Be Gentle, Immortal Master

When Qi Lian and I walked back out from where we were hiding, Xie Lun and Wen Shiyin gave us two glares in unison. "You two should consider acting a bit more like grownups," Xie Lun said, though there was more amusement than annoyance in his tone.

We didn't linger on the topic. Xie Lun continued showing us around the ship, and the time passed all too quickly. We were done with the last mechanism just as Jade Temple came into view in the distance.

I understood the need for the huge flying ship the moment I saw our destination below us. Unlike Mount Hua, which featured an open layout with scattered halls and fields, Jade Temple had only one building—a giant pagoda at least fifty levels tall, covered in glazed tiles, carved panels, and gemstones. Cultivation sects didn't typically value extravagance, and this extent of extravagance was rare even for the commoner's world. No wonder the Gatekeeper had to show off what Mount Hua was capable of as well.

A group of people was waiting for us on the lawn when we descended, all dressed in daoist robes just like us. The man at the front introduced himself as the Keeper of the temple and welcomed us warmly, leading us through the long courtyard towards the entrance of the building.

Most masters at Mount Hua were already familiar with the Jade Temple, so they walked alongside the Keeper and started discussing details of the visit, while disciples like me who had never been here before trailed in the back, studying everything with curiosity. I pretended to marvel as well at the impeccably trimmed trees and bonsais in front of us, though my eyes were on Bai Ye most of the time. He kept a few paces of distance from everyone else, his gaze trained on his steps, obviously uninterested in the group's conversation.

The pagoda looked even more imposing from up close with its tip piercing high into the sky, and its majestic doorway made us feel tiny as ants. The interior was so large that I could barely make out the shapes of people at the other end of the hall. I heard a few disciples gasping at the sight.

"The lower levels are teaching halls," the Keeper turned towards us newcomers and introduced with pride. "Most of our gatherings over the next few weeks will be held here. The middle levels are practice grounds and mess halls. Living areas are on the top."

Top? I looked up as we started making our way up the stairways. The spiral extended above us almost endlessly, and the mere sight of it made my knees weak. "Do you climb all the way up on foot?" someone asked, clearly feeling the same as I did.

The Keeper laughed. "It is a regimen to train our disciples' stamina. That is the reason why the living areas are on the top levels."

All the new visitors from Mount Hua exchanged glances with each other, and I saw the doubt in their eyes: could we make it before our legs give in? Of course, no one spoke or admitted their uncertainties, and the group continued.

The pagoda was so huge that even the steps were much taller than any other steps I had ever seen. By the time we reached the twentieth level, I could feel my legs starting to get wobbly. I winced a little, and I wondered how embarrassing it would be if I tripped in front of the whole group. The polished marble stairs were slippery, and with my footing growing weak …

If only Bai Ye was next to me to catch me, I thought with an inward sigh. Then I noticed—with the part of my glance that had been glued on Bai Ye this entire time—that Su Nian was inching closer to him.

She wasn't thinking … the same thing I was thinking, was she?

Before I could even finish the thought, a fragile yelp echoed around us. Su Nian slipped, and her body fell to the side. Right towards Bai Ye.

I almost cursed out loud. That trick was too cheap. Bai Ye was the only one close enough to catch her, and he had to—it would make him look too coldblooded if he didn't, and it'd certainly damage the harmonious image of Mount Hua that everyone here was trying to present—but did Su Nian not realize that everyone in our group could probably see through her intention? Did she not care how manipulating it looked?

I fought back a cringe. It's alright, I told myself. He was just going to catch her. That didn't count as a hug. But the next moment, a white light flashed in front of us. Instead of reaching out for Su Nian, Bai Ye was uttering a spell, and a ring of brightly glowing light circled her, holding her up in place. "Be careful," he said coolly. His arms didn't move at all.

A few different expressions flashed on Su Nian's face before they immediately disappeared. She stumbled back to her feet. "Thank you," she said softly and quickened her paces, disappearing from Bai Ye's side in no time.

Everyone exchanged glances. Some chuckled soundlessly, and some shook their heads. The group continued on.

~ ~

Fortunately, we didn't end up climbing straight to the top in one go. The group stopped at various levels for tours of Jade Temple's halls and lessons, meeting the masters and disciples and exchanging friendly discussions on different techniques. When we finally reached the top levels, it was already evening.

Since the majority of the group was immortals and near-ascension disciples, few needed to eat, and no dinner reception was held. Qi Lian and a couple of other disciples invited me to join them for a snack in the mess hall, though I declined with the excuse of being too tired.

It was true in a way, I thought as I shook my sore legs after returning to my room. But the real reason was, I wanted to use the time when no one else was around to figure out which room was Bai Ye's. Even though I had just spent a whole day watching him, the fact that I could only do it from the dark made me itch and ache all over, and I missed him more than ever. I wanted to talk to him, maybe have a good laugh with him about Su Nian's little tricks—

A light knock came on the door. I frowned a little. I didn't tell anyone which room was mine. "Who is it?" I asked.

A low chuckle drifted in. "Who else were you expecting?" It was Bai Ye's whisper.

I almost cavorted in joy as I ran towards the door and swung it open. He slipped inside and shut it behind him, a radiant smile on his face. "I thought you might've joined the others at the mess hall," he said.

"I've been around them all day," I smiled. "And it's not them that I want to see anyway … I was just thinking about how to find out which room is y—"

He looped his arms around me and swallowed the rest of my syllables into his mouth.