In my thousand years, I have seen countless promising disciples rush to their doom. They mistake speed for progress, forgetting that even the mightiest tree must first sink roots deep into the earth. Take ti to strengthen your core, lest you beco another cautionary tale.
—Sage Master Yu Ling, Speaker to the Wild
Xiulan dropped her travel pack onto the wooden floor of their rented rooms. The weight lifted from her shoulders brought welco relief after the day’s journey. Quiet had settled between their group since leaving the spirit’s cave, the heavy atmosphere lifting in the warm drizzle from the sky.
The innkeeper had practically danced when they ntioned dealing with the wrathful spirit. Within minutes, the entire village erupted into impromptu festivities—drums beating, wine flowing, and children running through the streets with ribbons trailing behind them.
Early sumr’s mist did nothing to mute things.
Square wooden beams crossed the ceiling of their common room. Two bedroom doors stood on opposite walls, one facing an enclosed garden visible through paper screens. The simple furnishings spoke of comfort rather than luxury—exactly what they needed.
"I’ll take the room by the garden." Ren Chun stepped toward the screened door.
"Absolutely not." Feng Yu planted herself between him and the door. "That’s our room. You get the other one all to yourself—plenty of space for one person."
Ren Chun’s shoulders slumped, but he nodded. "The garden does look peaceful though."
"Nothing stops you from enjoying it except the rain." Xiulan gestured toward the open screen doors where drops slowly strengthened to splatter against the wooden walkway.
A soft lody drifted through the room as i Chen sorted their travel packs. "I’ll wash everyone’s clothes if you bundle them together."
"You don’t need to do that." Xiulan frowned. "You’re not a servant anymore."
"Yeah!" Feng Yu stepped forward. "You don’t have to if you don’t want—"
"But I want to." i Chen clutched a bundle of fabric to her chest. "It makes happy."
The simple statent caught Xiulan off guard. She exchanged glances with Feng Yu, who shrugged and began gathering her clothes. Ren Chun followed suit, passing his bundle to i Chen.
i Chen sorted the garnts. A pang of guilt twisted in Xiulan’s chest as she realized they’d been pushing i Chen. Her friend deserved to choose her own path.
Xiulan moved forward and wrapped her arms around i Chen in a sudden embrace. A surprised squeak escaped.
"What was that for?" i Chen tilted her head.
"Because you’re perfect exactly as you are." Xiulan smiled. "However you want to be."
i Chen blinked in confusion before a warm smile spread across her face. "Thank you, miss."
The scent of braised pork and fried chicken wafted through the room as servants arranged lacquered trays on the low table. Steam rose from bowls of white rice and noodles, while plates of sauced vegetables added vibrant colors to the spread. The rich aroma made Xiulan’s stomach rumble.
Everyone settled onto cushions around the table. Xiulan watched i Chen expertly arrange chopsticks and spoons while Ren Chun poured soy milk into ceramic cups.
Halfway through the al, Feng Yu lowered her chopsticks and studied i Chen. "Did anyone ever force the two of you to survive on the streets?"
i Chen froze mid-slurp, a noodle dangling from her mouth. She quickly dabbed her lips with a napkin. "What? No! We’ve always been provided care, even if it was a bit… improper..."
Feng Yu bit into a piece of chicken, her amber eyes fixed on Xiulan with laser focus.
The intense scrutiny made Xiulan squirm on her cushion. "Why are you thinking so hard? I swear I can see steam coming out of your ears."
Feng Yu patted her head and ears in confusion. "What?"
The gesture broke the tension. Laughter erupted around the table, echoing off the wooden beams above.
Feng Yu crossed her arms and huffed. "I’ve been wondering where a noble daughter learned to curse like a common street rat."
The accusation sparked a mix of amusent and indignation in Xiulan’s chest. She opened her mouth to defend herself but i Chen interrupted with a thoughtful "Oh..."
i Chen tapped her chin, staring at the ceiling beams. The gesture reminded Xiulan so much of her old self that she couldn’t help but smile.
i Chen’s eyes lit up. "I think it started when you hit your head falling off that cliff!"
Rice and broth caught in Xiulan’s throat. She coughed violently, pounding her chest while reaching for her cup of soy milk.
"Falling off a cliff teaches bad manners?" Feng Yu raised an eyebrow. "That’s an unusual education thod."
After clearing her throat, Xiulan straightened her spine. "I don’t have bad manners! That’s just..." She paused, choosing her words carefully. "That’s when I decided to fight back against my stepmother!"
Ren Chun stabbed at his rice with precise, asured movents. The silence stretched until he cleared his throat. "Miss Lin, you should complete your cultivation breakthrough before we reach Aeris."
Xiulan paused with her chopsticks halfway to her mouth.
"The inn provides adequate privacy." Ren Chun set his bowl down. "With our combined assistance, you shouldn’t encounter difficulties advancing to Qi Gathering."
"Do you have the necessary materials?" Feng Yu leaned forward, amber eyes bright with interest.
Xiulan released a heavy sigh. "Yes." The elental pills were safely packed away. She’d delayed this mont despite craving advancent.
Anxiety coiled in her stomach. The transition to Qi Gathering would fundantally alter her being.
The changes since awakening as Lin Xiulan seed minor in comparison—like drifting down a gentle incline. This breakthrough lood like a steep flight of stairs, the second step permanent and irreversible.
One wrong move during the breakthrough could snap her neck like a dried twig. Her fingers trembled against the table.
i Chen pressed a warm hand against Xiulan’s shoulder. "Don’t worry! Xiulan is the best miss and can do it."
"I’ll help stabilize your qi while you make the transition." Feng Yu offered. "We are close enough that so dual cultivation while you go through with it will let monitor your progress."
Ren Chun sprayed rice across the table. He pounded his chest and grabbed his cup of soy milk, gulping it down. "It’s... it’s..." He coughed and wiped his mouth. "It’s a good idea to complete the breakthrough soon. It will improve your chances!"
He scrambled to his feet and bolted toward the door, nearly tripping over his own cushion.
"What’s his problem?" Xiulan watched him disappear around the corner.
i Chen dabbed at spilled soy milk with her sleeve. "He probably thinks you and Fairy Feng are lovers now, considering how things were explained to ."
Rice caught in Xiulan’s throat. She choked and sputtered, face burning as she reached for her cup.
Feng Yu burst into bright peals of laughter, nearly knocking over her cup. "Maybe we should explain things to him." She wiped tears from her eyes. "Though watching his imagination run wild might be more entertaining."
Xiulan rolled her eyes but couldn’t suppress a smile. "I’ll spend tonight preparing ntally. We can attempt the breakthrough tomorrow morning."
"A sound plan." Feng Yu pushed herself up from the cushions. "I’ll arrange another day with the innkeeper. A small delay won’t hurt our journey."
The thought of hot water eased so tension from Xiulan’s shoulders. She glanced at i Chen, who began folding napkins into precise triangles. "Perhaps we should visit the hot springs while we’re here?" A furrow creased her brow. "Would that be safe for… your body?"
Feng Yu tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I don’t see why not?"
"It’s fine." i Chen smoothed the last napkin flat. "I’ve already bathed in hot water since..." She gestured vaguely at herself. "The water doesn’t affect this body badly, and it doesn’t disturb the water."
The wooden floorboards creaked as Feng Yu strode toward the door. "I’ll arrange everything with the innkeeper. The hot springs should be good to relax before the breakthrough. We can all visit in the morning."
Xiulan watched her leave before entering their shared bedroom. Simple furnishings lined the walls—three sleeping mats, a low table, and a wooden chest for storage. She knelt beside her travel pack and began sorting through the contents.
The five elental pills clinked against each other as she placed them on the table. Each one glead with a different hue—red for fire, blue for water, brown for earth, white for tal, and green for wood. Next ca the bone refinent powder, wrapped in thick paper and tied with twine.
Everything’s ready. I’ve planned this out perfectly. She traced the edge of the powder packet. So why do I feel so uncertain?
Cool arms wrapped around her shoulders as i Chen knelt behind her. The familiar scent of frost and jasmine filled the air. "Is Miss happy with our path?"
Xiulan relaxed against i Chen’s embrace, letting out a long breath. "I think we found the best way forward, considering everything that’s happened." She patted i Chen’s hand. "Though I wish you’d stop calling ’Miss’ when we’re alone."
i Chen squeezed tighter. "That’s not what I asked, Xiulan."
Xiulan shifted back until her head rested on i Chen’s shoulder. The familiar cool pulse of i Chen’s spiritual energy seeped through her robes. "I’m happy with our little group. You, Feng Yu, even Ren Chun… seems redeemable." A sigh escaped her lips. "The future just feels... uncertain."
"You wouldn’t be the miss who drags us into trouble with all those clever plans if you weren’t happy." i Chen’s words carried the hint of a smile.
A chuckle bubbled up from Xiulan’s chest. The tension in her shoulders lted away as they sat together in comfortable silence. The patter of rain against the garden screens mixed with distant sounds of celebration from the village.
Eventually, it had to end, though.
"I should take care of those clothes!" i Chen bounced to her feet. Her eyes sparkled with genuine enthusiasm as she hurried away with the group’s dirty bundles.
Xiulan turned and continued to prepare the room. She unrolled the three futon-style sleeping mats against the wooden wall. The setup sparked amusent—she wasn’t sure that the Japanese style beds were normal in ancient china. One of the devs at Phoenix Kingdom Chronicles had probably binged too many ani shows.
She settled onto her mat, letting her mind drift in that space between ditation and sleep.
Footsteps approached. Feng Yu slid open the door while i Chen followed with their freshly cleaned clothes. They all changed into sleeping robes, the fabric rustling in the dim light. Xiulan claid the middle mat as Feng Yu and i Chen settled on either side.
"Good night," Xiulan mumbled, already half-asleep.
A chorus of "good nights" echoed back before darkness claid her consciousness.
So ti later, sothing tickled her shoulder.
Xiulan blinked awake in the moonlit room to find chaos had erupted during her slumber.
Feng Yu sprawled upside down, feet propped over Xiulan’s shoulder while maintaining a death grip on both i Chen’s and her legs. i Chen adhered to her side like a sea barnacle, arms locked around her back and face planted against her chest.
Xiulan shifted experintally. Both cultivators tightened their holds.
Are they faking sleep? She studied their peaceful faces suspiciously.
"Xiulan... Xiulan... Xiulan..." i Chen’s quiet chant drifted through the darkness.
"Mmmm... stead buns..." Feng Yu drooled slightly onto the mat.
From his perch on Feng Yu’s back, Liuhuo released a serpentine hiss that sounded suspiciously like laughter. His golden eyes glead with amusent at Xiulan’s predicant.
Instead of a guard dog or cat… they had a guard snake?
Xiulan sighed in resignation. At least they were all comfy. She closed her eyes and let sleep reclaim her, surrounded by her peculiar family.
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