The Twins Dilemma

As Ao Huli lost himself his work, Ao Qing quietly crept into the Soul Sanctuary, her mastery over the winds allowing her to move with undetectable stealth. She watched as her brother took a short break, pulling out the mirror to study it once more.

When Ao Huli gathered a few scrolls and disappeared into a far room, Ao Qing seized her chance. She darted forward, snatching up the mirror with nimble fingers. Recalling how she thought she had seen her brother activate it, she began to pour her own spiritual energy into the artifact.

But Ao Qing had misunderstood. She didn't realize that Ao Huli had been drawing energy from the mirror, not pushing his own into it. Unaware of her mistake, she continued to funnel her wind elemental energy into the mirror, causing an unforeseen disruption in the delicate balance of the soul river.

Several soul-lights began to flicker and agitate, disturbed by the sudden influx of foreign energy. One soul-light in particular, more affected than the others, started to flicker erratically before dimming to a worrying degree.

Ao Qing's face paled as she witnessed the consequences of her actions. She rushed to the edge of the river, her eyes fixed on the fading soul-light. In a moment of desperation, she lowered herself into the water, her feline instincts screaming in protest as the cold liquid soaked into her robes.

Alerted by the commotion, Ao Huli hurried back into the main chamber. The scene that greeted him - Ao Qing panicking over a dimming soul-light, the mirror clutched in her hand - sent a wave of dread washing over him.

"What have you done?" he demanded, his voice sharp with worry and anger.

Ao Qing looked up at him, her expression a mix of guilt and fear. "I was just trying to activate the mirror," she explained quickly, her words tumbling out in a rush.

Ao Huli's gaze darted to the flickering lily, his mind racing to assess the damage. He moved forward swiftly, pulling his sister away from the water's edge and stepping closer to examine the soul-light.

But as he peered into the lily, he found his vision unclear, the images of the soul's life brief and fragmented. Ao Qing's interference had disrupted the delicate connection, making it nearly impossible to glean the necessary information.

Pulling back, Ao Huli's face was grim with realization. He spun around, hurrying past his sister and beginning to frantically search through the scrolls he had just finished organizing. Tomes and papers flew from the shelves as he tore through them, his movements growing more desperate with each passing second.

"The soul's connection to its body is weakening," he explained, his voice tight with tension.

Ao Qing looked between the lily and her brother, a confused look on her face. "Why is that such a big deal?" she asked, her tone almost petulant. "Aren't these souls about to die anyway?"

Ao Huli whirled to face her, fury sparking in his magenta eyes. "These souls are not dead yet," he snapped, his patience fraying. "They are destined for death, yes, but they have not received proper judgment. There's a process, Ao Qing, and you've just disrupted it!"

Ao Qing pouted at her brother's sharp words, but Ao Huli had already turned back to his frantic search. Finally, he found the scroll he was looking for. Snatching it up, he unrolled it and began to read, his face growing paler with each passing moment.

Curiosity getting the better of her, Ao Qing sidled up beside him, trying to catch a glimpse of the scroll's contents. "What does it say?" she asked, reaching for the paper.

Ao Huli pulled it away from her grasp, rolling it up with a snap of his wrist. He shook his head, his expression grave.

"Souls that become untethered and do not go through proper judgment," he explained, his voice low and serious, "they become powerful, soulless evil spirits. Ghost kings, they're called, and they're incredibly rare because they can only be created through the carelessness of a heavenly official."

Ao Qing's brow furrowed, still not grasping the severity of the situation. "But why should we care?" she pressed. "Ghosts and evil spirits are limited to the ghost realm, right?"

Ao Huli's frustration was palpable as he turned to face his sister fully. "Ghost kings aren't bound by the same restrictions as normal ghosts," he said, his words slow, as if trying to impress the gravity of the situation upon her. "They lack souls, Ao Qing. They can cross realms, cause untold damage."

He took a deep breath, his grip on the scroll tightening. "The last ghost king killed several heavenly officials sent to apprehend him. It took the previous Heavenly Emperor himself to bury the creature under a mountain, and even then, it was only after the ghost king had wreaked havoc in the mortal realm."

Ao Huli's gaze bore into his sister, willing her to understand. "This is bad, Ao Qing. Very, very bad. We need to find a way to stabilize that soul before it's too late."

Ao Qing's eyes widened as the weight of her actions began to sink in. She looked back at the dimming lily, then at the mirror still clutched in her hand.

"What do we do?" she asked.

Ao Huli was already moving, his mind racing as he tried to formulate a plan. He knew they had precious little time before the soul-light flickered out entirely, before the ghost king was born.

Ao Qing's eyes widened with a sudden idea. "I can try pouring my spiritual energy into it!" she exclaimed, reaching for the lily.

Ao Huli's hand shot out, grasping her wrist in a firm grip. "Don't touch anything," he snapped, his voice sharp with anger and worry. "You could potentially speed up the rate of decay of the soul."

Ao Qing swallowed hard, her earlier bravado fading in the face of her brother's ire. "Then what can we do to prevent the soul from flickering out?" she asked, her voice small.

Ao Huli's gaze darted around the room, taking in the scattered scrolls and tomes. "I can try to find something with information on how to fix it, there must be something in these texts, some precedent or procedure for this kind of situation." he said, his words rushing out in a tense stream. "But I don't know how much time we have."

He looked down at his feet, his fists clenching at his sides, his jaw tight with tension. Then, with a deep breath, he looked up, his magenta eyes filled with resolve.

"We need to tell an adult," he declared, his voice firm.

Ao Qing's reaction was immediate and explosive. "No!" she yelled, panic flooding her features. "I'll be in severe trouble if Yan Wang or Meng Po find out and tell our parents!"

Ao Huli's eyebrow twitched, his patience wearing thin. "Then that's just what you'll have to deal with," he said, his tone brooking no argument. "This is the consequence of your actions."

He turned to walk away, but Ao Qing lunged forward, wrapping her arms around his waist in a desperate attempt to halt his progress.

"We can't tell anyone!" she pleaded, her voice edging into a wail.

Ao Huli pried her hands off him, stepping back and turning to face her fully. For the first time in their lives, he raised his voice to her, his words sharp with frustration and anger.

"It's because you can't control yourself that we're in this mess!" he shouted.

He turned again, ready to march out and confess their mistake, but Ao Qing's next words stopped him cold.

"You'll just do what you always do!" she yelled after him, "That's why our parents love you more!"

Ao Huli froze, his back to his sister. Slowly, he turned to look at her, his heart clenching at the sight of her kneeling on the floor, wiping her eyes with her sleeve.

With a deep sigh, he walked back to her, offering his hand to help her up. At first, she turned away from his outstretched palm, but when he gestured again, she grudgingly took it, allowing him to pull her to her feet.

"Ao Qing," Ao Huli said, his voice gentle but firm, "this is more important than the two of us getting into trouble. People could die if we don't fix this."

He exhaled deeply, steeling himself for what he was about to say. "I'll tell the adults that I'm the one who messed up. You won't get in trouble."

Ao Qing's head snapped up, her red eyes wide with shock. "No!" she exclaimed, shaking her head vigorously. "You can't do that either!"

Ao Huli spread his hands in a helpless gesture. "What other options do we have?"

Suddenly, a voice from behind them made both twins jump.

They spun around to see Yan Wang standing in the entrance of the sanctuary, his ancient eyes taking in the scene before him - the scattered scrolls, the dimming lily, the guilty faces of the young gods.

He shook his head, grumbling something under his breath about teenagers. Ao Huli immediately turned to bow and apologize, but Yan Wang held up a hand, silencing him.

"The soul's connection to its mortal body has been severely weakened," the old god said, "We can waste no time in restoring it."

Ao Huli nodded, his posture straightening again. "What can I do to remedy the situation, Master Yan Wang?"

Yan Wang's expression was serious as he replied. "There's only one way to reunite a soul with its host - you must physically bring the soul to its body."

He gestured to the flickering lily, his movements sharp and precise. "You need to go to the mortal realm and find the person to whom this soul belongs. By reestablishing a direct connection, you might be able to strengthen the soul's tie to its body. Once it is tethered again, it should reappear here, in the soul river."

Ao Huli's brow furrowed, "But venturing into the mortal realm... there are limitations on our divine powers there, aren't there?"

Yan Wang nodded grimly. "Indeed. This task is perilous, but it's the only way."

Ao Qing stepped forward, her earlier fear now gone. "I'll go," she declared, "This is my fault. I should be the one to fix it."

But Yan Wang shook his head, "It's better if Ao Huli goes alone," he said firmly. "There will be less attention drawn to him, and he can work without having to worry about babysitting you."

Ao Qing's face flushed with anger at the god's blunt words, but she bit her tongue, knowing that arguing would only waste precious time.

Ao Huli stepped forward, his shoulders squared and his head held high. "I'll do it," he said, his voice steady despite the weight of the task before him. "I'll go to the mortal realm and find this soul's host."

Yan Wang nodded, a flicker of approval in his ancient eyes.

"Listen carefully," he said, his voice low and serious. "I will not tell anyone about this situation, and I'll take care of hiding the lotus for now. But Ao Huli, you must hurry. The soul's time is running out."

Ao Huli nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. "Master Yan Wang," he said, "how exactly am I supposed to go to the mortal realm? Only gods and certain spirits can freely move between realms, and I'm just an unnamed spirit, not yet granted godhood."

Ao Qing cut in, her eyes wide with hope. "Can't you take him there, Master Yan Wang?"

But Yan Wang shook his head, his expression apologetic. "Although I am a god," he explained, "I've never descended to the mortal realm before. I was born as a spirit, so it would be difficult for me to bring another person with me."

Ao Huli's mind raced, trying to find a solution. "Is there anyone you know who could help us, Master? Someone who would keep our secret?"

Yan Wang stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Do either of you know a seasonal spirit? They often descend to the mortal realm to perform their respective duties."

The twins exchanged a glance, a flash of recognition passing between them. Yan Wang, seeing their shared thought, nodded approvingly.

"I will keep the soul stable for now," he said, his voice firm. Then, turning to Ao Huli, he added, "But you must get some rest before venturing into the mortal realm. You'll need all your strength for this task."

Ao Huli and Ao Qing bowed deeply to Yan Wang, their movements synchronized in respect and gratitude. With a final, determined nod, they turned and headed for the sanctuary door.

As they stepped out into the night, the realization of how late it was hit them. The celestial city was quiet, most of their family and the person they hoped to ask for help likely already asleep.

Silently, they made their way back to the golden palace, slipping into their respective rooms without a word. But instead of succumbing to the pull of sleep, Ao Huli sat cross-legged on his bed, his mind too full of worries to rest.

He closed his eyes, focusing on his breathing as he attempted to manipulate his aura, just as his grandfather Ao Bing had instructed. The hours ticked by, the night giving way to the first hints of dawn, but still, Ao Huli persisted, determined to make some progress before his journey.

When the sun finally crested the horizon, Ao Huli emerged from his room, dark circles beneath his magenta eyes. As he stepped into the hallway, a pair of his younger siblings raced past him, each clutching a delicate paper crane in their hands.

Curious despite his exhaustion, Ao Huli followed the sound of excited chatter to the main living area. There, he found most of his siblings, some already playing, others still finishing their breakfast.

His parents, Ao Liu and Xiaohei, stood off to the side, engaged in a quiet conversation. Xiaohei had one hand cupped gently around Ao Liu's chin, a tender gesture that spoke volumes of their love.

As Ao Huli entered the room, his parents turned to greet him, their smiles warm and welcoming.

"What's all the commotion about?" Ao Huli asked, gesturing to the lively scene before him.

Xiaohei opened his mouth to respond, but before he could, a small voice piped up from nearby. Ao Huli turned to see Ao Jia, his twelve-year-old sister, standing proudly with a paper crane in her hands.

"Ao Jia was assigned her divine task yesterday," Ao Liu explained, his voice filled with fatherly pride. "She's been showing everyone the creation her master gave her."

Ao Jia held the paper crane up for Ao Huli to see,. "My master, Fuxi, made it." she stated candidly.

Ao Huli's eyebrows rose at the name. Fuxi, the God of Invention, was known for his brilliant but often unpredictable creations. He took a small, cautious step back, eyeing the delicate crane with a mix of curiosity and wariness.

Xiaohei, noticing his son's reaction, let out a warm laugh. "Don't worry, Huli," he said, his green eyes twinkling with amusement. "This one hasn't caught fire or exploded like some of Fuxi's previous inventions."

Ao Huli, more relaxed now, leaned forward as he regarded the delicate paper crane. "What is that?" he asked, his gaze fixed on Ao Jia's creation.

"It's a communication device," the 12-year-old explained, retrieving a sheet of paper from her sleeve. Without a word, she then reached her hand out expectantly towards their fathers. Comprehending her unspoken request, Xiaohei stepped forward and placed a calligraphy brush in her outstretched hand.

Ao Jia's movements were precise and measured as she deftly inscribed characters across the paper's surface. Folding the sheet into the delicate form of a crane, she whispered something to the origami creation before releasing it.

The paper bird took flight, floating weightlessly between the two siblings. "All you have to do is imbue it with spiritual energy," Ao Jia intoned, "and..."

Her words trailed off as the crane vanished from sight, a chiming sound echoing from across the room. Ao Chih-Hao, his cheeks bulging with a mouthful of congee, startled as the paper crane materialized before him. Hastily, he unfolded the missive, his eyes scanning the words.

Ao Chih-Hao's response was an indignant shout, directed squarely at Ao Jia. Holding up the letter, he exclaimed, "You wrote that I need to chew my food better!" He then pointed accusingly at the paper, adding, "And you drew a picture of me as a pig!"

Ao Liu regarded Ao Jia with a disapproving frown, but the girl continued on in her typical monotonous tone.

"If big brother needs to get a message to someone quickly, this is a good way to do it," she stated matter-of-factly. Pausing, Ao Jia's expression became slightly pensive.

"Though," she added, "it's not foolproof. Master Fuxi has been running into an issue where it doesn't deliver every single message that's sent." Her brow furrowed slightly. "So if you need something urgent, I recommend doing it in person."

Reaching into her pocket, Ao Jia produced a stack of the origami papers, offering them to Ao Huli. "I want everyone in the family to have at least a stack of these," she said flatly.

Ao Liu spoke up again, "We're celebrating your new job tonight, Ao Jia," he said. "What would you like to eat?"

Ao Jia's bored gaze swept the room, and she simply shrugged. "My siblings can pick what they like," she replied, her monotonous tone unchanged.

Ao Huli bowed respectfully to his younger sister, and Ao Jia mirrored the gesture, her hands cupping before her. With that, she turned and walked away, pausing only to deliver a light smack to the back of Ao Chih-Hao's head as she passed him.

Ao Liu called after her, his voice edged with frustration, before hurrying to follow and presumably reprimand her further.

Xiaohei moved to speak again, but was interrupted by a tugging at his pant leg. Looking down, he found little Ao Sheng peering up at him, the toddler's face scrunched in a whimper as he reached up.

Xiaohei sighed fondly, scooping the child into his arms. With Ao Sheng settled, he turned his attention back to Ao Huli.

"How is your work coming along?" Xiaohei asked, his voice gentle. "Are you feeling any better about your position?"

Ao Huli tensed slightly, the weight of the previous night's events evident in the tightness of his expression. Before he could respond, however, the boisterous arrival of Ao Qing interrupted them.

The doors burst open as Ao Qing strode in, yawning dramatically and stretching her arms overhead. "What's for breakfast?" she asked.

Xiaohei greeted his daughter, and immediately, little Ao Sheng began to fuss, reaching out with chubby hands toward Ao Qing. Transferring the toddler into her arms, Xiaohei inquired, "How did you sleep?"

Ao Qing's response was a noncommittal shrug, her gaze sliding toward Ao Huli. The twins exchanged a weighted look, a silent communication passing between them.

Turning his attention to Ao Qing, Xiaohei asked, "And how is your job going?"

"Boring," Ao Qing replied with a sigh, "but at least I know I can handle it."

Nodding, Xiaohei shifted his focus. "And what about you two?" he asked, addressing the twins. "Do you have any plans for your day off?"

At this, Ao Huli visibly tensed, but Ao Qing casually interjected, "We were actually thinking of visiting the flower manor," she said offhandedly.

Suddenly, a loud exclamation of "WHAT?" rang out from both sides of the twins. Seemingly appearing from nowhere, Ao Fang and Ao Min popped up, their eyes gleaming with excitement.

Seeing the energetic twins, little Ao Sheng began to fuss again in Xiaohei's arms. Exasperated, Xiaohei addressed the baby, sighing, "You can never make up your mind on who you want to go with."

With that, Xiaohei transferred Ao Sheng over to Ao Fang, who immediately began spinning the toddler around in gleeful circles, the baby's giggles filling the air.

Ao Min turned to Ao Qing and Ao Huli, practically vibrating with enthusiasm. "You're really going to the flower maidens' hut?" he asked, his voice brimming with excitement.

Ao Huli's expression shifted to one of silent pleading, his red-tipped ears twitching as he tried to nonverbally convey to Ao Qing the importance of keeping quiet. 

Ao Huli opened his mouth, clearly intending to discourage the younger set of twins, but before he could speak, Ao Qing chimed in.

"Yes, we are," she stated bluntly.

Realizing he had to mitigate the situation, Ao Huli quickly added, "We're going there on business. You two shouldn't come along."

Ao Fang abruptly stopped spinning with Ao Sheng in his arms, the sudden lack of motion causing the toddler to fuss. Shooting an angry glare at Ao Huli, Ao Fang demanded, "What are you planning on doing over there?"

Sensing his brother's train of thought, Ao Min stepped forward, clenching his fists. "You'd better not be getting any ideas about Nu Jinhua," he declared. "He's mine!"

"No, he's mine!" Ao Fang corrected, slamming his forehead against Ao Min's.

The twins glared at each other, their faces mere inches apart, before suddenly leaning back. An odd resignation seemed to settle over them.

"He's ours," they declared in unison, bowing to each other formally.

Ao Min and Ao Fang immediately turned their attention back to Ao Huli and Ao Qing, their eyes shining with excitement.

"Are you going to let us come with you?" Ao Min asked eagerly, practically bouncing on his toes.

Ao Huli opened his mouth, likely to make another attempt at an excuse, but Xiaohei spoke up before he could.

"Actually," the father said, "we're missing a few ingredients for the celebration tonight. If you two went with your brother and sister, the four of you should be able to carry everything back."

Ao Qing groaned audibly, shooting Xiaohei a look of exasperation. "Why can't the servants just go to the market?" she complained.

Xiaohei frowned slightly, a hint of firmness entering his voice. "The other heavenly officials have their own duties to attend to," he replied. "This is a small family event - I'm asking you to take Ao Min and Ao Fang along."

The twins immediately responded with matching smug grins, their eyes gleaming. Ao Qing let out another resigned groan, then turned to the eager pair.

"Come on, then," she said, beckoning them to follow. "Let's get this over with."

Ao Min and Ao Fang cheered excitedly, handing Ao Sheng back to their father and falling into step behind their siblings as they headed out. Ao Huli trailed after them, his expression tense, but he knew better than to openly protest their parents' directive.