Yun Tian could not keep his eyes off of the spirit, an uneasy feeling settling in the midst of his stomach. He and Shang Wu walked behind Qing Yu, who kept a close distance behind the spirit.

They emerged from the garden that separated the main palace from its smaller counterparts. Servants, maids and errand boys hastened to move out of the concubine's path. One girl who was carrying a basket filled to the brim with freshly cleaned clothes pressed herself so hard against the wall Yun Tian thought she'd merge right with it.

Two other errand boys who rounded the corner, both carrying small pouches for their letters, turned on their heels at the sight of the spirit, deciding to take a longer path if it meant they could avoid the man overall.

"Have them redo the fish, Qing Yu. The meat is no longer fresh at this state." Bai Li's voice jolted Shang Wu at his side. The shorter male cast a glance at Yun Tian who shrugged his shoulder in response.

"I had instructed them to keep the fish fresh in the kitchens until you arrived, my Lord. I'd fear her majesty would have kept you much longer than she already had." Qing Yu responded smoothly. The spirit was tall, already towering above most of the servants they passed. Yun Tian guessed that if he stood close enough the spirit would reach up to his eyes.

"You never fail to satisfy me, Qing Yu." Bai Li responded and for some reason, the sentence sounded like an insult towards him and his companion. It was clear their arrival was not a welcome one. Not that Yun Tian was looking forward to being a concubine's guard, either. His work laid back in his family's estate, far from the palace walls.

Finally, they seemed to have reached the little palace. Servants bowed lowed towards Bai Li as he passed while the outer guards remained tight and upright in their positions. Yun Tian glanced back at the arched entrance as they walked across the main bridge. Apart from the guards at the entrance, only servants and maids can be seen roaming around the halls.

"Yun Tian." Shang Wu whispered, drawing his attention down to the pond they were crossing. Golden carps swam leisurely beneath the crystal clear waters, their scales reflecting the sunlight, their bodies the size of his forearms. If sold, these carps could easily feed a big village.

"The rumours of him being the Empress's favourite must be true." Shang Wu continued to speak in a hushed tone. "No wonder the Emperor despises him, these carps could cover me for life."

"Watch your tongue." Yun Tian warned though his eyes stayed on the healthy carps. They were the biggest he'd ever seen. "It'd be best for you to not speak of the Emperor at all for the time we'll spend within these walls, even the grass and birds bend to his will."

"Don't be absurd." Shang Wu retorted, but casted a suspicious glance towards a few birds sitting in the nearby trees.

The little palace, though not as grand, contained just as much luxury and elegance as the main palace. Yun Tian looked around discreetly, memorising the turns and ways they took to get to the spirit's chambers. Here, the walls were painted a darker red, curtains the shades of blood.

Qing Yu quickened his steps and passed the spirit, pushing open the doors to its main chambers as he bowed. Bai Li passed and seeing as Qing Yu remained holding the door open, Yun Tian followed, Shang Wu close behind his tail as they both bowed appreciatively back towards the blind swordsman.

Bai Li had flopped down onto a chair beside the opened window, the spirit sighed, dropping his head back slightly and closing his eyes. With the golden irises hidden, he looked like a painting.

Yun Tian placed his hand on his sword and bowed, Shang Wu following his lead. "I apologise for the intrusion, imperial consort. If I had known we would be given such an honourable position, the Tian house would have prepared gifts to your liking. I am Yun Tian, the eldest son of the Tian family and this is my most trusted companion Shang Wu. If you need anything at all, we are at your service."

If the spirit heard him, he did not show it. With his eyes still closed, chest rising slowly up and down in a relaxed manner Yun Tian brow raised when he realised the spirit had already fallen asleep.

"We thank you for your service." It was Qing Yu who responded, placing his own hand upon his sword and bowing. The three men straightened up, Shang Wu casting a confused nervous glance his way. "I would have made time to give you a tour of the estate if I'd known. I'm afraid the tour would have to wait till dark."

"That's fine." Shang Wu responded, offering the blind man a small smile as his voice lightened to try and bring up the mood. "It would be much cooler during the night anyway. You're the Tainted Snow, right? Instead of the tour, could we spar? I've heard so much about you and-well-your swordsmanship, of course."

Qing Yu's lips twitched into a smile, nodding. "We could spar the next dawn before breakfast, if you'd like."

"If I'd like?" Shang Wu hissed, grabbing the blind man's hands who seemed to shrink back slightly in surprise. "I'd love to!"

Yun Tian sighed. "I apologise, he means well." he assured, roughly dragging his friend back by the collar and away from the blind man who looked like he much preferred his personal bubble untouched. Shang Wu let out a sharp curse and snapped his mouth shut just as fast, glancing towards the spirit who still hadn't moved from his spot. Seeing the spirit still asleep, Shang Wu slumped in relief.

"I see that." Qing Yu straightened his sleeve, offering the two an assured smile. "I have heard great things about you too, commander Yun Tian. Despite what my master may say it is of great honour to have you here. There had been too many changes in guards and servants for the past months, I'm glad the Empress finally assigned someone of your calibre to serve master."

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"When you say changes," Shang Wu started, sounding like he did not want the answer to his question at all. "You do mean they were fired or quit, yes?"

Qing Yu did not answer, he merely smiled at them which did nothing to ease Shang Wu's nerves. "You'd do well to get accustomed to your master's behaviour as fast as you can. There is no routine, nothing is guaranteed. Of course, I will fill you in on the rest this evening on our tour. For today, master will take it upon himself to see whether or not you are worthy."

Yun Tian quirked a brow. "Worthy?" he asked.

"Tolerable." Qing Yu corrected.

Shang Wu leaned closer to Qing Yu who in turn, leaned down as well. Yun Tian watched the secretive, wide eyed look on his companion's face and couldn't resist joining them mid way.

"Which spirit is he?" Shang Wu whispered.

"Master's identity is unknown, he's believed to have walked the earth long before the Emperor was even built. There are no scriptures describing his features, those who knew who he was are either dead or have forgotten along with the loss of his soul."

Yun Tian turned the information in his mind. Just because he was a nameless spirit did not mean he was weak. Like his father had said, the most powerful spirits are the ones who are forgotten. Lurking in the shadows with those oblivious to the danger. Yun Tian found himself questioning the sanity of the Empress to take such a creature in as her concubine.

Though who was he to question the royal Empress's actions? His job was to protect the spirit, or more accurately, protect those around him from it. That was all.

"Then what kind of spirit is he?" Yun Tian found himself joining the gossip.

There were three kinds of spirits in the world. Those who drew their power from nature to maintain it, like the water spirits. Those who drew power from prayers and songs sang in their praises and in return would grant wishes upon such mortals, like the infamous Raven spirit. And those who took power from other living beings, feasting upon their flesh and corrupting their mind in return.

"I feasted upon your wives and husbands, the kind who'd leave a child orphaned amongst their parent's corpses." Shang Wu nearly jumped out of his skin and even Yun Tian jolted at the sudden sound of Bai Li.

His head was no longer tipped back. Instead, the spirit rested his head on his palm, his elbow perked against the window's edge as he stared at them with those unnerving golden eyes.

"Shang Wu, was it?" Bai Li continued, voice an ancient melody that made Shang Wu stiffened. Yun Tian forced his hands not to stray towards his blade. He was now the guardian of a spirit, not a hunter. He reminded himself, clenching his hands into fists.

Shang Wu's head snapped down in a bow. "Yes, imperial-"

"Call him my Lord." Qing Yu whispered and Shang Wu's head bowed even lower.

"Yes, my Lord."

"Do you have a wife?" Bai Li questioned.

"No, my Lord."

"A husband?"

Yun Tian's eyes snapped towards the spirit as they widened. Bai Li, seeing the expressions mirroring across all three of his servants raised a brow.

"What? Is sodomy still illegal?"

Qing Yu did not miss a beat, as if this kind of questioning was to be expected. "Yes, my Lord. It is frowned upon greatly."

Now the spirit seemed interested, lowering his hand as he straightened. "An Emperor actually wrote on paper that the act of fucking one's ass is to be punishable by death? Was this read by the minister in front of the court? Tell me, Qing Yu, what other nonsensical laws have you humans passed while I was in my slumber?"

"For the sake of your own sanity, my Lord, I fear that's a question I shouldn't answer."

"You're right." Bai Li accepted this, waving his hand as he leaned back against his seat and closed his eyes before they snapped open again as he shot straight up. Shan Wu stepped back in surprise and Yun Tian tensed. "What of Li Gu's offer, then? Was I to be his whore from afar? Or do these laws apply only when they are found?"

Qing Yu's expression remained unfazed. "Young Master Li Ge's lust indeed exceeds even the will of the heavens. The dirty bastard."

"Li Ge?" Exclaimed Yun Tian, unable to keep quiet the same time Shang Wu stumbled over his words at the shocking news.

"Young Master Li Ge? Son of the Ge family who they say value virtue and justice above all?"

Yun Tian saw the moment Shang Wu regretted opening his mouth the moment Bai Li's sharp gaze returned to him. Not wanting to be its next target, Yun Tian willed himself to remain as still as possible.

"No husband either, I take it." Bai Li spoke, reminded of the fact that he was in the middle of questioning the short male. Shang Wu bowed at a sharp degree.

"No, my Lord, I am unwed." He spoke with haste, arms stiff at his sides.

"Pity," Bai Li replied, making a show of staring down at his companion as the spirit trailed his eyes down Shang Wu's body. "I would have loved to meet them."

Shang Wu shivered and Yun Tian thanked the heavens he himself had refused all those marriage requests throughout the years. Qing Yu, sensing the growing distance between Bai Li and his new guards quickly stepped in the middle, walking swiftly towards closed windows around the room.

"You two, open the rest of the windows." He tossed the order behind his shoulder and Yun Tian got to work.

"He's not going to eat me, is he?" Shang Wu whispered beside him as Yun Tian unclasped the window's ledge, pushing it open and breathing in the fresh breeze that rushed in.

"Don't be ridiculous." Yun Tian replied, but even he still felt wary standing with his back towards the spirit. Shaking off the feeling Yun Tian moved to the next window, and then the next. Working quietly the door to the chambers opened and he glanced behind to see three servant girls carrying trays of food and refreshments. The women were led in by an elderly who wore the white robes of a royal doctor.

Upon setting his eyes on the spirit the elderly's hands immediately started to move, signing at a speed only one could when they were enraged or worried. Yun Tian starred in slight fascination as the spirit seemed to understand every single word, offering an annoyed response yet he remained seated, accepting the elderly's scolding.

"Your secret wives and family members are safe." Qing Yu said from beside him, drawing Yun Tian's attention back from the semi silent exchange.

"What?"

"My Lord hasn't regained even an ounce of his memories." Qing Yu continued, cocking his head slightly. "He lied about feasting on those people, at least for now. Even if that was the kind of spirit master was he has no recollection of it."

"Then he was just scaring Shang Wu, it seems." Yun Tian sighed, unsure if that was any better. To be working under a master who enjoyed tormenting on other's fears.

"I wouldn't say torment." Qing Yu said and Yun Tian realised he had spoken his thoughts out loud. "My Lord is actually quite playful, spend a lot of time with him and you too, would realise. His sense of humour is just a bit different from others."

"Ah." Yun Tian responded shortly. Like threatening to eat the loved ones of another and talking about something as sinful as sodomy. He glanced towards Shang Wu who stood awkwardly as he continued to open the windows, standing sideways so that his back was never fully turned towards the spirit.

Father, what have I gotten myself into?