Sunrise

"In the Mortal Realm, do elders give their juniors New Year's money?" Divine Venerable Cheng Wei suddenly asked.

Wen Xu stopped in his tracks. "Once you come of age or start a family, they stop giving it to you." New Year's money was traditionally meant to ward off evil spirits. It was an elder's blessing for a child who had not yet grown up, and Wen Xu had not received his first such blessing until the old scholar took him in.

"I see." Divine Venerable Cheng Wei stroked his chin. "But cultivators' ages can't be reckoned that way. Here. My disciple must get the biggest New Year's gift."

A thick storage pouch was pressed into Wen Xu's hands. When he looked up again, where had his master gone?

Cheng Wei's Divine Sense hovered in midair as he watched his young disciple open the pouch with a hesitant look, stare at its contents in shock, then hastily tie it shut. Wen Xu checked it three times before tucking it carefully against his chest. He bowed respectfully toward the hall three times, then headed down the mountain.

The snow on Springless Peak never melted, but Cheng Wei was in a good mood. He summoned a flask of spirit wine and thought, Little A-Xu, no one can do only what's right. And what is right? The world has no settled answer. Cultivation defies heaven by its very nature. If you cling too tightly to the rules, your companions will leave you behind.

**

It was New Year's Eve. Every household in Langyuan City was ablaze with light, and the streets were as lively as Evernight City. Many disciples of Yonglu Mountain had taken leave to reunite with their families; many others remained on the mountain to cultivate. Each had their own path. There