the multi

Chapter 26: Questing Drift

The southern gate hummed with activity as soldiers formed neat rows alongside two ornate carriages and a supply wagon. Servants scurried between them, making final preparations. The morning sun cast long shadows across the courtyard as Xiulan approached the lead carriage.

A thin layer of frost coated the metal handle, crackling beneath her touch as she pulled the door open. A wisp of cold air escaped, carrying the faintest scent of winter despite the spring warmth.

Inside, Mei Chen lay motionless on the plush seat, wrapped in layers of thick blankets—a pretense of comfort that did nothing to warm her unnaturally cold body. 

Xiulan reached out, pressing two fingers against Mei Chen's neck. No pulse. Her qi remained rapid and cold as before, neither advancing nor retreating from that strange threshold between life and death.

The carriage door clicked shut with quiet finality. Xiulan turned toward the mounted escort where Instructor Han waited beside her saddled horse. The leather of her new riding boots creaked as she approached.

"We stand ready, Miss Lin." Instructor Han bowed from his saddle.

Xiulan swung herself onto her horse with ease. The weight of two new daggers pressed against her sides as she settled into position. Her short spear tugged at her back in its new sheathe. 

This time, she faced the road as a rider rather than a passenger, and she had a commanding view of everything.

"Let's go." Xiulan nudged her horse forward, and the convoy lurched into motion behind her.

The mountain path winded through stands of ancient pines and cypress trees. Xiulan breathed in the crisp air, savoring the freedom of horseback rather than being confined to a stuffy carriage. Each hoofbeat carried them further from Lin Manor's suffocating politics.

The sun climbed overhead as they approached a familiar clearing. Xiulan's stomach twisted at the sight of the abandoned campsite where they'd helped the woodsmen. Empty. 

Just like every search party's report on the missing woodcutters. More victims of her father's machinations and Madam Zhang's cruelty. At least her mother would be dealing with the snakes.

"Instructor Han." Xiulan turned in her saddle. "Can we reach the bottom before sunset?"

"With this weather and our pace?" Instructor Han nodded. "The path ahead runs clear."

"Then let's press on." Xiulan spurred her horse past the clearing. The sooner they left the ghosts behind, the better. "We'll make camp in the forest below."

Orange sunlight filtered through the canopy as they reached the valley floor. The convoy spread out to establish their campsite among the trees.

"Deer!" The crossbowman's excited shout drew Xiulan toward the edge of camp. 

A sharp twang split the air. Xiulan joined the men checking behind the targeted bush. A small deer lay motionless, the bolt placed with surprising accuracy.

The guards gathered wood and soon had a fire crackling. The aroma of roasting venison filled the clearing as they shared stories and laughter. Xiulan sat at the edge of their circle, watching their easy companionship with an uncertain distance.

She ate slowly while listening. When she was done, she set aside her empty bowl and stood. "Time to retire for the night."

"Your tent stands ready, Miss Lin." Instructor Han gestured toward a spacious pavilion tent.

"The men can use it. Three or four should fit in there comfortably." Xiulan brushed dust from her robes.

Confused glances passed between the soldiers. Instructor Han cleared his throat. "Miss, can I ask where do you intend to rest?"

"On top of Mei Chen's carriage." The campfire crackled in the ensuing silence. 

Worry etched across some of the men's faces, but none dared question her decision. Xiulan strode to the carriage and climbed the wooden side panels. The surface radiated an unnatural chill that seeped through her clothing.

She crossed her legs and settled into a comfortable position. The forest's gentle quiet embraced her—a welcome contrast to the suffocating hum of overlapping qi signatures back at Lin Manor that drowned out any chance of focus.

Even with a few guards nearby and the icy knot whirling below her seat, the air felt clear and calm. Her own energy was distinct and sharp, unhindered by the overwhelming presence of others.

Perhaps, Xiulan mused, I should search for one of those hidden mystical locations from the game.

The night air brushed cool against her skin as she closed her eyes and drew steady breaths. A persistent tug pulled at her qi—subtle but constant, like a thread caught on a nail.

She pressed two fingers against her wrist, following the path of energy up her arm. The meridian flowed smoothly until it hit a knot near her elbow.

With precise pressure, she pressed her qi flow there until it released with a satisfying pop. The sensation reminded her of cracking joints after sitting too long at her old retail job.

Her qi pooled in her dantian, a warm sphere of power centered below her navel. From there, channels branched outward like rivers across a map. Some paths matched her memories from Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles —the energetic flow through her heart center and the clear passage through her crown.

She sensed a steady flow of energy extending through the key pathways—the Ren Mai rising along her front, the Du Mai coursing up her spine. 

The game had taught her that each cultivator's network developed uniquely, though certain core pathways remained constant. Understanding the personal variations meant the difference between efficient cultivation and wasted effort.

Xiulan traced each channel methodically, working to learn herself. Body Refinement's first stage demanded careful preparation. Rushing into strength training or purification techniques without this fundamental knowledge invited disaster. She knew that much, at least.

In the game, players who skipped the step often crippled their cultivation permanently.

Xiulan pulled her wandering thoughts back to center. A slight persistent tug on her qi grew more noticeable as she focused. It flowed in a steady direction. Something about Mei Chen? She snapped her eyes open and leapt from the carriage roof.

A guard startled backwards. "Miss Lin!"

Xiulan waved off his concern and yanked open the carriage door. Frigid air billowed out in visible clouds around her face. The cold bit through her robes as she stepped inside, but she ignored the discomfort and settled onto the seat across from Mei Chen's still form.

Cross-legged once more, Xiulan steadied her breathing and sank back into meditation. The pull on her qi intensified—stronger and more insistent than before. A frown creased her brow.

Moving carefully, Xiulan reached beneath the layers of blankets wrapping Mei Chen. She grasped the girl's icy hand and gently propped her upright on the seat. Their shoulders pressed together as Xiulan resumed her meditation.

The skin contact made a difference. A jolt shocked through her system. Qi surged out of the meridian in her palm, bleeding away like water through a crack. Xiulan's eyes widened.

Is my qi flowing into Mei Chen?

Xiulan relaxed her grip on the meridian gates, allowing her qi to flow freely. The energy poured through their connected palms like water breaking through a dam. Despite the drain, the reservoir of power in her dantian remained deep and steady.

The carriage's confined space amplified the hum of flowing qi. Frost patterns on the windows caught moonlight in crystalline fractals. A minute passed as Xiulan monitored the transfer, counting breaths to maintain precise timing.

When it felt like she should stop and assess, she closed the meridian gates and opened her eyes. Disappointment settled in her stomach at Mei Chen's unchanged state. The young maid remained motionless, skin pale as fresh snow.

A heavy sigh escaped—then Xiulan froze. The air in front of her face remained clear. No cloud of condensation.

Xiulan pressed her free hand against the carriage wall. The wood felt cool rather than bitingly cold. The oppressive chill that had permeated the space dissipated, replaced by merely cool night air.

The negative yin energy... Xiulan studied Mei Chen's face intently. Had her qi somehow counteracted whatever gripped her friend?

Relief flooded through Xiulan as she studied the warming carriage interior. The supernatural cold that had threatened to turn Mei Chen's transport into an ice tomb was fully retreating. 

At least now they wouldn't need to explain why their carriage left frost trails once they reached Blackmere City.

Xiulan traced the smooth wood paneling with her fingertips, marveling at how the temperature had normalized. No more terrified servants jumping back from the death-cold touch of the door handle. No more whispered rumors of evil spirits and cursed cargo.

It was surprising at just how much a relief it was to have a reprieve or how those whispers had hurt.

I could keep sharing my qi with her... Xiulan studied Mei Chen's still face in the moonlight filtering through the window. The possibility of awakening her friend through continued qi transfer tempted her, but uncertainty held her back.

Too much energy might harm rather than heal—like overcharging a delicate device.

"Please get better soon, Mei Chen." Xiulan squeezed the cold hand beneath her palm. 

Without proper guidance from a cultivation expert, she dared not risk experimenting further with the mysterious connection between them.

Instead of going back to the carriage roof, she leaned her head on Mei Chen's blankets and closed her eyes.

Maybe she was insane, sleeping beside what the servants had considered a corpse, but the cold didn't bother her now.

And maybe her warmth would help her friend, just like the shared qi.

Dawn painted the sky in muted oranges as the convoy prepared to depart. Xiulan adjusted her riding posture atop her horse. The morning air carried a crisp bite that helped clear her head.

The city walls emerged on the horizon well before noon. A mass of people crowded the road leading to the main gate—merchants with loaded carts, farmers hauling produce, and travelers seeking entrance. 

The crowd parted before the convoy's approach, but the heavy wooden gates remained firmly shut.

"Why are the gates closed?" Xiulan projected her voice toward the guards stationed outside. The gleam of their polished armor caught the midday sun.

One guard stepped forward. "By order of the City Magistrate, the gates will remain sealed for one month to honor the passing of our beloved Lord Lin."

"A month?" Instructor Han's incredulous tone matched Xiulan's own disbelief.

"These incompetent fools." Xiulan gripped her reins tighter. "The entire city would starve before the month ends." She straightened in her saddle. "Open these gates immediately!"

The guards exchanged uncertain glances. "Apologies, but the City Magistrate's seal blocks your path."

Xiulan reached into her robe and withdrew the bronze scroll. The metal caught the sunlight, its official seal glinting with authority. A surge of gratitude for her mother's foresight warmed her chest.

"I am the sister of Lord Lin and the previous lord's daughter!" The words rang across the crowded street. "I bear an official scroll from the Lady Regent! Open these gates at once!"

The gathered crowd fell silent. Guards whispered among themselves, boots shuffling against stone as they passed messages back and forth. Minutes stretched like hours until a deep groan echoed from the gates. Ancient hinges protested as the heavy wooden doors swung inward.

A guard captain strode forward and bowed. "Lady Lin's convoy may enter, but according to the City Magistrate's orders, the common folk must remain—"

"My mother issued no such order." Xiulan cut through his words. "Tell me, Captain. Do you serve House Lin, or does the City Magistrate stand in rebellion against the County Magistrate's seat?"

The captain's gaze darted between the spear strapped to Xiulan's back and her assembled guards. Calculations flickered behind his eyes before he dropped into a deep bow.

"We've heard no word of the appointment of a new County Magistrate, but the city's guard has long been loyal to House Lin. Long live Lord Lin!" The captain's voice carried across the gathered crowd. "The city gate will remain open." 

He lowered his voice so only she and those nearby could hear. "This humble servant suggests the lord's sister consult with the city's magistrate to ensure he follows the lord's will and not his own."

The warning and support were duly noted, and Xiulan saluted the man. "Thank you, Captain."

Xiulan nudged her horse forward, leading the convoy through the massive gates. Another task added to her growing list—first secure the manor house and settle Mei Chen, then deal with the overzealous magistrate.

The convoy rolled through nearly empty streets. An unnatural hush blanketed the city, broken only by the clip-clop of hooves against stone. 

Small processions of monks waved incense sticks, their mourning chants echoing off shuttered buildings. Faces peered from behind partially closed doors and windows, disappearing at the convoy's approach.

"What the hell happened here?" The words escaped before Xiulan could stop them.

Instructor Han guided his horse closer. "News of the massacre must have horrified them."

A cold weight settled in Xiulan's stomach. She hadn't considered how the common folk would react to news of her actions. Or the rumors that had spread.

The Lin Family city manor's imposing gates came into view, offering a brief respite from her dark thoughts.

Instructor Han leaped from his horse and strode to the gate. His fists hammered against the wood. "Open these gates in the name of House Lin!"

But repeated pounding against the thick wood yielded nothing but silence—the gates remained locked tight. Several others joined him in rousing those inside.

"Go away!" A trembling voice called from within. "No one is allowed entry!"

Xiulan swung down from her mount, boots striking the cobblestones. "The sister of Lord Lin demands entry to her family's home!"

Muffled whispers and shuffling feet sounded from behind the gate, but silence answered her command. The postern gate caught her attention—a smaller door built into the main gate for pedestrian traffic. Though reinforced with iron bands, it presented a more manageable target than the main gates.

"Anyone behind that door needs to clear away. Now!" The qi stirred within her chest as she counted heartbeats. One. Two. Three...

At ten, Xiulan channeled energy through her arms. Her palms struck the door opposite its hinges with explosive force. Wood splintered and metal shrieked as the postern gate burst inward.

She stepped through the wreckage into the courtyard. Instructor Han and her guards rushed in behind her, weapons glinting in the sunlight. 

Six house guards huddled near the wall, while servants clutched an assortment of kitchen knives and farming tools.

"Where is the house manager?" Xiulan planted her feet. "Who dares block my path?"

Chapter 27: Rebellious Ebb

Xiulan pressed the double doors open and strode into the lord's hall. The sight before her stopped her dead—the house manager lounged upon the throne, surrounded by a dozen servants engaged in hushed discussion.

"What is the meaning of this disrespect and usurpation?" Her words thundered through the chamber.

The whispered conversations died instantly. Faces snapped toward her, eyes widening in shock. The servants scattered like startled birds, and the officials backed away from the throne as Xiulan's guards filed into the room behind her.

The house manager's face drained of color. "Who dares break into the Lin Family's city manor? You'll be arrested!"

His body was responding before his brain, apparently.

"Hah?" Xiulan barked out a laugh. "I am Lord Lin's sister, and this is my family's house." She took a step forward. "It seems you believe it belongs to you now that my father has passed?"

A glint of gold caught her attention. The house manager's hand trembled, and there on his finger sat the golden signet ring of the city manor—her family's ring. 

Qi surged through her meridians like a broken dam, flooding her system with raw power. Another corrupt bastard was stealing from her family.

In one fluid motion, Xiulan reached over and yanked Instructor Han's sword from its scabbard. The steel sang as she advanced toward the throne.

The house manager stumbled as he stood, nearly falling in his haste to escape the seat he'd stolen. "Guards! Guards!"

Xiulan's blade whistled through the air. A spray of arterial blood painted the walls crimson as the house manager's head separated from his shoulders.

She knelt beside the headless corpse and pried the golden signet ring from its stiffening fingers. The metal felt warm against her skin—a warmth that belonged to her family, not this thief. 

She stood and wiped the ring clean on her sleeve before shoving the corpse off the throne's raised dais with a kick. The body rolled out into the hall, coming to a stop in front of the terrified officials.

The wooden throne creaked under her weight as she settled into its curves. Blood dripped steadily onto the polished floor while her guards maintained their positions. 

The remaining officials huddled together like frightened sheep, sweat gleaming on their faces.

"You." Xiulan pointed at a trembling servant. "Get some others, clean this mess, and bring me a velvet box for the ring. Now."

The servant bolted from the room. Others scrambled to gather cleaning supplies, their movements frantic.

"Listen well." Xiulan's words cut through the panicked atmosphere. "I am Lin Xiulan, daughter of your previous lord. My brother Zhang Wei now leads House Lin, with our mother, Lady Zhao Lian, serving as regent. They have granted me authority to act on behalf of our family when needed."

The officials dropped to their knees in perfect unison, foreheads pressed against the blood-spattered floor.

"We pledge our undying loyalty to Miss Lin and House Lin!" Their voices echoed through the chamber.

Snakes, the lot of them. Xiulan watched their display of submission with cold calculation. She'd need to root them out, replace them—but that would come later.

"Instructor Han Shun, present yourself!"

Instructor Han stepped forward and dropped into a formal bow. "This humble servant awaits the decree of Lord Lin's Honored Sister."

Xiulan rose from the throne, each step deliberate across the blood-stained marble. The sword gleamed in her grip as she extended it toward him. He accepted the blade with steady hands, his weathered face betraying no emotion.

"From this moment forward, you will serve as house manager of the Lin city manor."

The proclamation echoed through the silent chamber. Not a single breath disturbed the stillness—even the cowering officials dared not twitch.

"Miss Lin, I—" Han Shun straightened. "I have no experience as an official."

"You do now." Xiulan lifted her chin. "There's no one I trust more for this position, and no other candidate would be acceptable. You'll adapt."

Han Shun's sword slid home into its scabbard with a crisp snap. He dropped into another formal salute. "I am honored to serve."

Xiulan returned to the throne, settling back against the carved wood. Her gaze swept over the officials still prostrated before her, their fine robes soaking up the cooling blood on the floor.

"Now then." She drummed her fingers against the armrest. "Who would like to explain the treason I witnessed earlier?"

The officials scrambled up like desperate puppies, each trying to speak over the others in their haste to confess.

Xiulan pulled Mei Chen's chamber door shut with a soft click. The second qi transfer had worked—the supernatural cold retreated from the girl's body, buying precious time to handle other matters.

"No one enters without a good reason." Xiulan addressed the servant who stood rigid beside the doorframe.

She turned to the two guards flanking the entrance. "Watch anyone who enters the chamber. Have someone stay present at all times. No one is to be left alone in there."

"Yes, Miss Lin." The guards thumped their fists against their chests in salute.

The wooden stairs creaked under her feet as she descended. Halfway down, Xiulan paused to examine her robes. Blood soaked the bottom hem, with arterial spray decorating the front in dark patches against the black fabric. The red sash highlighted the macabre pattern.

Change, or go straight to the magistrate?

The blood would send a message. If the city magistrate shared the house manager's corruption—and Xiulan suspected he did—seeing the consequences of betrayal might loosen his tongue.

Xiulan strode through the manor's corridors toward the city court. In the courtyard, Han Shun stood between two officials, their heated discussion cutting off at her approach. All three men dropped into hasty bows.

"Miss Lin!"

"What brings such heated debate?" Xiulan kept her blood-stained robes visible as she addressed the men.

Han Shun straightened. "The city borrowed half our guard force for security duties. There is resistance in the thought of recalling them."

Xiulan turned toward the shorter official. His ornate blue robes marked him as a member of the treasury department. "You object to the return of our guards?"

"Miss Lin." The official bowed low. "The guard deployment came with substantial payments to the manor treasury."

A cold weight settled in Xiulan's stomach. "And the funds are missing to cancel this agreement?"

Sweat beaded on the official's forehead. He dabbed at it with an embroidered handkerchief. "The treasury maintains its reserves, but losing this income would strain our business operations."

"Explain how our family enterprises became so fragile that a single setback threatens ruin." Xiulan glared. He couldn't even look her in the face.

His shoulders slumped as he stared at the courtyard stones. "The... the loan for the soldiers totaled five hundred thousand taels."

That much? It was far more than she had expected. She shook her head. "How long was this contract arranged for?"

The man dabbed fresh sweat from his brow. "Two years, Miss Lin. Lord Lin authorized the agreement roughly six months ago."

The tension eased from Xiulan's shoulders. Father arranged this before the current troubles. Not part of the usurpation, after all. The knowledge settled some of the rage burning in her chest.

"We should recall our men, regardless. Recent events demand a full complement of guards." Xiulan turned to Manager Han. "I'll discuss the matter with the city magistrate during my visit."

The officials bowed deeply. "As you command, Miss Lin."

"Han." Xiulan adjusted the blood-stained sleeve of her robe. "I will require a replacement for the captain of my personal guard. You can't manage both sets of duties at the same time."

"I know of several candidates that would show promise." Han Shun straightened. "Would you prefer selections from the manor guard or the city contingent?"

She really didn't have much to go on to have a preference. "Either. Review their capabilities. Present me with the three most promising for evaluation."

"At once, Miss Lin." Han Shun thumped his fist against his chest.

Xiulan nodded and then strode toward the main entrance. 

The rhythmic bang of hammers echoed through the courtyard as workers struggled to repair the postern gate. Metal groaned as they wrestled with the bent frame, preparing to mount a new door reinforced with iron bands.

Xiulan scanned the courtyard, settling on two guards who stood straighter than their companions. "You two, with me." She pointed at them directly. Their weapons clinked as they fell into step behind her.

The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestone streets as she navigated through the city's winding paths. 

Merchants hawked their wares from wooden stalls, their voices competing with the clatter of cart wheels and the bleating of livestock. The familiar scent of roasted sweet potatoes wafted from a nearby vendor.

It was better than when they had arrived and the streets had been deserted.

The magistrate's pavilion pierced the sky ahead—a five-story dedication to bureaucratic authority. Though it fell short of Lin Manor's grandeur, its green-tiled roof caught the sunlight, marking it as one of the city's three primary landmarks along with the treasure pavilion and religious temple.

Xiulan rounded the final corner and stopped. A wall of shields blocked the pavilion's entrance. Spearheads glinted above the barrier as a full platoon of city guards stood ready, their armor gleaming with fresh polish. The blood on Xiulan's robes seemed to harden their response.

"Wait by the wall." Xiulan gestured to her guards without looking back. Their boots scuffed against stone as they retreated, eager to distance themselves from whatever was about to unfold.

A figure in polished armor stepped through the shield wall. The city guard captain's cape snapped in the morning breeze as he approached, hand resting on his sword hilt. It was a different man than had manned the gate.

Xiulan pulled her mother's scroll case into view. "I bring an official message for the city magistrate."

"For breaking city law, you're under arrest!" The captain's shout echoed across the courtyard.

Xiulan exhaled slowly. Of course they'd abandon subtlety now. The direct approach would simplify matters. "Neither you nor the magistrate possess authority to arrest me."

Metal scraped against leather as the captain drew his sword, pointing the polished blade at her chest. "Lin Xiulan! We'll take you into custody here and now!"

A sharp clatter drew Xiulan's attention upward. Sunlight glinted off blue silk as a figure launched from the nearby rooftop. The man spun through the air in an elaborate somersault before landing—with impossible precision—atop the captain's extended blade. The captain crumpled under the sudden weight.

The newcomer struck an exaggerated pose, his embroidered martial arts outfit rippling in the morning breeze. "I, Ren Chun, disciple of the great Hong Bi, shall prevent today's massacre!"

He drew his sword with unnecessary flourish, the blade describing elaborate patterns in the air before settling into a formal salute. "Draw your weapon, villain! I'll protect the city and capture the rogue cultivator who slaughtered the county lord and claim eternal glory!"

Xiulan stared at the posturing figure.

Who is this idiot?

Chapter 28: Useful Flows

Xiulan brushed her sleeve. "Massacred the county lord? On what evidence do you make such claims?"

"The proof drips from your very robes!" Ren Chun flourished his sword in an elaborate pattern. "Your guilt stains you crimson!"

"The county lord was my father." Xiulan's words cut through his theatrical display. "And that happened a week ago. This blood?" She lifted her stained sleeve. "It's so fresh it hasn't even dried properly."

Ren Chun's dramatic pose faltered. The tip of his sword dipped toward the ground as confusion spread across his features.

"Our house manager decided the family signet ring would look better on his finger." Xiulan's lips curved into a cold smile. "He thought to claim our city manor for himself. I corrected his misconception."

The martial artist's blade wavered further, uncertainty completely replacing his earlier bravado.

Xiulan swept her arm toward the assembled guards and their captain. "And now we find the city magistrate acting in a manner most peculiar." 

She tilted her head. "How interesting that he orders my arrest immediately after I executed the conspirator. Almost as if..." She paused for effect. "He stands in open rebellion against House Lin."

The guard captain stumbled to his feet, though Ren Chun remained standing on his sword, pinning it to the ground. 

"Seize the criminal!" The captain jabbed a finger toward Xiulan.

"How can I trust your words?" Ren Chun asked. "Tales spread of a cultivator murdering the county lord's family. I tracked these rumors here, and now find you—another cultivator—claiming to be of that same house!"

Xiulan stared at him. "Hah?"

The bronze scroll case clicked open beneath her fingers. She extracted the official mandate, its bronze metallic sheen catching the morning light. The familiar weight of House Lin's seal pressed against her palm as she held it aloft.

"I bear House Lin's seal and on an official mandate for the city magistrate." She raised her chin. "Prepare to receive the mandate."

A solid thud echoed behind her. Xiulan glanced back to see her two guards drop to their knees, fists pressed to their hearts in formal salute.

A dozen guards broke from the platoon's formation, creating a smaller group to the side. They dropped to their knees in perfect unison, armor clinking against the stone.

"We guards from House Lin remain loyal! We receive the lord's mandate!" The front guard pressed his fist against his chest.

Xiulan turned to Ren Chun. She gestured toward the remaining guards still following the captain. "See? They're the traitors." 

A frown crossed her lips. "Did they hire you to help them or something?"

"Of course not!" Ren Chun's face twisted in horror. "I merely passed through and witnessed what appeared to be injustice!"

Before Xiulan could respond, Ren Chun spun and struck the guard captain square in the jaw. The captain crumpled without a sound.

Xiulan watched in disbelief as Ren Chun bounded between the remaining men. He moved with inhuman speed, striking precise points that dropped each guard unconscious. His movements flowed like a dance—punch, dodge, weave, strike—leaving groaning bodies in his wake.

Seriously? Xiulan stared as the self-proclaimed justice seeker continued his non-lethal rampage across the courtyard.

When he finished, Ren Chun dropped into a bow before Xiulan. "My sincerest apologies for the misunderstanding, Miss Lin. I shall resume my search for the true rogue cultivator elsewhere."

He turned to leave, but Xiulan's mind raced. The game knowledge she had didn't really translate into politics, events, and people five years before the game even began. And a wandering martial artist might know things I'd never learn on my own without guidance.

"Wait." The command rang across the courtyard.

Ren Chun froze mid-step, pivoting back to face her.

"You've caused me quite the inconvenience." Xiulan gestured at the unconscious guards scattered across the stones. "How am I supposed to question them now?"

"Inconvenience?" Ren Chun blinked.

"Indeed." Xiulan tapped the bronze scroll case. "You forced me to reveal both mandate and seal before their proper time. Such matters require... precise handling." She squared her shoulders. "Since you've disrupted my plans, you'll accompany me to the city magistrate to witness the consequences."

There probably weren't any. She was just being melodramatic… but he didn't need to know that.

"But I helped you!" Ren Chun pointed at the scattered unconscious guards. "Besides, we're both merely at the body refining stage, taking our first steps. Shouldn't we work to separate ourselves from worldly concerns?"

The morning breeze rustled through the courtyard as Ren Chun adopted a more serene expression. "I understand that, as the lord's sister, you're more deeply entangled in these matters than I am. But I've already freed myself from such trivial bindings!"

Is he serious? Xiulan suppressed an eye roll. "Hah? You just knocked out half the guard force. If you leave now, won't that cause me even more trouble?" She crossed her arms. "You'll owe me quite the debt when I have to work to clear your name."

"Clear my name?" Ren Chun's eyebrows shot up.

"Of course." Xiulan gestured at the unconscious bodies littering the courtyard stones. "You attacked city guards. Some might even label you a criminal if the wrong version of events spreads."

Horror spread across Ren Chun's face. "But I fight for justice!"

"Yes, yes. Justice." Xiulan nodded with exaggerated patience. "And now you owe me two or three favors, and you'll come deal with the city magistrate with me."

The city magistrate's great gates slumped against the compound walls, the massive wooden structures knocked off their hinges. That'll take a hundred men with pulleys to fix.

Xiulan traced the splintered edges with her gaze. The replacement magistrate—a minor official she'd promoted with the same method as she used in her family manor for the house manager—would have to deal with the mess. She would need to write a letter to her mother explaining everything, but she'd do that when she had some free time and was settled.

At least Mother's orders remained clear: maintain existing laws, take no drastic actions. The scroll in Xiulan's sleeve confirmed her authority as a deputy house member. Simple, straightforward, and exactly what she needed right now.

Ren Chun's back drew her attention as he walked ahead. His movements spoke of years of training, each step measured and balanced. His master Hong Bi—whoever that was—had molded him into a weapon far beyond her current capabilities.

If he decided to fight me now... She suppressed a shudder. Her few days of cultivation wouldn't stand against his experience. 

But his earnest proclamations about justice revealed a different kind of weakness—one she could use.

Why let all that strength chase abstract ideals when it could serve concrete purposes?

Her two guards fell into formation as they passed through the broken gates. Their boots crunched on scattered splinters.

Ren Chun turned and pressed his fist to his palm in a formal salute. "This has been most interesting, Miss Lin. I trust justice has been served." He pivoted to leave.

Xiulan reached out and grabbed Ren Chun's shoulder. The muscles beneath her fingers turned to stone.

"And where exactly do you think you're going?"

He turned to look at her. "Isn't our business complete?"

A laugh bubbled up from Xiulan's chest. "You helped with the gate and guards—tasks I could have handled myself. By my count, you still owe me two favors."

"Tw-two?" Ren Chun's eyes widened. "But why?"

"Simple arithmetic." Xiulan tapped her fingers against her sleeve. "You started with three. I still had to deal with the city magistrate alone, plus clear your name from that mess. One favor down, two to go."

The morning sun caught the gilded roof of the treasure pavilion as Xiulan pointed toward it. "I need to visit there. Let's go and I will consider how you can repay me."

"I can't!" Ren Chun stepped back, shaking his head. "I have a quest, I have to—"

Xiulan raised her hand. "Stop. How long will this quest take?"

"Uhh..." Ren Chun shifted his weight. "Two days?"

Xiulan nodded. "Two days works perfectly. Return to the city manor then—after your quest."

Confusion flickered across Ren Chun's features. The morning sunlight cast shadows beneath his furrowed brows.

Xiulan stepped forward and slapped his back with an open palm. "What are you waiting for? Isn't your quest important? Something needing justice?"

"Oh! Yes!" Ren Chun brightened. "I should hurry if I want to return in time."

He crouched, muscles tensing, then launched himself upward. His form sailed through the air, landing gracefully on the nearest rooftop. In three quick bounds, he disappeared over the curved tiles.

Could I learn to move like that? Xiulan studied the path he'd taken, mapping the angles and distances in her mind. The qingong technique would prove invaluable for both combat and stealth. Perhaps I'll convince him to teach me when he returns.

The busy morning crowds parted as Xiulan strode toward the treasure pavilion. 

Merchants called their wares from wooden stalls while the scent of steamed buns wafted through the narrow streets. Her boots clicked against the worn cobblestones, echoing off the closely packed buildings.

The treasure pavilion's outer wall gleamed as they approached. Xiulan passed through the iron-bound gate into the serene garden courtyard. Carefully trimmed bushes lined stone paths, while a small stream burbled beneath a decorative bridge. The main building cast long shadows across the precisely raked gravel.

A servant in blue silk robes bowed. "Welcome to the Treasure Pavilion."

"Please inform Master Qingfeng that Lin Xiulan requests an audience."

Movement caught her eye. In the courtyard's corner, two cultivators hunched over a go board. The same pair she'd noticed on her previous visit—the pavilion's security team. Their matching indigo robes marked them as martial brothers from the same sect.

Xiulan pressed her right fist against her left palm and bowed, offering a formal cultivator's greeting. The pair exchanged glances before returning shallow nods. Black and white stones clicked against the board as they resumed their game.

A different servant appeared and gestured toward the main building's entrance. "Master Qingfeng will see you now in the tea room." 

Xiulan followed the servant through polished double doors into the pavilion's main hall. Lantern light cast a warm glow across wooden pillars and decorative screens. Her boots whispered against smooth floorboards as they approached an ornate staircase.

The servant's silk robes rustled with each ascending step. The wood creaked beneath their feet, marking their progress to the second floor. Paper screens lined the hallway, filtering sunlight through delicate patterns of birds and flowers.

A sliding door scraped open, revealing Master Qingfeng seated behind a low table. Steam rose from an elegant tea service, carrying the distinct sweet-herb scent of Heaven Grass tea. The aroma brought back memories of her first visit, when she'd desperately needed help.

"Please, sit." Master Qingfeng gestured to an embroidered cushion.

Xiulan lowered herself onto the cushion and bowed. "Thank you for receiving me, Master Qingfeng."

"My investment appears to have yielded promising returns already." Master Qingfeng's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Your qi speaks volumes about recent changes."

"As promised." Xiulan straightened her spine. "Though new circumstances bring new challenges. I hoped you might assist."

Master Qingfeng poured the tea with practiced grace. A warm smile spread across his features. "Isn't that why everyone comes to Treasure Pavilion?"

Chapter 29: Standard Mentor Conversation

Xiulan lifted the delicate porcelain cup to her lips, savoring the sweet-herb aroma. The silence stretched across the room like an invisible thread pulling tighter with each passing moment. Why isn't he saying anything else?

The tea heated a path down her throat, doing little to calm her mounting tension. She placed the cup onto the polished table with a soft click. "The alchemy proved successful."

Master Qingfeng stroked his pointed beard, one eyebrow lifting toward his hairline. "Indeed. You've managed to open all your meridians as well, though the qi eddies suggest quite a rough process." He leaned forward, studying her with sharp eyes. "Most remarkable, considering your benefactor's apparent lack of guidance."

The steam from her tea cup swirled in intricate patterns. Xiulan stared into its depths. "You're right. I received no explanation about the process before taking the pill."

A sharp intake of breath drew her attention. Master Qingfeng's cup hung suspended halfway to his mouth, his previous genial expression replaced by deep furrows across his brow. "Such irresponsibility could have cost your life." 

He set his cup down with deliberate care. "I question whether this benefactor truly has your interests at heart. Troubling rumors have reached my ears—" He paused, studying her face. "Perhaps this explains your visit today?"

"Haaa..." Pain lanced through Xiulan's chest. "The rumors about my family reached you already? They're true. Father, Madam Zhang, my half-siblings—all dead. Only Zhang Wei remains as the new lord, with Mother serving as regent."

Master Qingfeng's fingers tightened around his teacup. "Your benefactor's work as well?"

"No." Xiulan traced the rim of her cup. "Though I doubt his guidance will continue. My cultivation success came from making two golden meridian opening pills with those ingredients, not from any advice." She glanced up. "That's part of my current dilemma."

Qingfeng's eyebrows shot upward. "Your master created two golden pills without failure from those supplies?" He shook his head in amazement. "That explains your meridians' condition—opening them that way without guidance would produce such results. I am surprised he abandoned you after that effort."

"I have no master." Xiulan squared her shoulders. "I made the pills myself, in a single batch."

The teacup froze halfway to Qingfeng's mouth. Though he recovered quickly, the momentary shock blazed across his features. "You made them? Both pills in one batch?" He set his cup back down with careful precision. "Are you perhaps a hidden alchemy genius?"

Xiulan sipped her tea, memories from her gaming days flooding back. The cultivation recipes she knew could prove invaluable. They aren't just limited to one school or sect. A slight smile tugged at her lips. 

The basic formulas required minimal equipment, though the advanced ones needed specialized pill furnaces and complex procedures she wasn't ready to attempt.

"The process for lower-level items proved straightforward enough." Xiulan explained. "I merely got lucky."

Master Qingfeng tested the word 'straightforward' on his tongue like a suspicious wine. He lifted his cup for another measured sip. "Perhaps you'd consider selling the other golden pill? Such an item would fetch quite the fortune."

"Haaa..." Xiulan shook her head. "That's impossible. I've already used it, which leads to why I need your help."

"This isn't what I expected." Qingfeng straightened. "I assumed you sought aid regarding your family's situation." He studied her face intently. "At first, I theorized your benefactor orchestrated everything—either to help you escape or to control House Lin through you."

The silence stretched taut between them. Qingfeng leaned forward. "But I must ask—did you kill them? That particular rumor circulated briefly before drowning under a suspicious flood of alternate stories." His eyes narrowed. "Rather telling how certain House Lin members fought so vigorously to promote specific versions, wouldn't you say?"

The teacup trembled in Xiulan's grip. She set it down before the liquid could spill, considering her next words carefully. A slight nod preceded her whispered admission. "I was forced to act."

Master Qingfeng's brow furrowed deep. "Young lady, the karma and outrage of your ancestors will follow you for life."

The words struck like sparks against tinder.

Xiulan's hands clenched into fists. "Save your reprimands for my father!" 

Heat blazed through her meridians. "He forced me into this corner after breaking his word to spare my friend! He had me whipped and then—" The words caught in her throat. "If he hadn't been such a weak..." She sucked in a sharp breath, unable to continue.

Qi surged through her body like storm waves crashing against rocks. The room spun as spiritual energy raged unchecked through her meridians, threatening to tear her apart from within.

Master Qingfeng's fingers danced through the air in precise patterns. Two invisible forces pressed against Xiulan's chest, and the chaotic energy inside smoothed into a steady flow. She slumped forward, drawing in deep breaths as the emotional tempest subsided.

Cold realization trickled down her spine. He controlled my qi without touching me.

The casual display of power revealed depths she hadn't suspected. Unlike Ren Chun's obvious cultivation presence, she detected nothing from Qingfeng—a mastery that suggested at least two or three cultivation stages above her own.

"The scars run deep and fresh." Qingfeng's words cut through her thoughts.

Xiulan bowed her head. "Yes." The admission tasted bitter on her tongue.

"I notice your young maid isn't with you this time." Master Qingfeng's eyes narrowed.

Xiulan's fingers curled around a freshly poured cup. "That's why I need your help." The porcelain burned against her skin, grounding her. "After Father handed Mei Chen to my stepmother for torture, I tried everything. Regular medicine failed."

She swallowed hard. "I gave her the meridian opening pill in desperation."

The memory of that moment twisted inside her chest. "Her heart stopped beating soon after, but she still broke through to body refining. Now qi flows through her meridians and she breathes, but..." Xiulan stared into her tea. "Her heart remains silent. She won't wake up."

Master Qingfeng lifted his cup with practiced grace. "Are there other signs?"

"The air around her grows cold over time." Xiulan admitted. "When I infuse her body with my qi, the chill recedes, but it always returns."

"You infuse qi?" Qingfeng's eyebrows shot up. "That's advanced technique for someone barely starting body refinement."

Heat crept up Xiulan's neck, and she shook her head. "I just hold her hand and focus on letting my qi flow there." She flexed her fingers, remembering the sensation. "It transfers on its own."

Master Qingfeng stroked his beard in slow, methodical movements.

Xiulan's stomach churned. Fear coiled tight in her chest. She hadn't meant to spill everything so directly. It felt like she was sitting naked before Master Qingfeng, exposed and vulnerable. He held her life—and Mei Chen's—in his hands, able to twist their fates with a single decision.

She was just a leaf, trying to stay afloat on an angry stream winding its way down the mountain.

Master Qingfeng leaned back, eyes narrowing. "You need guidance on many things."

Xiulan bowed deeply, forehead nearly touching the floor. "Please, Master Qingfeng, I ask for your guidance and aid."

He studied her for a moment, then sighed. "With rumors spreading so quickly, young cultivators will flock to this region. Rogue cultivators are rare and subduing one brings great face. It's also a chance to test their martial arts." 

He paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "You must begin to distance yourself immediately. Though I suspect you need to remain close to help your family adjust for now, if it were possible, I'd send you away to another province entirely. The truth will surely get out in time."

Xiulan straightened, the enormity of his advice pressing down on her. "I understand." The words felt heavy on her tongue.

She took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Leaving isn't an option right now," she admitted. "My stepmother's family will hold a grudge for the deaths. They'll likely retaliate. They have connections to the Whispering Shadows Sect."

Master Qingfeng's eyes darkened. "That complicates matters."

"Indeed." Xiulan nodded. "I need to stay and ensure my mother and brother are secure. Once things settle, I'll work on avoiding mortal entanglements and politics."

Qingfeng tapped the table with a thoughtful rhythm. "Your reasoning is sound, but be cautious. The longer you stay, the deeper you will sink. A young cultivator is a chess piece to some."

She froze for a second before finishing her sip of tea. Had he somehow noticed her interaction with Ren Chun? There was no way…

Xiulan sighed. "I need to help strengthen them so they don't need to lean on me."

Qingfeng's fingers stilled. "And your maid's situation? It's troubling. I'll need to inspect her myself. Do you intend to owe the Treasure Pavilion another favor, or do you have the funds to hire a master's time?"

Xiulan's heart sank. The weight of her responsibilities pressed down like an iron mantle. She glanced at the delicate porcelain cup, then back at Qingfeng. "I..."

The words caught in her throat.

Xiulan released a slow breath. The weight of owing one favor to the Treasure Pavilion already pressed down on her shoulders like a mountain. Such debts carried more weight than mere money—they demanded absolute compliance when called in. The only ways out led through death or complete dishonor.

Honor. The word tasted different now than it had in her past life. She didn't worship at its altar like Ren Chun with his obsession over justice, but...

Xiulan bowed deeply, her forehead almost pressing against the table. "Please offer this young leaf some job for Treasure Pavilion suitable to her status that can pay for Master Qingfeng's benevolence in this matter."

Master Qingfeng tapped his fingers against the table in a slow rhythm. "I may have something in mind."

She maintained her bow. Incense smoke curled through the air, carrying hints of sandalwood and jasmine.

"You could create another golden meridian opening pill." Master Qingfeng's words cut through the silence. "Such an item would hold significant value." He sighed. "However, I cannot procure the ingredients this time. Your previous purchase drove regional prices to astronomical levels." The tapping stopped. "Five million taels for a complete set."

Xiulan let out a breath and sat up. From fifty thousand to five million. That made some sense. It wasn't like ingredients were super common and such a bulk purchase would indeed drive the price up. 

It'd be like that for just about anything that couldn't be farmed in a spiritual garden and required harvesting from the wild.

"So you want me to collect Blood Lotus, Thunder Root, and Dawn Serpent scales and make a golden pill for you?" Xiulan asked, her voice steady despite the anxiety bubbling beneath. "And in return, you'll inspect Mei Chen and do your best to help her condition?"

Master Qingfeng's eyes sparkled with interest. "Indeed. Such a task is intriguing enough for me to agree."

Xiulan bowed her head again. "I would be very grateful."

"Very well, it will be done," Qingfeng said. "Now that the deal is struck, we will spend the rest of the day training and discussing the specifics."

Xiulan blinked. "What?"

Qingfeng chuckled. "Do you think you could collect the items in your current state? Do you even know where they might be found? And you lack even the most basic qi control and martial arts."

Xiulan's mind raced. He could see all that?

She saluted, hand on palm. "Teacher, please enlighten this unlearned one so she can succeed."

Master Qingfeng stood, his robes flowing like water around him. "Tomorrow I will visit young Mei Chen, but first, we must address your conditioning. Without a firm foundation, no amount of qi or strength will sustain you in the wild."

Xiulan followed him to an open courtyard behind the pavilion. The space was serene, bordered by meticulously pruned bonsai trees and a small koi pond reflecting the afternoon sun.

"We begin with the Horse Stance," Qingfeng instructed, demonstrating the position with practiced ease.

Xiulan mimicked his stance, legs spread wide and knees bent as if sitting on an invisible horse. Her thighs burned almost immediately.

"Hold," Qingfeng commanded, circling her like a hawk. "This stance builds strength and stability—essential for any martial artist."

Minutes felt like hours as Xiulan's muscles screamed in protest. Sweat trickled down her face, but she held firm.

Was… was he doing something to her with qi? If she had not reached the Body Refining stage, she would have been crushed.

"Good," Qingfeng said finally. "Now, basic punches."

He demonstrated a series of fluid movements, each punch precise and controlled. Xiulan mirrored him, her strikes lacking the same grace but filled with determination.

"Focus on your breathing," Qingfeng advised. "Inhale as you draw back, exhale as you strike."

Xiulan adjusted her rhythm, feeling a slight improvement in her form.

After an hour of rigorous training, Qingfeng called for a break. Xiulan collapsed onto a nearby bench, gulping down water from a bamboo flask.

"Your endurance needs work," Qingfeng noted, sitting beside her. "But you have potential."

Xiulan nodded, too exhausted to speak.

"Next, we discuss the locations of these ingredients," Qingfeng continued. "Blood Lotus grows in the swamps of Blackmere. Thunder Root can be found in the Storm Peaks, and Dawn Serpent scales are harvested from the serpents in the Dawn Forest."

Xiulan's heart sank at the thought of traversing such dangerous terrains. Or, more importantly, other than the Blood Lotus, those places sounded like they were far away. But she steeled herself. Mei Chen's life depended on it.

"Prepare yourself mentally and physically," Qingfeng said, standing up. "This journey will test every aspect of your being."

Xiulan rose to her feet, determination burning in her eyes. "I will not fail."

Chapter 30: Wraith's Breath

Xiulan shifted her weight from foot to foot at the city manor's main gate. Workers bustled past with carts piled high with lacquered furniture and ornate vases. The newly repaired postern gate gleamed with fresh paint and polished metal fixtures.

A twinge of satisfaction eased through her chest at the sight of the manor's luxuries being carted away. Collecting the three-hundred seventy-five thousand taels to pay the prorated refund for the return of the Lin guard from the city garrison had not been simple.

But selling off excess furnishings—particularly from the now-empty family chambers—had covered the cost. Let the gossips wag their tongues. Dead people had no use for silk cushions and jade screens.

The morning sun climbed higher as she scanned the street for Master Qingfeng's approach.

"I hope you haven't been waiting long."

Xiulan spun around. Master Qingfeng stood behind her, immaculate in his dark blue robes despite having apparently scaled the manor wall. Not a single footstep had betrayed his approach.

"Master Qingfeng." Xiulan dropped into a formal bow. "Welcome to the Lin city manor."

"Miss Lin." Master Qingfeng inclined his head. "How fares your young friend?"

Xiulan let out a tense breath. "Mei Chen remains stable. The qi transfers seem to sustain her, though she hasn't shown signs of waking."

"Very well. I am ready to see the patient." Master Qingfeng's words carried a clinical precision.

Xiulan nodded. "Please follow me." She led him across the sun-warmed courtyard stones and through the main residence. Servants paused in their duties to bow as they passed. The wooden stairs creaked under their feet as they climbed to the second floor.

Two guards flanked Mei Chen's door, stepping aside with crisp bows.

"There's a slight chill," Xiulan warned.

A wave of cold air rushed out as she slid the door open. Xiulan stepped inside and turned—Master Qingfeng remained frozen at the threshold, staring at Mei Chen's still form on the bed.

"Master Qingfeng?"

He stepped into the room. "Everything is exactly as you described."

The implied doubt in his tone pricked at Xiulan's pride. She closed the door with a soft click.

Master Qingfeng approached the bed and wrapped his fingers around Mei Chen's wrist. The steady focus of his examination made Xiulan's hands clench and unclench at her sides.

He lifted his palm to hover before Mei Chen's face, keeping it steady as seconds stretched into a full minute.

Master Qingfeng straightened from his examination. "Have you kept records of your qi transfer timing?"

Heat rushed to Xiulan's face. "I—no." The admission stung. How could I be so careless? Back in Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles, she'd filled notebooks analyzing combat patterns and quest triggers. "I should have documented everything."

"Miss Lin." Master Qingfeng stepped back from the bed. "Your friend's condition is grave." He shook his head. "I am not sure she can be saved."

The room spun. Xiulan gripped the bedpost as memories crashed through her—Mei Chen's broken body, the meridian pill, that first spark of hope after everything had turned to ash. Air refused to fill her lungs.

"Please." The word scratched past her throat. "Tell me what you know."

"Mei Chen is dead."

Xiulan's fingernails bit into her palms. "But—"

"Let me finish." Master Qingfeng raised a hand. "Though her physical form has expired, her spirit remains tethered to her corpse."

"In cultivation circles, we call these wrathful spirits." Master Qingfeng's voice hardened. "They must be eliminated. Left unchecked, they prey upon both mortals and cultivators alike."

"Wait—" Xiulan's voice cracked with desperation.

Master Qingfeng shook his head and gestured to Mei Chen. "Was this her state when she died?"

Xiulan blinked, confusion mixing with fear. "Do you mean wounds? Those healed along with the rejection of impurities."

Qingfeng nodded, his eyes narrowing in thought. "That is not normal. Wrathful spirits often form from tragic and gruesome deaths. They maintain that visage. Yet, Mei Chen's body is restored to a perfect state. Her qi is very active."

Xiulan's gaze drifted to Mei Chen's serene face. Worry gnawed at her insides. What does this mean for her?

Qingfeng stroked his beard, eyes gleaming with curiosity. "The golden meridian opening pill is truly remarkable. It works even if a person passes away during its activation."

Xiulan moved closer to the bed and took Mei Chen's cold hand. The chill seeped into her skin, a stark reminder of the unnatural state her friend was in.

"Normally," Qingfeng continued, "the yin surrounding her corpse would become so concentrated that she would evolve into a wrathful spirit, wreaking havoc and devouring everything she touched. However, there is only a slight imbalance in the room and around her."

Frost forming on the walls when unattended to for more than a day was only slight? She didn't want to consider what facing an actual wrathful spirit would be like, then.

Qingfeng's gaze met Xiulan's. "Your qi transfers have been crucial. By feeding her yang energy, you've countered the yin that would otherwise transform her."

Xiulan's heart pounded. "So, I have to keep donating my qi, or she'll turn into a monster? Is there no way to reverse this?"

Qingfeng considered her question. His expression turned grave. "Reversing death is beyond mortal means. Only a spiritual deity could easily reverse such a state. But they dwell so high in the heavens that meeting one is nearly impossible. Just the encounter would likely strip you bare of your bark."

Xiulan clenched her fists, frustration boiling inside her. "But there's hope, right?"

Qingfeng nodded slowly. "Indeed. The type of qi transfer you are performing requires consent. She must trust you deeply to allow your qi to flow through her spirit freely. This is a natural defense that all cultivators possess. It is not easy to press one's qi through another's soul forcibly."

Xiulan frowned. "What do you mean?"

"Watch," Qingfeng said, taking Mei Chen's hand. He closed his eyes, and Xiulan felt a faint pulse of energy.

Instead of Qingfeng's qi merging with Mei Chen, the energy floated around her like oil on water. A few sparkles of it mixed in regardless, but they were devoured quickly by Mei Chen's aura.

Qingfeng opened his eyes. "See? It might be subconscious, but she must trust you a great deal to accept your qi. This cannot be accidental; it requires purposeful acceptance. Thus, she retains her mind to some unknown degree."

Xiulan's eyes widened. "So she's not just a wrathful spirit?"

"No," Qingfeng said, shaking his head. "I've never encountered a state like hers. It makes her condition exceedingly rare."

Xiulan's stomach twisted. Rare conditions meant scarce solutions and even scarcer knowledge. The weight of Mei Chen's fate pressed down on her shoulders like a mountain of stone.

"I will begin researching immediately," Master Qingfeng said. "Though I must be discrete in consulting other masters. This room..." He gestured at the stark walls and furnishings. "The environment is inadequate for her current state."

"What do you suggest?" Xiulan squeezed Mei Chen's hand gently.

"The Treasure Pavilion contains specially crafted chambers resonating with pure Yang energy—the item forge comes to mind." Master Qingfeng traced a finger along the bedpost, frost melting beneath his touch. "Such an environment would significantly slow the accumulation of Yin energy. The time between qi transfers would extend significantly without risk."

The thought of moving Mei Chen sparked anxiety in Xiulan's chest. "And if something goes wrong? If I can't continue the qi transfers for some reason?"

"The Pavilion maintains powerful protective arrays." Master Qingfeng's steady gaze met hers. "Should the worst occur, no innocent lives would be endangered."

A sharp pain stabbed through Xiulan's chest. She released a shaky breath and nodded, acknowledging the brutal practicality of his suggestion.

Xiulan brushed a strand of hair from Mei Chen's cold forehead. "She would not want to hurt anyone. Even now—" She swallowed hard. "Even like this."

"No doubt that's part of her current state." Master Qingfeng stepped closer to the bed. "Her kind nature wages war against the pain and suffering of those final moments."

The memory slammed into Xiulan with brutal force. Blood had soaked through Mei Chen's robes as she struggled for breath. Each desperate gurgle echoed in Xiulan's mind—the way she'd tried to keep her breathing...

Xiulan blinked back tears and bowed deeply to Master Qingfeng. "Thank you for your guidance and help with this."

"I will handle preserving her state." Master Qingfeng's stern expression softened. "But you must maintain focus if you hope to create another golden meridian opening pill."

"You're right." Xiulan stared at her hands. "I've been... off-balance. Wavering since—" The words stuck in her throat. Since the night she'd killed her family.

"Deep scars leave permanent marks as evidence." Master Qingfeng stated. "But picking at the scab only makes it worse. Maintain your flow rather than beating yourself on the rocks."

"I think I understand." Xiulan squared her shoulders and met his steady gaze.

Xiulan adjusted the leather straps on her horse's pack, double-checking the distribution of travel rations. The bag needed to remain spacious enough to transport the blood lotus without crushing them. She patted the horse's flank, earning a soft snort.

"Halt! State your name!" A guard's sharp command echoed from the gate.

"How could you not recognize the famous Ren Chun?" The booming response made Xiulan roll her eyes. "I'm a guest of the lady of the manor. Let me through!"

Famous? Guest? Heat crept up Xiulan's neck. Such proclamations would spark rumors throughout the entire county by nightfall.

She grabbed the reins of her two prepared horses and strode toward the gate. "Leave the guard alone. We're departing immediately."

Ren Chun's mouth dropped open. "Without sharing tea first? Surely we should discuss—"

"No time." Xiulan thrust the spare reins of the second horse into his hands. "Try to keep up."

"But..." Ren Chun stumbled back a step. "Where exactly are we going?"

"Blackmere swamp."

The crowd parted before them as Xiulan led her horse through the city streets. Morning merchants pulled their carts aside, and children scampered between stalls to clear the path.

"Surely you mean the villages near the swamp?" Ren Chun's boots scuffed against the cobblestones. "Not the actual swamp itself? That place crawls with all manner of beasts!"

Xiulan glanced sideways at him. "Don't tell me the 'great' Ren Chun fears a few creatures? This mission will repay one of your favors, after all."

"Ha! Fear? I am Ren Chun!" He puffed out his chest.

Xiulan bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from rolling her eyes again. The market square opened up, the sun glinting off the central fountain's spray.

Ren Chun darted forward, leaving her to catch the rein of his horse. In three bounds, he scaled the fountain's edge and thrust his fist skyward. "Listen, good people! I, the heroic Ren Chun, embark on a perilous mission to aid fairy Lin Xiu—"

Xiulan yanked his ankle hard. Ren Chun tumbled backward with a spectacular splash into the fountain basin. She glared at him. "What do you think you're doing?"

"Oh!" Water dripped from his hair as he stumbled to his feet. "Was this meant to be a secret mission?" His eyes widened. "But... the fame..."

"Idiot!" Xiulan grabbed his collar. "The mission isn't secret, but I'm not advertising my movements or status as a cultivator. There are already too many rumors circulating!"

She shoved the reins back into Ren Chun's hands. "And don't abandon your horse! You need to care for her properly."

What have I gotten myself into? A knot formed in her stomach. Are all cultivators this... theatrical?

Qingfeng fit her idea of a wise cultivator, but this guy… he reminded her of a monkey!

"Why do we even need horses?" Ren Chun bounced on his heels. "If we sprint, we could reach the swamp much faster!"

"Some of us lack the endurance for such feats." Xiulan adjusted her pack. "We'll ride to the edge village first, then continue on foot. Two days should suffice." Better to rush than endure three days of this nonsense.

"I could carry you in my arms for half the journey!" Ren Chun stretched out his arms demonstratively.

Xiulan gripped her spear tighter, fighting the urge to whack him. One day of training with Master Qingfeng couldn't match years of whatever instruction this fool had received.

He'll probably challenge me to—

"Do you want to spar? We could compete on the way!"

"We haven't even left the city gates." Xiulan pinched the bridge of her nose.

"Ah, true." Ren Chun scratched his head. "It might disturb the people. Later perhaps?"

The immediate 'no' died on Xiulan's tongue. When will I get another chance to safely train with a more experienced cultivator? Her current skills wouldn't suffice for what lay ahead.

"Sure." Xiulan mounted her horse. "After we make camp for the night."

Chapter 31: Muddy Rain

Xiulan's temple throbbed with phantom pain as memories of last night's duel flickered through her mind. The clash of metal against metal echoed in her thoughts—her spear meeting Ren Chun's sword in four solid blocks.

Pride had swelled at how she'd maintained her stance, matching his strength. A fear she had silently held was that she'd be weaker than other cultivators physically, which would have made her future path bleak.

But she had managed it. His blows were heavier than any of those she had fought except for Master Qingfeng's.

But not unsurmountable.

The remembered sensation of executing perfect thrusts brought a slight smile. Her spear had darted forward in quick succession, forcing him to dodge aside.

But then everything changed. Ren Chun slipped past her defenses like water through cupped hands. The world blurred into a storm of strikes. The flat of his blade cracked against her temple as his fist connected with her cheek. Though her cultivation had healed the wounds by morning, the memory stung sharper than the actual hits.

Hoofbeats approached from her left. Ren Chun guided his mount alongside hers on the dusty road.

"Fairy—Miss Lin, why won't you talk to me? Surely you're not still holding a grudge for losing, are you?"

Xiulan clicked her tongue. "What kind of idiot goes all out right away? You almost took my head off!"

"But I didn't know Miss Lin was a novice!" Ren Chun spread his hands wide. "Besides, after that, I did go easy. I even did my best to help you train!"

Xiulan scoffed, and then her hands tightened on the reins. "Then why did you smack my ass on every exchange after that? Did you forget we needed to ride to the village today?"

Ren Chun's mouth dropped open. "Such a crude word from a pretty fairy!"

Pretty? This idiot wanted her to hit him. She dug her heels into her horse's flanks, spurring it forward.

"Wait up!" Hoofbeats thundered behind as Ren Chun caught up.

Eventually, they slowed to a trot. He pulled back alongside and looked at her with a stupid grin. "About those favors—maybe we could call it even at one more? Those forty soldiers would have been more of a challenge for you than I thought."

"I could have handled them easily." Xiulan clenched her jaw. "I've dealt with more on my own before."

"When did you—"

Xiulan thrust out her hand. "Shush. Look ahead."

A wagon tilted at an awkward angle where the marshy ground had swallowed one side of the vehicle. The horses shifted restlessly in their traces while several figures struggled against the mired wheels.

"Just some mortals." Ren Chun shrugged. "Path's clear enough to pass."

The travelers' forms grew clearer as they approached—four men straining against the wagon's weight, their clothes already splattered with mud from their efforts.

Xiulan pulled her horse's reins, bringing it to a stop beside the tilted wagon. The marsh's pungent odor of rotting vegetation and stagnant water filled the air.

"Aren't you going to help?" She turned to Ren Chun who sat atop his mount with a bemused expression.

The men lined up in front of their wagon and dropped to their knees. Their leader pressed his mud-caked forehead to the ground. "My deepest apologies for blocking your path, noble ones. We wouldn't dare expect you to soil yourselves for such lowly merchants."

"See? We can keep going." Ren Chun adjusted his sword belt.

Xiulan's eyes narrowed. "I thought you were all about justice?"

Ren Chun shook his head. "What justice? The cart fell in mud—it wasn't bandits. This might even be heaven's will, restoring karma!"

"Blind justice proves more evil than blatant atrocity." Xiulan swung down from her saddle. "At least one has the decency to be upfront about itself."

The merchants scrambled backward as she approached. "Please, my lady! Don't soil yourself for our sake!"

Xiulan ignored their protests and waded through the muck. The thick mud sucked at her boots as she positioned herself beside the wagon. 

She sank into a horse stance, channeling qi through her meridians just as Qingfeng had taught her. Power surged through her muscles as she gripped the wagon's frame and heaved upward. The cart lifted free with minimal effort, settling back onto solid ground with a wet squelch.

The merchants prostrated themselves, faces pressed to the earth. "Thank you, fairy!"

"Be more careful staying on the road." Xiulan wrung the sodden hem of her martial outfit.

"Now your dress is filthy." Ren Chun wrinkled his nose as she remounted. "You don't look like a fairy at all."

"We're going into a fucking swamp." Xiulan adjusted her reins. "If we both aren't covered head to toe in mud by the time we're done, I'll be shocked."

The swamp village emerged from the mist one building at a time. Weathered wooden structures perched on stilts rose above the murky water, connected by rickety boardwalks. Xiulan scanned the shoreline for any sign of stables—they'd need somewhere dry to leave the horses before venturing deeper into the marsh.

Ren Chun broke the silence. "You could spend that second favor on something useful, you know. I could teach you Water Stepping Foot qinggong."

Xiulan raised an eyebrow.

"Look, watching you get covered in swamp muck would be entertaining, but it won't help us find the blood lotus." Ren Chun gestured at the brackish water below the boardwalks. "Otherwise, only one of us ends up filthy."

"You think you can teach me qinggong that quickly?" Xiulan turned in her saddle to study him.

"Well..." Ren Chun scratched his chin. "I've opened three meridians myself, but the qi rolling off you is something else. Should be simple enough?"

"I've opened all my meridians," Xiulan said with a hint of pride. "My Ren Mai, Du Mai, and Chong Mai are clear of blockages too."

Ren Chun's mount skittered sideways as he jerked the reins. "You unlocked all five major meridians?"

Xiulan shook her head. "No, I mean all of them. Major and minor."

Ren Chun blinked rapidly, mouth working silently before breaking into a wide grin. "Haaaah... I understand now. Fairy Lin is an idiot savant! Absolutely unparalleled in meridian opening, and absolutely useless at martial arts!"

"What?" The word slipped from Xiulan's lips as heat crept up her neck.

Ren Chun's laughter echoed across the marsh, startling a flock of birds from nearby reeds.

Xiulan pulled her horse to a stop, scanning the stilted buildings of the village before turning back to Ren Chun. "Teach me the Water Stepping Foot now. But it won't count as a favor."

"What!?" Ren Chun straightened in his saddle. "Passing on a technique is definitely a favor!"

"You could have helped with the wagon." Xiulan crossed her arms. "Or taught me qinggong before we came to a swamp. You knew where we were heading."

Ren Chun peered at her through narrowed eyes, unconvinced.

"And I won't hold a grudge for yesterday's sparring session."

A snort escaped Ren Chun as he stifled another laugh. "Fine. Free lesson this time."

Ren Chun gave Xiulan a dirty look as he glanced back over his shoulder, then pressed forward into the swamp. Both of them were covered in partially cleaned mud from head to toe as they walked on top of the soggy mess with Water Stepping Foot.

Learning the technique hadn't been hard.

Ren Chun had demonstrated, then explained how she should expand her qi through the meridians in her feet to provide a wide surface to step on without breaking the water.

Her second and third attempts had worked flawlessly.

It was the first one that had detonated a small crater underneath her and vomited a ton of swamp goop on both of them that had been the problem.

The stables in the village had been kind enough to give them cloth to wipe down with and clean up the best they could along with housing for her horses.

But she wasn't sure if their clothing would ever be recoverable. She'd sort of expected that.

Maybe she'd buy poor Ren Chun a new outfit from one of Blackmere city's better tailors.

She sort of felt a bit bad for manipulating him. A little.

He sort of deserved it too, though.

But she didn't think he was entirely a bad person. Just…

Her first impression was right. He was very focused. But there was a little more there than she thought.

Ren Chun suddenly stopped as a thick fog bank billowed from the ground. "We're entering the wilds now. Be on guard."

Xiulan nodded, her senses sharpening. "The blood lotus will be deep."

"Exactly." Ren Chun's voice held a note of caution. They both readied their weapons, and Xiulan followed at a closer distance.

The fog thickened around them. After a few minutes, it cleared to reveal twisted trees and dark water stretching endlessly in every direction. The qi density pressed against Xiulan's skin, making her meridians tingle with an unfamiliar sensation.

"This feels strange." Xiulan rubbed her arms.

Ren Chun turned to face her. "Wait—this is your first time in the wilds?" He shook his head. "Of course it is. With your martial arts skills, you'd never have survived out here before."

Xiulan shot him an icy glare. "Just keep an eye out for our objective."

"A ways for us to go still." Ren Chun stepped carefully across the water's surface.

They continued through the eerie landscape until Ren Chun stopped abruptly. "Ready your weapon."

Xiulan scanned the murky waters but saw nothing beyond the rippling surface. A deafening roar shattered the silence. A massive scaled form erupted from beneath them, jaws wide and teeth gleaming. Xiulan's muscles locked—too fast, too close.

Ren Chun's sword flashed in an arc, splitting the creature's head before it reached her. 

The beast burst into dark smoke with a thunderous crack. Qi surged through the air as a small crystalline object plummeted toward the water. Ren Chun snatched it mid-fall.

Xiulan's eyes widened at the familiar glint. A spirit stone.

A second scaled form burst from the murky depths. Xiulan thrust her spear forward, but the weapon skidded off hardened scales with a metallic screech. 

She darted backward, qi wavering beneath her feet. The water's surface rippled dangerously as her Water Step technique faltered.

The beast's massive jaws gaped wide, rows of yellowed teeth gleaming in the dim light. Xiulan's heart hammered against her ribs as death approached—

Ren Chun's blade plunged through the creature's skull. The monster exploded into dark smoke with a thunderous crack, leaving behind another glittering spirit stone.

"Is that all of them?" Xiulan steadied her breathing, scanning the murky waters.

"For now." Ren Chun studied the two spirit stones in his palm. "You know, I planned to split these fifty-fifty, but considering your martial arts..." He clicked his tongue. "Well, they're so lacking, it doesn't seem right. I should keep them all."

Xiulan narrowed her eyes. The spirit stones glowed with tempting power, but she hadn't ventured into this dangerous swamp for them. And her poor display against the beast left her with little room to argue.

"Fine. Keep all the spirit stones from the beasts we fight. But I claim any blood lotus or spiritual plants we find."

Ren Chun pocketed both stones with a satisfied shrug. "Deal." 

The qi grew denser as they pressed deeper into the swamp. Xiulan focused on the sensation, noting how Ren Chun adjusted their path based on the energy's thickness. The technique made perfect sense—like following an invisible gradient into the swamp's heart.

A splash of crimson pierced through the fog. A massive tree with blood-red leaves materialized, its branches twisting toward the sky like grasping fingers.

"Spiritual tree." Ren Chun gripped his sword. "There'll be a guardian. Stay back—I'll handle it."

"Ready." Xiulan tightened her grip on her spear.

A dark shape descended from the canopy. Xiulan's breath caught in her throat as recognition hit. The creature hovered above them—a mosquito the size of a horse. Its proboscis gleamed like a sword in the dim light.

No. Not mosquitos. Anything but mosquitos.

Ren Chun raised his blade, but the massive insect burst apart. Millions of tiny bodies filled the air, their collective buzz drowning out all other sound. The swarm rushed toward them in a black wave.

Too many. He can't possibly—

She yanked Ren Chun's sash, pulling him backward. Qi surged through her meridians as she channeled everything into her right foot. The Water Step technique detonated with explosive force as her foot struck the swamp's surface.

A wall of water erupted around them. The liquid mass slammed into the mosquito swarm with devastating impact. Thunder cracked across the sky as water met insects, the sound echoing through the swamp.

Qi flooded back into Xiulan's depleted meridians from her dantian, making her limbs tingle with renewed energy. Each heartbeat pounded in her ears like a war drum.

Ren Chun's jaw dropped. He stared at her with wide eyes, his sword forgotten at his side.

"I didn't think you knew any techniques." Ren Chun blinked rapidly, still staring at the aftermath of her explosion.

Xiulan smirked despite the exhaustion weighing on her limbs. "Water Step."

"That was Water Step?" Ren Chun's eyes widened.

A weak laugh escaped Xiulan's throat. "Didn't you recognize it? You taught me earlier today."

"Lin Xiulan's Water Stepping Foot is ferocious." Ren Chun shook his head in disbelief.

The qi rippled around the blood-red spirit tree, drawing Xiulan's attention back to her goal. She scanned the area where the mosquito swarm had dispersed. "There's no spirit stone?"

"Because you didn't defeat the guardian—just stopped its dirty trick." Ren Chun pointed toward the tree's canopy.

Xiulan focused her senses. The familiar buzz of wings filtered through the fog, setting her teeth on edge. The sound grew louder.

Ren Chun dropped into a fighting stance and gripped his blade. He sprinted forward across the water's surface, each step creating perfect concentric ripples. Xiulan followed, keeping her spear positioned for a quick thrust. 

The massive mosquito swooped from behind the spirit tree's trunk. Ren Chun leaped skyward, his blade flashing in a precise arc. The creature's wing separated with a wet snap. As it plummeted, Ren Chun drove his sword through its thorax. The entire exchange lasted mere seconds.

The mosquito's corpse burst into dark smoke, leaving behind two gleaming spirit stones.

"Well, that was anti-climactic." Xiulan lowered her spear.

Ren Chun nodded and collected the stones. He studied them for a moment before extending one toward her. "You did help."

Xiulan shook her head. "A deal is a deal."

"Hah, well, don't be disappointed in your deal." Ren Chun glanced up at the spirit tree's branches. "There aren't any fruits, so it doesn't look like you have any luck."