Hushi harried the mass with [Spectral Q beneath the clouds of Shuidi’s mists. As they had for unceasing minutes.

  Their cultivator blurred.

  He raced as the wind; as a ghost; a streak that stepped from clouds thereafter. Tactics bade him bleed all inbetween, and to harry them as they did him. So came his bde, if neat, embedding through the grim, vulnerable pces of several score. Be that [Spirit Beast] or cultivator.

  Though the pilr did not shift. A nameless third son of Yellow Moon Hall, his [Spirit Fox] pinning Sai underpaw. The thrum of his voice had Shuidi’s mists whorl. “I spoke of hearts, and this comrade showed his ck. Now I will speak of honor, if you possess yet a sliver of it. Heads must roll, but it need not be his.”

  Diamonds scored Fu’s flesh.

  [Moon Q exuded, carrying its attribute of gcial cold. To meet such a front of mist it crystalized, no matter how much continually spouted from the [Spirit Crab].

  What y beyond gcial?

  The [Water Q within his [Channels] shrunk to face it, endangering his skin with damning yers of frost. For this he slowed, was bled and driven back as the intensity soared with proximity to his foe.

  Fu pushed resonances through his brooch. A warning to Anfang, pulsing to either depart or make ready the Warship.

  Six Imperials fell, crippled.

  It is only a vessel.

  Six more.

  The treasury can be emptied. Of this I am confident.

  Shuidi’s lesser [Resilience] began to fg. Ice, crusting her shell.

  We can begin again if only the disciples survive.

  Indeed, he could flee. Hold the Imperials at bay to cover a retreat, employ his [Poison Q to dispatch even this [Might]-possessing son of Yellow Moon Hall.

  Sai groaned through the mist. “A heart of cowardice,” he coughed, further biting at the foe above him.

  Swiftly, [Air Q spooled about Fu’s limbs, and that of Hushi’s. Channels of revolving wind that raged as [Half Cloud Step] delivered the pair closer. His [Stifling Stream Revolutions] - a set begun.

  The first moved on instinct, ascending to the fifth. Fu’s [Prowess] that of [False Imitation, Early], an stage that allowed his [Qi Manifestation] to fly.

  He delivered a foot into open air, and a gust unched forth. Another. Ten. And each time his own mists blew aside, carrying frigid diamonds sidelong. Buffeting the [Moon Qi’s] cold until he was within five clear paces of his enemy.

  A resonance returned, affirming Fu’s previous.

  To stall the ice he interposed his [Intent], and called out. “Son of Yellow Moon Hall, your point is proven. I am the one you seek, not this junior. If demands are to be delivered, leave them only for my ears.”

  Some treasured give pinned Sai to the ground, and did not lift in address. “A cultivator of age, and crippled. You are less a [Demon] than is whispered,” the son said, but this was more observation than insult. “I am of a mind that you will not y down your arms.”

  “It is poor to speak with leverage,” Fu gestured. “What is said will be no true reflection of my feelings.”

  “To release your junior would be a fool’s move. But neither would I end a broken man.”

  Blood spurted in Sai’s protest. “Br-”

  “Junior,” warned Fu, and unslung his chain. “I met with the leader of your [Spring] Chime cn, and she showed honor where none was required. Truly, son of Yellow Moon Hall, there is a sadness that we are of differing Empires. Enemies, destined. Perhaps you hold the same righteous spirit as she, or perhaps not. All are equal beneath the [Dao], and owe nothing to any soul.”

  The son’s lips thinned. “Traitorous sentiments, and bck-ced words. Few are the things any would trust from your lips.” With a sudden motion, he kicked Sai to the side. Many, many paces over. “Let us settle this, in pce of conspiracy.”

  An [Intent] met his, and the axe-headed give swung.

  Fu blurred from its path with [Half Cloud Step], troubled that he needed this to match the swiftness of his foe. So started their fray.

  Qi pulsed through his brooch, but Fu could spare no time to query it.

  The give cut, and frost came within this [Intent]. It slickened the deck with ice, and lowered the temperature to such a degree that one might guess they were deep into [Winter].

  As did it gnaw into Fu’s limbs.

  [Half Cloud Step] could not counter it, for as he moved the cold built upon his flesh. His hanfu, chain and all, slowing him in so far as the give’s proximity became a certainty.

  Metal scraped twice, for the lessening disparity in speed forced it. Fu’s ratio then skewed, and Hushi’s blur against the [Spirit Fox] suffered in tandem. From ten dodges and a forced block to five dodges, descending rapidly.

  One hundred exchanges.

  Another.

  Qi resonated.

  Another.

  This son’s [Might] battered Fu into the deck, unable to withstand the weight of his give. But he rolled, scraping pain along his broken skin.

  All of his Qi impartment lies in strength. If we might poison him before his [Intent] neutralizes it…

  However, pns demanded agency. The ability to respond.

  Hushi and Fu were left only with their [Dao], and neither wished to test what might happen should they withdraw into gcial mist, nor pass into frigid, stalling wind.

  Shuidi shared an impression.

  [Spectral Q suffused all three in an instant, and Fu drove towards the [Spirit Fox] as Hushi assailed the son. An exchange that drew a small advantage in wounds, for both foes were bled along the gut.

  Blossoming Ice sealed the sudden cuts, and neither stalled their advance. Thus the farce continued.

  No [Dao of Crushing] could mangle their limbs. The [Dao of Reach] held no use. A distant change of styles proved how ineffectual the [Wind Phantom Strides] might be.

  Fu’s chain snaked. Two resonances came. [Spectral Q warded instant death ten times over. His [Inner Q sagged. His mental energy strained to call forth a [Winter Rejuvenation Pill]. Three resonances came. Shuidi was forced to deliver the swallowed Qi in his pce, for her cultivator could not stop lest his feet freeze to the deck.

  Three?

  Qi flooded his [Core] and revitalized all within his [Channels], and mayhaps, this is what granted the mental crity needed. While his body did not thaw, his thoughts became as frozen, limpid water.

  Udvah holds one brooch. Anfang holds the second.

  Her [Senses] expanded, Shuidi impressed a great, irregur mirth. She then swallowed two more of the [Winter Rejuvenation Pills] without care, erupting her Qi forward.

  A gale raged before Fu, creating enough space that he could leap back with Hushi in tow. Before he could marvel at the manifestation, the son moved.

  “Hold,” demanded Fu.

  “Waste no words,” his foe called. “End this with dignity.”

  More might have come had the [Moon Q not drained. Had the cold not vanished towards a rearward figure.

  “A pipe?” he queried. “[Karma] is not as timely as I would like, for this a tragedy I might well have prevented.”

  The son faced the new challenger, levelling his give. “Another of these juniors? It is a surprise that there are souls righteous enough to give their lives for those above them.”

  “Above? He is no senior,” said Zhu, and cleaved the son in twain with the [Dao of Axes]. “He is my brother. Though to dress as a grandfather does, none might tell.”

  A gun stamped behind, marking Udvah’s presence. “Amituofo. Zhu has yet to hear what the disciples call him, no? The past [Seasons] have not made Gao Fu youthful.”

  In a motion the returned disciples streamed, vanishing into mist. Spectres intent on cleansing their deck of Yellow Moon Hall.

  ?

  Introductions took priority over tales, for that time would come soon enough. Aggravating, as Zhu had not arrived alone.

  The Wayward Wind’s Heads were assembled within the hour, joining their senior atop his quarters when it was certain that their juniors could tend to all the duties required. Retrieval of corpses, [Spirit Cores], weapons and lesser spoils.

  Sai stood among them by force of will alone, [Life Q flushing his injuries by Aarushi’s hand. His bones were a separate matter. However, he had found a reason to deny their pain.

  “A Martial Head?” asked Zhu.

  “Were these not Gao Fu’s words?” Sai bristled, bringing his [Spirit Serpent] to hiss.

  Shuidi took delight in his discomfort.

  “And you, the second Martial Head?” Zhu continued. “A role filled twice. Either you’re both inadequate or the challenge is deemed that great. But- ah, I lose interest.”

  Anfang waved him off. “Wouldn’t time be better spent if you didn’t ask such fruitless questions?”

  “Gao Fu, this one is pleasingly direct.”

  Tanshuai was atop Hushi’s crown, impressing no small warmth despite how they merely sat in contact with one another. The feeling grew whenever Fu gzed her with his attention, and even Zhu held a quiet grin.

  “Disciples,” he finally addressed, having most stand taller. “I would speak without interruption for a time.”

  Zhu was impassive then, but held clear interest in the command his brother held.

  “Yellow Moon Hall’s presence, and tterly the [Shores of Heavy Whisper], are a trouble that we will no longer contend with,” he said, measuring each response. “Disciple Pinxui’s absence may be notable, but her efforts focus on repairing our Warship that the Wayward Winds might leave swiftly.”

  Muted reactions. Expectant looks.

  Fu continued. “To bme the situation is poor, for true ghosts cannot be unmade with such meagre light as we have faced. Attention from cns or factions should not have forced our hand in this manner, and yet I fear that to harbour attachment to this realm we would leave behind the Clouded Courts, becoming instead a Martial Sect.”

  In the settling quiet, Aarushi presented herself first. “This sixty-first rate disciple cks understanding of the Clouded Courts, senior. We have ever been distant from their influence, and trust only in Gao Fu’s lessons.”

  “Isn’t it simple?” coughed Sai. “Senior Gao doesn’t instruct us in [Prowess], but in shadows and darkened things. To face Yellow Moon Hall further would lose the essence of the Wayward Winds.”

  Tanshuai shared a thought on the Martial Head that had Hushi mirthful.

  “As you say, Head Su. In short, we have taken the measure of the [Spring] Empire and their Marches, and will act no more in this retaliatory manner. This realm holds no more importance, thus, they will be given final severance.”

  Now rose a matter of conscience. Of the ever-present csh between those righteous and those that were not.

  Aarushi’s gaze was clinical.

  Sai’s [Spirit Serpent] hissed, as if in malice.

  Strange, that Anfang reacted where the previous did not. A sign of her youth, perhaps. Or the mark of a better person than any there gathered.

  Udvah and Zhu spoke as true ghosts.

  “This is the way of the Jianghu,” shared the plum-eyed cultivator.

  “Amituofo,” seconded the Vajra.

  “Then I have spoken, and it will be so. Udvah, I leave the matter of [Paifangs] in your care. Come the completion of Pinxui’s repairs, the Wayward Winds depart.”

  Fu silently thanked the Heavens that his Schorly Head was absent, for that would have brought a litany of questions. Her proposals covered much: her diligence in potential courses, pre drafted.

  “To where?” asked Anfang. Boldest of all, it seemed.

  “The March of Serpents.”

  ?

  Their arrivals differed, and Fu was allowed to share his mystery.

  “Foolish.”

  Tales until the [Shores of Heavy Whisper] received a simir comment, and variations began thereon. Harshly.

  So were the truths dispensed by those closest to you.

  “Mundane,” described the Wayward Winds formation, with Udvah’s [Shaving of the First Gate] and the Warship receiving the only praise above that.

  “Foolish,” returned when matters of Yellow Moon Hall arose. Twice. Threefold. In truth, all Zhu said in those long moments were scathing, singur remarks. But he held his tongue, for Fu’s recounting was not yet done.

  More tales became all tales.

  Facets of his new disciples became a history, so the Cloud Gathering Division’s second would not walk blindly among them.

  “...and [Earth Tyrant Hall]. That you’ve scheduled this meeting is another fool’s errand. Under what pretense? A March of Serpents. Fu, this is no ghost’s path. Actions in daylight, cshes in the open, deeds done where base Castes might find you.”

  Atop the central table, even Tanshuai gred, and all that Fu’s shame could manage became a nod.

  “Was it my job to berate you, I’d say more. What possessed you? The [Dao Oath] does not compel you to forego rational thought and pce these initiates’ lives above logic,” further cut Zhu, anger growing. “Have Master Ban’s words on mistakes left no impression on you? A mistake made must be rectified, and in these past [Seasons] you have many that can never be.”

  “Zhu-”

  “No. Think of Yuqi, Yuling and Feng. Could you return as you are now? Mired in attention and troubles? Where is Gao Fu, my collected brother, the fisherman that would not cast his net without a certainty of fish?”

  “Lost.”

  “The Empire of Abundant [Spring] has us all lost,” Zhu said. His hand fshed, unearthing two bottles of middle-grade spirit wine. “Drink it, and speak more. These circumstances have me vexed and we will find no solution sober.”

  We.

  Fu blinked once, and all the skin upon his back went gcial.

  Not for Zhu’s antics or the chastisement, though this was its precursor. He froze for the swift joy that arose, if only because it was amended by something else.

  The subtle burn of his [Three Eyed Spying Array].

  “I’m not blessed by an abundance. Take the dry one,” offered Zhu, unable to decipher what crossed Fu’s features.

  An arm slid to his chest, and a pincer followed, curious and nostalgic. “No, it is not that,” Fu said, brushing the [Array’s] position. “The Cloudy Serpent Sect move. A facet of their power has returned, where before… I do not wish to remain a fool, guessing, but I feel that [Gleeful Viper] begins to move her hand.”

  “The [Array]?”

  “Dormant until now. To have it timed with your arrival, well, it is my brother that holds talent in [Karma],” he said.

  “Is this some btant attempt to dissuade my insults? [Karma] does not work as such. Lesser men cry Fate when mere coincidence is at py. Don’t join those self-important fools. The Heavens don’t move for those of our ilk.”

  The bottles were tasted, and subsequently drained from the cy neck. A richness of [Life Q warmed Fu’s gullet.

  An edge, taken off.

  One long breath, and one puff of a disdainfully viewed pipe.

  “Coincidence is a mask for opportunity, no? If I needed affirmation for this new course, then it has come.”

  Zhu drew a second bottle, for his first was already dry. “You’ll not py the same game then? This [Shores of Heavy Whisper] is doomed. To repeat the mistake twice, to sever such a popution with their [Karma] intact, the [Plum Axe] would frown. A pleasing thought, but a trouble again.”

  “My heart is clear. These mistakes ingrained. How we proceed is the same path I should have followed since the [Spring Equinox] incident. As I am. No more and no less than a spectre, gathering clouds.”

  To say this… his prior ruminations were solidified. Haste would no longer guide his hand, and careless acts would not be tolerated.

  A cultivator is not troubled by a clutch of [Seasons], nor moons. To return home whole holds no comparison to falling in these foreign nds.

  “My brother aims to embody a hero, then?” Zhu sighed. “Your phoenix stated that to de-root the [True Orchid Path] is to weaken [Sixth Under Heaven]. Or, no, this is but one consideration. Truly you’ll know such a course has no calm waters. Nor few benefits when weighed against it.”

  Ever reticent before Tanshuai, Fu was surprised when the [Spirit Crab] made her first move. An unslinging first, and a crossing of table second. With pincers csped, she gave her bow.

  Frustrated, for reasons unreadable to Fu.

  Shuidi?

  “Oh?” noted Zhu, and withdrew a saucer from his spatial ring. “Tanshuai and Hushi have little care. But we’ve a third drinking partner now?”

  Shuidi approximated a nod as her cultivator looked on in interest, sensing all that she impressed.

  “Shuidi extends her apologies. Our hospitality is cking,” shared Fu, still uncertain. “She reminds me that there are… small benefits to be found within the March of Serpents.”

  The [Splinter] dropped between them.

  So unknowable an artifact pushed the gathered [Spirit Beasts] back, if only so they might inspect it without basking so close to its radiance.

  Zhu drew a third bottle, emptied in moments. “The time apart had me forget how vexing you are, brother. That you neglected to mention this has me think you have grown in drama, and I’ve no love for it.”

  The [Spirit Crab] below bowed mockingly, mirthful that her cultivator was no longer under chastisement nor was his course under scrutiny. Triumphant puffs of [Mist Q pushed towards Zhu, dissipating against his grimace.

  “Junior Zhu is weary, sister, do not tease him so,” smiled Fu. “His points were well made, and welcome, but he does not know all our tales.”

  A fourth bottle appeared.

  “A poor wine, this. Perhaps then, it's present company that tilts me towards your March of Serpents proposal,” Zhu said, and curiously, eyed the screen behind. “But if this is a benefit, then my own-

  Ghosts, one and all, no soul present turned as the door behind battered open.

  Anfang. She is a suitable match for Zhu’s ck of propriety.

  “Plum-eyed bastard!” roared one that certainly was not his Martial Head. “No end exists to the misery I shall inflict upon you!”

  Footsteps closed on them, and Fu rose to meet this voice. He saw there no disciple, nor initiate, and was ensured of this fact for none but he and Udvah would know Zhu enough to dare insult him so.

  A sister of his?

  Irate before him was an imposing woman, her hair and eyes a match for any [Winter’s] snow. Yet despite the association of cold, her temperament seemed unruly and volcanic. No less for how her gre was intent on melting Zhu’s raised bottle.

  “Hadn’t we an accord?” she iced.

  “Put in your eyes, you whining shrew. Don’t sour this reunion.”

  Fu dipped ceremonially, but no more than required of strangers. “I am-” Horror interrupted the words he was to say, for that is what paled the woman’s face and caused her mouth to gape.

  Rapt attention was put on the [Splinter], and to such an extent that she pushed Fu aside. “How is it you possess this, bastard? Children should not py with bdes, nor should plum-eyed apes poke the Heavens in jest. Speak now.”

  Closest, Shuidi vanished the treasure.

  The woman then moved so close to Fu that her breath washed against his cheek. “You dare!”

  “That is Gao Fu, fool. While he cares nothing for insults to his person, I do. Whatever attachments you think you’ve earned in our time together are dust in comparison to that which I hold with my brother. So behave. Or don’t,” said Zhu. “One option will remove my growing headache swifter.”

  Where are her [Spirit Beasts]? A mortal could not survive here, nor did the Four Corners Prefecture hold any among their popution.

  “Gao Fu?” and the second affiliation of horror surfaced. Some deeper mirror of the first. “How is this the face I know? What [Karma] is this?”

  Hushi blurred to Fu’s shoulder.

  Hostility was rising.

  “First the bastard of plums shames me, then on, into the machinations of the [Cherry River Sage].”