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The demon stepped past Sky and grinned at Moon. It was a cold thing that threatened to freeze the blood in Chen’s veins. “Do you honestly believe I won’t take you too? He’s avoided his next life for millennia. He’s overdue.”

“I thought you had rules about not taking people before their time,” Moon sneered. “Isn’t it enough that you stole one of my parents ahead of their time? You need to end my life early as well, just to claim him.”

Zalramon took a half step back and cocked his head to the side, his eyes narrowing on Moon. “Huh. You’re that Mullins. I thought you looked familiar.” The demon nodded. “Your mother wasn’t supposed to die in that accident, but she was bound too tightly to your father. There was no separating them.”

Moon stumbled into Chen, leaning on him to remain upright. He seemed to have paled in the dim light of the underworld. Chen lowered his sword and released his hold on Moon’s hand so he could wrap a supportive arm around his lover’s waist.

“Are you all right?” Chen whispered in his ear. Moon needed only to say the word and Chen would launch himself at the demon. No one was allowed to harm his witch.

“Y-yeah. I…I’m okay. Kind of thought that was what happened. Just didn’t know whose time was up,” Moon mumbled.

Harsh lines dug deep into Zalramon’s broad forehead, and his lips turned downward into a sharp frown. “If it’s any consolation, she was torn. Your mother never expected her spell to work out that way. It never crossed her mind that one of them would be called while they were young. She didn’t want to leave you.” For a towering creature, his voice became surprisingly gentle and Chen was reluctant to agree that maybe the demon wasn’t all bad.

“Fine. Okay. You took her early. Then I’m owed. Give me that time for Chen Bo Cheng as retribution for what I was supposed to have with my mother,” Moon snapped.

“He makes a good point,” Sky chimed in.

“He does not! It doesn’t work that way,” Zalramon snarled at the necromancer.

“It could,” a new voice added.

A voice Chen had sworn he’d never hear again.

“You aren’t supposed to be here!” Zalramon snapped.

Chen twisted to see a silvery white figure in long robes walking toward them. His long hair flowed along his back, but the sides were gathered up in a high ponytail, held in place with a jade hairpin. And his smiling face was exactly as he remembered.

“Shifu,” Chen choked out. He released Moon and fell to his knees. He held his hands out in front of him, his sword hilt gripped tightly between them. “Shifu…is it really you?”

Zhang Shi Lei grinned so wide, tears slipped from the corners of his eyes. “My xiao1 Bo, it’s so good to see you,” the ghost murmured, using a nickname Chen hadn’t heard since he was a child.

“Shifu, I thought I would never see you again. I’ve prayed to you so often. I…I…” Chen stammered. His thoughts were a whirlwind while the knot forming in his throat was blocking any more words. Even if he knew what to say, he’d never be able to make a sound.

“Shhh, I’ve heard you. These past centuries, I’ve made friends with old Meng Po while I’ve waited by the bridge. I won’t move on until I’ve seen all our clan members.”

“Shifu, my brothers and I miss you so much.”

The ghost of Zhang Shi Lei placed his hand on the top of Chen’s head and lightly stroked his hair, sending a faint chill along Chen’s spine. “I know. I’ve missed you as well.”

“You’re not supposed to be here,” the demon growled, reminding them they weren’t alone for this reunion. “This wasn’t part of our agreement. You’re supposed to stay by the river.”

Chen clenched his teeth, preparing to snarl at Zalramon, when Zhang’s low chuckle stopped him.

“Yes, yes. I’ll go. When I heard Chen was passing through, I had to leave so I could give him a message.”

Lowering his hands and returning his sword to his sheath, Chen turned all of his attention to his precious teacher. The man who’d been a true father to him. The one who’d shown him love, compassion, and patience. “What message do you have, Shifu?”

“Tell your da-ge that he did the right thing. He needs to trust his instincts. He is wise in experience and has guided our sect well,” Zhang Shi Lei said.

“I will, Shifu.”

The ghost lifted his hand and carefully brushed some hair from Chen’s forehead. “Remind your brother Li Xiang that it is not weakness to rely on another’s strength. Tell Jun-Jun that he is braver than he gives himself credit for.”

“I will, Shifu,” Chen quickly agreed, burning each word into his memory.

“And when you see your didi, you must listen to him and trust in him, Chen. Convince your brothers if you must. Listen to Yichen. He has a hard road ahead of him, but it is the path that he must follow, and I believe he is strong enough to succeed.”