“Hui.”

Hui opened his eyes. I still don’t understand what Master was trying to tell me about my dantians, but I’ve consolidated my realm, so I’ll count that as a win. He turned to Weiheng Wu and nodded.

Weiheng Wu held up the blue robe he’d been working on earlier. “Perfect.”

Hui tipped his head. “Master?”

Beside Weiheng Wu, a pile of robes laid. After a moment, Hui recognized them. Those are the robes I hid in, in the closet, back when the assassin attacked me at Jingwen’s behest! “Er, Master, you didn’t have to repair those…”

“Consider it a hobby of mine. It tests my bodily cultivation as well as my mental cultivation,” Weiheng Wu replied. “Many lesser cultivators see body cultivation as only for the purpose of making themselves stronger physically, but they fail to see the finer points of the art. Body cultivation, in its purest form, should both strengthen one’s body as well as improve one’s motor control and precision.”

Hui nodded. “Could Master teach me his arts?”

Weiheng Wu frowned at him. “You saw me operate my technique on this robe. That ought to be enough to copy my technique. Though, naturally, it is simplicity itself to ponder the truths of biology and synthesize your own path.”

Right, right, I almost forgot. Hui sighed internally. Next time Master does anything in front of me, I’ll impress the experience into my heart! Even sewing clothes can count as showing a body cultivation technique. Who could have guessed!

“Take this robe. It suits you. Certainly better than the dark robes you wear.” Weiheng Wu threw the blue robe at Hui.

Hui glanced down at himself. Right, I’m still wearing the robes we stole from those demonic cultivators… or at least the evil branch of the Bai clan—ah, that’s not the point. The ones who were taking the cultivators from the shed to the lotus!

Guilt panged vaguely in his gut. Speaking of, I wonder what happened to that prisoner? Certainly Li Xiang didn’t forget him, too?

“Er, Master, is it fine for us to take these robes?” Hui queried, uncertain.

“They are in your room, and they were in tatters. If the Bai clan did not mean for you to take them, they would not be in your room. That they’re in tatters only proves how little the Bai clan thinks about them,” Weiheng Wu replied firmly.

“Them being in tatters is… er, this small disciple may have had something to do with that,” Hui admitted.

“Then all the more reason to consider them yours,” Weiheng Wu replied.

Hui hesitated, but in the end, couldn’t think of a reason to rebut Weiheng Wu. He sized up the robes, then backed up into the now-empty closet and quickly changed. When he emerged, he wore sky blue robes of the finest brocade. A pure-white phoenix spread its wings across his back, and dark blue hems closed it to his throat. A belt threaded with white and dark blue held the cerulean robes together. Adjusting his hems, he spread his arms to Weiheng Wu.

Zhubi settled in around his neck, coiling beneath the pale-blue under-layers to be closer to Hui’s warmth. His head settled up against Hui’s neck, just peeking over the robes.

Weiheng Wu pursed his lips, then shook his head. “Too gaudy.”

“Eh?” Master, didn’t you personally pick these?

“Mmm, but it will do for now. Come along.” Weiheng Wu stood upright and stepped out the window.

Re-tying his ponytail with a sky-blue ribbon, Hui followed him.

The drop barely jarred his ankles now that he was at the third stage. Hui stretched, and a grin spread over his face. I’m a cultivator! I’m cultivating! Incredible, still too incredible! One day, the shine will wear off, but not today!

“Where’s Li Xiang? Is she coming?” Hui asked, looking around.

Weiheng Wu shook his head. “She already returned to the Sect.”

“Oh,” Hui said, suddenly awkward. Have Master and I outstayed our welcome? Come to think of it, Master never said he was invited to the clan, just that he intended to attend a banquet… Oh no, oh no. “Should… should we also leave?”

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“I haven’t had a banquet, and I was clearly invited to one,” Weiheng Wu replied.

“Ah.” Hui pressed his lips together. Awkwardness weighed down on his shoulders like a stone. Oh no. This is not going to end well. “Er, Master, that invitation was sent by someone… who is now… er, she’s passed away.”

Weiheng Wu inclined his head. He turned a mildly confused expression to Hui, clearly not understanding the link between Hui’s statement and not attending the banquet.

No luck, huh? Hui swallowed. After a moment, he shook his head. I’m still supposedly Bai Xue’s fiancé, right? So if I show up to a banquet in the Bai clan, even if I bring my Master, it’s not too unusual. Besides, it helps that Weiheng Wu is a sixth-stage genius known across the land.

Sixth stage? No, no. Fifth stage, fifth stage. He just seems stronger because he’s such a genius. Probably one of those peak-fifth-stage-rivaling-sixth-stage cultivators.

Ahead, the grounds of the Bai clan glittered with lanterns. Tiny white lanterns only as big as Hui’s palm shone from every beam of every building and the bough of every tree. They clustered thick around the entrance path to the clan, almost blindingly bright.

Cultivators strode down the path, some bearing opulent gifts, others decked out in their finery, hands tucked in their sleeves. Glancing at his borrowed robes, Hui let out a quiet sigh. It might be gaudy, but I fit in.

He peered at Weiheng Wu, who still wore the generic white robes of their sect. Not even a scrap of gold, silver, or gems hung from his clothes, nor a single spot of color. Well, Master’s a famous genius, unrivaled under heaven. He could show up naked and no one would dare impugn him.

Striding ahead, Weiheng Wu merged into the path. Hui drew up to his shoulder, quickly squaring his shoulders and turning his eyes ahead. He felt the eyes of the cultivators behind them on his back, but simply scooted closer to Weiheng Wu, and felt that pressure diminish.

Aha, Master truly is the secret to unlocking the world! Feeling smug, Hui lifted his chin a little further and grinned to himself.

The same banquet room as before laid before them, but whereas before it had only contained the Bai clan, now it held half the cultivators in the city—or so it seems, anyways, Hui thought, trying not to stare. Cultivators of all colors and stripes filled the room, which itself had grown larger since his last encounter. Groups in all one color, representing a sect or clan, sat in clusters. Plenty of black and red-dressed cultivators filled the room, those cultivators fierce, their auras dark. Other cultivators sat alone, not near anyone else in their color, either lone representatives from a more distant sect or clan or powerful loose cultivators.

A member of the Bai clan scurried up to them, a young woman in plain robes who gave them a formal bow. “Excuse me, but which sect do you represent?”

“Starbound Sect,” Weiheng Wu replied.

She frowned slightly. “Please wait here, esteemed guests.”

Ah, yes, we weren’t invited, after all. Hui’s smile froze on his face.

Weiheng Wu nodded, drawing to the side. Hui stood beside him, glancing around. Where’s Bai Xue? She could clear all this up…

The servant scurried back and bowed. “My apologies, but we lack a setting for Starbound Sect. Were we expecting you?”

“No,” Weiheng Wu said.

“Ah. Then, could you come with me? We have a special place for guests like you,” she said, smiling. She turned, leading them away from the banquet hall.

A special place…? Ah, Hui realized. He glanced at Weiheng Wu.

Weiheng Wu nodded, an ‘as it should be’ expression on his face.

Hui sighed. Not special like that, Master! Oh well. This is probably the best outcome. We don’t crash the banquet, but Master’s still happy.

Searching the room one last time for Bai Xue, he followed the servant girl. Out into the night and into a large lot behind the banquet hall. Here, a bunch of cultivators sat around. Some wore finery and sat awkwardly, holding large gifts prominently. At the sight of the girl, they sat up, subtly readjusting their gifts so she couldn’t miss them. Others lounged around in old clothes, passing around a wineskin, getting rowdy and enjoying the night.

The servant girl bowed again. “Matriarch Bai Bing appreciates your coming, but unfortunately, our seating is limited. Please enjoy our rear pavilion.”

Weiheng Wu turned and strode back toward the banquet hall.

Hui swallowed. Oh no.

“Sir,” the servant girl said, reaching out for him.

Hui jumped to his master’s side and blocked his path. At the same time, he smiled at the servant girl. “Ah, could you please check again and make sure we aren’t on any list? Tell Bai Xue that Xiao Hui is here.”

If anything, her expression became more frozen. “Associating with Bai Xue once or twice does not earn you a spot on our lists. Please understand, sirs. Our hall is limited in size.”

Bai Xue, how many admirers do you have? Hui cried silently. Outwardly, he gave the servant a smile and nodded toward the banquet hall. “I’m her fiancé.”

The servant lady’s face became stone, smile locked in place. “I understand.”

Hui smiled back, but internally he fell to his knees and screamed at the sky. You clearly don’t understand! No, please, tell me what you’re thinking. I’m scared you’ve convinced yourself this small cultivator is some kind of… stalker or… I’m not! I swear I’m not stalking Bai Xue. We aren’t invited, but we do have an excuse to attend, please, servant lady!

Weiheng Wu looked at Hui. “We’re wasting our time here. I’ll speak with the Matriarch.”

The servant stepped in front of both of them. “The Matriarch is busy and has many guests to entertain today, not to mention an infant to care for. She has no audiences open tonight.”

“Master,” Hui hissed, dragging at Weiheng Wu’s sleeves. “Perhaps we should just go?”

“You haven’t received your gifts yet,” Weiheng Wu stated.

Hui shook his head. “I can get those later, Master, it’s not important.” We don’t need to crash the Matriarch’s celebration to do it!

The servant took a step back. Her hands shifted in her sleeves.

Weiheng Wu nodded and settled in. “She’s called for reinforcements. Let’s wait.”

The servant’s eyes widened.

Hui edged closer to Weiheng Wu. Reinforcements might not mean anything to you, Master, but if she’s called the bouncers, this small cultivator might not survive the encounter!