The Abandoned Temple. Night.
"Stars Map of the Realms," Han Yuan said, pacing around the room.
"Mmm-hmm!" Yáo Jǐng protested, still floating and muted.
Han Yuan flicked his finger, lifting the silence spell.
"The reason why your father killed Wèi Bó," Han Yuan finished his sentence.
"I don't know what you are talking about," Yáo Jǐng spat. "My father is the Heavenly Elder! He is righteous!"
"Don't worry," Han Yuan yawned, stretching his arms.
"You will know enough once we take you to your father."
He walked over to the bed. Gù Míng had already fallen asleep, curled up on his side.
"You had a long day. Get some rest," Han Yuan whispered. He gently pulled the blanket up, covering Gù Míng's shoulders.
"By the way," Yáo Jǐng asked, watching them with narrowed eyes.
"What is you guys' relationship?"
Han Yuan paused. He looked at the sleeping Gù Míng, a soft, unreadable smile gracing his lips.
"I don't know," he said.
He walked out of the room into the cool night air. A shadow detached itself from a tree. Yè Liú dropped to one knee.
"Your Majesty."
"Didn't I tell you not to appear unless it was important?"
"People from the Light Realm are here, in the Mortal Realm," Yè Liú reported. "They seem to be looking for the Sword of Light."
"Another group of people in the Mortal Realm..." Han Yuan laughed softly. "Xiangling is not going to be happy about this."
"Xiangling is...?"
"Take my order," Han Yuan cut him off, his voice sharp. "Spread the information that the Sword of Light is in the Dark Realm."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yè Liú dissolved into smoke.
The next morning.
Han Yuan opened his eyes. He felt a weight on his chest. He looked down. Gù Míng was fast asleep, his head resting on Han Yuan's chest, his left arm thrown casually over Han Yuan's waist, cuddling him like a giant pillow. Han Yuan didn't move. He didn't talk. He just closed his eyes again, a content smile on his face.
A few minutes later, Gù Míng woke up. He blinked, realizing the warmth he was holding was a person. He froze. He quickly scrambled away, rolling to the edge of the bed and standing up awkwardly, smoothing his robes.
"You are awake?" Han Yuan asked, leaning on one elbow, enjoying the show.
"Mmm," Gù Míng said casually, avoiding eye contact.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Mmm."
A tiny yawn squeaked from the blankets. Xiangling poked her head out.
"Ahhh, it feels good," she said, stretching her rabbit limbs.
"Look who is finally awake," Han Yuan said.
"Han Yuan? What are you still doing here?" Xiangling demanded.
"Wherever my Ming-Ming is, is where I will be. Isn't that right, A-Ming?" Han Yuan teased.
"You need to stop following us!"
"Lingling, you need to stop being so mean. If you keep this up, someone might turn you into rabbit meat."
"Who gave you permission to call me that?!"
Gù Míng finished drinking a cup of water, ignoring them both.
"What are your plans for today?" Gù Míng asked.
"Oh? Do you have plans for us?"
"I mean for Yáo Jǐng," Gù Míng clarified. "I can't afford to feed all of you."
"Another immortal in the Mortal Realm!" Xiangling shouted, suddenly realizing Yáo Jǐng's presence.
Yáo Jǐng stirred, waking up to the noise. Xiangling hopped off the bed and ran to her.
"Good, very good. Anyone can just enter the Mortal Realm now, huh?"
"Who is this rabbit talking?" Yáo Jǐng asked, groggy.
"Who are you calling a rabbit! I am the Guardian of the Orb of the Universe!"
Yáo Jǐng scoffed. "Tch, impossible. Who are you trying to fool? The Guardian is not a rabbit."
"I don't know how I turned like this either!" Xiangling stomped her paw.
"Who exactly are you guys?" Yáo Jǐng demanded, looking between the three of them.
"I am Han Yuan, he is Gù Míng, and the little rabbit here is Xiangling," Han Yuan introduced.
"That's not what I mean, I already know your names! None of you two have reached the Opening Stage of cultivation, but you are so powerful. It doesn't make sense."
"Mmm, I guess we didn't get any normal cultivation," Han Yuan shrugged.
"Enough questions."
He turned to Gù Míng. "I will be taking her to the Dark Realm."
"So you are people from the Dark Realm!" Yáo Jǐng shouted.
Han Yuan flicked his finger. Her mouth sealed shut again.
"Take me with you," Gù Míng said.
Han Yuan looked surprised. "You want to come with me?"
"Didn't you say you want to stay in the Mortal Realm for peace? Why are you following this guy now?" Xiangling asked, confused.
"Mmm," Gù Míng hummed. "But before that... there is something I want to complete."
Xiangling sighed. "Fine."
The Dark Realm. Yōu Míng City (City of Netherworld).
It was a place of eternal twilight. The sky was a bruised purple, lit by three blood-red moons. The buildings were carved from jagged black obsidian, glowing with veins of neon-green spiritual energy. It was chaotic, loud, and smelled of sulfur and spice.
Han Yuan walked through the streets, looking like a fallen god in his black robes. Behind him floated a furious woman in a wheelchair, beside him walked Gù Míng, his tattered white robes standing out starkly against the dark city, and in his arms, he held a white rabbit. People stared. Some openly criticized.
"Look at that. Bringing Light Realm trash into our city?"
Outside a small, run-down restaurant, a burly man named Hēi Hǔ sat with two lackeys. He saw the commotion and stood up, cracking his knuckles. Indeed, the sight did not please him. He stepped into Han Yuan's path.
"Don't you know the rules? People from the Light Realm are not welcomed here."
"Rules?" Han Yuan smiled pleasantly. "Sorry, I am new here. I don't know any rules."
The two lackeys behind Hēi Hǔ squinted. Something about the man in the tattered white robes standing next to Han Yuan felt... familiar. Terrifyingly familiar. Gù Míng looked at them. He recognized them immediately.
"It is you two again," Gù Míng said.
"I-it-it... is..." One of the brothers, Ah-Dà, pointed a shaking finger.
" It's him!" Ah-Èr, the one who had been turned to ash, squeaked.
"Do you know him?" Hēi Hǔ asked, seeing his men trembling.
"Boss! Boss, you better not offend him!" Ah-Dà begged, pulling on Hēi Hǔ's sleeve. "Let's go, please!"
"What! You two are afraid of a skinny guy like him?" Hēi Hǔ laughed loudly.
He sensed Gù Míng's energy.
"He hasn't even reached the Opening Stage! What a shame to all immortals!"
Behind him, the two brothers were sweating, quietly praying to whatever dark gods would listen.
"Anyways," Hēi Hǔ sneered, "people from the Light Realm are not welcomed here. It is either you get out, or die."
The crowd began to instigate. "Kill them! Kill them! Kill them!"
WOOSH!
A black fan came flying through the air, spinning like a buzzsaw just inches above the crowd's heads. Everyone ducked, screaming. The fan boomeranged back to a figure descending from the purple sky, with some familiar figures following him. "General!" the crowd gasped.
Yè Liú landed softly between Han Yuan and the thugs, snapping his fan shut.