Chapter 1

"Have you seen them?"

"Do you know who it is?"

"Let's go, let's go! Hurry!"

The Heavenly court was in disarray as everyone seemed to be skittering around gossiping in an attempt to see the newly ascended deity. It had been some hundred years after Xie Lan's third ascension but things had just begun to return to 'normal' in the Heavenly Realm. The repairs, though catastrophic, were surprisingly the easiest thing to take care of with the help of Crimson Rain Sought Flower. Correctly setting up a communication array, rebuilding the infrastructure of the Civil Gods, and inducting Xie Lan to take over Jun's place seemed to be the most crucial but also the most difficult of the tasks. And just as things had begun to settle, a new god had ascended—A martial god, at that.

Yet if you saw them in person, you would be surprised that this person could be considered a god at all.

In the middle of a crowd, a pile of green robes lay crumbled inelegantly. Any person walking by would have mistaken this lump of fabric for someone's dirty laundry. But peeking through the cloth were strands of hair the color of bark and two hands carefully clutching their head while muttering incoherently to themselves. Upon closer inspection, people could finally see this person as a woman!

]

That hurt, it really hurt! It was just like her to lose her balance and fall…and on her head at that! This fate was truly too cruel for someone like her. She couldn't help but clutch her skull, rubbing where she began to feel a knot form in its place. Though honestly…the pain wasn't that bad. She'd endured much worse in her lifetime. A huff came from her nose, and she looked up to find a crowd of people staring down at her, almost with eyes of disgust.

With a cough, Lei Fang rose to her feet, dusting herself off as much as possible. Clearly now, her face reflected a scattering of freckles and large, bright, amber eyes. Though her face was soft and slim, her skin was not very fair, alluding easily to the idea that this Shimei was not any means of royalty. Looking at her, she resembled a bird that had fallen out of her mother's nest too soon.

A martial god? Ha!

"Ah…Jie…Do you know where you are?" The first person to address her was none other than Pei Ming, who had merely been walking by when she'd fallen into Heaven directly next to him.

"She's ascended, of course, she knows!"

"Who can see these streets and not immediately think of the Heavenly Martial Avenue?"

"Only a fool!"

The crowd behind him seemed to shout and grumble, but Pei Ming paid them no mind, his attention now on the lady in his presence. Though even he seemed to be doing this out of respect rather than attraction.

At the word 'Ascended', Lei Fang's eyes gleamed and the little composure she held before disappeared, replaced with full excitement.

"Really?! I've Ascended?!!"

"En. Should we take you to the palace of Ling Wen?" He offered a hand, seeming to compose himself of the best behavior, gesturing toward the grand palace of Ling Wen that could be seen farther behind the crowd.

Lei Fang tilted her head in confusion.

"Why? I can't read."

A heavenly god that can't read?! This was the same as a fish drowning in the river! Impossible!

Whispers echoed throughout the crowd, but truly no one knew what to say after a statement like that. And for Lei Fang to say it so definitively! She had truly stolen their words and locked them in a jar.

However, from the look on her face, Lei Fang was oblivious. She could hear them whispering but truly did not understand what the confusion was for.

"This Shimei, she is a martial god then?" A softer, calmer voice sounded from behind the crowd which then seemed to part like a carpet being rolled out. Xie Lian walked forward, a smile on his face as he met her. Everyone greeted him respectfully, some even taking off after his arrival as if to say 'Dad is here, I'll let him take care of it.'

Lei Fang paused, placing a hand on her chin, stroking an invisible beard.

Xie Lian blinked. This girl was really contemplating it! He watched her brows crease, a genuine look of concentration on her features. It grew silent for the few people left when suddenly an expression of exclamation crossed her features.

"Oh right!...I don't know!" She said this proudly, placing a hand on her hips, a confident grin on her lips.

Xie Lian didn't know whether to laugh or cry. Though this girl was very much a lady, fate had truly thrown a child into the heavenly court!

Lei Fang stood curiously in the Martial Hall. The silhouettes of the martial gods were much larger than she, but she was honored to see such a sight. Like children, though few spots were empty, everyone seemed to file into their designated spot. And as Xie Lian took his place, all eyes seemed to focus on her. She stared back blankly.

"If she's not a martial god, why is she in Martial Hall?" There were some disgruntled mumbles throughout the court. Did they not know that the person they spoke of could hear? 'How Arrogant!' Lei Fang thought. Xie Lian did his best to keep the peace, waving his hand dismissively.

"Ah, let's calm down." He turned toward Lei Fang; the pleasant smile he'd had early seemed even kinder now.

"May I ask your name?" She nodded, doing her best to return his smile.

"Lei Fang." Whispers sounded immediately again, only this time they had nothing to say. It seemed most did not recognize her name at all. 'These geezers!' Lei Fang huffed inside. She wasn't sure she quite liked the Heavenly Court. Most of the people here were the type that would fan the flames but couldn't be bothered to put out the fire! She hated those types of people the most.

Xie Lian was still trying his best to keep the peace. He ignored the whispers, asking again.

"Can Jie fight?" Once again, she nodded. A few scoffs and chuckles sounded.

"And does this Jie have a weapon?" This time, there was complete silence. Everyone was curious, waiting for her answer. It wasn't often that the person ascending didn't know why!

Lei Fang confidently shook her head. "I use my hands."

Lei Fang lifted her arm. Her sleeve fell to reveal a shining silver vambrace. Engraved into the metal were green vines tangling and climbing amongst each other. A beautiful contrast that seemed to bring out the sounds 'ooh' and 'ahh' from the spectators.

"So you are a martial god." Xie Lian smiled again. "What were doing when you ascended?" He hadn't heard of any heavenly calamities recently, otherwise, he would've known about her appearance soon before.

Lei Fang blinked.

"I was jumping off a cliff."

"Why?"

"I fell." Xie Lian didn't know whether he wanted to laugh or cry. This child was really too honest! And falling off a cliff is very different than jumping off!

Everyone was soon filled with grumbles, some even leaving the hall after hearing this. Many of the lowest members of the Heavenly Capital ascended after death. This was the most common way of ascension. Not many had a grandiose ascension, a spectacle for all eyes to see. Truly, many thought that aside from her confusion and poor manners, there was nothing too interesting about this woman. Still, Xie Lian wanted to give his condolences. Being met with death would be hard for anyone.

"I'm sorry to hear about your passing."

"I didn't die."

"Nonsense! You don't look older than 20! If you didn't go through a Heavenly Calamity, then you must have died!" Feng Xin yelled. This meeting was already a waste of time, but he stayed out of respect for Xie Lian. This girl must truly be mad.

"Jie, do you want to fight?" Quan Yizhen who had seemingly disregarded the entire meeting immediately perked with gleaming eyes. Though one may have mistaken the question for a threat, Lei Fang seemed to take no offense. Xie Lian thought 'It must be true that people of a similar mind fall into the same group.' Yet just as he finished that thought, Quan Yizhen had closed the distance between himself and Lei Fang.

"Qi Ying!" Xie Lian found himself panicking. Many of those in the Upper Court would find battle against Quan Yizhen difficult, much less a lower god. His passion for martial arts was just as great as Xie Lian's!

But this god soon discarded such thoughts.

Without even a second of hesitation, Quan Yizhen was sent flying across the Upper Court. Lei Fang had managed to use his speed against him and counter with a direct punch to his gut. His eyes were wide, not with shock, but excitement! Lei Fang stood there with the exact expression on her face. Xie Lian only cursed his luck again. It would be difficult to stop Quan Yizhen once he was excited. Don't these children know that fighting in the Upper Courts was off limits! He had really become a kindergarten teacher in the blink of an eye!

"ENOUGH!"

"THIS IS TOO DISRESPECTFUL!"

Feng Xin and Mu Qing were the first to respond with each grabbing one of the fighters.

"****ING STOP IT!" He yelled at a struggling Quan Yizhen who seemed to disregard him completely. Mu Qing had caught Lei Fang in a hold, but unlike Qi Ying, she was behaving properly. Understanding that she had lost her intention to fight, Mu Qing let her go, standing next to her with a glare instead.

A relieved sigh left Xie Lian's lips too soon.

Quan Yizhen, after struggling for so long, finally broke Feng Xin's grasp, heading once again to fight Lei Fang.

"WTF!"

Mu Qing scoffed. "Can't you do your job right?"

"YOU HAD IT EASY!!"

Xie Lian wanted to cry inside. Why was his job always the hardest?! Just as he was about to step in and intercept Quan Yizhen's punch, Quan Yizhen stopped on his own, blinking blankly. Lei Fang stood in front of him, her palm held out as if to say 'stop!'. And what do you know? Quan Yizhen this ridiculous child actually stopped!

"We'll get in trouble if we fight now. Let's fight later, yeah?!" The logic was as if speaking to a toddler but just clear enough for Quan Yizhen.

"Promise?" Lei Fang nodded earnestly. And though he was obviously disappointed, Quan Yizhen rubbed his curly hair before turning to leave the Upper Court on his own.

"You're leaving just like that?! Can't you even say sorry!" Feng Xin had many veins popping out of his head. Mu Qing rolled his eyes, glaring at him with accusation.

"This happened because you didn't hold him correctly." Xie Lian knew what was to come.

"YOU HAD IT EASY! WHAT USE WOULD YOU BE AS A MARTIAL GOD IF YOU COULDN'T EVEN HOLD DOWN A WOMAN!" Now Mu Qing's veins matched Feng Xin's. Xie Lian was still crying inside.

"AT LEAST I'M NOT AFRAID OF THEM!" These officials weren't very official at all, Lei Fan thought. She watched them argue like an audience watching a play at its most crucial climax. She was practically on the edge of her seat, only missing a meal to help her enjoy it fully.

"Alright, that's enough. Or do you want to practice?" The two went from boiling to simmering. Each refused to look at the other, and Lei Fang was only disappointed that her show was over. A loud 'hmph' came from Feng Xin as he left, Mu Qing following a few moments after. 'Is he trying not to copy him?' Lei Fang wondered. The effort would be in vain, as they seemed to be taking the exact same action.

"Mu Qing, stay for a moment." Xie Lian called out to him softly. Confused, he halted in place, and Feng Xin left with only a momentary glance behind him. "There is an issue with Cangse Forest in the South. Have you heard anything about this?"

Mu Qing paused, raking his memory before he spoke. "I heard a prayer asking to protect the forest not so long ago. It seemed insignificant."

Xie Lian hmm'd and continued. "It seems that recently people have been going missing near Cangse Forest. Can you look into this?"

Mu Qing nodded but stared at Xie Lian with a strange expression. It was not often that he received personal requests from the other.

"Can you take Lei Fang with you?"