Slipping free of that chamber of gloom and bitter folly and back into his luxurious quarters filled with golden shafts of sunlight, a table full of his absolute favorite foods, and crates upon crates of priceless mystical treasures and cultivation supplies, Alex found just as surreal as walking into a dream.

Though the presence of the two strikingly beautiful young women gazing with awe at the wonders all around them was anything but imaginary, and the sharp pungent scents of sweat, terror, and poisons recently purged were as visceral as the sudden fierce hugs he was given, Yinzi sobbing in his arms, Hao Chan holding them both close, tears in her eyes, taking advantage of her height to give Alex a fierce, heartfelt kiss.

She said nothing as Yinzi sobbed and trembled, though her soft amber eyes spoke volumes, a bolt in his heart. Eyes that pinned him where he stood. That made it utterly and completely clear she would claim him then and there, embrace sweetest rapture and damn all consequences.

“Gods above, Alex. You saved my life! I was dying!” Yinzi sobbed. “What were my mothers doing? It was so terrible. Like waking up into a nightmare after glorious dreams of ascension and growth and sweetest accomplishment, and I felt like a beautiful rosebud, or perhaps a pearl, blossoming and coming into her own and about to bloom in miraculous wonderful ways. I just had to breathe deep and embrace it, but then my breath was cut short and I was suffocating. Choking! Because those two bitter bitches would rather see me dead than take any path, save their own!”

Alex gently held Yinzi as she choked out bitter sobs, trembling with the flood of emotions flooding through her.

“I know it might not, but if it makes any difference… I think they were as horrified to find out that they had put you in peril as I was,” Alex offered.

Yinzi choked back a sob, squeezing him with surprising strength. “If I hadn’t immersed myself so fully in your magical tome… if I hadn’t been so eager to chase your memories and bittersweet triumphs, if I hadn’t been so hungry to savor the taste of your soul in your masterwork… I would never have figured out how to slow down my metabolism. I would have been dead!”

Alex furrowed his brow at this. As much as he had reveled in his insights and growth, and in Yinzi’s shoes would have either allowed his Pristine Form or Biochemical Mastery to handle the poisons or Dark Qi mastery to fuel his cells, no matter what toxins affected his aerobic respiration, he recalled no insights about how to mirror Yinzi’s latest feat.

Then he nodded, smiling with a certain amount of satisfaction as he tried to project calm reassurance to Yinzi’s anxious gaze. “Actually, I think you did a phenomenal job. And I’ll tell you a secret… I never really did figure out how to slow down my metabolism.”

Both Hao Chan and Yinzi’s eyes widened at that. “You didn’t? But how…”

“I think my interface once mentioned that my art might serve as a springboard for fresh new insights that I myself might never have. In other words, your own unique strengths and mental fingerprint, your own way of seeing the world, might give you insights into mastering your body in ways that I have not. Just as some lessons of my book might be a bit tougher for you to pick up than others.”

Hao Chan paled. “Like… um… actually practicing dipping my hands in lye?”

Alex winced. “I can think of less painful paths, but, ultimately… yes. Being immune to caustic agents is one of those perks I’d really, really shoot for.”

Yinzi nodded animatedly. “Oh yes. Can you imagine if my mothers had dipped us in a pool of bubbling acid? And you’ve already got the hardest aspect of Pristine Form down! All those awful smelly concoctions don’t affect you a bit!”

Hao Chan flashed an embarrassed smile. “I sort of have an um… advantage.”

Yinzi’s eyes widened. “Ooh.. do tell!”

“I almost had a well, a problem with—”

“Being enslaved to the Purple Path, thanks to a vile merchant pretending he was your loving stepfather before showing his real demonic colors, whom Alex totally destroyed after crashing down from the heavens and proving to absolutely everyone that he was WiFu’s eternal champion? His crimson pawn upon the board of fate?”

Alex and Hao Chan winced simultaneously, saw eachother’s expressions, and laughed.

“Yeah, pretty much,” they said in concert.

Hao Chan’s blush deepened. “It wasn’t that bad, because Alex coaxed me to stop drinking it within days of starting. A weird-tasting elixir I only imbibed in the first place because I was stupid enough to actually believe my bastard of a stepfather when he said that it was just wine that gave sweet, relaxing dreams. But I remember that awful craving, and how ashamed I was that I was missing it so badly, and it was horrifying to think I’d always feel that way, but Alex told me it would get better. And it really did, in just a few days. It helped that I managed to turn the discomfort I was first feeling into the fierce satisfaction of a hard workout, so when I pushed myself, I was charged on my own fire, and when I collapsed in fatigue, I was too exhausted to feel the craving, and it got better really fast.”

She chuckled self-consciously. “It was more like an itch in the back of my throat than anything else, so I don’t even know why I was stressing it. But after that, I sort of promised myself I would never let any drink or vice or anything affect me like that ever again.”

She flashed a rueful grin. “Now, drinking rice wine is like water. It doesn’t do anything for me at all. Not unless I relax my grip upon my soul and I slip into the dream of it, but I’m sort of, well, afraid. Afraid of liking being drunk or giddy too much. Because I don’t ever want to have any hunger, any itch in the back of my throat constantly distracting me. Especially if it takes away my ability to enjoy everything else in my life. Not when Alex is taking us along this glorious path, better even than the dances my former master taught. Because nothing beats the glorious feeling of my limbs tingling with added strength and never-ending energy with every fresh breakthrough. Feeling my body flow into the dance of forms, battle, and beauty, with more grace than it ever has before!”

Her cheeks flushed, eyes glowing as she described the sheer joy she felt, flowing from the motions of Silver Swan to White Crane to embracing all aspects of her dance, as she sometimes slipped and called the Pearlescent Path.

Alex couldn’t help but grin at the sight of her, his heart warming to hear the animated descriptions she and Yinzi gave of the wondrous insights and breakthroughs they had embraced together, and never so much as when they were lost in the glorious waking dream they had shared for two weeks with Alex as their mentor and friend.

Alex gave Yinzi a relieved smile when he saw how quickly she transformed from frightened mouse to triumphant fox glorying in her growth and all the wonder that life had to offer, before her eyes settled once more on the incredible fortune in spiritual treasures his suite was now filled to bursting with.

“Ooh… I see you have been keeping busy!” Yinzi said with an approving nod, pulling free a shimmering jian glowing with crimson runes from a pile of priceless artifacts. “So, what exactly have you been up to since we saw you last? In the flesh, I mean? Share all your adventures with us, especially this most glorious heist!”

Hao Chan nodded in rapt agreement, warm fingers entwined with his own as he led them both across the room.

“Careful, watch your step there! I don’t care your cultivation base, those Trillion-cut diamonds actually hurt when you step on them wrong! And I’m sure that box of talisman paper radiating so much Wood Qi is priceless to someone, so please stop kicking things in your way, Yinzi. And here we are!” He said, gesturing to his dining table now covered in food reminiscent of his favorite Chicago restaurant chain, the aromas of Alex’s go-to comfort foods making even Hao Chan drool, which warmed his heart to no end.

“You want epic tales of adventure? I got that in spades, but before I talk your ears off, try some of this deep-dish pizza!”

And in very short order, with Chicago style pizza, root beer floats, and spicy chicken wings helping to ease the last of terror’s grip from memory’s vice, Alex regaled them with his adventures, pleased to see their smiles, if a bit discomfited by the occasional looks of horrified awe they sent his way.

“You came to in Death’s Waters and pulled yourself free, just to be hunted by Shadowbeasts and undead horrors in the underworld?” whispered an awed Hao Chan.

“And he actually found the secret, hidden layer of the gods, and outfoxed a fallen headmaster!” a thrilled Yinzi gushed. “Actually, when you think about it, he outfoxed two! Though he only claimed one of their souls, because our future lover is sort of a god.”

Alex blinked at this. “I didn’t actually take Headmaster Bingwing’s soul. Just his soul stone. And I’m not actually, well…”

Yinzi flashed him an arch look. “Where are we, Alex? And what did you call this incredibly delicious chewy food my mouth can’t stop eating?”

Alex smirked. “That’s the delicious goodness of melted cheese, sausage, and rich tomato sauce. None of that New York style paper-thin crap. Not on my table!”

Hao Chan nodded agreeably, lush lips absolutely covered in barbecue sauce, and how badly Alex wanted to taste those lips and everything else on the strikingly beautiful girl before him, once more in the flesh.

A vision of beauty he never wanted to let go.

Yinzi stopped talking, eyes widening at the intense gaze Alex and the girl who had completely forgotten her chicken wing were sharing.

“Alex?”

Alex blinked. “Yes, Yinzi?”

“Where are we, exactly?”

“That’s easy. We’re in my personal suite.”

His friend flashed an arch smile. “Which is located where, exactly?”

Alex cleared his throat. “In a really nice palace. Very pretty. Just don’t um… stress the artwork.”

She nodded. “And where is this palace located? Is it somewhere in CuiJing province?”

Alex slowly shook his head.

“Okay, well, I really want to know where I am. What’s this country called?”

Alex shrugged, earning him a pair of frowns.

“Wait, you have the use of a palatial suite, and you don’t even know the name of the country it’s located in?” Said a suddenly concerned-looking Hao Chan. “Alex, does the ruler know about us? Are we safe here?”

Alex nodded. “Perfectly safe. I promise.”

Before wincing as a most definitely ascended Yinzi poked him. 20 Strength at least.

“Alex, where the hell are we?”

“Farthest thing from hell, the underworld, or anywhere else, really. I can promise you that.”

Alex winced under the crimson-eyed stare of one of the most bubbly people he knew. Who was also the daughter of two no-nonsense assassins, and she had somehow inherited both their glares, and perhaps a bit of WiFu’s fire as well.

“Alright, come on, let me show you,” Alex said, leading the suddenly excited and cheerful Yinzi who now didn’t look at all like she was going to lance him with her eyes, the farthest thing from it, squeezing his hand with her own while a bemused Hao Chan clasped the other, out of his quarters and into what was definitely a palatial hallway, if the gold-veined marble, alcoves graced by exquisite statues of ivory and gold, and the high arching frescoed ceiling were any indications.

Alex happily took advantage of their momentary breathless awe to lead them down the corridors past a pair of powerfully built Silver Cultivators whose eyes widened at the sight of the strikingly beautiful girls walking by Alex’s side, so say nothing of the servant bowing deferentially to him before hurrying off.

Hao Chan blinked, furrowing her brow. “Alex? Why did that—”

Alex winked, and then they were before a pair of massive bronze doors. Now opening as Alex gazed upon them, the three walking into a glorious courtyard filled with wildflowers, lush green grass, and a shower of petals from the pair of magnificent Redwood-sized apple trees filled with gloriously ripe fruit, just begging to be plucked.

Yet Alex knew that not a single one would fall until he willed it, and sometime soon he would confess the secret of those trees to those who were ready.

For now, he just gazed fondly at the scene before him, noting the sagely cultivator sitting on stone seats lecturing handfuls of respectfully sitting students in the nearest corner of the courtyard, other groups slowly going over martial drills with polearms, swords, and barehanded just a short distance off, and any number of pairs of cultivators dueling so fiercely that Alex could actually sense the buildup of spiritual energy around them.

Hao Chan and Yinzi just took in the wondrous sight with awe.

“This!” Hao Chan whispered. “This is what I had imagined Dragon Academy might be like!”

Alex grinned and nodded. “Me too.”

Yinzi practically squealed, clapping her hands in excitement, earning a few curious glances. “This is what a proper academy is supposed to be like! At least one not populated by frightened kitsune who just want to hide in the shadows because they’re afraid of another religious purge, and assassins who almost wished those bastard zealots would try it.”

“It wasn’t that bad. We made lots of friends,” Hao Chan said.

“Before my mothers went crazy and nearly killed us.”

“Good point.”

It was then that they heard the cry in the distant fourth corner of the magnificent courtyard. A young man seeming to appear through a golden rift in space and time, gasping and sobbing, coughing up blood.

Immediately, a handful of cultivators raced forward to the groaning man, badly beaten, covered in gore. Even Alex winced at the mangled travesty that had been his left arm.

“Dong Xiao, we have another one!” Alex roared.

“I am coming, Child of the Heavens.”

And within seconds, the seneschal made himself known, a healer’s expert eyes going over multiple grievous injuries from the sorely abused man.

“I swear to obey the lord of this realm in all things. Please, give me sanctuary. Don’t send me back!” the youth pled out before curling up with a choking wheeze.

Dong Xiao frowned, closing his eyes and placing both hands upon the youth’s abdomen, and Alex could immediately sense the miraculous flood of Water and Wood Qi his seneschal had access to.

A Silver cultivator’s reserves? To Alex it felt more like a world’s worth.

And the entire crowd of onlooking cultivators seemed to let out a collective sigh of relief when bruises faded ever so slightly, and the youth finally choked in a lifegiving gasp of fresh air.

“I believe he will make it, but best we deliver him to your Blue Pagoda with all haste,” said the seneschal to the oldest looking cultivator among the handful of onlookers who gave the man an oddly deferential nod.

“The Blue Pagoda will take it from here, Master Seneschal.”

Dong Xiao dipped his head before turning to gaze Alex’s way, bowing low, and departing as fast as he had come.

Alex winced, almost certain that a couple of cultivators had caught the gesture, though they were discrete enough to give nothing away.

Not so, the girls by his side.

Hao Chan turned to face him, and how wonderful and humbling it was to find her eyes meeting his own as an equal in so many ways. “Alex, did that man just bow to you?”

Alex shrugged. “Maybe?”

Yinzi, several inches shorter, but already ascended to Bronze, squeezed his hand hard enough to break a mortal’s bones. Even Alex winced. “Alex, where exactly are we?”

“Some place where our enemies can never hurt us.”

The young kitsune’s gaze turned solemn, playful banter evaporating as readily as it had come. “I’m kitsune, Alex. Daughter of the god of mischief and wonder, reviled by WiFu’s other siblings for my very existence. My kind will never be completely free of our enemies, Alex. One way or another, Long Wang and his monstrous brethren will find a way to hunt us down and purge us. Mother’s made that ugly, bitter truth of our existence very, very clear.”

Alex flashed a cold smile. “Actually, WiFu and I tricked a couple of concessions from our enemies, so that is far less likely to happen, at least for the duration of this game.”

This earned him a pair of confused glances.

“But even more importantly, they can’t hurt you here.”

Yinzi shook her head sadly. “Alex, they’re gods. Even if by some miracle you were able to mark one, the world is their sandbox. They can do whatever they like to whomever they choose.”

“Not here.”

Yinzi’s gaze hardened. “Why would this place be any different from any other sanctuary my people might flee to?”

Alex turned to Yinzi, seeing the pain in her eyes, knowing that it would be a long time before she truly healed from what she had endured and that now, more than ever, she understood the peril of their lives like never before. So, he honored her with the truth.

“Because this World Seed isn’t the home of the pantheon that forged the Golden Realms and caused your kind so much grief.”

Yinzi blinked, gazing at him in wide-eyed wonder. “You make it sound like your gate took us to another world!”

Alex grinned. “Wouldn’t that be something?”

Hao Chan squeezed his hand. “Alex, how much do you know about this place? Are we truly safe?”

He nodded. “We are. And I know a lot about it.”

Yinzi just shook her head. “How? How can you be so sure?”

“Because I made it.”

Both girls froze, staring at him with an intensity that made him want to back away, if the pair weren’t holding his hands so tightly.

“You’re not kidding!” Hao Chan said breathlessly.

Alex smiled. “Come on. There’s someone I want you to meet. But first, a moment to savor what academy life should be.” He gazed fondly at the lush green courtyard filled with diligent, enthusiastic cultivators and sage-looking instructors long enough to savor the gentle rain of pink blossoms shaken free by the rustling leaves of the branches high overhead, before turning around and heading back inside.