At seven that evening, Yugong Jingyue came back to the Mizumi Clan. Night pooled like ink, and her bucket sloshed like a little pond full of fish. The two sisters walked at her sides like twin moonshadows.

“Lingxiao, Lingsaki. Wait here a moment.” Her cheer was a warm lantern. “I’ll tell Father and Mother. Come in when I call.”

She passed the bucket to a nearby maid, the water glinting like scales in lamplight. Then she led the sisters toward the manor where Yugami Yuu lived, gravel whispering like silver sand.

“Mm, we know.” The sisters answered together, voices braided like ribbons in the breeze.

“Alright, I’m going in.” Her smile curved like a crescent moon.

She pushed the gate open with a soft creak, and the scent of tea drifted out like rising mist.

Inside the hall.

“Father, Mother, perfect timing.” Her words hopped like sparrows to a warm perch.

“Oh? Jingyue, what’s up?” Yugami Yuu looked up from his book, pages rustling like autumn leaves.

“Hehe, I’ve got great news.” She sank onto the sofa, steam from the teapot coiling like silk as she poured herself red tea.

“Great news? What is it?” Yugami Ayane leaned in, eyes bright like dew on fresh grass.

“I’m curious too.” Yugami Yuu set the book down, curiosity lifting like a morning veil.

“Of course it’s huge. Why else would I skip hovering over dinner to bug you two old-timers?” Her teasing lilted like wind chimes.

“Jingyue, how mean! Since when am I old?” Ayane puffed her cheeks, round as two steamed buns and just as adorable.

“Don’t mind me, Mother.” Amusement rippled through Jingyue like sunlight on water. She raised her voice toward the door. “Lingxiao, Lingsaki, you can come in.”

Creak.

The door sighed open like an old pine, and two girls hurried in, steps quick as finches.

“…Lingxiao and Lingsaki! Welcome home.” Yugami Yuu froze for a heartbeat, then his smile rose like sunrise.

“Mhm! Welcome back. It’s been so long.” Ayane’s joy spilled like spring rain. “And congrats on inheriting Daynight Sanctuary’s legacy!”

She stood, arms spreading like warm quilts, and wrapped the sisters in a fierce hug.

“Dad, Mom… we’re back!” Their voices trembled like strings tuned after a long journey.

“…We’re back.” Quiet as soft snow, but bright as embers.

A few minutes later.

Ayane returned to her seat, contentment glowing like a banked hearth, and waved the sisters to sit. Cushions sank like clouds under them.

“Lingxiao, Lingsaki, I didn’t expect it to take so long to see you again.” Yugami Yuu’s restraint sat heavy as a stone; warmth pressed at his ribs like a caged bird. “How was life in the Daynight Sanctuary? Fun at all?”

“Life there?” Yugami Rexi’s tone was flat as still water. “Pretty boring.”

“But we spent most of the time cultivating.” Yugami Rexiao lifted her cup, steam curling like a tiny dragon. “So it felt full. Each new spell was a firefly in the dark.”

“Is that so? You’ve worked hard.” Their parents’ hearts tightened like knotted cords. At ten, they should have been clinging to sleeves like little vines, yet they were sent to train beneath solemn skies.

“Well, we’ve inherited the Book of Day and the Book of Night now.” Rexiao’s pride shone like polished jade. “Hardship was worth it. But little sis is infuriating!”

Just the thought of her lit sparks in Rexiao’s chest like flint on steel. Rexi’s agreement chimed in like a second bell. “Uh-huh, little sis is indeed infuriating.”

“Uh, you haven’t met Littlesky yet.” Yuu’s confusion drifted like morning fog. “How’d she get under your skin?”

“Hehe.” Jingyue’s smile crinkled like starlight. “It’s because Littlesky became a Spirit Envoy.”

“That’s a good thing.” Ayane’s pride swelled like a bright banner. “Why be angry?”

“Ayane, you’re speaking as a mother.” Yuu’s sigh fell like rain on bamboo. “Think it through. Littlesky barely cultivates. Most days she’s playing with the Little Emperor, while Lingxiao and Lingsaki train from dawn to dusk. Now, the two who grind are at Holy Peak, yet Littlesky’s already a Spirit Envoy. It’s normal their heart’s scales feel tipped.”

“Exactly!” The sisters pecked their words like two little hens, sharp and fast. “Why should our sweat be worth less than a slacker’s?”

“Oh, I thought it was something huge.” Ayane waved her hand, easy as a breeze through willows. “It’s simple. Littlesky’s talent is better. Think about it.”

“What!”

“Mom, how could you say that?!” Their tempers flared like summer thunder.

“Sigh, Ayane, you fool!” Yuu tapped her head, a gentle knock like a knuckle on a wooden fish. He turned to the sisters, voice pleading like a hand reached through smoke. “She’s joking. Don’t take it to heart! Hey, no need to flip open the Book of Day and Book of Night… What? You’re going to challenge Littlesky? Don’t! Ayane’s a dummy—don’t believe her!”

“I’m not a dummy! Anyone can see it, I wasn’t even—mmph!” Ayane’s protest cut off as Jingyue’s palm covered her mouth, soft as silk and firm as lacquer.

“Mother, come on.” Jingyue’s sigh floated like a tired crane. “There’s a time and place for being scatterbrained.”

“Unforgivable!” Rexiao’s eyes flashed like drawn blades. “We’re finding little sis.”

“Mm! I won’t cool down till we beat her.” Rexi’s resolve set like ice on a winter river.

Yuu kept soothing, but his words scattered like seeds on stone.

Creak.

The door sounded again, and a maid stepped in, steps crisp as folded paper. “Master, Madam, what happened? It’s been noisy since earlier… Eh, Lingxiao and Lingsaki! When did you return? What’s going on?”

“We came back today.” The sisters’ voices rang like twin bells. “We’re going to challenge little sis.”

“A duel?” The maid tilted her head like a sparrow on a branch.

“Hey, Leihua, help!” Yuu’s panic wobbled like a lantern in wind. “I can’t hold these two back!”

“Okay, okay…” Yugami Leihua hurried to them, hands reaching like nets to catch flying fish. “Lingxiao, Lingsaki, don’t make trouble. What happened?!”

“No way!” Rexiao’s spine straightened like a bamboo stalk. “We’ll prove to Mom we’re better.”

“Ugh, it’s all Ayane’s fault, that idiot!” Yuu’s groan sagged like wet rope.

“Jingyue, why’d you cover my mouth? I’m not dumb! Littlesky clearly—mmph!” Ayane’s words vanished under a swift hand, like a candle snuffed.

“I told you, Mother.” Jingyue frowned, brows like two ink strokes. “Scatterbrain needs a stage, not a hurricane.”

“Ahhh!” Leihua’s cry swelled like surf on rocks. “Can someone explain this chaos? Lingxiao, Lingsaki, calm down!”

…

In the end, the turmoil raged until midnight, like a storm that refused to pass. Only when everyone drooped with exhaustion did it ebb, embers dimming under the high, pale moon.