When the snake twins and I walked through the open door, we found ourselves in a spacious cabin, one that rivaled my own. Sister Jasmine and Hall Master Bonefire waited for us inside. They sat at a familiar small wooden table. It was the one from Sister Jasmine’s cave abode, back in the Valley of the Misty Grave. She must have brought it here.

  Sister Jasmine wore a surprised expression on her face when she saw us and stood up from her seat, while the Hall Master Bonefire appeared annoyed. At this point, the latter’s ability to convey emotion despite lacking a face no longer surprised me. In fact, a part of me found it amusing.

  As soon as the snake twins and I stepped into the cabin, closing the door behind us, I whirled around to check on them. I would have done so earlier, but my intuition warned me against showing any weakness to Elder Petrina, the elder of Restless Grave Hall who accosted us a few moments ago.

  “Are you two alright?” I asked.

  They both nodded.

  “As part of our training, we learned how to deal with demonic qi.” Elliot said. “A little ghost qi isn’t a problem for us.”

  Ellen nodded and gave me a smile. However, I remained worried about them. Their complexions were both still paler than usual.

  “Here.” I said.

  I lifted my hands and summoned two small golden motes of divine fire qi, which hovered in the air above my palms. The motes burned away the ghost qi and warmed up the immediate area around us. I handed the motes over to Ellen and Elliot. After some hesitation, they accepted and held the motes in their hands. Their complexions improved right away. I breathed out a sigh of relief.

  From behind me, I heard Hall Master Bonefire clear his throat. Oh, right. I hadn’t greeted him yet. I turned around and gave him a martial salute.

  “I apologize, Hall Master Bonefire.” I said. “I didn’t mean to ignore or disrespect you.”

  Hall Master Bonefire waved off my apology.

  “It’s fine,” he said in a dismissive tone, “You were looking after your people. I understand.” He snorted. “However, this wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t come here in the first place. What are you doing here?”

  From the expression on her face, it was clear that Sister Jasmine wanted to know as well. The problem was, I didn’t know how to answer Hall Master Bonefire’s question. After all, I was here because I was worried about Sister Jasmine’s wellbeing. However, if I said that, I risked offending Hall Master Bonefire, since he was the reason why I was worried about her in the first place.

  “Let me guess,” Hall Master Bonefire said in a sardonic tone, “You were worried about Jasmine here and feared that I had nefarious intentions towards her.”

  I stared at him, flabbergasted. At this point, I suspected that he knew how to read minds. I wasn’t that much of an open book. Was I?

  “Master,” Sister Jasmine said, a slight frown on her face, “Brother Darian wouldn’t suspect you of nefarious intentions. He’s the one who asked you to look after me in the first place.”

  I stiffened at that and a sense of awkwardness filled me. Right. This whole situation came about because of me in the first place.

  “She’s right.” I said, deciding to lie rather than admit the truth and lose face. “I came to see Sister Jasmine so I could congratulate her on reaching Foundation Establishment. I even prepared a gift.”

  Hall Master Bonefire gave me a look that conveyed that he knew I was lying. However, to my relief, he didn’t call me out on it.

  “Oh?” Hall Master Bonefire said. “It better be a good gift, one worthy of my disciple.”

  His tone suggested that if my gift didn’t meet his standards, I wouldn’t like the aftermath.

  “Of course, it is.” I said, scoffing. “Who do you think I am?”

  Despite my bravado, I was panicking on the inside. What would make for a suitable gift? I made a mental inventory of all the items in my possession. A few came to mind.

  ‘Cultivation pills and the like won’t cut it, young man.’ Hall Master Bonefire said to me through telepathy. I felt his smugness through our bond. ‘And if you’re going to give Jasmine a magic treasure, it should be at least a high-grade one.’

  My expression fell when I heard this. I didn’t have many high-grade Foundation Establishment magic treasures. In fact, the only one I was willing to give away was the steel buckler that I received from Branch Head Xavier. I received the others from my family, and I refused to give those away or sell them. Even when I no longer needed them, I planned on keeping them as mementos.

  “Brother Darian?” Sister Jasmine asked when I didn’t say anything for several seconds.

  Right. I couldn’t just stand here panicking. Maybe I should just admit the truth. However, the thought of that filled me with dread. When one started riding a tiger, there was no dismounting. I would see this lie through to the end, even if I crashed and burned.

  That was when I had an idea. I didn’t have to limit gifts to magic treasure, pills, or physical objects. Techniques and mystic arts also made for suitable gifts.

  “Apologies,” I said, plastering a smile onto my face, “I was lost in my thoughts.”

  I pulled a jade slip out of my storage ring and pressed it against my forehead. After imbuing it with the Breath of the World technique, I walked over and handed it to Sister Jasmine.

  “I believe that you’ll make great use of this, Sister Jasmine.” I said.

  She blinked at me in surprise, before she took the jade slip and pressed it against her forehead. A few seconds later, her expression twisted.

  “I can’t accept something like this!” Sister Jasmine said out loud, before switching to telepathy. ‘Brother Darian, please take it back! This gift is too precious. If I keep receiving from you without giving back, I’ll feel burdened.’

  I gave her a strained smile.

  ‘Your master warned me against giving you a lackluster gift.’ I said. ‘I’m afraid of what will happen to me if you don’t accept it.’

  Sister Jasmine’s expression fell at that.

  “Why are you making such a fuss?” Hall Master Bonefire asked in a cross voice. “He didn’t give you a lackluster gift, did he?”

  His voice came out sharp, and I felt a chill run through my body. It was as if someone walked over my grave.

  “No,” Sister Jasmine said after some hesitation, “In fact, it’s the opposite. This gift is too precious for someone like me to accept.”

  Hall Master Bonefire snorted.

  “What do you mean by that?” He asked. “You’re my disciple now. No gift is too precious for you.”

  Despite her master’s words, Sister Jasmine still looked reluctant to accept the jade slip.

  “Let me see that.” Hall Master Bonefire said. “You’ve piqued my curiosity now.”

  Sister Jasmine handed him the jade slip. He pressed it against his forehead. A moment later, he pulled it away and stared at it in amazement.

  “Where did you get this?” Hall Master Bonefire asked. “This is a profound technique!”

  “I found it by chance during my travels.” I said, avoiding the question.

  While I was willing to give the details of my travels to Big Sis Sidra, that didn’t mean I would do the same for Hall Master Bonefire. He wasn’t family, nor was he my master. We weren’t even part of the same hall.

  Hall Master Bonefire studied me for several moments. The burning orbs that filled his eye sockets seemed to bore into me. It took all of my willpower to keep my mouth shut.

  “Fine, then.” He spat out. “Keep your secrets, brat. It doesn’t matter where you got this technique. What matters is that you have it.”

  I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

  “As much as I loathe to admit it, my disciple is right.” Hall Master Bonefire sighed. “This technique is far too precious to just give away; at least as a gift for reaching Foundation Establishment.” He glared at me. “It’s even better than the gift I gave her. Are you trying to make me look bad? Is that it?”

  I shook my head.

  “No, Hall Master Bonefire.” I said.

  He snorted.

  “In any case,” he said, “This is indeed too a precious gift. However, I want my disciple to have it, so how about this? I’ll give you a technique in return. That should be more than enough to balance the scales. What do you think?”

  I almost accepted, since a technique from someone of Hall Master Bonefire’s caliber was sure to be powerful. However, I paused. This was an opportunity to learn more about Sister Jasmine’s situation. While I hadn’t intended for things to work out this way, I wasn’t going to pass it up either.

  “Actually,” I said, “Rather than giving me a technique in return, I’m hoping you can tell me about the Profound Yin Incarnation technique.”

  The moment the words left my mouth, ghost qi flooded the room and the temperature dropped. It happened right away. There was no warning sign at all. I didn’t even have time to circulate my divine fire qi. A wave of weakness washed over me. I braced my hands on my knees to remain upright. Thankfully, the motes I gave Ellen and Elliot protected them from the worst of it. As for Sister Jasmine, she remained unaffected, though she wore a worried expression on her face.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “You are a bold one, boy.” Hall Master Bonefire said in a cold voice. “Insolent too. How dare you ask about the Profound Yin Incarnation technique? Are you looking down on Restless Grave Hall? Are you looking down on me?”

  He stood up. While we were about the same height, his presence dwarfed mine and he seemed to loom over me.

  “Master!” Sister Jasmine cried out.

  Hall Master Bonefire ignored her and continued to glare at me with those burning eyes of his. Sister Jasmine reached for her robes and pulled out a small bottle made from white jade. It hung from a leather string and she wore it like a necklace. I hadn’t noticed it before, since she had kept it hidden until now.

  “Help!” Sister Jasmine cried out.

  She pulled the stopper from the bottle.

  “Grandfather!” a familiar voice rang out from inside the bottle. “That’s enough! He’s just worried about Sister Jasmine. I would be too, in his position. After all, when you two last met, you said you hadn’t planned on taking Sister Jasmine as your disciple. Anyone would find your sudden change of mind suspicious.”

  I blinked in surprise and stared at the bottle.

  “Cultivator Ryana?” I asked.

  A dark gray mist emerged from the bottle, before coalescing into the form of Cultivator Ryana, Hall Master Bonefire’s granddaughter. We last met each other in the Valley of the Misty Grave, where I somehow helped her regain lucidity after she fell into despair and madness. I hadn’t expected to run into her again so soon, or at all really. What was she doing here? And why did she come out of the white jade bottle that hung from Sister Jasmine’s neck?

  Cultivator Ryana flashed me a smile, before she put her hands on her hips and glared at Hall Master Bonefire. He faltered in the face of his granddaughter’s anger.

  “But, Ryana,” Hall Master Bonefire said, “The Profound Yin Incarnation technique is one of Restless Grave Hall’s most profound techniques. I can’t just reveal its secrets to an outsider.”

  Cultivator Ryana rolled her eyes.

  “You don’t have to tell him everything.” She said. “Just enough to reassure him. He only asked out of concern for Sister Jasmine.” She narrowed her eyes. “Besides, he’s not a complete outsider.”

  Hall Master Bonefire stared at her for several long moments, before he let out a sigh.

  “Fine.” He said, before sitting back down.

  At that, the overwhelming ghost qi in the room disappeared and the temperature returned to normal. I let out a relieved sigh and circulated my divine fire qi to dispel any lingering chill that remained in my body. Afterwards, I used my spirit sense to study Ellen and Elliot. They both looked fine. In fact, it appeared that they were in better shape than I was, thanks to the motes of divine fire qi in their hands.

  “Thank you, Cultivator Ryana.” I said, giving the ghost woman a martial salute.

  She giggled.

  “There’s no need to thank me, Brother Darian.” She said. “You’re an important person to Sister Jasmine, which makes you an important person to me.” She winked at me. “Besides, you and I aren’t strangers to one another.”

  I felt a sharp look pierce the back of my head, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

  ‘What does she mean by that, Darian?’ Ellen asked through telepathy.

  Right. While I told Ellen about my visit to the Valley of the Misty Grave, I never told her about my encounter with Cultivator Ryana. I thought it would be safer to keep it to myself, since it involved Hall Master Bonefire and his family.

  ‘I’ll tell you about it later, Dear.’ I said to Ellen.

  After a tense moment, the sharp look softened. I resisted the urge to sigh in relief.

  “Can someone explain to me what’s going on?” I asked out loud. “Why is Cultivator Ryana here and not in the Valley of the Misty Grave?” I glanced at Sister Jasmine. “And is she calling you sister? Does it have something to do with the Profound Yin Incarnation technique?”

  Sister Jasmine wore a hesitant expression on her face. Cultivator Ryana gave her an encouraging look. After a moment, Sister Jasmine opened her mouth. However, before she spoke, Hall Master Bonefire interjected.

  “Before you say anything,” he said, gesturing to Ellen and Elliot, “Have those two wait outside.”

  I frowned. However, I didn’t say anything since it involved a technique important to Restless Grave Hall. I was lucky that he was letting me learn about it at all.

  “Do as he says.” I said, glancing back at Ellen and Elliot.

  They obeyed, though with great reluctance. As soon as they left the cabin, Hall Master Bonefire snapped his fingers. A barrier sprang into existence around us, no doubt to prevent anyone from listening in.

  “The Profound Yin Incarnation technique is a dual cultivation technique.” Sister Jasmine said. “One that requires a ghost and a human. However, they need to be compatible, otherwise both parties risk suffering from qi deviation, or even the destruction of their souls. Not only that, but the requirements for compatibility are very strict, which is why few cultivate using this technique.” She gestured to Cultivator Ryana. “Sister Ryana and I are a perfect match. When Master discovered this, he offered to make me his disciple as long as I practiced the Profound Yin Incarnation technique with Sister Ryana.”

  I stared at her.

  “Wait, does this mean you two are…?” I asked, unable to finish my question.

  Cultivator Ryana giggled.

  “No, it’s not that kind of dual cultivation, silly.” She said. “Sister Jasmine is my companion and friend, but not my lover. I have someone else in mind for that.”

  For a split second, I noticed a gleam in Cultivator Ryana’s eyes. However, it disappeared before I could take a closer look. I decided that it was a trick of the light. It seemed safer that way.

  “There is more to the Profound Yin Incarnation technique, isn’t there?” I asked. “It isn’t a simple dual cultivation technique. Otherwise, Hall Master Bonefire wouldn’t have reacted so strongly when I asked about it.”

  Sister Jasmine glanced at Hall Master Bonefire, a hesitant expression on her face. He gave her a slight nod.

  “By cultivating the Profound Yin Incarnation technique,” Sister Jasmine said, “Sister Ryana and I tied our existences together. While we are independent people in our own right, we can also be considered two halves of the same being. What affects one of us will affect the other.”

  Cultivator Ryana embraced Sister Jasmine from behind and rested her chin on the latter’s shoulder.

  “We share almost everything,” she said. “Our cultivation, our power, and even our fates. Eventually, we’ll even share bodies.”

  I stared at them, shocked to my very core. I couldn’t imagine tying my existence to another’s, at least not to that degree. The mere thought filled me with horror.

  “That’s-…” I started to say, but Sister Jasmine cut me off.

  “Something I chose for myself.” She said. “Without any threats or coercion from Master or Sister Ryana. I ask that you respect my decision, Brother Darian.”

  I stared at her, feeling conflicted. While I wanted to respect her decisions, this seemed like too extreme of a choice. Why would she go this far? Revenge? Or was there another reason?

  “Regardless, it doesn’t matter what you think of the situation, young man.” Hall Master Bonefire said, staring at me with those burning eyes of his. “They already tied their foundations together. There is no reversing this, not without destroying Jasmine’s cultivation and damaging my granddaughter’s existence.”

  His tone suggested that if I even tried, he would kill me.

  “May I at least know why you chose this path?” I asked Sister Jasmine. “Was it to get revenge on your family?”

  Sister Jasmine nodded.

  “That’s part of it, yes.” She said. “However, it was also to keep a promise.”

  I gave her a questioning look.

  “When we first met, I told you the story of how my sister crippled my cultivation.” Sister Jasmine said. “At the time, you must have wondered how I repaired it.”

  I nodded.

  “I assumed you benefited from a fortuitous encounter.” I said.

  “I did.” Sister Jasmine said. “I came across the soul fragment of an ancient cultivator. She agreed to heal me as long as I promised to fulfill two conditions. The first was that I would ensure that her legacy survived. The second was that I would get revenge on the people who betrayed and killed her, or at least get revenge on their descendants. I agreed to both.”

  I narrowed my eyes at her.

  “If this ancient cultivator was powerful enough to heal you, why didn’t she get revenge herself?” I asked.

  “The people who killed her feared that she would come back as a vengeful ghost.” Sister Jasmine said. “So they sealed her away and buried her body. Otherwise, she would have gotten revenge herself. By the time I found her, she had already mostly dissipated. She healed me by sacrificing the last of her power.” She gave me a sad smile. “That was also how I ended up with an affinity for ghosts, which I find ironic. Originally, I practiced the arts of my clan, which nurtured life instead of the undead.”

  I studied Sister Jasmine, trying to come to terms with her story. It was difficult. However, I could tell from the determination in her eyes that she was set on this path. Besides, even if I succeeded in persuading her against this, a dubious prospect at best, there wasn’t any point. Sister Jasmine and Cultivator Ryana have already crossed the point of no return.

  ‘Are you… Are you disappointed in me?’ Sister Jasmine asked through telepathy, her voice small and quiet.

  ‘No, of course not.’ I said. ‘I’m just afraid of where this path will lead you.’

  Sister Jasmine sent feelings of reassurance through our telepathic bond.

  ‘I know that this situation seems strange and dangerous,’ she said, ‘However, there is no reason to be afraid. Sister Ryana is a lovely person, and Master treats me as if I were his own granddaughter.’

  ‘That’s only because your existence is now tied to his actual granddaughter.’ I pointed out.

  What I didn’t say was that she and Cultivator Ryana might end up merging, becoming a single being in truth. That was something Sister Jasmine must have realized already. If that hadn’t deterred her, then nothing would.

  ‘It doesn’t matter.’ Sister Jasmine said. ‘For the first time in my life, I feel like I have a family that wants me, that appreciates me. I would have practiced the Profound Yin Incarnation technique for that alone.’

  That… I had nothing to say to that, because I made the same choice as her. While the specific details differed, our circumstances were similar enough that I could draw some parallels. Before Big Sis Astra rescued me from Mt. Wind Dance, I loathed demons and I loathed myself for my demonic heritage. However, despite that, I chose to become a demonic cultivator. Well, a divine demon. Even so, part of the reason why I made that choice was because I wanted to be like my family.

  I didn’t want to be alone anymore.

  “Regardless of my feelings on the matter,” I said, speaking out loud again, “I will respect your decision and do my utmost to support you.”

  A smile blossomed on Sister Jasmine’s face. From the corner of my eye, I noticed Cultivator Ryana and Hall Master Bonefire share a look.

  “Thank you, Brother Darian.” She said.

  She opened her arms for an embrace, and I stepped forward to give one to her. However, Hall Master Bonefire cleared his throat.

  “Oh no you don’t.” He said, pointing a bony finger at me. “I will not tolerate any funny business between you and my disciple, not unless you take her in as your wife. Until that happens, if I ever allow it, I forbid any physical contact between you two.”

  I stared at him in disbelief. Sister Jasmine flushed red and lowered her arms.

  “In fact,” Hall Master Bonefire continued, “I forbid you two from meeting each other alone in private.”

  “Grandfather!” Cultivator Ryana exclaimed. “Why do you have to be such an old fogey about these things?”

  Hall Master Bonefire tapped a finger on the table beside him. However, it sounded as if he had slammed a fist down.

  “I’ve made my decision,” he said, “And not even you can change my mind about this, Ryana. I won’t make the same mistake I made in the past.”

  Cultivator Ryana’s expression faltered at that.

  “Now, it’s time for you to go.” Hall Master Bonefire said to me. “You’ve lingered here long enough.”

  I was reluctant to leave, but I didn’t have much choice in the matter. In the end, I said my goodbyes and turned to leave. However, before I even opened the door to the cabin, Hall Master Bonefire tossed a jade slip in my direction. I gave him a questioning look.

  ‘I still owe you for helping my granddaughter/’ He said to me through telepathy. ‘This is my way of paying back that debt.’

  I glanced at Sister Jasmine.

  ‘What are you talking about?’ I replied. ‘You already paid me back by looking after Sister Jasmine. There are no more debts between us.’

  I felt Hall Master Bonefire’s disgruntlement through our telepathic bond.

  ‘That doesn’t count,’ Hall Master Bonefire said, ‘Since looking after Jasmine benefited my granddaughter and I in the end. I’m not shameless enough to take advantage of a junior.’

  Despite his explanation, I still hesitated.

  ‘Just take the damn jade slip and leave already!’

  With that, I took one last look at Sister Jasmine before I left the cabin.

  I have a up and running, if you want to say hi.

  For those who want to show a little extra support, I also have a. Patrons can read up to eighteen chapters ahead of everyone else, and get access to exclusive artwork. As a teaser, free members get access to character sketches drawn by the talented Ms. Tsuu, as well as songs by Lucas Quinn Creations.

  I’ve also posted a DDD short story on Patreon. It’s free for Patrons. However, those who don’t wish to sign up as a Patron can purchase the short story directly instead.

  This chapter was edited by Radriel7