Morning sunlight stretched across the uneven courtyard of the Wineapple Sect. The place still looked half like a sect and half like a construction site. New wooden beams leaned against unfinished walls. A few cracked tiles lay stacked beside the path. The faint scent of fermented wineapple still hung in the air from yesterday’s open house.

  Lin Fan sat comfortably on an overturned crate, munching on a fruit and watching the others work.

  Li Wei was sweeping broken roof tiles into a neat pile.

  Feng crouched beside the old trial stone array, studying the faint runes carved into its surface.

  Ru Yan stood nearby with a scroll in one hand, trying—without much success—to organize the growing chaos of the sect.

  “This makes no sense,” she muttered. “We have disciples but no rules. A sect but no structure. A trial array but no trial system.”

  Lin Fan raised a hand lazily.

  “I vote we skip rules and go straight to lunch.”

  Ru Yan glared at him.

  Before she could reply, the wind shifted.

  It was subtle at first.

  Then the air rippled.

  A deep pulse of qi rolled across the courtyard like the echo of a distant drum.

  Li Wei stopped sweeping.

  “Did you feel that?”

  Feng slowly stood.

  “Yeah.”

  Ru Yan’s expression changed instantly.

  “Everyone step back.”

  The eastern sky suddenly glowed green.

  Leaves rustled violently as wood-element qi spiraled downward into the courtyard. The swirling energy condensed until a human figure formed within the vortex.

  She landed lightly—then swayed.

  Long green hair tumbled over loose robes, and the unmistakable scent of alcohol drifted through the air.

  The Azure Dragon of the East blinked once.

  Then her eyes locked onto Lin Fan.

  “Oh! There you are!”

  Before the boy could react, she rushed forward and pulled him into a crushing hug.

  Lin Fan vanished completely into her robes.

  “Wah—hey—can’t breathe!”

  She laughed happily, squeezing him like a proud mother greeting a long-lost child.

  “My little wood sprout! Such healthy roots! Such wonderful vitality!”

  Lin Fan’s muffled voice struggled to escape.

  “I’m not a plant!”

  Azure Dragon finally released him, though she kept one arm wrapped around his shoulders. She inspected him closely, poking his arm and pressing lightly against his dantian.

  “Yes, yes… very good. Excellent wood affinity.”

  Then she glanced toward Ru Yan.

  Her lips curled into a mischievous smile.

  “I’ve decided,” she declared.

  “I’ll take responsibility for raising this one.”

  Lin Fan blinked.

  “Raising?”

  “Yes!” she said proudly. “Proper herbs. Proper diet. Proper cultivation. Wood needs nurturing.”

  Her eyes flicked back toward Ru Yan with obvious amusement.

  “Besides, every sect needs someone with proper maternal presence.”

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  Ru Yan stared at her.

  Then slowly looked down at herself.

  Then back at the dragon.

  “Excuse me?”

  Before the tension could escalate further, flames suddenly ignited in the southern sky.

  A swirl of crimson fire descended gracefully into the courtyard. The flames folded inward, revealing a tall woman whose robes shimmered like living embers.

  The Vermilion Bird of the South.

  Her gaze swept across the courtyard until it stopped on Li Wei.

  “You.”

  Li Wei straightened instinctively.

  “Yes?”

  “I observed your flame technique yesterday.”

  She crossed her arms.

  “It was… acceptable.”

  Lin Fan whispered loudly from behind Azure Dragon.

  “That sounded like an insult.”

  Before Li Wei could respond, a sudden blur flashed across the courtyard.

  A man appeared behind Feng without warning.

  “BOO.”

  Feng jumped and nearly fell over.

  The man burst out laughing.

  “Relax! If that scared you, your stealth training is going to be very painful.”

  The White Tiger of the West clapped Feng on the shoulder like an old friend.

  “You’ve got good metal qi, kid.”

  He leaned closer, grinning.

  “But your awareness is terrible.”

  “I wasn’t trying to hide!”

  “Exactly my point.”

  Ru Yan pinched the bridge of her nose.

  “Three mythological beasts appearing unannounced. Of course.”

  As if responding to her words, the temperature suddenly dropped.

  A quiet wave of water qi rolled across the courtyard.

  Mist gathered in the northern air before condensing into the graceful form of a woman descending slowly from above.

  The Black Tortoise of the North.

  Her robes flowed like calm water, elegant and composed.

  Beside her stood a slender man with bright eyes and a wide grin.

  The snake.

  He immediately leaned toward Feng.

  “Oh wow! New cultivators! Do you know how long it’s been since the mountain had visitors?”

  Black Tortoise sighed softly.

  “Please ignore him.”

  “I’m extremely entertaining actually,” the snake replied cheerfully.

  Ru Yan looked around at the five figures now standing in the courtyard.

  “This cannot possibly be happening.”

  Azure Dragon was now happily inspecting Lin Fan’s meridians again.

  White Tiger had begun circling Feng like a hunter studying prey.

  The snake had wandered over to poke the trial stone curiously.

  And Vermilion Bird stood silently evaluating Li Wei with the intensity of a strict instructor.

  Then the air shifted again.

  Golden light poured down from the sky like liquid sunlight.

  Every spirit in the courtyard went still.

  From the center of the descending radiance stepped a tall figure whose robes shimmered with faint golden scales.

  His presence alone brought the surrounding qi into perfect harmony.

  The Yellow Dragon of the Center.

  He landed softly in the courtyard.

  White Tiger whistled.

  “Well, look who finally decided to show up.”

  Azure Dragon waved lazily.

  “Oh relax, Huanglong. We’re just having fun.”

  The snake grinned widely.

  “I vote we flood the courtyard.”

  “Enough.”

  The single word was not loud.

  But the courtyard fell silent instantly.

  The Yellow Dragon’s golden gaze slowly swept across the scene.

  Then it settled on Zhi Yuan.

  Only then did the others notice that Zhi Yuan had calmly stepped into the center of the courtyard.

  His hands were folded behind his back.

  Li Wei leaned toward Feng.

  “Should we bow?”

  Feng whispered back.

  “I have no idea.”

  Ru Yan spoke quietly.

  “These are the guardians of the Five Elements Mountain.”

  Zhi Yuan studied the five figures carefully.

  Then he inclined his head slightly.

  “Five primordial spirits visiting together.”

  “That is rarely a coincidence.”

  The Yellow Dragon regarded him thoughtfully.

  “You are Zhi Yuan.”

  It was not a question.

  “I am.”

  Lin Fan raised a hand from behind Azure Dragon.

  “So… are they here to destroy the sect or join it?”

  No one answered him.

  Zhi Yuan continued calmly.

  “May I ask why the guardians of the mountain have come to this rather modest sect?”

  White Tiger shrugged.

  “We were curious.”

  Azure Dragon hiccupped.

  “And bored.”

  The snake leaned forward eagerly.

  “And we heard something interesting.”

  Ru Yan frowned.

  “Heard?”

  Black Tortoise nodded gently.

  “The mountain listens.”

  The Yellow Dragon spoke again.

  “We heard a conversation.”

  “About another world.”

  “About unfamiliar magic.”

  “About reincarnation.”

  The courtyard fell completely silent.

  Feng slowly turned toward Zhi Yuan.

  “You told them?”

  Zhi Yuan sighed softly.

  “No.”

  The Yellow Dragon shook his head.

  “The mountain itself heard.”

  Azure Dragon waved dismissively.

  “Relax. We’re not here to report you to the heavens.”

  White Tiger grinned.

  “Honestly we just like what you're doing.”

  Vermilion Bird nodded once.

  “A sect that accepts disciples regardless of status.”

  Black Tortoise added quietly,

  “One that may restore balance to this mountain.”

  Zhi Yuan’s eyes sharpened slightly.

  “Balance.”

  The Yellow Dragon stepped forward.

  “For centuries the Five Elements Mountain has slept.”

  “No harmony.”

  “No worthy inheritors.”

  His gaze swept across the four cultivators.

  Wood.

  Fire.

  Metal.

  Water.

  “And now four elements awaken in one courtyard.”

  He looked back at Zhi Yuan.

  “And at the center of it…”

  “…a man from another world.”

  Lin Fan whispered to Li Wei.

  “Is this bad?”

  Li Wei whispered back.

  “I honestly cannot tell.”

  The Yellow Dragon folded his arms.

  “We came to see whether this chaos you are building…”

  “…is destruction.”

  “…or renewal.”

  White Tiger stretched lazily.

  “I vote renewal.”

  Azure Dragon raised a bottle.

  “Definitely renewal.”

  The snake grinned.

  “Also possible flooding.”

  Black Tortoise smacked the back of his head.

  “Quiet.”

  Zhi Yuan looked around the courtyard.

  Half-built buildings.

  Scattered wineapple barrels.

  A drunken dragon hugging Li Fan

  He smiled faintly.

  “If you came looking for order…”

  He gestured around them.

  “You are in the wrong sect.”

  White Tiger burst out laughing.

  Azure Dragon clapped happily.

  Even the Vermilion Bird allowed the faintest hint of a smile.

  The Yellow Dragon watched Zhi Yuan for a long moment.

  Then he nodded slowly.

  “Good.”

  “Because we rather like this chaos.”

  The five spirits exchanged glances.

  And high above them, deep within the Five Elements Mountain, ancient qi began to stir once more.

  The Wineapple Sect had gained unexpected visitors.

  And perhaps…

  Unexpected witnesses.