The temple faded behind them, sunlight streaming between the peaks of black stone. Jiutian held Xiao Huli in his arms as he descended the hidden steps behind the altar, an ancient path connecting to the Valleys of the Grey Lotus, where the mist never dispersed, not even with solar Qi.
Around them, the wind carried distant murmurs. Echoes of ancient prayers. Voices of those who no longer existed.
But Jiutian walked on with a clear purpose.
And a heart beginning to beat for reasons he could not yet explain.
Valleys of the Grey Lotus
The Valleys of the Grey Lotus were neutral lands, where several sects and minor clans maintained meditation sanctuaries. Among them, the most respected was the Winter Sky Sect, known for its strict spiritual doctrine, its disdain for human emotions… and its leader: Yue Lan (月岚).
Jiutian hadn't expected to see her.
But destiny does not ask for permission.
Halfway down the path, as the sun began to burn orange, a refined, cold energy blocked the trail. A formation of ice rose, interrupting the natural flow of Qi.
—Who dares use this path without permission? —the voice was clear, elegant, and firm.
From the shadows of the withered lotuses, a young woman emerged, her silver-blue robe flowing around her, her dark hair tied in a severe style, eyes like mirrors of frozen lakes.
Yue Lan (月岚).
Jiutian didn't recognize her at first.
But she recognized him.
—…Prince Jiutian? —her eyes narrowed—. What is the son of the Jade Emperor doing wandering in forgotten lands, carrying… —her gaze dropped to Xiao Huli—. A spiritual beast?
Jiutian stopped.
—My presence here has nothing to do with the Celestial Realm. I am on a personal journey.
—Personal… or sentimental?
Yue Lan studied him with subtle scrutiny. She had heard the rumors: the prince had vanished from his duties, ignored summons, and now appeared in minor valleys carrying a creature wrapped like a precious treasure.
—What is that beast? —she asked bluntly.
—My companion —Jiutian replied firmly.
Yue Lan blinked.
—And since when do celestial heirs grow attached to creatures of the forest?
—Since one of them saved my life —he said, walking toward her without hesitation.
The tension between them was cold, like two swords grazing edges without crossing.
Yue Lan did not move fully, but a spark of something —jealousy? curiosity? caution?— flickered in her eyes.
—Come to my sect's grounds. Your wounds are not fully healed, and I can offer you temporary shelter. —She paused, lowering her gaze briefly—. I will not let you die here… prince.
Jiutian nodded after a long silence.
—I accept.
At night…
Xiao Huli rested beside a small spiritual spring, still asleep. Yue Lan watched from a distance, a faint frown on her brow.
—She's not an ordinary beast… —she whispered to herself—. Her Qi is stable, but deep. Ancient… and pure.
Yue Lan approached her.
—Don't touch her.
Yue Lan slowly turned her face toward him.
—Do you protect her out of pity… or because she matters to you?
Jiutian didn't answer.
And that silence was the answer.
From that moment, in Yue Lan's eyes, Xiao Huli stopped being just a curious little creature. She became a bothersome presence, a lingering doubt, an invisible threat. But also… something she couldn't quite understand.
A rival.
A future sister.
A woman who wasn't one yet… but who would soon be unforgettable.