Crescent Temple.
There's not much information about this mysterious establishment except for two openly known secrets.
One: the temple is not open to the public.
The double doors of this building are closed most of the time from day to night on the outside.
However, there are still occasions when people are seen visiting the temple as guests.
Men and women of differing stature as well as statuses visit the grounds adorn in clothing of their class. But the worry and fear laced in their every motion is of a similar mold.
Each of those parties spent up to a few hours within until leaving with a blatant expression of relief.
Inducing those who observe on the side to wonder with greater curiosity.
Nonetheless, despite the secrecy that veils above this establishment and refusal to allow uninvited guests.
Those were not the main attraction which compels numerous sights to lock onto the temple without rest.
Every day and twilight, hidden in places both non apparent and blatant are people of many ages. From women to men in their teens to late fifties are spectators, innocent humans who strive to stalk for a pure reason.
The most natural of causes a mortal can have in this day and age where beauty rules with benefits whilst bearing undeniable danger.
What could this phenomenon be, you might wonder.
That answer is…
The desire to look at handsome/beautiful people!
Almost everyday where people can or could not see are people with too much time on their hands trying to meet the residents of the temple!
It wasn't clear who started this first but a few secretive pictures taken in different angles of the temple residents were posted online.
Leading up to a wave of bewitched human beings wanting to take even the smallest glimpse of those male adonises.
People were skeptical at first on whether or not such beautiful humans actually exist.
That is, until the subject in question came into view which caused an instant wave of love-struck netizens.
The area became a quick tourist attraction that benefited the business district not too far away.
Inducing the boundaries of the place to flourish even further with the rise of apartment prices.
Long story short either way, the community around the temple are grateful for its wonderful existence. The tourists are appreciative of the countless glorious moments of beauty baptism and the temple is still very much unaffected by its surroundings.
Nevertheless, what those people don't know is, the name of the temple is in fact, a cover-up for its true identity.
The (not really) famous Dark Moon Sect!
Ancestors recorded the day of its glorious existence as follows:
[T'was a night without wind nor light as the moon hid shy from behind the curtain of clouds.]
[Our founder stood at the center of the plain as sight rose with a ponderous gaze more radiant than the sun itself.]
["There's no moon tonight…" Our founder sighed before raising a finger to point at the darkness of twilight.]
["It's so dark that I can barely see anything as well."]
[A moonless night without light.]
[Therefore, the nameless small sect that was just created about an hour ago gained a very special name.]
[Dark Moon Sect.]
Truly a name full of ingenious significance.
_____
"... …"
Staring at the majestic building of red walls and green tiles of the temple situated at the far end of long stone steps. Chu Nuan pulled her gaze away with a look of confusion as sight flitted across the area.
Detecting the burning gaze from countless sets of eyes as well as the occasional soft clicks of cameras followed by suppressed chuckles of, "hehe…"
The young woman raised a brow as she slanted a glance at the young man standing a step away. Obsidian irises gleam with a tint of mischievous bantering in those intelligent pupils that shone with a brightness on par with overhead lights.
Detecting the hidden meaning behind that quick glance filled with wordless sentences. Xie Luochen could only lower his sights while releasing a helpless sigh at the uncontrollable situation.
Those people hiding behind cars and trees at the foot of the temple hadn't broken any laws in regards to filming in a public place.
They had tried to ask people not to take pictures, giving them pleas to not disturb the area with their antics. But their conversations somehow always ended with the crowd of unknown spectators screaming in exhilaration.
It only seems to excite the group even more so they decided to ignore this strange phenomenon.
As embarrassing as it might seem, they have gotten used to those gazes in due time.
"Ahem."
Xie Luochen released an embarrassed cough while leading the young lady towards the stairs while explaining in a low voice.
"They can't enter the temple."
As if to prove those words the young man spoke with affirmation. A peculiar sensation washed over the duo the moment they stepped onto the first stone rung.
It was akin to a gust of air after the first night of snow before the rise of dawn. The powerful wind crashed towards them, blowing away the accumulated fatigue of tonight.
Carrying the scent of crisp leaves and tranquility of rustling branches that appeared to be welcoming the return of family.
It was as if the duo had entered into another dimension separated from those burning gazes outside.
Abandoning the clamorous activity of city nightlife while entering an isolated space untainted by the pollution of chaos.
"This way."
The young man motioned while the two climbed up the stairs in steady steps while admiring the view of the landscape. Listening to the soft symphony of rustling leaves and swaying grass whose shadows stretch on the ground like twirling dancers.
All these soothing noises helped to calm the swirl of tangled emotions within the young woman's heart. Quelling her emotions into a pacified state of harmonious tranquility.
There was no unneeded conversation between the two as Xie Luochen focused on his task of leading his guest towards the main temple building. While Chu Nuan followed two steps behind in ponderous blinks of those almond eyes.
Rolling those intelligent pupils twice from left to right before it remained locked onto the figure of the youth in front. Chu Nuan's lips twitch with something quick akin to a subconscious intent to smile.
"Mnh…"
Releasing a soft sigh of comfort while stretching the tension of stiff limbs, Chu Nuan ended those actions by clasping her hands behind her back. Releasing at the same juncture in time, a thin strand of spiritual energy.
That thread of energy glided past the oblivious youth before flying upwards then disappearing within the walls of the building ahead.
"Wait here for a bit."
Having led the young woman into the reception area of the temple, Xie Luochen gave Chu Nuan a simple nod before departing with a few words.
Leaving the young lady to stay in the chamber alone while he left to report the situation to his elders.
Chu Nuan: "... …"
The layout of this chamber is rather luxurious with its array of redwood furniture and antiques. From celadon vases to valuable ink brush paintings placed near lavish silk drapes embroidered with blossoming chrysanthemums.
From ceiling to floor are furniture rare in both pricing and quality which unveils a portion of this place's undeniable wealth.
Releasing a yawn due to the quietness of the atmosphere around. The young lady stride past the row of redwood chairs placed at the center in the shape of an opened rectangle.
Choosing to sit on the seat facing in direct confrontation to the entryway.
Chu Nuan poured herself a cup of lukewarm water from the porcelain tea set beside before leaning back in leisure action. One hand holding the cup in careless motions while the other curved to hover slender fingers against the cheek.
Minutes later…
The trace of a shadow slips into the room of the open hall as a man enters after in soft steps as if afraid of frightening its guest.
Pushing the edge of his glasses up, the man flashed the young lady a polite smile the same juncture he introduced himself.
"Pleased to meet you, Envoy Chu. I am the eldest disciple of the leader of the Dark Moon Sect, Fu Xi. My apologies for the late arrival. Luochen has told us everything that has happened and we are honored to have you as our guest."
"The pleasure's the same." Chu Nuan replied with an equally courteous tone as she moved to stand up. Eyes glancing at the empty spaces behind the man without further inquiry.
Noticing her gaze at once, Fu Xi smiled in light bantering. "Luochen went to report directly to our master, he will come find you afterwards. More importantly, it's quite late, please follow me as I take you to your chamber."
_____
"This is the Magnolia Courtyard, you will not have to worry about privacy as you will be the only resident here."
"If there are any questions or needs, feel free to visit the courtyard on the right beside this one. The Narcissus Courtyard is my place of residence."
"Well then, Envoy Chu, I hope you enjoy the stay." Fu Xi gave Chu Nuan a curious look tinted with a hint of profound streak before turning to leave.
Not bothering to even decipher the meaning behind that peculiar gaze. Chu Nuan merely shrugged her shoulders before pushing through the wooden doors.
The double doors creaked to unveil the interior laid out for the young lady to view.
More subtle in taste and ambience in comparison to the loud lavish style of the reception room.
The furniture placed within are still made of redwood while decorated with similar items of vases, paintings, as well as silk drapes.
But unlike the boisterous image of the items outside, each piece that was situated in this chamber is made with the heart and soul of the craftsman.
It could be detected from the delicate designs, lustrous tint and elegant shapes. One glance is enough to tell the pricelessness of each works of art more valuable than the ones outside!
Perhaps even the added value of everything in the receiving room cannot compare to the price of one teacup here!
"... …"
Creak…
Darkness invades the room as Chu Nuan closes the doors without turning on any source of light.
The submerged silence however, does nothing to impede that slender figure as the young woman took firm steps. Walking around the expanse of the wide chamber as if already knowing where everything was placed in the first place.
Striding past the wooden furniture and fragile decors without once showing any signs of hesitation. Before returning to the starting point at the center of the room distance away from the front entranceway.
Chu Nuan stood in the middle of the room, eyes closed and hands clasped behind her back, waiting.
"... …"
Seconds ticked away…
The time used to brew a cup of tea passes.
A faint rustle of leaves and grass from outside sounded from the faint blow of wind before a shadow slipped into the chamber in abrupt appearance.
Kneeling on one leg while head lowered in respect, the supposed shadow was, in fact, a person.
A deep voice tinged with detected traces of excitement and relief resounded in a repressed tone of voice.
"Welcome back master!"
Chu Nuan raised her sight in response to the trembling voice of the man in his early thirties
This person is the pseudo master of the Dark Moon Sect and subordinate of Chu Nuan, Bai Ling.
Bai Ling calmed his quivering nerves to the best of his abilities before opening his mouth to speak.
"Reporting to master, everything in the sect has been running smoothly for the past thousand years. The only difference is around twenty years ago."
"This subordinate had found "that" person's reincarnation and has brought him back here to raise."
"I have not received any replies from you in regards to the way you want us to treat the young master. Therefore I made the decision to raise him like a normal student alongside with the other members of the sect."
"Please forgive me for making this decision first without verifying your answer."
The man lowered his body even more in fear of the wrath he might incur from the young woman.
However, contrary to what the man had first assumed, Chu Nuan merely gave a slight nod of satisfaction. "Well done."
"You did well Bai Ling, I didn't want to interfere too much with his growth and decisions in the first place. So the results now are good enough for me."
"Yes." A wave of relief as well as joy washed over the man the moment he heard that the decisions made had not offended the young woman. Bai Ling's lips curve for a second before halting in recollection of another problem.
Hesitating for a moment, Bai Ling continued, "Master, there is a visitor waiting. With your permission, I… will allow him to meet you?"
Chu Nuan raised a brow in surprise at the hesitation this subordinate reveals. This man has followed her for many millenniums thus developing his own estimate of situations and people.
But for him to show such hesitancy, this must be quite a special guest.
Clearing her thoughts with the shake of the head, Chu Nuan replied with a nod, "permission granted."
As soon as her voice landed, a black fog seeped in through the cracks of the doorway. It congregates in slow motions beside the kneeling man to form into the shape of a black dog.
An infant black pastoral dog.
In an instant, the young woman narrowed her eyes with the release of a mocking laugh. "Yo~! Look what we have here!"
"To think I would have to honor to meet your lordship here! I thought for sure you would have escaped as far away as possible after managing to bomb the Bridge of Forgetfulness."
"Hm, what do you think?"
Obsidian irises began to glow with faint flickers of gold as those cold pupils locked onto the silent creature ahead.
This dog is in truth, one of the three ghost lords that have bombed the bridge of forgetfulness to escape from Hell.
The three brothers got separated during the process of falling into the mortal world and have no current ways to contact each other.
As the one with the least ambition in contrast to its other two elder brothers, the weeping ghost possessed a dying dog before sauntering to find Chu Nuan's sect.
"Your Honor," the dog said with a deep bow, "I know it's suspicious of me to appear in front of you at this time. But whether you believe me or not, I have no intentions to cause harm."
"The sole reason I have come here instead of reporting back to Hell is to aid in your mission to find my brothers. Please grant me the honor to fight by your side once more."
Chu Nuan: "... …"
Silence pervades in the ambience of the dark chamber as those golden irises gaze down at that prostrating figure.
A tone as cold as winter frost emits from the throat of the young woman who gazes down akin to an emperor at its subjects.
"Do you know that hundreds of ghosts and demons were set free due to you and your brother's foolish actions?"
Bai Ling and the black dog both shuddered at the voice that's akin to ice clinking against glass.
"The Bridge of Forgetfulness fractured in half, baring the way to reincarnation as those spirits accumulate each second of the day."
"I wonder…" The young lady pauses for a second before proceeding, "is this your way of trying to lessen the karma-"
"There is no such thing!"
The black dog pressed its body all the way down onto the floor in fear as it interrupted the sentence that was about to be finished.
Sweat has begun to form on the tip of its nose as its quivering voice continues to explain, "you must believe me, Your Honor!"
"Not even once were there thoughts of anything else but the idea of aiding you! I swear!"
"... …"
A thickening silence covers the area akin to a blanket that smothers people from breathing.
No one said a word further as they waited for the decision that would determine the fate of that black dog.
Seconds ticked by as sweat and heat of anxious wait accumulates.
Finally, Chu Nuan closed her eyes with a deep intake of breath before releasing at the same juncture those golden pupils reopen. Gold disperse into normal obsidian as the young woman stares down at the bowing figure.
Pale lips curve in gradual motion into a sly smirk as Chu Nuan spoke in slow articulation. "Sure, Blackie. I'll be keeping an eye on you."
"Thank you for your mercy, Your Honor."
Now that the black dog's problem has been taken care of, it's time to move on to another.
Throwing a jade pendant towards Bai Ling, the young lady orders in a curt voice. "Release them back to Hell."
Catching the item in an instant, Bai Ling opened the palm of his hand to see a piece of jade with the character, [Chu] carved on one side.
This is the exact pendant he gave to the little ghost to use.
Digesting the sentences that came with this item, the loyal subordinate burst with abrupt excitement. Large irises shot up to stare with utmost focus at his master as Bai Ling reconfirmed in a quivering tone.
"Truly Your Honor? Can I really take a trip back to Hell?"
Seeing the ooze of elation coming from the man, Chu Nuan gave a warm smile. "You can stay there for a few days as a reward for all the work you have done. But don't forget the real reason I'm sending you back."
Receiving the young woman's permission, Bai Ling shot up from the ground in an instant.
With a snap of the fingers, his plain grey daoist robes transformed with sparkles of light.
Evolving in gradual time into an outfit of pink shades with an inner robe of salmon coloring Layered with a transparent silk covering above the robe that's embroidered with delicate images of blossoming flowers.
As a finishing touch to this display, the simple wooden pin that was used to collect all of his hair into a tight bun was removed.
Allowing those long strands to fall upon his shoulders but a few that were gathered in the back and tied together by a flowing ribbon of plum blossom design.
Fixing a few strands of misplaced hair on the forehead, Bai Ling smiled akin to a little girl experiencing her first spring.
Smoothing out the wrinkles on his robe, the nervous man gave Chu Nuan a deep bow. "This subordinate will be leaving now."
Just as he was about to cross into the summoned gate, a voice stopped his actions at the last second, "hold on!"
Curiosity as well as confusion colored the man's face as Bai Ling waited for further instructions with that uninhibited smile on his face.
"... …"
Staring at Bai Ling who's dressed like a peacock about to dance, the corner of Chu Nuan's lips twitches. Fingers clench and unclench as the young lady's breaths hitches with radical intakes of air.
Seconds pass as she tries to calm her emotions only to flare up again from each peek of that pink figure.
In the end, Chu Nuan could not stop herself as words seeped out from clenched teeth.
"...it … off…"
Bai Ling: "???"
"Take them off!!" Chu Nuan shouted as hands reached out to pull at those robes.
Startled, but understanding what she was about to do, Bai Ling made an immediate response. Body bent forward while legs buckled in an attempt to complete a fetus position in order to escape from the young woman's claws.
But it was futile.
Lithe fingers grabbed onto the collar of the man's outfit as Chu Nuan pulled in the opposite direction of Bai Ling's escape route.
Feeling the touch of cold air on his neck, the determined subordinate clawed and kicked on the ground in desperation.
At this moment in time, there is no master and subordinate relationship. Just two enemies fighting to protect their own ideals.
Bai Ling: "No, I don't want to! You can't make me!"
Chu Nuan: "Bai Ling you embarrassing fool! If you know what's right for you, then you better take these clothes off!! You might not care too much but I still have a reputation to keep! What would those old foggies think when my right hand man walks around like a bubbling flower meadow!?"
"No! You can't do this to me you heartless woman! I gave up the best years of my afterlife for you and this is how you treat me!??" Bai Ling cries while clawing on the ground with both hands to prevent Chu Nuan from pulling him away from the summoned black door.
Veins throb with threats of popping out of her forehead as Chu Nuan took a deep intake of air to quell those roaring emotions.
"Be good, this will end quickly." The tone of her voice which the young lady assumes to be gentle is anything but that. As it sounds more like the hissing of snakes.
But Bai Ling ignored her, explaining in a displeased voice tinged with a layer of raspy sadness. "Master, this is unfair."
"I gave up the best of my afterlife years to enter the mortal world for the sake of finding the young master. Now that that goal is completed and there is a chance for me to chase after the woman I've been thinking of for the past thousand years."
"How can you stop me like this?!!" The man said with intense accusations, causing the young woman to pause in her actions.
"... …"
Well… he's not wrong but…
Chu Nuan took another glance at the outfit before asking in a hesitating tone, "that… will the outfit really work?"
"Of course!" Giving the young woman a proud smile while crawling up from the ground. Bai Ling began to fix his disheveled appearance while explaining with confidence.
"Don't worry Master, I've been studying her likes and dislikes for the past thousand years. Her favorite type of men are those that are as delicate and soft as flowers."
"With this outfit and the fact that I have been bathing in milk and flower petals everyday since coming to the mortal world. I'll definitely succeed! Just wait for my good news!"
Jumping into the summoned doorway as fast as possible in fear that the young woman would hold him back again. Those were the last words Bai Ling left behind as he went to pursue his afterlife spring.
Chu Nuan "... …"