The night had grown deep, yet the campfire on the sheltered side of Golden Rooster Ridge still danced. Flames licked the dry branches and crackled softly. Kunxuan had dragged over two jars of osmanthus wine from somewhere, and when he opened the clay seal, the fragrance spread like a warm breeze that pushed back the cold.
Snow held her bowl with both hands. Steam softened her ears. "So peacocks drink wine too?"
Kunxuan leaned lazily against the stone wall, turning the rim of his bowl with his fingertip. "Peacocks can eat people. Drinking wine is nothing compared to that."
Snow shrank her neck. Red showed no reaction and pushed his bowl toward Kunxuan. "Eating people is not allowed. Eating swords is fine. That light you used to sweep away those swords, teach me."
Kunxuan lifted his gaze. Firelight flickered in his eyes like strands of five colored radiance. "Five colored divine light can sweep away anything. It can erase swords, fire, and even karma, but it cannot erase fate. Are you sure you want to learn it?"
Red grinned with energy. "My fate is already tough. I want it even tougher."
Kunxuan said nothing more. He lifted a finger and released a faint strand of five colored light. It stretched out like mist and silk. The light touched the space between Red's brows.
At that instant, a heavy roar filled Red's mind as if he had been thrown into a massive river of five colored currents. The river surged with force. Within each current floated broken swords, shadows of towers, fire crows, and old karmic threads sinking deeper. All of them had once been swept by the divine light.
At the end of the river stood a peacock with its tail fully spread. Stars shimmered on every feather. That glow tugged at him from the marrow outward, pulling him forward.
Kunxuan's voice drifted from far away. "If you want to learn it, first carry this river. If you can bear it, I will give you a feather."
Red opened his eyes sharply. Sweat rolled down his forehead. His breath was heavy, yet he laughed with complete exhilaration. "Fine. I will carry it."
Snow hurried to refill his bowl. She looked at Kunxuan and asked, "Elder brother Kun, since you are willing to help us, why not stay with the Ji Sect?"
Kunxuan tapped the rim of his bowl. His voice was soft, like snow falling on pine needles. "I was born here on Golden Rooster Ridge. I am half mountain and half feather. The other sect says I am not quite an immortal. Your sect says I am not quite a beast. I belong to neither side. After a while, I decided not to stand with either."
The fire outlined his profile, placing him halfway inside the night itself.
After a pause he added quietly, "But when I saw you two shielding those fledglings from swords today, I thought that leaning on someone might not be such a bad thing."
Red lifted his bowl. "Then lean our way. The Ji Sect is not short of seats. It only lacks sincerity."
Kunxuan laughed. "You do know how to speak."
Their bowls clinked lightly. The crisp sound was carried far by the mountain wind. Sparks rose, scattering like golden sand. The snowy night was cold, yet the fire was warm. Their shadows cast upon the stone wall merged into one shape.
In that moment, their meeting no longer felt like chance. It felt like destiny tying a hidden knot between them.
The night wind passed over Golden Rooster Ridge and the snow whispered softly. The three drank together, each with their own thoughts, yet their bond felt like that of long time brothers.
The vow made beside the fire held no sound, but it was sharper than a blade and more enduring than any cultivation art.