'Xiao Li' had been warned about the crazy eccentrics out there, but she'd never thought she would meet one so soon.

The young scion had not reacted at first: she had been too engrossed in exploring the strange mental map of the anomalous boy in front of her.

Then, her world flipped upside down.

"Eh?"

Without warning, the summer night sky had filled her vision, revolving like a spinning top.

'Xiao Li' blinked her emerald eyes once, twice, her smile increasingly awkward as she registered the tremendous pull assaulting her.

The Xiao youth made her best efforts to adjust her body as she landed, but the grip around her wrist was unbelievably sturdy and allowed no resistance. She struggled, but the ground fast approached, relentless.

After what felt like an eternity of vain toil, she finally felt a slight impact on her back.

"Ack!" 'Xiao Li's dark purple lips parted as her breath left them. However, other than the sudden shock, she felt no pain.

Adrenaline, perhaps? Or maybe, she mused as she struggled to stand up, her regal robes might have cushioned the fall surprisingly well.

"Dear me, I'd like to see anyone get out unscathed from that throw if I didn't intend it so. Now then, back down you go."

"Ah!"

And just as she had managed to flounder back up, a sudden force struck the back of her knees, and she found herself folding like a lawn chair. Once again, she was met with the cold pavement.

'Xiao Li' lay on the ground in disbelief, her eyes wide and her chest heaving.

"Perfect. Now then, again from the top. Let's reintroduce ourselves." Cheng Hao knelt by her and, with eyes narrowed into two crescent moons, a knowing smile on his cute face. "This time, better do it right, fellow disciple 'Li'. We're roomies with no secrets after all."

Immediately, the emeralds blazed, incensed at the humiliation. The girl in regal robes rolled on her side and glared at Cheng Hao, resentfully spitting through gritted teeth, "You, you...!"

"Is something not clear, fellow disciple 'Li'?" The golden-eyed youth raised an eyebrow, appearing disappointed "It should not be that difficult-"

"What was that for??? I could have gotten hurt, badly! Jerk!" screamed the young lady, on the verge of tears. Her face was red, and even more than embarrassed, she felt frustrated.

"As if. I held you real tight." The boy's golden eyes held a trace of amusement as he playfully pinched her cheek, "I wonder when you Brightfolk started being this cheeky. Wouldn't your Olden God feel heartbroken watching you lie and deceive?"

"...Eh?" the purple lips gaped.

Did he just-

"Of course, with His blood flowing in your veins, it naturally backfired, and stupendously so. It just isn't in your nature to lie and deceive. How many decades did it take Little Lan before he stopped smiling at each falsehood? At least, he was aware..."

"Y-You-You-" the Xiao lady stammered, at a loss for words.

Hold on for just a sec-

"What were you thinking, even? With your disposition, would you have considered it a success if you managed to hide it until the sun rose? Foolish kid, we're going to be living under the same roof! Now then, from the top. Nice to meet you, my name is..." Cheng Hao motioned for her to continue.

But there was no response.

This boy, how does he know these things? He's dangerous!

Instead, 'Xiao Li' had nimbly somersaulted backwards, hurrying to put some distance between the two of them. She bared her pearly teeth at the youth as if by some animalistic instinct. Then, her slim fingers went to her bosom in an elegant, rehearsed motion. There, they firmly grasped around her trump card, a tiny, golden brooch-

Not.

Not there.

Her expression fell, as a familiar gleam dancing atop the boy's fingertips caught her eye.

"Judging by this payment, it would seem like your Ancestor is requesting the full course. I'm surprised." Cheng Hao eyed the brooch in his grasp knowingly. He had snatched it first thing, having immediately recognized it for what it truly was.

The dull, golden blow of Immortal Essence Blood was unmistakable to him. Especially so, when the lotus hairpin had been restless for the last while. Having at long last met something its peer in terms of league, superior even in terms of sheer quantity, its bothersome buzzing was getting increasingly annoying, even. "Looks like Little Lan has particularly high hopes for you. That, or He miraculously got over his jealousy during this time apart. Ah, how moving!"

The youth turned, and the poor Young Mistress of Xiao was looking back at him, her big emerald eyes watery and her dark lips trembling. Her tiny nostrils flared and her smooth brow had furrowed as she suppressed her sobs. The poor thing appeared utterly defeated.

The Essence Blood of her revered Ancestor, lost just like that...

With a loud thump, her legs gave way and she felt light-headed. She grieved in a fetal position, her emeralds dull.

"Lord Ancestor, your esteemed essence... I have failed you-"

"Stop making me look like a bad guy already, you cheeky brat. This was meant for me to begin with!" Cheng Hao gently kicked her side, making the young lady roll face-up from her grovelling.

"Agh!" a crystalline cry rang out, and tears fell as she sat up.

"Now then, Tell. Me. Your. Name." A round of... 'affectionate' pinching ensued.

"Ou-Ou-Ou-Ouch! It's, It's Xiao-"

"If you say 'Li', you brat, I'll keep pinching your pretty cheeks until people mistake you for a jester's hamster."

"...it's Wu. My name is Xiao Wu."

"Well, isn't that a pretty name? It's very nice to meet you, Xiao Wu of the Xiao Clan," the golden-eyed youth smiled endearingly. He carefully dusted her dirtied robes, gently helping her stand, and even wiping her damp face with his sleeves. Witnessing the swollen, blazing cheeks and red, teary emeralds, he announced contentedly while waving the golden brooch before her eyes, "I'm, Cheng Hao, the master personally employed by your dear Ancestor."

The emerald-eyed girl was speechless by the sudden revelation.

"Now then, call me Brother Hao!"

"...But, I don't trust your words?"

"...Really now, this cheeky, little-!"

...

Sometime later, Xiao Wu knelt with her head hung low, and her cheeks even redder and more swollen.

"Again now."

"I-I'm very, utterly sorry for getting caught, Brother Hao..."

"No, no, no! It's not that difficult! Repeat after me, I'm sorry for lying! I hereby promise to be honest henceforth!"

"But, it's not... That's..."

"Yes, it's a lie! That's the whole point! Now, try."

"I, I'm not sorry for getting caught, I'm sorry for lying. I hereby promise to... maybe... not lie as badly from now on-?"

"And, promise broken."

"Ah. I'm sorry, I didn't realize-"

"You Brightfolk, really..." Cheng Hao pinched his glabella with a loud sigh. His eyes of vibrant gold then scrutinized the young girl. His gaze softened at this poor kid that Xiao Lan had sent his way.

A forgiving people, yet never forgetful. They remembered all, yet chose to absolve. Even as the blood diluted, their disposition only barely strayed. Such were the Brightfolk.

Then again, it was that very same characteristic that had brought Xiao Lan to take in the Evil Saint's revolutionary theories like a sponge. The moment he had deemed a single teaching of his correct, the Young Master of Xiao proceeded to blindly follow the rest. Eventually, the image of the starry-eyed youth that always preached the truth was deified in his pure, emerald eyes.

For bad or for good, it was a disposition for learning unmatched across the countless planes. With the right teacher, that is.

"We'd be here a whole fortnight, so forget about it for now. We should head to our residence- Ah, wait for just a second, actually. I'm a tad curious about something." Cheng Hao sat down and crossed his legs. He then instructed, "I'm going to check on something first. In a while, you might feel something probing. Try not to resist."

"...Ok, Brother Hao."

"Good girl," he chuckled and gently squeezed her tiny nose, prompting a small pout.

"Then, here I go". And with those few words, his Will invaded the girl's sea of consciousness.

Xiao Wu felt it clearly. As if a cold current was moving about deeper and deeper in the back of her eyes. However, while it wasn't pleasant, it wasn't unbearable either. She merely felt the urge to shut and massage her eyes, but came to the conclusion that this might be what the boy had warned her about. She fought the impulse and tried her best not to blink, at which Cheng Hao complimented her again, "Good. Kid, you're doing amazing."

Xiao Wu proudly puffed her red cheeks at that.

The strand of Will swum expertly, proceeding quickly and deftly into the depths of the Sea. There, hidden in a remote corner, it came to a hurried stop. An invisible wall was blocking its way. A... seal of sorts.

Cheng Hao raised a brow at this finding. He contemplated for a short while, only to chuckle as if having encountered an inside joke. Then, he decisively grasped onto the brooch of dull gold.

At that moment, it was the Evil Saint who made a move.

Like that, the seal couldn't impede Cheng Hao anymore, and a wonderful sight entered his eyes...

Meanwhile, Xiao Wu had a different kind of chill go down her spine. She couldn't quite explain it, but she felt as if something was not quite right. As if the world had shifted slightly.

If she had to put that feeling into words...

As if a big Lie had just been uttered.

Yet, nothing seemed to have changed. If anything, she could only be sure that the brooch of dull gold in the boy's palms appeared to have dimmed somewhat.

By the time Xiao Wu raised her head, Cheng Hao seemed to have long finished his inquiries. The golden-eyed youth before her had a complex expression as he was studying her reaction. Noticing her emerald eyes full of curiosity, he cleared his voice. Then, he vaguely remarked, "Isn't it a bit early to entertain a Path, Little Wu?"

"Eh? 'Path'? What's that?"

"...to you right now, it's the paved road beneath our feet. Let's go home without dallying further." Secretly, Cheng Hao was greatly disturbed as he dismissed her question.

To think she'd detect an Immortal's means... How horrifying.

The tips of his fingers were even trembling in anticipation.

So this is why you would go about it in such a roundabout way. And here I thought it was simply meant as a joke from my Companion in the Dao.

If anything, you wanted to warn me not to let her advance carelessly, lest her Apparition call a 'human disaster' on us all.

Little Lan, what a dreadful monster you have sent over...

After this one display of immeasurable talent, he was very much looking forward to her Qi Apparition.

I'm more and more glad the Reverend Stage pushover is taking care of it. Otherwise, I wouldn't be able to sleep peacefully tonight.