In the hush of the moment, she murmured, "This can't be real." Her voice trembled, thin as spider silk. Yet the world pressed inescapably close. Everything was too sharp, too tangible to be a dream.
A cool breeze swept across her cheeks, crisp and real. The faint resonance of qi in the air thrummed like distant wind chimes, persistent and unmistakable. Light shimmered in her wide, astonished eyes.
Cautiously, she reached out, fingertips grazing the lowest blossom. Cool and silky—like moonlight made solid. A single mote of aether settled on her knuckle, glowing softly before fading into the night.
From the heart of the tree, where the brightest cluster of flowers bloomed, a small, perfectly round point of light detached itself. It was no bigger than her fist, shimmering with shifting colors—pale sapphire melting into indigo, its core crystalline white. Tiny motes trailed after it like the tail of a comet.
The orb drifted downward, cradled by the gentle night air.
She stared, wide-eyed, breath caught in her throat.
The orb stopped, hovering just feet away, bobbing at eye level. It released a soft, resonant tone—a sound that vibrated in her chest. Familiar, yet impossibly foreign. Warm and cool, inviting but never intrusive.
"Wait… what is that?" she whispered, barely louder than a thought. Her hand rose instinctively, palm open. "Is this some kind of special effect? An overgrown firefly? No, Yu Xiao, focus. This is real."
The luminous wisp circled her, curious as a cat. Moonlight refracted through its surface, casting faint halos across her face. She felt it—an intangible pressure on her skin, like standing near a frosted window under the moon's gaze.
"What is happening?" she stammered, her voice trembling with apprehension.
The wisp drifted closer—so close she saw her own reflection, warped and ghostly, across its gleaming surface. Tension shot up her spine.
It paused right before her chest, pulsing in time with her frantic heartbeat.
Her hand trembled as she reached out. The instant her fingertips brushed the orb, it flared brilliantly, bathing her skin in a cool, luminous glow—like liquid moonlight.
The wisp didn't wait for her permission. It pressed forward, gentle and painless, and melted straight into her chest.
Light blossomed beneath her ribs, spreading in gentle waves through her arms, up her neck, behind her eyes. It wasn't overwhelming or painful. Instead, it felt as if hidden cracks inside her were being sealed with silvery light.
Yu Xiao gasped, stumbling back, her hand flying to her heart. The glow faded, leaving only the natural light of the garden and a subtle hum in her veins. She stared at her palm as a delicate silver-blue sheen flickered… then vanished.
How did that thing merge with me? Am I cursed now? What's going to happen? Anxiety prickled at her thoughts as she turned her hands, searching for any sign.
Ancient lore from Beiming Palace spoke of the Aetherbloom trees. On the night of the full moon, they might bestow a rare gift upon someone whose soul resonated with lunar qi—or who carried a latent celestial affinity.
Such an event was called a Lunar Aether Wisp. Some called it a Moonwoven Spirit, or an Aetherial Essence Orb.
Aetherbloom trees were more than just plants. They embodied the moon's beauty—delicate yet enduring, fragile in appearance but surviving centuries. In their nocturnal bloom, they captured the cosmos' subtle magic: a reminder that true beauty is often revealed only in darkness, by the moon's gentle light.
Afterward, Yu Xiao checked her reflection—her face, her neck, her arms—for any sign of harm.
"I don't feel hurt," she murmured, glancing up at the Aetherbloom trees, her hand still pressed to her chest. "Actually, I feel more alive. What did these trees do to me?" Her voice shook with confusion.
A hush settled over the garden until the tiny spark reappeared before her.
"It's so late—why aren't you resting, Feng Xiaotian?"
At last, a small smile touched Yu Xiao's lips.
"You came again! How did you know I was here?"
"In this world, only your aura can I trace, wherever you go. Have you forgotten I'm your spirit guardian? I'm not leaving—I dwell inside you. How could I not know?"
Yu Xiao ducked her head, smiling sheepishly.
"You're right. You linger with me. I suppose that makes sense," she said, exhaling softly.
"My rest was peaceful, until I saw a light intrude into you. Have you found any trace of me?" the tiny spark asked.
Yu Xiao's smile faded. Did Tiaopi notice what happened earlier? She wasn't sure what was going on.
"Ah… Tiaopi, did you… See it?" she asked, hesitant.
"See what?"
She hesitated, then confessed, "Honestly, I don't know what happened. Something strange approached me and suddenly got absorbed into my body. I don't understand, but… I wasn't hurt." Confusion flickered across her face.
"Really?" Tiaopi blinked in wonder.
Yu Xiao nodded several times, humming a soft, "Mhm."
"What does that mean?"
Silence hung between them.
Yu Xiao's lips twitched into a pout. She wrapped one arm under her ribs, the fingers of her other hand thoughtfully brushing her chin.
With a deep breath, she furrowed her brows, turned to face Tiaopi, and set her hands on her waist like a grumpy grandma.
"Before I came here, I was sitting by the window, just gazing at the moon. Then I remembered what Xue Wuya told me today—I wanted to see if it was true. And it is," she added, her eyes glinting with amusement.
"So you came here alone? In the middle of the night? How valiant—and reckless! Did you think about the dangers? What if something evil tried to snatch you away? Even after being burned inside the grave mountain, you don't fear death? You're utterly bewildering, Feng Xiaotian."
Yu Xiao's expression dropped. She raised an eyebrow and let her lips curl in sarcasm.
"Feng Xiaotian, Feng Xiaotian," she muttered, rolling her eyes. "Tsk." She shook her head. "Still calling me that. If you know I'm just a substitute here, why insist? Hfft!" Frustration crept into her voice.
"So obstinate!" Tiaopi exclaimed.
"I'm not. I shouldn't claim anything about this Feng Xiaotian—I don't even know her." Yu Xiao's shoulders sagged.
"Fine! Have a nice sleep, ill-tempered walking doll." With those final words, Tiaopi vanished.
"You—" Yu Xiao started, but stopped herself. She slowly curled her pointed finger into a tight fist, her knuckles turning pale. Closing her eyes, she exhaled, then inhaled deeply to release her exasperation. "As always," she muttered, crossing her arms.
Setting Tiaopi aside, Yu Xiao's attention drifted to the clusters of flowers surrounding the Aetherbloom trees. She walked around, carefully lifting the hem of her inner hanfu as she surveyed the scene.
When she paused and glanced back at the trees, they still glowed perfectly beneath the moonlight.
Looks like these strange trees welcomed me in their own way… I don't have any documentation about them, but this will be part of my journey now?
Her thoughts grew wild with worry.
Those mysterious things went inside me without my consent. They can't even talk like Tiaopi. She sighed, trying to steady herself. Is this the result of writing such heavy, dark, and melancholic stories? No wonder my supervisor complained—it really is terrifying.
She thought all this with a sheepish smile. Now she was going crazy.
Gradually, she calmed herself and turned her gaze to the clusters of flowers once more. Curiosity sparked, and she reached out, gently touching one.
"You're just an ordinary flower… aren't you?" she wondered.
But as she touched it, the flower bloomed open beneath her finger. Her eyes widened in shock.
Immediately, she stepped back, gulping hard as she witnessed the miraculous sight. For a moment, she hesitated—then curiosity took over. She reached out and touched the rest of the flowers. Each one glowed obediently beneath her fingers.
A thrill of curiosity struck her. She turned her palm over, eyes widening as it glowed—translucent sparkles swirling with shimmering silver and a hint of gold-red light.
"Is this…" she whispered, her lips trembling. "A… a spell?" Her brows furrowed. "Impossible. I don't have superpowers! How could this happen?"
She kept checking her hand, even her arm, marveling at the glowing light.
At last, a reverent smile crept onto her face. The glow faded the moment she closed her palm.
Suddenly, a deep, calming voice shattered the stillness.
"It's cold. Haven't you rested yet?"
Yu Xiao startled, spinning around. For a moment, she was speechless, her eyes wide as she saw Xue Wuya approaching.
His gaze swept over her from head to toe, his eyes deep and unreadable.
Silence hung between them.
Yu Xiao straightened her posture, smoothing her robe. She stepped forward, gave a respectful bow, and kept her head lowered.
"G-General," she stammered, her voice soft and nervous. "Young Master." She managed an awkward smile. "I… I apologize for trespassing on your courtyard. I didn't mean to intrude. It's just—what you said to me earlier today made me curious, so I decided to wander around. Please forgive my behavior. Finding your place so enchanting, honestly, I was amazed," she admitted, still bowing.
A gentle, curved smile touched Xue Wuya's lips.
"You're shaking," he noted seriously.
Yu Xiao lifted her head, struggling to smile despite her tension.
"A little," she admitted.
Without a word, Xue Wuya slipped off his cloak and draped it over her shoulders.
"Don't wander next time wearing only this," he said.
Yu Xiao's eyes widened. She glanced down at herself, then clutched the cloak tightly to her chest.
"Mm…" was all she managed, cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Didn't the Duan brothers say this man was cold and never spoke kindly to anyone? Why is he so different from what I expected? He's gentle, even caring. If he were truly as harsh as they claimed, wouldn't he have scolded me or thrown me out? Maybe his mood is actually like mine… Is he really this kind?