Everybody stared. Hui stared back because he had no other choice, too committed to playing dead to even twitch his eyes.

Pressure slammed down on all of them. Li Xiang spread her stance, shoulders struggling. Bai Xue tensed, subtly straining against it.

Hui’s qi stuttered. He circulated his death qi at full force, fighting off the pressure. Please, this small disciple didn’t mean to, I have no control over this wild snake!

Erlan let out a high-pitched giggle. “If His Eminence didn’t have his eye on you…” His voice trailed off, the giggle pitching further up. Ink-like streaks appeared around him, tearing the air open.

All at once, the pressure dissipated. Erlan sighed. “Ah well, ah well. Recovering two lotus seeds was already beyond our expectations. To recover one is enough. It’s not worth irritating His Eminence to end your measly life.”

Your Eminence Yunxu, thank you for loaning this small cultivator your golden thigh! Hui cried silently.

Erlan waved his hand. “Besides, your actions saved demonic cultivators as well as righteous cultivators. I’m not one to extend gratitude, but I am grateful that our clan was not poisoned by this foolish Bai clan child’s pitiful attempt to backstab us. So let us call this, you reaping your karma for that, and set it all aside.

“If you took both, now…” Erlan trailed off into his high giggle again, emitting his pressure once more. Black ink-marks formed around him. He adjusted his glasses and grinned.

Suddenly, Erlan glanced up. He took a deep breath and retracted his pressure, then laughed. “I think it’s time for me to go.”

With that, he flew off on his brush, charging into the sky, then off to the horizon.

Hui let go of his qi and stood upright, brushing himself off. He raised a hand and shaded his eyes, but couldn’t make out Erlan in the distance. “Is he gone?”

Li Xiang nodded. “We need to retrieve that prisoner. The one we left in the shed.”

“Mmm. First, let’s recall the clan, now that the situation’s been resolved,” Bai Xue said. He stretched and sighed. Black faded to white, yang form swapped for yin. She pointed her fan up at the sky and fired off a ball of white energy. Delicate white snowflakes filtered down from above.

Within moments, the first hesitant faces appeared over the edge of the hole above. “Young Master?” one called, uncertain.

Bai Xue nodded at the wilted lotus husk. “We defeated it. Call back the others, there’s no need to evacuate the city. We’ve resolved the crisis.”

The faces saluted, then vanished again, chasing after the other Bai clan cultivators.

Bai Xue looked once more at the ruined shell of a body in her hands. She hesitated, then laid Jingwen down against the wall, propped upright. For a few moments, she stood over Jingwen, silent, then nodded and walked back to them.

I wonder what’s on her mind, laying her ex-fiancée to rest like that. I know Bai Xue didn’t love Jingwen, but for someone she knew for so long to die so suddenly, for someone so close to her to leave… I’m sure this isn’t how she wanted this to end, Hui thought, silently watching her. He said nothing, but simply nodded back.

“She wasn’t righteous,” Li Xiang said.

Hui nudged her. Not now!

“She wasn’t righteous, but in the end, she did the right thing. I think that’s what we should remember,” Li Xiang said.

Bai Xue nodded. “She could be crazy, but still, she saved my life. I’ll never forget what she did for me.”

“She did love you,” Hui said quietly. There won’t be another good time to say it. If I don’t say it now, I never will.

“Mmm. I know,” Bai Xue said softly. She turned to Jingwen one more time, then shook her head.

Gesturing, she summoned a fan, then stepped atop it. She held out her hands to Li Xiang and Hui. They both stepped closer. Bai Xue wrapped her arms around their waists, and the three of them flew into the air and out of the cave. Bai Xue descended to a safe spot on the ground, a good distance from the cave hole, and released both of them, stepping off her fan at the same time.

Hui staggered to the side and wiped his forehead. “I’m exhausted. And starving.”

“We don’t need to eat, you know. Especially not at the third stage,” Bai Xue pointed out.

Hui waved her down. “I can still be hungry.”

“You need to meditate and consolidate your realm. Maybe that’s why you feel hungry,” Li Xiang replied helpfully.

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“Maybe so,” Hui allowed. Or maybe I just want more free food. Spiritual food is a blessing, alright?

Bai Xue shook her head. “I’ll see if I can contact Mother. We ought to tell her what’s happened.”

Oh, right, I almost forgot. Right, their clan just split apart. How could I be so selfish to poke around for free food while Bai Xue’s clan is under such duress? I got caught up in the atmosphere of those novels I used to read, where the hero gets showered in gifts after beating the boss, but we’ve got to clean up the mess afterward, too. Hui shook his head at himself, embarrassed.

Bai clan cultivators rushed past them, hurrying back into the clan. Some funneled toward the caves, while others returned to their daily lives, picking up fallen articles from the ground. Bai Xue led the way toward the throne room, trailing the other two after her.

A single man stood at the end of the throne room, hands clasped behind him. At the sight of Bai Xue, he bowed. “Bai Bing sends her regards and her thanks. She is still in labor, and regrets that she could not come in person to see the resolution. However, as thanks, please allow our clan to offer you gifts. If there is anything you require, speak it now.”

“Did Mother know what was happening?” Bai Xue asked.

“The Matriarch had some idea, but did not know the full extent of it. She apologizes for underestimating her sister’s ruthlessness and lack of family values.”

Bai Xue snorted and turned aside.

“Then, the two of you, please allow the clan to show our gratitude,” the man said, nodding at them.

“I require no gifts. Justice is its own reward,” Li Xiang declared.

“Er… I as well…” Hui reluctantly chimed in. I do need—but I can’t be greedy! They’ve just lost a large portion of the sect, it’s best if we don’t…

“What, do you think we’re a poor clan? Speak up,” Bai Xue demanded, crossing her arms indignantly.

Li Xiang shook her head. “I never ask for rewards.”

Hui bit his lip. I shouldn’t! I really shouldn’t! But this small cultivator is deep in debt. Isn’t this the same as throwing the opportunity of a lifetime directly into the garbage? I shouldn’t hold back.

No, I have to hold back! Think of the rebuilding expenses! The loss of life, the loss of face! I can’t!

Debt, Hui, debt! Do you want to be a slave in this life, too?

“Hui, go on. I’ll be insulted if you don’t,” Bai Xue threatened, narrowing her eyes at him.

“Er, er, I, ah… A, a few spirit stones? I could use some spirit stones,” Hui tried.

Bai Xue harrumphed. “Is that all you think my clan has? Looking down on the Bai clan, are you?”

Am I? Maybe… maybe they have this situation under control, and I should speak my mind. Then… “Er, if I could be so bold, a spatial ring of some sort would come in handy,” Hui said.

“A storage ring? Is that all?” the man asked.

“And spirit stones, and spirit stones,” Hui threw in.

Bai Xue scoffed. “Hui, don’t be ridiculous. Of course we’ll reward you with spirit stones. There’s no need to say it aloud.”

“Ah… right,” Hui said, nodding.

The man nodded and took a step back. Mid-step, he vanished.

“Is that the entrance to your mother’s secret realm?” Hui asked. He peered at the air, but there was no obvious gash or edge as there’d been with the Mysterious Heavenly Forest sect’s hidden realm.

Bai Xue nodded. “You need a specific ring attuned to Mother’s qi to get in. She can rescind access at a whim for each individual ring, so it provides a quick escape route for… well, situations like this.”

Hui nodded silently, understanding.

“Then, shall we rest? I’m exhausted as well,” Bai Xue said.

“Together?” Li Xiang asked.

Bai Xue’s eyes glittered. “If you like. I wouldn’t mind.”

“Separate, separate!” Hui protested. This furnace—she can’t wait to get her fingers into me and Li Xiang! I still need to consolidate my realm, I can’t waste time playing around with her!

“Eh? Hui, you don’t want to rest with us? We could do some light exercise. It’s good for the body and one’s cultivation, you know?” Bai Xue suggested.

“I like exercise,” Li Xiang agreed.

“Li Xiang, come with me! Bai Xue, Li Xiang is our Skybound Peak’s idol, okay? Stay away from her if you know what’s good for you!” Hui cried, harrowed. He grabbed Li Xiang by the arm and led her away. If I let this happen and the good cultivators of Skybound Peak ever found out—I’m afraid playing dead would do nothing when they won’t be satisfied until they dismember my body and turn me into a human stick!

“Eh? She’s an idol? I’ve never been with an idol before. I wonder what it’s like?” Bai Xue asked, following after them.

You’re not even disguising your evil intent anymore! “Bai Xue,” Hui complained, shaking his head.

“Been with? We’ve been together all this time,” Li Xiang replied.

“Oh? Yes, we have been,” Bai Xue replied. She drew closer, licking her lips.

Hui glared fiercely. He put himself between Li Xiang and Bai Xue. “I’ll protect Li Xiang’s innocence to the end!”

“Mmm? If you do that, though, won’t you die a lonely virgin?” Bai Xue pointed out.

Hui froze. Eh, wait. She’s right.

“So? Why don’t you come dual cultivate with me? I can handle both of you at the same time,” Bai Xue said.

Hui took a deep breath. Aren’t I being as bad as Li Xiang’s worshippers right now? I should let her do as she wishes. Besides, Bai Xue is beautiful when she isn’t busy teasing me to death. I certainly wouldn’t mind ending this too-long streak…

“Dual-cultivating? But that should only be done with someone you truly treasure. Master taught me that,” Li Xiang said.

“Don’t you treasure me?” Bai Xue asked, pouting.

“I do, but not like that. I’m sorry, I have to turn your offer down,” Li Xiang said.

Bai Xue turned to Hui. She raised her eyebrows at him. “I am a furnace, you know. I’ve heard dual cultivation feels even better… excuse me, is even more ‘effective for cultivation’ than usual.”

Hui bit his lip. He started to take a step. She looks incredible. And it’s not like I hate her. I’ll never get another chance like this…

From beside him, Li Xiang made a disappointed noise and turned away.

The pit of Hui’s stomach fell out. No, no, no! I like Bai Xue, but right in front of Li Xiang? What am I thinking? I might as well kick myself in the balls! Even if Li Xiang never looks my way, won’t she spread the rumor—and the true rumor, too—that I’m a loose cultivator with loose morals who will sleep with any fairy maiden who looks his way?

This isn’t a stallion novel. These women won’t look the other way as I sleep around with everyone I meet. Well, Bai Xue might, but, er, I feel like she’d want to be involved… anyways! If I take this step, I might as well give up on anyone in Skybound Sect, let alone Li Xiang herself!

He cleared his throat. “Of course not, Bai Xue. I appreciate the offer, but this small cultivator, too, is saving himself for someone he truly treasures.”

Li Xiang perked up. She beamed at Hui.

“Eh? Is that so?” Bai Xue asked. She glanced at Li Xiang and chuckled. “I see, I see.”

“Then, please come get us when you need us,” Hui replied. With a bow, he retreated.