Impatient to Begin

The next morning, at dawn.

He Chongyang came bouncing out, her face full of joy. The Bone Necklace around her neck, which had been clinking noisily, had been taken apart the night before. At its very center was now a small stone tablet portrait.

The portrait was a chibi version of He Chongyang.

She had short hair reaching her ears, adorable big eyes, and a beaming smile that revealed two little tiger teeth.

"Jiang Xiao, Jiang Xiao." He Chongyang ran into the courtyard, lugging the enormous Fang Tian Halberd, which was completely out of proportion with her body. "Let's go train! You told me that above the Star Sea, there's still the Starry Sky Stage!"

Jiang Xiao, however, stood in the flower field, gazing up at the sun slowly rising over the mountaintop. "It's been half a year, Little Chongyang."

He Chongyang stared at Jiang Xiao's back in confusion. "Huh? What's wrong?"

Jiang Xiao said, "I have a mission. It's time for me to leave."

He Chongyang's expression turned anxious. "You, you..."

Jiang Xiao said, "When I come back, I'll bring you your uncle and aunt, a cute playmate who's only five or six years old, and a cute, fluffy Bamboo Bear Star Pet."

Clang.

The Fang Tian Halberd fell to the ground. He Chongyang stomped her feet and said, "I don't want an uncle and aunt! I don't want them!"

With his back to her, Jiang Xiao still didn't dare look at her face. He said softly, "The child is called Yuan Yuan. He's very young, but he survives in the wind and snow every day. There's no Cycle of Four Seasons where he lives—not even day or night. I'll bring him here. You two can play together, all right?"

He Chongyang stammered, "I, I..."

Jiang Xiao said, "You're