Shame on Nuan!

<Remember, be wary of that boy.>

"I know master, but I simply can't shake the feeling that he harbors nor evil in his heart."

Awaiting the oncoming carriage Nuan argued with her spirit weapon. Their wills have clashed before, Nuan might not be as much of a veteran as her sealed master, but even she could sense the kindness in Fang Xuan's soul.

<Simply because he has good looks you are dispelling the notion to that he is evil!? Shame on you, Nuan!>

"Master, No! That's not what I meant!"

<A shame, I'm telling you!>

Before Nuan could clear up the misunderstanding, the Transient Blade's carriage stopped right in front of their sect's gate.

The road above on the way up the mountains was a steep one, it was a good thing that the coachman Fang Xuan hired from outside the sect was pretty skilled in his driving skills. What Fang Xuan wouldn't give to master the ability to fly, just like her sisters Xiao and Yanmei!

Stepping outside, Fang Xuan was greeted by Nuan's warm smile, instantly making Fang Xuan's heart skip a beat.

"Welcome to the Heavenly Acolytes sect. I, Nuan, shall offer you a tour before we discuss the alliance between our sect."

Fang Xuan smiled in kind, "Then lead the way."

~~~~

Even though the sect is high up in the mountains, it even outscaled the Transient Blades that is located on land. Fang Xuan found it impressive.

What he did not was how the main sect building is reachable via a bridge that swayed due to the wind altitude.

As if he was balanced at the tip of the needle, Fang Xuan purged from his thoughts how the bridge would rock with every footstep. Out of curiosity, Fang Xuan's gaze momentarily peeked below.

Fang Xuan's heart almost sank in terror. Winds howled from such a height while the trees were so small and bundled together, theylooked like a carpet of greenery. He was a cultivator that can endure anything, but even he was sure he's going to fucking die if he ever fell from where he was standing.

Nuan taunted her guest by walking backwards, showing how unfazed she is while simultaneously poking at Fang Xuan's fear of heights.

"Don't tell me that a strapping young master like you is afraid of heights?" Nuan teased.

"N-no... absolutely not! Even if this bridge reaches up to the stars I will not be bothered in the slightest! Wait a minute, did you just call me strapping!?"

A coy smirk formes in Nuan's lips as she went on ahead, "Have I? Must have been the wind."

Arriving at the palatial main area of the Heavenly Acolyte sect, Fang Xuan was once again in awe at how huge and grand everything is. What appeared to be their training arena where the disciples have gathered was something their training garden could not compare.

"Nuan, what are those disciples doing?"

Fang Xuan noticed the strange mandala underneath the sect members underneath them as they sat in a lotus stance.

"Oh them, they are practicing our formation."

Every sect should at least posses one. A form of ultimate defense to keep intruders at bay or outright dispatch them.

Nuan explained further, "Since our sect focuses on the eradication of Demonic Cultivators, our sect's formation focuses on an array that deploys a field of anti demonic qi that burns its targets inside out while inside."

"But what if your opponents are not demonic cultivators?"

It was a question that caught Nuan off guard. They don't make enemies with other humans since virtue was instilled upon them in order not to become the things they hunt. Thus, Nuan changed the subject.

"I don't know. How about the Transient Blades, what kind of formation does it posses?"

It had none. They did have formation techniques in their library but since the previous 50+ weren't even strong enough to funnel their qi into one, it's only now that they can start implementing it.

"Swords..." Fang Xuan lied.

"What about swords?"

Faced before the grandeur of Nuan's sect, one who isn't usually into lies was forced to come up with one in order to not be seen as pathetic.

"They... ugh...they rain down from the sky, numerous enough to blot out the sun!"

Taking inspiration from her sister's sword technique, Fang Xuan knew Xiao wouldn't mind.

He had no fucking clue what formation they had at the library, he better remind his father that they should set up one soon!

"For an Arms Path Dao, that does sound formidable." Nuan praised.

"Haha...you best believe it!"

After showing Fang Xuan around, the two had ended up in a gazebo inside of a bamboo garden.

The serene atmosphere would be perfect in finalizing the alliance between their sects.

After drinking her tea, Nuan proclaimed, "I, Nuan, Young Mistress of the Heavenly Acolyte sect, accept this proposal of an alliance in behalf of our sect master."

"Then I, Fang Xuan, honor this proposal and promise to aid whatever the Heavenly Acolytes need."

With the alliance formed, The Heavenly Acolytes and Transient Blades can now jump to each other's defense, freely trade alchemy ingredients, and even conduct sparring matches between their disciples.

"Is there anything you would like to clarify before we call it a day?" Nuan asked as she sipped her tea once more.

With the alliance secured smoothly, all that's left to ask for Fang Xuan are personal matters. One that he had been curious about since his talk with his father earlier.

"Forgive if this question came out of the blue but do you already have a fiance?" Fang Xuan wasn't going to harbor hope if the woman she liked was already tied.

While it is common for the young mistresses of powerful families to be betrothed at such a young age, Nuan's exorcist clan was first and foremost duty-bound to tend to the sect's tenet, purifying demons in the mortal realm. Nuan is under no obligation to marry.

Nuan giggled, "Why, are you offering to take my hand?"

From inside her mind she heard her master recoil at the question. It would appear that her master is still wary of Fang Xuan.

<You dare flirt with this boy when we suspect him of having demonic qi!?>

"Master, you and I can sense that Fang Xuan is normal."

Confused at why Nuan suddenly spoke to herself, Fang Xuan asked, "What?"

"Nothing. Answer my question, please."

Since this teen was inexperienced at the matters of the heart, a lump on Fang Xuan's throat prevented him from being true to his feelings. Fang Xuan swallowed his hesitation, if he wasn't going confess now, then when?

"If...if I answer yes the will you go on a date with me?" Fang Xuan nervously smiled.

A question that is in and of itself an admission. Luckily for him, Nuan was interested.

Nuan giggled, "Let us set the time and place."

~~~~

On the carriage ride back home, Fang Xuan could not wipe the smirk on his face. As if he was a statue and the smile he wore was carved. His first forray into romance had such an effect on the boy!

Little did he know that it would take a long time for them to meet once more, this date of theirs was etched upon sand that the winds of fate blew away.

The joy in Fang Xuan's heart disappated as he witnessed an eerie anomaly. Mist swallowed the carriage he was on, granting no visibility to what was outside.

An odd phenomenon indeed since this is the first time Fang Xuan encountered a fog this thick in near the sect.

Stepping out if the carriage, Fang Xuan could barely make out the road into their sect's gate due to how thick the mist was.

With each step Fang Xuan's heart grew uneasy.

Until that uneasiness turned into full on dread, a malevolent surprise that made Fang Xuan almost vomit from the shock.

Dozens of the Transient Blade disciples were hung on a noose by the sect entrance.

But the horror did not stop there, bodies were splayed on the floor, bloodied and defiled. One could only imagine how agonizing their deaths must have been.

Fang Xuan's thoughts immediately were of his father. Fang Xuan was no believer in Buddha, but as he rushed inside, his prayer aimed at the bodhisattva for his father to be safe.