Snow Kui endured the girl rubbing her cheek against his like an excited animal.
Just when he was about to sigh and push her off, something caught his eye—
A frost-white blossom, pinned into Yingda's fiery hair.
His usually calm gaze trembled.
That ornament—an ice flower—looked far too familiar.
Only after Yingda finally exhausted her excitement and stopped clinging to him did Snow Kui gently set her down.
"Long time no see," she beamed.
Snow Kui merely nodded.
But in the next second, Yingda circled him, patting and inspecting his arms, shoulders, and face.
"Xiao Snow Kui—are you sick? You look so exhausted!"
"…Yingda."
The voice was soft, gentle even—
yet Yingda froze as though doused in cold water.
"Do you remember what you promised us?"
Her blazing energy crumpled like a campfire snuffed out by rain.
"…I know. I won't bother Snow Kui for too long."
Head drooping, she turned, preparing to rejoin the other Yaksha.
Snow Kui's hand moved on instinct, resting lightly on her shoulder.
All eyes turned toward him—
Guizhong's, and the other Yaksha's.
"…Just busy recently. That's all."
He hadn't spoken normally to anyone in a long time.
Even basic conversation felt foreign.
Yingda brightened instantly, looping her arm around his with shameless delight.
"Hehe~ I don't really get what you mean, but Snow Kui is the best!"
The others didn't stop her.
Snow Kui's reaction told them everything—
He wasn't as lost as they feared.
"We haven't seen you in a while," Fushou said calmly.
"We missed you. So we came."
"…Thank you."
Snow Kui avoided Fushou's gaze.
Something in the Yaksha leader's presence reminded him too much of Stone Dust—steady, grounded, warm.
"Xiao Snow Kui! This is for you!"
Only then did Snow Kui notice the small basket in Fanan's hands.
Inside, nestled neatly in cloth, were two delicate pastries—
Lotus flower crisps, layered and shaped like petals in bloom.
"I promised I'd treat you."
Snow Kui picked one up between his fingers, hesitated, then bit down.
Even cooled, its crisp sweetness unfolded in his mouth like a blossom.
His rigid expression softened—
just barely, but enough that the others noticed.
"Hey, Snow Kui."
"…?"
"I told lots of humans how amazing you are at medicine.
You'll keep your promise to treat them when they need help, right?"
Fanan no longer hid her clawed hands inside large sleeves.
Her clear eyes shimmered with earnest trust.
Snow Kui lowered his gaze.
"…I haven't forgotten."
Her smile bloomed—gentle and relieved.
Despite the changes, Snow Kui was still himself.
Just a little less innocent—
and like every youth growing into their own strength, carrying invisible bKuises.
After sharing news from Morax's domain, the four Yaksha prepared to leave.
Snow Kui was stable.
That was enough to ease their hearts—and to return and reassure the Geo Archon and Ruotuo.
Fushou lingered a moment longer.
He bent down and slung an arm around Snow Kui's shoulders.
"As your elder of our kind, I'll always be your big brother.
Even if you stay with Lady Guizhong, I'll stand in front of you."
He patted the boy's back hard, ready to go—
"…Me too."
Light as breath, steady as bedrock.
Fushou spun back.
Snow Kui was already walking away.
Fushou chuckled and shook his head.
This kid didn't need comfort.
He had simply grown.
To seek strength was merely to follow the tide of an era.
After parting from his old friends, Snow Kui stood in place, lost.
He suddenly had nowhere he needed to be.
Guizhong hesitated, voice soft.
"Today is Stone Dust's death anniversary.
Will you visit him?"
Snow Kui lifted his head.
He stared at the sky a long time.
Then nodded.
He would tell his brother—
that he was worthy of burial.
More than worthy.
A jar of osmanthus wine in hand—taken from Guizhong's stores—
Snow Kui stood at the base of a small hill.
Autumn leaves scattered on the wind.
The dying sunlight turned the fallen foliage into a golden path leading upward,
as though inviting him to walk forward.
Snow Kui felt no warmth.
Only a strange urge to leave.
Yaksha…
could feel fear after all.
A leaf fell quietly onto his head.
He flinched.
The leaf was still green—
fresh, alive, unlike the dead leaves around him.
No tree above him.
No wind strong enough to blow it this far.
Where had it come from?
Snow Kui rolled the leaf stem gently between his fingers.
Stone Dust… urging me to hurry?
Or just greedy for the wine in my hand?
At last, he stood before the stone.
Deep carvings filled the tomb marker—
"Died aiding the Adepti in defeating a God."
Whoever carved those words must have felt proud of the one buried here.
Snow Kui felt only bitterness.
If that fight never happened…
that man would still be alive to grumble,
"Oi, remember to bring two cups of wine next time."
He tipped the jar, wine spilling onto the earth.
"Now, Sister Shuang'er can't scold you anymore."
"Hm?"
A pair of wide, innocent eyes stared up at him—
a child, thumb in mouth, standing right at his feet.
In the middle of nowhere.
How…?
Snow Kui stared blankly.
Why was there a child in a place like this?
"Don't pour too much. Two cups is enough."
Snow Kui's pupils quivered.
The hand that had never shaken before—not even facing a god—
shuddered uncontrollably.
Advance Chapters available on P@treon
[email protected]/soulrequiem