20-25

Chapter 20-Foundations 1

Ling Qi awoke to a faint fluttering sound and the feeling of something slapping against her face. Letting out a surprised yelp, she thrashed in her bed, bolting upright. Her right hand was already on the hilt of the knife she had slipped under her bedding. Then, the thin sheet of paper that had covered her face fell away, leaving her blinking and confused in the faint pre-dawn light filtering in through the tiny window of her room.

Yawning groggily, Ling Qi plucked the page from her lap and squinted down at the words written there. It first informed her that Elder Zhou's lessons would begin in one hour's time. Second, it said that Elder Su's lessons would be moved to the afternoons so that lesson times would no longer conflict.

Grumbling, Ling Qi sleepily climbed out of bed and began to prepare for the day. She had gone through too much trouble to be late for her first day. The first thing she did was check her shoulder, discarding the bandages when she found that only a thin white scar remained of the wound. Nothing was left of her more minor injuries.

Slipping outside, Ling Qi supposed that the one benefit of being up so early was the small number of her fellow disciples who were out and about. It allowed her to quietly leave the residential area without any unfortunate encounters. All the same, every small sound and flickering shadow was making her second-guess herself.

Arriving at the training field, Ling Qi spied her much reduced class, now numbering just over twenty. Han Jian, his cousin, and Gu Xiulan were all present, as were Sun Liling and the boy who had approached the red-haired girl after the second test. Of the others, the only ones she recognized were the long-haired girl who had stared her down during her walk to the stage, the girl's looming male companion, and the scarred boy. She could also feel the unfriendly looks of at least a half-dozen others.

Unfortunately, or perhaps fortunately, given the atmosphere, she had no time to greet her… friends - if they could still be called that after her encounter with Fan Yu. After her arrival with the last few stragglers, Elder Zhou barked out an order to follow him as he turned and began to run.

What followed was the single most grueling half hour of running Ling Qi had experienced yet. Elder Zhou lead them on a run at a punishing pace even as the narrow road carved into the side of the mountain grew steeper and colder until her breath was coming out in puffs of steam. Straining to keep up, she used the sight of Gu Xiulan's back to motivate herself to not slow down. As the exercise went on, she was gratified to see that she was neither the only one struggling nor at the rear of the pack, managing to stay near the middle of the group until the very end.

The run ended in the middle of a wide, grassy field, strewn with pale blue flowers that she didn't recognize. When Elder Zhou finally stopped and called for a halt, she nearly stumbled but managed to stay upright. She wasn't the only one gasping for breath or swaying on her feet, and even Han Jian and Gu Xiulan were red-faced and breathing heavily.

"With this, the days warm up run is complete!" Elder Zhou announced, looking as if he had not exerted himself in the slightest.

"It is now time for me to speak to you of my expectations and the differences that will exist between this class and the lesser one for those who failed the third test."

Ling Qi frowned. Those who failed the third were still receiving lessons of some kind? That was… remarkably generous. She doubted Elder Zhou was teaching them though.

"These lessons will not be easy. I will not coddle you as I have done in the last month." That was ominous. "You will report to the field at the same time every day until the end of the course. I will not tolerate tardiness. If you fail to arrive for the lesson without clearing the matter with me, do not bother coming back.

"However," he added, his stern gaze scanning over the recovering disciples, "you have earned the right to further resources to aid your training in addition to my teachings."

Ling Qi blinked as Elder Zhou made a sweeping motion with his left hand. An entire table laid out with cups filled with steaming black liquid appeared on the grass in front of him, settling in with barely a clink or a ripple. How...?

She squinted then noticed a pale gray ring on the Elder's finger. Han Jian had mentioned something about dimensional rings before, but she had not fully considered the breadth of their utility. Ling Qi eyed the piece of jewelry with fascination and greed. The things she could do with something like that…

"This is Bear Marrow Elixir," Instructor Zhou continued, unaware of Ling Qi's longing thoughts. "Each of you will be granted one cup each morning after the warm up run. It will fortify your body for the trials ahead and enhance your cultivation of qi to build the foundation necessary to break through to higher ranks. Be thankful to our Medicine Department for their kindness!"

"Sun Liling, Cai Renxiang, Kang Zihao." He announced three names, raising a finger to point at each disciple in turn. The first Ling Qi obviously recognized. The second was the girl with the intense eyes from before. The third was a boy of middling height with a proud bearing, handsome features, and shoulder length dark brown hair.

"A higher ranked elixir, more appropriate to your cultivation, has been prepared for you three. Come forward first."

She supposed that she now knew who was at the top of the class. Lining up with the rest, Ling Qi came to be thankful that she had not been at the front. Even with the disgust of her fellow disciples as a warning, she was barely able to restrain herself from gagging as she chugged down the viscous, incredibly bitter liquid.

She could not complain at the effect. Her fatigue vanished within seconds, and she felt her body burning with energy. Her muscles quivered as if in anticipation of being used.

The lesson that followed was much more in-depth than what Instructor Zhou had provided before. Many of the exercises were the same, but he now combined them with more detailed and interactive explanations and corrections on how to control and diffuse one's qi to strengthen the bones and tissues. It was more in line with Elder Su's educational lectures than the taciturn Instructor Zhou's previous lessons.

The exercises themselves took on a more martial bent. In the latter half of the lesson, the group was divided in two. Ling Qi found herself among a group comprised of roughly one third of the class, none of whom she recognized. It became clear why they had been separated from the others when Elder Zhou began their instruction.

While the other students were paired off for sparring, their teacher began to harshly drill Ling Qi and the others in basic unarmed combat techniques. Again and again, Ling Qi was put through her paces, learning simple blocks, footwork, and other foundational exercises.

When the lesson finally wound down hours later, Ling Qi felt wrung out physically and mentally. The constant exertion and the focus required to keep her qi circulating and diffusing during those exercises was tiring, but she didn't allow her exhaustion to distract her from her goals.

Knowing that she had made a mistake the previous day with Fan Yu, Ling Qi knew she had to approach the others and offer an explanation. She would have to hope that she had not burned this bridge; she had so few people willing to consider taking her side as it was. So as the other disciples sat down in the field to rest and meditate, she hurried over to where the three Golden Fields disciples stood.

"Han Jian, Gu Xiulan, Han Fang," she greeted them as she approached, doing her best to sound cheerful, despite her tiredness and the worry stewing in her gut. "I'm glad all of you made it through."

Han Jian smiled at her, but she thought it looked just a bit strained. "It wasn't easy, but yeah, we made it." He scratched the back of his head. "I don't blame you for not waiting for us. I heard things were a little hectic outside."

"Yes, I did hear about a bit of a scene," Gu Xiulan drawled, studying Ling Qi.

"I am sorry for my fiance's temper. His failure was not easy on him," she continued apologetically, although the words didn't sound genuine. "Luckily, things were broken up before they got too far. I admit, I was surprised when I heard what had happened."

Han Fang's response was simply to shoot Ling Qi a concerned look before continuing to idly scan the rest of the field. Ling Qi was glad that she had been given a chance to explain herself even if some part of her had foolishly hoped the issue would be dismissed.

"Yes. I… guess I lost my temper too." She didn't like admitting any fault for the situation. "Is he alright?" she asked carefully. While she had only seen him go pale and silent, it couldn't hurt to ask.

Han Jian grimaced, looking distinctly uncomfortable, and even Han Fang looked briefly troubled. It was Gu Xiulan who answered though.

"His right arm was still useless when we emerged." She sounded somber when she spoke, but Ling Qi was sure she saw a flicker of some other emotion in the other girl's eyes.

"I didn't know you were an ally of the Bai family," she added in a lighter tone. "Do you know if he will recover? I'm afraid that after we saw him and confirmed your story, he stormed off somewhere. I have not seen him since."

Ling Qi felt her eyes widen even as she tried to mask her reaction.

"I - Ah - We're just housemates and… kind of friends? She didn't mention doing anything. I thought that he had just frozen up like everyone else usually does around her." Ling Qi responded in a rush. Had Bai Meizhen actually crippled someone for laying hands on her? She wasn't sure if she should feel horrified at that or not.

Things were quiet between them as the group digested that until Han Jian spoke up.

"I… think he should recover fine. The Bai family's toxin arts are very precise in their effects. I doubt she would openly break the Elders' truce. "I've met members of her clan once or twice. They aren't really the type to do something excessive out of passion." There was a hint of doubt in his voice. Ling Qi wasn't exactly sure what he was doubting though.

"Father did entertain Bai Suzhen during the last great expedition into the Solar Wastes," Gu Xiulan mused, studying Ling Qi with a hooded gaze.

"It was quite an extravagant event, but that woman was the picture of control and moderation," she continued thoughtfully. "I am certain it is nothing serious. I will have to console my poor Yu whenever he rejoins us."

Ling Qi caught Han Fang glancing at the other girl with a hint of disapproval as she dismissed the possibility of her fiance's injury, but it was gone so fast she couldn't be sure if she had imagined it. Ugh. She really didn't know what to make of this group's internal politics.

"I will apologize to him the next time we meet." Despite the awkwardness, Ling Qi forced herself to press forward. She needed all the allies she could get."In any case, I was wondering if your invitation was still open, Gu Xiulan? This first day was pretty difficult so I thought…" Ling Qi cursed the way she had bumbled awkwardly through that sentence.

The other girl's eyes brightened and she smiled, seeming genuinely pleased. "Oh? I admit I had been a bit disappointed when you refused before. I have not had a chance to relax and chat with another girl since I came here. It's so difficult, you know, keeping these three focused and civilized." Her tone was light and teasing as she gestured at Han Jian and his cousin.

"Is that so?" Ling Qi responded with well-masked doubt. She found the idea that Gu Xiulan didn't already have other friends among the female disciples… unlikely.

"I thought it might be fun myself," she added, not quite lying through her teeth. She was still too suspicious of the other girl's motives to really consider letting her guard down around her. "I haven't really done anything relaxing since I got here." Unless one counted playing her flute at night.

"Well, you girls try to have some fun then," Han Jian said. "I guess Fang and I will finally have a chance to get up to some proper manly things since you won't be tagging along, Xiulan." Ling Qi really wished she was better at reading people. He had seemed annoyed before, but now, he was friendly and playful again. "What do you say, cousin? Want to go find a few bears to wrestle?"

Han Fang shot Han Jian a bemused look and shook his head, gesturing up toward the mountain peak, before following it up with some odd gestures.

"I guess climbing up there would be a pain. Doing some grilling does sound like a better idea," Han Jian responded cheerfully, clearly understanding what the other boy 'said'.

"Really. Just try not to get into any trouble, you two," Gu Xiulan said with a theatrical sigh. "And do not follow us. Lechery will be punished with execution," she added with a queenly air.

It really did make Ling Qi feel like even more of an outsider when Han Jian brushed off the 'threat' with rolled eyes and a laugh. As much as she liked to think they were allies and Han Jian a friend, she still didn't really understand them.

Gu Xiulan glanced at her then and smiled, gesturing for her to follow along as Han Jian and Han Fang set off back toward the residential area.

"You really are too tense, you know," she commented lightly once they had set foot on one of the paths leading further up the mountain. "You are going to give yourself wrinkles that even cultivation won't fix."

"I think I have a good reason to be on edge," Ling Qi pointed out peevishly. "Given how things have been going."

"Perhaps so," Gu Xiulan allowed. "But a lady should do her best to smile and be charming. It is one of our most valuable tools."

"Well, maybe for you. Not all of us have the talents for that kind of thing." She knew perfectly well where she stood in that regard. She was not going to start messing about with 'charm' now.

Gu Xiulan arched an eyebrow at her. "Talent is but one part of the result. A little work can go quite a long way. I still believe you may wish to relax. Things are likely not as bad as they seem."

"How do you figure?" Ling Qi responded dubiously as the two of them rounded a corner and passed by a pair of male disciples. She could feel their greedy, calculating gazes on her back as they left them behind.

"Half the mountain is going to be looking to stab me in the back," she added dejectedly. She still half expected Gu Xiulan to be one of them.

The other girl pursed her lips as she took them down a weedy side path.

"You are not exactly alone. Bai Meizhen is a powerful ally. I am hardly someone to be ignored either." She gave Ling Qi a look of playful reproach.

It was Ling Qi's turn to fall silent while studying the other girl intently. She didn't understand her.

"Why would you side with me? I humiliated your fiance, nobody else seems to like Meizhen, and it would just get you a lot of enemies. And don't tell me you aren't interested in what Elder Jiao said."

"Less than you might think," Gu Xiulan responded with a haughty sniff. "Besides, Jian is hardly the type to approve of betrayal." That sounded more believable to Ling Qi.

"That doesn't answer the rest," Ling Qi replied.

"Fan Yu is… headstrong and prone to fits of temper," Gu Xiulan began carefully. "But he values the opinions of Han Jian and I. He can be brought to see reason. After all, it was merely a small matter of two tempers getting the better of their owners, was it not?"

Ling Qi didn't quite believe that, but she gave a grudging nod anyway.

"As for the rest... I think you have the potential to complement me quite well, and I do feel a certain excitement at the idea of being in the center of the little storm that our esteemed Elder has kicked up."

Gu Xiulan flashed that same vicious, predatory expression she had right before she immolated the girl who had flung ice shards at them. Strangely, Ling Qi found that frightening expression relieving. It seemed more honest than any of the girl's other faces.

Conversation quieted down as Gu Xiulan lead her on a circuitous path that passed through a small wood full of brambles and undergrowth. They soon arrived at a narrow crack in the mountainside from which the bubbling sounds of a spring issued.

Actually soaking in the spring with the other girl was a mixed experience. With no obstructions, it was even clearer how much Gu Xiulan exceeded Ling Qi in the realms of femininity. At the same time, the other girl seemed content to just chat with her about nothing of any particular relevance.

The warm water tingled nicely on her skin, sapping away her fatigue and fortifying her qi. Gu Xiulan seemed content to carry the conversation with only minimal input from her, going from minor gripes about their male teammates to prodding her about things she hadn't thought of in years like hair care and the sort of cut and colors she liked in her clothes.

It was a little disheartening not to have much in the way of answers, but it was nice even if she had a sinking feeling that she wouldn't be able to avoid Gu Xiulan sitting her down to style her hair 'properly' if she continued going out with her. Gu Xiulan seemed like a pushy girl.

She could put up with that if it meant having another ally on this mountain.

Chapter 21-Foundations 2

The days that followed were a blur of training and cultivation, and for the first time, Ling Qi had some room to experiment with her resources. Lessons with Elder Su had indicated that a cultivator could begin using more than one spirit stone at a time as they advanced through the stages. Each stone added after the first up to the number equivalent to one's stage gave a more potent boost to the user's cultivation.

Although the increased flow of energy was uncomfortable at first, Ling Qi found herself acclimating quickly. She was careful to follow the Elder's instruction and was cautious with the intake lest she rupture and damage her single channel or dantian. At only the Mid Red Soul stage, two Spirit Stones remained her limit.

Her mornings were consumed by Elder Zhou's instruction and her evenings by Elder Su's class. This left her only a few hours of the afternoon and the length of the night to herself, forcing her to put off her planned exploration with Li Suyin and Su Ling until she could adjust to her new schedule.

In those days of adjustment, Elder Su made her first announcement of those who had won her reward pill for the week before. Ling Qi was not among them. The award went to the boy with the burn scar on his face from the first day, Cai Renxiang, the girl who had stared at her during Elder Zhou's test, and a tall, whip-thin boy with silver hair and a slightly unsettling mien.

Ling Qi did not allow her failure to bother her too much. She was confident that she would be able to earn Elder Su's reward once she began using the pills given to her by the moon spirit, Xin.

The trouble was that unlike her other lesson, she had the unwelcome attention of many of her fellow disciples. It made sense in a way. Those who had made it into Elder Zhou's class had less need to be greedy since they had already gained quite an advantage. Everyone else? Well, she wasn't surprised that she had come under scrutiny.

It didn't make it any less irritating when she found herself swatting away the third amateurish attempt at filching her belt pouch. She didn't even have the jade slip or pills stored in it anymore, having hastily stitched a pocket into the underlayer of her gown using the scraps of her ruined one. It was still frustrating.

"Keep your hands to yourself!" Ling Qi snapped at the boy who had 'accidentally' bumped into her while they were leaving Elder Su's classroom.

The boy flushed in shame at being called out but quickly rallied and sneered at her.

"Do not flatter yourself, peasant. A servant should be more polite," he huffed, sweeping past her into the hall.

Ling Qi clenched her hands before she did something unfortunate, like slapping the pride out of his obnoxious face. It seemed that was her reputation now. The snake's maid. Of course she only had any success because she was playing handmaiden to Bai Meizhen. How that worked when Bai Meizhen hadn't even been involved in Elder Zhou's exam was beyond her, and frankly, she didn't really care about whatever stupid logic they were using. She was going to surpass these petty idiots.

Going by the worried look Li Suyin gave her, she must have looked to be in a foul mood when she met the other girl at the gates.

"Um - Congratulations on entering Elder Zhou's advanced class." Li Suyin sounded nervous as if her words might irritate Ling Qi. "I am sorry for not saying it earlier. You have just been so busy…"

On the contrary, after dealing with the implied deprecations and exhausting lessons over the past few days, Ling Qi was pleased to hear something positive.

"Thank you," she responded quietly as they set off down the path toward the residences to meet up with Su Ling.

"Has anyone been giving you trouble since then?" It wasn't something Ling Qi would have thought to ask before the test, but the words of the spider's illusions were stuck in her ear like an irritating melody. She could easily see someone like Li Suyin being bullied for associating with her. The girl was probably the easiest target outside of herself.

Li Suyin shook her head, and Ling Qi didn't think she was being insincere. "No, not really. I mean… It's not as if most of the other girls were very friendly to begin with, b-but nothing important. May I ask why so many people seem upset with you?"

Ling Qi noticed that the other girl was practically jogging to keep up with her longer strides, but she couldn't bring herself to slow down. She didn't ever really feel safe or relaxed except when Bai Meizhen was home or when she was in a lesson.

"I had a bit of good luck, and Elder Jiao decided to announce it to everyone. I figure they're also embarrassed to have lost to a commoner."

"O-oh, I see," Li Suyin said, growing a little red-faced from the effort of keeping up with the taller girl. "Um… Mother said that Father had to deal with some resentment for his lower status when he entered the ministry as well... It got better with time."

Ling Qi appreciated the sentiment and nodded in acknowledgement. They fell into comfortable silence as they approached the residential area.

"I actually wanted to ask you for something," Li Suyin broke the silence as they turned down the street her hovel sat on. At this time of day, there were few people around, but she sounded nervous.

"I know it is presumptuous, but… Willyoupleaseinstructmeinphysicalcultivation!"

Ling Qi blinked as the other girl halted in front of her and bowed her head, words coming out in a near unintelligible rush.

"I'm not exactly a teacher," Ling Qi responded dubiously after she had deciphered the other girls request.

"N-not for free!" Li Suyin hurried to add. Ling Qi could tell that the other girl was flustered from the way the usually polite girl had interrupted her.

"I-I acquired these pills from a production disciple." Li Suyin said, rummaged in her bag, removing a small clay bottle and offering it to Ling Qi. "It's only a small thing, but the pills are supposed to aid students in cultivating the Argent Soul…"

Ling Qi took the bottle in bewilderment. She plucked the cork out, and sure enough, there were four shiny silver pills gleaming like droplets of metal inside.

"How did you even pay for these?" she asked somewhat incredulously, glancing around to ensure no one was nearby.

"I sold a few copies of the treatises on herbal lore that father bought for me," Li Suyin responded self-consciously. "I am not a real scribe, but, um, I suppose the other disciples found my paltry copies sufficient? I was a little surprised. I do not even have the resources to bind them properly, let alone…"

Ling Qi shook her head, feeling self-conscious herself. This was where a better person would probably try to hand back the gift and to tell their friend that she didn't need to pay them just to get a few pointers… Ling Qi quietly tucked the pill bottle into her sleeve instead.

"It's fine. I can try to teach you a little. Just keep in mind that I'm not really a teacher." Ling Qi glanced away from the other girl.

"And raise your head, will you?"

Li Suyin straightened up immediately, smiling with relief. "Of course! Thank you so much, Ling Qi!"

"Sure. Let's find Su Ling though. We don't want to be out all night," Ling Qi replied uncomfortably. Li Suyin's earnest gratitude gave her an odd feeling.

Ling Qi caught motion out of the corner of her eye and looked up in time to see Su Ling approaching.

"Then you're probably gonna be disappointed." The bushy-haired girl stalked toward them, irritation clear in her demeanor. "We've got a long hike ahead if you wanna do this."

Ling Qi sighed. It looked like she would be burning qi to replace her sleep tonight. There was little more to say as the three of them set out. The trip up the mountain left Li Suyin huffing for breath, and neither Ling Qi nor Su Ling were inclined toward unnecessary speech.

The physical cultivation and training Ling Qi had gone through since her arrival at the Sect paid dividends here. The difficult hike barely winded her, and she found herself able to scramble up even sheer rock faces with little trouble. It made her smile.

Li Suyin was another matter. As much as she was coming to like the girl, Li Suyin was not very athletic, and her performance showed how much she really needed the lessons she had asked for. They were slowed greatly by having to help the blue haired girl keep up.

Eventually, the three of them reached their destination, a thickly forested plateau halfway up the mountain. They paused at the the edge of the plateau, mostly to let Li Suyin catch her breath. In the awkward silence that followed, Ling Qi voiced a question that she had been mulling over as she climbed the mountain beside Su Ling.

"So… Why did you decide to go so far out of your way instead of just attending the lessons with everyone else?" Ling Qi asked, crossing her arms to tuck her hands into her armpits. It was chilly up here.

Su Ling shot Ling Qi a sour look over her shoulder as she peered deeper into the woods. "Because I don't want the attention, and I don't want the crowds. Besides, my cultivation is different."

Ling Qi frowned as she kept a wary eye on the trees beyond the frost-coated meadow.

"My roommate is…. different too," she said haltingly, glancing at the girl's bushy tail. "She still goes to the lessons occasionally. What's the difference?"

Su Ling snorted incredulously even as Li Suyin looked uncomfortable.

"Snake girl?" Su Ling said. "She exists 'cause some ancient cultivator decided he'd rather stick it in a snake instead of marrying a human and got his descendants to do it too.

"Me? I exist 'cause a hungry fox decided to play with her food. At least people are too afraid of the snake's family and power to try shit with her. I don't have that advantage."

That was… explicit. Li Suyin chose that moment to speak up in a halting voice.

"W - well, it's true that there's some stigma against spirit born individuals, but I don't think it's quite as bad as you say - at least among cultivators." It was difficult to tell how much of Li Suyin's stuttering was from hesitance and how much was from her teeth chattering.

"But… um, I don't mind sharing my notes with you. If you'd like."

Su Ling shot the blue-haired girl an unreadable look and mumbled something unintelligible before turning away.

"Let's get moving," she grunted, heading toward the woods.

"What?" Li Suyin asked, hurrying to follow. "I'm sorry. I didn't hear you!"

Su Ling's shoulders stiffened, her agitation clear.

"I said I can't read. So just drop it," she said harshly. "We're here anyway." Su Ling gestured toward a pair of tall evergreen trees that had grown together high above their heads, forming a 'natural' arch. "If we pass through here, we'll access a pocket of woods with a bunch of spirit beasts. There's a few stronger ones as we go deeper in, but if we stick to the outskirts, the worst we should run into is some territorial Azure Hawks."

Ling Qi glanced at Suyin, trying to silently convey to Li Suyin that she should drop the other line of inquiry for now. Li Suyin seemed to take the hint and nodded, but she seemed sad.

"Well… I can feel veins of qi flowing from these two trees so if we follow them, we might find something."

Trudging through the forest with only the light of the mostly full moon was a tense experience. Though the whispers Ling Qi had expected were absent, the darkness felt like it could be hiding any number of dangers. She glimpsed eyes in the underbrush and pale shapes fluttering among the canopy, their soft cries echoing in the dark.

Ling Qi and Su Ling kept Li Suyin between them, and their presence seemed enough to deter any hostility. Hours passed in their search.

Ling Qi had just begun to wonder if they should start heading back when Li Suyin stopped, her head turning toward a hill rising to their right.

"Ah! There is something there!"

"You're sure?" Ling Qi asked, fingering her knives and keeping her eyes on the shadows around them.

"Yes, the mountain's qi is much closer to the surface here." Li Suyin replied.

"Better not be another false alarm," Su Ling grumbled. She followed the blue-haired girl without any resistance though.

Searching around the perimeter of the hill, they soon found a root-choked crevice in one side, just barely wide enough for them to shimmy through. The sound of bubbling water reached them as the passage opened up, revealing a softly lit chamber under the earth.

"Looks like you were right, Li Suyin," Ling Qi breathed as she observed the clear spring bubbling in the center of the chamber. The water glittered with the light of the dull crystal growths emerging from its banks. She could feel the potent qi in the air and earth. Standing this close, it tingled on her skin.

"Guess this was worth it after all," Su Ling added grudgingly. "Woulda never found this place on my own. Couldn't scent a bit of this till I was already inside."

Despite their success, Li Suyin was frowning.

"Yes, this is definitely a locus, but…"

"Something wrong?" Ling Qi asked warily, peering around. "Was there a spirit here?"

"No, it's just… I can definitely sense a connection to a more potent site. It's … somewhere in the deeper forest," Li Suyin replied.

Ling Qi and Su Ling shared a look.

"I think this is enough for tonight," Ling Qi said gently. "We can come back another day, right?" She should probably give Li Suyin the physical cultivation lessons before they did.

It was another goal to work toward.

Chapter 22-Foundations 3

Perhaps it was the influence of the qi locus they had found, or the burning of medicinal energy in her dantian from the pills and notes Li Suyin had gifted her, or simply her determination to succeed, but Ling Qi found the cultivation of the third stage of the Argent Soul Art coming to her easily.

In the third stage, Ling Qi had to compress the qi she cultivated, carefully pressing it against the surface of her dantian until it began to congeal into a flexible layer reinforcing her dantian against rupture and damage. This thick qi could then be drawn away in strands and woven into muscle and bone, further fortifying her body.

Ling Qi spent her afternoons between lessons on this process, gradually accumulating the Argent Qi in more potent quantities as she mastered the third stage.

In the evenings, Ling Qi tutored Li Suyin in physical cultivation. Li Suyin's own efforts had taken her close to a breakthrough. Once she had grasped Elder Zhou's initial lessons as relayed by Ling Qi, Li Suyin reached the first level of the Gold Physique.

Elder Su's lessons continued to be trying due to Ling Q's other classmates, but they were fruitful as well. The Elder was beginning to delve into more complex aspects of qi, which included something that had confused Ling Qi. Namely, she got an explanation for what a 'Yin Aspected' art was. Despite there being dozens of qi types beyond the basic elements of earth, wind, water, fire, mountain, lake, thunder, and sky, all arts fell into one of three categories.

Yin, Yang, and Balanced.

As the basis for everything which existed, the study of these concepts was a deep and complex subject, and even Elder Su's lessons were only a beginner's primer. Yin was reactive, passive, or absorbent and was more used in internal and support arts. Yang was active, aggressive, or impenetrable and was more used in the 'flashy' external arts typically associated with immortals.

There were many details and many exceptions due to the sheer number of arts and the unconventional ways in which qi could be expressed. Ultimately, the most important thing was that Elder Su taught them how to feel the difference between Yin qi and Yang qi.

Argent Soul, the Sect-given cultivation art, was an example of the third option, Balanced. Balanced was neutral with Yin and Yang equally present.

Her other arts were exclusively yin. That wasn't particularly surprising for the moon arts she had gained - given the moon's traditional association with yin - but she had been unsure about Zephyr's Breath.

Ling Qi thought she had caught Elder Su eyeing her and Li Suyin speculatively once or twice over the course of the week. She had a good feeling about placing in the top five for the prize. She needed to keep striving for excellence. Despite how busy she was, Ling Qi had not forgotten the other task which she had set for herself in the lead up to Elder Zhou's test. She was more determined than ever to find a way to give back to Bai Meizhen.

One cold and windy evening when their schedules had coincided in both of them being home, she found her opportunity to ask.

"Are you sure you don't want any?" Ling Qi asked as she loaded her plate with the meal - extravagant for her - she had cooked. A few months ago, the idea of roasting an entire chicken for herself would have been ridiculous. Even if she had managed to steal and strangle one of the vicious, feathery little monsters, she certainly wouldn't have eaten the whole thing. Now, she found that even if she didn't eat often, when she did, she tended to be voracious.

Bai Meizhen eyed the well-cooked poultry on Ling Qi's plate with ill-concealed disgust from across the fire. It was a little insulting. Ling Qi didn't think her cooking was that bad, especially since she had access to decent seasoning.

"I am sure. Thank you," the pale girl responded politely, belying her expression.

"Alright." Ling Qi wasn't going to push, even if it was a bit depressing that she couldn't even give the other girl back something as simple as a meal.

"So… About those two from my physical cultivation lessons…?"

They had already spoken earlier on Fan Yu's… injury. While the poison Bai Meizhen had inflicted would permanently cripple a mortal, someone with qi could apparently clear the paralysis after a time spent circulating their energy and meditating. The other girl had seemed baffled at the implication that even that might have been excessive.

"Kang Zihao, I have not personally heard of," Bai Meizhen said, nursing a cup of tea as she usually did, Cui coiled loosely around her neck like a jade choker. "The Kang family is prominent in the capital and well favored by the Imperial court. I believe Kang Guanzhi is the current head of the Palace Guard, although that is a position with a high rate of turnover. I'm afraid I could not say if he is one of the man's younger sons or merely a cousin however. As for Cai Renxiang, I am somewhat shocked that you do not know of her." Going by Bai Meizhen's raised eyebrows and stern expression, Ling Qi felt like she was being scolded for ignorance again.

"Why would I know of her?" Ling Qi asked defensively after she finished swallowing her current mouthful of food.

"One should at least maintain basic civic awareness," Bai Meizhen responded with disappointment. "Really, if this is the state of education in these southern cities…" Ling Qi shifted uncomfortably, suddenly reminded that she had never really clarified exactly how low her birth was.

"Cai Renxiang is the daughter and heiress to the Duchess of this province," Bai Meizhen said. "The Cai family is very new, of course, at a mere three generations from their first cultivator, but Cai Shenhua is the youngest White cultivator in the Empire. It is not surprising that the Cai seized the governorship of a province."

Ling Qi really hoped that the girl's interest in her wasn't malicious then. "Er… I think I can guess, but what exactly does being a 'White' cultivator denote?"

Bai Meizhen sighed.

"It is the eighth and highest realm of spiritual cultivation one can achieve in the mortal plane. To go beyond it or the physical equivalent is to become a great spirit. There are typically around ten such cultivators in the Empire at any given time."

Ling Qi had thought it was something like that, but the idea still boggled her mind. A person could become a great spirit? "Has that ever actually happened before?"

"Of course. In fact, the last ascension was quite recent. The previous Emperor ascended to become an aspect of Death and is now the Great Spirit Inexorable Justice." Bai Meizhen's tone was grudgingly respectful even as she spoke of something absurd.

Things like that were way too far beyond Ling Qi for her to worry about. She needed to bring the conversation back to the real reason she wanted to speak with her housemate

"Right. That's… Thank you for the lesson. Putting that aside, if you don't mind, I wanted to ask you about something else."

Bai Meizhen nodded, seemingly content with the change in subject, although she wrinkled her nose as Ling Qi continued eating.

"Go ahead. Is there someone else you feel concerned over? I noticed that you seem to have stirred up the rabble of lesser nobles somehow."

"Nothing like that," Ling Qi responded.

"Actually… I talked with Cui a couple weeks ago because I wanted to do something for you since you've been helping me so much, you know?" The little serpent flicked her tongue at Ling Qi as she awkwardly stumbled through her statement.

Bai Meizhen glanced down at her companion, who flicked her tongue a few more times and twisted her head to the side.

"That is unnecessary, but I suppose I thank you all the same. I am somewhat surprised that you managed to speak with Cui. She is impatient and lazy after all." Ling Qi didn't think she had ever seen a snake manage to look affronted before.

"I really do want to do something," Ling Qi responded quietly. "Cui mentioned that you had your eye on a talisman? A jade dragon pendant some girl was wearing? I can get it for you if you want. I'm sure it wouldn't be too hard."

Bai Meizhen blinked, then blinked again, apparently trying to remember the girl in question. This didn't do much for Ling Qi's confidence that Bai Meizhen actually wanted the talisman.

Then, something strange happened. Bai Meizhen's golden eyes widened, and she… blushed? Her unnaturally pale cheeks went pink, and she glared down at Cui.

"T-that won't be necessary. Cui was simply exaggerating a passing interest." The last words came out almost as a hiss and seemed to be directed more at her serpent companion than Ling Qi. It was odd to hear Bai Meizhen sounding almost flustered.

Ling Qi didn't really understand what was going on between Bai Meizhen and Cui, but surely, there had to be something she could do.

"Alright. So you don't want the necklace. Is there something you do want?"

The flush was already fading from Bai Meizhen's cheeks as she considered Ling Qi's question.

"... I am sorry, but there is nothing at the moment." Ling Qi's shoulders slumped slightly. Was she really that useless? "Once you break through into the Yellow Soul or Silver Physique however… There is something you can assist me with then." Bai Meizhen seemed slightly uncomfortable with making the request.

"... Alright," Ling Qi responded, looking down at her half-finished meal. "I won't take too long."

Ling Qi felt surprisingly warm when Bai Meizhen nodded as if she really believed her.

Chapter 23-Foundations 4

As Ling Qi stood and walked to the front of the lecture hall, she wondered how she had forgotten the part where the ones who earned the prize were called down to receive it in front of everyone. She supposed even more attention couldn't exactly hurt at this point, but she could do without the feeling of multiple hostile looks burning a hole in her back.

At least she wasn't alone down here. She fell in beside the first person to be called down, Ji Rong, the shaggy-haired boy with the burn scar on the side of his face.

As the Elder called out Li Suyin's name, Ling Qi studied the boy. She had first noticed Ji Rong in the hall on the first day at the Sect as a fellow "street" kid. Since then, Ji Rong had been called down the previous week in Elder Su's class. He stood with a slouched posture, hands tucked into the pockets of his robe, looking for all the world like he didn't want to be there. It was a sentiment that she could share.

He glanced her way as Li Suyin stuttered out a thanks and began to come down the same stairs Ling Qi had. He didn't look for long, simply rolling his shoulders and going back to looking ahead.

Ling Qi could interpret the gesture well enough. 'Keep to your own business. I'll keep to mine.' He didn't want to catch any residual attention, which was fair.

She turned her attention to Li Suyin, doing her best to smile encouragingly as the other girl, looking flushed and nervous, sidled up to stand next to her. Ling Qi was pretty sure her own expression was a little anemic.

The next name Elder Su called was Huang Da. Ling Qi didn't recognize it, but she had never been great at keeping track of names. The name's bearer turned out to be the boy with short silver hair and an unsettling air who had received a pill last week. She was fairly certain he didn't even blink once on his way down from the back row of seats. Now that she got a closer look, she could see that his eyes were oddly misted over. Was he blind?

His blank eyes swept over her without pause, narrowed at Ji Rong, and stopped on Li Suyin as he reached the bottom of the lecture hall. It was the closest thing Ling Qi had seen to a real reaction from the boy. He took up a place next to the fidgeting, blue-haired girl.

"You have lovely hands," Huang Da commented quietly in a perfectly toneless voice.

"E-eh?!" Li Suyin looked befuddled and embarrassed, quickly slipping her hands behind her back. Ling Qi shot the boy a suspicious look as well. What kind of comment was that?

She almost missed Ji Rong glancing their way and muttering under his breath. "Fucking creeper."

Whatever else might have been said was silenced at a glance from Elder Su as she called down the last of the winners, Gan Guangli. It was the tall, broad shouldered, and tanned blond boy who she had grown used to seeing in Cai Renxiang's company. He marched down the stairs with military precision and stood ramrod straight, hands clasped behind his back, beside the strange blind boy. His gaze was fixed firmly on Cai Renxiang, who sat regally in the back row, her hands in her lap.

Ling Qi shook her head slightly as Elder Su removed a small jade case from her sleeve and began to hand out the pills. Was every notable cultivator weird in some way?

Ling Qi tucked away the pill she received, using sleight of hand to make it appear as if she had put it into her belt pouch when she had actually placed it in one of the increasing number of hidden pockets in her sleeves. She returned to her seat along with the others.

Li Suyin was still fidgety and nervous, probably because the weirdo was staring fixedly at her even after he had sat back down in his own seat. She hoped her friend hadn't picked up a stalker. The girl's nerves wouldn't handle it well, and Ling Qi was hardly in a position to be helping out others with their problems given her own.

"You are all progressing acceptably well," Elder Su began. "Some much better than others, of course. I do not find myself too disappointed with the progress you have all exhibited so far."

A handful of students squirmed uncomfortably under the Elder's gaze. Ling Qi felt a stab of vindication when she noted that one of them was the boy who had tried to steal her pouch the other day.

"I imagine a fair number of you will be reaching your breakthrough into the Yellow Soul Realm in a matter of months."

Ling Qi wasn't sure she numbered among those. She had so many things to cultivate that she didn't know when she would be ready. According to previous lectures, breaking through to a new realm was an intense and time-consuming endeavor.

"You have all mastered the basic exercises I have provided so I believe it is time that we moved on to other subjects.

"Today, we will be discussing spirits and their binding." As Elder Su lectured, she gestured with one voluminous sleeve. A dull red mist began to seep out of her garment, gradually solidifying into a crimson-furred ape. Even seated on the floor and hunched at her side, the ape towered over the Elder by nearly a meter. The thing was big enough that Ling Qi thought it could probably wrap one of its leathery hands around her waist and touch finger to thumb.

It bared its teeth at the disciples staring at it and let out a low, threatening growl, causing several of the closest students to lean back nervously. It ceased the moment Elder Su gave it a quelling look.

"This is one of my spirits, a fifth grade beast from the western jungles. Her species, as listed in the imperial bestiary based on her natural abilities, is Heart-Rending Ape." Elder Su didn't seem to feel the need to elaborate on that. "As you can see, despite being a spirit beast, the most physical of their kind, I am still able to store her essence within my dantian when it would be inconvenient to walk about with her at my side."

The ape gave an irritable grunt at her words but calmed down when Elder Su rested her hand on its massive forearm.

"The ability to store a spiritual essence in one's dantian is the key to spirit binding. A cultivator below Yellow Realm simply lacks the capacity to bind even the weakest spirit. Without sufficient cultivating foundation, even a Yellow Soul cultivator might fail.

"In truth, one's cultivation art is a large factor in the type and strength of spirit one is able to bind. For example, Argent Soul, when mastered to the fourth layer, will allow for the binding of most first grade spirits once the cultivator has reached Yellow Soul Realm."

Ling Qi blinked, leaning forward in interest. This was another reason to keep mastering Argent Soul. It made her wonder what kind of spirits she could bind with the Eight Phase Ceremony cultivation art in the jade slip from Xin. The idea of being able to materialize a displeased spirit bear out of thin air would do a lot to ease her paranoia about getting trapped alone and away from potential allies.

"The best method for binding a spirit is one where both parties enter into the contract willingly," Elder Su continued. "Binding an unwilling spirit or beast is possible with the correct formations and sometimes necessary when dealing with entities below human intelligence, but a struggling spirit will tax your qi considerably more than a quiescent one. A bond of genuine respect and partnership will produce the least strain of all."

Ling Qi felt frustrated. Why did things keep coming back to her social abilities?!

"I have prepared a number of tame Root Tunneler Rats for today's lesson." As the Elder spoke, a cage full of bright green rodents appeared atop the lectern. The massive ape beside the Elder eyed the cage hungrily. "Though many of you cannot yet form a binding, you may still practice the qi exercise necessary to form a bond…"

Ling Qi listened carefully as Elder Su continued to discuss the finer points of binding spirits and the technique involved in doing so. It seemed Elder Su was focusing only on willing bindings for this lesson, and she would discuss the basics of formations and spirit traps in the following lessons.

It was a good thing that she was used to the presence of rodents, Ling Qi mused as Elder Su began to call them up to get their 'practice spirit'. Some of the girls, and even some boys, looked positively distressed at the idea of handling rats.

Slipping out of the lecture building at the end of the lesson, Ling Qi's thoughts turned to a troubling matter. Having gained the Qi Foundation pill, she now had a bounty of medicinal aids and other resources, most of which she wasn't even sure how to use. The other disciples were currently stymied due to the ban on physical confrontation, but she had no illusions of what would happen if she was still sitting on her resources when the end of the truce came.

Luckily, she did have someone who could give her some advice on the matter.

Opening the door to their home, Ling Qi searched for signs of Bai Meizhen. There was a fire burning in the hearth, but she couldn't see her housemate anywhere.

"It's just me!" she called, not wanting to alarm the other girl if she was in the kitchen or her room. After shutting the door, she collapsed next to the fire with a groan. Between Elder Zhou's lessons in the morning and the impromptu rock climbing sessions to avoid her fellow disciples in the afternoon, she was quite tired.

Ling Qi allowed herself to relax while she contemplated if she wanted to bother cooking or if she wished to simply eat some of the fresh fruit she had picked up from the storehouse the other day. Just as she was considering standing back up, Bai Meizhen emerged from her room, looking as pristine as ever.

"Good evening, Ling Qi," she said with a slight nod as she began to move toward the kitchen. "You should not sit in such an undignified manner." The pale girl wasn't even looking at her.

Ling Qi looked down at herself and grimaced. Her gown had ended up hiked almost to her knees due to the lazy sprawl she had collapsed into. She supposed it was a little indecent, but it wasn't like there was anyone but Bai Meizhen here to see it. She drew her legs in and tugged the cloth down anyway.

"Good evening, Bai Meizhen." Ling Qi returned the girl's greeting politely, mindful of her housemate's position on manners.

"Hey, do you think I could ask you to take a look at a couple of things? I have some pills and a couple of talismans I picked up during the test that I'm not sure about."

"I am no apothecary, but I will look them over. You would be better served going to the market for this, however," Bai Meizhen called back from the kitchen.

Ling Qi didn't even know that such a place existed. She hadn't exactly ranged very far on the mountain, sticking to only the necessary areas. "Well… I don't really want to go out too much. It's kind of related to what I wanted advice on."

"Oh? Are the other disciples still troubling you? They cannot do any harm for another month yet. Such trash is better ignored." The pale girl returned with her tea set in hand and gracefully knelt down across the fire from Ling Qi.

Ling Qi thought Bai Meizhen's views were a little skewed. She might be able to ignore the other disciples, but Ling Qi couldn't.

"I know they can't. I'd rather not deal with confronting them though. Wouldn't it just be a waste of time?" she asked as she fished around inside of her gown for the hidden pocket containing the pills. The cards were tucked under her sash between the outer and under layers of her gown.

Bai Meizhen eyed her critically as she removed the loot from her hiding places then pursed her lips and averted her eyes until Ling Qi finished laying out the items.

"I suppose you are not wrong," she mused as Ling Qi handed her the container holding the blue pills. Bai Meizhen took a moment to tap one out into her palm, studying it carefully before raising it closer to her face to sniff. She lowered her hand to let Cui study it as well. After holding a silent conversation with the snake, she nodded.

"These are common pills. The quality is a bit amateurish, but they are serviceable enough," Bai Meizhen said dismissively.

Catching Ling Qi's raised eyebrow, she added, "Gushing Spring Pills. They are primarily used by beginners to aid in the cultivation of water arts."

Ling Qi wasn't sure how useful the pills would be. It would help with Forgotten Vale Melody but nothing else. It wasn't really surprising that the random pills she had looted weren't a perfect match for her arts.

"How about the cards?"

"Qi Cards, if somewhat ornate ones," Bai Meizhen responded immediately.

"They can be charged with simple techniques to be used at a later time. They are empty at the moment, but they are of decent quality. "Do you mind?"

So she could store a technique and use it later? That could be useful.

Ling Qi shrugged and gestured for Bai Meizhen to go ahead. Bai Meizhen picked up one of the cards and stared at its reflective surface. Ling Qi felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand up as Bai Meizhen's intimidating aura seemed to flare, making her breath catch.

"Hm. It seems these cards can hold techniques of reasonable power. But the cards were quite heavily used before you acquired them. Each card will crumble after another activation."

Ling Qi blinked as Bai Meizhen handed her the card. She could feel the power from the stored technique humming in the metal, and a simple understanding of the effect entered her mind. Imperious Serpent's Majesty focused the user's will upon an enemy, freezing them like a mouse before a snake.

"H-hey, are you sure it's fine to give me this?"

"It is a trifle. I will have recovered the qi spent in a matter of hours," Bai Meizhen responded dismissively, already moving on to the staff. Bai Meizhen turned it over in her hands, studying it with considerably more interest.

"Now, this… is definitely of acceptable quality as a talisman. It is quite old as well. A few more years of use and it will likely develop a heirloom spirit."

Ling Qi thought back to her lessons with Elder Su.

"That's… when an object or a building develops a mind of its own through continuous exposure to human qi, right? "Doesn't that take a really long time though?"

Bai Meizhen nodded and Ling Qi was glad to not disappoint her with ignorance once again.

"Typically, it takes a century or so to begin the process and much longer to achieve real power. In any case, the staff's use is simple enough. It empowers wood techniques and provides some of the energy required for them through its own internal stores. It is also rather sturdy. I doubt a cultivator below the Third Realm could break it through brute force given the durability enhancing formations etched into the wood."

Ling Qi let out the breath she had been holding. That pretty much confirmed her worry. It was unlikely that the girl who had lost this would just let it go. If she held onto it, she was going to have to prepare herself for the inevitable attempt to retrieve it. Pawning it off for something useful before that would probably be for the best.

"Thank you very much," she said as the other girl put the staff down with a clunk and busied herself with preparing tea.

"I feel like I have had so much more to worry about since the end of that test. It's good to have one less. Maybe now I can finally make use of my good fortune."

"I am interested to see what has the worms so agitated," Bai Meizhen admitted, looking up from her tea. "Envy for another's success and fortune are powerful motivators for that sort. Just what did you gain in that test?"

Ling Qi grimaced. Even now, she couldn't quite bring herself to show off her prize. Still, Bai Meizhen deserved an explanation.

"I… acquired a jade slip with some arts. The problem started because Elder Jiao announced it. He convinced Elder Zhou to give me a pass on the third part of the test and implied that I could become his personal disciple if I took advantage of it."

Bai Meizhen's eyes widened slightly as the words spilled out of Ling Qi's mouth in a rush. She stared at Ling Qi as Ling Qi fidgeted as if she were Li Suyin.

Was this it?

Was Bai Meizhen going to reach out and disable her then search her for the jade slip? Ling Qi would try to get away, but she knew she didn't have a chance.

"I see," Bai Meizhen finally said.

"I suppose I can understand their envy somewhat. Sima Jiao was a venerable and respected director of the Ministry of Integrity before his retirement. A position as his apprentice would be much sought after."

Ling Qi thought Bai Meizhen sounded rather unhappy.

"It…" Bai Meizhen pursed her lips in a displeased manner as she broke off and went silent.

"I hope you will not allow yourself to focus over much on that. You are young, and I am sure you will have many other, better opportunities," she finally said.

That wasn't really what Ling Qi was expecting at all. Bai Meizhen didn't seem jealous or envious of the chance. If anything, she seemed frustrated and unhappy.

"Well… I don't know about any apprenticeships or anything like that. I was just going to focus on learning the techniques on the jade slip that I received."

"That is for the best," Bai Meizhen replied, seeming slightly relieved.

Ling Qi nodded, glad to have headed off whatever that was. "Thank you for all your help."

"It was no trouble. Perhaps once you master these arts, you might share an insight or two with me."

"Oh? Um…. sure," Ling Qi responded with surprise and warmth. She had no idea where the other girl's confidence in her came from, but she was glad for it.

Chapter 24-Foundations 5

The exhausting routine of Elder Zhou's training the next day passed by in a blur. The Elder worked them to the bone, drilling the basics of unarmed combat into her and the other students unfamiliar with it on top of the usual physical conditioning and qi diffusing.

The training was rewarding. Ling Qi could feel herself gradually growing stronger and tougher with every day even as her dantian continued to grow as well.

That didn't mean she wasn't relieved to finally settle into the mineral spring with Gu Xiulan afterward. The water felt amazing as the warmth seeped in and sapped the aches and fatigue from her limbs.

She almost felt a little bad for kind of tuning out on what Gu Xiulan was actually talking about. Gu Xiulan had gone off on a tangent about some kind of skin cleansing and protecting oils from her home province, how she wished she had brought more to the sect with her, and how she was worried she might begin to tan. Ling Qi wasn't foolish enough to actually ignore the other girl, but it could be hard to keep her attention on Gu Xiulan's inane ramblings.

"That aside, I hear you managed to receive a prize from Elder Su yesterday afternoon. Congratulations. It's good to see that you aren't satisfied with only excelling in one branch of cultivation."

Ling Qi forced herself to focus on the blurred form of her companion through the steam rising from the gently bubbling spring.

"Ah, yeah. I need all of the advantages I can get, right?

"Thank you. I just wish I hadn't had to stand up in front of everyone and make even more of a target of myself." Ling Qi sank further down into the water with a gloomy expression.

"I will never understand your aversion to attention." Gu Xiulan responded with a sigh, resting her cheek in her hand as she looked at Ling Qi through the steam. "But I suppose that is a different kind of charm. Perhaps it is for the best anyway."

Ling Qi didn't want the other girl to start rambling again so she quickly changed the subject. "Why don't you attend Elder Su's lessons anyway? I've seen Han Jian there a couple times and now that I think about it, Fan Yu and Han Fang as well never you though. How come?"

"Well as much as an Elder's teaching is useful, I know the majority of what she is teaching already." Gu Xiulan shrugged, idly brushing a few damp strands of her loose hair out of her eyes.

"My family has a strong focus on the spiritual arts so I have quite a lot to practice as it is. I intend to master the second technique of my clan's movement art soon. I have been preparing to open another channel for it this week."

"Oh," Ling Qi responded, leaning back against the wall of the chamber. "Should I be focusing more on arts instead of the lessons?"

"No. For one of your station, they are quite necessary. I imagine I could learn quite a lot about the theory if I took the time to attend. I admit, I have no talent for such things, and I have little use for academic minutiae," Gu Xiulan said. Ling Qi had a sneaking suspicion that Li Suyin and Gu Xiulan wouldn't get along.

"Spiritual cultivation should be a thing of passion and instinct, not rote memorization and repetition. I could hardly master my clan's arts with such a mindset."

Ling Qi frowned, feeling a little offended on Elder Su's behalf, but she knew Gu Xiulan probably had more reasons than she was sharing. "Alright. Do you know if Han Jian has any free time?"

Gu Xiulan gave her a sharp, dangerous look, and Ling Qi winced.

"I was wondering if you and the others were getting together for any training is all," Ling Qi hastily clarified. "I - I thought that we could try to share some insights and work on our group tactics or… something?"

Gu Xiulan's expression softened, and she nodded.

"Hm. Now that Yu has come back out from seclusion, I believe Jian was considering something like that for this afternoon. I suppose you can come along."

Later, when descending the mountain with Gu Xiulan, they met up with Han Jian and Han Fang.

"Oh, Ling Qi?" Han Jian greeted politely. "I didn't know you were coming." Han Jian's cousin merely gave her a curious look from where he stood behind Han Jian.

"I shall have to take responsibility," Gu Xiulan replied airily. "I thought I might like another sparring partner."

"Well, that's fine," Han Jian said with a pleasant nod.

"Congratulations on winning Elder Su's contest this week," the tall boy said sincerely.

"Thank you," Ling Qi replied with a small bow.

"If you're going to join us, you should know that I'm going to be absent for most of next week," Han Jian said with a wry smile. "So this will be the only session for a little while."

Ling Qi fell in beside Han Fang as they began to leave the training field, returning the mute boy's friendly nod as she did so. "What do you mean? Did something happen?"

Han Jian's smile grew proud. "I plan to break through to the Yellow Soul Realm soon. I'll have to inform Elder Zhou just in case the breakthrough stretches on a bit," he responded cheerfully. "Maybe once I do, I can get that so-called tiger of mine to actually join me instead of lazing around the house like a big furry lump."

"Hmph. Heijin is adorable and you should not speak of him so," Gu Xiulan replied playfully. "Still, I am happy for you, Jian," she added with a genuinely affectionate smile. "I will not be far behind you."

It looked like Ling Qi couldn't get complacent. Even if she was advancing, everyone else was too. She watched quietly as Han Fang clapped his cousin on the back.

"Congratulations, Han Jian," she said afterward. "Where are we going though?"

"There's another training field further down the mountain that's a little more private. It has a view sealing formation and everything. I managed to reserve it," Han Jian explained.

"A sealing formation means nobody can watch the field from outside, at least not with the sort of arts young cultivators like us have access to. It's better not to show off all your tricks in public, you know?"

Ling Qi nodded in understanding. That was a good thing. She certainly couldn't trust random observers to have benevolent intentions. She glanced at Gu Xiulan, wondering what the other girl thought of it. She preferred showing off, didn't she?

Gu Xiulan caught her look and pouted at her. "Come now. It's not as if I cannot understand the importance of timing and presentation. New moves should be revealed when properly mastered, not when they are half finished."

"Sorry," Ling Qi responded, not quite joining in as Han Fang cracked a smile and Han Jian chuckled.

"Will Fan Yu be joining us?" she asked. It was probably better to get this out of the way.

"... He's probably already there," Han Jian responded, smile fading. "Yu's been going a little nuts with training since the test." She thought he looked conflicted.

"Look… We talked to him so try to keep calm, alright?"

She nodded, but she would be lying to herself if she said that she didn't dread this a bit. The rest of the walk went by quickly enough, their chatter turning to idle things until they reached a set of high gray gates that opened onto an empty grassy field.

It was surprising watching Han Jian vanish as he stepped between them, but she had already decided to trust the group, so she didn't hesitate to follow. She felt an odd tingling on her skin as she passed through the gate and entered the field, bringing the others back in sight.

That included Fan Yu.

The broad shouldered boy stood opposite Han Jian, a heavily weighted training spear on his shoulder. He was positively drenched with sweat, and she briefly wondered just how long he had been here. It only took a moment after she entered the field for his eyes to shift to her.

Ling Qi found herself growing tense as his expression soured. She clenched her fists, but nonetheless, she spoke up, keeping any quaver out of her voice. She didn't want to let this jerk ruin things between her and the others.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you," she said flatly. "And I'm sorry that Bai Meizhen went too far." She did her best to sound sincere despite not really feeling it.

Fan Yu's nostrils flared and he scowled, his own fists clenching. "It is nothing," he ground out. "I apologize for my accusations."

"Well," Gu Xiulan cut in, voice light. "Let us not dwell on such minor things. We are all friends here." She gave her fiance a pleading look.

Ling Qi had to hold back a snort of laughter as the other boy's expression immediately softened. Gu Xiulan had the boy wrapped around her fingers.

"Alright," Han Jian spoke up.

"So, this training thing… I was thinking that we'd work on our coordination and response times and get used to working with everyone's arts running at the same time. Between Ling Qi and I, the increase in everyone's ability is pretty significant, and that can throw us off if we're not used to it."

Ling Qi let out a breath and relaxed. Fan Yu obviously still disliked her, but he was willing to hold his peace for Gu Xiulan's sake. She almost felt a moment of pity for the boy. It was becoming clear that he had actual feelings for the other girl, which she was almost certain were not returned by Gu Xiulan.

She put such thoughts aside as Han Jian began to direct them to different positions. She spent the rest of the afternoon with Han Jian and the others practicing her marksmanship with Gu Xiulan's help and improving her ability to act in concert with others while following Han Jian's commands.

It helped to simply get more combat experience as well. Despite the other girl's statement, she found herself sparring mostly with Han Fang. Han Jian, perhaps wisely, put Gu Xiulan and Fan Yu together while switching in and out of the pairs himself when someone needed a breather.

For all that he easily faded into the background, Ling Qi found that she enjoyed Han Fang's company. The mute boy was patient and good natured about her occasional blunders in their spars and partner work. She could appreciate the quiet, which allowed her to concentrate on her own efforts.

She really felt that she was improving.

Chapter 25-Foundations 6

Ling Qi found it hard not to be distracted.

Those two were glowing for goodness sake! She glanced nervously again at the wide section of the field reserved for the two strongest girls in class.

Sun Liling had a savage grin on her face as she faced Cai Renxiang. For once, her stance wasn't lax and loose but taut and ready, her hands splayed out like the claws of a beast. Red mist seeped from the girl's pores, lazily twining around her limbs.

Her opponent stood straight and tall, the hilt of her long, curved saber clasped in a ready stance. Cai Renxiang looked as if she were standing in a shaft of bright sunlight, which formed a white corona behind her head and cast a long, ominous shadow across the field in front of her.

"Miss Ling!" She twitched as a booming voice called her attention back to her immediate surroundings. She refrained from grimacing as she turned back to meet the reproving gaze of Gan Guangli, her partner in this sparring exercise.

"While I understand the desire to gaze upon Lady Cai's resplendence, I must ask that you not allow your attention to wander so!"

The boy's voice was loud, and she winced when she saw gazes flicking their way. Still, she was glad that Instructor Zhou had taken their abilities into account when setting up spars. Now, if only her melee partner wasn't so… bombastic.

"Hmph. Don't you have it backwards there, big guy?" A relaxed voice called from across the field where their opponents stood.

The one who spoke was Lu Feng, the effeminate boy she had seen with Sun Liling before. She found him kind of irritating, partially because despite being a boy, he managed to be significantly prettier than her. His shoulder length black hair was shinier than Gu Xiulan's, and that was just unfair.

"She was obviously captivated by the princess, not that ice sculpture you call a lady."

Gan Guangli swelled with fury, and she meant that literally. She had thought she was imagining things the first few times it had happened, but seeing it up close confirmed her thoughts. When the blond boy became emotional, he literally grew. He was normally the same height as her, but he was now several centimeters taller. It seemed there were some strange arts out there.

"Still your forked tongue, western devil, else I make your beating all the worse!"

Spirits, did he have any volume below shout?

Ling Qi looked to the other girl present, a noble armed with short, paired guai made out of pale white stone. Hong Lin was short and petite with streaks of cherry blossom pink in her dark hair. Given the way she turned up her nose at Ling Qi, Hong Lin was uninterested in providing any solidarity in response to their bickering male comrades.

That was fine, Ling Qi thought. Gan Guangli might be obnoxiously loud, but at least he was unfailingly polite. He hadn't once referred to her as anything but Miss Ling although that felt more strange than good. When had she ever been called something like that?

She put that out of her thoughts, focusing on the upcoming spar. The scenario was simple. They were to fight until the other team was disabled while staying within the confines of the painted box on the field they had been assigned.

Instructor Zhou's voice rang out, signalling the beginning of the match.

Gan Guangli barreled forward with a shout, the heavy iron gauntlets on his hands shimmering with metallic qi, and Hong Lin darted forward to meet him. His swinging fist passed over her head as she ducked, and her stone guai rose to strike him in the ribs. He merely laughed at the blow, swelling up another centimeter in height and bulk.

Ling Qi caught movement in the corner of her eyes and flicked a knife into her hand as she turned her attention to her own task. Lu Feng was circling the battle in the center, eyeing the two combatants as he raised his black gloved hands. Ling Qi caught the barely visible shimmer of the wires which extended from the tips of his gloves and threw her knife at him.

She grimaced as Lu Feng leaned lazily out of the way as her wind-coated knife flew by him. His right hand gestured, and Gan Guangli let out a shout of frustration as gleaming wires wrapped around his forearm, preventing him from bringing his fist down on his much smaller opponent.

Ling Qi let another knife fall into her hand as Hong Lin executed a rapid combination on her bound partner. The other girl's stone weapons drove Gan Guangli back as they cracked repeatedly against his ribs and free arm, drawing a grunt of pain from Gan Guangli even as he continued to grow bigger.

Another knife flew as she dashed toward Lu Feng, but he again swayed to the side, easily avoiding her technique, and danced backwards, not giving her more than a glance.

Ling Qi's only warning of what came next was Gan Guangli's shout as his leg was yanked to one side, and the towering boy fell to the ground with a crash. She glimpsed a blur of black and pink, and then, her world exploded in pain.

Everything spun as she felt herself flung backwards to land in the dirt, reflexively clutching her ribs as she wheezed in pain from the blow the other girl had landed. At least one of her ribs was broken, Ling Qi thought dizzily, probably more. Looking through eyes tearing up from the throbbing pain, she saw her opponent looking down at her before turning away with a haughty sniff to show Ling Qi her back.

Ling Qi struggled to reach for one of her knives, to sit up, to do anything, but it simply hurt too much. She could feel something wet bubbling in her throat, and a groan escaped her lips.

She was helpless again, and she hated it!

They lost after that, of course. Gan Guangli struggled, but with his limbs bound, he couldn't really fight back.

Luckily, Instructor Zhou had called an older disciple from the Medicine Department down to provide healing after the spars. Instead of three broken ribs, Ling Qi merely had to deal with some incredibly painful bruises across her chest.

The lengthy spars broke up the physical training now, and despite her feelings about her loss, she knew they were helping, Her reflexes and handling of her weapons was improving. It grew easier to draw her knives and she found the blades fitting much more easily in her hands. She began to notice the little tells that told how a person was going to move, both in herself and others. She did better in other bouts, but never great.

Elder Su's lessons were less painful but all the more crucial. If Ling Qi was to avoid being humiliated like that again, she would need to be able to use her new arts.

She had begun feeling out the channels she would need to open during the lessons' meditation sessions, slowly tracing their paths with her mind's eye. The channel she had already opened wove a lazy course around and through her heart, shining brightly in her perception. Picking out the path of the three channels she planned to open was far more arduous. However, she had not used her medicines yet so she did not begin carving.

Besides, before she threw herself fully into cultivation, she had a question to ask. Ling Qi didn't feel comfortable derailing the class with an unrelated question, but Elder Su typically remained behind for a few minutes after the lessons ended on the first and second days of the week.

As the other students filed out, she murmured a goodbye to Li Suyin and slipped down the stairs to approach the Elder, who was watching the others leave with a small smile, hands clasped loosely behind her. Her expression didn't change when Ling Qi reached the bottom of the stairs, doing her best to ignore the looks from the remaining students. Ling Qi stopped a respectful distance from the older woman and bowed politely, drawing on half remembered lessons from Bai Meizhen on proper etiquette.

"Did you have a question about what we covered today, Ling Qi?" Elder Su asked kindly. She had been lecturing on the nature of environmental qi and its effects on cultivation. Ling Qi actually felt she understood it pretty well; she had to be careful if she cultivated in areas with strong environmental qi to avoid having it warp and unbalance her own. She had mostly grasped the exercises Elder Su had given for that too. "I am afraid you should have asked during the lesson. I have many tasks to see to."

"I am sorry for delaying you, Elder." Ling Qi internally cheered as she managed to avoid stumbling on the formal words.

"I actually have a question regarding my personal cultivation," she continued, keeping her voice steady. She could feel the eyes of others on her back, but there was nothing she could do about that.

Elder Su regarded her quietly, her expression still friendly and open, but Ling Qi felt an unsettling pressure as if the matronly woman was looking through her.

"You have not advanced much of late despite your diligence. Have you found yourself in a bottleneck then? I suppose I can spare a moment to aid a promising student, particularly one willing to provide teaching to another." Elder Su sounded approving. Ling Qi didn't even bother wondering how the woman knew about her tutoring Li Suyin in her physical cultivation, just relief that she wasn't being dismissed out of hand.

"Not... exactly?" Ling Qi said unsurely. "I slowed down this past week to prepare. I had some things to take care of before I could really focus."

Elder Su raised an eyebrow curiously. "Oh? Well, I will not say cultivating in such a way is wrong. I did encourage other pursuits. I will have to ask that you speak your question though, young lady. I was not jesting when I said that I still have many tasks to see to."

"Of course," Ling Qi hurried, keeping her head bowed. "I just wanted to know if there were any drawbacks to reaching the Yellow Soul stage before fully mastering Argent Soul or the reverse. The scroll does not specify so I wanted to make sure I was cultivating it properly."

Elder Su's smile grew slightly warmer, and Ling Qi thought she sensed more approval. "That is a good question," Elder Su began. "And an ambitious one. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It is advisable that you reach the late stage of the Red Soul before attempting to form the next layer of that art - if only so that you do not fall behind your peers. The Argent Soul and its more advanced forms are one of the foundations of our Sect, but it is important not to forget practical matters."

Ling Qi nodded in understanding. "So I should try to complete the next layer before breaking through?"

"It will improve such attempts," Elder Su concurred. "While even cultivators of extremely low talent can expect to break through to the Yellow realm in time given sufficient resources, it is still no easy thing.

"Certain benefits will be lost if you choose to break through first, but it is a matter of weighing your desires and needs. To go beyond the fourth layer will not provide benefits at the Red Soul realm."

"Thank you, Elder Su," Ling Qi murmured, finally raising her head and straightening her back.

"It was no trouble. Go on, now. I will be observing what your preparations accomplish this week," Elder Su answered simply, stepping gracefully past Ling Qi with a whisper of silk.

Ling Qi nodded and turned around to find the older woman already gone. She really wished she could do that. Hopefully, the Sable Crescent Step art would be the start.