True justice cannot exist without understanding, just as strength cannot exist without purpose. Those who wield either without wisdom be ves to their own rigid beliefs.


    —Master Yan Hui, Teacher of Common Wisdom


    Xin wrapped her arms around Mei Chen’s waist and pulled her close. Frost crystallized across the garden, coating nearby nts in ice patterns. The sweet scent of peach blossoms mixed with the sharp bite of winter air.


    "It’s true. I killed them." The words fell from Xin’s lips like stones into still water.


    Ren Chun’s sword remained steady, sunlight glinting off the polished steel. "You won’t even deny it?"


    "They tortured Mei Chen." Xin tightened her grip as arctic wind whipped toward Ren Chun, carrying Mei Chen’s threatening hiss.


    "My sisters helped Madam Zhang." The memory of finding Mei Chen’s broken body shed through Xin’s mind. "They did their best to torture me."


    "Lower your de, Chun." Feng Yu approached, amber eyes alert. "This situation needs understanding, not violence."


    "Understanding?" Ren Chun scoffed. "She murdered her own family!"


    "After they tried to murder me first." Xin hugged Mei Chen’s frost-covered shoulder. "They poisoned my food. Lin Jin attacked me unprovoked in Mother’s courtyard. I defended myself, which only made them more determined."


    Cold anger crept into her voice. "Father’s corruption let Madam Zhang take Mei Chen. They murdered an official, torturing him to death. They did the same to Mei Chen. The only reason she’s here now is because of a cultivation pill’s peculiar effects. Everything spiraled beyond control."


    Frost crackled across the stone path as Mei Chen shuddered against her.


    "It’s a violent end—not ck and white." Feng Yu raised her hands. "House Chao’s army approaches. We need unity, not division. Would you doom Zhao Lian and Zhang Wei? The Chao family only wants to profit from Lin Family’s loss."


    Ren Chun’s sword wavered. "You’re defending a kinyer?"


    "I’m defending someone who protected the innocent." Steel entered Feng Yu’s tone. "Would you rather she let Mei Chen die?"


    The garden fell silent except for the soft crackle of spreading frost.


    "Even so, Mei Chen is already dead!" Ren Chun jabbed his sword toward the frost-covered garden. "How can you pretend she’s not when she’s a wrathful spirit right in front of us? She’s unnatural—or do you think this frost is normal?"


    Xin traced the crystalline patterns spreading across nearby stones. Master Qingfeng’s words echoed in her mind. "The Treasure Pavilion Master himself approved this. He helped revive her."


    Feng Yu nodded in agreement.


    "Mei Chen’s spiritual core remained intact after death." The technical details flowed easier than emotional exnations. "The meridian opening pill preserved her consciousness. She has retained her original personality and memories… just with some... adjustments."


    "He will be creating safety seal for her." Feng Yu added. "The only danger right now is you provoking her."


    Xin leaned in and whispered to Mei Chen, "It’s okay. Calm down." The frost retreated as she stroked Mei Chen’s hair. "Master Qingfeng wouldn’t have released her otherwise. He’s too cautious for that."


    Ren Chun stared at them, sword tip wavering.


    Feng Yu stepped toward Xin and Mei Chen positioning herself between them and Ren Chun. "Even if you yed Xin, it would just doom the manor. Or do you think you can actually fight Mei Chen without casualties? Did you jump to golden core and keep it hidden?"


    "No, but—"


    Feng Yu drew her saber and pointed at him. "So then your ’justice’ means everyone’s death for some misguided belief that the world is ck and white!"


    Lines creased Ren Chun’s brow as he adjusted his stance. "You might have matched me before, but you can’t challenge me now."


    "Blind justice." Feng Yu spat the words. "I despise nothing more. Such righteousness killed my mother. Fools like you who can’t see past their own rigid beliefs disgust me."


    Ren Chun retreated a step, sword tip lowering toward the frost-covered ground.


    Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.


    A sh of red caught Xin’s attention as Feng Yu pulled out a pill. The same fire pill they’d purchased from the Treasure Pavilion earlier.


    "What are you doing?" Xin watched qi ripple around the pill’s surface.


    "Not everyonecks the wit of this brainless monkey cultivator!" Feng Yu tossed the massive fire pill into her mouth and swallowed.


    "You’re insane!" Ren Chun stumbled back another step.


    Feng Yu lifted her chin. "And not everyone possesses your pathetk of talent!"


    Xin yanked Mei Chen backward as transparent mes erupted around Feng Yu. The sudden heat pressed against Xin’s skin while Feng Yu’s hair whipped upward in a violent thermal updraft.


    "You absolute idiot!" Ren Chun shouted.


    Waves of scorching qi rolled outward sh steaming the frosted garden.


    Mei Chen buzzed with supernatural energy in Xin’s arms. A translucent blue shield materialized before them, deflecting the intense waves of heat.


    Ren Chun lifted his arm to shield his face. His sleeve smoldered at the edges as nearby nts withered and browned. The sweet scent of icy peach blossoms transformed into acrid smoke.


    The air crackled with a series of thunderous pops. Qi vibrations pulsed through Xin’s meridians like ripples in a pond. She’s opening her meridians just like that?


    The mes surrounding Feng Yu contracted inward,pressing into her body. She nted her feet wider and raised her sword despite her heavy breathing.


    Xin’s eyes widened as she sensed the change in Feng Yu’s qi signature. The energy settled into an organized thrum—she had advanced from body refinement to qi gathering in an instant. She had already cleared the body refining steps before they met?


    Ren Chun stared at Feng Yu, his sword forgotten at his side.


    Heat rippled through the garden as Feng Yu advanced on Ren Chun. "Want to test your strength against mine now?"


    Ren Chun turned away. "I wouldn’t have attacked, regardless. I promised Lady Lian." He lowered his de. "I just needed to seek understanding."


    "Well, you freaked Mei Chen out, idiot," Xin muttered.


    A sharp crack split the air as Feng Yu swung her saber. Heat waves distorted the space around her, each exhale releasing shimmering ripples of superheated qi. "A sword drawn should never be sheathed without drawing blood."


    "Ha..." Ren Chun lifted his de. The steel shed as he drew it across his forearm. Blood welled from the shallow cut before he wiped the de clean and sheathed it.


    "That doesn’t mean cut yourself, idiot." Xin rolled her eyes at his literal interpretation.


    Mei Chen buzzed with supernatural energy. "I think he’s supposed to be a friend, but I don’t like him. He threatened Xin for nothing!"


    The heat surrounding Feng Yu subsided as she put away her weapon and moved to pat Mei Chen’s shoulder. "I agree." She looked at Xin with a frown. "Though I’m shocked that arrogant young master you sted identally found the real culprit."


    Xin couldn’t prevent a wince. "The bounty is presumably still active. This knowledge bingmon would be... problematic. I need those same hunters working for me, not against us."


    "This really isn’t an honorable battle..." Ren Chun shook his head.


    "Are you still going on about that?" Feng Yu’s qi red hot enough to singe the grass beneath her feet.


    Mei Chen squeaked and bounced. "Too hot! Too hot!" She patted frantically at Feng Yu’s arms, leaving trails of frost across the fabric. Steam rose where ice met residual heat.


    Feng Yu drew a deep breath and the scorching qi subsided. She reached out to ruffle Mei Chen’s hair. "Better?"


    Ren Chun nted his feet. "I’ll stay and lead the manor’s defense." His gaze locked onto Xin. "Even if Fairy Feng ignores it, even if you had your reasons, even if I look past it—nothing will wash away the karma of killing your father and sisters."


    The words struck deep, but Xin kept her expression neutral. Before she could respond, her mother emerged from behind a row of scorched bushes, followed by panicked servants who scattered to stomp out smoldering patches of grass.


    Zhao Lian clutched an ornatecquered box to her chest. "What happened here?"


    "Ren Chun threatened Xin!"


    "I was seeking answers—"


    "I was putting an idiot in his—"


    "Mother, I can exin—"


    The ovepping voices echoed across the garden. Lian blinked at the cacophony. "Nevermind." She stepped toward Xin. The box’s gold iy caught the sunlight as she lifted the lid, revealing a jade seal nestled on white silk. A bronze gilded scroll was nestled beside it.


    "Do what needs to be done." Mother closed the box with a soft click.


    Mei Chen darted forward to ept the container, then extended it toward Xin with both hands.


    "You can hold it for me, Mei Chen."


    Mei Chen hugged the box close. A pleased hum vibrated through the air.


    Zhao Lian’s gaze drifted from the scorched grass, and then to the main pavilion. "Focus on your cultivation, Xin. Your future lies there now." Pain threaded through her words. "Despite my best efforts... your brother does not forgive easily."