The most dangerous enemies are not those who strike from shadows, but those whose grievances stem from blood spilled by our own hands. Each drop calls for an ocean in return.
—Master Wu Zhi, Commander of Ten Thousand
Xiulan watched Ren Chun and Feng Yu across the garden. They spoke in hushed tones while her brother Zhang Wei practiced nearby. His wooden sword cut through the air with determined swings.
The sweet scent of jasmine tea wafted from her mother’s cup as she poured. Behind Xiulan, Mei Chen knelt on an embroidered cushion with unnatural stillness—almost perfectly adapting her previous demeanor as her maid.
"The Chao family delivered their demands a few days ago." Lian set down the delicate pot. "They insist we surrender ourselves for trial in their domain regarding Madam Zhang and her children’s deaths."
Xiulan gripped her teacup tighter. "What happened during the attack?"
"Two assassins breached our defenses. They cut down dozens of guards like wheat." Lian ’s hands trembled. "If Ren Chun hadn’t arrived when he did..."
"He helped you escape?"
"Yes. He got Zhang Wei and me to safety, then faced both assassins alone outside the manor walls." Lian ’s eyes drifted to where Ren Chun stood. A subtle flush colored her cheeks.
No. Stop right there. Xiulan forced her thoughts away from that particular path. Her mother was a widow, yes, and Ren Chun... No. Absolutely not.
"What about Cousin Min?" Xiulan asked quickly.
Lian shook her head. "We’ve sent a dozen messengers. None of them have returned. The Chao family must be blocking communications with the prefecture. No reinforcements or word has arrived either."
The tea cooled in Xiulan’s cup, untouched. She studied the rippling surface, thinking.
"We need information from beyond the county borders." Xiulan set her cup down with a sharp clink. "The Chao family wields far more influence than our current resources can match." The admission tasted bitter. "Father understood their reach. He was right to be worried about what they could do, at least."
Her fingernails dug into her palms. Despite everything she’d learned, she couldn’t excuse his choices, though—even if the threats had been real.
"I’ve sealed the manor," Lian said. "But none of my messengers to the city returned either. After that I sent a platoon of soldiers. Like the messangers, they did not return."
"We encountered two of their cultivators yesterday. They were likely responsible." Xiulan straightened. "Feng Yu and I eliminated them. For the soldiers... we cremated their bodies at the crossroads at the bottom of the mountain."
Lian’s teacup froze halfway to her lips. "Then what happened in the city?"
"The manor lies in ashes. Our people scattered—I don’t know where." Xiulan’s jaw tightened. "The magistrate I appointed... they cut him down. The remaining officials hide like rats."
"The Chao family musters an army." Lian’s hands trembled as she set her cup down. "Our soldiers prepare here in the manor, but we lack the numbers to challenge them."
"Ten thousand men march toward us." Xiulan’s words fell like stones. "Plus an unknown force of cultivators."
The color drained from Lian’s face. She glanced between Feng Yu and Ren Chun across the garden. "Perhaps... perhaps we should abandon the county. Even with three cultivators, the Lin family cannot—" Her voice cracked as worry etched deep lines around her eyes.
"Things aren’t hopeless." Xiulan straightened her spine. "Feng Yu and I acquired substantial funds recently. The Chao family’s bounty on m—" She caught herself. "On that rogue cultivator attracted numerous mercenary cultivators to Blackmere. The Treasure Pavilion can help us hire them for battle."
Lian frowned at her teacup. "Mercenary cultivators."
"As long as our spiritual forces outnumber theirs, the number of regular soldiers won’t be decisive." Xiulan traced the rim of her cup. "Even so, with the county seal and a writ from our family head, I can conscript forces from Blackmere City."
She paused, considering the logistics. "Though we’ll need to transport the manor’s armory there first. The city’s weapon stores burned in the attack."
Steam curled from Lian’s cup as she released a pained breath. The jasmine scent couldn’t mask the bitter undertone in her words. "I never expected any of this."
Xiulan reached across the table and squeezed her mother’s hand. The familiar softness of her skin brought back memories of childhood comfort. "We have to be strong now."
"Of course you’re not alone." Ren Chun strode across the garden with confident steps.
"Things aren’t as dire as they appear." Feng Yu followed close behind.
"So." Feng Yu shifted her amber gaze between them. "That just leaves the question of who does what?" She fixed her stare on Ren Chun.
"I’ll stay here to protect the manor," Ren Chun declared.
Xiulan noticed her mother’s cheeks flush pink as she looked away, suddenly fascinated by the garden’s flowering bushes. No. Absolutely not. I refuse to acknowledge this.
"Perfect." Feng Yu adjusted the saber at her hip. "I believe I can help convince Lord Min to support our position."
Xiulan released a heavy breath. "I don’t know how I can ever repay either of you."
"Don’t be silly." Feng Yu waved dismissively. "You’re my martial sister now—these trials make excellent training."
"What!" Ren Chun’s eyes widened. "Martial sister?"
Mei Chen rose from her cushion in one fluid motion and settled next to Xiulan. "Neither of you get her."
A weak laugh escaped Xiulan’s lips. Ren Chun and her mother stared at Mei Chen with matching expressions of bewilderment—this marked her first words since arriving.
"Didn’t we agree to share?" Feng Yu raised an eyebrow at Mei Chen.
"But now there’s another one." Mei Chen glanced between Ren Chun and Lian. "Auntie doesn’t count though."
Lian pressed her fingers to her mouth, suppressing laughter. "I’m relieved to hear that." She softened her gaze. "And I’m so happy to see you recovering, Mei Chen. I feared the worst."
A puff of frost escaped Mei Chen’s lips as she examined her pale hands. "I’m... different now."
Xiulan wrapped her arms around Mei Chen’s shoulders. "Even if you’ve changed, we still care for you just the same."
A gentle smile spread across Mei Chen’s face. "I’ll stay with Xiulan."
"Yes, that was the plan all along." Feng Yu shifted her weight shaking her head with a smile.
"Good!" Mei Chen’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction.
Xiulan turned to her mother. "I’ll need an official writ and the family seal to mobilize forces." She rubbed her temples. "The city manor signet might still be in the ruins. Or someone might have managed to salvage it during the evacuation."
"No!" Zhang Wei bounded across the garden, wooden practice sword clutched tight.
Every head turned toward him.
Zhang Wei planted his feet and lifted his chin. "You can’t have it." He pointed the practice sword at Xiulan. "I’m the new lord of the family. Ren Chun should get it instead!"
The practice sword clattered against the stone path as Zhang Wei spun and sprinted away.
Xiulan released a pained breath.
"I’ll speak with him." Lian rose from her cushion, smoothing her robes.
Xiulan nodded. The weight of Zhang Wei’s rejection pressed against her chest. How could he ever forgive what I did to Father and Suyin?
After their footsteps faded, Ren Chun’s boots scraped against stone. "Now that we’re alone..."
Steel whispered against leather as he drew his sword. "We need to have a chat."
Feng Yu’s amber eyes widened. Her hand darted to her saber’s hilt.
"Why have you brought a wrathful spirit here?" Ren Chun’s blade caught the sun. "What karma follows someone who murdered their own family, Lin Xiulan?"
Xiulan pushed to her feet. Every muscle tensed as her qi surged through meridians primed for combat.
A bone-chilling hiss erupted from Mei Chen. Frost crystals swirled through the air around them, transforming the nearby air into winter’s breath.