Xiulan adjusted the straps of her travel pack as dawn painted the eastern sky in shades of amber and rose. The cobblestones of Blackmere’s main street opened wide for their small group. Mei Chen walked close beside her, while Feng Yu and Ren Chun bickered about optimal travel formations a few paces ahead.
"We should maintain a diamond pattern," Ren Chun insisted, sketching shapes in the air. "Maximum coverage for detecting threats."
"A linear formation provides better mobility and speed." Feng Yu pointed toward the distant mountains.
Xiulan breathed in the crisp morning air, savoring the familiar scents of fresh bread from nearby bakeries. Their departure drew curious onlookers—merchants setting up stalls paused their work to watch, while early risers whispered behind raised hands.
"Xiulan." Mei Chen tugged at her sleeve, pointing toward a shadowy alley. "Someone watches."
The group paused.
Ming Lihua emerged from the darkness, carrying a small wooden box. "A parting gift." She pressed the container into Xiulan’s hands. "Extra talismans for emergencies."
Xiulan stowed the box in her pack. "Thank you, Ming. I hope we see you again."
Ming nodded then slipped a small golden necklace out of her robe and offered it to Mei Chen. "This is from Master Qingfeng. He said to tell you this one is removable... by anyone."
Mei Chen accepted it with a nod then slid it around her neck. There was a small wash of cool air that disappeared after a second... and that was all. "Thank you, tell Master Qingfeng I appreciate his help."
Ming nodded.
Xiulan thanked her again and then the group was on its way again. The extra weight in her pack didn’t settle her nerves. If anything the box made her more anxious. If the talismans were a gift... they would probably need them. The journey to Aeris would be another test.
"If you two are done arguing about formations," Xiulan said, "we should reach the foothill path before the merchants’ caravans clog the roads."
Feng Yu and Ren Chun fell silent, falling into step beside her as they approached the city gates. The guards snapped to attention, pulling the heavy doors wide.
Xiulan led them out of Blackmere’s gates and onto the packed dirt road. The morning carts were already lurching to a start to enter the city and deliver the precious rebuilding supplies.
The morning dew dampened their boots as they walked through patches of long grass beside the path. The merchants’ carts rattled past.
Once they were out of the rush, Ren Chun walked ahead, scanning the treeline. Feng Yu kept pace behind him while maintaining a careful distance.
Mei Chen sniffed the air and glanced over her shoulder. "Three merchants following us. They smell of silk and tea leaves."
"Just traders headed to the mountain markets." Xiulan adjusted her pack straps. The familiar weight of Severing Light pressed against her shoulder, its presence reassuring as they left the city’s protection behind.
The sun climbed higher as they walked, burning away the morning mist. After a few hours Xiulan pulled out her water skin, taking a measured sip before passing it to Mei Chen.
She breathed in the fresh mountain air as their group followed the well-worn path skirting the foothills. Wildflowers dotted the grasslands in splashes of purple and gold, their petals dancing in the gentle breeze.
"These mountain lilies smell like peaches." Mei Chen crouched beside a patch of pink blooms.
"Those are clearly dawn roses." Feng Yu crossed her arms. "The petal structure is completely different."
"I can smell better than you." Mei Chen stood, pointing at the flowers. "Mountain lilies have a sweet scent like Xiulan. Dawn roses smell like morning dew." Mei Chen glanced at Feng Yu. "If you like her, you should at least know what she smells like!"
Xiulan blinked. What?
Feng Yu’s cheeks heated up and hurried down the path.
Did Mei Chen just rout Feng Yu?
They had been encouraging her to speak up but... Seeing their fiery companion run away with red cheeks wasn’t a normal outcome.
Ren Chun looked just as perplexed as Xiulan felt as Feng Yu marched past him and to the front of the line.
Mei Chen let out a pleased sound and then came over to claim an arm.
Xiulan raised an eyebrow. "Hello?"
Mei Chen smiled. "Miss! Today’s really nice."
"Did you absorb some cat qi or something?" Xiulan chuckled.
Mei Chen tilted her head. "I’m still mostly yin and water!"
"That’s not—" Xiulan shook her head. "Nevermind. Yes it’s a nice day."
They continued on. The road avoided going up into the mountains prefering to stay at the foot and wind around them. They didn’t take a break at noon to eat—none of them needed it.
"I haven’t participated in any." Mei Chen fidgeted with her safety seal.
Feng Yu traced a glowing pattern in the air. "Standard formation arrays channel and amplify qi through elemental resonance. Each position feeds energy to strengthen the whole."
"The elements flow in a specific order." Ren Chun drew a circle in the dirt. "Wood feeds fire. Fire creates earth. Earth produces metal. Metal enriches water. Water nourishes wood."
"Like the cycle of seasons." Feng Yu pointed to each position. "My fire techniques would strengthen Ren Chun’s earth abilities."
Xiulan watched Mei Chen study the diagram intently. The ghostly cultivator tilted her head, processing the information.
"But what about opposing elements?" Mei Chen crouched beside the dirt drawing. "Water extinguishes fire."
"Exactly." Ren Chun nodded. "Incorrect positioning creates destructive interference. The formation collapses."
"With our abilities..." Feng Yu traced new connections. "I command fire. Ren Chun wields earth and water. Mei Chen focuses on water. Xiulan can channel all five."
"And the multiplier effect?" Mei Chen sniffed at the glowing patterns.
"A properly aligned four-person array amplifies the anchor’s power sixfold." Feng Yu sketched additional symbols. "With our elemental spread, we could achieve significant resonance."
Xiulan studied the formation etched in the dirt. The interconnected lines of qi flow reminded her of a circuit diagram. "I’ll take wood position. It’s the only configuration that maintains balance." She pointed to the center. "Ren Chun will need to anchor."
Mei Chen bounced on her toes, pointing at each person in turn. "Water for me." Her finger moved to Xiulan. "Wood." To Feng Yu. "Fire." Finally to Ren Chun. "Earth."
"Exactly." Feng Yu traced the connections in glowing qi. "A full circle would provide more power, but we lack a fifth member."
Ren Chun nodded. "The terminated formation limits us to earth-based techniques. A circle would allow us to pass control between members."
"True." Feng Yu drew additional symbols. "That level of coordination requires extensive training together, though. Most teams spend years perfecting the transitions."
Xiulan shifted her grip on Severing Light. "If they counter Ren Chun’s earth with wood techniques, we’ll need to break formation."
"Then we pivot to support my fire." Feng Yu nodded decisively. "Ren Chun and Mei Chen can combine water to boost your wood output. That feeds my flames—"
"And burns through their defenses." Ren Chun stood, brushing dirt from his knees. "Good plan."
Xiulan shifted her weight, gripping Severing Light tighter. "I should mention—I haven’t practiced much with elemental qi. My wood element will be particularly weak."
Feng Yu shook her head. "Your contribution matters less than maintaining the flow."
Xiulan nodded, but doubt gnawed. Despite her balance, she’d focused primarily on working with yin and yang and just... pure output through her meridians.
"Can you show me how it works?" Mei Chen asked.
Feng Yu and Ren Chun nodded.
"We’ll make a two person array," Feng Yu said. Golden threads of qi stretched out of her palm toward Ren Chun who caught it in his own hand. "Channel your energy like this."
Mei Chen copied the movements perfectly. A cool stream of water-aspected qi flowed from her right toward—
Xiulan caught it with a sharp intake of breath. The qi formed a connection and she threaded it into her qi flow like an iv needle. "Hey, be careful! I wasn’t expecting that.
Mei Chen grinned sheepishly. "Then you’d have gotten wet."
Oh, heaven’s above, she’d encouraged this! Not that Mei Chen’s shifting behavior was bad... Xiulan glanced at Feng Yu and Ren Chun and narrowed her eyes. Both of them blinked at her in confusion.
She didn’t need them to encouarge certain heroic traits while Mei Chen was finding her new footing.
Xiulan turned her focus to the energy, pulling together trembling strands of wood qi and combining them with the water essence before passing the flow towards Feng Yu. The transfer felt clumsy, like trying to pour water through a sieve.
Feng Yu accepted the energy smoothly, transforming it into brilliant ribbons of fire qi that streamed effortlessly to Ren Chun. The formation pulsed and the thrum of earth qi in the air intensified dramatically.
The cave let out an angry rush of cool air.
Ah, yes, the wrathful spirit sensed they were right outside...
Four little lambs to the slaughter.
"Let’s deal with this thing and then get out of here," Xiulan said.
The others nodded and they formed a tight circle, weapons ready.