Kui Number Two gave a sheepish smile. "Technically, they’re the sect’s clothes."
The two stared at each other for a moment.
Then, abruptly, Fatty Kui burst out laughing and smacked the younger one on the back—hard enough to nearly knock the wind out of him.
"Well done, little me! I knew you had it in you!"
"Thank you, big me!" Kui Number Two gasped, clutching his ribs.
Han Yu raised a brow. "So... Kui Number Two is now a real cultivator, huh?"
Kui Number Two nodded eagerly. "I’m at the Early Stage of the Qi Refining Realm now! It’s not much, but it’s a start!"
Han Yu folded his arms. "I’m surprised you managed it so fast."
Kui Number Two scratched his head. "Brother Kui gave me a lot of help. Pills, advice, and some old cultivation guides. He also told me to eat more... which I was already doing."
Fatty Kui puffed out his chest. "Of course! What kind of elder brother would I be if I didn’t invest in my future lackeys—I mean allies!"
Kui Number Two looked proud, then confused, then resigned.
Han Yu grinned. "I’ll admit, it’s good to see you moving up. With that motivation of yours, you’ll keep progressing if you eat the right resources."
"I already have a plan!" Kui Number Two said. "I’m going to focus on body cultivation at first. I’m not that talented at swordplay or formations, but Elder Bao said my meridians are thick and wide—good for absorbing qi and vital energy-rich food."
Fatty Kui nodded with approval. "That’s the Kui way."
Han Yu chuckled. "In that case, I guess we’ll be seeing each other more often."
Kui Number Two beamed. "Definitely! And maybe... one day, we can fight side by side, like in the stories!"
Fatty Kui snorted. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves. You’d trip over your own feet in battle."
"I don’t trip! I tactically reposition! And besides, I’m working on my footwork!"
Han Yu rolled his eyes and motioned them both inside. "Alright, alright. Come in. Let’s talk inside. I’ve got some leftover grilled spirit beast meat, and if you two eat all of it, I swear by the heavens, I’m locking my pantry."
Both Kui’s lit up like twin suns.
"Brother Han is the best!"
As chaos returned to Han Yu’s courtyard in the form of dual gluttonous disciples, he couldn’t help but smile faintly.
Peaceful times didn’t last in cultivation sects, but maybe... for now... this wasn’t so bad.
A week after Kui Number Two’s unexpected promotion, Han Yu received a mission scroll delivered straight to his courtyard. It bore the crimson wax seal of the Outer Court Mission Hall, stamped with urgency. Curious, he cracked it open.
MAJOR MISSION REQUEST:Location: Whispering Pine GorgeObjective: Investigate reports of missing sect-affiliated herb gatherers.Notes: Several disciples have gone missing near the gorge over the past month. Suspected involvement of spirit beasts or bandits. Reward includes spirit stones, pills, and merit points.
He didn’t hesitate. Han Yu strolled out, scroll in hand, finding Fatty Kui already gnawing on a roasted spirit-rabbit leg in the training yard.
"Oi, Fatty. Mission time."
Fatty Kui perked up. "Dangerous?"
"Maybe fatal, maybe harmless."
Wu Shuan arrived not long after, already dressed in battle robes. "I saw the notice too. Looks like it needs a group of at least three, but I say we bring the rookie."
"You mean Kui Two?" Han Yu smirked. "He just got his robes last week."
"Perfect time to break them in."
"Well he’ll need to do missions eventually, his first may as well be with us." Han Yu said.
A few hours later, Kui Number Two stood nervously in front of them, clutching a small formation compass and wearing robes that looked half a size too small. "Whispering Pine Gorge? Isn’t that the place where the wind makes you hallucinate?"
"No," Han Yu said. "That’s Hallucination Ridge."
"...But I wouldn’t rule it out."
Two Days Later – Whispering Pine Gorge
The air in the gorge was cool and moist, pine needles carpeting the forest floor as occasional gusts made the trees creak and whisper. The group moved cautiously.
"Still no sign of the herb gatherers," Wu Shuan muttered, scanning the forest.
Han Yu nodded. "But something’s definitely off. The birds are too quiet."
Fatty Kui casually crunched down on a preserved fruit. "I say it’s a beast. Or ghosts. Definitely ghosts."
"No such thing," Kui Number Two said, clutching his compass.
"You’re in a cultivation world now," Fatty Kui grunted. "Everything’s a ghost until proven edible."
Suddenly, a rustle from the right flank.
Han Yu raised his glaive. "Movement."
Three shapes burst from the brush—figures in dark green robes, with veiled faces and blades drawn.
"Bandits!" Wu Shuan called, already lunging forward.
Han Yu moved with practiced ease. He split his glaive mid-motion, locking the two pieces to function like twin saber and staff. With a sweep and spin, he parried one attacker, then twisted his grip and smacked the man’s knee, sending him tumbling.
Fatty Kui barreled into another, using his bulk like a battering ram. The bandit bounced off a tree with a crunch.
Kui Number Two let out a yelp as a dagger flew at him—but his reflexes kicked in, and he activated a small protective talisman, causing the blade to bounce off mid-air.
"Nice!" Han Yu shouted. "Don’t faint now!"
The remaining bandit raised a whistle to his lips—but before the sound could escape, Han Yu dashed in and landed a thunderclap-powered punch right into his gut, sending him flying.
The bandits groaned on the ground, defeated.
"Amateurs," Wu Shuan muttered, wiping his blade. "These aren’t the real threat."
Han Yu crouched by one of the bandits and pulled off the mask. "They’re not from a sect... rogue cultivators, maybe. But why ambush us here?"
Fatty Kui Number two checked his compass. "If I’m reading this right... The qi flow has been disturbed here... there might be a hidden formation nearby."