Water holds memory deeper than any scroll, and wisdom vaster than any sage. Those who dive its depths must be prepared to face truths that have slumbered since the world’s dawn.


    —Sage Master Tang Xue, Mistress of the Eternal Frost


    Xin gripped the dawn serpent’s muscr body just behind its head, muscles straining against its thrashing coils. The creature’s luminescent scales flickered wildly as it twisted and writhed. Its angry hiss echoed off the trees.


    "Ahhh!" Xin sprinted toward the bronze bell, fighting to maintain her hold. Each step brought fresh resistance as the creature fought against her grip.


    "I can’t believe you caught one!" Feng Yu’s voice carried equal parts amazement and concern.


    The serpent’s tail whipped violently as Xin reached the trap. She attempted to stuff its length inside tail-first, but itshed back out at her. "Fuck!"


    Feng Yu darted forward and seized the serpent’s tail. She pulled it taut, stretching the creature’s length. Once she was on the opposite side of the bell, she shouted, "Now!"


    They released their grips simultaneously. The serpent coiled instantly, preparing to strike—but its defensive posture brought its entire form within the bell’s circumference. A grated ring mmed down into the dirt with a resonant ng. A piercing shriek rm went off two secondster in a two note pulse. Blue formations across the bronze surface shifted to pulsing green, sealing the trap.


    "Oh my god, that was insane." Xin’s breath came in quick gasps.


    "Which god?" Feng Yu asked with genuine curiosity.


    A weakugh escaped Xin’s lips. She crouched to peer beneath the bell’s rim.


    A concentrated beam of light yed across the trapped serpent’s form as it searched frantically for escape. Where the light touched, scales loosened and detached, floating upward into the beam. Even the creature’s hidden belly scales separated under the device’s influence.


    Xin winced at the seemingly cruel process—until she noticed fresh scales beneath the harvested ones. The serpent showed no signs of injury or pain.


    "Don’t just put your face up to it!" Feng Yu called out. "It’ll be furious when the trap opens!"


    Xin scrambled backward to join herpanion at a safe distance. The device continued its work for several minutes before chiming softly, its light shifting to yellow shes. Soon after, red pulses signaled the end of the cycle. The grate retracted with a grinding sound.


    The dawn serpent exploded from the trap in a blur of motion, its scaleless form no longer glowing as it slithered angrily into the underbrush.


    Four big handfuls of scales popped out of a small container, and Xin dumped them in a collection bag inside their travel pack. When she bent down to check the bait, it was gone. "It snatched the bait anyway?"


    Feng Yu pulled a spirit stone from her pouch and handed it over. Xin ced it on the little block underneath and then stood back up as the device’s qi channels turned a cheerful blue.


    "Let’s find a good hiding spot. The glow should attract another one soon enough," Feng Yu said.


    They settled behind a fallen log near the underbrush, maintaining a clear view of the trap while staying beyond what they hoped was the serpent’s sensing range. The spirit stone’s pale blue radiance painted shifting shadows across the forest floor.


    Minutes stretched into an hour. Xin shifted ufortably on the damp ground.


    "Ugh." Feng Yu nudged her shoulder. "Maybe you should catch another one?"


    "Haha, no thanks." Xin shook her hands emphatically. "Once was crazy enough."


    "Hmm." Feng Yu stood abruptly and gazed toward theke. "We should collect other materials while we wait."


    Xin followed herpanion through the underbrush. A patch of multi-colored flowers caught her attention. "Look—these are like chromatic daisies. When crushed together, the powder works as an excellent elemental intensifier."


    "Lucky me." Feng Yu patted Xin’s shoulder with a grin. "Having such a skilled alchemist for a martial sister?"


    Xin squinted at her suspiciously. "Is that my best trait? You and Ren Chun keep mentioning it."


    "Most cultivators focus purely on martial arts at our stage." Feng Yu plucked another flower. "Having an alchemist as a peer is invaluable."


    "At least you’re honest about it." Xin gathered thest of the flowers.


    They discovered water roots near the shoreline, adding them to their travel pack. Xin frowned at the diminishing space. She had brought an extra pack that was still folded up, and it would double her carrying capacity, but even with the extra pack, storage might be an issue.


    "I’m going for a swim," Feng Yu announced suddenly, pointing at theke.


    "What!?"


    Xin bounced anxiously as Feng Yu untied her martial robes. "What are you doing?"


    The outer robe fell to Feng Yu’s feet, revealing a thin chemise underneath. "How do you expect me to swim in these clothes?"


    Xin pped her hands over her eyes. "Someone could see you!"


    "Who? We’re alone out here."


    Stolen story; please report.


    Through syed fingers, Xin peeked—and immediately regretted it. The chemise joined the pile at Feng Yu’s feet. Heat rushed to Xin’s cheeks. "You’re naked!"


    "What’s wrong with that? Haven’t you seen another woman naked before?"


    "Yes! But not—not outside!" Xin shifted from foot to foot. "What if someone has a spyss?"


    Feng Yu struck an exaggerated pose. "Then they’ll get quite a show."


    "Oh my god." She couldn’t look anymore and stared at the ground.


    "Rx, I’m not goingpletely bare."


    Xin nced up to see Feng Yu retrieving her red sash. She wrapped it around her hips like a loincloth and belt, then attached her sword. "Never go anywhere without my weapon. Even swimming."


    "Are swords even waterproof?" Xin asked weakly.


    Feng Yuughed and waded into theke. "With qi protection, it’s not even cold." She turned back with a grin. "Watch my clothes like a good sister!"


    "How long will—"


    A ssh cut off Xin’s question as Feng Yu dove beneath the surface.


    "—will you be in the water," Xin finished to empty air.


    The trap rm pierced the silence with its two-note shriek.


    "Aaagh!" Xin snatched up the discarded clothes and sprinted toward the sound. "Feng Yu!"


    She sprinted back to the trap. The bronze bell pulsed with green light, signaling another sessful capture. She bounced from foot to foot while counting down the required waiting period. The serpent inside thrashed against its prison, scales already detached and floating in the harvesting beam.


    A minuteter, the cycle waspleted again. The grate retracted with a metallic groan and the scaleless serpent shot out like an arrow, vanishing into the underbrush. She quickly collected the scales and reced the bait.


    Back at thekeshore, Xin settled onto a mossy log. The water’s surface remained undisturbed—no sign of Feng Yu. A cold knot formed in her stomach.


    How long can cultivators hold their breath? The thought struck her with sudden force. They need air to cycle qi!


    Xin sucked in a deep breath and held it. The familiar flow of energy through her meridians stuttered to a halt. Her lungs burned as seconds ticked by. Nothing worked right—the qi refused to move.


    But shouldn’t there be some cirction? Even a little? Terror wed at her chest. Feng Yu would be dead by now!


    The surge of panic jolted her qi. It moved! Just a tiny bit, but definitely moved. Xin focused harder, manually pushing energy through its usual path. Another push. Then another. Like paddling through thick mud, her qi began circting again. The burning in her lungs faded.


    Relief flooded through her. So cultivators could hold their breath—it just took constant effort and drew from their reserves. Her expanded dantian held plenty of energy though, even if it wasn’t regenerating while she maintained the technique.


    Xin pulled out their collection pouch and began sorting scales into neat dozens. Neen full stacks plus seven extras; Two hundred thirty-five scales total. Almost halfway to their goal—three more sessful captures would do it.


    She nced at theke again. The water remained perfectly still. She let herself breathe again.


    "Where are you?" Xin muttered. "This isn’t funny anymore!"


    Xin drummed her fingers against the silk pouch. Their conversation the day before about theke’s mysteries echoed in her thoughts. "Nobody ever tries swimming down there..."


    Feng Yu’s previous words were a hint.


    "You’re not actually—" Xin shot to her feet. "Feng Yu!"


    No response. Just the gentlep of water against the shore.


    "Ahhh!" Xin paced along the bank. "You better not be doing something stupid!"


    She steadied her breathing and focused qi into her feet. The familiar tingle of Water Stepping Foot spread through her soles. Unlike the poor form she had been using before, Xin channeled a precise stream that covered only her feet.


    Theke’s surface held firm beneath each careful step. Ripples spread from her footfalls as she ventured further from shore. Forty paces out, Xin peered into the depths. Murky green water obscured everything beyond a few feet. Deeper sections faded to absolute darkness.


    A massive shape glided through the gloom below. Xin squinted at the water. The shadow stretched across half thekebed.


    That can’t be right.


    She nced up at the cloudless sky. There weren’t any clouds, and nothing that big was flying around. It wasn’t something above casting a silhouette.


    The Dawn Serpent Collection Device shrieker rm pierced through Xin’s worried thoughts. "Not now!" She sprinted off theke and back through the forest, branches whipping past as she charged toward the sound.


    Xin reached the bronze bell just as its harvesting cycle finished. The grate retracted with a grinding screech. The serpent shot out, scales stripped away, and lunged straight at her with fangs bared.


    "Get out of my way, you stupid snake!" Xin’s frustrated scream echoed through the trees. The serpent froze mid-strike, muscles tensed. Its eyes locked with hers for a heartbeat before it twisted away and vanished into the underbrush.


    She snatched the scattered scales from the collection tray and stuffed them haphazardly into her pack. The dead spirit stone could stay where ity—finding Feng Yu took priority.


    Just as she burst through the tree line toward the water, an enormous geyser erupted from theke’s center. Steam and water rocketed skyward in a massive mushroom cloud.


    The peaceful surface shattered as something massive breached.


    A colossal white serpent emerged from the chaos. Its scales gleamed like polished pearls in the sunlight. The creature’s massive head alone was the size of a building. It released a thunderous hiss that shook leaves from nearby trees.


    A wall of water surged outward from the serpent’s emergence. Xin nted her feet and channeled qi through her meridians just before the tidal wave mmed into her with crushing force. She gritted her teeth as the water rushed past, leaving her soaked but unmoved.


    Twin explosions drew her attention upward. Fireballs bloomed against the serpent’s pearl-white scales.


    Between two massive fangs, each longer than Xin was tall, Feng Yu clung to the creature’s gums. Her red sash fluttered as she hacked at sensitive flesh with her sword, still half naked.


    "Feng Yu!" Xin shouted a third time in exasperation.