One wore simple blue robes and a snake around his neck, while the other wore long, ornate white robes to match her long white hair.

“Young Master!” the female guard said, stepping forward, subtly blocking the male guard as she moved. The male guard stood out of his ready stance, understanding her clue. “What brings the Bai Clan’s Young Master to All-Heavens Sect this auspicious day?”

Bai Xue raised her hand. “Where is Song Wei?”

“Ah, he is… that is, he’s…” the female guard coughed. “In the usual place.”

“Hmm.” Bai Xue strode off, Hui following close behind.

The male guard squinted after them. “That male cultivator following her… he looked almost exactly like—”

The female guard held up her fist, signaling for silence. “Not a word. If the Bai Clan’s Young Master has decided to take on a lookalike lover in her grief, well… it’s within her rights.”

Ears burning, Hui pressed his lips together. He looked at Bai Xue. “Is it that hard to believe I’m back?”

“No,” she said flatly. After a moment, she waved her hand. “For those who don’t know you well, certainly. They only know you as the coward who somehow coerced an army into taking down Gui Delun. Faking your death… it’s easy to misunderstand it as a coward’s foolish tactic without personally experiencing your technique for themselves. Aside from those who have faced you in battle, who would believe that death-faking could be used in such diverse circumstances, even as an offensive technique? Of the many cultivators who have never met you personally, they take death-faking as merely a symptom of your cowardice, not an art in and of itself.”

Hui nodded to himself. “Good, good.”

“Is it good?” Bai Xue asked.

Hui looked at her, barely able to believe his ears. “Obviously, Elder Sister! If word got around that I was a death-faker and people believed it, I’d have to constantly wear disguises in order to use my best techniques!”

“You do that anyways,” Bai Xue said.

“Precisely,” Hui said, nodding. “The fewer people who associate me with death-faking, the better!”

Bai Xue snorted. “You certainly are unique.”

“Ah, thank you, thank you. Small cultivator doesn’t deserve such praise,” Hui demurred with a small bow.

Shaking her head, Bai Xue led him onward.

They flew around the floating mountains and darted by the chains. Bai Xue dropped down toward a familiar mountain, where heat glowed from the forge in the heart of the peak itself. She clapped, just once. “Song Wei!”

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Nothing.

Bai Xue grimaced. “Let’s continue.”

“Is this not the usual place?” Hui asked, looking down at the peak he’d briefly raised disciples on. Ah, yes. Song Wei, Hong Zhou… that brief drama played out amidst the blossoming trees below. I think… of all my clones, that clone might have been the luckiest. To get to experience something even I likely will not experience, to raise disciples earnestly amidst the plum blossoms…

Oh well. There’s no point fixating on it. Life comes as it will, and I’ll take it as it comes!

Without answering his question, Bai Xue took to the air again. Hui followed her once more, but this time, he paused. “Er, is ‘the usual place’ his workshop? I know where that is.”

“No,” Bai Xue said.

“Oh… okay.” Hui followed her, a little confused. Not at the forge, or at his workshop… where is he?

Bai Xue drew to a halt before an ornate palace. Women and men giggled, arm in arm, sharing liquor and conversation. Deeper in the house, music wafted out, and a delicate fragrance carried on the breeze.

Hui stiffened. Ah. The flower house. That is… the brothel!

Song Wei, my cute disciple… frequenting the brothels? So much so that it’s become ‘the usual place?’ I never would have foreseen this! Wait, and last time, he even mentioned that he’d found a lover. Song Wei, are you cheating on your lover? Or worse… is your lover at the brothel?

No, no! Absolutely not! What a waste of precious money. What potential to land in debt! Song Wei, did I teach you nothing? I—

Hui paused. He put a hand on his chin. Come to think of it, I really didn’t teach my precious disciples much…

Almost as soon as they arrived, a handsome young man and a beautiful young lady rushed out and flanked Bai Xue. “Young Master!”

“Come back so soon?”

“We’ve missed you!”

Hui cut a look at Bai Xue. He quirked a brow. “How many husbands and wives do you have? And you still play around at brothels?”

Bai Xue waved her hand imperiously. “It isn’t playing around, it’s important cultivation!”

Sure it is. I know what cultivation means for you! Hui continued to give her his suspicious look.

She shrugged. “You know my cultivation method, right? The Bai Clan is a furnace clan. We’re great at refining others’ energy, whether for them or for ourselves. When I cultivate, I refine others’ energy for myself, and for them, to a lesser extent. The higher realm I get, the more energy I require, and the less I can afford to give back. If I were to take that energy from a few dozen people all the time, they’d never be able to progress in their cultivation ever again. Some people are willing to sacrifice that… but I’m not willing to ask them to. Especially since all I need to do is spread my love around, and everything is resolved!”

Hui snorted. It’s reasonable, and yet… “You sound like a scum.”

“Ah, well, you married that scum, so…” Bai Xue said lightly.

Hui laughed. “That is true!”

The two of them laughed for a moment, the tension broken. Only a moment, though. Anxiety colored Bai Xue’s expression again, and Hui felt his own stomach tighten. He looked up at the brothel. I have to hope Song Wei knows what I hope he knows. Otherwise… all I’ve done is waste time!

The handsome man and beautiful woman looked from Bai Xue to Hui, confused more than anything. Laying her head on Bai Xue’s arm, the woman looked up at her. “Is he coming with us?”

“Not today, not today. We’re looking for Song Wei today,” Bai Xue said, gently lifting the girl’s head off her arm.

The man and the woman drew away from Bai Xue as if stung. They pulled subtle faces at one another, then bowed and hurried off.

Eh. Does Song Wei have that terrible of a reputation? Hui wondered, watching them go.

Bai Xue clapped twice. “Song Wei!”

A strong pressure emanated from the brothel. Killing intent shot from the upper balconies. The sun suddenly seemed to pale, as darkness congealed around the balcony. A deep voice boomed out. “What?”

Hui shivered. He backed away, grabbing Bai Xue’s sleeve. “Er, Elder Sister, maybe we shouldn’t bother him. Small cultivator has my own tricks, my own techniques. It will be difficult, but even without him, this small—”

Undeterred, Bai Xue crossed her arms, gently removing Hui from her sleeve. “Xiao Hui is here.”

Instantly, the pressure and killing intent retracted. The darkness dissipated, replaced by a bright golden glow that seemed to sparkle on the air. Song Wei rushed to the balcony, only half clothed, his upper half bare. “Master?”

“Ah… hello,” Hui greeted him, blinking. He rubbed his neck. Ow, the whiplash!

“Master! And…” Song Wei looked Hui up and down. “You’re alive?”

“Mmm,” Hui said, nodding.

Bai Xue snorted. She shook her head at Song Wei. “Put some clothes on and get down here. Your Master needs you.”