With the spirit’s departure, Ling Qi now had more time than she had thought she would. It seemed that she also would be seeking out the trial this week, instead of as a backup alternative. She would need a partner though as it was a two person trial, and she knew just who to ask.

  How to approach Gu Xiulan…… Han Jian and his cousin were back, and they had once again taken to working with her friend and the girl’s fiance. Ling Qi was hardly politically savvy, but she had a feeling that inviting Xiulan along to her trial when Han Jian hadn’t invited the girl to his might be a turning point of sorts.

  Ling Qi did not consider herself knowledgeable about politics. From Meizhen and time spent browsing histories in the archive, she had managed to pick up a sort of fuzzy outline of how things stood. She knew the names of the most important families and some various general information about the Empire’s provinces.

  She was not sure how to engage with the system in place, however. There weren’t really any books on the subject, beyond etiquette texts and other such related things. She strongly suspected that it was the kind of thing one was just expected to pick up, like the pecking order among the street folk in Tonghou.

  So after her initial resolve to ask Xiulan to accompany her on the trial Fu Xiang had revealed to her, she began to worry. She knew Xiulan was drifting further away from Han Jian, and she knew things in their group were getting strained. It seemed like a strange thing to worry about, but she had been spending a lot of time with Xiulan lately and it might appear to others or even Han Jian that she was trying to pull her away.

  It seemed absurd, but so did a lot of things about the weird relationships among the various nobles here. She mostly avoided it herself, for one reason or another, but it seemed like something she should at least mention to Han Jian to make sure she wasn’t sending any unintended signals, particularly when she was only half aware of which signals were bad in the first place!

  In her effort to meet up with Han Jian, she found herself at the pavilion where the council meetings took place. Han Jian had returned from wherever he had been off to, and according to what she could gather, he was coordinating with some lesser members of Cai’s faction on some kind of training effort. She made sure to arrive around the time that he would be finishing up.

  Han Jian had changed, she noted idly as she waited at the exit to the pavilion area. He seemed more confident and more decisive in demeanor as he instructed the enforcers. He was wearing the Cai robe that she had previously seen him wear, this time with a white cape pinned over his shoulders. She wondered if he had practiced to get it to flutter like that.

  Her eyes drifted to Han Fang as the two of them approached the exit. The larger boy was a step behind his cousin as always and had changed to a more martial set of gear, similar to Han Jian but of lesser quality and lacking the cape. The weapon on his back, a massive mace with the spherical, ridge-lined business end the size of her head, was new as well.

  “Ling Qi,” Han Jian said, raising his hand in greeting as he approached. “Sorry I haven’t had a chance to talk with you since we got back.” His qi had grown more vibrant as he had broken through to Late Yellow since she had seen him last.

  “It’s fine. You’ve been busy. It happens,” she said with a shrug. “If you’re done for now, do you think we could talk for a bit?”


  Han Jian cast a glance over his shoulder at the other disciples slowly scattering to the other exits then nodded.

  “That’s fine. Before anything else though, I would like to thank you,” he said, bowing his head, lower than was strictly proper. “You helped my friends out of some real trouble. I owe you one.”


  Ling Qi blinked then scratched her cheek sheepishly. “They’re my friends too,” she said uncomfortably. “Well, Gu Xiulan is.”


  “I know,” he said, smiling. “I’m glad she has someone else to look out for her. Figures I would pick just the right time to disappear, huh?”


  “That’s not your fault,” Ling Qi reassured him hurriedly. She felt a little silly about letting him know about her intended plan to ask Xiulan now. “I just wanted to let you know that I was planning to ask Xiulan to accompany me for a trial tomorrow. Figured you would want to plan around it.”


  “Oh, thanks for the warning,” Han Jian said slowly, giving her a concerned look. “There’s something else you’re worried about though,” he pointed out shrewdly.

  Ling Qi glanced at Han Fang, who was facing away from them, arms crossed. There was a faint buzzing in her senses and an odd stillness in the air. What he was doing dawned on her a moment later when he met her gaze and nodded. Han Fang was ensuring that they wouldn’t be overheard.

  “.…… I’m worried that I’m going to mess up,” Ling Qi replied after a moment’s thought. “I know Xiulan isn’t happy with you right now, and I don’t know if I’m making you look bad by going out with her all the time, especially with a big prize like this.”


  Han Jian frowned, cupping his chin in his hand. “I suppose I can see the reasoning there. It’s been…… a little difficult between us lately,” he admitted. “I’m trying to give her some space and time to cool down, but I may have overdone it.”


  “Maybe a bit,” Ling Qi said dryly. “I don’t really have any right to say anything though,” she added awkwardly. “Is this going to be a problem?”


  “No. I’m not going to try and get in the way of my friend’s good fortune, even if she’d like to light my hair on fire at the moment. I’m not going to be that kind of lord,” Han Jian said firmly. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s not a matter for me to decide. I don’t have any business getting into my vassals’ personal affairs if it’s not affecting their duties.”


  Ling Qi nodded, relieved. “Alright. I guess it was a little silly to think otherwise, but the more I learn about things……”


  “The easier it is to get paranoid about every step,” Han Jian finished ruefully. “I get it. Honestly, there probably will be a few people starting nasty rumors, but you can’t really avoid that, no matter what you do.”


  They parted ways soon after that with Han Jian assuring her that he would resume their normal activities soon. That done, Ling Qi headed off to find Xiulan, who she found was on her way back up the mountain. If she had to guess, she would say that Xiulan had gone to the volcanic vent where she had trained with her sister some time ago.

  Ling Qi didn’t bother hiding her own energy as she approached the bonfire of qi that Xiulan represented in her senses. She ghosted openly through the canopy of the trees, using the travel as a light agility exercise as she hopped from branch to branch. It became obvious that Xiulan had noticed her as well as the other girl picked up speed to meet her.

  Ling Qi dropped down onto the narrow dirt trail that constituted a path on this part of the mountain next to one of the stubby waystones marking distance. Gu Xiulan soon came up the path, wearing a new dress in her usual red shade with azure flames decorating the sleeves and hems.

  “You can be kind of troublesome to find,” Ling Qi said lightly, smoothing her mantle. “Are you doing well, Gu Xiulan?”


  Her friend smirked and took a prideful pose. “Can you not tell?” she asked, spinning lightly on her heel, making her gown flare out around her legs. “I have refined my perfection further.”


  Ling Qi smiled. She wasn’t the only one working hard. Her friend had reached Mid Silver. “Of course,” Ling Qi replied, eyeing her preening friend with amusement. “I guess all of that cake and candy had to go somewhere.”


  “Such things are beneath the concern of immortals,” Xiulan huffed, giving her a flat look. “As I have said many times before. Besides, I am not the one pushing the fittings of my gown.”


  Ling Qi glanced down despite herself. It was fine. And she was pretty sure this thing readjusted itself…… She turned her gaze back to a smug looking Xiulan. “That was mean,” she complained.

  “You started it,” her friend replied in an amused tone. She was clearly in a good mood. “I hardly meant insult,” she teased. “Young ladies our age often need their clothes refitted.”


  Ling Qi flushed; Xiulan could be cruel at times. Ling Qi was still as lacking in feminine charm as the day she had come to the mountain. The only physical difference was that she wasn’t half starved and had put on a bit of muscle. “Anyway,” she said, changing the subject, “I wanted to extend you an offer.”


  “Oh, what kind of offer?” Xiulan asked, slipping easily into a more serious posture. “I heard you were hunting for something or another. Do you require aid?”


  Ling Qi held back a grimace. It looked like she needed to practice her subtlety if people had already figured out her general action. “Not quite. I have the location of a trial. And I would like you to accompany me for it.”


  Gu Xiulan blinked, a look of genuine surprise on her face before she broke into a wide grin. “You truly do never lack for good fortune,” her friend praised, and for once, there was no trace of bitterness or jealousy in her voice. “I would be happy to accompany you.”


  That was as Ling Qi expected. The next part was more difficult. “.…… I should let you know that you won’t have to worry about scheduling conflicts. I already let Han Jian know.”


  Xiulan’s smile slipped, and Ling Qi saw a quite literal spark of unhappiness in her eyes. “Is that so. I suppose I am glad it will not be an issue.” Her tone was studiously neutral.

  “I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t going to cause either of you problems,” Ling Qi said earnestly, meeting Xiulan’s gaze steadily. “You know I don’t really get all of the political stuff.”


  Xiulan still had an air of irritation, but she nodded. “You are…… not wrong,” she agreed grudgingly. “In the future, allow me to speak with him on such matters.”


  “Sorry,” Ling Qi said, dipping her head. “I hope the prize makes up for it a little?” She didn’t voice her suspicion that Xiulan might have handled the situation poorly if left on her own.

  “It does,” Xiulan said. “.…… It helps that you made no attempt to conceal your actions.”


  “I might be a sneak, but you are one of my closest friends. I’m not going to purposely go behind your back,” Ling Qi replied. “Does sunrise tomorrow sound good to you?”


  “It does,” Xiulan said with a sharp nod. “I shall see you there.”


  The rest of the evening and night passed quickly enough. Ling Qi continued her efforts to ferret out information on the groups she was investigating, but soon enough, the light of dawn began to brighten the horizon, and she went to meet Xiulan at her home. Unlike her other friends, the noble girl proved more akin to her own habits and was fully prepared by the time she got there.

  Taking the mountain paths together, they climbed the mountain, heading toward the treeline where the cavern which held the trial was located according to Fu Xiang’s information. The general area was easy enough to find, but even with explicit instructions, the sense-distorting maze around the cave entrance proved an irritating obstacle. Although they had started their trip before the sun had properly risen, dawn was well underway by the time they made it to the cave and the white stone door buried in its rear wall.

  The two of them took a moment to examine the cave, but they found no further traps or surprises. The door was similar enough to the one she had seen with Meizhen, aside from its coloring, so they both placed a hand upon it and channeled their qi.

  Unlike the last trial she had been to, they were not immediately whisked away. Instead, the doors ground open, revealing a chamber dimly lit by a single hanging lantern filled with a ghostly blue-green flame. It hung from the center of the ceiling over a pool of clear water and cast the rest of the room in shadow.

  While that wasn’t a problem for Ling Qi, she was not so certain of her friend. “Do you need a light?” she asked quietly as she stepped inside to peer around.

  “Hardly,” Xiulan sniffed, stepping gingerly inside as well as flames gathered in the palm of her hand, brightening the interior. “I am the light.”


  Ling Qi made a sound of acknowledgment and examined the circular chamber. She could easily see the bottom of the pool, which was tiled with jade in varying colors. Two tiles were missing.

  “Ling Qi, this way.” She looked up at the sound of Xiulan’s voice. The other girl stood near a flat section of rock on the far side of the room, examining the wall. “Written instructions. How straightforward for an Elder,” the girl mused.

  Ling Qi hurried over. Sure enough, when she got within a meter of Xiulan, silvery characters blurred into existence on the previously bare patch of wall.

  “Resolve in the face of hardship is the truest virtue,” Gu Xiulan read aloud. “Within dreams of tribulation lie the keys to success.”


  “All dreams contain keys, yet not all trials are equal. Choose wisely,” Ling Qi finished. “That…… sounds obvious enough. So…… this will be like Elder Zhou’s test, you think?”


  “Perhaps,” Xiulan mused. “Let us search the other walls. There may yet be more.”


  They moved around the perimeter of the room, and as they did, more hidden markings were revealed. This time, there were no words, only symbols. The first was a rearing dragon horse, shrouded by cloud and lightning. The qilin was the symbol of the cloud tribe warlord Ogodei, who had invaded the Empire centuries ago. She remembered that much from her occasional studying.

  The second was hideous, a man half twisted into some kind of great cat, his leering, fanged mouth dripping blood. Xiulan thought it resembled tales of the skin-changing warriors of the western barbarians.

  The third was a tiny ship on a storm-wracked sea, ghost lights shining from the waters below. Something to do with the northern provinces then, they both agreed.

  The last was a stylized white owl with wings outstretched over a black sky, and they both knew what that symbol meant. It was the mark of the Ministry of Integrity. What that meant for a trial, neither could say.

  Xiulan recounted Elder Zhou’s third test that Ling Qi had skipped, where the remaining disciples had been pitted against the phantoms of various enemies. It seemed likely that this trial’s dreams would be something similar. Unfortunately, there was no further information to be found nor any means of egress, aside from the door they had entered by.

  They would need to make a choice.

  “I think that one might be a good place to start,” Ling Qi said, pointing toward the image of the scaled spirit beast. “We still don’t know what these tests will entail, but this one should at least take place on familiar ground, right?”


  Gu Xiulan hummed thoughtfully, eyes flicking from one symbol to the next. “I suppose so. It is somewhat irritating that my home is the only region of the Empire unrepresented,” she added, frowning.

  “That is a little strange,” Ling Qi said consideringly. She didn’t particularly understand why. “Maybe the Elder who crafted this trial isn’t familiar with the east?”


  “Perhaps,” Xiulan replied, shaking her head as she turned toward the image of the dragon horse. “In any case, some practice against the foes we will be expected to face cannot go amiss.”


  Ling Qi nodded, glad they could agree on the first step without trouble. “Now, we just need to activate it. Do you think we should just touch it?” She stepped closer to the faintly luminescent symbol. Ling Qi hadn’t found any visible formations markings in the chamber despite her best efforts.

  “As simple as that is, it seems so,” her friend said as she stepped up beside her. “There is nothing else to……” The image rippled as Xiulan’s fingers brushed across it and dissolved into mist, revealing two circles of characters so dense that they at first appeared as simple black rings. Even squinting, Ling Qi could barely make out the individual characters.

  “I suppose that answers that question,” Ling Qi said dryly, for above the hand-sized circle was a single glowing line of silver script. It read simply: ‘Here begins the dream of storms.’


  She shared a look with Xiulan, and then the two of them placed their hands within the offered circles.

  Everything went black.

  Threads 98-Contemplation 3

  On the stage, Ling Qi smiled and bowed as her first song with Hanyi came to an end. They began the next song, and Ling Qi pondered what she had heard. The short snippet wasn’t much to go on. It almost seemed like just a personal conflict, but wasn’t this sort of conflict between vassal groups the sort of thing she was supposed to keep an eye on? Also, she was curious about the girl who had attracted Meizhen’s interest.

  Ling Qi continued to listen in to the conversations of lesser nobles. She paid special attention to those who seemed to lie on the edges of groups and blocs. Wang Chao could probably use a nudge toward more potential friends. The rest, she just filed away in her head to be reported to Cai Renxiang later.

  When the performance was over and Hanyi had danced off to the refreshment tables, Ling Qi descended from the stage, trading polite words with other partygoers. Quite a few seemed to be thrown off by her new attempts at a more friendly demeanor, and she caught more than one wary look at her back as she passed through the crowd. It was like they were waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  She found Bao Qingling standing with her back to the pavilion’s railing, arms crossed and shoulders hunched. She looked rather unapproachable. Naturally, Ling Qi ignored this. She honestly wasn’t sure what had attracted Meizhen to this girl. The only thought that came to mind was their shared height and general build.

  She tried to picture the scowling girl in front of her willingly embracing someone. She failed.

  Sixiang murmured.

  Bao Qingling’s head jerked in her direction as she approached, and Ling Qi stopped to bow. “Miss Bao, did you enjoy the song?”


  “It was highly proficient,” she replied shortly, and Ling Qi suspected that was the best praise she would get from the girl. “I do not have much use for open skies and blooming spring fields however.”


  “No song can be for everyone,” Ling Qi said agreeably, moving to lean against the railing beside her. “How is Li Suyin? I haven’t seen her all month.”


  “The Sect has her locked away in a workshop,” Bao Qingling said. Her eyes stared ahead, twitching with the movement of the crowd in front of them. Her sleek grey boot tapped the floor impatiently. “Not how I expected her to catch the elders’ attention.”


  “Li Suyin is very talented,” Ling Qi said. Working directly with the elders? That was…… definitely something.

  “Of course,” Bao Qingling sniffed. “I taught her properly.”


  Ling Qi gave her a sidelong look. Despite her sour tone, Ling Qi didn’t detect any envy there, just a sort of spiteful pride.

  “And what about you?” She was surprised when Bao Qingling spoke up again. “Handling my cousin’s attempts at negotiation well?”


  “We have worked out an initial deal,” Ling Qi revealed easily.

  “Whatever you’re doing, keep doing it.” Bao Qingling snorted. “You have him puzzled, that’s for sure.”


  Sixiang said dryly in her head.

  “I’ll take that under advisement,” Ling Qi replied, keeping a straight face.

  “Do so,” Bao Qingling said bluntly.

  Finally, she turned her head to look at Ling Qi. Even cleaned up without the goggles or a mask on her face, Bao Qingling definitely wasn’t pretty. Her complexion was more pallid than pale, there were dark circles under her eyes, her lips were thin, and her features were sharp. Compared to the many young women here, she was very plain. But then again, so was Ling Qi. “Tch, it seems that we are entangled, one way or another.”


  Ling Qi nodded slowly. On several levels even. “We are. Funny how that works.”


  Bao Qingling grunted in agreement. “Don’t expect me to start coming out to shop and braid your hair. You are an associate of an associate.”


  “We aren’t friends,” Ling Qi agreed. “But I feel like we should at least be friendly given the growing number of connections we have.”


  Bao Qingling gave her a narrow-eyed glare, and a faint touch of color rose in her cheeks. “And what is that supposed to mean?”


  “Just that we should talk now and then,” Ling Qi said lightly. “Care to vent about what’s troubling you? Lady Cai might need to know if her vassals are going to be squabbling on the eve of war.”


  The other girl huffed, turning back to watch the crowd. “It’s not clan business,” she answered shortly. “Not yet.”


  Ling Qi cocked an eyebrow. When Bao Qingling didn’t continue, she cleared her throat. “Now you’re the one being vague.”


  “Feh,” the girl spat. “Just echoes of conflict before our time. Luo Zhong wants to have patching things up under his belt and a line of Bao family credit. He started courting me the second I hit the Inner Sect. As if I have time for that.”


  “I would have thought your parents would be deciding that kind of thing,” Ling Qi said carefully.

  Bao Qingling shrugged. “He seems to have convinced his parents. Mine are content to leave me be. I am a poor asset for the usual business, but I’ve shown enough talent to put that nonsense off. If I can angle for an apprenticeship in the Duchess’ court, that is worth more than a line with a bunch of herders.”


  “Why not just go for a different Bao then? I’m sure you’ve got sisters or cousins.” Ling Qi felt gross talking about this topic, but Luo Zhong’s insistence on Bao Qingling in particular seemed strange given how large clans were. Still, she felt like calling a scion of another count clan “a bunch of herders” was more than Qingling’s habitual bluntness. Was there conflict between the Bao and the Luo?

  “Not unmarried. He’s just too impatient to wait a decade or two for the younger ones to grow up,” Bao Qingling explained flippantly. She pushed herself up from the railing. “I will give Lady Cai my respects now. This place isn’t good for my nerves.”


  Ling Qi nodded as the other girl left, following her path through the crowd.

  Sixiang mused silently.

  Ling Qi considered following up on this, but she might be getting ahead of herself. She was more confident in herself now, but there was confidence, and then there was arrogance in trying to weasel out more context from a comital scion who appeared to pride himself on social manipulation. And using her co-project with Wang Chao as a conversation opener might be insulting to Wang Chao.

  Ling Qi cast one last glance at Luo Zhong. He stood off to one side, chatting pleasantly with a handful of barons and viscounts she recognized from his party. He seemed fine, but there was still a hint of tension in the air. She mentally appended this disagreement to her to-do list. Once the expedition underground was over, she would ask Bao Qian for more information about this.

  Ling Qi caught sight of Hanyi, and she began to head her way. Something about the way Hanyi was grinning at Xuan Shi made her nervous.

  Sixiang asked innocently.

  Ling Qi picked up her pace. Why did Xuan Shi’s social screen have to be so good!?

  ***

  “Right? Big Sis is just the best, but she won’t admit it, so you should……” Hanyi’s voice suddenly snapped into focus as Ling Qi stepped into range.

  “Hello again,” Ling Qi said cheerfully, cutting Hanyi off without remorse. “I hope my little sister hasn’t been troubling you.”


  Hanyi shot her a look and huffed, crossing her arms. “Big Sis, I was being good! I didn’t do anything you said not to.”


  Ling Qi gave her a suspicious look. Hanyi grinned. Xuan Shi looked uncomfortable.

  “Thy sibling offered no offense. Do not be harsh,” Xuan Shi said hastily. Well, hastily for him, anyway.

  “Of course,” Ling Qi said evenly. “What were you discussing then?”


  “I was just talking about how good you are at composing, Sis, and all the help you’ve been giving me,” Hanyi said sweetly.

  Partial lie, her instincts told her. Considering Hanyi……

  Sixiang stated bluntly in her thoughts.

  Ling Qi sighed. Hanyi was trying to “help.” Thankfully, Xuan Shi did not seem to have taken offense. “There is no need to praise me too much, Hanyi. You will make people think I have a swollen head,” she chided gently.

  Hanyi looked defiant but nodded, mumbling under her breath. “Big Sis should be less humble.”


  Ling Qi chose to ignore that and smiled at Xuan Shi. “Thank you for being patient with Hanyi.”


  He waved his hand dismissively. “Miss Ling’s praise is welcome but unneeded. This one would instead offer thanks for the superb performance.”


  “It was hardly something so praiseworthy,” Ling Qi demurred. “And my name is fine.”


  “As you say,” he said, tugging his hat low. “How fares thine younger brother?”


  “He is growing quite steadily. He reached the appraisal stage just a short time ago,” Ling Qi replied cheerfully. She was always happy for an opportunity to praise Zhengui.

  “If anyone has a swollen head, it’s Zhen,” Hanyi said petulantly. The two must have had a little spat recently. Ling Qi did not let herself worry about it. They were friends and squabbled frequently, but their enmity never lasted for more than a day or two.

  Sixiang accused.

  Ling Qi ignored the muse’s prodding.

  “A good omen for growth to come,” Xuan Shi said, oblivious to her internal byplay. “This one has noticed a certain change in thee as well. A successful assimilation?”


  Ling Qi took but a moment to understand. Xuan Shi’s speech had become much more comprehensible since last year or perhaps, he was simply becoming more familiar with southern dialects. “I did succeed in integrating my domain weapon recently. Lady Cai was most helpful with her instruction. Given your cultivation, you must have as well.”


  He nodded amiably. “This one’s own efforts were somewhat fraught, but success came in the end.”


  “I’m not sure I’ve ever seen your domain weapon,” Ling Qi noted. She couldn’t quite recall. It would be rude to ask him to bring it out here though. “I suppose I will have the opportunity soon. Would you mind telling me about your more recent projects since we will be fighting together?”


  “Certainly.” Xuan Shi looked pleased. She had a feeling he would enjoy talking about his work, and it would be tactically helpful. She was a little amused at the way Hanyi subtly rolled her eyes. Silly little sister, it wasn’t so easy to make things awkward any more!

  ***

  Ling Qi stood by Cai Renxiang’s side as the last of the guests descended the hill and left their site. The rest of the party had gone by quickly.

  Xuan Shi’s projects were interesting. It seemed that his focus was on expanding his project from last year’s crafting competition from personal defense to rapid deployment fortifications. A great deal of his words had gone over her head; she had not kept up with her formation studies. However, the talk of self-reinforcing and resonating defences certainly sounded powerful. She would feel a lot better about scouting ahead knowing that she had such a sturdy foundation behind her.

  She may have overstepped herself in inviting him to take a look at her home defenses though. He had been quite eager actually, but now, Ling Qi had to explain to her mother that a member of a ducal family was coming by and prevent her from hyperventilating. A concern for after the expedition.

  “You performed well,” Cai Renxiang said, disturbing her thoughts. “I was somewhat ambivalent about adding your spirit to the performance, but it turned out well. A worthy expense.”


  Ling Qi could feel Hanyi being smug at her from inside of her dantian. She would need to puncture that ego a little, come training.

  “It was amusing,” Ling Qi replied. “I expected some trouble with the more Peaks-inclined nobility, but the consensus seemed to be that I was skilled for taming such a notoriously unruly spirit.”


  Hanyi blew a silent rasberry at her.

  Sixiang chuckled.

  Hanyi complained.

  Ling Qi struggled to keep a straight face as her spirits bickered. Cai Renxiang looked at her out of the corner of her eye, and Ling Qi flushed. She was pretty sure that Cai Renxiang knew what was happening. “Well, it wasn’t all good,” she allowed. “Some people still thought having her walk around on her own was boorish.”


  “You cannot please everyone with every action,” Cai Renxiang said. “Nonetheless, I am satisfied with your efforts.”


  “Thank you,” Ling Qi acknowledged. “Might I ask what matter brought Sun Liling here?”


  Cai Renxiang’s lips quirked down. “She was interested in a truce.”


  Ling Qi raised her eyebrows. “I didn’t know we were still at war with her.”


  “The Princess has focused her competitiveness upon myself and Bai Meizhen,” her liege corrected. “Regardless, it seems that Ji Rong has also been selected as part of the team for your upcoming expedition, and she wished to offer assurances that there would be no ill will during that mission…… and request the same.”


  Ling Qi blinked. “He will? But why?” she asked.

  “His arts proved unusually effective against the beasts of the deep,” Cai Renxiang explained calmly. “The Sect is trusting the members to act professionally.”


  That was certainly fine for her and for Xuan Shi. Could Ji Rong really be trusted to do the same? She rubbed her forehead in consternation. “I have no personal grudge.”


  “I told the princess such, and I trust your discipline regardless,” Cai Renxiang said, stepping out of the pavilion. “Come. I wish to have one final spar before you set about your last stretch of cultivation.”


  “Yes, Lady Cai,” Ling Qi replied immediately, falling in behind her. Ugh. She really didn’t know how to feel about working with Ji Rong.

  Over the course of the next few days, Ling Qi made her final preparations. She cultivated the next level of the Roaming Moon’s Eye art. Divination had been a useful tool before, and developing it further would only make it more so.

  When she wasn’t cultivating, she was working with Hanyi and Zhengui, spending just a little more time familiarizing herself with their fighting styles.

  Soon, the time had come.