Talking origami?

Mo Yixuan was momentarily flummoxed as he stared at the construct floating in mid air. Meanwhile, the paper crane waited for a while before it got no answer, and flapped its wings again.

"Peak Lord Mo, come to the sect leader's hall immediately!"

Nan Wuyue was surprised too, but recovered faster than his master. "Shizun, you should reply."

Reply like how? Talk to it?

Mo Yixuan was still staring at the crane. When it didn't hear his answer a second time, it flapped its wings and prepared to repeat itself once more. This time, Mo Yixuan reached out to pinch the creature just as Nan Wuyue cried out.

"No, wait—!"

Something akin to an electric current shocked him where his fingers made contact before a flaming sensation sped up his arm. There was a flash of light before the two figures floating above the hot springs vanished into thin air.

—

As the maelstrom of fire and wind finally settled down around Mo Yixuan, he was struck by their new surroundings and the strong scent of wood.

Before then stretched a vast and open hall made of unpolished wutong wood, open to the elements and snowy grounds outside. Curiously enough, no snow reached nearer than three feet from the building, and the entire room was comfortably warm. The golden hues of the timber and tatami mats beneath reminded Mo Yixuan of a traditional teahouse he'd once visited during a company meeting, understated but elegant.

The peaceful scene was soon shattered by an unhappy voice that triggered Nan Wuyue to tighten his grip on his master's waist.

"Mo Yixuan!"

Without preamble, Mo Yixuan turned, clingy disciple and all, to face the tall, stern-faced man standing at the end of the hall. Star Pavilion Sect Leader Fei Chenling was looking at him incredulously, his eyes roving up and down his wet robes and sodden hair.

"Wet again? Has your soak in the qi refining pool addled your brains into thinking you're a fish?!"

Mo Yixuan opened and closed his mouth a few times. Technically, this time his disciple pushed him in first. "The crane," he said instead, "It brought us here?"

"If it's sect business, of course we'd meet in the sect leader's hall!" Fei Chenling sputtered before stalking forward. "And you!" He snapped at Nan Wuyue, "What did I say last time about clinging to your master? Hmph!"

With a quick wave of his hand, he knocked Nan Wuyue aside with pure power, causing the boy to stumble out of the way. Of course, that left Mo Yixuan's blood soaked chest in full view of the ornery sect leader.

Half sputtering, half indignant, Fei Chenling strode right up and became the second person of the day to pull Mo Yixuan's robes open. He didn't calm down until he saw the uninjured skin, but was quick to shoot a glare between Nan Wuyue and his master.

"What nonsense are you up to now?!"

Mo Yixuan firmly shook himself free and straightened his clothes, unperturbed. "It's only training." To be honest, Fei Chenling's quick tempered blustering reminded him awfully of his first boss. He was all bark and no bite, and had helped Mo Yixuan get his bearings in the industry, so the memories were fond ones.

"You call this training?!" Fei Chenling jabbed a finger meaningfully at the blood. "Don't think you can fool me, I know these bloodstains are from a stab wound!"

Mo Yixuan was impressed, if only because he thought the soak in the hot springs had washed away most of the obvious signs. Outwardly he shrugged and said, "It's already healed."

"You let your disciple stab you for training?"

"I was slow and fair game."

"What if he did worse than that in the future?!"

Mo Yixuan mused on that briefly, then replied sincerely, "Then it'd be a big improvement over today."

"You...!" Fei Chenling pointed his finger again before dropping his arm in frustration. "Never mind! Why haven't you dropped by in over a week?"

Belatedly, Mo Yixuan recalled Ouyang Che's reminder to visit the sect leader and mentally sighed. "I was recovering," he said simply, then thinking that was too lax, added, "And training my disciple."

Fei Chenling heard both statements but chose to ignore the latter for now. "How are you feeling?" he asked fretfully instead. "Has Yelian or Junior Brother Che looked at you yet? Don't strain yourself if you're still tired! I heard from the kitchens that you were cooking and asking them for ingredients!" With Mo Yixuan far beyond the need for food, it was obvious who he was looking after with those deeds.

The usual Mo Yixuan was used to living alone for months with the occasional greeting from a neighborhood auntie asking after his health. Fei Chenling's nagging was at best, overwhelming and at worse, a nuisance.

"I've been following Peak Lord Che's instructions to the letter," he replied somewhat resignedly.

That only gave Fei Chenling another scare. "Xuan'er, have things deteriorated that much between you and Junior Brother Che?"

Mo Yixuan wrinkled his brows. He knew the original host didn't get along with the man, but what was the sect leader's take on their relationship? "...how so?" he asked, half probing.

Seeing the crease in his brows, Fei Chenling moved to placate him. "I know you and your senior brothers don't see straight on the best of days, but we're all disciples of the same master in the end. You've never referred to him by his title. Nor would you ever listen to his words, unless it was to spite him."

Mo Yixuan only felt cheated. If that's the case, then why ask if Ouyang Che's checked up on me at all?!

Fei Chenling only crossed his arms. "Yelian's right, there is something off with you recently! We'll send you to the sect healers and have her do an examination; I'm certain she'll find a way to fix you up."

"I feel fine," Mo Yixuan intoned, but Fei Chenling only shook his head.

"I've been reading up on the qi refining pool all last week, Xuan'er. It's too ancient and full of mysteries even Master didn't know. Better to have a checkup just in case."

Mo Yixuan firmly shook his head. "No need."

"There's no room for argument here, Xuan'er!"

"My disciple," Mo Yixuan tried, but was quickly cut off again.

"If it's his training you're worried about, I'll take over it personally!" Fei Chenling declared. His eyes raked over Nan Wuyue again, none too kindly. "You've spent so many years trying to raise him up that it won't hurt to let the sect leader have a go! I've been wondering about his progress myself."

What would have been an unimaginable honor to any other disciple of the sect thus fell as an insult upon the ears of Nan Wuyue. He privately sneered, but only bowed his head and said nothing like a dutiful little disciple.

Mo Yixuan seemed heartened by the suggestion. Here he was trying to figure out ways to get rid of his charge and the sect leader was practically volunteering to step in! If Fei Chenling could crack Nan Wuyue's case and lead him to enlightenment, then wouldn't he be free from obligations? And what could be higher honor for a disciple than being taught by the sect leader himself?

"Do you think you can help him?" Mo Yixuan asked honestly.

Fei Chenling only gave a cold laugh. "If I can't help him, then no one else in this sect can!"

Mo Yixuan relaxed at his declaration. "Since that's the case, I'm fine with leaving him in your hands."

Nan Wuyue's head whipped up incredulously. Had he heard right? Mo Yixuan was going to hand him over to the sect leader?

But why?!

His mind raced before it settled on a frightful conclusion: his excess qi! It was unnatural and unexplainable by normal means, enough for Ouyang Che himself to point it out. He and Mo Yixuan might not be able to figure out its murky origins, but Fei Chenling stood a chance! If too many abnormalities were discovered with his body, he might even be kicked out of the sect before he recovered properly to take revenge!

He'd never let that happen!