The dark clouds that had gathered yesterday were gone by morning.
Blown away like a false alarm.
Lin Xuanji stood in the courtyard staring at the clear blue sky with suspicion.
"…You're still hiding something," he muttered.
(Host. Correct.)
"I WASN'T ASKING YOU."
Ruolan finished sweeping the steps.
Feng Xiao practiced small flickers of flame.
Kai Yun was stretching aggressively like she was preparing to fight the air.
Tian Wen was meditating in silence.
Wei Tian stood on guard at the entrance.
Ling Xueyin sat beneath a tree with calm grace.
Everything seemed peaceful.
Until Wei Tian's brows furrowed sharply.
Lin Xuanji panicked.
"What? What is it? Did someone come to kill us?!"
Wei Tian shook his head solemnly.
"No. Something is… approaching."
Feng Xiao stood ready. "A cultivator?"
Ruolan trembled. "…A spirit beast?"
Kai Yun unsheathed her giant sword. "Finally!"
Wei Tian's eyes narrowed.
"No. Many beasts. Dozens. But…"
His voice trailed off.
Tian Wen opened his eyes.
"…They're not aggressive."
Lin Xuanji blinked.
"Beasts? Coming up the mountain? Without breaking the formation?"
(Host. Fifth disciple arrival imminent.)
Lin Xuanji froze.
Beasts? Don't tell me—
A rustling sound echoed from the forest path.
Then a deer appeared.
Behind it, a fox.
Behind that, a large boar.
Behind THAT, a massive black bear.
Behind THAT—
even a giant bird perched on the bear's back.
Ruolan fainted instantly.
Feng Xiao squeaked, "We're dead."
Kai Yun's eyes sparkled. "CAN I TAME ONE?!"
"No," Lin Xuanji snapped, "because I don't know why they're HERE!"
The animals parted.
And from behind them…
A boy walked out.
Barefoot.
Clothes simple and tattered.
Hair messy.
Carrying a small pouch of seeds.
He looked around quietly, noticed everyone staring, and performed a polite bow.
"Hello," he said gently.
"I'm looking for a home."
Lin Xuanji's soul left his body.
"Oh NO."
Kai Yun clapped. "I LIKE HIM ALREADY."
Tian Wen frowned slightly, curious rather than alarmed.
Wei Tian kept a tight grip on his spear.
Ling Xueyin watched the beasts bow their heads to the boy.
Ruolan regained consciousness just enough to whisper,
"A-Are we under attack…?"
The boy blinked innocently.
"Oh, these friends? No attack. They walked with me because they were lonely."
Feng Xiao stared. "…You walked up a mountain with a BEAR."
"Oh," the boy said, scratching his cheek, "he carried me a bit."
Kai Yun burst out laughing.
"That is AWESOME!"
Lin Xuanji pointed at him, voice breaking.
"YOU. Explain. Now."
The boy tilted his head.
"My name is Mu Xiaofan."
He bowed again.
"I came because my grandfather told me to find Heavenly Peak. He said… the mountain would accept me."
The mountain hummed.
A light ripple passed across the ground beneath them.
Lin Xuanji fell to his knees.
"…Please stop humming whenever someone with a special physique appears…"
Kai Yun laughed.
Feng Xiao sighed.
Tian Wen's eyes softened faintly.
Wei Tian stepped forward.
"Mu Xiaofan. Do you have cultivation?"
Xiaofan blinked.
"No. But animals like me."
Lin Xuanji buried his face in his hands.
(Host. Fifth disciple confirmed.)
"I DID NOT ASK FOR CONFIRMATION—!"
Mu Xiaofan walked past the bear, who sat down politely beside him.
He looked at Lin Xuanji with a bright, innocent smile.
"Sect Master… may I stay here?"
Before Lin Xuanji could respond, the bear nudged him gently as if saying "say yes."
Ruolan whimpered.
Feng Xiao grabbed Lin Xuanji's sleeve.
"Sect Master… please say yes. If we say no, the bear will cry."
Kai Yun pointed. "WE CANNOT MAKE THE BEAR CRY."
Ling Xueyin stepped forward.
Her voice was calm, soothing,
but carried the weight of certainty.
"He belongs here."
The mountain hummed again.
Lin Xuanji stared at all of them.
The innocent boy.
The bear.
The fox.
The deer.
"…Fine," he whispered hoarsely. "You can stay."
Mu Xiaofan bowed gratefully.
"Thank you, Sect Master. I'll take good care of the animals."
"The animals?" Lin Xuanji repeated faintly.
"Yes," Xiaofan said warmly.
"They like this mountain too."
The bear made a soft rumbling sound of agreement.
Kai Yun cheered.
"I CALL DIBS ON TRAINING WITH HIM!"
"No," Lin Xuanji said immediately.
Xiaofan blinked. "What is training?"
"Oh, you'll learn," Kai Yun replied ominously.
Lin Xuanji grabbed his head and groaned.
"…I need to lie down."
The mountain hummed
as if welcoming its newest chaos magnet.
Heavenly Peak had gained its fifth disciple.
And ten animals.