Xin adjusted the straps of her travel pack as dawn painted the eastern sky in shades of amber and rose. The cobblestones of ckmere’s main street opened wide for their small group. Mei Chen walked close beside her, while Feng Yu and Ren Chun bickered about optimal travel formations a few paces ahead.


    "We should maintain a diamond pattern," Ren Chun insisted, sketching shapes in the air. "Maximum coverage for detecting threats."


    "A linear formation provides better mobility and speed." Feng Yu pointed toward the distant mountains.


    Xin breathed in the crisp morning air, savoring the familiar scents of fresh bread from nearby bakeries. Their departure drew curious onlookers—merchants setting up stalls paused their work to watch, while early risers whispered behind raised hands.


    "Xin." Mei Chen tugged at her sleeve, pointing toward a shadowy alley. "Someone watches."


    The group paused.


    Ming Lihua emerged from the darkness, carrying a small wooden box. "A parting gift." She pressed the container into Xin’s hands. "Extra talismans for emergencies."


    Xin stowed the box in her pack. "Thank you, Ming. I hope we see you again."


    Ming nodded then slipped a small golden ne out of her robe and offered it to Mei Chen. "This is from Master Qingfeng. He said to tell you this one is removable… by anyone."


    Mei Chen epted it with a nod then slid it around her neck. There was a small wash of cool air that disappeared after a second… and that was all. "Thank you, tell Master Qingfeng I appreciate his help."


    Ming nodded.


    Xin thanked her again and then the group was on its way again. The extra weight in her pack didn’t settle her nerves. If anything the box made her more anxious. If the talismans were a gift… they would probably need them. The journey to Aeris would be another test.


    "If you two are done arguing about formations," Xin said, "we should reach the foothill path before the merchants’ caravans clog the roads."


    Feng Yu and Ren Chun fell silent, falling into step beside her as they approached the city gates. The guards snapped to attention, pulling the heavy doors wide.


    Xin led them out of ckmere’s gates and onto the packed dirt road. The morning carts were already lurching to a start to enter the city and deliver the precious rebuilding supplies.


    The morning dew dampened their boots as they walked through patches of long grass beside the path. The merchants’ carts rattled past.


    Once they were out of the rush, Ren Chun walked ahead, scanning the treeline. Feng Yu kept pace behind him while maintaining a careful distance.


    Mei Chen sniffed the air and nced over her shoulder. "Three merchants following us. They smell of silk and tea leaves."


    "Just traders headed to the mountain markets." Xin adjusted her pack straps. The familiar weight of Severing Light pressed against her shoulder, its presence reassuring as they left the city’s protection behind.


    The sun climbed higher as they walked, burning away the morning mist. After a few hours Xin pulled out her water skin, taking a measured sip before passing it to Mei Chen.


    She breathed in the fresh mountain air as their group followed the well-worn path skirting the foothills. Wildflowers dotted the grasnds in sshes of purple and gold, their petals dancing in the gentle breeze.


    "These mountain lilies smell like peaches." Mei Chen crouched beside a patch of pink blooms.


    "Those are clearly dawn roses." Feng Yu crossed her arms. "The petal structure ispletely different."


    "I can smell better than you." Mei Chen stood, pointing at the flowers. "Mountain lilies have a sweet scent like Xin. Dawn roses smell like morning dew." Mei Chen nced at Feng Yu. "If you like her, you should at least know what she smells like!"


    Xin blinked. What?


    Feng Yu’s cheeks heated up and hurried down the path.


    Did Mei Chen just rout Feng Yu?


    They had been encouraging her to speak up but… Seeing their fierypanion run away with red cheeks wasn’t a normal oue.


    Ren Chun looked just as perplexed as Xin felt as Feng Yu marched past him and to the front of the line.


    Mei Chen let out a pleased sound and then came over to im an arm.


    Xin raised an eyebrow. "Hello?"


    Mei Chen smiled. "Miss! Today’s really nice."


    "Did you absorb some cat qi or something?" Xin chuckled.


    Mei Chen tilted her head. "I’m still mostly yin and water!"


    "That’s not—" Xin shook her head. "Nevermind. Yes it’s a nice day."


    They continued on. The road avoided going up into the mountains prefering to stay at the foot and wind around them. They didn’t take a break at noon to eat—none of them needed it.


    Later that afternoon, they came upon a merchant’s wagon, its wheel trapped in a deep rut. The scene triggered a memory for Xin—mud sucking at her boots as she helped free a simr cart from ckmere’s notorious swamp roads. Ren Chun had watched from the sidelines then.


    Now he sprinted toward the stuck wagon without hesitation. "We need to lift while turning the wheel!" He positioned himself exactly as Xin had done, utilizing the most basic Horse stance taught by Master Qingfeng.


    The wagon rolled free, its merchant bowing repeatedly in thanks.


    Maybe Ren Chun was capable of learning after all?


    They reached a roadside tea house as the sun reached the horizon. The wooden structure offered wee shelter, and the scent of steamed buns wafted through its open windows. Inside, worn tables hosted travelers sharing tales over steaming cups of jasmine tea.


    "The soup smells wonderful." Mei Chen inhaled deeply as they settled at a corner table.


    "Everything smells wonderful to youtely." Feng Yu smiled, picking up the menu.


    Mei Chen hummed in response.


    After ordering, a server ced steaming bowls of fragrant noodles before them.


    "Did you hear about the Fang family’s cattle?" A merchant at the next table spoke between slurps of soup. "Found nothing but bones, picked clean."


    Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any urrences.


    Xin paused with her chopsticks halfway to her mouth.


    "That’s nothing," another merchant added. "Three hunters vanished near White Pine Valley. Their camp looked like something massive tore through it."


    "The trees too." The first merchant leaned forward. "Whole trunks split open, like something wed right through them."


    Xin pulled the bounty scroll from her pack, spreading it carefully on the table between their bowls.


    "Missing people." Xin tapped the scroll. "Destroyed property."


    "Just like Master Qingfeng’s mission parameters." Feng Yu spoke quietly.


    Mei Chen nodded nervously.


    The next two days brought an eerie silence to the mountain paths. Xin watched travelers hurry past with downcast eyes, their steps quick and nervous. No one stopped to trade news or share meals. Each day felt like they were growing closer to the source of the rumors… and their target.


    Each crackle of branches in the forest made Ren Chun’s hand drift to his sword. Feng Yu maintained a constant me ready in her palm, while Mei Chen sniffed the air so frequently she reminded Xin of a nervous rabbit.


    The third day’s sunset painted the sky blood-red. Xin adjusted Severing Light across her back as they rounded another bend in the road.


    Mei Chen stopped abruptly. "Something pulses beneath the earth." She pointed into the darkening forest. "The qi feels wrong—twisted and angry."


    Xin studied the dense undergrowth. Master Qingfeng knew Mei Chen would sense it. That’s why he gave us this mission. We’d have run into it anyway.


    "Perhaps you should stay here." Feng Yu stepped closer to Mei Chen. "Your spiritual form might be vulnerable to it."


    "No." Mei Chen squared her shoulders. "Master Qingfeng wanted me to see this. To understand what happens when wrathful spirits lose control." She touched the safety seal at her neck. "I need to witness it."


    "We’ll protect you." Ren Chun moved to nk Mei Chen’s other side. "All of us."


    Xin drew Severing Light and took point. Behind her, Feng Yu summoned a brilliant orb of me that cast dancing shadows through the trees. They left the road behind, venturing into the darkening forest where ancient pines creaked in thete evening wind.


    The twisted qi signature pulsed stronger as they pushed deeper into the forest. Xin stepped over fallen logs covered in phosphorescent fungi that cast an eerie blue glow across the forest floor. Broken branches and deep gouges in tree trunks marked their quarry’s path of destruction.


    "The scent grows stronger." Mei Chen pointed northeast. "Like rotting meat mixed with lightning."


    Xin ducked under a low-hanging branch. "At least it’s not trying to hide."


    The trail led them to a rocky outcropping where the mountain’s granite bones thrust through the soil. Deep w marks scored the stone, leading upward toward—


    "Of course it’s a cave." Xin sighed heavily. "Because apparently every monster thinks caves make the perfect evilir."


    Feng Yu’s me orb illuminated the jagged entrance. "Perhaps they enjoy the dramatic atmosphere."


    "Or the excellent acoustics for terrifying screams." Xin pulled out a talisman. "Mei Chen, can you sense how deep it goes?"


    "Two chambers connected by long narrow paths." Mei Chen closed her eyes. "The qi concentrates in the furthest one."


    Ren Chun unsheathed his sword. "We should establish a formation before entering."


    Xin lowered Severing Light, studying the cave entrance. "I’ve only been the center position in formations before."


    "I haven’t participated in any." Mei Chen fidgeted with her safety seal.


    Feng Yu traced a glowing pattern in the air. "Standard formation arrays channel and amplify qi through elemental resonance. Each position feeds energy to strengthen the whole."


    "The elements flow in a specific order." Ren Chun drew a circle in the dirt. "Wood feeds fire. Fire creates earth. Earth produces metal. Metal enriches water. Water nourishes wood."


    "Like the cycle of seasons." Feng Yu pointed to each position. "My fire techniques would strengthen Ren Chun’s earth abilities."


    Xin watched Mei Chen study the diagram intently. The ghostly cultivator tilted her head, processing the information.


    "But what about opposing elements?" Mei Chen crouched beside the dirt drawing. "Water extinguishes fire."


    "Exactly." Ren Chun nodded. "Incorrect positioning creates destructive interference. The formation copses."


    "With our abilities..." Feng Yu traced new connections. "Imand fire. Ren Chun wields earth and water. Mei Chen focuses on water. Xin can channel all five."


    "And the multiplier effect?" Mei Chen sniffed at the glowing patterns.


    "A properly aligned four-person array amplifies the anchor’s power sixfold." Feng Yu sketched additional symbols. "With our elemental spread, we could achieve significant resonance."


    Xin studied the formation etched in the dirt. The interconnected lines of qi flow reminded her of a circuit diagram. "I’ll take wood position. It’s the only configuration that maintains bnce." She pointed to the center. "Ren Chun will need to anchor."


    Mei Chen bounced on her toes, pointing at each person in turn. "Water for me." Her finger moved to Xin. "Wood." To Feng Yu. "Fire." Finally to Ren Chun. "Earth."


    "Exactly." Feng Yu traced the connections in glowing qi. "A full circle would provide more power, but weck a fifth member."


    Ren Chun nodded. "The terminated formation limits us to earth-based techniques. A circle would allow us to pass control between members."


    "True." Feng Yu drew additional symbols. "That level of coordination requires extensive training together, though. Most teams spend years perfecting the transitions."


    Xin shifted her grip on Severing Light. "If they counter Ren Chun’s earth with wood techniques, we’ll need to break formation."


    "Then we pivot to support my fire." Feng Yu nodded decisively. "Ren Chun and Mei Chen canbine water to boost your wood output. That feeds my mes—"


    "And burns through their defenses." Ren Chun stood, brushing dirt from his knees. "Good n."


    Xin shifted her weight, gripping Severing Light tighter. "I should mention—I haven’t practiced much with elemental qi. My wood element will be particrly weak."


    Feng Yu shook her head. "Your contribution matters less than maintaining the flow."


    Xin nodded, but doubt gnawed. Despite her bnce, she’d focused primarily on working with yin and yang and just… pure output through her meridians.


    "Can you show me how it works?" Mei Chen asked.


    Feng Yu and Ren Chun nodded.


    "We’ll make a two person array," Feng Yu said. Golden threads of qi stretched out of her palm toward Ren Chun who caught it in his own hand. "Channel your energy like this."


    Mei Chen copied the movements perfectly. A cool stream of water-aspected qi flowed from her right toward—


    Xin caught it with a sharp intake of breath. The qi formed a connection and she threaded it into her qi flow like an iv needle. "Hey, be careful! I wasn’t expecting that.


    Mei Chen grinned sheepishly. "Then you’d have gotten wet."


    Oh, heaven’s above, she’d encouraged this! Not that Mei Chen’s shifting behavior was bad… Xin nced at Feng Yu and Ren Chun and narrowed her eyes. Both of them blinked at her in confusion.


    She didn’t need them to encouarge certain heroic traits while Mei Chen was finding her new footing.


    Xin turned her focus to the energy, pulling together trembling strands of wood qi andbining them with the water essence before passing the flow towards Feng Yu. The transfer felt clumsy, like trying to pour water through a sieve.


    Feng Yu epted the energy smoothly, transforming it into brilliant ribbons of fire qi that streamed effortlessly to Ren Chun. The formation pulsed and the thrum of earth qi in the air intensified dramatically.


    The cave let out an angry rush of cool air.


    Ah, yes, the wrathful spirit sensed they were right outside…


    Four littlembs to the ughter.


    "Let’s deal with this thing and then get out of here," Xin said.


    The others nodded and they formed a tight circle, weapons ready.