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The minister’s lips curled into a smirk. “If you prefer, you can think of them as guarding your safety. These orders came directly from General Wu, and you may raise the matter with him when he arrives.”

“Where is the general?” I had thought he would be here; he would have taken pleasure in this.

The minister’s gaze flicked toward Liwei before sliding back to me. “General Wu is currently occupied with urgent matters at court.”

Undoubtedly the general was one who found much opportunity in Liwei’s predicament. A bitterness coated the inside of my mouth as the soldiers surrounded Liwei like he was a villain, instead of the finest immortal in the kingdom. I stared after them until they had gone, fighting the urge to follow, my heart clouded with fear. And despite the sunlight streaming through the windows, it had never seemed so bleak.

I crept through the corridors, keeping my steps light. The soldiers were not attuned to my aura, but I masked it nonetheless. As I slipped through the entrance, I halted at the sight of Feimao standing outside. He was clad in his armor, with a bow gripped in his hand, and from memory he was an excellent marksman.

“Why are you here?” He spoke with polite indifference, as though I were a stranger.

“Enjoying the night air,” I replied steadily.

“With that?” He stared pointedly at the wooden bow slung over my shoulder.

Fortunately, I had not brought the Jade Dragon Bow, for fear of someone recognizing it. “A habit, just as yours. Why are you asking me these questions?” I met his gaze without flinching. “Minister Ruibing said you were here for our protection.”

A short pause. “I think both of us know better than to believe that.”

His frankness surprised me. “I hear much has changed in the Celestial Army since I last served there,” I said in a warmer tone. A reminder that we had fought together, once, in Xiangliu’s cavern.

Feimao nodded, standing a little easier. “There is a divide in the Celestial Army where once there was none. Past loyalties have called into question our current ones. Punishments meted out are swift and harsh, and often without proper investigation.”

His words echoed those of Shuxiao’s. “Can no one intervene?”

“No one dares to gainsay General Wu; the few who did were relieved of their positions or sent away.”

“I am sorry to hear that,” I said softly.

“I’m sorry for it too,” he replied.

I was tempted to ask more, but he inclined his head to me. “My shift ends at dawn. That is when the rest will awaken.” Without waiting for my response, he strode toward the forest.

I discarded the suspicion that his warning might be a trap. Feimao was an honorable soldier, loyal to General Jianyun, and he had stood by me against the Celestial Emperor’s wrath. Out of caution, I waited until he had vanished between the trees. Only then did I call a cloud and a brisk wind to spur it along.

The Jade Palace loomed on the horizon, the dragons on its rooftop leeched of color in the night. As a sudden gust tossed my hair across my face, I spun around to find an immortal soaring after me, his eyes as bright as twin stars. I halted my flight to end his chase, wary of alerting the Celestial guards. As Wenzhi drew closer, the violet tendrils of his cloud trailed over mine.

“Why are you here?” I demanded.

“I was on my way to see you, only to find you leaving.”

“Did you follow me?”

“Call it ‘chasing after’ you,” he said with a small smile. “You were always the swiftest with the wind.”

His praise sparked a flicker of warmth, that I quenched. His opinion meant nothing to me. “What do you want, Wenzhi? I have little time to waste.”

“I heard what happened at the Luminous Pearl Lake.” His lips set into a thin line. “I confess to being disappointed. I had hoped he would be a fool, again.”

I flushed at his meaning, even as impatience pricked me at this delay. “Your sources are to be commended. I must go now. Do not follow me,” I warned.

His gaze swept over me, lingering on the sword strapped to my side, the bow over my shoulder. “You reek of recklessness, Xingyin.”

“It is no concern of yours,” I returned coldly.

“It is of great concern,” he corrected me. “It must be a terrible thing indeed if you are here alone. What are you hiding from the others? What are you afraid of your beloved discovering?”

When I did not reply, he strode forward, stepping upon my cloud. As the hem of his dark green robe grazed mine, I fought the urge to move back, refusing to show how much his presence unsettled me.