There was an air of resignation around Renwu as he forced a smile before acknowledging the beaming celestial. “Yes, it is quite unexpected to meet you here, Xialing.”

“How have you been?” Xialing asked enthusiastically. “Are you enjoying these latest festivities leading up to the holiday?”

“Fine,” Renwu said curtly. 

“I’m doing great as well,” Xialing said. “I’ve always loved festivals, especially the Harvest Moon one. Of course, I’d have to say that the Night of Sevens Festival is my favorite since that is the one I oversee. Still, I do enjoy all festivals, and I especially love traveling to different regions and experiencing the different ways they celebrate the festivals. Did you know that in the northern cities of the Yuanhai Empire, the humans make their mooncakes with a flaky crust rather than a soft and chewy one?”

“Hmm,” Renwu hummed in response. 

Lanyun wasn’t sure if Xialing was purposefully choosing to ignore Renwu’s air of reluctance or if the Fire Prince actually couldn’t sense it. Either way, Xialing’s bright enthusiasm continued the conversation until Renwu eventually gave more than a one-worded response.

“Why are you here in Guwang forest’s spirit domain?” Renwu asked brusquely, interrupting Xialing’s tangent on the best festival games. 

“There’s been some rumors of unsavory activities concerning Guwang City and its neighboring forest,” Xialing explained. “Yinxing doesn’t want anything to ruin her festival, so she asked me to investigate as she’s preoccupied with preparations for the Song of the Moon Dance. I agreed since I’ve been planning on visiting this area regardless.” His expression grew serious. “Someone has been selling illegal phoenix feathers at Guwang City’s auction house, and I will not stand for such a sacrilegious act towards my sacred birds.” 

Hearing Xialing’s words, Lanyun noticed that the design on the Fire Prince’s golden crown was in the shape of a soaring phoenix. 

Noticing Lanyun’s stare, Xialing flashed him a cordial smile. “I’m sorry, I’ve been rambling this entire time, but I don’t believe we’ve been properly introduced. My name is Xialing, and I oversee the summer season.”

“I’m Ren Lanyun,” Lanyun said. “I’ve actually seen you before during my trial at the Heavenly Court.”

Xialing’s amber eyes lit up in recognition. “Yes, I remember now. Your story is quite touching. I had also heard many great things about you from Taofu. She is quite fond of you.” He glanced down at Lanyun and Renwu’s hands clasped together. “I can see now that she did not exaggerate your personableness as you’ve even managed to grow close with Renwu. Now that is no easy feat.”

“We are not close,” Renwu grumbled. “I’m only holding his hand to hide his human qi. It can be very dangerous for a human to reveal themselves in the spirit domain.”

Xialing nodded in understanding. “I see, so why are you two here?”

“Just looking around.”

“We’re looking for the ghost flower.” Lanyun gulped as Renwu gave him a warning glare. “I mean, we’re looking for the ghost flower for me in accordance with the contract I have with Baili. Renwu is helping me with that. By the way, have you heard or seen anything about a ghost flower around here?”

“I’ve heard of the tale of the ghost flower since it concerns one of my phoenixes,” Xialing said. “She’s a stubborn soul for pursuing the same goal for centuries despite the hardships she’s experienced in every reincarnation. Unfortunately, I do not know if there is a ghost flower in this forest, but I wish you the best of luck in your quest.”

“Thank you,” Lanyun said, though he turned to Renwu for help, not wanting to accidentally say the wrong thing.

“Well any friend of Renwu is a friend of mine,” Xialing declared exuberantly. “I know an excellent tavern in Guwang City that remains open late into the night. Why don’t we continue our conversation there with some wine and desserts?”

“Actually, we’re looking for a phoenix in Guwang City,” Renwu hastily interjected before they had to go anywhere with Xialing.  “She had been caring for a young girl in this forest, but hadn't returned from the city in quite a while. Perhaps, there is a connection between her and the illegal feathers you are investigating.”

“Yes, that does sound very likely,” Xialing said, his interest piqued. “Do you know how long she has been gone?”

“I’m not sure,” Lanyun answered after Renwu directed the question over to him. “But we can ask Ningning.” 

However, when Lanyun looked down towards his right side, the little girl with the curse mark was gone. He had been so focused on Renwu and Xialing’s comedic exchange that he hadn’t realized Ningning hadn’t followed them. 

Lanyun turned towards Renwu in a panic. “We need to go back to find Ningning. Not to mention that she’s only a child, she’s human too. There’s no telling when a spirit may try to harm her.” 

“Tiandi’s tribulations, why couldn’t she just keep up,” Renwu swore softly and began leading the way back to the flower stall. 

Although they didn’t find Ningning at the flower stall, Lanyun spotted her near the collection of food stalls. Three spirits—a tiger’s head, a rat’s head, and a dog’s head—surrounded the young girl. As he, Renwu, and Xialing approached the spirits, the dog-headed one reached out and grabbed Ningning’s arm. 

Ningning dug her heels into the dirt, trying not to let the spirit drag her away, but her resistance was futile against the spirit’s larger frame. 

“Let go of her!” Lanyun yelled as he released his hold on Renwu’s hand to reach for his bow. Nocking an arrow, Lanyun drew back the string and took aim. He felt the soft feather fletching brush against his right cheek and released the arrow. 

The steel arrowhead flew through the air and firmly embedded itself into the side of a food stall’s wooden beam, a couple meters away from the three spirits. 

Xialing gave Lanyun a few comforting pats on the shoulder. “That was a nice try, but why don’t we hold off on the arrows for now? At least, until we’re closer than five meters from the target and certain that you won’t accidentally injure any innocent bystanders.”

Lanyun silently nodded, too embarrassed by his poor archery skills to refute Xialing’s words. However, though his aim was terrible, he did manage to successfully attract the attention of the three spirits, interrupting their attempt to abduct Ningning.

“What do you want?” the tiger-headed spirit snarled at them. 

Xialing held his hands up in appeasement. “Good evening, gentlemen, we come in peace.” 

“He just tried to shoot at us.” The rat-headed spirit pointed at Lanyun accusingly. 

“I think you could hardly argue that he tried to shoot you three when the arrow hit so far away,” Xialing said, gesturing to the arrow still lodged in the wood. 

The rat-headed spirit frowned, thinking deeply. “I suppose that could be.”

“What in the eight realms are you doing?” Renwu whispered questioningly, just within earshot of Xialing and Lanyun.

“Yinxing told me that she doesn’t want any fights happening close to the festival,” Xialing whispered back.  

“Well I think it’s a bit late for that, isn’t it?” Renwu remarked. “Lanyun already shot at them after all, even if he did have a terrible aim.”

“I’m sorry,” Lanyun apologized in embarrassment, wanting to go back in time and redo everything that had just occurred.

“What are you three whispering about?” the rat-headed spirit demanded, narrowing his red beady eyes in suspicion. 

“How about we appeal to the goodness in their hearts,” Xialing suggested before turning back to the spirits. “You see, that girl you have there is with us. We were accidentally separated earlier. Thank you for helping us find her. We’d be happy to have her back now.”

The tiger-headed spirit laughed heartily at Xialing’s bold suggestion. “Since you’ve already lost her, and we found her, she’s ours now.”

“Then how about we play a game of dominoes?” Xialing proposed. “Winning team gets to keep the girl.” 

“We already have the girl, so you must offer something else,” the rat-headed spirit sneered. “What about that sword by your side? It looks valuable.”

Lanyun couldn’t help but glance over at the sword that the spirit was referring to. It hung from Xialing’s belt with a black sheath patterned with red and gold wind swirls, matching the colors of the celestial’s robes. 

An awkward look crossed Xialing’s face as he reflexively touched his sword. “I’m afraid I can’t agree to that.”

“Then we have no deal,” the rat-headed spirit scoffed.

“Wait,” the dog-headed spirit said, joining the conversation for the first time. His yellow snout pointed up into the air, sniffing for something. “There is still something else you can wager. I can smell it.” 

Lanyun felt a sinking feeling in his stomach as the dog-headed spirit sniffed a few more times in the air before his glossy brown eyes landed on Lanyun. The spirit’s dark lips pulled back into a vicious smile, revealing sharp white teeth. 

“Yes, you will do very well,” the dog-headed spirit decided. “How about it? A human for a human.”