The wind howled like a hungry beast, the trees trembled in fear, ashes mixed with snowflakes; the world was in disarray and Bai Mu had nowhere to run. He tried nonetheless, and went up the stone stairs that circled the mountain, leading to an old temple near its summit. The pathway was framed by small bells, meant to dispel evil spirits, but the gale made the chiming sound like the laughter of demons, mocking Bai Mu’s attempt. 

Tightly against his chest, Bai Mu kept an instrument wrapped in a white cloth, it was the only thing he could savage before running out of his room. Sometimes, as he ran, the chords whined in pain, creating more dissonance. The cacophony joined the bells, the leaves shaking, Bai Mu’s irregular breathing. 

Bai Mu legs hurt as he climbed up but he dared not to look back. What was behind him was too terrifying to mention.

 A smoky scent tickled his nose. He knew his sect, his home, was probably burnt to the ground, or swallowed by the darkness. Neither were good, though arguably fire was somewhat familiar. An unknown enemy was the worst of evils. 

Bai Mu was always a lousy disciple of that sect. He cared little about lessons and the dangers of the world. Because everything was unknown, he was more scared than the rest, who stood and fought, who tried to make a difference. 

Bai Mu couldn’t, his heart was weak. Finally, his legs gave up as well, though he made it to the sacred gate leading to the temple. A wooden arch framed his glowing silhouette. Bai Mu's hair was as pale as snow, so the remnants of light were captured and reflected in his surroundings, making him look like a fairy. 

Bai Mu still dared not to look back and with a scratched knee he stood up. The wind tried to push him back, yet he still did not dare. He couldn’t face the darkness. He cried at the thought, one moment he was talking to his Master and the next his world was completely turned. 

“Shizun!!” He thought he would find his master up in the temple, where he liked to be. Though that made little sense and he knew it. “Shizun!” He cried, crossing the gate and looking around the desolated place.

That temple had been abandoned long ago. The walls were covered in lush, the wood was rotten, the stone broken, and spiders have made intricate patterns in the beams. No one would answer Bai Mu’s call, no one had business in that temple, not even Gods. 

Bai Mu breathing calmed just a bit. This time he walked, each step made a crunchy sound as he progressed through a mantle of orange, brown and yellow. The colors of sunset lead him further into the abandoned building and yet, the dawn was about to come.

The sun peeked behind the mountains, giving only one line of gold to Bai Mu’s view. Only one coin for a beggar. The sight made Bai Mu smile with relief; a coin could mean the entire world for a poor man. 

At the promise of the sun coming up, he finally dared to spin on his heel and look back. Bai Mu knew that view from before; the stone pathway, the dilapidated wooden gate, the tall trees, the dollhouse size of the white buildings of the Qian Bai Ling sect. However he feared to find shadows and flames erasing the white of the walls. His expectations were correct and yet not quite. 

He saw fire and darkness, not in the distant buildings, but in the silhouette of a person, so beautiful, it couldn’t have been human. 

There was crimson, orange, teal and azure. The colors of the dawn were embroidery and weaved in the attire, the sleeves barely showed delicate pale fingers, both wielding fans. Dark hair like burnt wood framed an even more delicate face with thin lips and a playful smile, yet the eyes were covered by a fox mask.

The silks were so long and majestic they fell courteously over the wooden gate, where that creature was standing. It resembled a cascade of blood or perhaps, droplets of sunshine that were a gift just a second ago. 

One of the hands lifted up the fan, the creature was still in shadows yet the fan managed to capture some of the sunlight. Behind the silks something danced with the wind, like dark flames of a pyre. It was difficult to discern until it became clear what they were.

The person had fox tails. That was indeed a demon. There was only one fox demon who wielded golden fans; the dancer of the dawn, Hu Zhaoqian. 

Bai Mu covered his lips in awe as he observed the fox demon; was he the one responsible for the destruction of his home? A surge of bravery beaten in his chest, he unwrapped the cloth around his instrument. A guqin of white flowers was revealed beneath. 

Bai Mu needed to defeat that monster, save his home, honor the teachings of his Shizun and be brave. He had been not courageous, and the humiliation killed him as much as standing in the fire. 

“The White flower musician, Bai Huaqin.” Hu Zhaoqian bowed his head ever so softly, looking like a frail porcelain doll. A figure on a stage about to perform. “Would you care to play for me so I could dance?”

The voice was soft, and yet very deep. It was the voice of a man. 

Bai Mu had a feral expression, he looked more monstrous than the ethereal creature standing by the wooden gate. The musician’s fingers were covered by finger guards, resembling a bird’s talon. He guided his hands through the chords, a wave of sound and spiritual energy flew through the empty space.

The dancer smiled, curling his body slowly. It took one step, graceful as the movement of a crane over the waters. The second step included a glide of his fingers and a spin of the fans before they were closed. The golden disappearing looked like the sun dying in the sea. The dancer finished that movement in a pose, with only two steps the wave of spiritual energy accounted for nothing but a mere whisper. 

“Perhaps I am disappointed.” He chuckled. 

Bai Mu was nervous but not dismayed. He straightened his posture and played again, yet all attempts were met with failures. As his fingers went through the chords, his heart became perturbed and the melody started to lose momentum.

“I am not one to dance to ugly tunes…” Hu Zhaoqian smiled, turning his head slowly. He swept his feet, looking as if he was going to fall from the gate. The fox demon opened the fan on his right hand. First he concealed half his face with the fan, then swept his arm abruptly, and with it his fan was lit up in a blaze.

The flames danced from the fan into its surroundings with a burst of energy, blazing the trees and pushing Bai Mu away. His back crashed on what it used to be a wall, a curtain of dust rose. The show was over. The Guqin broke with a loud snap.

Bai Mu heard the instrument cry but was too dizzy after the impact. When he could focus his surroundings, his hand tried to reach for it but his path was blocked. A red shoe with delicate embroideries and bells kicked his hand away.

Bai Mu looked up and saw the dawn dancer was in front of him. He, once again, became paralyzed with fear. However the creature did not show any aggression, instead he took a step backward. 

“too green, too young. I cannot dance with you.” He cooed, his head moving with each intonation. Bai Mu’s number might have been over, but he was just getting started - the world was his stage. 

Bai Mu did not want it to end yet. He had questions, he had regrets and sorrow. “WHY!” It was all Bai Mu could say with the remnants of bravery. 

The dancer stopped abruptly, he tilted his fox ear to listen attentively to the question.

“Why did you… my shizun!” Bai Mu stuttered, his chest ached and his lips trembled. “everyone…because of you!” He did not know if he would find his teacher again, they split ways amidst the chaos. How many have died when horror sprouted from the frozen sea?

The fox demon smiled and turned slowly. “Do you believe I have caused all this?” 

Bai Mu blinked, not even understanding the question. Who else if demons? They were born from beyond the wall of darkness, they were creatures of chaos, bloodthirsty and insatiable. They played with the whims and fears of humans, horror was their brethren. 

“What if I came to save you?” The demon walked around, dragging the silks. “hmn?” He observed the young Bai Mu, tilting his head again. “It seems as though that thought has never crossed your mind.” 

Why would he save Bai Mu - evidently the creature was lying. “You wouldn’t!” 

“Demons and Humans, are things so simple in this world?” He smiled and kept his fans inside his sash. With a twist of his wrist, the sleeves of his attire were pulled back to reveal his delicate fingers. He reached for his mask and removed it slowly.

It was a man of beautiful features, sharp eyes and an elegant nose. if it weren’t for the ears and the markings in his forehead, he would pass as a beautiful scholar. “Are we so different?” 

“You are a demon.” Bai Mu hissed, trying to stand up but a wooden piece had pierced his legs. He had not noticed until he attempted to move away. “I!...” Bai Mu inhaled sharply through gritted teeth. “I will avenge my shizun…”

The Fox smiled, “You will end up doing something you don’t like.” He finally approached, looking at the ugly wound in Bai Mu’s legs with a bit of a grimace. “Case in point…”

“I will not let this stop me!” Bai Mu barked again, “You! You demon! You broke the seal of the frozen sea! You brought the darkness to Qian Bai Ling!” Bai Mu pointed an accusatory finger but his body arched in pain. 

“Why would I even do that?” The demon smiled and touched the wood. The piece piercing Bai Mu’s legs turned black and then into dust. It was burnt from within and yet it was only warm against the young human.

“What If I heard you cry?” Hu Zhaoqian kneeled in front of Bai Mu and tilted the young man's head with his fan. They looked face to face, one scared and dirty, the other confident and elegant. “And I took pity because your Shizun was not coming?”

Bai Mu was about to reply but the hand of the fox had already touched his leg and the cultivator screamed in agony. He curled outward and then inwards before trying to push the demon again. 

Hu Zhaoqian, darted away from Bai Mu’s touch. He twisted his wrist before walking away. 

Bai Mu sprung out from his position, reaching for talismans in his clothes only to realize, after four steps, that his leg was healed. He blinked in bewilderment until his whole movements halted. 

The wind was not as strong as before, merely caressing his cheeks, lulling him with a lullaby.

“Why…” Bai Mu this time asked in a whisper. 

“So green, so young. You have much to learn.” He shrugged, not minding their interaction one bit. He wore his mask once more. “I will wait for you to play something for me.”

Bai Mu was a famous musician, but he doubted that was the sole reason for that demon to show some kindness. The sunlight started to emerge, Hu Zhaoqian stood in the light and Bai Mu in the side with shadows still. Bai Mu observed the fox demon, his many tails merged with the silks, looking like a mantle of flames. 

He couldn’t understand, but since there was no aggression. Bai Mu preferred to turn around and look for his broken guqin. Would he be able to play anything again?

“I will wait.” The demon said, perhaps inferring his thoughts. “That, I cannot repair here.” He flashed a smile before wearing his mask once more. “alas, we must depart. Our presentation has been cut short and the show must go on.” 

Bai Mu frowned, “Are we really… seeing each other again?” He paused, that’s not what he wanted to ask. “Do you know where my shizun is?”

Hu Zhaoqian's smile widened, showing two pointy fangs. “I know many things, many things, too complicated for a little sprout as yourself.”

Bai Mu knew he was naive and yet the comment made his blood boil and his cheeks turn red. 

“Find me in the darkness, then, bloom, little flower.” He raised his hand and then took a profound bow, it was another dance move that made his body burst into flames. The fire rose in a column and then into a small pit, until finally there were only a few ashes floating in the breeze.

When those ashes dispelled the sun had already illuminated the temple. There was some kind of peace hidden amidst those ruins. However, far in the distance, a column of black smoke still remained, and the watchtower of his home was still burning. 

Bai Mu observed longly, the sunlight made the roof tiles gleam like jewels. small dots, people, move from one side to the other trying to put off the fire. There was no great horror other than the flames.

Bai Mu blinked in confusion. He had seen something horrifying, the seal of the frozen sea broken, before sprinting through that temple and yet, everything looked somewhat normal.

Was it all his imagination?