Xing'er smiles as she watches them from the roof of the main house. She still finds interactions between mortals fascinating. Even though they know they're weak, they still try to open their hands to each other to share the little warmth they have.

  Until recently, her master didn't have such warmth. He used to keep a distance from her, showing his care for her occasionally without making it anything special.

  He has changed. Although to some it might be a bad thing, to her, she loves this new master. He is kinder, more loving, more expressive, and more open.

  Because of this, Xing'er has promised herself that she will protect these mortals he has taken in, whether demons or humans. To her, there is no difference, just like her master took her in before she even transformed.

  She raises her face to the sky, feeling the approaching rain even though the sun is scorching hot from the west as it completes its journey.

  For the first time, she loves just how beautiful the darkening clouds are as they quietly start to gather.

  "I should warn them. It will rain heavily tonight." With this, Xing'er jumps from the roof and flies down to set her feet gracefully on the path leading to the courtyard.

  As she approaches the main door, she stops and glances towards the gates. She quickly vanishes, appearing outside the gates behind the man who has been trying to peek inside.

  "Who are y-"

  "Gaaah!" he screams, hopping to the side, startled. When he realizes that it is a little girl, his heart stops pounding as if it intends to fly from its cage. "Hello, little girl. Is the new owner of the Wang mansion here?"

  Xing'er's brow raises. She does not hide her dissatisfaction with his presence or appreciate him asking about her master. Even though her stay in the human realm has been short, she has realized that mortals are more cunning and dangerous than the gods. They just have too many desires that corrupt them more than those who have transcended.

  "Why should I answer you?"

  "He! Hehehe!" the man laughs awkwardly while he scratches the back of his head trying to create a lie. "Because...because I want to come work for your master. That's right! I would love to work here in the renowned Wang mansion."

  Still unconvinced, she crosses her arms on her chest staring directly into his eyes.

  "Are you sure you're not a spy? Because if you are, I have permission to cut your hand or at least four fingers to spare your life."

  The man immediately grows tense as the threat registers deep in his bones. A thin layer of sweat starts to form on his forehead as his heart picks up an unbearable pace.

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  Xing'er steps closer.

  "Your heart is beating too fast. Maybe you should tell the truth or you will be punished according to the sect's rul-"

  "Okay. Okay." He sighs, his shoulders drooping like his head. "I'm from the Bai family. Master sent me because he was worried that his daughter was being overworked after he received news that she has been seen mingling with beggars.

  "I swear I'm not an enemy. You can ask the Young Lady, she knows me. So please don't cut off my hand, or my fingers."

  "Go back and tell him that Bai Yu is doing fine. She volunteered to do everything. Zhuren never forced her. She came here of her own will and will be protected by the sect by all means. Do you understand?" Xing'er hardens her gaze.

  "Yes. Yes. I will go back and report to master that the Young Lady is okay. He will be relieved to know that she is doing everything of her free will," he says, nodding.

  "Then, goodbye, little girl." The servant salutes and runs off before Xing'er can change her mind.

  He knows that without a hand, he would be useless to the Bai family, or any employer for that matter. His life would be meaningless without money, especially now that the taxes have gone up so ruthlessly.

  Xing'er makes sure that he is gone before she goes back into the mansion. She and Bai Yu meet in front of the main house but she ignores her, snorting as she passes Bai Yu to go into the house.

  It is almost time for dinner, and she has been looking forward to the delicious food the demons have been feeding her all these weeks.

  The meat is tender and full of flavor from the herbs they use to marinate it. Its juiciness just melts effortlessly in her mouth, leaving her craving for more despite eating a serving for two by herself.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Tianling opens his eyes. He has failed yet again, making this the sixty-seventh attempt at trying to learn the laws of time.

  He exhales, circulating his qi through his meridians and then redirecting it back into his Dantian.

  "Third level. Impressive."

  The three petals materialize in front of him, moving around in a slow circle as if to give him enough time to observe and appreciate their radiance.

  He may have failed at his main goal, but he has advanced in his technique as well as in the minor skills that are useful as a practitioner. More so as a god.

  His agility has improved almost ten times what it was before, his ghost steps have gone a level or two higher, as well as his domain sensing. The main reap has come from the doors to his spiritual sea, which have opened an inch further, allowing him to bathe in the divine energy from it, no matter how small it is.

  "I wonder how those guys are doing out there? This cave makes me feel as if I have spent five years, but also as if only five days or five weeks have passed. It is indeed a weird place."

  "Well, I should make the next attempt. Xing'er will come for me when I reach the time limit."

  Before closing his eyes again, he opens the guard next to him and takes a few sips of the nectar. Its sweetness quickly fills him with the urge to try again. 'Failure is allowed, but I must strive to break my own limits.'

  Indeed.

  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Four more weeks pass in the outside world, welcoming winter.

  With the new year coming up in a few days, the entire sect is thrown into positive chaos. Everyone is trying to do whatever they can to prepare for the event because it will be their first holiday as a sect, and with their new master.

  The decorations are in place. The foods have been decided upon, and even the bowls to be used on that day have been picked.

  Both humans and demons can be seen rushing up and down, here and there, to complete the tasks assigned to them by both Bai Yu and Feng, the demon in charge of his race. Together, they cooperate to make the mansion feel warmer both literally and figuratively.

  "...this over here and right by that pill-" Feng stops giving orders when he lays his gaze on the male who appears to be in his mid-twenties. The long white hair flowing down his dark blue robes lets him know that the one they have been anticipating his return for the past two months has finally shown up.

  "Feng greets Shifu," he says aloud, saluting and bowing where Tianling has appeared. This is also to alert everyone else in the courtyard that their master had come out.

  They all stop whatever they were doing and turn in his direction. Following Feng's lead, they salute and bow, echoing, "Disciples greet Shifu."

  "Zhuren?!"

  "Shifu?!"

  "Boss?!"

  Xing'er and the others beam from the other side of the main house where they have been training.

  The only one who does not express his feelings is Chen'er. Until now, he is still undecided whether Tianling deserves his loyalty. He just shrugs to himself. 'He is finally back?'

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