Moonlight Mystique

Chapter Sixty-Four

“Hey, have you heard? Something big happened at the Phoenix Tree Martial Banquet!”

“No need to tell me—it’s already spread across the Three Realms that our Immortal Realm has produced such an outstanding figure!”

“An Immortal Lord who ascended in just three years—this hasn’t happened in a millennium! I heard Golden Yao Celestial plans to take him into the Heavenly Palace and personally guide his spiritual cultivation.”

“Tsk tsk, Piaomiao must be over the moon this time. Lord Chong Zhao won the Phoenix Tree Martial Banquet for our Immortal race and secured a hundred-mile blessed land—what a great achievement! With someone like him, I bet it won’t take a century for Piaomiao to claim one of the Three Sacred Peaks.”

“That’s stretching it a bit. Kunlun and Yunxiao have millennia of heritage—they won’t be easily replaced! Besides, all this is just small potatoes. Even though our Immortal race won the banquet, the ones who truly stole the spotlight were the Yao Race. I heard the Lord of Haoyue Palace stepped into divinity in a single stride at the foreign city, slaying evil spirits and subduing a wicked Dragon, then rescuing the Fairy and Demon Disciples before vanishing without a trace. Left the Celestials of the Nine Heavens utterly humiliated.”

“Ah, with the Yao Realm gaining a demi-god, I fear our Immortal race will be at a disadvantage for the next century.”

“The Lord of Haoyue Palace has long been a titan of the Yao Realm. Even if he’s reached demi-god status, he’s only on par with Golden Yao Celestial. As for this young Lord Chong Zhao—he’s achieved so much in just three years of cultivation. Give him a century, and he might surpass the Lord of Haoyue Palace!”

“Exactly! You’re an Immortal—how can you boost the Yao Race’s morale and dampen our own?”

The tea house buzzed with endless arguments. Nearby, at a desolate fortune-telling stall, Bai Shuo, who had been sleeping all day, was roused by the noise. She stretched lazily, glanced at the two or three copper coins in her chipped wooden bowl, then yawned and tossed the tattered “100% Accurate” banner into her little basket before packing up.

Life had been rather bleak since she lost her little apprentice.

“Oh, Immortal Bai, leaving so early today?” Old Man Song, the pork seller next door, called out in his raspy voice.

“The sun’s setting—time to go sleep.”

“Where’s your little apprentice? Haven’t seen him in ages.”

“Ah, don’t mention it. His family’s wealthy—went back to enjoy the good life.” Bai Shuo waved dismissively and shuffled off in her straw sandals.

Under the setting sun, Old Man Song puffed on his pipe, blowing two smoke rings as he watched the figure with the little basket on her back. He couldn’t help but feel she looked rather pitiful.

Boom! Half of the thatched hut collapsed. Bai Shuo, her hair a bird’s nest and her face covered in dust, crawled out from under a half-toppled tree. Two little paper puppets clumsily held out a plate of charred fish for her.

Hands on her hips, Bai Shuo was about to scold them when she noticed how singed and pitiful they looked. Sighing, she silently wolfed down the fish in a few bites, then rolled up her sleeves to fix the house.

By midnight, she had somehow patched up the dilapidated hut. Exhausted and feeling like a limp salted fish, she flopped onto a bamboo chair.

“Mu Mu, I’m thirsty…” She raised her hand to call out, but her voice caught halfway.

Dejected, she withdrew her hand, sighed, and dragged herself to the only well in the yard to fetch water. After searching for a while, she couldn’t even find a bowl, so she plucked a leaf, folded it into a makeshift cup, and lowered it into the well. But her magic was weak—the leaf tore halfway, and the water spilled out, leaving not a single drop behind.

Dizzy and unsteady, Bai Shuo slumped by the well, clutching her chest as her consciousness began to blur.After extracting the heart's blood in the foreign city and damaging her Origin Qi, Bai Shuo felt she would have long kicked the bucket if not for accidentally consuming the Phoenix Heart Flame.

"Master!"

A voice seemed to sound beside her. Bai Shuo suddenly looked up to see a blurry figure of a youth running toward her.

"Mu Mu!"

Delight flashed in Bai Shuo's eyes as she reached out to touch him, but her hand passed right through his body.

What's going on? Bai Shuo examined her palm, then looked up to see the same old locust tree—but beneath it lay her own soundly sleeping form.

She turned back to see her little disciple already by the well, carefully drawing water before hurriedly carrying it toward the back of the thatched cottage.

Bai Shuo quickly got up and followed him.

In the dim little kitchen, a small stove was already lit. The ladle boiled the well water as the young disciple added two or three petals shimmering with Spiritual Qi. Then, from some hidden corner, he produced a jar of Jade Pool water and secretly added a spoonful.

Outside the kitchen, Bai Shuo was dumbfounded.

Peony Immortal Plants and Jade Pool spiritual water—these were rare treasures on the black market! Where had this little blockhead gotten them?

Bai Shuo recalled the occasional missing spirit pearls from her Qiankun Bag and nearly fumed with rage.

No wonder her Spells hadn't improved since arriving in Nanhai City, yet the Spiritual Qi within her had grown steadier than when she was on Misty Isle. This spendthrift was actually brewing her tea with such precious materials!

While Bai Shuo was still inwardly grumbling, the water in the ladle boiled. The little disciple swiftly poured it into a bamboo cup and cheerfully carried it outside.

Bai Shuo turned to see the youth eagerly crouching beside the bamboo chair, holding out the tea as he called softly,

"Master, the tea's ready."

The figure on the chair lazily sat up, stretched, and downed the tea in one gulp. Smacking her lips, she patted the youth's head.

"Mu Mu's tea is the best! So sweet! Disciple, brew more tomorrow!"

"Okay."

The little disciple's lips curved, his entire face alight with joy.

Not far away, Bai Shuo's expression darkened. She really was an idiot—she wanted to march over and kick herself twice. Then she looked up to see the little disciple beneath the tree turning his gaze toward her.

Those eyes seemed to see the real Bai Shuo. He stared at her longingly, lips pressed together as if slightly aggrieved.

"Mu—"

Bai Shuo's throat tightened. Unconsciously, she stepped toward the old locust tree—but the moment she moved, a flash of light scattered the two hazy figures beneath the tree into starlight. Amid the shimmering points, the little disciple's clear, sorrowful gaze remained fixed on her.

The wind blew. Aside from the sparse moonlight filtering through the leaves and the creaking bamboo chair beneath the tree, there was nothing left.

It was an illusion left behind by a Spell—not particularly advanced, something any cultivator could do.

Bai Shuo stepped on the dry weeds in the courtyard and curled her lip.

Why had she taken in such a disciple? Who said he was simple-minded? He sure knew how to twist the knife.

But Mu Mu... that was a once-in-a-millennium great demon. Even I, your master, can't contend with him...

Dejected, Bai Shuo turned—only to step on something hard. Looking down, she saw a translucent jade-green flute.

A-Zhao...

Bai Shuo froze, then picked it up and held it tightly.

She surveyed the wrecked, pitch-black, desolate little courtyard and gave the flute a firm squeeze.Forget it! Whether he's a demigod or not, whether he's going to ascend the nine-layered heavens to become Jin Yao's disciple—if she doesn't go take a look at those two troublemakers and ask them why they abandoned her, the resentment in her heart won't settle even if she lives another hundred years!

Bai Shuo didn’t pause for a second. She dug out the jar hidden in the kitchen corner, slung her tattered little cloth bag over her shoulder, slapped a flying talisman onto her chest without hesitation, and vanished into the moonlight with a whoosh.

On the Phoenix Island of Wutong, within the carefree pavilion, Fan Yue sat half-reclined on the couch, his head slightly bowed. The scent of agarwood curled in the air as his crimson ancient robe sprawled loosely across the couch, revealing the faintly shimmering constellation array on his chest.

Although the Wutong Martial Banquet had ultimately been won by a young immortal, the major disruption midway had left the division of the hundred-mile blessed land at the border between the two realms unresolved. For the sake of fairness, the leaders of both immortal and Yao factions had been invited back to Phoenix Island by the Phoenix Clan.

In the current Three Realms, the Yao Race had produced another demigod in Fan Yue, in addition to Zhen Yu and Chang Mei. In contrast, the immortal faction had only seen Jin Yao reach the demigod level in the past thousand years. If not for the fact that the Phoenix Emperor Feng Yin, with his divine form, had yet to ascend to the Divine Realm, and the Phoenix Clan had always maintained friendly relations with the immortals, the Yao Race might have even gained the upper hand over the immortals.

The Lord of the Bright Moon Palace was renowned throughout the Three Realms for his aloof demeanor. The Carefree Pavilion was the most secluded spot, so the Phoenix Clan arranged for him to stay there, making him neighbors with the Phoenix Emperor in the Wutong Forest.

The roasted chicken on the nanmu table before the couch had been sitting there for a full hour, yet the figure on the couch remained motionless.

Hua Hong nudged Cang Shan, who stood like a mountain guarding the doorway, and peeked inside. "Tsk tsk tsk, he’s not even eating the roasted chicken. Do you think he wants to die right now?"

Cang Shan didn’t even glance sideways, too lazy to humor this woman who clearly had a death wish.

Hua Hong poked him again. "You didn’t see it—oh, the way he was all clingy in the Strange City, demanding kisses and hugs, practically begging to be carried around. Do you think the ancestor inside still remembers—"

Whoosh! The two loose strands of hair on the blacksmith’s forehead were cleanly severed as a silver chain flashed past her cheek, cold and sharp, before swiftly retracting into the room.

Hua Hong’s eyes widened, not daring to even breathe.

"Come in."

A cool voice sounded from inside. Cang Shan glanced at Hua Hong, who blinked and let out a long exhale before turning to follow him into the room.

On the couch, Fan Yue toyed with the silver chain, his gaze indifferent as it settled on Hua Hong.

A shiver ran down Hua Hong’s spine, and she immediately wiped the smirk off her face.

Well, the master was truly back.

"Palace Lord. Elder Feng Xian sent word that the Phoenix Clan will convene a joint assembly in three days to formally bestow the Heart Flame upon Disciple Chong Zhao of the Ethereal Sect and discuss the division of the hundred-mile blessed land with both immortal and Yao factions," Cang Shan rumbled.

Hua Hong raised an eyebrow. "After the mess this martial banquet turned into, the Phoenix Clan is still taking the initiative to handle things? They must’ve already made a decision. With three demigods now in our Yao Race, do the immortals still think they can compete with us?"

Hua Hong had always been bold and unrestrained, and this was no exception in front of Fan Yue.

"The Phoenix Emperor still stands. Why wouldn’t the immortals dare?" Fan Yue narrowed his eyes. "The true enemy of the Bright Moon Palace is not the immortals… not yet."

Hua Hong’s expression darkened. "Palace Lord, you mean… the mastermind behind the chaos in the Strange City?"

Fan Yue nodded and rose, walking to the doorway to gaze outward. The vast expanse of Phoenix Island’s pavilions stretched before him, and his eyes briefly lingered on the Thousand Autumns Pavilion to the far west.

After arriving on Phoenix Island, Zhen Yu had taken up residence in the Thousand Autumns Pavilion."The Wutong Martial Banquet in Yicheng was originally set up for this palace. Who do you think in the Three Realms wants me dead the most?"

Cang Shan spoke solemnly, "The Immortal Clan prides itself on purity and would never commit such vile acts of sacrificing other races."

Fan Yue turned to Hua Hong, "The mastermind not only knows my whereabouts inside out but is also aware of your identity. With the Tiger Clan already extinct, he seeks to unify the Yao Race. Both I and Chang Mei must die."

"Wishful thinking. He only dares to hide like a rat in the gutter, playing these underhanded tricks. I'll tear his lair apart!" Hua Hong, eyes reddened, was about to charge out.

"Come back," Fan Yue commanded coldly. "Even if you dig three feet underground in the Yiwang Palace, you won't find a single trace of his involvement. He's already a demi-god. Even if I were to act, I might not be able to take his life. The Cold Spring and the Bright Moon have long been locked in a fight to the death. There's no need to rush."

"Yes." Hua Hong forcibly suppressed the fury and killing intent in her eyes, then suddenly asked, "Since your awakening, has your cultivation advanced further?"

Fan Yue glanced at her, understanding the implication of her question, and replied directly, "The reason I could sever the Black Dragon's spirit that day was because the divine nature within it was suddenly awakened. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been certain of victory."

"You awakened the Black Dragon's divinity?"

"Not me," Fan Yue paused. "A demi-god's cultivation cannot awaken a Dragon God's Divine Sense."

Hua Hong was stunned. "If even you couldn't do it, who in the stone hall could have awakened the Dragon God's divinity?"

The mastermind had sacrificed an entire race to erase the Dragon God's divinity, turning it into a Sharp Weapon of slaughter. If even Fan Yue couldn't awaken it, who could?

A mischievous face suddenly flashed through Fan Yue's mind. His brow furrowed slightly as a single Wutong leaf drifted down from the courtyard tree into the pavilion, landing in his palm. His expression shifted, and he turned to leave.

"I will be in seclusion for a few days. I will attend the matters between the two clans in three days. Do not disturb me unless necessary."

Fan Yue left in haste. Hua Hong raised an eyebrow and suddenly said, "She's returned to Nanhai City. With her cleverness and her life-loving nature, she won't be involved in the affairs of the two realms anymore."

Fan Yue's steps faltered briefly before he entered the inner chamber.

Once Fan Yue was gone, Cang Shan and Tianhuo visibly relaxed. Cang Shan frowned at Hua Hong.

"Why bring up that half-immortal in front of the master? Ever since he met her, nothing good has happened."

"Idiot. She played our palace master like a fool, coaxing him into becoming her little disciple, and nearly got a demi-god killed in Yicheng. Anyone else would have died a hundred times over for these deeds. Yet look at that half-immortal's little head—still firmly attached to her tiny body, sturdier than a stone pillar. Not bringing her up? What good would that do?"

Hua Hong rolled her eyes and sauntered out.

Deep within the nearby Wutong forest, on the massive branches of the ancestral Wutong tree, a plainly dressed woman lounged lazily, a wooden gourd tied at her waist. A flash of spiritual light, and Fan Yue—who had just declared his seclusion—appeared beneath the tree.

The girl on the branch opened her eyes, stretched, and looked down at Fan Yue.

"Lord Haoyue of the Bright Moon Palace."

"The Phoenix Emperor summons me. May I ask why?"

Fan Yue gazed at the only deity remaining in the Lower Realm and raised an eyebrow slightly, surprised.He had heard of this generation's Phoenix Sovereign—the only Heaven-Defying Fire Phoenix born in over a hundred thousand years, who attained godhood at a mere century old. By the standards of ordinary immortals, her age would barely qualify her as a young maiden.

Yet when Fan Yue saw the Phoenix Sovereign's eyes, he knew the rumors were false. The gaze of the girl before him was steeped in the weight of millennia.

Feng Yin stretched lazily. "In a few days, it will be my Master's birthday. I must journey far, and there is a matter I wish to entrust to the Hall Master."

The Phoenix Sovereign's voice was bright and clear, leaving no room for misunderstanding. Yet even someone as composed as Fan Yue was momentarily stunned.

Before today, he and Feng Yin had not even been nodding acquaintances, let alone kindred spirits. These words were hardly something one would say upon a first meeting.

"What matter might that be, Your Majesty? Please speak."

Though puzzled inwardly, Fan Yue remained outwardly calm.

Feng Yin suddenly leaped down from the tree, landing right in front of him.

"What did you just say?"

Fan Yue blinked. "Your Majesty, please speak."

"Say it again?"

A vein twitched at Fan Yue's temple.

"Your. Majesty. Please. Speak."

Feng Yin coughed, stroking her chin as she circled Fan Yue with an indescribably odd look in her eyes.

Only when the Hall Master of Haoyue finally furrowed his brow and uttered through gritted teeth, "Phoenix... Sovereign...?" did she pause.

What’s wrong with the Phoenix Clan? Is this god an idiot?!

The moment this thought crossed Fan Yue's mind, his lips stiffened. He could almost picture that half-immortal brat hopping around him, gleefully chanting, "Phoenix Sovereign’s an idiot, Phoenix Sovereign’s an idiot!"

Noticing the impatience flickering in Fan Yue's eyes, Feng Yin finally snapped out of it. She jumped back, waving her hands and clearing her throat. "This Sovereign has recently caught a chill—my body is unwell, and my ears aren’t working well. Please bear with me, Hall Master."

Fan Yue was speechless. If not for the unmistakable divine aura emanating from the person before him, he would have thought he’d encountered a ghost.

Damn, this is rare. That old phoenix probably never heard the word ‘please’ from this ancestor’s mouth, hahaha… Feng Yin was inwardly delighted but maintained a solemn expression, unable to resist muttering under her breath as she turned away.

"What did the Phoenix Sovereign say?"

Seeing her muttering to herself, Fan Yue’s eyebrow twitched.

"Nothing, nothing..."

Before Fan Yue could respond, Feng Yin flicked her wrist, summoning a wooden box. Spiritual Qi seeped from within, and Fan Yue’s expression darkened as he fixed his gaze on her.

"What does the Phoenix Sovereign mean by this?"

"This Sovereign would never ask the Hall Master to act without compensation. The contents of this box are my token of gratitude."

Fan Yue narrowed his eyes. "How did the Phoenix Sovereign come by this?"

"The Hall Master should know that divine wood resonates with spirits, drawn by kindred auras. Years ago, a fragment of divine wood fell near the ancestral phoenix tree. This Sovereign, delighted by the find, kept it. When the Hall Master arrived on the island, I sensed a connection and thought it only right to return it to its rightful owner."

Fan Yue’s expression hardened as he stepped forward. "Your Majesty knows its origin?"

"Ancient Bodhi. This Sovereign’s discernment is not so poor as to fail to recognize the Hall Master’s true form."

"Then does Your Majesty know why, eight years ago, this Hall Master’s true form scattered, the divine wood turning demonic and appearing in the Yao Realm?" Fan Yue’s eyes suddenly burned with intensity.

"That, this Sovereign does not know. The world is full of tribulations—perhaps the Hall Master failed in transcending his." Feng Yin shrugged, then added seriously, "The Hall Master need not doubt me. This Sovereign and you share no entangled past."Fan Yue composed himself. Given the Phoenix Emperor's esteemed position across the Three Realms, there was no need for deception. The truth behind his failed Tribulation Transcendence and the identity of the person in his memories would likely only be revealed when his true form was fully restored.

With a resolute expression, Fan Yue accepted the wooden box from Feng Yin's hands. "Your Majesty, please state your request directly. Fan Yue will surely accomplish it for you."

"It's nothing too significant," Feng Yin replied. "In a few days, this emperor will owe a junior a small favor. All I ask is that before your ascension to godhood, you find that child a Dao Companion and personally officiate their wedding."

"What?" Fan Yue froze, wondering if he'd misheard. What had the Phoenix Emperor just asked him to do?

"You heard correctly, Palace Master." Feng Yin clasped his hands behind his back and suddenly leaned closer to Fan Yue's face, holding up two fingers. "This emperor's request is simply... matchmaking. As for who the person is, you'll know in a few days."

Fan Yue's face darkened. Just as he was about to lose his temper, a flash of spiritual light erupted—Feng Yin transformed into a phoenix feather and shot straight into the clouds. "This emperor's request must be fulfilled by the Bright Moon Palace Master! Until we meet again, Palace Master!"

As the clouds shifted and the moon hid behind the wutong trees, the Phoenix Emperor vanished beyond the horizon.

Fan Yue looked down at the Bodhi wood in his hand, his temples throbbing.

Meanwhile, Zhen Yu stood atop the Eternal Tower, watching the divine light disappear into the sky with a puzzled murmur.

"She actually left."

"Who does the Palace Master refer to?"

Fu Ling remained oblivious to the fluctuations of divine light, her face blank with confusion.

Zhen Yu said nothing more, his expression grave. Fu Ling cautiously glanced at his face and ventured, "Palace Master, although Fan Yue escaped with his life this time, we have not come away empty-handed."

"Go on."

"The Hall Master of Haoyue Hall seems to have a weakness. If we exploit it properly, Haoyue Hall will no longer be an impenetrable fortress." Fu Ling spoke softly, but before she could receive a response from Zhen Yu, a light chuckle suddenly rang out. She nervously looked up to see Zhen Yu gazing at her with amusement. Her heart trembled, and she quickly lowered her head.

"If Haoyue Hall has a weakness, so too do my right-hand men," Zhen Yu remarked pointedly before abruptly asking, "When did you plant the Fu Ling Flower Armor on that boy?"

Fu Ling's head snapped up.

In a chamber at the northernmost edge of Phoenix Island, a Golden Core entwined with dark energy crumbled into ashes in Song Feng's hand.

"Traitorous disciple!" He coughed weakly, his already aged face now even more haggard.

"Second Uncle..." Er Yun hurriedly handed him a bowl of medicinal soup infused with Spiritual Qi. "Senior Brother brought this upon himself. Please don't grieve for him anymore—take care of your health."

Song Feng waved his hand. "I know all too well. He was arrogant and self-important from childhood. Even after a century under my tutelage, he never shed his greed for profit. Had I sent him to the Heavenly Palace for punishment earlier, he wouldn't have caused such a disaster!"

"Junior Martial Uncle, don't blame yourself. Your reluctance to harm him was born of kindness," Chong Zhao consoled.

Song Feng looked at Chong Zhao with relief. "Zhao'er, thank goodness for you. If not for your aid to the Hall Master of Haoyue Hall in vanquishing the evil spirits and rescuing the Fairy and Demon Disciples in the foreign city, offsetting the crime, the Misty Sect might have faced annihilation this time."

"Junior Martial Uncle..." Chong Zhao hesitated, wanting to say something, but Song Feng clapped a heavy hand on his shoulder. "Immortal Jin Yao has selected you to receive spiritual teachings in the Heavenly Palace. This journey to the foreign city has also forged a life-and-death bond between you and the Kunlun Sword Cultivators. Truly, misfortune may be a blessing in disguise. Zhao'er, take your senior brother as a warning—never associate with the Yao Race or evil spirits, lest you follow in his footsteps!"

The image of the Fu Ling Flower Armor shattering flashed through Chong Zhao's mind as Song Feng's worried coughing resumed.

Snapping back to attention, Chong Zhao solemnly replied, "Yes, this disciple will remember your teachings, Junior Martial Uncle."

Late at night, Chong Zhao left Song Feng's courtyard, pausing now and then before stopping beneath a stone pavilion.

With both races gathered on Phoenix Island, the distant lights blazed brightly, and disciples from various sects occasionally passed by in small groups. Only the Misty Sect's Pine Crane Courtyard stood in desolate silence.

Under the moonlight, Chong Zhao drew a jade flute from his robes. Just as a faint smile touched his lips, the memory of Bai Shuo rushing without hesitation toward Fan Yue in the stone hall flashed through his mind. A surge of turbid Qi rose in his chest, and he let out a muffled groan, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth as his face turned deathly pale.

A surge of spiritual energy suddenly poured into Chong Zhao's spiritual platform from behind, stabilizing his Dao Heart, which had nearly succumbed to Qi Deviation.

"If you're injured, rest properly. An unstable Dao Heart risks Qi Deviation!"

Hearing the light reprimand, Chong Zhao's expression shifted slightly. He looked up but remained silent.

Fu Ling raised an eyebrow in surprise. "Why are you staring at me? Aren't you going to call me 'demoness' this time?"

"Thank you," Chong Zhao suddenly said.

Fu Ling blinked. "W-what did you say?"

Chong Zhao: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for saving me multiple times."Fu Ling curled her lips. "At least you have some conscience. What, after spending a few days with that little fox of the Fox Clan in a foreign city, you've stopped wanting to kill our Yao Race on sight?"

Chong Zhao shook his head and spoke solemnly, "Immortals and demons are different by nature. I do not wish to have further entanglement with Your Majesty."

"You!" Fu Ling was furious, her face turning cold. "Ungrateful wretch!"

She flicked her sleeve and was about to leave when Chong Zhao's voice sounded behind her.

"Your Majesty has saved me several times. If there is ever anything Chong Zhao can do for you in the future—as long as it does not violate my immortal clan's Dao principles or endanger my Piaomiao—should Your Majesty ask, Chong Zhao will spare no effort."

Fu Ling paused mid-step, pulled a porcelain bottle from her sleeve, and threw it into Chong Zhao's hand. "Who needs your favors? If you want to repay me, your current level of cultivation is far from enough!"

Fu Ling turned and left. Chong Zhao stared blankly at the medicine bottle in his hand and sighed.

Meanwhile, thousands of miles away atop a pile of clouds, Bai Shuo flew unsteadily with a small cloth bag on her back.

A gust of wind blew past, instantly scattering her flying spell.

"Ahhhhhhh! I'm done for, wuwuwuwu!"

With a miserable scream, Bai Shuo plummeted wildly toward the ground below.