In the game of power, masters move pieces with deliberate grace, each gesture carrying weight beyond mortalprehension. The young often mistake their calcted movements for mere chance, failing to see the intricate web being woven around them. Remember: when ancient powers take notice, it is rarely by ident.


    — Master Wu Zhi, Commander of Ten Thousand


    Polished marble floors lined the Treasure Pavilion’s prison hallway. It was distinctly at odds with the states of the cells lining the walls, which were rough stone and filthy.


    Xin bristled at the rough treatment. She could walk on her own. There was no need toy hands on her! "Release me at once! I am Lin Xin, sister to Lord Lin of ckmere County!"


    The guards maintained their iron grip on her arms, their qi-enhanced strength making resistance futile. Their cultivation levels had to be at least Qi Refinement, possibly even Foundation Forming, based on how easily they overpowered her.


    "Silence," the left guard barked. "Or face additional punishment."


    Xin huffed indignantly as they dragged her past rows of cells. Unwashed prisoners pressed against the bars, their faces twisted with malicious glee.


    "Look who got caught cheating the Treasure Pavilion!" A scarred man cackled. "Hope you enjoy the ve mines, pretty girl. That’s where they send all the scammers!"


    "Better get used to breaking rocks!" Another prisoner shouted.


    She was relieved when the guards shoved her into an individual cell. But the heckling didn’t stop. The assholes in the mass lockup kept going on and on.


    Xin spotted a small pebble near her foot. In one fluid motion, she scooped it up and flicked it with her thumb. The stone ricocheted off the cell bars, bouncing between prisoners who yelped in pain.


    "You little—" A cultivator in tattered robes hurled a handful of stones back at her, the stones bouncing off walls and into her cell.


    More prisoners joined in. Small rocks pelted her from multiple directions. She gritted her teeth as the impacts stung against her skin.


    "ENOUGH!" A guard’s voice thundered through the hall. He stormed down the corridor, mming metal shutters closed on each cell. The solid panels nged shut, cutting off the jeers and taunts.


    Along with the light.


    Darkness enveloped Xin as her own cell’s shutter mmed closed. She slid down the wall and pulled her knees to her chest. Cultivator prison. This is just perfect.


    The shocked expression on Feng Yu’s face shed through her mind. What happens now?


    The darkness pressed against Xin’s eyes as minutes stretched into hours. She traced patterns on the cold stone floor, counting breaths until the numbers blurred together. Eventually, the metal shutter’s screech jolted her from a half-doze.


    Light flooded the cell. Xin blinked rapidly, her heart hammering as Feng Yu’s silhouette materialized beyond the bars. They couldn’t have arrested her too...


    "Come on." Feng Yu tapped her foot against the polished floor. "Or did you grow to like it in here?"


    Relief surged through Xin’s chest. She sprang up and rushed forward as the cell door creaked open, barely stopping herself from throwing her arms around Feng Yu. Right. Noble decorum.


    Her friend released a weakugh as the guard sealed the cell behind them. The shuttered cells lining their path remained silent and dark.


    "Did you get awyer?" Xin whispered as they followed the guard down the corridor.


    Feng Yu’s eyebrow arched. "Awyer? For what? Even with your contract, we couldn’t afford one." She snorted. "What is this, the Golden Court settling sect disputes?"


    "Then... how did I get out?"


    Feng Yu lifted a bronze-gilded container, spiritual ss gleaming in the torchlight. The contract floated inside, pristine and official. "This, obviously. I protested to the pavilion master."


    Xin blinked at the contract. "Oh."


    The guards escorted them through winding corridors of polished stone and gleaming bronze fixtures. Feng Yu stayed close. "The pavilion master wants to speak with you directly."


    The qi density increased with each step upward, pressing against Xin’s skin like thick honey. When they reached an ornate door decorated with spirit beast carvings, the pressure doubled. The guards ushered them inside before pulling the doors shut with a resonant boom.


    An elderly man stepped out from behind a carved screen. His white beard was impably groomed, his robes pristine and flowing with spiritual energy. The qi radiating from him struck Xin like a physical force—Golden Core, at minimum.


    "This novice greets the honorable spiritual master of the treasure pavilion!" Xin and Feng Yu saluted in perfect unison.


    The pavilion master waved off their formality and gestured to two embroidered cushions beside a low table. "Sit. Take tea while we discuss matters."


    Sweet aromatics wafted up as he poured the tea for them with practiced motions. The scent reminded Xin of heaven grass tea, but the taste was slightly sweeter. Her shoulders rxed slightly as he served them personally—a promising sign.


    "You caused quite amotion in my hall today, did you not?" The master fixed his gaze on Xin.


    "Uhh... Master, I did not intend—"


    He sighed and shook his head. "Your friend exined the situation."


    The master’s hands moved with deliberate grace as he continued serving the tea. "My disciple’sck of judgment and training has damaged our pavilion’s reputation. She even ensured we could not correct the transaction without losing even more face."


    He withdrew a roll of parchment from his sleeve and slid it across thecquered table. "The spirit stones would prove impossible to transport. This promissory note, redeemable at any treasure pavilion, will serve instead."


    The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.


    Xin epted the roll with both hands, bowing deeply from her seated position. The paper crinkled softly between her fingers. She unfolded it slightly to read the amount.


    Her heart skipped a beat.


    Ny-six stones for the roots and flowers. Nine thousand four hundred fifty-one scales in her pack turned into an additional ny-five spirit stones.


    And the bell…


    Six hundred thirty-six thousand one hundred seventy-two scales turned into six thousand three hundred sixty-two spirit stones.


    The note promised six thousand five hundred fifty-three stones.


    It was… outrageous.


    No wonder Yu Pei had panicked. They were probably torturing her or trying to figure out how to sell her soul to recoup the damage.


    Xin lifted her head. "This humble one thanks the honorable master for upholding the treasure pavilion’s reputation. Despite today’s... misunderstanding, I will speak nothing but praise for the pavilion’s fair dealings."


    A rich chuckle rumbled from the master’s chest. "I should hope so." He lifted his teacup, steam curling around his weathered features. "Especially given your connection to Master Qingfeng—or so yourpanion mentioned."


    Ice shot through Xin’s veins. Her gaze snapped to Feng Yu, who sat cross-legged on her cushion, sipping tea with perfect poise. Suddenly, it made a little more sense why they weren’t putting more effort into finding a way to remove her life so they could take back the deal somehow.


    "I needed to resolve things quickly." Feng Yu shrugged, setting down her cup with a soft clink. "The connection seemed relevant."


    Xin drew a steadying breath. "Yes, I work under Master Qingfeng’s guidance. The dawn serpent scales were collected as part of our agreement."


    "Fascinating." The master stroked his beard, spiritual energy rippling through the silvery strands. "Dawn serpent scales have limited applications. Though they would create exceptional spiritual armor." His eyes glinted over his teacup. "Perhaps Master Qingfeng has taken up alchemy in his spare time?"


    Sweat trickled down Xin’s spine, her robes sticking ufortably to her skin. She bowed again, deeper this time. "I couldn’t possiblyment on the master’s personal pursuits without his presence."


    "Oh ho!" The master’sugh boomed through the chamber. "So the prospective disciple who drives such lopsided bargains with her peers shows proper respect for her teacher."


    Heat rushed to Xin’s cheeks as she stared into her teacup. "The deal might have been... somewhat one-sided. I might have reacted badly to—"


    "No need to continue." The pavilion master lifted his hand. "The Treasure Pavilion records all negotiations. I reviewed your interaction personally." He took another sip of tea, the steam curling around his face. "Yu Pei’s initial haggling created little harmony. She provoked the bear, as they say."


    Xin’s shoulders slumped, tension draining from her shoulders. "Haa... Master has seen through everything."


    The pavilion master reached into his flowing robes and withdrew a smallcquered box. The wood gleamed with spiritual inscriptions as he slid it across the table toward Feng Yu.


    "Master?" Feng Yu blinked at the box, her teacup frozen halfway to her lips.


    "I must reward you as well." The master’s eyes crinkled with amusement as spiritual energy danced across the box’s surface.


    The pavilion master turned to Xin. "Yourpanion proved quite loyal. She demanded an immediate audience despite risking her own freedom." His gaze shifted to Feng Yu, eyes twinkling. "And despite risking some other... matters as well?"


    Feng Yu shifted on her cushion, the embroidered silk rustling beneath her. "This humble one merely acted as duty required." She bowed low, forehead nearly touching thecquered table.


    A deep chuckle rumbled from the master’s chest as he gestured to the box.


    Feng Yu’s fingers trembled slightly while lifting the lid. Inside, a luminescent orb cast rainbow-hued light across her face. The qi emanating from it tickled Xin’s senses—pure, untamed power.


    "A prismatic beast’s essence." The master’s words carried the weight of mountains. "Since I cannot divine your elemental preference, you may choose whichever suits you."


    Blood drained from Feng Yu’s face, leaving herplexion ashen. Her hands froze on the box’s edges.


    "It will certainly prove useful for you." The master stroked his beard. "Considering...?"


    "Master, this—this is too generous." Feng Yu’s bow deepened further, her voice barely above a whisper.


    "If you believe so..." The master’s eyes sparkled with hidden knowledge. "Then it must be an appropriate reward indeed."


    Feng Yu’s shoulders tensed before rxing. She straightened, clutching the box close. "This disciple humbly epts master’s profound generosity."


    Feng Yu snapped thecquered box shut. Spiritual inscriptions pulsed across its surface, sealing the precious contents from degradation. The abrupt absence of the essence’s power left an emptiness in the air.


    Questions bubbled in Xin’s mind as she studied Feng Yu’s careful movements. Why would someone at Feng Yu’s level need such a specific cultivation tool? Unless...


    Understanding struck like lightning. The massive ancient serpent’s peculiar behavior—turning away, focusing destruction on the mountaintops instead of them—suddenly made perfect sense.


    Xin kept her face carefully neutral. Good job, Feng Yu! Good Job!


    Master Yan cleared his throat, drawing Xin’s attention back to his weathered features. "Please inform Master Qingfeng that Yan Qingshi remembers him. Some of us would wee his return to active circles."


    The master’s prating gaze fixed on Xin. "Perhaps he might share what promising young blood he discovered during his... istion."


    A lump formed in Xin’s throat as the implications sank in. "This novice will convey your message faithfully." Her stomach churned with sudden anxiety. Master Yan’s meaning couldn’t be clearer—and the weight of such attention sent chills down her spine.


    Not great! Wasn’t she supposed to be trying to keep a low profile?


    She nced at Feng Yu. There was nothing subtle about her new martial sister.


    A memory of Ren Chun raising his sword and shouting ’Justice!’ shed.


    Okay, maybe that hadn’t been realistic. Her own actions hadn’t been on the down-low either.


    They needed to get back to ckmere, and she needed to check on her family and Mei Chen. They’d been gone too long.


    Xin set down her teacup and bowed deeply. "Honorable Master Yan, please forgive my rudeness, but I’ve lost track of time in your esteemed presence. Would the Treasure Pavilion still be open for purchases? I need thunder root and several other materials."


    "Oho. I believe Thunder Root should be in our stores. It’s valuable enough." The spiritual energy in the room pulsed with his interest. "So I was correct about the alchemy, hmm?"


    Heat crept up Xin’s neck. Sweat beaded along her hairline as she stared at the intricate patterns woven into the cushion beneath her. Smooth. Real smooth.


    "Do not worry." He gestured toward the window. "Unlike sleepy ckmere,merce flows eternal in Fershere. Our Treasure Pavilion never rests—day or night. You’ll be able toplete your purchases before departing."


    "This humble one thanks Master Yan for his generosity." Xin smiled and bowed again, relief flooding through her chest.


    Luck was on her side… going from jail to everything going right for once! Now that she had plenty of funds, what could go wrong?