Be Gentle, Immortal Master

Peng Yao's master raised an eyebrow at Bai Ye's offer. Su Nian's lips curled with some sort of triumphant air. Teng Yuan, on the other hand, gave me a glare filled with suspicion.

"Your master has a point," Su Nian turned to me and said. "I'm sure you can still find good use of it. Don't young girls love little animals? Maybe it's not a bad idea to get a spiritual pet for yourself too."

I managed the best smile I could. She sure knew how to pick all the right words while talking to me. Young girls? Was that a reminder of how big a difference lay between Bai Ye and me?

Bai Ye paid no heed to her comment. He fetched the artifact from the pile and was about to pass it to me when Teng Yuan reached out and stopped him, laying a hand on top of the orb.

"I'm curious to see it work," Teng Yuan said. His tone sounded casual. "I wasn't paying attention when Xie Lun summoned it earlier. Bai Ye, would you mind showing me how this draws spiritual beasts towards it?"

Bai Ye's eyes narrowed. The two men looked at each other in silence for a moment. From everyone's confused expressions, I could tell that I wasn't the only one who didn't understand what was being exchanged in that look. At last, it was Teng Yuan who broke the stare with a strange smile. "It doesn't only attract spiritual beasts, does it?"

He retracted his hand, and Bai Ye proceeded to pass the artifact to me. "Next one," Teng Yuan said, as if that puzzling conversation between them had never occurred.

The rest of us exchanged more confused stares with each other, though no one said anything out loud, and we continued to go through the rest of the artifacts.

~ ~

It didn't take us long to wrap up the distribution. Aside from the bait stone, I also claimed an amulet. Everyone seemed satisfied with their portion of the prizes, and the group dispersed merrily.

Jade Temple was quiet and empty by the time we returned, so I dragged Bai Ye into my room the first thing after we made it up those stairs. "What was that talk with Master Teng Yuan about?" I asked him as soon as the door was locked behind us. "What did you want me to use the bait stone for?"

"I didn't want you to use the bait stone." Bai Ye's answer surprised me. "Just keep it somewhere safe, and don't give it to anyone else."

When I gave him a puzzled stare, he gestured for me to sit down next to him. "I assume you understood why the Ocean Tear made you feel that way earlier," he said.

I nodded. "Because of Twin Stars." Though what did it have to do with the bait stone?

"The power of Twin Stars is growing too strong in you now—strong enough to let you feel the resonation with another artifact like Ocean Tear. Which means that if anyone uses that bait stone …" He paused for a moment. "Most people don't know this, but the bait stone doesn't only attract spiritual beasts and demons. All forms of non-human spiritual power can be drawn to it."

I was dumbfounded. He must've noticed my worry, as he quickly added, "But remember that it only works if the target is attracted to the summoner's spiritual power. For the stone to be able to affect you, the person using it needs to be either bound to Twin Stars, or … their spiritual power needs to be what your body is familiar with and wants."

It took me a little while to understand what he meant with that last part. "Y-You mean the user has to be either me or you?" I let out a huge sigh of relief. "You made it sound so scary! What is there to be worried about if no one else can affect me with it?"

He laughed first, but then that strange look with a hint of sorrow flashed across his eyes. "It never hurts to be safe. Who can say what might happen in the future?"

I looked at him. It sounded like he had merely meant it as a precaution, but for some reason, my instinct told me that it wasn't so simple. There also seemed to be more to Teng Yuan's words earlier that I couldn't quite put a finger on. "Are you expecting that my bonding with Twin Stars will cause even worse trouble in the future?" I asked. "If it was already strong enough to resonate with other artifacts … then after I fully absorb the power from Ocean Tear …"

He smiled and took my hand. "After you fully absorb its power, you'll be much closer to the ascension that you wanted. Isn't this what you've always been waiting for?" He didn't give me a chance to reply before continuing, "The process will still take you some time, and that is why I made you claim that amulet as well."

At his reminder, I fetched the amulet out of my storage. It was a wooden pendant carved in the shape of a crane, plain and simple-looking, and I wouldn't have thought anything important of it if he hadn't told me. "This will help with my advancement as well?" I asked. Why did no one else show any interest in it then?

"Not in the same way as a power enhancer, but it will soothe your power and tone your body to better accommodate the effect of Ocean Tear. Think of it as something similar to the snow lotus and tuber fleece flower."

I turned the pendant in my hands in amazement. The uncomfortable chill in my body was still lingering, and I couldn't think of any other artifact that I wanted more than this amulet right now. "These prizes couldn't have been more perfect," I marveled.

He smiled. "Jade Temple sure keeps a lot of hidden treasure. This tournament was well worth it."

I supposed I should've cavorted at such success from our group, but that slightly wistful edge returning to his tone only made me stare at him.. He had already turned around though, helping me stow away the new trophies onto my shelf.