A disciple has an errand for you.

Before you can even reach the basin, a shrill, mocking voice cuts through the air.

“Oh, I love you, my husband. Oh, but I love you more, my darling wife. Blech! It’s so sweet I’m getting cavities!”

A shadow falls over your hut. You look up and freeze.

A towering woman descends from the sky with a gust of wind, landing gracefully on the mossy path. Her golden hair gleams in the sunlight, and her sharp blue eyes shine like cut gemstones. Her blue robe swirls like storm clouds around her.

She has the beauty of a warrior goddess. Pity about the scowl.

You scramble into a deep bow. “Good morning, Senior Sister Xueying!”

Tian Xueying, Fourth Disciple of the Red Bamboo Sect.

She folds her muscular arms, tilts her chin, and looks down her perfect nose at you.

“Senior Sister?” she says, her voice dripping with disdain. “I don’t recall giving you permission to call me that, mortal.”

Cold sweat pricks at your back. “A-Apologies! Forgive me, Great Immortal Fairy!”

She arches an eyebrow. “Is that all I am?”

“No! You… You are the great and benevolent, the most beautiful fairy under heaven, the supreme deity of the Red Bamboo Sect, unmatched across the Four Seas and Eight Deserts, a being of unparalleled power and grace, whose beauty surpasses the stars themselves!”

Her eyes narrow dangerously. For a moment, you fear you’ve gone too far.

Then, she smirks, a small, satisfied curve on her crimson lips.

“Hmph. At least you know good from bad,” she says, flicking her sleeve dismissively.

You remain frozen as she steps closer. Her sharp gaze pins you like a bug.

“You, mortal. I have a job for you,” she says, her voice cold. “Seeing as you’re a no-good layabout wasting the sect’s precious resources.”

You wisely remain silent. Even a flick of her pinky could turn you into a stain on the courtyard.

Tian Xueying taps her fingers against her elbow, clearly savoring your discomfort.

“Sister Jiang woke up with a stiff back again. She wants you.”

You let out a quiet sigh. “Oh, that’s what this is about.”

Her eyes flash. “What was that?”

“N-Nothing, Great and Benevolent One!” you yelp, straightening hastily. “I’ll attend to Sister Jiang at once!”

“Hmph. See that you do,” she says, turning on her heel.

Before she strides off, she glances over her shoulder, golden hair catching the sunlight.

“If you fail to please her, I’ll personally pluck every hair from your head and feed them to the spirit crows. Understood?”

You bow so low your forehead nearly hits the ground. “Yes, Great Immortal Fairy!”

Satisfied, she ascends back into the sky.

You wait until she’s truly gone, letting out a breath you didn’t realize you were holding.

Sister Jiang. The oldest and crankiest inner disciple, famous for her bad temper and worse joints. Last time, she nearly dislocated your wrist trying to demonstrate a “simple” massage technique.

Bracing yourself, you gather your things and head toward the disciples’ quarters.

Maybe someday you’ll soar like Tian Xueying.

For now, you’re just the sect’s errand boy.