Chapter 21. The Heaven’s Arbiter

"Eh?" She was deeply baffled. How could she ever even lean on the master?! "But why, master?" she questioned right after. It was unusual of him. 

"Unless you want the mist to freeze up your hair, I suggest you lean on me." The master replied. 

"Bu—" 

"Should I make you lean on me?" The master asked one more time, delving in even more. Meanwhile, Hatsuki was at a loss for words. Although she swiveled her butt, slowly reaching next to the master, never in her life had she been so close to a man. 

"Is this much okay?" They were still a few inches apart. 

"Move more closer," he said, feeling the side of his ear tingle with redness. The cold misty wind started to cover their vision. It was like a frail white vapor devouring everything in its path until it was all opaque. 

Hatsuki carefully moved back until her back suddenly hit on something warm and hard. She had her head on the master's sturdy chest. In a single touch, she could feel her heart accelerate at a soaring speed.

While the master took a look down on his chest, Hatsuki took a long inhale. Her flustered skin added a touch of glow, and yet, the hairpin irked him.

The master placed his hand on her hairpin and pulled it out, letting her hair loose while the mist completely blocked their path. "Eh?" She was quick to look up but could only see a pair of lips, which were somewhat chapped. Feeling the butterflies flutter around, she cowered away.

The mist had gotten thicker as even the master's hands felt invisible. As Hatsuki looked around, her body parts, even the lower half of her, could barely be seen. 

"What is happening?" she grumbled while still feeling a vague ticklish sensation in her stomach. Each inhale felt like a minute long, especially since she could feel the master's breath on her left ear. 

"We are currently being checked on by the Heaven's Arbiter. Once it's over, we will be at the sect," he replied in a low voice. His hand gently played with Hatsuki's hair. They were soft to touch and had a silky texture. 

"Why am I leaning on you though, Master?" Hatsuki asked while feeling ticklish as the master started to braid her hair. He used the hairpin to separate the parts, and with each strand, he started to fold until no strands were left out. 

"So that you'd not become invisible." He replied with a smile. Though only the edges of his lips had curved up, Hatsuki was in awe. The master had a natural charm after all. 

As they continued their mundane talks, the mist faded away, and then they arrived at the Medicinal Sect, which was located on a vast land raised above the waterfalls. At the center of the raised land was an enormous structure accommodating the heaven's cultivators. 

The boat was docked at the gate of the sect. The master let Hatsuki take the lead as she walked in front of him and got out and raised her palm forward, making the master halt his steps. 

"Let's go," Hatsuki merrily said, waiting for the master to take her hand. It was a simple gesture to a man who had everything in his life, and yet, the master delightfully placed his palm upon hers and got out of the boat. 

The master's fingers were far larger compared to Hatsuki's. Intertwining the palms, they walked up to the gate where a familiar man had been waiting for them.

"Greetings to the Arbiter and Miss Asano." 

"Warm greetings," Hatsuki replied, with the master only giving a nod. Hatsuki had her eyes analyze the man until she finally felt enlightened by the blue robe he wore. He was Kai, the medicinal disciple of the zhenren.

The disciple made no small takes even to the distinguished Arbiter. He simply led the way through the vast manor. While there were a vast number of flowers and herbs grown, there were also very few decorations. After knocking on the door a few times, they entered the chamber of the immortality. 

"Warm greetings to the Immortal Zhenren." Both Hatsuki and Yuki spoke in unison just as Yuki had taught.

"Warm greetings to the Afterworld's Arbiter and Miss Asano," Zhenren answered back. He was an old man in his fifties, a potbelly, and dressed in fine clothes made of golden silk. 

"I hope that you have adjusted to the afterworld by now, Miss Asano." Zhenren tried to familiarize himself with Hatsuki, although it made her feel even more pressured.

"...yes. I have been adjusting, but I am able to navigate better." 

"It just so happens that you are in the same class as my disciple Kai. He is one of the younger ones but is immensely talented with a bright future. You should team up with Kai, oh… Don't be shy; just consider him to be an older brother and ask for help sometimes when you need it." 

Hatsuki could feel that the conversation was flying. It wasn't a mutual conversation at all, but still she had a coy smile.

"I will. Thank you very much. Back in the human world, often the older ladies and uncles would go on about their talks and advice, not truly allowing her to speak back. It felt as though she had gone to the past. 

"That's good, that's good. How about Kai show you around? While I have some private chat with the Arbiter." Zhenren requested, although initially, he had asked to meet Hatsuki. 

"Sure." She stood from her seat, and so did Kai. Giving a bow of respect, both of them left the room, leaving the men alone. 

That very second the temperature of the room dropped. The facade they had kept in the presence of the younger ones had faded. 

"So what is it that you would like to ask?" Yuki made no efforts in side talks and went straight to the main topic.

"As always, never mincing your words, eh? Well, I just had a few things to investigate, that's all." Zhenren's warm eyes had morphed into a laser-like sharp glance. The Arbiter had his head slightly tilted, but at the same time, the door opened without even any greetings. 

"It seems I'm late to gathering." A lazy yet commanding voice entered the room. The man was dressed in a white hanfu, the undereyes dark from lack of rest and his hands folded, letting the long sleeves show off the design of cranes on them. 

"Not at all. You are here, right on time, brother, Yuki replied. His eyes glared at the Heaven's arbiter.

The arbiter took a seat between the zhenren and his sworn younger brother. A few maids too walked in with rice wine and three cups.

"I'm sure you know why we asked you to be here, don't you?" The heaven's arbiter asked the afterworld's arbiter, but the man gave away no words nor any movement in his facial muscles.

"To inquire simply, why are you accompanying her? Your previous attempts have been in vain, and now, once again, you are hurting yourself, Arbiter. Even your eyesight is depleting," Zhenren expressed as he took the bowl of wine instead of a sip; he drank the entire bowl.

"It's merely the eyesight. I'm sure you can medicate it." The underworld's arbiter too gulped down the bowl of wine. A little liquid is spilling down the corner of his lips.

"I cannot," Zhenren replied as he asked for the second refilling.

"What do you mean you cannot?" the heavens' arbiter inquired. His eyes were staring daggers at the immortal while his patience wore thin. 

"It's as I said, arbiter. I cannot treat his eyes. Although the elixir can be sufficient for some time, later it could happen even more." 

"What should he do then?" For beings who lived thousands of years longer than humans, the sight problems could be extremely concerning, especially for someone as young as the Afterworld's Arbiter.

"Perhaps…a human doctor could fix it if possible. He needs to rest in a place where there are no spiritual powers for now." The Immortal Zhenren replied as he gulped down another bowl of wine.

"Seems like we align in timing. I also have a task for you in the human world, and of course, you can take your little wife with you."