In the misty courtyard of the Unseen Cloud Sect, Elder Goh was pacing.
Pacing was not unusual for him—but today, he was pacing so hard that even the moss between the stones looked dizzy.
"I just have a bad feeling," he muttered. "Whenever Hwan Do leaves the mountain, something explodes. Or catches fire. Or comes back home following him."
Elder Min sat nearby, sipping tea with the serenity of a man who had given up caring three generations ago. "We should be grateful. This time, he left with Seo Rin. She's responsible."
"Yes, but she's also the one who nearly destroyed the Sect's library chasing a raccoon spirit."
Min raised an eyebrow. "A raccoon spirit that he brought back, if you recall."
From the roof, a young outer disciple called down, "Elder Goh! Should we prepare a search party?"
Elder Goh opened his mouth, then snapped it shut as memories surfaced. "Absolutely not. Last time we did that, we wound up with two junior members married off to complete strangers from the Bamboo Leaf Sect." He shuddered. "And we still can't get rid of that accursed cooking artifact they gave us as a wedding gift. Just yesterday, it turned the sacred rice reserves into sentient dumplings that keep bowing to the kitchen shrine like tiny devout monks... when they're not trying to elope with the steam baskets."
Elder Goh froze. "...Right. Forget the search party."
Another disciple, polishing a sword nearby, shrugged. "They're probably fine. What's the worst that could happen? Lost in a desert, chased by giant bugs or something?"
Elder Min glanced over his teacup. "That's oddly specific."
From somewhere in the back halls, a loud crash echoed, followed by someone shouting, "The Sect's kitchen is on fire!"
Goh groaned, rubbing his temples. "See? This is why I worry."