Yu Di woke up before sunrise. He sat on the large, flat rock just outside Bai Feng’s home with a cup of tea. He stared off into the dark until the sun peaked above the horizon.

  Truth be told, he couldn’t sleep much.

  Excitement and expectation.

  He spent much of the night enjoying the wine and food. He struggled to put Yu Lin to sleep on the mats in Bai Feng’s home. She never stayed still while sleeping.

  Then Yu Di spent most of the night doing two things: planning the girls’ training regimen based on their current cultivation and different ideas on how to break his curse from what he’s learned so far.

  The first was simple. He simply combined the ideas from Bai Feng’s cultivation manual with his own to form a better path for them. While inferior to his own, her manual had great insights that would take them longer but build a stronger base.

  Yu Di would talk with Bai Feng later to discuss how to teach it as he hated to admit she was a better teacher than him. Despite how she might never reach his heights of cultivation, Bai Feng understood how to break down the complex ideas for others.

  An art of teaching Yu Di never had.

  The second thing was more difficult than cultivation. How to break his curse.

  Yu Di walked back inside and nudged Yu Lin with his foot. The little girl snorted and opened her eyes.

  “Good morning, Lin,” Yu Di said, staring down at his daughter.

  Yu Lin yawned.

  “Good morning Baba.”

  “It’s time to get up. Go wake up Senior Bai and then wash up. There’s a lot you have to do today.”

  Yu Di went to the ice box and retrieved some of the leftovers from yesterday. Bai Feng was too drunk, so he cleaned up and packed everything away. They didn't need more unwanted guests living in this small home.

  Yu Di fired up the stove with his meager Qi, just enough to get the firewood burning. He still feared using too much of his power lest it sap his lifespan. It was time to cook breakfast.

  “There you are,” head servant Cui Ying said. He marched into Bai Feng’s home.

  A loud zap sounded overhead. Cui Ying flew out of Bai Feng’s home like a firecracker rocket onto the dirt outside. When he sat up, his hair poofed out, making him look like a black sheep. A small puff of smoke escaped, rising into the morning air.

  A flurry of wind pushed Yu Di aside. A purple blur appeared outside.

  “You dare barge into my home without permission?” Bai Feng had her sword out, pointing right at the dazed head servant.

  Yu Di stepped outside right behind her.

  Cui Ying squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head. He stared down the sword, his lips trembled. He cupped his hands toward Bai Feng.

  “I apologize Inner Sect Disciple, Bai Feng,” he said. “I was looking for that worthless servant who neglected his duties for the last two days. When I saw him inside your home, I thought he was stealing from you.”

  “Hmph, I don’t care who or what you were looking for,” Bai Feng said. “The next time you dare try to enter my home without permission, I will cut you in half. Am I clear?”

  Cui Ying swallowed hard and nodded.

  “Now scram.”

  Cui Ying looked from Bai Feng to Yu Di.

  “B—b—b—but I need…” The shaking head servant pointed a finger at Yu Di.

  “What do you need him for?”

  “Sect Leader Gu Zi requested his presence personally. That is why I was in such a haste. I apologize again, Inner Sect Disciple Bai.”

  “Fine.” Bai Feng sheathed her sword. “Wait for me outside and I will send him out once he’s done cooking breakfast.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  Bai Feng stalked back into her home and slammed the door. The sword disappeared as she held her head with both hands.

  "Ugh, too much wine last night." She looked over at Yu Di by the stove. "You should go as soon as you can. I'll take care of little Lin. Don’t offend Cui Ying."

  Yu Di nodded. He saw the whole thing and knew the last part was too late as Bai Feng forced Cui Ying to grovel. Well, now it was Yu Di’s turn. He put everything down and walked out of Bai Feng’s home.

  “Head servant Cui Ying, I apologize for disappearing the last two days.” Yu Di cupped his hands and bowed. “But as you saw, Senior Bai ordered me to perform some tasks for her. I couldn’t say no.”

  Cui Ying raised his hand to stop him.

  “It’s alright. I completely understand. Inner Sect Disciple Bai is a very eccentric woman and leagues above you.” Cui Ying got up from the ground and smoothed down his tan tunic. “I hope that whatever she promised you is worth it. Let’s get moving now, before the sect leader punishes us both.”

  It was a long walk to Sect Leader Gu Zi’s residence. Unlike the other disciples and Elders, Gu Zi lived on the west side of the fortress where one had to take the stairs down the side of the fortress. A lavishly decorated tunnel led them to two giant metal doors. The word "remembered" was painted onto the doors in giant black.

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  Cui Ying bent over the floor and swiped a part of the floor with his finger.

  “Hmph, it seems you haven’t made it over here to sweep the floor yet, have you Yu Di?”

  “Apologies head servant Cui,” Yu Di said. “I didn’t even know this place existed. I will sweep here later today. We can’t have the sect leader walk through filth.”

  “See that you do.”

  Cui Ying knocked on the door. He looked like a toddler, barely reaching even halfway up at his full height.

  “Now, I am going to leave you here to meet with Sect Leader Gu as my job is done.” Cui Ying walked slowly at first, but then sped down the hallway back to the main fortress.

  Yu Di shook his head. It’s no wonder that man can’t cultivate. He’s too afraid of everything. Cultivating meant to go against the heavens. That man went with whatever they decided for him. Maybe Yu Di could change that with time. He could see Cui Ying’s potential.

  Yu Di touched the door. No Qi within. There were no artifacts built in either. It was just a giant, decorated door. Even at his current level, he could probably break it down without trying.

  All looks, no substance.

  Then again, he’s seen worse in other sects. And as far as he could tell, the sect leader had personally helped him already with Elder Li. For that alone Sect Leader Gu Zi had a few points of merit in Yu Di's book.

  The door opened slowly, pushing inward.

  Yu Di took a deep breath. He had to remind himself that despite being only a half step from the god realm; he was still an insignificant ant right now. If the sect leader looked at him weird, he would die.

  Sect Leader Gu Zi had a beaming smile on his long, wrinkled face when he saw Yu Di. The mole on his upper lip twitched. He still wore a green tunic, but this one was of a higher quality silk compared to the other Elders.

  “Hello Yu Di! Come in, come in.” Gu Zi moved aside to allow Yu Di to walk into the room.

  Yu Di cupped his hands and bowed at the waist.

  “Venerable sect leader, thank you for this privilege.”

  The room was a large hall where chairs and small tables lined the carpeted floor until it reached the main dais. The ceiling was taller than the giant doors, revealing a glass ceiling that let the sun in. It had geometric shapes throughout with different opacities. It created patterns on the white carpet that depicted a stunning view of a mountain range and rivers.

  Yu Di took it all in. This was probably the first and only time he had ever visited the meeting chamber of a sect leader that had so much opulence. All Gu Zi needed was an actual throne and he could have competed with the emperor himself.

  Yet again, nothing was infused with Qi. Everything here was expensive and worth more money than Yu Di had, but none of this should matter to a cultivator.

  “Please have a seat at any table,” Gu Zi said.

  Yu Di again cupped his hands and bowed low.

  “I dare not, Sect Leader Gu Zi. I’m only a lowly servant. I would dirty your chairs.”

  Gu Zi laughed.

  “Oh, come on, you don’t have to pretend with me.”

  “I’m not sure what you are referring to,” Yu Di said. “Might I ask why I was summoned here?”

  Gu Zi’s smile dropped, and the mole on his upper right lip twitched. But right away, he forced another smile.

  “I asked you here today because I heard that you might have solved the stone stele’s puzzle.” Gu Zi sat down. He drummed the table with his fingers.

  “I apologize Sect Leader Gu Zi,” Yu Di said. “I’m not sure what you are talking about.”

  “Don’t play dumb with me. Tell me what you’ve discovered!” Gu Zi’s white eyelashes lifted in rage. “Many disciples saw you standing in front of the stone stele with Bai Feng and then you went into a trance. You must have discovered its secrets. Tell me.”

  That’s what this was about. This would not end well.

  Yu Di got on his knees and kowtowed.

  “Reporting to Sect Leader Gu Zi, I apologize if I have given you a false impression. I did not solve the puzzle on the stone stele. It was Bai Feng who was explaining another aspect of cultivation to me that put me in that trance. Where it happened was only a coincidence.”

  Yu Di felt tremendous pressure pushing him to the floor. Anymore and it would snap him in two like breaking a piece of lumber over a knee.

  This was what he was afraid of. While there was no way Gu Zi knew who he truly was, just the mere thought that Yu Di knew of some cultivation secret would send him into a flying rage.

  The irony was, Yu Di has done worse in his own pursuit of cultivation.

  The pressure disappeared.

  Yu Di gasped for air, staying still and crumpled on the floor.

  “I apologize… Sect Leader… Gu Zi… for any—”

  “No, that was my fault,” Gu Zi said. “I’m getting foolish in my old age. Are you okay?”

  Yu Di closed his eyes for a moment and focused on his injuries.

  Gu Zi knew what he was doing to not cause any permanent damage. He had great control over his Qi, a true master. But that meant nothing to Yu Di as he couldn’t move.

  “I apologize to Sect Leader Gu Zi. I can’t move.” Yu Di feared his spine might be severed.

  “Let me help you.” Gu Zi placed his hand on Yu Di’s shoulder.

  Qi filled Yu Di’s body, relieving the stress from the earlier attack. Gu Zi’s Qi felt like an ocean crashing into his body, pushing through all his meridians.

  “Thank you Sect Leader Gu Zi for being merciful.” Yu Di got up and bowed again to Gu Zi.

  Gu Zi frowned.

  “It appears you weren’t lying. You are only at the first level within Qi condensation.”

  “I would never lie to Sect Leader Gu Zi, especially not after you’ve helped me with Elder Li,” Yu Di said. “You are my benefactor and I would do anything in my power to help you.”

  “Such a shame. You look so much like someone I once knew. You wouldn’t be a hundred-year-old monster cultivator, right?”

  Fear gripped Yu Di’s heart. Could Gu Zi be someone from his past? Could he have forgotten stealing from this sect in the past? But that’s not possible. This Immortal Sect can barely call itself that. The only item of any value was that giant crystal floating above the fortress and even that wasn’t worth much.

  “You’re too weak to be him,” Gu Zi continued. “You look so much like him but it would be truly ironic for him to come back for me now. I am one of the forgotten after all."

  Gu Zi took one look at Yu Di, something like regret and sadness in his eyes.

  "You may go. However, if you find an answer to the stone stele, the offer still stands for any of my disciples. I will make you a grand elder of the sect.”

  Yu Di cupped his hands and bowed as he walked backwards.

  “Of course Sect Leader Gu Zi. That would be an opportunity of a lifetime.”

  The moment Yu Di crossed the threshold of the giant doors, they closed on him.

  He was right. There was no way some no name sect like this one would know of him. In this small forgotten corner of the Empire with such weak Qi, it would be surprising if they knew about anything outside of their little well. But what was that about someone he once knew?

  Was the sect leader going crazy in his old age? He couldn't be much older than Yu Di.

  A burning sensation raced through his body, threatening to collapse his dantian and kill him.

  Yu Di placed a hand over his chest to disperse Gu Zi’s Qi. It wasn’t malicious, but his demigod body cried out for more. If he fed that beast only on what he could produce, he would die right on the spot.

  He really needed to break this stupid curse. Then he wouldn’t have to deal with the stupid politics and the greed of this sect. Time to find his daughter and start his plan.