Xiao Qing felt warmed by Sect Master Mo. Though the fairy’s complexion was of pure snow, the little girl could feel warmth flow from the young woman’s porcelain hands to her own as the Sect Master brought her up the mountains.

The security system of the Yue Yun Sect required all members to proceed to the top of the mountains from the main stairs. Only in emergencies were the disciples allowed to use their abilities to quickly depart from or arrive at the top of the mountains where all the main buildings were located.

The stone stairs were well-kept. Even so, the night dew made the steps wet and slippery. Sect Master Mo made sure the little girl did not hop about. She thought the girl to be very obedient for her age.

“Girl, what is your name?” A brusque tone; more of a command than a question. Mo Yun’s pale white eyes studied Xiao Qing.

Xiao Qing’s body quivered. She averted her eyes from the fairy and glanced at the peak. The way to the top was long and winding, and the pair was still only in the bottom-most region.

“Are you not going to answer your savior? Have your parents not taught you honor?” Sect Master Mo asked. She dragged Xiao Qing’s head to face her own. The young girl’s mouth parted and her eyes became wide like the moon.

“Sun Qing,” the girl replied. Her voice shook with the timbre of glass. She lapped at her lips.

The Sect Master released her grip. Xiao Qing went to immediately massaged her cheeks. Tears formed in her eyes. Her legs had already begun to tremble more and more with each subsequent step.

“What a dull name,” the fairy remarked. “It is too plain and too simple for this Yue Yun Sect of mine.”

Xiao Qing being so young, tilted her head in response. The pair continued up the stairs with only the song of the clouds above and the conversation of their steps to accompany them.

About a quarter up the mountains, the scenery changed from mere trees and and more trees to trees accompanied by Buddha statues. Some merciful, though their smiles became broken by age. Others vengeful and angry. Most of the statues had closed eyes and sealed lips, rested cross-legged on crumbling lotus flowers.

“Why are the statues not beautiful?” Xiao Qing asked. The fairy seemed to have been contemplating something, for the little girl had to voice her question several times.

“The lower regions is to intimidate the mortals. This region is where we cast aside our past. Like these crumbling statues, we must let our mortal desires crumble away into nothingness. There is no room for emotions in the Yue Yun Arts. Do you understand?”

Xiao Qing glanced at the statues behind her and scrunched up her face. She slowly nodded. The Sect Master saw this and nodded with approval.

The little girl waited for the fairy to continue speaking. She did not. The two returned to climbing in silence.

Though the girl was tired and yawned quite often, the two did not stop. The fairy made sure to slap the girl’s behind if she showed any inclination of slowing or stopping.

Halfway up the mountains, the fairy stopped.

“How do you feel?” She asked.

“My head feels weird.” Xiao Qing responded as she massaged her temple. “My chest feels tight too.”

“Good. To embark onto the path of immortality is to suffer. Now, tell me. What do you desire?” The fairy’s voice resounded. The frost-tipped trees sang their approval.

Xiao Qing made a difficult face and tilted her head. “I want to be happy.”

“No!” Sect Master Mo chided as she slapped the child’s wrist. She asked the question again.

“I-I want to be happy,” Xiao Qing responded in the same way. She did not understand the fairy’s frustration and tears formed.

“What of your father? What of your mother?” The fairy’s voice shook with passion. Her usual complexion like the snow contorted and became flushed. “What do you desire?”

“I just want to be happy!” Little Qing cried as she tore her hand from the grip of Sect Master Mo. She shoved her face into her palms. “I want to be happy. Mama, Papa, where are you? Mama!”

Her display of emotions caused an odd light to shine in Sect Master Mo’s eyes. She grabbed hold of Xiao Qing’s arm and threw her. The little girl flew through the air and slammed her back against a step higher up.

Blood blossomed over the gray stone step laced with frost. The young girl was immediately assaulted with both an excruciating lack of air and an burning cold. Xiao Qing quickly rolled into a fetal position. Snot covered her pitiful doll-like face. The light in her brown eyes dimming to the tone of dried earth.

The fairy did not move to retrieve or comfort the girl. From the midpoint of the ancient stairs, Sect Master Mo asked her question once more. The howling wind distorted her voice and each word seemed to cut deep into Xiao Qing’s skin.

Frost soon covered the little girl’s eyes and hair. Her lips were as blue as irises. Her movement had stilled to a stop. The child struggled to move her lips, but it was fine; though her voice was as quiet as the sound of leaves, the fairy heard her.

With a mighty leap, the fairy skipped dozens of dozens of steps and landed next to Qing’s freezing body. With one sweep of her hand, the frost and cold fled Qing’s body in less than half a breath’s time.

“You want to live, then you must desire strength and power above all.” Sect Master Mo proclaimed as she helped Qing up. The fairy reached inside the sleeves of her robes and pulled out a charm. She stuck the yellow talisman onto the young girl’s back. Immediately, the little girl breathed easier and colors returned to her face.

The two held hands once more. Though Qing’s hand was more slack than before and seemed to slip through the fairy’s grip to nestle sheltered in the dark recesses of Sect Master Mo’s palm. “In our Yue Yun Sect, there are four commandments:

“One, strive for glory above the moon. Two, to seek power is cast aside one’s mortality and be alone. Three, one must not possess emotions if one seek the truth path of our Yue Yun Arts. Four, remember pain and remember suffering and weakness. Never forget that is your end if you have no power.”

The fairy looked at the small child holding her. A new coldness supported the light in Xiao Qing’s eyes now. Mo Yun’s own eyes shined with slight compassion.

“I have decided. Your new name will be Qiu’yue; you will not bear a family name from this day on. I will not teach you the characters; learn that on your own time. Simply know it is a good name meaning Autumn Moon.”

Xiao Qing stared at the fairy. “What do you mean? My name is Sun Qing! My father is Sun Yan’zhi, so I have the family name Sun; my mother is Hong Yin and she gave me this name of Qing!”

The fairy narrowed her gaze. “Child, this is the midpoint of these Earth-Parting Stairs. You either toss away your past and become a disciple of my Yue Yun Sect. Or,” she pointed down the stairs, “I take back my talisman and you can walk down back to the mortal realm by yourself in your soiled garments. Now choose.”

Xiao Qing’s mouth gaped wide open. She could’ve fit a dragon inside of her mouth. With no other choice, the little girl started to cry. However, fear seized her the moment Sect Master Mo raised her hand, as if to slap her off the stairs.

The girl quickly waved her hands. “I’ll do it! I’ll do it.”

“Greetings.” The fairy spoke. The young girl was only five years old and did not yet understand the way of the world.

“Hello,” the girl responded. She winced from the sharp slap she received on her wrist from Sect Master Mo.

“When you meet a senior, you must clasp your hand like so.” The fairy demonstrated: an open left palm layered on top a closed right fist.

“And you must say ‘Junior Qiu’yue pays respect to elder’ and bow slightly with your head. If that elder, or even junior, is in a higher standing than you, then you must also bow deeply with your entire body. Pretend that your waist is an oar, bow deep to pave way for those in high standing!”

The girl couldn’t help but mutter, “But I never had to do that back at the palace.”

“Idiot girl!” The fairy chided and slapped the girl’s wrist once more. “Was it in the Royal Palace, the Forbidden Palace, or your own insignificant general mansion? Regardless, you have abandoned your mortal life. You no longer have anyone or anything to rely on beside your own self, your determination, and your latent talent. That is the path of cultivation.”

“What about Mama and Papa?” The girl asked. She quickly hid her hands behind her back, afraid of getting punished again. The fairy flicked her forehead. The girl crouched down and clutched her forehead with slight tears.

“Forgot about the mortal life.”

The fairy then started walking again. Qiu’yue gasped and struggled to catch up to the fairy’s long strides with her undeveloped body. The fairy held out her hand and the newly named child grabbed hold of it. The two climbed the stairs once more in silence.

The pair climbed until the sun rose and hung over their heads like a pale mirror. Qiu’yue breathed heavy and sweat glued her robes to her skin. She looked over at the fairy whose beauty continued to shine.

The fairy stopped. She pointed toward a beaten path off to the side of the main stairs. It led into the woods.

“That will lead you to your new home. You will become an official disciple of our Yue Yun Sect once you achieve some proficiency with the Way. Do not follow me. The current you right now is but a mortal. If you follow, your internal organs would burst from the pressure.”

After finishing her words, the fairy began to climb the stairs to the top by herself. Qiu’yue watched the crescent moon until she could no longer see it, disappeared into the horizons.

With both hands held tightly to her chest, the aspiring cultivator walked slowly into the wilds.

Author's Note: Our main character finally gets to begin her journey. Yay! How do you guys like her new name?