Spirits of Falling Snow

旅行 Lǚxíng- Journey

"I didn't" Fēi defended herself, she was startled at his accusations, why would he think that she had summoned the creature? She's merely an orphan under the temple's care who knows nothing about the outside world, she did not even know about the existence of the so-called celestial beasts and demonic entities until tonight, how could she have summoned the creature?

"Well either by accident or not, you have somehow summoned the Píxiū" he began talking again, his accusations were still fresh and Fēi was too clouded by anger and confusion to reply,

"You have an affinity to cultivate qi, especially the Yin side, which would make you a great magnet for demonic creatures and celestial beasts" he chuckled at the idea but Fēi was not amused at all, this was the first time in her life that she had heard about such absurdity,

"Come work with me" he exclaimed, Fēi huffed and quickly rose to her feet, she had enough of this nonsense, her face clearly reflected anger, she didn't know what tricks is the man playing on her but she was not a doll to play with, she muttered and excuse me before telling him that she needs to go, leaving the man speechless at her sudden outburst of anger,

"I don't believe in ghosts and the such, I don't know what sort of tricks you're using but don't you dare follow me" she threatened before disappearing into the night, it was an absurd offer to begin with, working for a man that she had just met once? In the middle of the night on top of it? Not to mention his suspicious line of work, what is he? A ghost hunter? Fēi could only huff at the thought, he thinks she's that gullible to believe in ghosts and mythical creatures?

'But what about the Píxiū' she stopped in her tracks before shaking her head and continuing walking again, 'Nonsense.'

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Fēi entered her simple home within the walls of the temple, she had stayed there for years now, being taken care of by the monks for as long as her memories serve, they were the ones who taught her about the world, the way the stars speak, how to cook the simplest dishes, and how to read and write, Fēi owes them her life, but Monk Wu, someone who was very close to Fēi had died ages ago, she wanted to repay him and the monks for everything but there was only so much thing a woman can do in this age and time,

Fēi looked around her room, placing her dagger on her desk besides her Luohan–bed and taking off her coat, she carelessly threw her coat onto the bamboo chair and lay down on her ran down Luohan, that night Fēi slept thinking about Monk Wu and dreamt about darkness, slowly creeping onto her bed from that darkness, thousands of hands grasped on Fēi, arms as cold as the winter river and pale as snow, they grabbed onto her tightly, leaving bruises and scratch marks, Fēi tried to scream and break free but she could not, they were too strong, they covered her mouth rendering her unable to scream and then the door of her room creaked open, Monk Wu entered the room with his eyes closed, Fēi quickly yelled at him to help her,

"Monk Wu, Help me" her voice was muffled, the monk pointed at Fēi and opened his eyes, there were no eyeballs only a bloody gaping hole as dark as the abyss, he then wailed as a gush of wind turned Fēi's room upside down, and along him, a thousand spirits wailed "Fāngshì"

They were dragging her down into the darkness, absorbing her but then a light appeared. It was blinding and warm and the voice of a man pierced through the darkness,

"Banish" he spoke, and then Fēi jolted awake, besides her was the man from before, Jūn.

The darkness that once engulfed the room was nowhere to be seen,

"See Gūniang, ghosts are real" he smiled, without missing a beat, Fēi grabbed the dagger beside her and using her body weight, pinned the man down to the cold wooden floor, her dagger pressed gently onto the man's neck, Jūn was startled at her actions, raising both of his hands above his head in defeat,

"What do you want?" Fēi growled between gritted teeth, she did not appreciate him snooping into her home, but the man showed no fear, he grinned and without breaking eye contact, he spoke,

"I just want you to work with me." Fēi was flabbergasted, 'Why is he so obsessed?' she pressed her dagger onto Jūn's neck, unsatisfied with the answer he gave,

"I don't believe you" Fēi disliked that her actions had caused her world to turn upside-down, from meeting a monster to ominous dreams, 'That word, 'Fāngshì' what could it possibly mean?'

"Gūniang, I believe you have talent, I simply want to teach you." he was still grinning as if he did not fear death, his words only further annoyed Fēi, but if what he said was true, 'It might change everything I know and have' the figure of Monk Wu calling Fēi a Fāngshìwas still clear in her mind, it could be just a dream but Jūn banished something, she heard it in her dreams, 'Then it must be true, right?' Fēi removed her dagger from Jūn's neck and after considering for a few moments, she agreed, "Fine."