Beneath the Ginseng Fruit Tree, seven people sat in a circle as the fragrance of tea drifted through the air.
Xuande smiled too, his gaze sweeping over each of them in turn.
He suddenly remembered something.
There were still several hundred years until the Second Sermon.
When they reached Zixiao Palace, the gates would still be closed, and they would have to wait outside for several hundred years.
This time, though, things probably wouldn't be like last time, when not a single person was there.
Haotian. Yaochi.
Those two Daoist Attendants who stood guard outside the gates of Zixiao Palace would one day become the Heavenly Emperor and Empress of the Heavenly Court.
Last time, they had arrived too early, before Haotian and Yaochi had come out to greet them.
This time... they would probably meet them.
A thought stirred in Xuande's heart, and he turned to Zhenyuanzi.
"Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi."
Zhenyuanzi looked at him. "What is it, Fellow Daoist Xuande?"
Xuande smiled. "I'd like to ask you for two Ginseng Fruits. Would that be all right?"
At his words, everyone looked his way.
Hong Yun's eyes lit up. "Fellow Daoist Xuande, what do you want them for? Have you finally come around and realized how good these fruits are?"
Zhunti asked curiously, "You want two, Daoist Brother? Will that be enough? How about one for each of us?"
Zhenyuanzi didn't ask what Xuande intended to do with them. He simply beckoned to Qingfeng and Mingyue.
"Go and fetch two Ginseng Fruits."
Qingfeng and Mingyue hurried off.
Before long, the two young attendants returned, each carrying a jade platter bearing a plump, pale fruit shaped like a baby.
Zhenyuanzi gestured for them to set the platters before Xuande. "Please, Fellow Daoist Xuande."
Xuande took the platters and studied the two Ginseng Fruits carefully. Then he tucked them into his sleeve and cupped his hands toward Zhenyuanzi. "Thank you, Fellow Daoist."
Zhenyuanzi waved a hand. "You're too kind. They're only two fruits. They're nothing special."
Hong Yun leaned over, curiosity written all over his face. "Fellow Daoist Xuande, are you planning to give them to someone? Who?"
Xuande smiled faintly without answering directly. "You'll find out in due time."
Hong Yun scratched his head and looked ready to ask more, but Zhenyuanzi stopped him with a glance.
Zhenyuanzi knew that Xuande always had his reasons. Since he didn't want to explain just yet, there was no need to ask.
The others stopped asking, too, and went back to their tea and conversation.
Time flowed like water, slipping by as they chatted about everything under the sun.
For the Grand Unity Golden Immortals gathered there, several hundred years passed in the blink of an eye.
One day, Xuande rose and looked at the others.
"Fellow Daoists, there are five hundred years until the Dao Ancestor's sermon. We should set out."
Everyone stood up.
Zhenyuanzi called Qingfeng and Mingyue over and told them to look after the temple.
Hong Yun dusted off his robes with a laugh. "At last, we're leaving! I've been cooped up so long my bones are itching!"
Zhunti laughed. "Fellow Daoist Hong Yun, the way you say that makes it sound like we've been suffering here.
We ate Ginseng Fruit, drank fine tea, and discussed the Dao. What more do you want?"
Hong Yun chuckled. "That's not what I meant! I'm just excited that we finally get to hear the Dao Ancestor preach!"
Nuwa said softly, "I hope we can look out for one another on this journey."
Fuxi nodded. "Indeed."
Jieyin said slowly, "That is only right."
The seven summoned their Escape Lights, left Wuzhuang Temple, and flew toward Chaos.
With the experience they'd gained last time, finding their way was much easier.
Following the traces they'd left before, they traveled west, crossed the boundary of the Primordial Wilderness, and entered the same hazy stretch of Chaos.
Chaos remained an endless void, but having been there once, they knew where they were going and no longer felt as uneasy as they had before.
Each of the seven circulated their magic power to protect themselves, fixed their divine senses on the direction of Zixiao Palace, and continued forward at an unhurried pace.
Two hundred years later, that familiar glimmer finally appeared ahead.
Zixiao Palace.
The ancient palace hung quietly in Chaos, its surface wreathed in a faint purple glow and radiating a solemn, sacred aura.
The seven lowered their Escape Lights and landed before the gates of Zixiao Palace.
Unlike last time, someone was already waiting outside the palace.
A young man and woman stood there.
The young man wore a dark robe. He was handsome, tall, and carried himself with a steady air.
The young woman wore a moon-white dress. Her features were delicate, and her eyes were clear and bright.
They stood on either side of the gates. When they saw the seven arrive, they hurried forward and bowed.
"Haotian and Yaochi greet the True Men."
Xuande looked at the two youths before him, understanding dawning in his heart.
These were the future Great Emperor Haotian and Golden Mother Yaochi, who would one day rule the Heavenly Court.
Of course, at present they were merely Daoist Attendants at the side of Dao Ancestor Hongjun, tasked with guarding the gates of Zixiao Palace and welcoming the mighty beings who came to hear the sermon.
Last time, they had arrived too early, before Haotian and Yaochi had come out to greet them.
This time, it was clear that the two had learned from their previous experience. Knowing that mighty beings might arrive early, they had come out to wait ahead of time.
"You two have worked hard." Xuande smiled and stepped forward.
Haotian looked up at the Daoist, whose figure was veiled in a faint golden light, and felt a slight stir in his heart.
He remembered this Daoist.
At the last sermon, he had been among the first to arrive. Along with the two Daoists from the West, Zhenyuanzi, and Hong Yun, he had waited outside the palace gates for three hundred years.
"You're too kind, True Man," Haotian replied quickly. "It's our duty."
Yaochi nodded gently as well, her gaze passing over the seven with a hint of curiosity.
Xuande took two jade platters from his sleeve. Each held a plump, pale Ginseng Fruit. He offered one to Haotian and one to Yaochi.
"I've come from Wuzhuang Temple with two fruits. Please accept them as a small gift.
"If you don't mind, I hope you'll take them."
Haotian and Yaochi both froze.
They stared at the two Ginseng Fruits, at a loss for words.
Ginseng Fruits were borne by an Innate Spiritual Root and greatly benefited one's cultivation.
Such treasures were cherished even by some Grand Unity Golden Immortals, who would rarely part with them.
And now this Daoist was giving them to the two of them?
Haotian hurriedly waved his hands.
"True Man, we couldn't possibly accept these! Ginseng Fruits are far too precious. We wouldn't dare!"
Yaochi shook her head as well, her cheeks faintly red.
"You're much too kind, True Man. We... we can't accept them."
Xuande only smiled and held the platters out a little farther.
"Take them," he said gently. "I went out of my way to ask Fellow Daoist Zhenyuanzi for them because I wanted to give them to you.
"You stand guard at the gates of Zixiao Palace and welcome every visitor. It must be hard work. Please accept these two fruits as a small token of my gratitude."
Haotian and Yaochi exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with gratitude.
Ever since they had begun serving Dao Ancestor Hongjun, they had remained at Zixiao Palace.
The mighty beings who came to hear the sermon varied. Some were courteous, some arrogant, and some hardly acknowledged them at all.
No one had ever gone out of their way to prepare a gift for them.
And no one had ever told them, "You've worked hard."
"Thank you, True Man!" Haotian bowed solemnly and accepted the platter with both hands. "I... I'll remember this."
Yaochi accepted the other platter, her eyes faintly reddening. "Thank you, True Man."
Xuande nodded and said no more. He turned and rejoined the others.
Haotian and Yaochi held their platters as they stood on either side of the palace gates.
As they watched the seven figures find a place outside the gates and sit cross-legged, their hearts remained unsettled for a long while.
They lowered their eyes to the Ginseng Fruits on the platters. The fruits were plump and pale, and gave off a faint, sweet fragrance.
They couldn't bear to eat them. Carefully, they put the platters away and tucked them into their sleeves.
For the first time, someone had treated them like people.
Not as Daoist Attendants of the Dao Ancestor, nor as dispensable ornaments, but as... young friends worthy of kindness.
That kindness was more precious than the Ginseng Fruits themselves.
The seven found a spacious spot outside the gates of Zixiao Palace and sat cross-legged.
Hong Yun had held back all the way there, but at last he couldn't contain himself. He moved closer to Xuande and lowered his voice.
"So that's why you asked for the Ginseng Fruits! Why didn't you say so earlier?"
Zhunti came over as well, his face full of admiration.
"Daoist Brother, you really... you really thought of everything! I never even thought about those two attendants!"
Jieyin nodded slowly, a hint of approval beneath his sorrowful expression.
"Fellow Daoist Xuande has shown compassion and forged a good bond. Well done."
Zhenyuanzi looked at Xuande with a gentle smile.
"I was wondering what you wanted the Ginseng Fruits for. So you meant to give them to those two. You're thoughtful, Fellow Daoist."
Fuxi nodded, too. "Those two attendants guard Zixiao Palace and welcome every visitor. They truly do work hard. It was thoughtful of you to think of them, Fellow Daoist Xuande."
Nuwa said softly, "Though Haotian and Yaochi are Daoist Attendants, they have served the Dao Ancestor for a long time. Their futures are boundless.
"Fellow Daoist Xuande has forged a good bond with them today. He will surely be blessed in the future."
Hong Yun scratched his head. "Fellow Daoist Nuwa is right! I should've thought of that, too! Next time, I'll bring them something as well!"
Zhunti laughed. "What will you bring next time? Your homemade fruit wine? Do you think those two attendants would dare drink it?"
Hong Yun glared at him. "What's wrong with my fruit wine? It's good stuff!"
Everyone laughed at that.
Xuande listened to them and only smiled faintly.
He hadn't done this for some future "blessing."
He had simply looked at the two young attendants standing guard at the palace gates.
He had suddenly remembered their fate in the tales of later generations: after enduring countless hardships, they would rule the Heavenly Court, yet in the end they would never be masters of their own destinies.
But at this moment, they were still innocent Daoist Attendants, with light in their eyes. He had given them a little warmth, nothing more.
As for what came later...
That could wait until later.
The seven sat quietly outside the gates of Zixiao Palace.
In Chaos, there was neither sun nor moon, only an eternal gray expanse.
But with companions and laughter, the three hundred years no longer seemed so long.
Haotian and Yaochi continued to stand on either side of the palace gates, occasionally looking toward the seven figures.
They didn't dare approach and disturb them. They only watched from afar, silently committing the appearances of the seven True Men to memory.
Especially the Daoist whose figure was veiled in a faint golden light.
They remembered his name: Xuande.