In our pursuit of power, we often forget that the greatest wounds are not those inflicted by blade or spell, but by the severing of bonds between those we hold dear. A child’s trust, once broken, becomes harder to mend than any physical injury.
— Master Yan Hui, Teacher of Common Wisdom
Spring air whipped through the training grounds as Xiulan adjusted her grip on the horse’s reins. The dappled mare shifted beneath her, muscles tensing. Balancing required precise control of her newfound strength—too much pressure from her thighs would crush the poor beast.
"More speed, Miss Lin! Keep your back straight!" Instructor Han’s voice cut through the morning air.
"On it!" Xiulan leaned forward and gave the reins a gentle snap. The mare responded instantly, hooves thundering against the packed earth as they accelerated around the pen’s perimeter.
"Now halt!"
Xiulan pulled back smoothly. The mare slowed to a trot before stopping at the pen’s center, snorting softly.
"A natural talent for horsemanship, Miss Lin." Instructor Han nodded approvingly.
"Thank you." Xiulan patted the mare’s neck. "Should we venture outside?"
Instructor Han studied them for a moment before striding to the gate. The wooden barrier creaked open, and Xiulan guided her mount through.
The connection between rider and horse felt oddly natural, though Xiulan couldn’t determine if her cultivator abilities enhanced the bond. Her memories provided no reference—Li Mei had only seen horses in pictures and videos, while the original Xiulan remained confined to carriages.
Freedom tasted sweeter from horseback. Her black martial dress split perfectly along hidden seams, the dark fabric stark against the mare’s light coat.
Instructor Han appeared at her side, taking hold of the lead rein. They proceeded through the manor’s western sector, circling the military grounds where soldiers snapped to attention, saluting as they passed.
"I need to visit the Lord’s Pavilion." Xiulan patted the mare’s neck. "We can head to the pavilion, then you can return her to the stables."
"Of course, Miss Lin." Instructor Han adjusted his grip on the lead rein.
They steered away from the military grounds toward Lord Lin’s former residence. The spring breeze carried whispers and shuffling feet as merchants and officials scattered from their path.
Xiulan’s qi rippled through her meridians, disrupted by their obvious avoidance. She drew a steadying breath, focusing inward to smooth the energy flow coursing through her body. She still hadn’t mastered making such things completely reflexive, and her roiling emotions made the process much more difficult.
The rising pavilion emerged ahead, its curved roof stretching toward the sky. Xiulan swung down from the saddle, boots landing softly on the packed earth.
"Thank you for the lesson." She straightened her martial dress. "Remember, we depart for Blackmere tomorrow. The men should be prepared."
"They will be ready, Miss Lin." Instructor Han saluted crisply before leading the mare back toward the stables.
The gate guards snapped to attention as Xiulan approached. She passed through the entrance—a boundary that once marked forbidden territory now opened freely before her. The courtyard opened wide, decorated with carefully arranged stone paths and flowering shrubs.
"Miss Lin." An elderly servant bowed low. "How may I assist you?"
"I wish to see my mother."
"This way, please." The servant guided her to a sheltered gazebo where a tea service awaited. "She will join you shortly."
The gentle rustle of silk announced Zhao Lian’s arrival. Xiulan stood and bowed deeply. The familiar scent of jasmine wafted through the air as Lian approached.
"Mother." Xiulan straightened from her bow.
"Sit with me, daughter." Lian settled onto the cushion across the table. "How are you faring?"
Xiulan sank down onto her own cushion, studying the intricate patterns on the teacups. "My heart wavers these past days. Each step feels uncertain, like walking through mist without a lantern."
A weak smile crossed Lian’s face. "You chose a harsh river to navigate. The current runs swift—too late now to turn back to calmer waters."
The words struck deep. Xiulan released a pained breath. "What I did... it wasn’t evil. They tried to destroy us first. Would have killed us both without hesitation."
Lian lifted her teacup, steam curling around her fingers. "And yet you feel clouded?"
"Yes." Xiulan traced the rim of her cup. "Sometimes I imagine a different path. One where we might have found peace. Zhang Wei..." She swallowed hard.
Her gaze drifted to the scroll in her hand. Lord Lin’s actions began to make a twisted kind of sense.
Offending Zhang’s family, with their ties to the Whispering Shadows Sect, would have been disastrous. Xiulan’s eyes narrowed. Why had he let them sink their claws into the family in the first place?
She let out a sigh. The Whispering Shadows Sect posed the gravest threat. Their expertise in stealth, assassination, and espionage meant Zhang Wei’s safety hung by a thread. It would be difficult to protect him. Whether from assassination or kidnapping.
She couldn’t always be by his side. Even if she tried, it would weaken her ability to confront larger threats. She had crossed into a new realm of power, but maintaining that power required continuous cultivation.
Stagnation invited predation.
She’d learned that well, in her first attempts to form her own settlement in the game. It wasn’t until she had built up several characters to a pinnacle of power and used them to shepherd her lower level ones that she had actually made progress on her long-term goals to build her own settlement in a hidden valley.
Xiulan stared into her teacup, thoughts churning.
The kingdom’s guardian spiritual deities might enforce boundaries between mortal and Wulin communities, but those lines blurred easily near the roots.
A sect could dispatch a dozen body refinement disciples without drawing notice. The real question was Chao’s connection to Whispering Shadows. One family member might prove manageable, but deeper ties...
"Xiulan?" Lian tapped the table. "Are you well?"
"Things feel complicated." Xiulan released a tense breath. "Just thinking through possibilities."
Lian drained the last drops from her cup and set it down with a soft clink. "Visit Zhang Wei while you’re here. He needs his sister. The brightness has left his eyes these past days."
"Of course." Xiulan nodded.
"I’ll send updates when possible." Lian straightened the teapot. "Consider purchasing messenger birds in Blackmere. The Treasure Pavilion should accommodate someone with your... connection."
"You knew about that?" Xiulan’s eyes widened.
"A cart full of cultivation goods arrived at our door." Lian’s lips curved upward. "I’m not blind. Though I still wonder how you established such a relationship."
"Fate." Xiulan offered a weak smile.
She stood and wrapped her arms around her mother. "I’ll find Zhang Wei now. Try to lift his spirits." Lian squeezed Xiulan tight before releasing her.
Xiulan stepped away and headed toward the main building. She looked to a servant for guidance.
"Young Master Wei takes his writing lessons in the east wing," the servant said, bowing deeply.
The indicated room sat empty, scrolls scattered across the low table. Fresh ink stained the bamboo brush holder. Xiulan traced the still-damp characters on an abandoned practice sheet. The strokes showed promise but lacked confidence.
Spring sunlight filtered through the corridors as Xiulan searched. She checked the kitchens, the living areas, and even the storerooms. Each location yielded nothing but worried servants and guards.
A flash of movement caught her attention near the back gardens. Through gaps in the ornamental fence, she spotted Zhang Wei huddled beside a fishpond. He clutched his knees to his chest, staring at the rippling water where koi fish darted beneath lily pads.
Xiulan crept forward across the moss-covered stones. In one swift motion, she wrapped her arms around his shoulders from behind.
"Sister Xiulan!" Zhang Wei yelped, jumping beneath her embrace.
"Thinking about catching dinner?" Xiulan chuckled softly.
Zhang Wei opened his mouth to respond, but deflated instead. His gaze drifted back to the pond, where golden scales flickered beneath the surface.
Xiulan held him close but remained silent, letting him process his thoughts. The spring breeze rustled through bamboo leaves overhead.
"Why did you kill them?" His small voice cracked.
The question hit like a physical blow.
Xiulan tightened her arms around him as he gripped her sleeve. He leaned back against her chest, trembling slightly.
"They..." Xiulan swallowed hard, searching for the right words. "They tried to kill me. They tried to kill Mei Chen. They wouldn’t have stopped until they succeeded."
"Even Father and Suyin?"