Gensheng was once again alone in the cavern.

  He stood in silence, waiting for the Corpse-Barrier Wasps to finish devouring the remaining flesh and bone of the Shadowfire Butterfly. When the swarm grew satiated and flew back into his mouth, their bodies had increased in size, their abdomens shimmering with a faint, grey-blue luster.

  He transferred the spirit stones and trinkets into his own storage bag. He picked up the books of poetry, flipping through them idly. They were filled with the romantic dalliances, loves, and partings of the mortal world. Though he couldn't truly comprehend the emotions, some unexplainable impulse drove him to tuck the books away with the rest of his gear.

  Stepping out of the cave, he oriented himself and sped toward Maple Red Valley. Without Li Simin by his side, he no longer had to maintain a facade of human fragility; he pushed his speed to the absolute limit.

  Within five days, the familiar crimson peaks of the valley appeared on the horizon.

  Maple Red Valley was as bustling as ever. Gensheng changed into a clean set of robes and walked through the crowds, still drawing numerous gazes. He headed straight for the Deacon Hall.

  The disciple at the registration desk was the same one as before. When he saw Gensheng, he froze, his face twisting into an expression of pure shock.

  "Junior Brother Chen? You... you’re back?"

  Gensheng placed the mission token on the counter.

  "And Junior Sister Li?"

  "The mission is complete. She is reunited with her father at home."

  The disciple picked up the token, turning it over several times to verify its authenticity before pulling a heavy cloth bag from beneath the counter. "Here is your reward. Three hundred low-grade spirit stones. Count them."

  Gensheng took the bag, swept it with his spiritual sense to confirm the amount, and swept it into his ring.

  "Junior Brother Chen is truly capable," the disciple said with a forced, skin-deep smile. "A few days ago, a team of Inner Sect brothers went to Black Wind Ridge to hunt demonic beasts and suffered several casualties. To think you went in alone and brought a second-level Qi Condensation sister back safely... Impressive. Truly impressive."

  Several other disciples in the hall stopped what they were doing to stare. Jealousy, suspicion, and disbelief hung heavy in the air. Gensheng ignored them, gave a curt nod, and turned to leave.

  "Junior Brother, wait." The disciple called out again. "Junior Sister Li’s master, Elder Zhang of the Inner Sect, left specific instructions. If her escort returned safely, he requested you visit his cave dwelling so he may thank you in person."

  Gensheng didn't stop. "No need. I have business to attend to."

  He walked out of the hall, leaving a trail of hushed, spiteful whispers behind him.

  "What’s with the attitude? He just got lucky and didn't run into anything dangerous." "Three hundred stones... wasted on a 'Vase' like him. There’s no justice." "Just wait. A 'Five-Element Waste' is still trash, no matter how much money he has."

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  On the way back to his courtyard, Gensheng’s left hand unconsciously stroked the ash-white bone ring on his finger. The ring was cold—a chill that seemed to seep through his skin and settle in his heart.

  Li Simin’s body lay within.

  Jiang Guixian had warned that a mortal corpse would breed Corpse Qi and disrupt his Dao Heart. Yet, Gensheng found his mind surprisingly quiet. The irritation he felt at her death had smoothed over the moment he began carrying her. He didn't understand the "Dao Heart," but he knew that carrying her made him feel... stable. Like the half-piece of wheat cake had made his stomach feel comfortable.

  He pushed open the gate to Unit A-19 and locked it tight behind him. He sat cross-legged in the center of the yard and dumped out the spirit stones—the three hundred from the reward and the hundred or so from the Butterfly’s ring.

  Over four hundred spirit stones formed a small mountain on the ground. With these, he could buy enough herbs to fire his cauldron. He stowed the stones away, keeping one in each of his six hands to begin recovering the energy spent during his travels.

  Once his Qi had stabilized, Gensheng sank his consciousness into the bone ring. The hundreds of grey-blue butterflies still lay in the corner of the space. He reached out, and a single butterfly manifested in his palm. He used a fingernail to slice a small cut on his index finger.

  A drop of crimson blood fell onto the butterfly’s wing. The once-dead insect twitched violently. A brand-new connection established itself in his mind.

  Gensheng opened his hand, and the butterfly fluttered into the air, circling his finger before landing on his shoulder like a grey-blue patch of cloth. He didn't stop. He pulled out a dozen more, feeding each one his essence blood.

  The process was far more draining than he had anticipated. With every butterfly he claimed, his face grew a shade paler. These insects seemed to greedily suck the primal insect essence from his blood. By the time he finished, sweat beaded on his forehead.

  Thump! Thump! Thump!

  A heavy, urgent pounding shattered the silence of the yard. It was less a knock and more a violent assault on the wood. Gensheng’s brow furrowed. The fluttering butterflies froze in mid-air, turning into grey shadows that vanished into his sleeves.

  "Is Chen Gensheng of Unit A-19 present?" "I am Zhang Yuan. I come by the order of my master, Inner Sect Elder Zhang Qingliao, to invite Junior Brother for a talk."

  Gensheng walked to the door and pulled the bolt. Three Outer disciples stood outside. The leader wore a moon-white robe and possessed a handsome face. The two behind him were at the sixth or seventh level of Qi Condensation, watching with smirks as if waiting for a show.

  "Junior Brother Chen finally deigns to open the door," Zhang Yuan sneered. "I thought you’d done something shameful and didn't dare show your face."

  "Lead the way, Senior Brother." Gensheng’s voice was steady, showing no offense.

  Zhang Yuan, who had prepared a lecture’s worth of insults, felt like his punch had landed on cotton. He snorted, flicked his sleeve, and turned away. "Follow."

  The trek from the Outer Sect quarters to the Inner Sect dwellings took them across most of the valley. The spiritual energy grew denser as the elevation rose. Elder Zhang’s cave was located in a secluded valley halfway up the mountain, guarded by disciples and surrounded by ancient spirit plants.

  Zhang Yuan stopped at the entrance and bowed deeply. "Master, the person is here."

  "Let him in," a raspy, aged voice called from within.

  Gensheng stepped inside. The cave was a world unto itself—vastly larger and more opulent than his shack, illuminated by moonstones that made the interior bright as day. A grey-haired old man in cyan Daoist robes sat cross-legged on a prayer mat. This was Li Simin’s master, Inner Sect Deacon Elder Zhang Qingliao.

  "Disciple Chen Gensheng greets Elder Zhang."

  "Lift your head."

  Gensheng complied.

  "You escorted Simin home; it was a long and arduous journey," the Elder said. "That child is slow-witted; she must have caused you much trouble. The winds of Black Wind Ridge are piercing and often erode a cultivator's soul. Since this was your first trip down the mountain, I am concerned your 'God-Platform' might be damaged. I shall examine you myself to ensure no lingering harm remains."