The Guardian of Memory

"I didn't think you would cave so easily back there." Ren Cai whispered as they left Lang Xinyue's home. It was true, she had seen the disagreement in his eye as clear as day when the pendant was placed on the table. His hesitation had shown the moment that the old man had said he might be able to be a blacksmith.

"I didn't cave so much as I bargained." Hong Zhao said simply. "What they offer us outweighs the urgency to get to Yuan City. Even if other cultivators get to the shadow sect, they have both Huang Ji and Li Wen to defend the border, not to mention Li Wei." His mind wandered to his friend that he had left behind. Odds were she was doing everything she could to get stronger, that way she could bring the assault to the men who drove them from their village in the first place. A chill went down his spine when he thought of her potential, all he had to do was shape her the right way.