Night fell over the Mist Islands, and the sea breeze swept through the camp, laden with damp, salty mist. Han Li moored the Flowing Cloud Shuttle behind a reef, took out the Spirit-Gathering Pill Furnace Zi Ling had given him, and built a small campfire in front of their makeshift tent. Sparks crackled and burst, casting a warm glow through the gray-violet fog and illuminating Zi Ling nearby. She was crouched beside the reef, collecting Spirit Spring water seeping from a crack in the rock into a jade bottle. Dew clung to her pale purple dress, and the ends of her hair swayed gently in the wind.
"Fellow Daoist Li, we can use this spring water to brew tea." Zi Ling approached with the jade bottle. When she noticed him staring at the ends of her hair, the tips of her ears reddened, but she deliberately gave the bottle a shake. "Brew the dew-congealing flowers from Hundred Herb Island with this water, and their medicinal effects will increase by thirty percent."
Han Li accepted the jade bottle, his fingertips accidentally brushing the back of her hand. Her skin was cool, like newly formed frost, reminding him of the spiritual veins in Dream Cloud Marsh. He hastily withdrew his hand, the firelight dancing in his eyes. "Thank you. I'll go set up the tent."
The tent was standard Star Palace issue, plain canvas stretched over a bamboo frame, with a mat woven from spirit-gathering grass lining the floor. Han Li had just laid out the bedding when Zi Ling came in carrying several stalks of illusory star grass. "This grass can repel the mist. It'll be perfect in the four corners of the tent." As she stood on tiptoe to hang it up, the Star-Moon Hairpin slipped from her hair. Her