The strongest alliances form not from necessity or advantage, but from the unexpected resonance of kindred spirits. When two hearts recognize their shared path, even the heavens must yield to theirbined strength.


    —Master Song Lin, Schr of the Jade Path


    Xin strolled through ckmere’s market district, humming to herself as she headed back to the Lin Family’s city manor. She’d done a good job getting the items she needed. The scent of grilled meat wafted from nearby food stalls.


    A sharp turn around a tea shop’s corner resulted in a solid impact. Xin stumbled back, steadying herself against the wall. A young man in expensive silver-trimmed robes red at her, his cultivation aura pulsing with irritation.


    "Watch where you’re—" His eyes narrowed, focusing on her spiritual energy signature. "Wait. I don’t recognize you."


    Xin blinked. Uhh… was he supposed to?


    Five cultivators emerged from behind him, spreading out to block potential escape routes. Their spiritual energy seemed nothing special, not more than her own or Ren Chun’s—but that didn’t mean they didn’t pose a serious threat to her.


    The young master’s lips curved into a predatory smile. "Could it be? The rogue cultivator everyone’s talking about?"


    "Boys, why rush to collect the bounty?" He adjusted his sleeve cuffs. "We should enjoy ourselves first."


    One of his followers thrust his hips forward with an exaggerated grunt. The group erupted in raucousughter.


    Seriously? Xin suppressed an exasperated eye roll. Do I have some cosmic sign floating above my head?


    "I am Lin Xin, sister to Lord Lin and daughter of the regent." Xin straightened her spine, projecting authority through her stance. "I have jurisdiction over this city. Such vulgar behavior reflects poorly on your houses."


    The young master snorted and waved a dismissive hand. "We aren’t nobles, brat. Capture her!"


    Xin drew her spear from her back and held it in a ready stance. The cultivators skidded to an abrupt halt on the cobblestones, their boots scraping against stone. Metal sang as they drew their swords in unison, the afternoon sun glinting off polished steel.


    "The bounty specified dead or alive." The young master adjusted his grip on his de. "Makes no difference to me."


    "You’re making a grave mistake." Xin shifted into a defensive stance. "The bounty isn’t for me—I’m the victim’s daughter."


    Okay, that was sort of a lie. But there really wasn’t any point in admitting that.


    "Doesn’t matter who you really are." The young master’s lips twisted into an ugly smirk. "Someone will pay good money for you—or at least parts of you on the ck market!"


    "Stop!" Amanding female voice thundered from above.


    Xin snapped her gaze upward. A figure soared through the air, performing a graceful somersault beforending on the cobblestones. Sunlight glinted off the woman’s ornate robes as she drew a curved saber from her back. The de whistled through the air in an elegant flourish.


    Was this Ren Chun’s sister or something?


    "What do you think you’re doing?" The neer pointed her saber at the group. Her stance radiated practiced confidence.


    The six men pivoted toward the woman. Xin blinked. They’d momentarily forgotten about her?


    This is absurd. Xin studied her spear with a grimace. She had taken down mortals and beasts with it, but that was more a product of raw speed and strength. She was under no delusion that she’d beat anyone with more training than her unless she overpowered them with raw strength.


    And against cultivators at the same level as her, that was far, far from being the case. Facing six would end badly even with this mysterious ally—two against six meant terrible odds.


    Time for something decisive.


    Xin dropped her spear. The metal ttered against stone as she surged qi through her meridians. The energy burned hotter than before, racing through her pathways like liquid fire. Master Qingfeng’s tea must have enhanced her spiritual energy somehow—the intensity threatened to overwhelm her.


    No time to analyze it. Her meridians stretched to bursting as spiritual energy overflowed. Xin mmed her palms together, channeling the violent qi through the connecting pathways and releasing it forward.


    The horizontal vortex erupted into a raging tornado. The six menunched off their feet, bodies ragdolling through the air before smashing into the stone wall with a sickening crunch.


    Three bodies mmed into the wall with sickening cracks, necks snapping on impact. Two more crashed awkwardly, their legs twisting at unnatural angles. Only the young master and his crude friend managed tond in defensive crouches.


    Screams of agony pierced the air as the metallic scent of blood filled Xin’s nostrils. Even the ones with broken necks didn’t die instantly. Well, they were cultivators, so that made sense. Sucked for them, though. She wasn’t done.


    The young master’s mouth opened, likely to spew more threats. Xin pped again. The qi-enhanced wind st mmed them back against the wall a second time. While the young master anchored himself with his sword, hisstpanion convulsed, blood streaming from his eyes and ears before he crumpled to the ground.


    Wasn’t she supposed to name these things? Xin tapped her chin. "Ah yes—Thunder God ps for Arrogant Young Masters."


    "Are you going to kill him?" The mysterious woman’s tone carried mild curiosity.


    Xin turned toward her. "Why? Would you like to?"


    A casual shrug answered her question.


    The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the vition.


    The young master staggered to his feet, sword wavering as he pointed it at Xin. Some people never learn.


    Another thunderous p sent him flying. The wall behind him crumbled inward, burying him and hispanions under a cascade of bricks.


    Xin turned to examine her unexpected ally.


    Vivid amber eyes sparkled beneath sandy brown hair that framed an elegant face. Her ornate ck and red martial robe trimmed in gold and jade spoke of wealth and status, while her bearing radiated quiet authority.


    She’s beautiful. The thought caught Xin off guard as she admired the woman’s striking features. Everything about her screamed ’protagonist’—from her graceful posture to the confident set of her shoulders.


    Xin raised an eyebrow at her would-be savior. "Were you expecting to rescue a helpless damsel in distress?"


    "I thought you needed assistance." The woman sheathed her saber with practiced grace. "Clearly I was mistaken."


    "The gesture is appreciated nheless." Xin offered a genuine smile.


    The woman’s amber eyes sparkled as she smiled back. "I’m Feng Yu. I overheard the conversation earlier—you’re Miss Lin? Daughter of Lord Lin and sister to the new lord?"


    Xin’s smile cooled to neutral politeness. "I am. Did you have business with me?"


    "No, nothing like that." Feng Yu shook her head, sandy hair swaying. "Like most others, I’m here searching for the rogue cultivator."


    She nced at the rubble and wrinkled her nose. "Unfortunately, there are more idiots like him causing trouble than actual investigators."


    The thunder of boots announced the arrival of two dozen city guards. Xin beckoned their captain forward.


    "Check the bodies." Xin pointed at the debris. "Confirm they’re dead, then transport them to Lin Manor. I’ll deal with them there."


    From the corner of her eye, Xin caught Feng Yu’s disappointed frown. Did she really want to y hero for me?


    "Would you care to join me for tea at my residence?" Xin gestured down the street. "Perhaps we could talk?"


    Feng Yu’s face brightened instantly. "Yes, I’d love to!"


    Interesting. Xin studied her eager response. So you do have ulterior motives after all.


    The cobblestones clicked beneath their feet as Xin led Feng Yu through ckmere’s winding streets. A cool breeze carried the scent of jasmine from nearby gardens.


    "How is your family coping with the changes?" Feng Yu matched Xin’s pace.


    Xin nced at her appraisingly before deciding how to answer. "My brother Zhang Wei shows remarkable resilience for his age." She stepped around a puddle. "Mother—Lady Zhao Lian—has taken control as regent. She’s adapting well to the responsibility."


    Feng Yu nodded politely. "That must be challenging for them both."


    "The Provincial Prefect promised support. My cousin arrives soon to help manage the aftermath." Xin studied the subtle shifts in Feng Yu’s expression.


    "Good, good." Feng Yu nodded. "About what happened that night—"


    Ah, there it is. Xin suppressed a smirk. Looking for information to catch the culprit? Unfortunately, I can’t help you there.


    "It remains quite traumatic." Xin offered an apologetic smile. "Perhaps we could discuss it another time, when I feel more... settled."


    "Oh!" Feng Yu’s cheeks flushed pink. "I apologize for my insensitivity."


    "Think nothing of it." Xin waved off the apology as they approached the manor gates.


    The doors swung open to reveal the main courtyard. Ren Chun stood in the center, his sword shing in precise arcs as he worked through aplex form. Sweat gleamed on his bare chest as he pivoted and struck at invisible opponents.


    "Ren Chun!" Xin called out. "Come meet my new friend who helped save me from some rapist asshole in the market district."


    Ren Chun’s practice sword ttered to the ground. Both he and Feng Yu stared at her with wide eyes and ck jaws.


    "Ah... Miss Lin, you always have a way with words." Ren Chun grabbed a nearby cloth to wipe the sweat from his face. He studied Feng Yu with renewed interest. "I am Ren Chun, disciple of Master Hong Bi." He bowed slightly. "Where do you hail from?"


    Feng Yu shifted her weight between feet as she eyed him warily. "I’m a wanderer, though I have family in the Ember Dream Sect." She reached up to brush a strand of sandy hair behind an ear. "Currently seeking to advance my cultivation through travel and experience."


    Sunlight caught the amber flecks in her eyes as she turned to Xin. "I heard about the bounty. I n to visit Lin Manorter to see if there’s any way to track down the culprit—if that’s even possible."


    A tight knot formed in Xin’s chest. She released an anxious breath, the sound barely audible over the courtyard fountain.


    "But I didn’t know Miss Lin was a cultivator." Feng Yu tilted her head. "How did thate about?"


    Xin weighed her words carefully. "Master Qingfeng from ckmere’s Treasure Pavilion provides me guidance. I am undertaking several important learning expeditions under his direction."


    "Treasure Pavilion? Learning expeditions?" Ren Chun scratched his head. "Is that what the blood lotus was about?"


    Xin nodded. "Next, I must wait a few days before collecting dawn serpent scales." She paused for effect. "From living serpents."


    A broad grin spread across Ren Chun’s face. "Then you’ll be calling in that favor soon!"


    Xin lifted her chin, meeting his eager expression with cool indifference. "Did you assume I would ask you?"


    Confusion clouded Ren Chun’s features as his grin faltered.


    Xin linked her arm through Feng Yu’s, the silk of their sleeves rustling together. "I have a new friend who will definitely help me!"


    Perfect excuse to keep her close and away from investigating. Thest thing I need is another cultivator snooping around and bothering mother.


    "Oh..." Feng Yu nced at her in confusion, neither pulling away nor returning the gesture.


    Ren Chun studied Feng Yu with narrowed eyes. "Can she even help you?"


    The question ignited something in Feng Yu. She slipped free from Xin’s grasp and squared her shoulders. "I assure you I can." Her hand rested on her saber’s hilt. "I doubt anyone at our level surpasses my de work!"


    Ren Chun straightened, his eyes narrowing. "Master Hong Bi said I was the fastest learning swordsmen he has ever mentored!"


    Xin’s mouth dropped open slightly. The courtyard’s tension thickened as she nced between them. Wait... are they actuallypeting over this?