The strongest alliances form not from necessity or advantage, but from the unexpected resonance of kindred spirits. When two hearts recognize their shared path, even the heavens must yield to their combined strength.
—Master Song Lin, Scholar of the Jade Path
Xiulan strolled through Blackmere’s market district, humming to herself as she headed back to the Lin Family’s city manor. She’d done a good job getting the items she needed. The scent of grilled meat wafted from nearby food stalls.
A sharp turn around a tea shop’s corner resulted in a solid impact. Xiulan stumbled back, steadying herself against the wall. A young man in expensive silver-trimmed robes glared at her, his cultivation aura pulsing with irritation.
"Watch where you’re—" His eyes narrowed, focusing on her spiritual energy signature. "Wait. I don’t recognize you."
Xiulan blinked. Uhh... was he supposed to?
Five cultivators emerged from behind him, spreading out to block potential escape routes. Their spiritual energy seemed nothing special, not more than her own or Ren Chun’s—but that didn’t mean they didn’t pose a serious threat to her.
The young master’s lips curved into a predatory smile. "Could it be? The rogue cultivator everyone’s talking about?"
"Boys, why rush to collect the bounty?" He adjusted his sleeve cuffs. "We should enjoy ourselves first."
One of his followers thrust his hips forward with an exaggerated grunt. The group erupted in raucous laughter.
Seriously? Xiulan suppressed an exasperated eye roll. Do I have some cosmic sign floating above my head?
"I am Lin Xiulan, sister to Lord Lin and daughter of the regent." Xiulan straightened her spine, projecting authority through her stance. "I have jurisdiction over this city. Such vulgar behavior reflects poorly on your houses."
The young master snorted and waved a dismissive hand. "We aren’t nobles, brat. Capture her!"
Xiulan drew her spear from her back and held it in a ready stance. The cultivators skidded to an abrupt halt on the cobblestones, their boots scraping against stone. Metal sang as they drew their swords in unison, the afternoon sun glinting off polished steel.
"The bounty specified dead or alive." The young master adjusted his grip on his blade. "Makes no difference to me."
"You’re making a grave mistake." Xiulan shifted into a defensive stance. "The bounty isn’t for me—I’m the victim’s daughter."
Okay, that was sort of a lie. But there really wasn’t any point in admitting that.
"Doesn’t matter who you really are." The young master’s lips twisted into an ugly smirk. "Someone will pay good money for you—or at least parts of you on the black market!"
"Stop!" A commanding female voice thundered from above.
Xiulan snapped her gaze upward. A figure soared through the air, performing a graceful somersault before landing on the cobblestones. Sunlight glinted off the woman’s ornate robes as she drew a curved saber from her back. The blade whistled through the air in an elegant flourish.
Was this Ren Chun’s sister or something?
"What do you think you’re doing?" The newcomer pointed her saber at the group. Her stance radiated practiced confidence.
The six men pivoted toward the woman. Xiulan blinked. They’d momentarily forgotten about her?
This is absurd. Xiulan studied her spear with a grimace. She had taken down mortals and beasts with it, but that was more a product of raw speed and strength. She was under no delusion that she’d beat anyone with more training than her unless she overpowered them with raw strength.
And against cultivators at the same level as her, that was far, far from being the case. Facing six would end badly even with this mysterious ally—two against six meant terrible odds.
Time for something decisive.
Xiulan dropped her spear. The metal clattered against stone as she surged qi through her meridians. The energy burned hotter than before, racing through her pathways like liquid fire. Master Qingfeng’s tea must have enhanced her spiritual energy somehow—the intensity threatened to overwhelm her.
No time to analyze it. Her meridians stretched to bursting as spiritual energy overflowed. Xiulan slammed her palms together, channeling the violent qi through the connecting pathways and releasing it forward.
Xiulan glanced at her appraisingly before deciding how to answer. "My brother Zhang Wei shows remarkable resilience for his age." She stepped around a puddle. "Mother—Lady Zhao Lian—has taken control as regent. She’s adapting well to the responsibility."
Feng Yu nodded politely. "That must be challenging for them both."
"The Provincial Prefect promised support. My cousin arrives soon to help manage the aftermath." Xiulan studied the subtle shifts in Feng Yu’s expression.
"Good, good." Feng Yu nodded. "About what happened that night—"
Ah, there it is. Xiulan suppressed a smirk. Looking for information to catch the culprit? Unfortunately, I can’t help you there.
"It remains quite traumatic." Xiulan offered an apologetic smile. "Perhaps we could discuss it another time, when I feel more... settled."
"Oh!" Feng Yu’s cheeks flushed pink. "I apologize for my insensitivity."
"Think nothing of it." Xiulan waved off the apology as they approached the manor gates.
The doors swung open to reveal the main courtyard. Ren Chun stood in the center, his sword flashing in precise arcs as he worked through a complex form. Sweat gleamed on his bare chest as he pivoted and struck at invisible opponents.
"Ren Chun!" Xiulan called out. "Come meet my new friend who helped save me from some rapist asshole in the market district."
Ren Chun’s practice sword clattered to the ground. Both he and Feng Yu stared at her with wide eyes and slack jaws.
"Ah... Miss Lin, you always have a way with words." Ren Chun grabbed a nearby cloth to wipe the sweat from his face. He studied Feng Yu with renewed interest. "I am Ren Chun, disciple of Master Hong Bi." He bowed slightly. "Where do you hail from?"
Feng Yu shifted her weight between feet as she eyed him warily. "I’m a wanderer, though I have family in the Ember Dream Sect." She reached up to brush a strand of sandy hair behind an ear. "Currently seeking to advance my cultivation through travel and experience."
Sunlight caught the amber flecks in her eyes as she turned to Xiulan. "I heard about the bounty. I plan to visit Lin Manor later to see if there’s any way to track down the culprit—if that’s even possible."
A tight knot formed in Xiulan’s chest. She released an anxious breath, the sound barely audible over the courtyard fountain.
"But I didn’t know Miss Lin was a cultivator." Feng Yu tilted her head. "How did that come about?"
Xiulan weighed her words carefully. "Master Qingfeng from Blackmere’s Treasure Pavilion provides me guidance. I am undertaking several important learning expeditions under his direction."
"Treasure Pavilion? Learning expeditions?" Ren Chun scratched his head. "Is that what the blood lotus was about?"
Xiulan nodded. "Next, I must wait a few days before collecting dawn serpent scales." She paused for effect. "From living serpents."
A broad grin spread across Ren Chun’s face. "Then you’ll be calling in that favor soon!"
Xiulan lifted her chin, meeting his eager expression with cool indifference. "Did you assume I would ask you?"
Confusion clouded Ren Chun’s features as his grin faltered.
Xiulan linked her arm through Feng Yu’s, the silk of their sleeves rustling together. "I have a new friend who will definitely help me!"
Perfect excuse to keep her close and away from investigating. The last thing I need is another cultivator snooping around and bothering mother.
"Oh..." Feng Yu glanced at her in confusion, neither pulling away nor returning the gesture.
Ren Chun studied Feng Yu with narrowed eyes. "Can she even help you?"
The question ignited something in Feng Yu. She slipped free from Xiulan’s grasp and squared her shoulders. "I assure you I can." Her hand rested on her saber’s hilt. "I doubt anyone at our level surpasses my blade work!"
Ren Chun straightened, his eyes narrowing. "Master Hong Bi said I was the fastest learning swordsmen he has ever mentored!"
Xiulan’s mouth dropped open slightly. The courtyard’s tension thickened as she glanced between them. Wait... are they actually competing over this?