Near the outskirts of Lotus Lake City (莲花湖) there was a beautiful forest that stretched for miles. It was named the Hanging Lights Forest (吊灯森林) after the softly glowing Land Lotus (土地莲花) flowers that grew in clusters and hung down from the tree branchs. It made for a heavenly sight, one that took people's breaths away when they saw it.
The group currently camping out in the forest had no such thoughts. The atmosphere was quite tense as four people sat around a glowing talisman engulfed in flames to mimick a campfire. The flames flickering in the wind as it lay in the middle of a small clearing, casting shadows on the tree trunks and making thw flowers glow sharper.
The only one out of the four that didn't look the least bit troubled was the young man wearing lime-green robes, he was blankely staring up at the Land Lotus's hanging near his head, watching them away back and forth in the breeze. His hands were placed nearly on his lap, his mails neatly trimmed and if you looked close enough, you could see a small sliver of gold peeking out from his left sleeve.
Opposite of him say three young children of varying ages. A young boy who was wearing pale blue robes with a silver cloud pattern on them. A younger girl wearing pink and green robes with a lotus pattern on them, and an even younger boy wearing yellow and orange robes bare of patterns. They didn't look related nor did they look familiar with each other. They looked even less familiar with the man across from them.
This man... he feels doesn't look it but could he just another demonic cultivator trying to take my Qi (齐)? Has he kidnapped these other kids for that purpose too?
The young girl's thoughts resounded in her head, staring at the daydreaming man with wariness in her eyes. Her hands clenched together on her lap, distrust clear on her face. She hadn't trusted this man ever since he saved her a few weeks ago from Demonic Cultivators (魔修) who were stealing her Qi to help boost their own cultivation.
This man interrupted the process, killing the demonic cultivators who had tried to attack him in the heat of the moment then he kidnapped her. He didn't even give her a choice in the matter and just naturally brought her along with the other two boys he had following him.
Are these kids in on it? Is that it? Her thoughts spiralled, deciding to keep her guard on with these boys just in case.
Meanwhile, the boy—Teen—in the pale blue robes was trying to keep his trembling to a minimum as he stared at the dirt below him. His hands were holding onto his knees and he was gritting his teeth so they didn't chatter.
It's not that he was cold. The new robes he had gotten from the cultivator across the fire were in fact very warm, much warmer than his previous robes. He was trembling for a much different reason.
Should I say something? Introduce myself? Does this Xiansheng (先生) know my name? What if he's thinking? He hasn't spoken since the last city when he told us to pick new robes! What if I make him angry by speaking when he's trying to think and interrupt him!? Ahhhh, this is so stressful!
The boy's thoughts were racing a mile a minute as cold sweat ran down his back. He glanced at the other kids sitting next to him but it didn't look like they were in any hurry to speak. He sobbed internally, wanting someone to just say something already.
This is so awkward.... He cried.
And then, the last kid in the yellow and orange robes was currently glaring at the men in lime-green robes, his red eyes directing hatred towards the man—who hadn't noticed and was still staring at the flowers with a blank face.
This Daozhang (道长)... I can feel how strong he is, I wonder what stage he's at... at least Core Formation (结丹)... Can he tell I'm half-demon? Is that why he saved me? To keep an eye on me to make sure I don't go on a rampage or something?
The younger boy speculated internally. A few weeks prior, he has been playing pranks on the village folk where he lived. Then, this Daozhang arrived with a young boy following behind him. They stayed in the village for a while, helping solve the issue of demonic beasts roaming too close to the village borders.
The young boy thought it was the perfect opportunity and decided to scare the cultivator away as a prank, however....
Nothing he tried worked. The Daozhang wasn't affected in the slightest, brushing everything off like he was above it all. It infuriated the boy to no end but somehow, he had been dragged along by the cultivator after being caught mid-prank and... here he was. He was sure this Daozhang could feel his Demonic side and was keeping an eye on him.
Dang him...
Feeling eyes on him, the older man looked away from the flower, and glanced at the children who were all staring at him with varying expressions. He blinked, tilting his head to the side as he struggled to recognize what those looks meant. He was sure it wasn't cold, he had plastered their new robes with warming talismans. Were they tired? He knew mortal children needed more sleep than others...
Then the loud grumble of a stomach broke the stare off between them all. The sound echoed through thr silent forest for a few seconds before it stopped. All eyes turned to the boy in blue, who was clenching his eyes tightly together and cursing his stomach for betraying him.
Ohhh, they're hungry. The older man realized the reason for the looks on the children faces—a very wrong realization.
I forgot that Mortal children needed food to survive. It's been a while since I've traveled with a mortal. He hummed under his breath, wondering what he could do to feed them.
Can mortal children have Qi supplements? Those have the proper nutrients, I believe but I'm not sure how healthy it is for mortals to consume these withouts having passed the Qi Gathering (聚气) stage... Perhaps I shouldn't risk it. What else....
An idea popped into his head, Ah! I could go hunting. What would have enough meat... a squirrel would be too little unless I catch many, as with a bunny... I would not want to traumatize the children either... a fox would be enough. I could kill, skin and cook it away from here and then bring it back...
With that in mind, he stood up—startling the children who followed his movements with their eyes. He pulled out a yellow talisman with black calligraphy on it and pasted it onto a nearby tree trunk. The talisman glowed a soft white color and then a second later, a clear barrier was erected around the small camping grounds. It was meant to keep anything Demonic out.
Of course, it would be rendered useless if the children step out on their own will.
"I will be back." He told the children before leaving the barrier and disappearing into the night. Unbeknownst to him, he has left the children with hearts full of panic. Again.
Where is he going? Is trapping is here? What is he putting a barrier up? I knew it! He is just going to use me for my Qi! How do I get out of this now?
Ahhhh, is he really angry? He's keeping us trapped here now? Whee eis he going? Did... Did my breathing make him angry? Ahhh, I'm sorry Xiansheng!
Hpmh! So he does know what I am, that's why he put a barrier up so I couldn't escape while he's gone.
Three children yet very similar thoughts—misunderstandings. They stayed seated with tensed bodies, ready to run at the first sight of something being wrong.
It was around ten minutes later that the man came back, in his hands was three wooden bowls full of cooked meat. He handed the bowls to the children and sat down opposite of them again.
When they didn't begin eating, he nodded to them like it would help. "Eat... You'll want you're strength for the morning."
The words were normal but coming from this man, they sounded ominous to the children and sent chills down their spine. They eyes the food warily, noting wanting to be the first to take a bite.
The man wasn't sure what was wrong, "Hm, did I cook it too long? I wasn't sure how long I should have done... So I guessed. Is it burnt?"
Finally, the youngest not couldn't help himself. The smell was too tempting to ignore and he hesitantly took a bit of the meat. It wasn't the best tasting but it was the best thing he had eaten in a while. He dug in immediately after, making a mess but no longer caring.
The other two children saw that nothing happened to him so they started eating too, slower than him but still relatively fast. The meat was plain, like it could use some seasoning and it was definitely a bit overcooked but it nearly brought tears to their eyes as they ate.
"Hm, perhaps I should ask for your names now. i seem to have forgotten that step..." The man suddenly spoke up, making the children freeze. They had almost forgotten he was there.
Ask our names? Isn't it a little late for that? You're just gonna end up killing us...
Our names? Is-is he angry and wants to use our names to scare us now? Is he going to curse us?
Hm, is he thinking that knowing my name will give him power over me? Hah, yeah right.
Once again, the children had very different assumptions about the man's intentions.
I forgot you had to ask for names when it comes to mortals, most cultivators are already well known... so their names are everywhere... humans aren't like that, especially mortal children...
"...should you introduce yourself first, Daozhang?" The youngest boy finally gathered enough courage from the meal to use his voice. His shoulders were tense, ready to attack in case the man attacked him.
"Huh?" The older man looked up from the ground, blinking in surprise. "Oh... Right. Mortal children such as yourself would not know me..." I don't even know me... "Ah, my surname is Xue (雪), given name He (鹤). You may call me whatever you feel comfortable with...."
Those words made it seem like he was looking down on the children, making the youngest boy and girl even angrier. The oldest boy searched his memory for anyone named Xue He but he came up with nothing.
Who is he? He definitely has some power, seeing how he saved this young girl from those Demonic Cultivators but I have never heard of anyone named Xue He in the cultivation world...
"Hpmh... I'm Xing (星) Guang (光)... Daozhang." The youngest boy reluctantly gave out his name, immediately going back to shoving food into his mouth.
Xue He looked at the girl next, who grimaced but gave her name.
"Mei (梅) Zhi (枝), Xiansheng." She said bluntly, then looked down at her bowl.
The oldest boy was the last left. He trembled under Xue He's stare, his voice shaking as he said his name while avoiding any eye contact.
"L-Lin (林) Fe-Feng (风)...Xiansheng..."
Xue He made sure to make a mental note of all their names, not wanting to forget them. He didn't speak again so the children went back to eating.
This is gonna be a long night.... Xing Guang thought, noting the tense atmosphere that had returned.