《This Girl Prefers Demonic Cultivation》 Chapter 1 – Bread and Bounties Chapter 1 ¨C Bread and Bounties Stale air and mold permeated Lin Yue¡¯s cramped sleeping cube. The first rays of dawn filtered through cracks in the wooden walls, illuminating straw scattered across the dirt floor. A half-eaten piece of bread on Xue¡¯s side caught her attention. Lin Yue snatched the bread and shoved it into her mouth. The dry crust scratched her throat as she swallowed. Xue stirred on her mat. ¡°Hey! That¡¯s mine¡ª¡± Lin Yue pressed her palm against Xue¡¯s face, holding her back while licking crumbs off her fingers. ¡°You lost your chance. Everyone knows not to leave food lying around.¡± ¡°But I had an upset stomach last night!¡± Xue whimpered, staring at the scattered crumbs. ¡°Oh, poor baby. Should I call a doctor? Maybe alert the Imperial Court about this tragedy?¡± Lin Yue grabbed her knife from under her thin sleeping mat and slipped it on the band under her shirt. Her mark bag followed going on the opposite side. ¡°Remember, you¡¯re short three taels. Sheng won¡¯t be gentle about collecting.¡± Xue hugged herself tight, shoulders trembling. ¡°I-I¡¯ll do better.¡± Lin Yue stepped into the gang¡¯s main den. The room stank of unwashed bodies and cheap wine. Older gang members tracked her movement with hungry stares but kept their distance. The younger ones scowled, sporting fresh bruises and cuts from past ¡°lessons.¡± She positioned herself by the door, waiting for Xue. She studied the sea of unwashed masses shuffling through Big City¡¯s streets. The stench reminded her of the time Bobby Henderson puked in the school cafeteria¡ªexcept this whole city reeked worse than a thousand Bobbys. Stupid truck. Couldn¡¯t wait five seconds while I mocked Jessica¡¯s dance moves? The memory of screeching tires and homecoming decorations blurred into the sight of her mutilated left hand. Nine years stuck in this hellhole, and the best she got was working for the Tiger Gang in a city so massive and isolated that peasants died of old age without ever seeing its borders. Only the cultivators, floating above the streets like they owned the place, ever managed to venture beyond. At least, not without becoming a farmer, which was a fifty-fifty shot at death or a year¡¯s paycheck. Enough took that gamble that the rest didn¡¯t have to, but it left the city in a perpetual state of starvation. A shuffle of footsteps drew her attention. Xue stumbled out, fumbling with her mark bag¡¯s strings. The knots were all wrong¡ªamateur hour. ¡°Here.¡± Lin Yue grabbed the bag, her fingers working the cords into proper knots. ¡°Watch carefully. Next time you might not have someone to fix your mistakes.¡± She raised her left hand, wiggling the stumps where her pinky and ring finger used to be. ¡°You might lose your fingers if you screw up. Don¡¯t lose that bag.¡± Xue¡¯s face drained of color. She clutched the properly secured bag against her chest and nodded rapidly. ¡°Not like that.¡± Lin Yue rolled her eyes and lifted up the girl¡¯s shirt and secured it around her waist properly. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Lin Yue stepped into the crowded street, shoving past the press of bodies. The market¡¯s cacophony assaulted Lin Yue¡¯s senses¡ªhundreds of voices haggling over prices, the sizzle of street food, and the endless crush of bodies. She weaved through the crowd, scanning for potential marks while keeping Xue close. A fruit vendor¡¯s cart sat unattended while its owner argued with a customer. Lin Yue snatched two apples in a fluid motion, concealing them in her sleeves. She pressed one into Xue¡¯s hands once they were far enough away without breaking stride. ¡°Eat fast.¡± Lin Yue bit into her apple, savoring the tart sweetness. Two merchants ahead drew her attention¡ªone red-faced and shouting about silk prices while the other gestured wildly with ink-stained fingers. Perfect. Lin Yue brushed past them, her fingers finding and liberating a heavy purse in one practiced movement. ¡°This way.¡± She pulled Xue into a narrow alley between two shops. The smell of rotting vegetables and urine made her wrinkle her nose. She upended the purse into her palm. Copper coins clinked together¡ªno silver or gold in sight. ¡°Damn waste of time.¡± Lin Yue divided the copper pieces, dropping half into Xue¡¯s mark bag. ¡°Tuck it under your clothes properly this time. If someone sees it, they¡¯ll take it¡ªand maybe your life too.¡± Xue hurried to follow the orders as Lin Yue stepped out of the alley back into the morning sun. A gaudy brothel sprawled across the street, its red lanterns still lit despite the daylight. Painted women lounged in the windows, beckoning to passersby. ¡°See that place?¡± Lin Yue pointed at the brothel. ¡°If Sheng kicks you out, that¡¯s your future. Keep that in mind.¡± Xue shuffled closer as they walked toward District #11-23¡¯s central tax square. The chaos of the market faded behind them, replaced by an open plaza filled with better-dressed citizens. Imperial soldiers stood rigid at the pavilion walls, their polished armor gleaming. Lin Yue strode toward the massive notice board, ignoring the sideways glances from the merchants and officials who clearly thought street rats didn¡¯t belong. ¡°Why are we here?¡± Xue whispered, practically glued to Lin Yue¡¯s side. ¡°New bounties today.¡± Lin Yue scanned the fresh papers pinned to the board. ¡°But what could we do about bounties?¡± Lin Yue traced her finger along the reward amounts. ¡°They pay in gold, and they still give half if the target¡¯s dead. Could be our ticket out of this dump.¡± Not that I¡¯ve ever managed to catch one. Lin Yue studied the faces drawn on the wanted posters. The professional bounty hunters always got there first. But luck played a role, didn¡¯t it? After all, she¡¯d already died once and woken up here. Actually that might be the opposite of luck... She committed the last bounty poster to memory and grabbed Xue¡¯s arm. Too many suspicious glances from the well-dressed merchants. Time to move. The food market sprawled ahead, packed with bodies pressing against each other. A shimmering portal stretched across the square like a tear in reality. Supply carts rattled through the dimensional rift, loaded with fresh produce from the Wild Lands. The scent of grass and earth wafted through¡ªso different from the city¡¯s perpetual stench. Lin Yue spotted at least fifty Imperial Guards in polished armor surrounding the portal. Their hands rested on sword hilts as they watched the crowds. Too risky for pickpocketing with that much heat. Through the portal¡¯s shimmer, endless green fields stretched toward the horizon. The sight tugged at something in Lin Yue¡¯s chest¡ªa false promise of freedom. She knew better. Cultivators had enchanted those fields for rapid growth, but demons and beasts prowled beyond the farmland. She¡¯d seen enough mangled bodies of would-be escapees to know better. They always fled back to the city and then were chopped up and thrown back to prevent any chance of whatever got them spreading in the city. Most of the time it worked. Half the farmers never come back. Lin Yue watched another cart roll through, piled high with vegetables. The city¡¯s endless hunger demanded sacrifices. Cobblestones stretched forever in every direction, a maze of poverty and desperation that trapped millions. ¡°This way.¡± Lin Yue tugged Xue down a quieter side street. The press of bodies thinned as they left the market behind. She guided them through narrowing streets as the crowd thinned. The stench of sewage and rotting garbage intensified as they entered 11-23¡¯s Rat Square¡ªa dingy courtyard where desperate souls gathered for cheap meals.The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement. Two copper pieces clinked against the vendor¡¯s palm. He handed over a skewer of grilled meat, the flesh still sizzling. Lin Yue passed it to Xue, who tore into it with desperate bites. Better not tell her that it lives up to its name¡­ They settled on a broken crate. Lin Yue tilted her head back, staring at the sliver of gray sky visible between the towering tenements. Another day of this endless bullshit. The same routine, different marks, never enough coin. She exhaled slowly. A commotion drew her attention. A man stepped into the square clutching a leather-bound book. His robes hung in tatters, but something about his stance seemed off. ¡°Come, children of the Endless City!¡± He raised the book overhead. Lin Yue stood, ready to drag Xue away from another deranged cultist. But Xue yanked free, stumbling toward the gathering crowd. Every person in the square moved forward in unison, their eyes glazed. ¡°Give me your souls! Grant me your power!¡± The man¡¯s words echoed unnaturally. Ice spread through Lin Yue¡¯s veins. A demonic cultivator? Here? She blinked hard, studying his features. Recognition hit like a punch to the gut. That face¡ªshe¡¯d seen it less than an hour ago on the bounty board. The square remained deserted except for the entranced crowd. No guards patrolled the depths of poverty. No bounty hunters ventured this far into the slums unless they already knew where their target was. ¡°Xue!¡± Lin Yue grabbed for her companion¡¯s arm, but Xue shrugged her off. The young girl pressed forward, silent and blank-faced. Lin Yue wrapped her arms around Xue¡¯s waist and hoisted her up. The girl didn¡¯t struggle or make a sound. What the fuck kind of magic is this? Every instinct screamed to run. Lin Yue¡¯s muscles tensed, ready to bolt with Xue in her arms. They needed to escape. Now. She sprinted toward the edge of the square. An invisible wall slammed against her palm. The barrier rippled with transparent energy, absorbing each desperate punch she threw at it. Lin Yue spun around. ¡°Fuck!¡± A line formed in front of the cultivator. Each victim stepped forward with blank expressions, accepting death like sheep to slaughter. The cultivator thrust his blade through their hearts like it was the simple action of an industrial butchering line. Bodies crumbled to ash, scattering in the stale breeze. After each kill, the madman threw back his head and released guttural moans of pleasure. Lin Yue¡¯s stomach churned. She¡¯d seen plenty of sick bastards in the gang¡ªrapists, murderers, pedophiles who preyed on street kids. But this? This was beyond the pale. Xue¡¯s body tensed, trying to pull away toward the death line. Lin Yue yanked her toward a wooden support post at the square¡¯s edge. She ripped Xue¡¯s threadbare shirt off and bound her tight against the weathered wood. The knots wouldn¡¯t hold forever, but they¡¯d buy time. No exits. No escape routes. Just a bounty target drunk on power and souls. Lin Yue touched the knife hidden beneath her shirt. The familiar wooden handle pressed against her palm. She stepped toward the square¡¯s center, measuring each footfall against the cultivator¡¯s rhythmic killing. The bastard threw back his head in ecstasy. Perfect timing. She darted forward. The knife¡ªa piece of iron she¡¯d sharpened for hours against stone¡ªslipped under his armpit and into his chest. Blood spurted as she yanked the blade free. The cultivator started to turn. Lin Yue slashed across his neck in one fluid motion, opening his throat. He completed his spin to face her. Blood stained his tattered robes, spreading in a dark circle from the chest wound. ¡°You stabbed me.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Yue kept her distance, knife ready. He stumbled forward, coughing a spray of red droplets. Some cultivator. He bleeds like anyone else. ¡°Not so fun when someone stabs you, is it?¡± Lin Yue backed away as he lurched toward her, arterial blood pulsing from his neck wound with each heartbeat. The cultivator snarled a curse and took another unsteady step. Blood continued to fountain as he advanced. Finally he staggered forward. Lin Yue darted in close, driving her blade between his ribs at an upward angle. His body went rigid. The ceremonial knife slipped from his fingers, clattering against the cobblestones. ¡°I finally made it... and you... you... bi¡ª¡± Blood bubbled from his lips. Lin Yue twisted the blade. A hateful grin spread across his face before he toppled face-first onto the ground. Black ichor spurted from his wounds instead of blood. The dark substance on Lin Yue¡¯s hand began to spiral and twist, crawling up her arm like a living tattoo. ¡°Shit-face bastard!¡± She jumped back, frantically wiping at the markings. The black lines continued their relentless advance across her skin. Pure euphoria slammed through her system¡ªbetter than any drug she¡¯d ever tried. ¡°Gnugh!¡± The high peaked, then vanished, leaving her gasping and trembling. ¡°What the fuck was that?¡± Lin Yue stared at her arm where the black marks had been. Around her, the hypnotized crowd collapsed like puppets with cut strings. Their bodies thudded against the ground in an unsettling rhythm. She looked back to the corpse. Well, her options were pretty clear. Lin Yue grabbed the dead cultivator¡¯s ankles and started dragging him back toward where she¡¯d tied up Xue. A trail of darkened blood marked their path across the square¡¯s weathered stones. Did this make her a sociopath? The euphoria faded, leaving Lin Yue¡¯s thoughts scattered like marbles on a tilted floor. Shit. The body. She dropped to her knees beside the corpse and patted down the blood-soaked robes. Her fingers found a leather purse, several folded papers, and an ornate silk bag embroidered with mystical symbols. The fabric tingled against her skin as she stuffed everything inside, including both Xue¡¯s and her mark bag. Around her, the crowd stirred. Groans and confused mutters echoed across the square. A woman near the center sat up, rubbing her head. ¡°What happened?¡± ¡°Where am I?¡± Lin Yue yanked her shirt up and secured the silk bag beneath her breasts, pulling the cord tight. The fabric pressed flat against her ribs. Good luck grabbing that without buying me dinner first. More victims regained consciousness, their questions growing louder. Time to disappear before someone remembered too much. She hoisted Xue over her shoulder like a sack of rice. The girl weighed next to nothing. ¡°You better appreciate this, kid.¡± Lin Yue grabbed the cultivator¡¯s ankle with her free hand. The dead weight dragged against the cobblestones. Shadows darted from nearby alleys as they advanced. The vultures descended fast, stripping the corpse piece by piece. Lin Yue kept pulling, ignoring the looters who tore away his robes and belongings that she had ignored. Within minutes, the cultivator lay naked as she dragged him across the cobblestones. A grubby man brandished a rusty knife toward the corpse¡¯s face. ¡°Them ears¡¯ll fetch a good price.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s blade flashed. The man stumbled back, clutching his bleeding hand. ¡°Back off. Face stays intact.¡± The trek stretched Lin Yue¡¯s muscles to burning. Sweat soaked through her shirt where an intense itch spread across her skin. Fucking cultivator. What curse did you put on me? Steel glinted in the afternoon sun. A patrol of imperial guards blocked the path ahead, weapons drawn. Lin Yue stopped, adjusted Xue¡¯s limp form on her shoulder, and pointed at the naked corpse. ¡°I¡¯m here to claim the bounty on this piece of shit.¡± District #11-23 operated on two universal truths. The first played out in the desperate hands that clawed at the cultivator¡¯s corpse¡ªeveryone scrambled for scraps in this cesspit, fighting over every morsel like starved rats. The second truth strutted around in polished armor, blocking Lin Yue¡¯s path with their pristine uniforms and shiny badges. Imperial guards never worried about going hungry. They spent their days shuffling papers and kissing ass, mimicking the bureaucratic dance of their superiors in the tax office. ¡°On your knees!¡± A guard¡¯s boot slammed into Lin Yue¡¯s back. The cobblestones rushed up to meet her face. Cold metal snapped around her wrists as they cuffed her hands behind her back. Next to her, Xue slumped unconscious as they bound her tiny wrists. The guards grabbed the cultivator¡¯s corpse by the ankles and started dragging it along. Lin Yue didn¡¯t resist as they yanked her to her feet and shoved her forward. At least they¡¯re taking us where I wanted to go anyway. ¡°Move it, street rat.¡± Another shove propelled her toward the magistrate¡¯s office. A line of bedraggled criminals snaked out the magistrate¡¯s door and around the corner. Happy hour at the criminal parade. Lin Yue smirked at the mix of thieves, drunks, and unfortunates who¡¯d crossed the wrong guard at the wrong time. Wooden carts creaked past, loaded with the resistant ones. Iron chains clinked as they rattled over cobblestones, binding the troublemakers to thick wooden slats. The cooperative ones shuffled forward on their own feet, shoulders slumped under the weight of their circumstances. Lin Yue nudged the guard holding her chains and pointed at the naked corpse being dragged behind them. ¡°Special delivery. We get priority service.¡± The official at the booking desk pinched his nose shut as they approached. ¡°Murder?¡± His voice squeaked through his fingers. Lin Yue leaned over his pristine papers, letting her chains clank against his wooden desk. ¡°Bounty thirty-six. Posted today.¡± ¡°This is criminal booking. Bounty claims are in the next room.¡± The official¡¯s face twisted¡ªnot at the nude corpse leaking fluids onto his stone floor, but at the administrative inconvenience. He jabbed a finger toward a different queue. Lin Yue rattled her chains at the guards flanking her. ¡°Take it up with your buddies here. They¡¯re the ones who dragged me to the wrong line.¡± The official drummed his fingers on the desk. ¡°Bring me today¡¯s bounty book.¡± A scrawny servant scurried off, returning moments later with a thick leather-bound tome. The pages crackled as the official thumbed through them, stopping to squint at an entry. ¡°Did you kill this man?¡± The official peered over his spectacles at Lin Yue. ¡°Stabbed him in the back through the heart, then slit his throat for good measure.¡± Lin Yue kept her tone casual, like discussing the weather. ¡°Well.¡± The official straightened his papers. ¡°If you¡¯re wrong about the bounty, at least conviction will be straightforward.¡± ¡°Wrong? He spent his afternoon sucking out people¡¯s souls in the middle of Rat Square.¡± Lin Yue shifted her weight, the chains clinking against the floor. The official pressed his fingers to his temples. ¡°So now I need to file form #33A-838B for mortal slaying of an immortal too? This day keeps getting worse.¡± ¡°You made the rules.¡± Lin Yue shrugged. ¡°Not my problem.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± The official¡¯s eyes narrowed. Shit. Lin Yue hunched her shoulders, adopting her best pitiful street rat expression. ¡°Please have mercy? Me and my little sister haven¡¯t eaten in days.¡± The official snorted, glancing at Xue sleeping in one of the guard¡¯s arms, still cuffed and chained. ¡°Whatever. You probably can¡¯t write anyway. I¡¯ll fill out the forms¡ªjust answer my questions.¡± ¡°Yes, boss.¡± Lin Yue nodded eagerly. Chapter 2 – Emerging Shadow Chapter 2 ¨C Emerging Shadow The stench of silver and copper mixed with desperate sweat filled the bank. Like pigs lining up for slaughter. Lin Yue watched the endless stream of workers shuffling forward to make their deposits and withdrawals. Wooden partitions divided the space into narrow channels, each leading to a barred window where tellers peered down at their victims. Bored guards maintained order with practiced indifference, hands resting on sword hilts. She glanced over her shoulder. The civil servant from the magistrate stood by the door, gripping the handles of the creaky wooden wheelchair where Xue slumped unconscious. Lucky break finding that. The magistrate¡¯s office rarely bothered with accommodations for the disabled or unconscious¡ªtheir budget focused on more pressing matters, like polishing their fancy brass door knockers. ¡°Where did you steal this?¡± The teller¡¯s lips curled as he examined her payment token. Lin Yue met his gaze. ¡°Issued today. For a bounty. To me.¡± ¡°You?¡± The teller snorted. ¡°You don¡¯t look capable of claiming any bounty.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t you get paid per transaction? You don¡¯t look capable of paying the fees for a notarized confirmation or how long it would take.¡± Lin Yue leaned forward. ¡°Or the fine for interfering with an official civil affairs payment token?¡± The teller muttered something under his breath and disappeared behind the metal bars. The teller returned and slapped two gold coins onto the counter. The metallic clang echoed through the bank. Half bounty for a dead mark. Figures. Still, she had never seen this much wealth in one place since waking up in Big City. Gold¡¯s too conspicuous. The bright metal would attract every thief and cutthroat within sight. Even the most incompetent pickpocket would risk a guard¡¯s blade for real gold. ¡°Convert it to silver.¡± Lin Yue pushed the coins back. The teller sneered. ¡°Get lost, street rat.¡± ¡°I said silver.¡± She kept her voice level, cold. A greasy smile spread across the teller¡¯s face as he extended his hand toward the coins. ¡°There¡¯s a fee for that.¡± Lin Yue snatched his wrist. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Ten percent.¡± The teller¡¯s grin widened, revealing tea-stained teeth. Bastard. The robbery had already begun, and she hadn¡¯t even left the bank. Lin Yue slid one gold coin across the counter, pocketing the other. ¡°Fine.¡± The teller dropped nine stacks of ten silver coins onto the counter. Each one clinked against the wood with the weight of lost potential. Lin Yue swept them into her purse, ignoring his expectant stare. Like hell I¡¯m opening an account here. The banks in Big City operated like legalized theft¡ªnegative interest rates meant watching your money vanish week by week. Trading pickpockets for bank fees just meant choosing between a fast death and a slow one. At least pickpockets are honest about stealing. She snorted at the warning placard announcing death sentences for thieving tellers. Same risks, different uniforms. A pickpocket risked losing hands, while bank employees risked necks. The end result stayed the same¡ªsomeone¡¯s wealth vanishing into someone else¡¯s pocket. At the door, the civil servant blocked her path. ¡°One silver for disabled services.¡± He patted the wheelchair¡¯s handle where Xue slumped. ¡°Otherwise, the brothels always need fresh meat.¡± Lin Yue studied his cheap cotton robes. Another parasite. ¡°Quarter silver¡¯s the going rate for scrawny street rats. You want a full coin?¡± She tapped the wheelchair¡¯s arm. ¡°Keep pushing. We¡¯ve got places to be.¡± The rhythmic squeak of wheelchair wheels followed Lin Yue down the crowded street. Like a lost puppy following the smell of meat. She navigated to Inn Street¡¯s afternoon crowd, past rows of established merchants hawking overpriced wares from spotless storefronts. Sharp-eyed shopkeepers tracked every passerby, ready to sound alarms at the first sign of theft. Perfect hunting ground for pickpockets¡ªif you enjoyed prison food. The street¡¯s infamous security kept the riffraff away and the prices high. The inns lined both sides of the cobblestone road, each boasting proper locks and armed guards¡ªa stark contrast to the slum¡¯s ¡°establishments¡± where a few coins bought access to any room. Amazing how not getting assaulted in your sleep counts as a luxury. Lin Yue steered toward a corner inn where four streets intersected. The constant flow of traffic provided perfect cover, both now and for future escapes. Merchants, travelers, and locals blended into an endless stream of potential distractions. The inn¡¯s wooden door swung open. The aroma of roasted meat and fresh bread struck like a physical blow¡ªreal food, not the moldy scraps from the slums. Her stomach cramped at the smell. A mountain of muscle moved to block her path. The bouncer¡¯s scarred face twisted into a snarl. ¡°Get out.¡± He planted his feet wide, arms crossed. The civil servant wheeled Xue through the doorway behind Lin Yue. Perfect timing. She turned back to the bouncer and raised an eyebrow. ¡°We¡¯re paying customers.¡± Lin Yue patted her coin purse. The silver pieces clinked together. The bouncer stepped aside with a grunt. Behind the bar, a thin man with greying temples wiped down the counter with practiced strokes. He glanced up at her. ¡°We don¡¯t serve gutter rats.¡± Lin Yue strode to the counter and slammed two silver coins onto the polished wood. ¡°Everyone bows to silver, though, right?¡± The innkeeper¡¯s eyes narrowed as he studied the coins. ¡°Week¡¯s payment up front.¡± Typical. Lin Yue counted out five more coins and lined them up. ¡°Good?¡± ¡°Silver for a meal too.¡± The innkeeper nodded toward the kitchen. The aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air, making Lin Yue¡¯s mouth water. I never want to eat a rat on a skewer again. She placed another coin on the counter. ¡°Send it to the room.¡± The innkeeper snatched up the coins and grabbed a key from the wall. ¡°Follow me.¡± The civil servant huffed behind her. ¡°You expect me to carry her up the stairs too?¡± ¡°You made it this far.¡± Lin Yue jingled her purse. ¡°And I¡¯m paying you an entire silver.¡± He sighed and lifted Xue into his arms. He glanced at the bouncer. ¡°Make sure this doesn¡¯t walk away, okay?¡± He shook the wheelchair handle. ¡°Government property.¡± The bouncer nodded. ¡°Sure.¡± Lin Yue followed up the stairs. She wanted to set the odds of it being there when he got back at 50/50 but stopped herself. It was an Inn Street place. It would be safe, right? Not her problem either way, though. The narrow staircase opened to a long hallway lined with identical wooden doors. Lin Yue counted them¡ªtwenty rooms total. The window at the hall¡¯s end offered a clear view of the street below and a potential escape route. The innkeeper demonstrated the lock mechanism with practiced efficiency. ¡°Ten silver if you lose it.¡± He twisted the key, showing the double-turn security feature. Lin Yue stepped into the room. A single bed occupied most of the space, accompanied by a basic washstand and wooden chair and short table. The mattress looked stuffed with actual cotton instead of moldy straw. Worth the silver? For actual sleep without rats? Hell yes. The civil servant deposited Xue onto the bed. Lin Yue tossed him the promised silver coin. He snatched it mid-air and retreated toward the door. ¡°Food¡¯ll be up soon as it¡¯s ready.¡± The innkeeper tapped the door. ¡°Maid knocks¡ªshe don¡¯t got keys. Check through here first.¡± He pointed to a small peephole drilled into the wood. ¡°Got it.¡± Lin Yue suppressed a grin. An actual peephole? Fancy. Metal bars crossed the window too¡ªproper security against both entry and exit. Though exit might matter more later. Lin Yue pressed two fingers against Xue¡¯s neck, checking her pulse. Still steady, but why hadn¡¯t she woken? The other marks had stirred almost immediately, cursing and screaming about demons. An intense itch spread across Lin Yue¡¯s chest. She yanked off her shirt and unwound her breast wrap. Black patches spread across her skin like spilled ink. What did that cultivator do? No point worrying about demon-cultivator tattoos right now. Lin Yue re-wrapped her chest and pulled her shirt back on. The gang would send hunters soon enough¡ªthey let no one escape without consequences. Going back meant handing over the money. Rather take my chances with mysterious black patches.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story. A soft knock echoed through the room. Lin Yue pressed her eye to the peephole. A maid balanced a wooden tray laden with steaming dishes. The aroma of braised pork and spices seeped through the door¡¯s cracks. Lin Yue unlocked the door. ¡°Thanks.¡± She grabbed the tray and retreated inside, engaging both locks. The tray held small portions of five different dishes. Lin Yue settled at the table and gripped her chopsticks. Slow. Savor it. She forced herself to take measured bites of the braised pork belly swimming in brown sauce. The meat melted on her tongue, rich with star anise and soy. Beside it sat a bowl of egg-drop soup, golden strands floating in clear broth. Stir-fried greens glistened with garlic and ginger. A small portion of mapo tofu radiated crimson heat from its blanket of chili oil and numbing peppercorns. Lin Yue alternated between dishes, letting each distinct flavor linger. No rat meat. No moldy vegetables. Just pure, clean tastes that reminded her what real food meant. She set aside the steamed mantou bread for Xue. If she wakes up. The soft white bun would keep until then. Lin Yue stacked the empty dishes on the wooden tray, savoring the lingering taste of real food. She double-checked the locks before heading downstairs, each step creaking beneath her feet. The kitchen staff accepted the tray with surprising politeness. ¡°Thanks for the meal.¡± The words felt strange on her tongue¡ªpoliteness didn¡¯t come naturally anymore. At the counter, the innkeeper raised an eyebrow. ¡°My friend might wake up confused.¡± Lin Yue leaned against the polished wood. ¡°Tell her to stay put until I return.¡± The innkeeper grunted. Lin Yue placed another silver coin on the counter. ¡°For tomorrow¡¯s food. Or if I don¡¯t make it back¡ª¡± Always plan for failure . ¡°¡ªuse it for cheap bread until her stay runs out.¡± ¡°Understood.¡± The innkeeper pocketed the coin with practiced smoothness. He might even do it. The thought surprised her. Inn Street establishments maintained reputations through reliability, not kindness. Still, silver spoke louder than sympathy. The bouncer tracked her movement toward the door. Probably counting exits too. Professional paranoia recognized its own kind. Outside, the afternoon sun cast long shadows across the cobblestones. What a shit show of a day. From morning pick-pocket duty to demon cultivator to banking¡ªeach hour had packed enough chaos for a week. Lin Yue navigated through the thinning crowd. The border between slum and civilization was a physical line where stone buildings gave way to wooden shacks. The Bounty Hunter¡¯s Tavern squatted in the liminal space, its weathered sign creaking in the breeze. Inside, scarred faces turned to study her entrance. Veterans of violence assessed threat levels while rookies flexed muscles beneath leather armor. The clerk at the counter narrowed his eyes. ¡°I want to place a bounty.¡± Lin Yue kept her voice steady. Laughter erupted across the tavern. Several hunters slapped their tables, spilling cheap wine. ¡°Little girl wants to place a bounty?¡± A scarred man near the counter wiped tears from his eyes. ¡°Did someone steal your doll?¡± Lin Yue slammed the gold coin onto the counter. ¡°One gold on Sheng Bo¡¯s head.¡± The laughter died. Cups froze midway to mouths. The only sound came from a distant dog barking outside. Silence really is golden. The teller snatched up the coin and bit it. He held it to the light, then nodded and stepped out from behind his counter. His boots echoed across the wooden floor as he approached the bounty board. He found Sheng Bo¡¯s existing notice¡ªa measly one silver bounty. The teller pressed his stamp against the parchment, marking it with the new amount: one gold and one silver. Chairs scraped across the floor. Every hunter in the tavern stood, drained their cups, and filed out the door. Not a single one glanced at her. Professional courtesy. Don¡¯t bite the hand that feeds you bounties. ¡°Want the confirmation paperwork?¡± The teller asked. ¡°No need.¡± Lin Yue smiled. Let the Tiger Gang burn. Sheng Bo would pull every member he could find to himself for protection. Before the night was over, the streets would run red¡ªand not with Lin Yue¡¯s blood. The setting sun painted the street in shades of amber. She spotted a tailor¡¯s shop on the way back to the inn, its window displaying colored robes. Time to stop looking like something the cat dragged in. Lin Yue ran her fingers across the fabric bolts displayed in neat rows. The coarse gray-black cotton felt sturdy under her touch¡ªpractical, unlike the delicate silks that would tear at the first sign of trouble. A blood-red sash caught her eye, the material thick enough to withstand daily wear but still maintaining a subtle sheen. ¡°This.¡± She pointed to her selections. ¡°Enough for two sets.¡± The tailor measured the fabric with practiced efficiency. ¡°For you and...¡± ¡°My sister.¡± The lie slipped out smoothly. Lin Yue pictured Xue¡¯s small frame. ¡°She¡¯s about this tall.¡± She held her hand at waist height. If Xue doesn¡¯t wake up, the extra fabric won¡¯t go to waste. There would be enough cloth for undergarments with minimal adjustments. ¡°Add these.¡± She grabbed a pair of cotton socks and simple cloth shoes. The leather soles looked thick enough to last through several months of running. Better than bleeding feet. The tailor bundled everything together. ¡°Ten silver.¡± Lin Yue counted out the coins without haggling. The price matched the quality¡ªfair enough for Inn Street. She traced the stumps where her left pinky and ring finger used to be, remembering the guard¡¯s blade. These would be the nicest clothes she¡¯d owned since that day. ¡°When can you start?¡± she asked. The tailor folded the last piece of fabric. ¡°One hour.¡± Lin Yue leaned against the doorframe, watching the tailor¡¯s skilled hands cut, stitch, and fold each garment faster than she thought possible without a modern sewing machine. The sharp scent of new cotton filled the shop, mixing with traces of dye and leather. The bundle landed on the counter with a soft thump. Lin Yue snatched it up, tucking it under her arm. Outside, lantern lighters moved between the street poles in practiced patterns. Their long poles extended upward, touching wicks to oil-soaked cotton. Each flame bloomed against the darkening sky, casting pools of amber light across the cobblestones. Along the way back to her inn, the steady rhythm of metal striking metal echoed down the street. A blacksmith working late? She traced the sound to a small forge tucked between two larger shops. Heat radiated from the doorway as a broad-shouldered man hammered patterns into glowing steel. Finished blades lined the walls, their edges gleaming in the forge light. ¡°Looking for something specific?¡± The blacksmith dunked the red-hot metal into a water barrel. Steam hissed upward. Lin Yue pointed to a simple knife with a clean edge. ¡°How much?¡± ¡°Five silver.¡± He lifted it from its rack. ¡°Folded steel. Won¡¯t need sharpening for months with proper care.¡± The blade balanced perfectly in her palm. No fancy decorations or wrapped handles¡ªjust pure functionality. The blacksmith tossed her a thumb-sized vial. ¡°Blade oil. Free with purchase.¡± Lin Yue counted out the silver. The knife disappeared into her waist sash, its weight reassuring against her skin. Better than any fancy robe. Sharp steel meant survival. The street lanterns painted Inn Street in deep shadows and the inn¡¯s windows glowed with warm lamplight. No ambush waited in the doorway. No Tiger Gang thugs lurked in corners. The bouncer barely glanced up as she passed. The flight of creaking stairs led to her room where Xue still lay motionless on the bed, breathing steadily. She double-checked the locks and window bars. Her old knife slid under her pillow, ready for quick access. Maybe just a quick rest... An intense itch jolted Lin Yue awake. She untangled herself from Xue¡¯s sleeping form and stumbled toward the washstand. The itch transformed into searing pain across her chest. She yanked off her clothes. The black markings had spread, covering most of her torso in intricate patterns. What the actual fuck? She dragged her nails across the marks but succeeded only in drawing blood. The tattoo remained unbroken. ¡°Shit. Shit. Shit.¡± Lin Yue grabbed the washcloth and dunked it in the basin. The cold water did nothing to soothe the burning sensation. The ink rippled beneath her skin. Lin Yue dropped the cloth, biting back a scream as the markings flowed like a liquid shadow up her collarbone. The sensation crawled up her neck, raising every hair on her body. Something tugged at her scalp. Her hair lifted on its own, defying gravity as smoky tendrils coalesced into a serpentine form. A dragon snake materialized¡ªscales formed from pure darkness, red eyes blazing like hot coals. It twisted in the air to face her. ¡°Feed me.¡± The dragon¡¯s voice ordered. ¡°What the fuck are you?¡± Lin Yue backed against the wall. The dragon¡¯s eyes flared brighter. ¡°Not what¡ªwho! I am the mighty Shadow Dragon God, you unworthy minion!¡± His smoky form curled through the air, pointing toward Xue¡¯s sleeping figure. ¡°Take her soul. Feed your god.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s fist connected with the dragon¡¯s snout. The solid impact sent shockwaves up her arm as the shadowy creature yelped and tumbled through the air, crashing onto the wooden floor. ¡°You insolent¡ªhow dare you strike a god!¡± The dragon writhed on the floorboards. Lin Yue flexed her stinging knuckles. ¡°What kind of pathetic deity¡¯s first words are ¡®murder a seven-year-old¡¯?¡± She yanked her new knife from her waist and slashed at the dragon. The blade passed through his smoky form without resistance, like cutting through fog. Well, that¡¯s useless. The dragon dodged a second punch. ¡°I¡¯m starving! Do you know how long I¡¯ve been trapped in that bastard¡¯s body?¡± ¡°Starve to death then,¡± Lin Yue said. ¡°What is wrong with you?¡± The dragon¡¯s red eyes blazed brighter. ¡°Most humans would be honored to host a divine being! I offer you immortality!¡± ¡°Honored?¡± Lin Yue muttered. ¡°Some demon-worshipping asshole cursed me with an itchy magic tattoo that spawns hallucinations, and Xue won¡¯t wake up.¡± ¡°Hallucination?¡± The dragon snorted smoke. ¡°I¡¯m quite real. And the girl won¡¯t wake because I¡¯ve been nibbling on her soul while waiting for you to feed me properly.¡± Lin Yue lunged forward. Her fingers closed around the dragon¡¯s serpentine form¡ªsolid and cold like metal left in shade. She slammed her other fist into his face repeatedly, each impact punctuated by a satisfying thud. ¡°You¡ª¡± Punch ¡°Stay¡ª¡± Punch ¡°Away¡ª¡± Punch ¡°From¡ª¡± Punch ¡°Her!¡± Chapter 3 – Soul Bargains Chapter 3 ¨C Soul Bargains Lin Yue¡¯s knuckles smashed into the shadow dragon¡¯s face again and again. The impacts sent jolts of pain through her hand, but the shadowy bastard just spluttered and squirmed in her grip. ¡°You¡¯re only hurting yourself, you idiot!¡± The dragon wheezed through the assault. ¡°Stop punching me!¡± Fucking hell. Her knuckles blazed with fire, blood trickling down her fingers. The dragon had a point about her method¡¯s ineffectiveness. She switched tactics. She lunged forward, grabbed his serpentine neck, and twisted hard. The dragon¡¯s scream echoed through the room until a satisfying crack sounded. With another vicious wrench, his head popped clean off. The decapitated head floated away, trailing wisps of shadow smoke, darting to the furthest corner of the room. Shit. Of course that didn¡¯t kill him. ¡°No one has ever treated the great shadow god like this!¡± The floating head sputtered indignantly. ¡°Shut up.¡± Lin Yue shook his writhing body. ¡°I¡¯ll throw what¡¯s left of you in the sewer. Or worse.¡± The dragon¡¯s red eyes narrowed. ¡°What could be worse than that?¡± ¡°The rat feeding pits.¡± Lin Yue bared her teeth. ¡°Just listen to me!¡± The dragon¡¯s head bobbed frantically. ¡°I won¡¯t touch the girl! I won¡¯t suggest anything about her! Just listen!¡± Lin Yue wiped her bloodied knuckles on her shirt. ¡°Fine. Spill it before I go back to figuring out how to kill you.¡± ¡°I offer you immortality!¡± The dragon¡¯s severed head spun in excitement. ¡°Unlimited power! I am the greatest shadow dragon god!¡± Lin Yue yanked her knife out and slashed through the dragon¡¯s body. The blade passed through empty air. Fucking useless. She tried again, stabbing harder. Nothing. ¡°Not born yesterday, asshole. I can smell a con from ten streets away.¡± She gripped the writhing body tighter and tried to slam it against the wall. It phased through the wood like smoke. ¡°Shit!¡± ¡°You possess a powerful double soul!¡± The head drifted closer. ¡°With my guidance, you could become¡ª¡± Lin Yue froze. How the fuck does he know about that? She lifted her gaze to meet his glowing red eyes. ¡°What did you say about my soul?¡± ¡°Ha! Now you¡¯re interested?¡± The dragon¡¯s head bobbed smugly. ¡°Of course I know all!¡± ¡°Well, that¡¯s inconvenient.¡± Lin Yue cracked her neck. ¡°Secrets stop being secrets when more than one person knows them. Guess I¡¯ll have to figure out how to kill you properly.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± The head darted backward. ¡°No one else can see me! I¡¯m bound to you since you killed my previous host!¡± ¡°So you¡¯re a fucking parasite.¡± ¡°I am a shadow dragon god!¡± Lin Yue snorted. ¡°Let me get this straight. You want me to feed you, I¡¯m your ¡®host¡¯, and you haven¡¯t done a single useful thing. That¡¯s the definition of a parasite.¡± She glared at him. ¡°And I hate parasites. This shithole of a city¡¯s already crawling with them.¡± ¡°I can restore the girl¡¯s energy!¡± The dragon head darted back and forth. ¡°Just give me back my body!¡± Lin Yue tightened her grip on the writhing shadow mass. ¡°Not a chance. I don¡¯t give up leverage.¡± ¡°Fine! Keep it!¡± The dragon¡¯s teeth gnashed. ¡°I¡¯m a spiritual being¡ªmy physical form means nothing! Everything exists inside you anyway!¡± Lin Yue glanced down at her chest. The black tattoo sprawled across her skin like spilled ink, smaller than before but still there. The pattern extended down her arm in intricate swirls. Inside me? Well, that¡¯s disturbing. She switched the squirming mass to her right hand, transferring the knife to her left. The steel blade caught the dim light. ¡°What are you doing?¡± The dragon¡¯s head tilted. ¡°Experimenting.¡± Lin Yue stepped toward the oil lantern on the bedside table. The flame flickered as she held the blade¡¯s edge through it, counting slowly. One...two...three...four...five. ¡°What are you¡ª¡± The dragon¡¯s voice pitched higher. ¡°Stop that!¡± Lin Yue pressed the blade against the tattoo on her arm. The black ink rippled and tried to slide away from the steel. She pushed down, breaking skin. Blood welled up around the blade as the ink writhed faster, trapped by the metal¡¯s touch. A shriek pierced the air. ¡°You¡¯re insane!¡± The dragon¡¯s head thrashed wildly. ¡°Completely insane!¡± Lin Yue pressed the blade deeper. ¡°So here¡¯s the deal. Either you undo whatever bullshit you pulled with Xue, or we¡¯ll find out exactly how batshit crazy I can get. And trust me¡ªit¡¯s a lot.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t just¡ª¡± The knife sliced another line across the tattoo. Blood trickled down her arm as the dragon unleashed an ear-splitting shriek. ¡°Wait! Listen! We need¡ª¡± His words tumbled out faster with each cut. ¡°Energy! We need energy! I didn¡¯t hurt her permanently! Just a small siphon! She¡¯ll wake up on her own! But we¡¯ll die without energy! Please stop¡ªstop cutting!¡± ¡°Wake her up.¡± Lin Yue paused, blade hovering over fresh lines of blood. ¡°Now.¡± ¡°Fine! Fine! Just stop being so violent!¡± The dragon¡¯s head bobbed frantically. ¡°Right, because I should totally trust the parasitic shadow thing that¡¯s probably trying to steal my soul.¡± ¡°No, no! I¡¯m here to steal souls with you! There¡¯s a difference!¡± Lin Yue tracked the dragon¡¯s movement as he drifted toward Xue¡¯s unconscious form. The knife remained pressed against her arm, ready to carve deeper at the first sign of betrayal. A thin crimson mist flowed from the dragon¡¯s mouth into Xue. The dragon retreated as Xue stirred. She pushed herself up, rubbing sleep from her eyes. ¡°Yue?¡± Xue blinked in confusion. Her eyes widened as she took in the blood. She rushed over, stumbling on sleep-weak legs. ¡°Yue! You¡¯re bleeding! And what¡¯s all this black stuff?¡± Lin Yue released the squirming shadow mass in her hand, watching it dissipate into wisps. ¡°Just some ink from a broken bottle. Nothing serious.¡± Xue looked around, spotted some clean white cloth and dabbed at Lin Yue¡¯s arm. The blood smeared across pale skin, mixing with traces of the writhing tattoo. Above them, the dragon¡¯s head curled into itself near the ceiling beams, sulking like a scolded pet. ¡°Hold still.¡± Xue wrapped the cloth with surprising gentleness. ¡°How did you get hurt this badly from ink?¡± ¡°Broke the bottle. Cut myself cleaning it up.¡± Lin Yue flexed her fingers as Xue tied off the bandage. Not my best lie. Xue¡¯s eyes darted around the unfamiliar room. ¡°Where are we? What happened?¡± ¡°Tiger Gang¡¯s dead. We got paid for that bounty we caught. This is our new place for now.¡± ¡°Dead?¡± Xue pressed her fingertips against her temples. ¡°I don¡¯t remember anything after we went out to work.¡± ¡°Bounty knocked you out cold. But you seem fine now.¡± Lin Yue watched Xue¡¯s face for any lingering effects from the shadow dragon¡¯s feeding. Xue suddenly spun toward the table, zeroing in on the two fresh mantou left from dinner. Without hesitation, she snatched one and stuffed it whole into her mouth. Lin Yue stared as Xue devoured the second roll in three massive bites a second later. Xue swallowed and shrugged. ¡°You should know better than to leave food out if you don¡¯t want it eaten.¡± A laugh burst from Lin Yue¡¯s throat, genuine and sharp. The mirth died a few seconds later. Xue pressed her palm against her forehead and slumped onto the edge of the bed. ¡°The food...¡± Xue¡¯s words slurred. ¡°Drugged?¡± Lin Yue lunged forward as Xue toppled sideways. She caught the small body before it hit the mattress, easing her down onto the worn sheets. She ran her fingers through Xue¡¯s dirty blonde hair. ¡°What did you do?¡± Lin Yue snapped at the shadowy form lurking in the corner. The dragon¡¯s head spun in agitation. ¡°Listen to me! I didn¡¯t do anything! I gave her back enough energy to wake up, but we¡¯re running out of time!¡± His red eyes flared brighter. ¡°You¡¯ll die within hours if we don¡¯t get enough energy!¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. His body poofed out of the smoke and he flew closer to her, flowing in anxious circles. ¡°I, by definition, will die too! I took nothing more from the girl¡ªbut if you want to keep protecting this orphan, you need to find another energy source fast!¡± Lin Yue stared at the black tattoo snaking across her skin. ¡°I don¡¯t want you or any of this bullshit.¡± The dragon¡¯s head swooped closer. ¡°Cut all you want¡ªI can¡¯t leave even if I desired to! Each slice just damages us both.¡± His red eyes narrowed. ¡°How does someone responsible for dozens of deaths since my awakening suddenly care so much about a little collateral damage?¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Yue¡¯s fingers tightened around the blade. The dragon bobbed in the air, counting with gleeful precision. ¡°Forty-five... forty-six... forty-seven... forty-nine! Those men you put the bounty on¡ªthey¡¯re dying quite rapidly.¡± ¡°You can see that?¡± Lin Yue¡¯s knuckles whitened against the knife handle. ¡°I see every black drop of karma that falls upon your soul.¡± The dragon circled overhead. ¡°It fills with midnight¡ªquite beautiful, actually. Like watching ink spread through water.¡± Lin Yue squeezed her fists until her nails bit into her palms. ¡°How do we get energy, then?¡± The dragon drifted down, each movement hesitant and calculated. ¡°There are two ways to save us both. Your spiritual essence runs too thin¡ªwe need either a fresh soul for fuel or spirit stones.¡± Lin Yue traced the edge of her knife with her thumb. ¡°If you can see all those black marks from the deaths I caused, why not use those?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± The dragon spun in excited loops, wisps of shadow trailing his movements. ¡°If you got close enough to catch the death itself¡ªyes, that would solve everything quite nicely!¡± Lin Yue glanced at Xue¡¯s small form curled on the bed. The girl¡¯s chest rose and fell in a peaceful rhythm, oblivious to the shadow creature¡¯s machinations. A frown tugged at Lin Yue¡¯s lips. Tiger Gang. Some of those bastards have to still be breathing. The thought sparked something cold in her gut. ¡°Looks like we¡¯re paying my old friends a visit.¡± At least until I figure out how to get rid of this leech. Lin Yue eyed the fresh bundle of clothes she had bought. The clean fabric beckoned. But... What¡¯s the point of ruining perfectly good clothes? She smoothed down her tattered rags¡ªthey¡¯d served well enough so far. She retrieved the old knife from under her pillow, testing its familiar weight. The new blade joined it, both sliding neatly beneath the bloodstained cloth wrapping her arms. The makeshift sheaths would do. The shadow dragon swirled overhead in lazy circles, his serpentine form casting no shadow on the worn floorboards. At least Xue can¡¯t see this annoying bastard. Lin Yue secured the door¡¯s lock, testing it twice. Downstairs, the innkeeper hunched over his ledger. Three men slouched at a nearby table, ale sloshing from their cups as they argued over dice. ¡°No curfew.¡± The innkeeper scratched at his beard without looking up. ¡°But bring trouble back here and I¡¯ll take it from your hides.¡± ¡°Just remember the meal, old man.¡± Lin Yue strode past, not bothering to look back at his grunt of acknowledgment. A new bouncer guarded the doorway, different from the afternoon shift. His lip curled as she approached, eyes raking over her ragged clothes with obvious disdain. ¡°Enough fat on that one to light the entire street.¡± The shadow dragon bobbed excitedly near her ear. ¡°For days, even!¡± Lin Yue pushed through the door without acknowledging either of them. The night air kissed her face with welcome coolness, washing away the inn¡¯s stale warmth. The night market blazed with colored lanterns, casting warm pools of light across Inn Street. Merchants hawked steamed buns and grilled meats while entertainers juggled fire. Lin Yue slipped between the bustling crowds, her tattered clothes blending with the shadows between stalls. The deeper she ventured toward the slums, the more the festive atmosphere twisted. Sweet incense gave way to opium smoke. Painted women leaned from doorways, calling prices that wouldn¡¯t buy a bowl of rice in the merchant district. A drunk stumbled past. She couldn¡¯t resist. His coin purse became suspiciously lighter than when he¡¯d entered the district. Enough to bring Xue some more cheap bread buns. ¡°Such delicious desperation.¡± The dragon darted between passersby. ¡°The souls here taste of ash and regret.¡± Lin Yue ignored him, focusing on the familiar territory ahead. Tiger Gang controlled two major streets bordering Rat Square¡ªprime real estate in the slums. Sheng Bo answered to two tiger bosses above him, but that wouldn¡¯t matter soon. The bounty she¡¯d placed would draw killers like flies to rotting meat. The first signs of violence appeared three streets from their old flat. A body sprawled in the gutter, blood still seeping into the cracked stone. The small dragon snake swooped down eagerly, then recoiled. ¡°Too cold! The soul¡¯s long gone.¡± He spun in agitation. ¡°What a waste!¡± Shouts echoed from nearby alleyways, punctuated by the clash of steel. ¡°Keep your eyes open if you want dinner.¡± Lin Yue drew her knife, keeping it hidden against her sleeve. ¡°I¡¯m not doing the work for you.¡± The dragon darted forward¡ªthen stopped abruptly, as if hitting an invisible wall. He strained against nothing, managing only to hover a few arm-lengths ahead. Lin Yue¡¯s eyes narrowed at the display. So the parasite has a leash. The dragon¡¯s head snapped toward her. ¡°We need to get closer! The fighting¡¯s just ahead!¡± ¡°Noticed that, did you?¡± Lin Yue studied the short distance between them. Almost have to get within stabbing range of the violence to feed this thing. What bullshit. She pressed against the cold stone wall, edging closer to the sounds of combat. The rough surface scraped against her shoulder as she slid through shadows between flickering lantern light. The next alley erupted in clashing steel and desperate shouts. Four bounty hunters¡ªprofessionals by their stance and weapons¡ªhad cornered three Tiger Gang members between them. The gang thugs looked half-starved, their hollow cheeks and sunken eyes marking them as bottom-feeders. ¡°Closer! We must get closer!¡± The dragon¡¯s head strained forward, stretching like taffy before snapping back. Lin Yue stayed put, watching the dragon struggle against his invisible tether. The hunters made quick work of the gang members. Steel flashed. Blood sprayed across grimy walls. Bodies slumped to the ground with wet thuds. The hunters moved on, boots splashing through spreading crimson pools as they hunted for more prey. Their voices faded into the night. Lin Yue stepped into the alley. ¡°Fresh enough for you?¡± ¡°Yes! Yes! Perfect!¡± The shadow dragon bobbed frantically. The stench of opened bowels and copper-tang blood filled the narrow space. One body sprawled face-down, intestines spilled across the cobblestones like pink-gray snakes. ¡°Lovely.¡± Lin Yue wrinkled her nose. ¡°Nothing says ¡®dinner time¡¯ like the smell of shit and death.¡± The shadow dragon surged forward. Pale wisps rose from the cooling corpses¡ªghostly lights that drifted upward like smoke. The dragon¡¯s jaws snapped shut around them, swallowing each luminescent orb. Heat flooded through Lin Yue¡¯s body. Pleasant tingles raced along her nerves, sending waves of warmth through her core. ¡°Fuck!¡± She braced against the wall, fighting to stay focused through the rush. The dragon swooped back, practically vibrating with excitement. ¡°More! We need more! Can you taste it? Feel it? The power flowing through us?¡± He darted back and forth. ¡°Quick! There must be others nearby! More souls, more energy! Kill, kill, kill!¡± Lin Yue¡¯s hand shot out, snatching the dragon¡¯s serpentine neck. The shadow creature yelped as she slammed her clenched fist against the alley wall. His ethereal form felt solid under her grip¡ªcold and metallic like a steel pipe. ¡°Listen carefully, you parasitic fuck.¡± Lin Yue tightened her fingers around his throat. ¡°I don¡¯t have an addictive personality, and I especially hate addicts. Push that rush bullshit again, and we will find out just how much pain you can feel.¡± ¡°Please!¡± The dragon thrashed against her grip. ¡°You don¡¯t understand¡ª¡± ¡°Was that enough energy or not?¡± Lin Yue squeezed harder. ¡°It¡¯s never enough! We need more¡ª¡± Lin Yue crushed his windpipe against the wall. The dragon¡¯s red eyes bulged as he choked and sputtered. ¡°Stop! Stop! Please stop!¡± Lin Yue released her grip. The dragon¡¯s head sagged, gasping for unnecessary breath. ¡°One soul per day, on average!¡± The dragon backed away as far as his invisible tether allowed. ¡°Those three will sustain us for maybe four days! Just don¡¯t strangle me again!¡± ¡°So I need to find a fresh corpse every fucking day or we die?¡± Lin Yue hissed. ¡°You¡¯re nothing but a burden.¡± ¡°No! I¡¯ll make you powerful!¡± The dragon¡¯s head bobbed frantically. ¡°Think of it¡ªimmortality could be yours!¡± Lin Yue glared at him. ¡°Do I have to kill them myself, or just be there when they die?¡± ¡°Proximity is enough.¡± The dragon cooed. ¡°Though if another challenges us for the claim, it goes to whoever holds more death-karma or possesses greater spiritual strength.¡± Lin Yue snorted. ¡°Right. Because I¡¯m totally going to get into turf wars over corpses for you.¡± Could make this easier, though. The execution square hosted daily shows of imperial justice. A legitimate job nearby would give steady access without the mess of organizing gang wars. Plus, watching entitled nobles lose their heads might actually be entertaining. Steel clashed in the distance, drawing her attention. More bounty hunters finding their marks. Lin Yue stepped toward the alley¡¯s exit, but five shadows blocked her path. Sheng Bo¡¯s scarred face caught the dim light. Four of his best enforcers flanked him, weapons already drawn. ¡°Is that that bitch Yue?¡± Sheng Bo¡¯s gravelly voice echoed off the narrow walls. Well shit. Lin Yue spun toward the opposite end of the alley. Two steps in, more shadows emerged from the darkness¡ªburly thugs with curved daggers blocked her escape route. Fuck. Seven against one. Great odds. She turned back to face Sheng Bo, keeping her movements casual despite the steel pressing against her forearm beneath the bandages. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you come back?¡± Sheng Bo¡¯s scarred face twisted into an ugly sneer. ¡°Got something to do with this bounty bullshit?¡± Lin Yue barked out a laugh. The sound echoed off the blood-stained walls. ¡°Right, because I just have piles of gold lying around.¡± ¡°Maybe from that official bounty you collected?¡± Sheng Bo stepped closer, moonlight catching the edge of his blade. Her fake mirth died, and she readied her knife. ¡°Hey shadow asshole, if you¡¯re going to be useful, now would be a great time.¡± The shadow dragon spun in excited loops overhead. ¡°Oh, now you believe in my power? Luckily, we just ate.¡± Red mist erupted from the thugs¡¯ skulls as their heads exploded in fountains of crimson. Spraying blood painted the alley walls. Seven souls ripped free from the corpses, glowing red orbs that writhed in the air before the dragon¡¯s jaws snapped them up. Chapter 4 – Headless Profits Chapter 4 ¨C Headless Profits Lin Yue stared at the bloody mess coating the alley walls. She had wanted them dealt with¡ªyes¡ªBut their heads were absolutely evaporated. ¡°What the fuck did you just do? That was Sheng Bo¡ªthe bounty target!¡± The shadow dragon spun in lazy circles, patting his incorporeal belly with a wisp of inky smoke. A deep burp echoed through the alley. ¡°So what?¡± ¡°So what? The bounty hunters can¡¯t claim shit without his head!¡± Lin Yue kicked one of the headless corpses. Blood squelched under her boot. Shadow flipped upside down, drifting closer until his glowing red eyes hovered inches from her face. ¡°Perfect! They¡¯ll keep hunting and killing. More delicious souls for us!¡± ¡°You did this on purpose.¡± Lin Yue raised a finger at him. ¡°Ha! You told me to be useful.¡± Shadow twisted around her shoulders like smoke. ¡°Can¡¯t pin the blame on me! This works out great for us both. No need to get upset.¡± Lin Yue rubbed her temples. The Tiger Gang¡¯s body count would skyrocket while the hunters searched. But they¡¯d figure it out eventually¡ªeither conclude Sheng had escaped or died. The hunters might get pissy when no one claimed the reward, but they couldn¡¯t blame her. Unless¡­ A cold weight settled in Lin Yue¡¯s stomach. If anyone connected her to Sheng Bo¡¯s death, the bounty hunters would switch targets to her faster than starving rats on fresh meat. A client hunting down her own target after placing the bounty breached propriety. She scanned the shadowed corners and rooftops. Empty. Perfect. She would still need to be fast. The blood pooled around her feet as she crouched beside the nearest corpse. Her fingers worked through pockets and pouches with haste. The mark bags yielded a decent haul¡ªsilver, copper, and a few trinkets worth pawning. She dumped everything into her own pouch, tossing the empty bags behind a pile of rotting vegetables. No point carrying evidence that screamed ¡®dead gang member.¡¯ Metal glinted in the dim light. Sheng Bo¡¯s dagger lay abandoned near his headless corpse. Lin Yue snatched it up, testing the balance. Clean lines, sharp edge, nothing distinctive about it. Much more useful than the rusted blades of the others. Shouts erupted from the main street. She sprinted deeper into the maze of alleys, each turn taking her further from the bloody scene. ¡°More souls!¡± Shadow spiraled around her. ¡°Think how long we could go without feeding if we struck now!¡± Lin Yue pressed against a rotten wood wall, watching Shadow drift in excited circles. The bastard had a point. The screams and clash of steel echoed through the warren of alleys. How many would die tonight? More than she had expected. Turning a week of souls into a month would buy her more time. There was some risk, but that was the name of the game when it came to survival. She slipped from shadow to shadow, tracking the carnage. Fresh corpses littered the streets, victims of opportunistic hunters. It had been a while since a gang purge. Too many were itching to use their blades. Shadow swooped down on each fresh find, draining the lingering spiritual energy with gleeful slurps. The copper-tinged breeze carried the scent of fresh kills. In the alleyways, she darted between bodies, fingers dancing through pockets and pouches. Not everyone was interested in loot, and most were afraid to move as fast as she when their lives were on the line. She snatched up anything valuable¡ªmostly coins and jewelry¡ªbut only when she was out of sight. I¡¯ll leave the brazen looting to others. The gang''s flat house where she and Xue bunked in reeked of death. Blood dripped from the bamboo windows, covering the outer walls in arterial sprays. Shadow phased through the wall, re-emerging stuffed with stolen souls. That confirmed the bastard could phase through walls. Only distance mattered for his tether. The night¡¯s violence began to ebb. Lin Yue¡¯s mark bag bulged against her hip, heavy with pilfered treasures. She¡¯d need a new spot to stash all this loot. Shadow drifted behind her like a bloated serpent, rolling through the air in lazy loops. Each burp echoed off the alley walls as he patted his belly. The invisible tether dragged him along as she walked, his ethereal form bouncing off the invisible walls without a care. ¡°How many?¡± Lin Yue stepped over another headless corpse. Shadow stretched mid-air, yawning wide enough to show rows of spectral teeth. ¡°How many what?¡± ¡°Days until you starve to death?¡± Lin Yue asked. The dragon floated toward her face, spinning in slow circles. ¡°At least a month now.¡± His glowing red eyes brightened. ¡°Speaking of which, got any more food?¡± He spiraled behind her back. ¡°Glutton.¡± Lin Yue scoffed. No response came. Lin Yue spun around, scanning the empty alley. The weight of Shadow¡¯s presence vanished, leaving only the coppery stench of blood and death. ¡°Shadow?¡± The word bounced off blood-stained walls. ¡°Get your ass out here.¡± Silence answered. ¡°Fuck.¡± Lin Yue pulled her sleeve over her hand, wiping crimson smears from her arms. The blood had soaked through her clothes, leaving dark patches that screamed guilty. She slipped through the winding alleys toward Drunk¡¯s Corner¡ªa charming slice of the slums where alcoholics passed out in their own vomit. The stench of stale beer and piss assaulted her nose as she rounded the corner.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. Perfect. A man sprawled against the wall, snoring loud enough to wake the dead. His clothes reeked of cheap rice wine, but they¡¯d work better than her blood-soaked ensemble. No coin purse in sight¡ªsome enterprising thief had already claimed that prize and dumped him here to sleep it off. She yanked the outer robe from his limp form. The fabric felt grimy under her fingers, but beggars couldn¡¯t be choosers. She pulled it over her bloodied clothes, wrinkling her nose at the fermented stench. At least the dark color would hide any remaining stains. The night market¡¯s usual cacophony had dwindled to scattered voices and shuttering stalls. She stuck to the shadows, avoiding the few merchants still packing up their wares. A drunk stumbled past, singing off-key. She ducked into a doorway until he passed. The inn¡¯s entrance glowed with warm lantern light a short while later. The bouncer¡¯s face twisted into a familiar scowl as she approached. Lin Yue flashed him her sweetest smile¡ªthe one that said ¡®fuck you¡¯ in the politest way possible. He crossed his arms, but remained silent as she walked past. The door creaked open to reveal Xue perched by the window, silhouetted against the dim streetlight. She spun around at Lin Yue¡¯s entrance. ¡°Yue!¡± Xue¡¯s gaze dropped to the suspicious bulge at Lin Yue¡¯s hip. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lin Yue pulled the mark bag free and tossed it onto the bed. ¡°Loot. Start sorting.¡± The mattress bounced as Xue scrambled onto it, yanking the drawstring open. She pulled out a silver bracelet encrusted with dried blood and wrinkled her nose. ¡°This is gross. You need a new bag.¡± ¡°Told you the Tiger Gang would die tonight.¡± Lin Yue shrugged off the stolen outer robe, letting it pool on the floor. Xue¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°Won¡¯t they come after us?¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about it.¡± Lin Yue sat down at the table to rest her feet. ¡°Sheng Bo¡¯s dead. They¡¯ll be too busy trying to hold Fifth Street to give a shit about us.¡± Lin Yue watched as Xue sorted through the blood-stained loot. Shadow¡¯s presence remained absent¡ªprobably sulking somewhere in her tattoos. Good. She needed time to process this clusterfuck without his constant commentary, and dragging answers from him in front of her ward would only traumatize Xue further. Exhaustion crept through her muscles. The night¡¯s violence caught up with her body, demanding rest. She pushed herself up and stumbled to the washbasin. Cool water splashed over her skin, washing away dried blood and sweat. Her clothes hit the floor with a wet thud. She¡¯d need to dispose of the evidence before anyone noticed all the blood that wasn¡¯t hers. Later, though. ¡°Y-Yue?¡± Xue¡¯s voice quivered. ¡°Did the ink... change?¡± Lin Yue glanced down at her skin. The formless shadows had shifted into intricate sigils¡ªcurves and angles that pulsed with an inner darkness. Fantastic. She sighed. ¡°It¡¯s magic ink.¡± Lin Yue shrugged, aiming for casual dismissal. ¡°Does weird shit sometimes.¡± ¡°Uhh...¡± Xue stared at the markings. Lin Yue trudged back to the bed. ¡°I need sleep. Sort the loot if you¡¯re bored, but don¡¯t open that door for anyone.¡± It was locked, but the warning was sound. She slipped under the covers. ¡°Breakfast comes in the morning. Wake me when they knock if I¡¯m still out.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± Xue nodded, fingers still working through the pile of stolen trinkets. The mattress embraced Lin Yue¡¯s aching body as she drifted into darkness. Questions about Shadow could wait until morning. * * * A sharp knock at the door jolted Lin Yue from sleep. Xue pressed against her chest, arms wrapped tight around her torso. The kid¡¯s face nestled into her chest, breaths coming in soft, peaceful puffs. Lin Yue rolled onto her back to stare at the ceiling. The clingy kid came with her. Made sense¡ªprobably the first real bed the brat had slept in. Getting knocked out by soul-sucking Shadow-Shit probably didn¡¯t count as proper rest. ¡°One second!¡± Lin Yue called out, carefully extracting herself from Xue¡¯s death grip. She untied the bundle from the tailor, shaking out crisp folds of gray-black cotton. The new robe settled over her shoulders with a satisfying weight¡ªloose enough for quick movements but fitted enough to avoid catching on things during an escape. A gentle knock echoed through the room. Lin Yue pressed her eye to the peephole, confirming the maid¡¯s familiar round face and loaded breakfast tray. ¡°Thank you.¡± Lin Yue accepted the tray. ¡°I¡¯ll bring fresh water in an hour,¡± the maid said. ¡°Just leave the basin outside your door for collection before then.¡± Lin Yue nodded. ¡°Got it. Thanks.¡± The lock clicked shut with a reassuring clink. Xue already sat up in bed, nose twitching like a hungry rabbit¡¯s. Lin Yue laughed at the kid¡¯s eager expression. Steam wafted from the loaded breakfast tray. Lin Yue inhaled the rich aroma of rice congee mixed with savory pork buns. Pickled vegetables added sharp notes to the morning air, while perfectly boiled eggs nestled against a large pitcher of soy milk. Lin Yue scooped up a modest portion of congee, adding chunks of pork from a steamed bun. The warmth spread through her chest¡ªactual hot food still felt novel after years of dry bread and rats. She pushed the remaining dishes toward Xue. ¡°Eat up, kid. You earned it.¡± While Xue devoured the feast, Lin Yue crossed to examine their sorted loot. Neat piles covered the floor¡ªXue had arranged everything by type and apparent value. Copper coins formed careful stacks of twenty, while silver pieces gleamed in their own section. Jewelry and trinkets lay grouped by material and craftsmanship. Lin Yue counted methodically. The silver pieces added up quickly, and estimating pawn values for the trinkets... Forty-seven silver total, including what I had left from the bounty. Not bad. Their weapons collection proved decent, too. The two quality blades would serve well¡ªespecially Sheng Bo¡¯s dagger, with its superior steel and balance. The cheap knife would do for teaching Xue some basics, while the blade oil would keep them all from turning into scrap. Beyond the weapons and new clothes, their possessions remained sparse. Lin Yue flexed her fingers, watching Shadow¡¯s markings shift beneath her skin. It was time to shift priority to figuring out her unwanted passenger while they still had resources and breathing room. One thing was sure, he had proven that he wasn¡¯t just full of lies. He was dangerous as all heck. Chapter 5 – Double Soul Chapter 5 ¨C Double Soul Locking Xue in their room all day while she was gone would¡¯ve been a dick move. So Lin Yue found her a job. The innkeeper proved surprisingly amenable to a deal¡ªone copper per day to let Xue work as a dishwasher and waitress. Practically slave wages, but the old man would keep an eye on her while she handled other business. ¡°Stand still.¡± Lin Yue adjusted the folds of Xue¡¯s new robe, smoothing the fabric across her shoulders. The red sash added a splash of color against the gray-black cotton. In the bronze mirror, their matching outfits created an odd symmetry. Xue¡¯s yellow-blonde hair added another splash of color, freshly scrubbed with the lye soap. Half a silver well spent¡ªand a bribe to the maid had secured them access to the kitchen¡¯s water tank instead of dealing with endless basin-hauling for the scrub down. Lin Yue ran fingers through her own clean hair. When was the last time she¡¯d felt this fresh? The streets had a way of grinding filth into every pore until it became normal. ¡°We look like sisters!¡± Xue lifted her arms, making the sleeves dance in the air. ¡°You wish, brat.¡± Lin Yue ground her knuckles into Xue¡¯s scalp, mussing the clean hair. ¡°Eep!¡± Xue ducked away, giggling. Lin Yue patted down her robes, checking her hidden weapons and coin purse. Everything in place. She ushered Xue into the hallway and then turned the key in the lock. Click. The brass key disappeared into a concealed pocket, secured with a length of twine. The wooden stairs creaked under their feet as Lin Yue guided Xue down to the common room. The innkeeper stood behind his counter, polishing a ceramic cup with methodical strokes. His weathered eyes scanned them both from head to toe, lingering on their matching outfits. ¡°Kitchen¡¯s through there.¡± He jerked his chin toward a doorway draped with hemp curtains. A plump woman emerged from the kitchen, beckoned to Xue with flour-dusted hands. Xue glanced back at Lin Yue before scampering off. The kitchen staff swarmed around her like mother hens, cooing and fussing. ¡°Thanks for¡ª¡± Lin Yue turned toward the door. ¡°Hold it.¡± The innkeeper set down his cup. ¡°Lot of blood in your washing water. Scared the cleaning girl half to death.¡± Lin Yue stopped. ¡°Don¡¯t know what trouble you and your sister are in.¡± He planted both palms on the counter. ¡°But I¡¯ll say this once¡ªbring it to my door, you¡¯re out. Won¡¯t see that deposit again, either.¡± Lin Yue spun back and leaned across the counter until their faces nearly touched. ¡°Already got you figured out, old man. You¡¯re soft as fresh bread.¡± She tilted her head. ¡°If something happens to me out there, take care of Xue. She¡¯s got no one else.¡± The innkeeper met her stare and grunted. A grin spread across Lin Yue¡¯s face as she backed away, throwing up a casual wave. Even the bouncer¡¯s perpetual glare couldn¡¯t dampen her mood as she strode out into the morning air. She wandered past the usual pickpocket hotspots. The crowds of merchants haggling over silks and spices held no appeal today. A quick turn down a side street led to the quieter corners of Inn Street where delivery carts and kitchen waste dominated the atmosphere. Perfect. The narrow gap between a wine shop and defunct tea house offered the solitude she needed. Discarded crates and broken pottery littered the cramped space and the musty scent of rotting wood mixed with sour wine dregs spilling from cracked jugs. Lin Yue settled onto an overturned barrel, positioning herself to watch both ends of the alley. No windows overlooked the spot. Just brick walls and shadows. ¡°Time to talk, you parasitic bastard.¡± Lin Yue drummed fingers against the barrel. ¡°Get out here.¡± Lin Yue rolled up her sleeve and dug her thumb into the dark tattoo marking her forearm. The pressure sent sharp needles of pain through the muscle. She pressed harder, grinding against the bone. ¡°Get your ass out here before I make you regret it.¡± Silence answered. Not even a whisper of shadow. ¡°Fine.¡± Lin Yue pulled the folded steel knife from her belt. ¡°Guess we¡¯re doing this the hard way. Remember how much you screamed last time?¡± The empty alley offered no response. Lin Yue scanned the cramped space between buildings. She wasn¡¯t quite ready to carve herself outside¡­ Finding a private spot to carve herself up like some attention-seeking teenager would be a pain in the ass. The inn room wasn¡¯t an option. She¡¯d need to rent another temporary space just for this bullshit. Fuck waiting around for Shadow to show up. If he wanted to play hide and seek, she had other options. Getting possessed sucked¡ªbut maybe some righteous cultivator could fix that. The crowds parted as Lin Yue strode through district #11-23¡¯s central tax square. No one gave her a dirty look. Amazing what new clothes could do. No one even glanced at her missing fingers or scarred hands. The noble district¡¯s marble facades gleamed ahead, leading toward the temple district¡¯s golden spires. Incense smoke wafted between the countless shrines and temples. Most were just tourist traps¡ªplaces for merchants to pray for profits or lovesick idiots to beg for marriage prospects. But the towering righteous sect pagodas stood apart, their white stone walls reaching toward heaven.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. She had never actually visited the place. She knew better than to rob these places. The gang¡¯s lessons had been crystal clear¡ªcultivator temples meant certain death. They always kept an outer disciple around, usually some poor bastard on punishment duty... She headed for the nearest pagoda. Its brass bell glinted in the morning sun as she approached the stone steps. A cold tendril wrapped around her wrist, yanking her backward. Shadow¡¯s serpentine form materialized beside her. Was he almost a foot longer now? He was certainly more chubby. ¡°Are you trying to get us both killed?¡± Shadow¡¯s shadowy coils writhed in agitation. Lin Yue glared at the shadow dragon. ¡°Oh, now you wake up? Ignored my threats, but suddenly you¡¯re scared?¡± Shadow twirled away from her. ¡°I ate well. I was napping, and you¡¯re incredibly rude.¡± Lin Yue snatched at him, but he twisted away like smoke in the wind. The invisible tether kept him circling her just beyond her grasp as he drifted at its edge. ¡°You can¡¯t catch me.¡± Shadow performed a lazy loop through the air. ¡°I¡¯m not some pet you can discipline.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Lin Yue crossed her arms. ¡°If we can¡¯t have a civilized conversation, I¡¯ll just get rid of you entirely.¡± Shadow spiraled closer, red eyes gleaming. ¡°Oh, you stupid girl. Running to righteous cultivators?¡± He snorted a puff of shadow. ¡°They won¡¯t surgically remove me like some tumor. They¡¯ll obliterate us both! Righteous sects see everything in black and white¡ªtheir rigid dogma means instant death for anything they don¡¯t understand.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s lips curved into a predatory smile. ¡°Not very bright telling me that, was it? Now I know exactly how to kill you if you keep playing games.¡± ¡°And yourself!¡± Shadow¡¯s form expanded, nearly doubling in size. ¡°Are you really that dense? Their purification techniques will destroy us both!¡± ¡°Newsflash, asshole.¡± Lin Yue spread her arms wide, gesturing at the temple-lined street. ¡°My existence is pretty fucking miserable. Maybe I¡¯m ready to embrace nihilism and take us both out.¡± Shadow coiled through the air, red eyes glinting with amusement. ¡°You¡¯ve been living well lately. Nice room, good sleep, even taking care of that adorable little pet of yours. Why so dramatic?¡± ¡°Because if I¡¯m stuck with a parasite, it better keep its end of the bargain.¡± Lin Yue jabbed a finger at him. ¡°You promised immortality and power. Look at me¡ªI¡¯m still just a fucking street rat.¡± Shadow performed a lazy barrel roll. ¡°Perhaps. It is inconvenient to search for new hosts and your body possesses a double soul.¡± His snout formed into a mockery of a smile. ¡°It¡¯s nice and roomy in here, nice to uncurl in.¡± Lin Yue froze. ¡°Double soul? You mean because I transmigrated into this life?¡± ¡°Oh, impressive vocabulary!¡± Shadow twirled mockingly. ¡°Yes, though you and the original consciousness merged seamlessly ages ago. The combination doubled your dantian and meridian capacity¡ªquite the advantage for beginning cultivators.¡± Shadow spun in gleeful circles. ¡°Though that hardly matters since you¡¯re just a puny mortal, while I remain the greatest shadow god in¡ª¡± Lin Yue dug her thumb brutally into the tattoo on her arm. ¡°Ouch!¡± Shadow¡¯s form wavered. ¡°Focus, narcissist.¡± Lin Yue twisted her thumb deeper. ¡°Stay on topic and drop the self-worship bullshit.¡± Shadow puffed another cloud of shadow in indignation. ¡°Remember what happened last time you pissed me off? Want another taste?¡± Shadow¡¯s form wavered. ¡°Fine! Fine, you violent little self-harming psychopath. I¡¯ll help you cultivate. Just stop with the self-mutilation.¡± ¡°That¡¯s better.¡± Lin Yue relaxed her grip. ¡°Now about that immortality you promised¡ª¡± ¡°Um, perhaps we should continue this conversation elsewhere?¡± Shadow coiled anxiously through the air. ¡°About a dozen people are staring at the crazy woman talking to herself in front of a righteous sect temple.¡± Lin Yue glanced around. Sure enough, a small crowd had gathered to watch her apparent mental breakdown. A mother yanked her child closer, whispering warnings about the dangers of spirit herbs. Two merchants pointed and snickered behind raised hands. ¡°Shit.¡± Lin Yue stuffed her hands in her sleeves and speed-walked south, keeping her head down. The crowd¡¯s whispers followed her retreat toward the tax square. She kept moving until she reached an honest slum building and pushed into an alley. Alone again. Good enough. ¡°Alright asshole, how do we do this? What¡¯s step one?¡± Shadow snorted. ¡°Well, we have options. There¡¯s this lovely meridian-opening pill that might only kill you through spontaneous combustion. Or waste years meditating under some boring master¡ªthough I refuse to teach that garbage.¡± ¡°Get to the point.¡± ¡°Fine. We could find a qi-rich location to force your meridians open, but any decent spot in the city belongs to a sect.¡± Shadow¡¯s red eyes gleamed. ¡°Or... get me twelve spirit stones. I¡¯ll show you how to burn those meridians wide open.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it? Just spirit stones?¡± ¡°Just twelve perfect, pure, incredibly expensive spirit stones and a very high pain tolerance.¡± Shadow chuckled darkly. ¡°Simple, right?¡± Lin Yue leaned against the rough brick wall, crossing her arms. ¡°Most of those options sound like shit. So just spirit stones then? How hard could that be?¡± Shadow performed an elegant spiral, the air shimmering faintly with his motion. ¡°Well, each one is worth more than you can possibly imagine.¡± Lin Yue scoffed, though her face paled slightly. ¡°You say that like I have a vault somewhere filled with treasure. Do I look like some nobleman¡¯s daughter to you?¡± Shadow¡¯s form expanded, red eyes brightening with malicious glee. ¡°But you are wealthy¡ªat least by my standards. I¡¯ll grant you the mercy of sharing some of those delicious souls I devoured. The demonic market pays handsomely for such commodities.¡± ¡°The what now?¡± Lin Yue straightened, eyes narrowing. ¡°What kind of nonsense are you spouting? Since when do demonic cultivators have a market ?¡± ¡°Of course they do,¡± Shadow said. ¡°My previous host frequented it often. Everything the righteous sects possess, the demonic cultivators mirror¡ªjust more discreetly. There¡¯s even one near those filthy slums you love so much.¡± Lin Yue pushed off the wall. ¡°How the fuck have I never heard about this place? I know every shady deal spot in this district.¡± Shadow¡¯s form condensed, coiling closer. His maw split open, revealing rows of ghostly fangs that gleamed like polished obsidian. ¡°Simple. Mortals who stumble in there become dinner.¡± Chapter 6 – Twilight Market Chapter 6 ¨C Twilight Market Lin Yue hopped onto an empty crate, studying the utterly mundane alley entrance on the other side of the unnamed square. Nothing marked it as special¡ªjust another gap between buildings choked with refuse and shadows. A stray cat darted past, pausing to hiss at something unseen before bolting away. ¡°So let me get this straight. You want me to walk into a place where mortals become dinner?¡± Lin Yue kicked at an empty wine bottle. ¡°Sounds like you¡¯re trying to convince me to off myself.¡± Shadow performed a lazy loop through the air. ¡°Us, remember? We¡¯re connected. Your death equals my death.¡± ¡°Liar.¡± Lin Yue snorted. ¡°The second someone stronger walks by, you¡¯ll probably rip free and leave me for dead.¡± ¡°Such cynicism!¡± Shadow coiled closer. ¡°You should feel honored. I find your vessel quite acceptable.¡± ¡°Bullshit.¡± ¡°Listen carefully, ignorant child.¡± Shadow¡¯s form puffed up. It reminded her of a cat trying to make itself look bigger than it was. ¡°Mortals lack spiritual barriers. They wander around spiritually naked¡ªtheir soul energy radiating like beacon fires to anyone with cultivation. Those righteous sect fools call it qi.¡± Lin Yue straightened. ¡°News flash, asshole. I¡¯m a mortal.¡± She gestured at herself. ¡°Unless your parasitic ass somehow made me immortal while I wasn¡¯t looking?¡± Shadow drifted. ¡°Mortals and immortals¡ªsuch sloppy terminology. These cultivators strut around calling themselves immortal just because they can punch through a wall or shoot sparkly lights from their hands.¡± The ethereal dragon performed an elaborate loop-de-loop. ¡°True immortality belongs to gods like myself. These weaklings? They¡¯ll die just the same when entropy devours this mid-shit plane. Real immortality means ascending beyond¡ªto the higher realms.¡± Lin Yue squinted at the serpentine form. ¡°Planes? Heavens? Mid-shit plane? What the fuck?¡± She jabbed a finger into his body that sent him sailing away. ¡°Start making sense, you stupid worm.¡± Shadow recoiled, his smoky form billowing. ¡°Worm? WORM?¡± Red eyes blazed like twin furnaces. ¡°I am an elite Shadow Dragon God! How dare¡ª¡± ¡°For fuck¡¯s sake.¡± Lin Yue pressed her palms against her temples. ¡°We¡¯ll be here all damn day at this rate.¡± She slapped her hands against her thighs. ¡°Can you please focus?¡± Shadow¡¯s smoky form compressed into a tight coil. ¡°Look, I don¡¯t want to waste time either. All this soul energy is making me sleepy, and your soul is a cozy place, even if it¡¯s filled with the most ridiculous things.¡± He stretched out like a cat in sunlight. Lin Yue rolled her eyes. ¡°Fine. Explain the planes then. And while you¡¯re at it, tell me why I won¡¯t end up as someone¡¯s lunch. Oh, and this immortality bullshit too.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Shadow uncoiled and drew a line of smoke near Lin Yue¡¯s knees. ¡°See these lower planes? That¡¯s where most mortals exist. Weak energy, pathetic creatures clawing their way toward the heavenly realm.¡± Shadow¡¯s form rippled as he created dozens of smoky dots floating above the line. ¡°These are mid-planes¡ªlike this city. Powerful cultivators, divine beasts, heavenly immortals, yadda yadda, create them. Some stick around forever, others pop like bubbles. They float randomly through the multi-verse, more than anyone can count.¡± Lin Yue studied the floating diagram. ¡°Wait. Is that why everything comes through portals? All our resources, supplies¡ª¡± ¡°Bingo!¡± Shadow swirled excitedly. ¡°Now you¡¯re catching on.¡± Shadow¡¯s smoky form twisted until he was eating his tail. ¡°Everyone wants power. Even those self-righteous sect fools who preach about spiritual enlightenment¡ªthey¡¯re all chasing immortality and superpowers. At least demons admit it.¡± A third line of smoke materialized above the others. ¡°Here¡¯s where it gets interesting. The heavens¡ªmy true home!¡± The smoke separated into distinct layers. ¡°Different sections for different dogma. The rulers up there enforce their rules on the lower realms according to whatever bullshit doctrine they follow.¡± Lin Yue scratched her chin. ¡°Hold up. How can they all enforce rules at once? Wouldn¡¯t they conflict?¡± Shadow burst into crackling laughter that echoed off the alley walls. ¡°They don¡¯t! They carve up the mortal realm like a feast. That¡¯s why everything¡¯s so fractured. These ¡®gods¡¯ are just entitled pricks doing whatever they want.¡± He swirled dramatically. ¡°The universe bends to their whims.¡± ¡°Fascinating geography lesson.¡± Lin Yue crossed her arms. ¡°But you¡¯re dodging one very important point.¡± Shadow¡¯s red eyes blinked. ¡°What point?¡± ¡°How the fuck won¡¯t I end up as someone¡¯s dinner in this demon cultivator market you keep pushing?¡± Lin Yue slapped her palms on her thighs. Shadow bobbed at her. ¡°Most demonic cultivators will snatch mortal souls without thinking twice. Free snack, free cash¡ªthey operate just like you. Instead of cutting purse strings, they clip people.¡± Lin Yue drummed her fingers against the crate. ¡°So me walking in there would be like tossing my money pouch in the middle of the gang den floor?¡± ¡°But! But!¡± Shadow performed an excited spiral. ¡°You¡¯ve got me now!¡± ¡°What, you make me immune or something?¡± Shadow¡¯s crackling laughter bounced off the alley walls. ¡°Hell no. You¡¯re defenseless as a newborn.¡± He coiled tighter. ¡°The difference is I¡¯ve got your soul wrapped up nice and tight in my coils. They won¡¯t smell you properly¡ªyou¡¯ll register as someone hiding their power. Makes them wary.¡± Lin Yue frowned. ¡°Or makes me look weak?¡± ¡°Well, yeah.¡± Shadow twisted into intricate patterns. ¡°But lots hide their strength. It¡¯s a game. Long as you don¡¯t let them realize you¡¯re mortal, you should be fine. If you seem valuable or protected, no one will fuck with you randomly.¡± He paused. ¡°Probably.¡± ¡°This sounds like bullshit.¡± Lin Yue kicked another bottle over. ¡°Can¡¯t you just make their heads explode?¡± Shadow¡¯s form twisted in front of Lin Yue¡¯s face. ¡°Are you even listening? Mortals are like walking snacks without wrappers. No protection, no barriers¡ªtheir souls just float there ready for picking.¡± His smoky coils rippled. ¡°Cultivators pack their souls behind walls of spiritual energy. Popping their heads takes actual effort.¡± Lin Yue picked at a splinter in the crate. ¡°If mortals are such easy prey, why aren¡¯t we extinct? Every square should be full of assholes like that one in Rat Square, sucking up souls like noodles.¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Shadow muttered. ¡°That incident might¡¯ve been my fault. The idiot did whatever I suggested without thinking.¡± Red eyes flickered with amusement. ¡°Anyone that obvious gets caught fast.¡± ¡°But?¡± Lin Yue prompted. ¡°Sometimes entire districts vanish overnight. Poof! All souls harvested for some fancy weapon or ritual.¡± Shadow¡¯s form expanded. ¡°The bureaucrats just replace the population and bury the news. Righteous sects help keep everything quiet, maintain order.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s fingers froze on the crate. Anxiety crept through her. ¡°That actually happens? I¡¯ve never heard of¡ª¡± Lin Yue stared at the empty square as forgotten whispers surfaced. Stories passed in hushed tones about entire districts vanishing overnight. Official notices always blamed fires, plagues, or riots¡ªbut the pattern clicked into place now. No survivors. Ever. The splinters beneath her fingers turned sharp as her grip tightened on the crate. The city stretched vast around her, filled with dark corners and hungry predators she¡¯d never truly understood. Even the gangs seemed tame compared to soul-hungry cultivators stalking the shadows. ¡°How do I get those spirit stones?¡± Lin Yue released the crate, flexing her cramping fingers. Shadow erupted in crackling laughter that bounced off the alley walls. ¡°Finally! Now we¡¯re talking business.¡± His smoky form twisted with excitement. ¡°I can provide souls¡ªtwelve for the stones, plus a small fee for the trader. We¡¯ve got plenty stored from your former friends.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s laugh cut sharp as broken glass. Shadow continued his spirals. ¡°We just need an immortal vendor who deals in spirit stones and accepts energy payments. The demonic market crawls with them.¡± His red eyes glowed brighter. ¡°I¡¯ll handle the transfer myself.¡± ¡°What else?¡± Lin Yue drummed her fingers against her knee. ¡°Besides spirit stones?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll want some talisman papers.¡± Shadow performed an elaborate loop. ¡°Oh! We¡¯ll need some blank manuals too. Much cheaper than the written ones.¡± His red eyes glowed brighter. ¡°I can ink the basic techniques once we crack open those meridians. Then¡ª¡± He floated near her head. ¡°You¡¯ll need to join a sect.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Yue recoiled from the crate as she stood up. ¡°Can¡¯t stay in the mortal districts forever.¡± Shadow¡¯s smoky form compressed into tight coils. ¡°You¡¯ll need to move to the immortal section. There are rules about co-habitation.¡± He twisted and grinned at her with teeth. ¡°Ever wonder why you barely see cultivators around here? Bureaucracy!¡± Lin Yue blinked at him. ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Shadow interrupted. ¡°The cultivator district isn¡¯t far. Just as fucked up as what you¡¯re used to.¡± He drew another set of lines of smoke in the air. ¡°See? The righteous sect and demonic sect areas are only as far as Inn Street is from these slums.¡±If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Lin Yue stared at the floating diagram. Her brain struggled to process the information. ¡°What... the fuck?¡± She shook her head. ¡°How does that even work? Don¡¯t they murder each other for breakfast?¡± Shadow flipped over. ¡°An endless dance. They can¡¯t exist without each other anymore.¡± She kicked at loose stones on the ground. ¡°Maybe we should skip this cultivation bullshit. Just gather souls when needed and figure something else out with Xue.¡± Shadow snorted. ¡°Oh? Is the mouthy little bitch finally scared?¡± Red eyes blazed brighter. ¡°Won¡¯t work anyway. Someone will sense that double soul of yours, eventually. They¡¯ll want you. Maybe alive, maybe as a trapped soul, maybe a fancy spirit stone?¡± His smoky form twisted into a sneer. ¡°Then I¡¯ll find a new host, and you¡¯ll be food.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t leave Xue alone in this shithole,¡± Lin Yue replied. Shadow tilted his head. ¡°Attachments to your little pet? Bring her with us, then.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Yue straightened from the crate. ¡°Make her a cultivator, too.¡± Shadow twirled. ¡°Eventually. For now, we can just take her soul¡ª¡± Lin Yue snatched Shadow¡¯s ethereal form mid-twirl. Her fingers clenched around the cold, metallic sensation of his essence. ¡°What did you just say?¡± Shadow went limp in her grip, his smoky form drooping between her fingers like silk. The metallic cold sensation remained, but the usual resistance vanished. ¡°You can¡¯t hurt me now. You need me!¡± Shadow¡¯s voice carried an amused lilt. ¡°Besides, I didn¡¯t suggest harming her or stealing her soul myself. I meant you should take it.¡± His red eyes dimmed to dull embers. ¡°You¡¯re not a shadow dragon¡ªyou don¡¯t have to eat it. Just keep it in your orbit. Humans love keeping possessions, don¡¯t they? You can give it back later, safe and sound.¡± Lin Yue released her grip. Shadow drifted upward, reforming into lazy coils. She shook her head. ¡°I don¡¯t understand.¡± ¡°Demon cultivators define selfishness.¡± Shadow performed a slow spiral. ¡°But some mortals hold value to them. Take Xue¡¯s soul and no one will touch her body¡ªcorpses barely compare to souls in value.¡± His form rippled. ¡°Xue won¡¯t even notice, as long as you maintain the connection.¡± The words hit Lin Yue like ice water. Her fingers twitched as she processed Shadow¡¯s suggestion, the implications crawling through her mind like venomous spiders. ¡°You want me to turn Xue into a¡ªa zombie?¡± Lin Yue¡¯s tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth at the word. Shadow spun through the air, releasing puffs of ethereal smoke that dissipated before hitting the ground. ¡°You¡¯re really reading into this too much. It¡¯s just a simple soul contract¡ªXue becomes yours.¡± He performed an elaborate twirl. ¡°Think ahead! When we¡¯re rich, you can make her a cultivator too. Your first little disciple! Isn¡¯t it great?¡± Lin Yue scraped her boot against the rough stone, watching small pebbles scatter across the square. ¡°This has gotten awfully off track...¡± ¡°Well.¡± Shadow¡¯s form compressed into tight coils. ¡°I¡¯m not the one with all the hang-ups, am I?¡± The words settled like lead in Lin Yue¡¯s stomach. Her fingers traced the rough edges of her robe while her mind raced through the entire conversation. Spirit stones. Soul contracts. Cultivation. Markets full of demons who¡¯d eat her alive if they knew what she really was. She stared at the rough stone beneath her feet. Nine years of hell flashed through her mind¡ªevery beating, every assault before she could defend herself, every violation, every moment of degradation the slums had carved into her flesh. Her missing fingers ached with phantom pain. No wonder I can¡¯t let Xue go through that shit. Rage burned through her veins, hot enough to scorch away uncertainty. The choice crystallized in her gut. Better to dive into hell on her own terms than wait for it to drag her down. Lin Yue lurched forward and strode toward the alley entrance. ¡°Fuck it.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Shadow spiraled around her head. ¡°One crucial detail¡ªdon¡¯t mention me to anyone.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Lin Yue paused at the alley¡¯s threshold. ¡°Jealousy breeds danger.¡± Shadow coiled tighter. ¡°They¡¯ll try to steal me from you. Bad for both of us¡ªworse for you.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Lin Yue scanned the empty square one last time. ¡°How¡¯s this soul exchange supposed to work?¡± Shadow performed a lazy loop. ¡°Just bullshit like you always do. I¡¯ll handle the souls when needed.¡± His form rippled. ¡°Remember¡ªonly you can see me.¡± Lin Yue stepped into the alley. Heat slammed into her like a furnace blast. The world twisted sideways, reality bending until her stomach lurched. Wood transformed to stone beneath her feet. Daylight bled into evening shadows. ¡°What the actual fuck?¡± Lin Yue stumbled against the now-stone wall. ¡°Oh, right.¡± Shadow drifted past. ¡°Might be a bit different and disorienting. Forgot to mention that.¡± ¡°Fuck you.¡± The alley opened into a thriving night market, lanterns casting an eternal twilight across the crowded street. Paper lanterns swayed overhead, their flames never dimming despite the lack of wind. ¡°Time doesn¡¯t move here,¡± Shadow drifted beside Lin Yue. ¡°The residents prefer darkness.¡± A scaled serpent slithered beneath a pile of discarded spirit tablets. Lin Yue tracked its movement until she passed it. Merchants shouted prices from stalls draped in silks that shifted colors with each step. The crowd pressed together¡ªbut these weren¡¯t ordinary people. A woman with fox ears haggled over crystalline bottles. A man covered in golden scales examined spirit weapons. Lin Yue¡¯s steps faltered. A translucent figure floated above a nearby stall, her ethereal robes rippling in the nonexistent wind. ¡°Fresh possessions!¡± The ghost merchant called. ¡°Quality vessels, barely used! Perfect for cultivation!¡± ¡°What the absolute fuck?¡± Lin Yue whispered. The market pulsed with energy and life¡ªor whatever passed for life here. Laughter and haggling filled the air. Cultivators in elaborate robes browsed alongside creatures straight from nightmares. The scene felt almost... normal. A massive figure shouldered through the crowd. The pig-faced cultivator, tusks gleaming with golden caps, slammed his fist into a passing bull-man¡¯s jaw. The crowd scattered as the bull-man seized his attacker. Bones cracked. Blood sprayed across cobblestones. The bull-man straddled his opponent¡¯s chest, methodically pulping flesh with each punch. When the pig-man stopped twitching, the bull-man carved strips of meat from the corpse. ¡°Fresh pork!¡± The bull-man bit into a bloody chunk. ¡°Half price for the next hour!¡± ¡°Don¡¯t get distracted.¡± Shadow coiled tighter. ¡°You¡¯ve got no sect, no backing. You¡¯re nothing here.¡± Lin Yue ducked her head. ¡°What exactly are we looking for?¡± ¡°A soul vendor.¡± Shadow¡¯s form twisted through the air. ¡°One that won¡¯t eat you on sight.¡± ¡°You said they were common.¡± Shadow released a smoky snort. ¡°Oh, they are. Finding one that won¡¯t consume you instantly?¡± His form rippled. ¡°That¡¯s the trick.¡± ¡°Fuck.¡± Lin Yue pressed closer to the buildings, avoiding the main flow of traffic. Lin Yue edged through the night market¡¯s sparse crowd. The whole setup made no sense. Blood sprayed across cobblestones while merchants haggled prices. A demon gnawed on fresh corpse-meat next to a stall selling spiritual herbs. The contrast twisted her stomach. If everyone kills each other on sight, how does anyone make money? She studied the merchants¡¯ stalls, searching for patterns. A gopher-man arranged glowing pots filled with writhing plants. Incense smoke curled up from a burly fur-covered vendor¡¯s weapon display. Curved axes and serrated blades gleamed on his tattered mat. In a nearby square, a woman draped in living snakes preached to gathered cultivators. The serpents twisted through her hair, forming patterns that burned into Lin Yue¡¯s retinas. Red liquid trickled from a stone fountain, the droplets catching lantern light like fresh blood. Too many sights. Too many sounds. Nothing made sense¡ªno clear rules emerged to her. Even the simplest stall might hide deadly traps. What the fuck does a soul trader even look like? Shadow¡¯s presence weighed heavy against her skin. Doubt gnawed at her gut. Every step could lead straight into an ambush. For all she knew, Shadow guided her toward someone who¡¯d tear out her soul for breakfast. Lin Yue¡¯s shoulder slammed into solid muscle. She stumbled back, looking up¡ªand up¡ªat the mountain of flesh she¡¯d bumped into. Ram horns curved from a flat face. Red eyes blazed down at her. Shadow¡¯s crackling laughter filled her ears. ¡°Oh! Making friends already, rat?¡± The demon¡¯s crimson eyes narrowed. ¡°You dare?¡± His massive hand reached toward her with deliberate slowness. Each muscle rippled beneath skin that gleamed like polished bronze in the lantern light. Lin Yue lifted her chin and met those burning eyes with pure contempt. The same look she¡¯d given gang leaders and street thugs a thousand times before. ¡°Hey.¡± The word dropped from her lips with calculated boredom. The demon¡¯s fingers froze mid-reach, hovering inches from her face. ¡°Step out of my way.¡± Lin Yue injected each word with ice-cold disdain. The demon remained motionless. Confusion flickered across his flat features, transforming his intimidating presence into something less so. Shadow darted to the side. His ethereal form expanded, and then he puffed at her, releasing a gust that sent her hair floating in an otherworldly breeze. The demon withdrew his hand as if he¡¯d reached for a viper. Without a word, he stepped aside, his movements precise and careful. Lin Yue strode past, each step measured despite her thundering pulse. Sweat trickled down her spine as adrenaline surged through her system. When she was a safe distance, she wiped her damp forehead with her sleeve. ¡°Nice work!¡± Shadow cackled. She shook from head to toe until she clenched her teeth to stop them from chattering. There was nothing to do but press forward through the market. The less said about that encounter, the better. Shadow spun around her in excited loops before snapping straight as an arrow. ¡°Soul seller. Big one. Right over there.¡± Lin Yue followed Shadow¡¯s direction to a crude dirt hovel that stuck out like a broken tooth among the market¡¯s stone structures. Blue flames flickered in metal brackets along its walls, casting an eerie glow across the packed earth. ¡°What the heck?¡± The words slipped out before she could stop them. ¡°Why this one?¡± Lin Yue studied the primitive structure. The contrast between its simple construction and the surrounding market made no sense. ¡°Because they¡¯re fat,¡± Shadow said. ¡°Full of souls. I can smell them.¡± His ethereal form rippled with excitement. ¡°Anyone that full won¡¯t be desperate to eat you. You¡¯ll only have to fight their greed instead of their hunger.¡± Lin Yue swallowed hard and took a step toward the hovel. Chapter 7 – Yanlue’s Price Chapter 7 ¨C Yanlue¡¯s Price Cool air rushed against Lin Yue¡¯s face as she approached the hovel. Each step increased the pressure against her skin, like walking into deep water. The sensation crawled across her nerves, setting her teeth on edge. ¡°Go on.¡± Shadow swirled around her shoulders. ¡°They won¡¯t bite. Probably.¡± Lin Yue scanned the market. No one watched the crude structure. Merchants and monsters alike turned their backs, creating a bubble of deliberate ignorance around the entrance. Frickin¡¯ hell. She stepped through the threshold into darkness. Blue flames cast shifting shadows across the outside dirt walls, but left the interior mostly enshadowed. The only things visible were a gnarled tree stump in the center, beside a rough stone slab that served as a table. Lin Yue edged forward, scanning the shadows for movement. ¡°Such a nervous little bird.¡± A deep female voice echoed through the darkness. Shadow floated through the darkness, his form casting an eerie glow that made the shadows deeper, more menacing. Lin Yue steadied her trembling hands as she reached the makeshift table. ¡°Sit.¡± The voice drifted from the darkness. Blue lights shimmered, revealing indistinct features¡ªa suggestion of movement, nothing more. ¡°I want to trade souls for stones.¡± Lin Yue forced steel into her words. ¡°Ahh. Souls.¡± The voice dripped with amusement. ¡°Such precious things. Like spirit stones¡ªrare, valuable. And here flutters a little bird, all nerves and sweat.¡± A low chuckle filled the space. ¡°Yet this bird puffs up, scares away the bigger animals. Does the little bird have claws?¡± Shadow hummed, a noncommittal sound that rang with false innocence. ¡°I have souls.¡± Lin Yue planted her feet. ¡°Trade or not?¡± A massive face lurched into the blue light. Pink-painted lips stretched across amphibian features. Golden rings pierced through thick folds of throat-flesh. Lin Yue¡¯s heart slammed against her ribs as she stared into the face of what could only be described as a giant, woman-sized frog. The frog-woman¡¯s throat bubbled with amusement. ¡°I am Madam Yanlue.¡± She leaned forward across the stone slab. ¡°Perhaps instead of trading, I should simply take those souls from such a nervous little bird. More profitable that way.¡± ¡°Lin Yue.¡± The name slipped out before Lin Yue could stop it. Shadow¡¯s earlier words echoed in her mind¡ªthis creature was gorged on souls already. ¡°Why risk a fight when trade benefits us both?¡± Lin Yue drummed her fingers on the stone. ¡°You¡¯ll gain souls either way.¡± Blue smoke curled through the darkness as Yanlue lit an ornate pipe. The ethereal wisps illuminated shelves packed with bottles, trinkets, and things that gleamed. Bones clinked together in the shadows as Yanlue settled onto a cushion across the table. ¡°What exactly does the little bird seek?¡± Shadow floated near Lin Yue¡¯s ear. ¡°Twelve inert spirit stones for three souls.¡± ¡°Twelve inert spirit stones.¡± Lin Yue kept her voice steady. A deep hum resonated through the hovel. Yanlue slid twelve dull pebbles onto the stone surface. Shadow writhed in agitation. ¡°No! These are mere fragments. We need full-sized stones. Cheat!¡± Lin Yue stood up. ¡°I need proper spirit stones, not pebbles. Why would I offer three souls for this?¡± A warning rumbled from Yanlue¡¯s throat. ¡°The bird should specify her desires more clearly.¡± She swept the pebbles away and placed a larger stone on the table. ¡°Perhaps this meets your requirements?¡± Shadow swirled excitedly. ¡°Yes¡ªthis is what we need.¡± Lin Yue settled back onto the stump and nodded. ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°Four stones, returned when spent.¡± Madam Yanlue tapped her webbed fingers against the stone. ¡°A fair trade.¡± Shadow twisted through the air. ¡°Impossible. The stones shatter during meridian opening.¡± Lin Yue leaned forward, the blue flames casting strange patterns across her face. ¡°I can¡¯t return them. What if I promise all future spirit stone trades come through you? I¡¯ll need more as I progress.¡± ¡°Trust?¡± Yanlue¡¯s throat-flesh quivered. ¡°From a stranger who stumbled into my shop?¡± ¡°Trust started when I walked in here.¡± Lin Yue spread her hands. ¡°Are you so comfortable with power you¡¯ve forgotten how to meet halfway?¡± Yanlue stared through the smoke curling from her pipe. Eleven more spirit stones clicked against the table surface. ¡°Take the pebbles too.¡± Shadow drifted closer. ¡°They spend well enough.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll take those fragments for another soul.¡± Lin Yue pointed at the scattered pebbles.Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there. ¡°Done.¡± Yanlue swept the smaller stones into a neat pile. ¡°Payment.¡± Shadow swooped toward the center of the room. His form convulsed, and four glowing orbs burst forth from his mouth. Lin Yue felt like she could feel them wailing as they hung suspended in the air. A pink blur shot across the table. Yanlue¡¯s tongue snapped out, impossibly long and muscled. The souls vanished in a single fluid motion. Lin Yue froze. That tongue could separate her head from her shoulders before she could blink. Lin Yue reached forward with deliberate slowness, gathering the stones and pebbles into her pouch. Madam Yanlue blew another ring of blue smoke. ¡°How does such a small bird harvest her souls?¡± Lin Yue traced a finger along the stone slab¡¯s rough surface. ¡°These tried to kill me. Their friends joined them shortly after.¡± A deep rumbling laugh shook the hovel. Bottles clinked on their shelves as Yanlue¡¯s massive form quivered with mirth. ¡°So the little bird sports claws after all¡ªsharp enough for mortals at least.¡± She tapped ash from her pipe. ¡°Bring more soon?¡± ¡°Probably sooner than expected.¡± Lin Yue pocketed her bag. The weight felt reassuring against her hip. Shadow coiled through the air. ¡°The talisman paper. And a blank skill manual.¡± Lin Yue straightened on her stump. ¡°Know where I might find some other supplies?¡± Yanlue croaked out directions through a cloud of blue smoke. Lin Yue memorized them while keeping her skepticism firmly in check¡ªtrusting a soul-eating frog seemed about as smart as juggling knives blindfolded. Once they were outside, Shadow swirled excitedly around her head. ¡°Let¡¯s charge those pebbles now.¡± Lin Yue pulled them from the pouch. The stones sat cold and lifeless in her palm. ¡°How?¡± ¡°Find a dark corner.¡± Shadow drifted toward the corner where the hovel met the wall of buildings. It was nearly pitch black in the crevasse. Lin Yue stepped into the darkness, keeping one eye on the street. ¡°Hold them out.¡± Shadow circled her outstretched hand. Lin Yue spread the pebbles across her palm. Shadow¡¯s form condensed into thick black smoke, wrapping around the stones. The ethereal substance seeped into the dull blue surface. Sparkles ignited within each pebble, transforming them from dead rock to living light. ¡°Perfect.¡± Shadow reformed above her shoulder. ¡°We¡¯ll do the same with the big ones back at the inn. Then you can start using them.¡± Lin Yue rolled the glowing pebbles between her fingers before hiding them away in her robe pocket. ¡°They¡¯re currency. Better than flashing souls or full stones in the market,¡± Shadow said. That only made sense, and it mirrored the mortal world. That seemed to be a theme. Everything was a mirror here. Nature didn¡¯t change, whether demon or rat, it seemed. The market¡¯s eternal twilight cast strange shadows as she navigated the twisting paths. A massive grasshopper¡ªan actual insect the size of a market stall¡ªclicked its mandibles at her approach. The creature¡¯s compound eyes reflected the strange half-light as it arranged sheets of talisman paper with its front legs. ¡°Five soul fragments.¡± Lin Yue placed the pebbles on the counter. The grasshopper¡¯s antennae twitched. It swept the papers faster than she could count into a lacquered wooden box and pushed it toward her with mechanical precision. The transaction completed without the creature uttering a single word. Lin Yue stuffed the box into her increasingly cramped bag. Need something bigger. Would a backpack make her stand out? The skill manual store was more like something she expected compared to Yanlue¡¯s hovel¡ªweathered black oak that seemed to absorb light. Lin Yue studied the buildings lining the street beside it. A burning realization hit her. No doors marked their facades. No windows broke their surfaces. The structures existed as mere suggestions of architecture, like backdrop paintings in a theater. Just like those shitty video game buildings you couldn¡¯t enter. Lin Yue snorted at the comparison. The market stalls, Yanlue¡¯s hovel, the manual store¡ªthese stood out in sharp relief against the fake scenery. Red paper lanterns flickered in the shop¡¯s windows, casting dancing shadows across worn wooden steps. She pushed open the door, half-expecting some jump-scare ghost to leap out. Instead, a perfectly ordinary man sat behind a counter, absorbed in reading a book. He didn¡¯t even look up as she entered. Lin Yue scanned the shelves lining the shop¡¯s walls. Bamboo scrolls stacked in neat rows competed for space with leather-bound tomes. Strange symbols glowed on some spines, while others remained deliberately blank. The air smelled of old paper and ink. The shopkeeper turned another page in his book. ¡°What brings you here?¡± ¡°I need a blank skill manual.¡± Lin Yue kept her distance from the counter. ¡°Won¡¯t learn much from empty pages.¡± He didn¡¯t look up from his reading. ¡°It¡¯s for my master.¡± Lin Yue shifted her weight. ¡°He plans to teach me personally.¡± Shadow spun through the air above her head. ¡°That¡¯s right! I am the master and you are my lowly disciple now!¡± Lin Yue¡¯s fingers twitched with the urge to grab Shadow¡¯s ethereal form and squeeze. Shut up, shut up, shut up. She forced her face to remain neutral, though her jaw ached from clenching. The shopkeeper grunted and stood. He shuffled to the shelves behind him, selected a volume bound in dark leather, and returned to his seat. The book landed on the counter with a soft thump as he resumed reading. ¡°How many spirit shards?¡± Lin Yue reached for her pouch. He looked up from his book. ¡°None. But you must answer my question.¡± A cold weight settled in Lin Yue¡¯s stomach. ¡°What question?¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s eyes locked onto hers. ¡°What kind of master lets a mortal slip of a girl walk around this market alone?¡± Shadow spun gleefully overhead and let out a barking laugh. ¡°Nice knowing you, kid!¡± Chapter 8 – The Rule of Three Chapter 8 ¨C The Rule of Two The shelves of books pressed closer, their spines glowing with otherworldly symbols that pulsed like warning beacons. There were times to bluff. Times to fight. Times to talk. And times to run. Lin Yue spun and bolted for the door, her feet pounding against the worn floorboards. Her bag slapped against her hip as spirit stones clinked inside. A gust of wind slammed the door shut. The impact echoed through the shop like a death knell. She whirled around, fingers already reaching for her knife. The shopkeeper remained motionless behind his counter, still focused on his book as if nothing had happened. His stillness only proved more terrifying. Blood rushed through her ears as her heart hammered against her ribs. Shadow stretched lazily at the edge of his invisible tether, rolling through the air like smoke from an opium den. ¡°Getting interesting now, isn¡¯t it?¡± Shadow¡¯s words dripped with amusement. The shopkeeper raised his palm toward Shadow. ¡°Silence.¡± Shadow convulsed mid-air. His serpentine form twisted as a dozen glowing orbs erupted from his maw. The souls streamed through the air like pearls on an invisible string, each one disappearing into an intricate tattoo etched across the shopkeeper¡¯s palm. Shadow spun in frantic circles, wheezing and choking. Lin Yue¡¯s stomach dropped. The pieces clicked together¡ªthe soul gathering, Shadow¡¯s insistence on more kills, the convenient explanation about cultivation requirements. A scam. Every bit of it designed to feed this shopkeeper¡¯s collection. ¡°You lying piece of shit.¡± Lin Yue clenched her fists. ¡°Was any of it real? The spirit stones? The cultivation?¡± Shadow¡¯s laughter echoed through the shop. ¡°Oh, you¡¯d still die without collecting enough soul power to sustain me. Though I admit...¡± He twisted around her arm like smoke. ¡°You might have gone a tad overboard with the body count.¡± She wanted to wring his neck again, but she ignored Shadow¡¯s taunting and focused on the shopkeeper. The old bastard still hadn¡¯t looked up from his book. ¡°What do you want?¡± The shopkeeper turned a page. ¡°If I desired your death or merely your soul, you¡¯d already be another decoration in my collection.¡± ¡°Sure. Because that¡¯s not ominous at all.¡± Lin Yue kept her hand on her knife. ¡°What I seek is far more useful.¡± The shopkeeper closed his book with a snap. ¡°A disciple to serve.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s muscles tensed at the word ¡®serve.¡¯ Old memories surfaced¡ªrough hands, dark alleys, desperate choices. The tension melted away as quickly as it came. It wouldn¡¯t be the first time spreading her legs meant survival. She could manipulate¡ª A disgusted snort erupted from the shopkeeper. ¡°Why do mortals invariably reduce everything to reproductive functions?¡± ¡°Wait.¡± Lin Yue blinked. ¡°Did you just¡ª¡± ¡°Read your thoughts? You broadcast them with the subtlety of a temple gong.¡± The shopkeeper tapped his fingers against the book¡¯s leather cover. ¡°I have no interest in such base desires. You should put them out of mind.¡± ¡°You¡¯re in my head?¡± ¡°Unfortunately.¡± Shadow unwound himself from his coiled position and flew around. ¡°Speaking of heads, this one¡¯s special. Double soul. Pure transmigration specimen.¡± He preened in the air. ¡°Surely that deserves some reward for my excellent hunting?¡± The book slammed onto the counter with a crack that shook dust from the shelves. The shopkeeper¡¯s annoyance radiated across the room like a physical wave. Shadows peeled away from the walls. They took shape¡ªfoxes, tigers, hounds¡ªall formed of the same ethereal darkness as Shadow. Their eyes gleamed with hungry light as they circled through the air. ¡°Can we eat him?¡± The spirits spoke in overlapping whispers that scraped against Lin Yue¡¯s skull. ¡°Master, please? Just a taste?¡± Shadow shot back to Lin Yue faster than an arrow, wrapping himself around her middle in trembling coils. His usual bravado evaporated. A cultivator master meant power, knowledge, and resources. It also meant obligations, expectations, and probably a metric ton of rules about proper behavior and respect. The kind of stuff that made her want to stab someone just thinking about it. And there¡¯s no way this creepy soul-collecting book merchant doesn¡¯t have ulterior motives . The question is whether those motives are worse than being stuck with a parasite dragon that apparently can¡¯t even keep the souls it steals.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°I¡¯ve wasted my time attempting to reassure you.¡± The shopkeeper stood, robes rippling with hidden symbols. ¡°You misunderstand. This isn¡¯t a negotiation.¡± What fucking reassurance? Lin Yue tensed. He hadn¡¯t offered any¡ªjust jumped straight to threats. A flash of crimson streaked through the air. Lin Yue snapped her arm up, blocking the splash of red ink from hitting her face. The liquid passed through her robe like it didn¡¯t exist and burned against her skin like acid. She yanked her sleeve up, staring at the mark etched into her flesh. ¡°What the fuck?¡± The symbol pulsed with an inner light, similar to Shadow¡¯s markings, but more... deliberate. Organized. Lin Yue clawed at it, trying to scrape it off with her fingernails. It was just as bad as the shadow ink. The shopkeeper¡¯s laughter echoed through the cramped shop, bouncing off walls of forbidden knowledge. ¡°Come to me.¡± His voice dripped honey and promises, wrapping around her mind like silk bonds. Lin Yue¡¯s muscles locked. Panic surged through her veins as she fought against the sudden seductive pull of his words. It reeked of mind control bullshit. But nothing happened. She remained rooted in place, the mark on her arm burning while her feet stayed firmly planted on the wooden floor. ¡°Don¡¯t fret.¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s words floated across the room. ¡°You retain your free will and precious agency.¡± Lin Yue snorted. Right. Because he was so into respecting people¡¯s personal boundaries? ¡°Our organization differs from those self-righteous sects.¡± He traced a symbol in the air. ¡°Your choices remain your own.¡± The red mark blazed against Lin Yue¡¯s skin like molten metal. Each pulse sent needles of agony through her flesh. ¡°Come here.¡± His command slithered through the air. The burning intensified. Lin Yue gritted her teeth as understanding crashed over her. Agency meant choice¡ªthe choice between obeying or suffering. The mark burrowed deeper, setting her veins on fire. The pain crawled through her blood like acid eating through metal. Fuck you and your agency. Lin Yue stepped forward, drilling holes into his smug face with her glare. ¡°Excellent.¡± The shopkeeper smiled. ¡°Such raw emotion. Such defiance even in compliance.¡± He drummed his fingers against the counter. ¡°You¡¯ll grow quite powerful.¡± The shopkeeper¡¯s fingers danced across the manual¡¯s blank pages. Black ink bloomed beneath his touch, spreading like spilled blood across previously pristine paper. The symbols twisted and writhed into readable text. ¡°These teachings will guide your path.¡± He pushed the manual toward Lin Yue. ¡°Once mastered, you¡¯ll join the Blackspire Sect as an outer disciple of Ink House.¡± Shadow unwound himself from Lin Yue¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Boss, she¡¯s got an attachment. A small pet.¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Master Yan¡¯s fingers traced another page, ink flowing beneath his touch. ¡°Then your first task becomes more... interesting. Complete your initial binding before joining the sect¡ªif you wish to keep your little companion.¡± The manual pressed cold against Lin Yue¡¯s palms. Her eyes fixed on the cover text: ¡®The Sable Script Manual: Lin Yue.¡¯ Ice spread through her veins. She hadn¡¯t given her name. Neither had Shadow. The bastard claimed he didn¡¯t read minds, yet¡ª ¡°Return once you¡¯ve opened your meridians.¡± Master Yan¡¯s words cut through her thoughts. ¡°If you fail to do so within ten days, kill yourself. Shadow will guide you to the correct location once you are ready. Tell no one of our arrangement.¡± The red mark burned deeper into Lin Yue¡¯s flesh. She clutched the manual tighter, muscles tensing against the searing pain. The whole ¡®kill yourself¡¯ bit was distressingly clear. She hated this. Was that the point? ¡°Your name?¡± The question slipped through gritted teeth. His lips curved upward. ¡°Master Yan Ruixian. Consider this small reward for your... resilience.¡± ¡°Boss!¡± Shadow spun in frantic circles. ¡°You¡¯re leaving me with her? What about finding more souls? I don¡¯t like her!¡± ¡°You will guide her for now,¡± Ruixian ordered. ¡°But why? Boss, why? I am so good at gathering for you!¡± Shadow said. ¡°Because she despises you.¡± Master Yan turned away. Shadow deflated like a punctured waterskin, anxiety radiating from his smoke wisps. Lin Yue backed toward the door, thoughts spinning between the manual, her new ¡°master,¡± and Xue waiting at the inn. At the door, she turned and fled. The manual pressed cold against her chest as she stalked through the market¡¯s twisted paths. One thing Shadow had got right¡ªshe needed power. Real power. The red ink¡¯s burn dulled to a slowly fading throb against her skin. Each pulse sparked another idea for revenge. She¡¯d start with Shadow. The parasite needed souls? She¡¯d find a way to starve him until he begged. The cultivation manual held secrets. Knowledge. Power. Yan Ruixian thought he could control her with pain? With threats? She allowed a bitter laugh to escape. Sheng Bo had thought the same thing. Now his corpse rotted in an alley, stripped of everything valuable. Everyone who hurt her ended up dead. Some took longer than others. Some required patience. Poison in a drink. A whispered rumor to the right ears. A well-placed bounty. But they all died. This ¡°master¡± stood taller than street thugs and gang leaders. But height just meant further to fall. Lin Yue traced the turns she had memorized toward the market¡¯s exit. If Yan spoke truth about agency, about choice... then she chose death. His death. When she grew strong enough, she¡¯d strike. And then, she¡¯d be the one making demands. If something doesn¡¯t kill me first. Chapter 9 – Blue Robes, Black Hearts Chapter 9 ¨C Blue Robes, Black Hearts Lin Yue froze mid-step. Two men blocked the alley ahead, their blue and silver robes vibrant against the dreary backdrop of the alley. Drawn swords gleamed in their hands, the polished steel reflecting the demon alley twilight. She backpedaled into a shadowed corner between vendor stalls. More robed figures emerged, weapons drawn and ready. Shadow stretched his serpentine form past her shoulder. ¡°Oh. That¡¯s bad.¡± ¡°Who are they?¡± Lin Yue stepped back deeper into the alley. ¡°Righteous pricks.¡± Shadow coiled tighter around her shoulders. ¡°They don¡¯t come here unless they¡¯re hunting something¡ªor someone.¡± The group swelled to thirteen, their matching robes and drawn blades forming a wall of lethal intent. The usual market bustle died. Demon merchants melted into doorways. Others drew weapons or gathered qi, sparks of power crackling through the stagnant air. ¡°What happens now?¡± Lin Yue checked her escape route. ¡°Run.¡± Shadow¡¯s usual mocking tone vanished, replaced by raw urgency. She didn¡¯t need to be told twice. Lin Yue darted deeper into the alley. Behind her, wood splintered and metal screamed. The sounds of destruction dogged her steps. Qi exploded behind her in waves of spiritual force. Fire roared down the narrow alley, turning the twilight into blazing day. Lin Yue spotted a fallen metal sheet from a deconstructed vendor¡¯s stall and dove behind it and she covered her head with her sleeves. The inferno rushed past, stealing every molecule of oxygen from the air. She tried to inhale but found nothing. Her lungs screamed for air as the heat pressed against her makeshift shield. The metal glowed cherry-red at the edges. ¡°Move!¡± Shadow¡¯s form whipped frantically around her. ¡°This level of power will kill you!¡± A rush of air relieved her lungs but as she stood back up she slumped against the scorched wall. Black spots danced across her vision. Her muscles refused to respond. ¡°Pathetic mortals.¡± Shadow coiled tighter. ¡°Too fragile for real combat.¡± The spiritual pressure increased. Lin Yue felt her bones compress under the weight of competing qi forces. Each clash of power sent shockwaves through her body, rattling her teeth and vibrating her skull. The very fabric of reality seemed to bend and warp around her. Her consciousness flickered. Death pressed in from all sides, squeezing the life from her body one heartbeat at a time. The competing spiritual forces tore at her being, threatening to rip her apart at the molecular level. But she didn¡¯t die. The crushing pressured ebbed. Lin Yue slumped against scorched brick, lungs burning as she gasped for air. Something thumped against her chest repeatedly. ¡°Wake up!¡± Shadow¡¯s voice faded in and out like a badly tuned radio. ¡°Get up!¡± The world spun as she forced her eyes open. Her arms trembled, muscles screaming as she pushed herself upright. Every movement sent needles of pain through her bones. ¡°They¡¯ve moved on. Go! Now!¡± Shadow circled her head in frantic loops. Lin Yue staggered forward, one hand trailing the wall for balance. Each step sent fresh waves of agony through her. The twilight seemed darker, shadows deeper and more menacing. Or¡­ all the lanterns were out. Right. Just the dull light from the sky lit things. Her brain wasn¡¯t working right. At the alley¡¯s edge, she peered around the corner. The sight stopped her cold. Dismembered demon corpses littered the ground. Blood painted the cobblestones in abstract patterns of crimson and black. Not a single blue-robed cultivator lay among the dead. The carnage spread through the market square like a gruesome festival decoration. The smell hit next¡ªcharred flesh with an alien undertone that spoke of otherworldly origins. Skeletal remains dotted the landscape, picked clean of flesh by whatever devastating technique the cultivators had unleashed. ¡°How often does this happen?¡± Lin Yue whispered. ¡°Not usually this bad.¡± Shadow drifted closer. ¡°This reeks of revenge.¡± Lin Yue limped toward the market¡¯s exit portal, eager to escape the slaughter. One step through the shimmering barrier brought her back to the familiar slums. The empty square was a welcome sight after the horror she¡¯d left behind. She took three steps before cold steel pressed against her throat. A blue and silver robed figure stepped from the shadows, sword hovering in the air between them. ¡°What did you find?¡± The question cut through from somewhere behind her. The cultivator in front pressed his floating sword closer to her throat. ¡°A human just snuck out of the demon alley.¡± Lin Yue swallowed against the cold steel and turned her head just as the second cultivator stepped into view. ¡°Not a demon or evil sect?¡± The first cultivator studied her face. His eyes narrowed. ¡°It¡¯s a mortal girl.¡± ¡°But she came out of there.¡± The second cultivator gestured. ¡°No way she¡¯s normal.¡± This was a deadly precipice she balanced on. This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there. Her shoulders slumped, and tears welled in her eyes. ¡°They were going to eat me!¡± She let her voice crack with manufactured terror. ¡°They said¡ªbut then the heroes showed up and killed them!¡± She dropped to her knees, ignoring the rough cobblestones that bit into her skin. Her forehead pressed against the cold ground as she kowtowed. ¡°Thank you! Thank you for saving this worthless one!¡± The cultivators shifted uncomfortably. ¡°Stop it.¡± The first one lowered his sword. ¡°Get up and hurry out of here.¡± Lin Yue scrambled to her feet and scurried away, maintaining her terrified facade until she rounded the corner. ¡°That¡¯s some skilled bullshit.¡± Shadow materialized beside her head. She ignored Shadow¡¯s commentary and limped through the darkening slum streets. Blood trickled down her arm, leaving a dangerous trail. Showing weakness invited predators. The familiar signs of Inn Street brought marginal relief. Her muscles screamed as she dragged herself to the establishment¡¯s entrance. The bouncer¡¯s meaty face twisted into a scowl at her approach. ¡°Stop right there.¡± The innkeeper intercepted her before she reached the stairs. ¡°What in the eighteen hells happened to you?¡± Lin Yue glanced down at her new clothes. Tears and scorch marks marred the fabric. Dried blood stained the edges. The silver she¡¯d spent on them burned worse than her injuries. Her mind blanked. The usual stream of creative lies dried up, replaced by the lingering effects of spiritual pressure and oxygen deprivation. ¡°Cultivators showed up near Rat Square.¡± Lin Yue steadied herself against the wall. ¡°Started beating people half to death. No idea why.¡± The partial truth rolled off her tongue. The innkeeper crossed her arms. ¡°A girl like you has no business near Rat Square. That place breeds nothing but trouble and corpses.¡± Lin Yue sagged against the wall. ¡°Had to handle some business.¡± The words scratched past her dry throat. ¡°It¡¯s over with. Just need to wash up and rest.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± The innkeeper stepped aside. ¡°But next time your ¡®business¡¯ brings cultivator trouble, find another inn.¡± A blur of motion burst through the kitchen door. ¡°Yue, you¡¯re hurt!¡± Xue¡¯s apron fluttered as she rushed forward. ¡°Back to work, rascal.¡± Lin Yue straightened, despite her protesting muscles. ¡°I¡¯m fine.¡± Xue¡¯s bottom lip jutted out. ¡°I¡¯ll bring dinner up when my shift ends.¡± The thought of food turned Lin Yue¡¯s stomach. Still, she fished a silver piece from her pouch and tossed it to the innkeeper. The coin glinted as it arced through the air. She trudged up the stairs. The familiar sight of their room¡¯s door promised blessed relief from the nightmare of a day. Lin Yue collapsed onto the bed. The room spun like a drunken merchant¡¯s tale, walls and ceiling trading places with nauseating frequency. Shadow coughed¡ªa sound somewhere between amusement and concern. ¡°You look like shit, but this isn¡¯t nap time.¡± ¡°Fuck off.¡± Lin Yue pressed her face into the thin pillow. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted.¡± ¡°Yeah, well, that spiritual pressure did more than bruise your outsides.¡± Shadow drifted into her field of vision. ¡°You¡¯ve got internal damage. Sleep now and you won¡¯t wake up.¡± Lin Yue snapped upright. The sudden movement sent fresh waves of pain through her torso. ¡°Internal damage?¡± ¡°What did you expect when violence-spun qi crashed through your mortal body?¡± Shadow circled her head. ¡°It felt like getting crushed by mountains, right?¡± ¡°You useless piece of¡ª¡± Lin Yue clutched her side. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you mention this sooner?¡± ¡°Would it have mattered while we ran?¡± ¡°How do I fix it?¡± Lin Yue gritted her teeth. Shadow stretched his ethereal form across the room. He had gotten bigger. ¡°Remember those spirit stones we picked up? Time to see if you can reach immortality.¡± Lin Yue pulled her bag from beneath the bed and dumped the contents across the mattress. ¡°Weren¡¯t you the one bitching about that term being misused earlier?¡± The items scattered across the blanket¡ªtools that could reshape her destiny. Each one represented a step away from the gutter. Away from being a street rat waiting to die. ¡°Normally, you should read the manual at least once.¡± Shadow coiled through the air. ¡°But I¡¯ll help guide you through this.¡± Lin Yue set aside the talisman box and the cultivation manual. The sparkling pebbles clinked as she arranged them in a neat pile under the manual. Twelve dull spirit stones lined up on the blanket, their surfaces clouded and lifeless. ¡°These need souls.¡± Lin Yue studied the stones. ¡°Did that bastard leave enough?¡± ¡°He planned for this.¡± Shadow twisted through the air. ¡°We¡¯ll only have a few left after charging these. You¡¯re fucking starving me...¡± Liar. She didn¡¯t believe him anymore. At least not about starving. He was chubbier than she remembered. Why did the thought feel so clear compared to everything else? Shadow¡¯s form dispersed into tendrils of darkness. The smoky wisps wrapped around each spirit stone, depositing glowing energy. The stones sparked to life, shimmering starlight underneath their surfaces. Lin Yue released a breath she hadn¡¯t realized she held. Moving anywhere right now would have been impossible. ¡°This will hurt.¡± Shadow coiled through the air above the glowing spirit stones. ¡°What else is new?¡± Lin Yue shifted. ¡°Take one stone and press it against your core¡ªright below your belly button.¡± Shadow¡¯s serpentine form twisted closer. ¡°You¡¯ll need to force the energy through your skin. It¡¯ll find your dantian eventually and burn through the blockage.¡± ¡°That¡¯s it?¡± Lin Yue picked up the nearest stone. The crystal hummed with contained power against her palm. ¡°No. This type of forced opening¡ªyou¡¯ll die within minutes after.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the point?¡± Lin Yue dropped the stone back onto the blanket. ¡°You¡¯ll need another stone immediately. Use that energy to find a major meridian and burn it open. Connect it to your dantian.¡± Shadow¡¯s form rippled. ¡°That¡¯ll buy you more time. Then we locate all five major meridians and the main pathways. Sear those open too.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know how to do any of this.¡± Lin Yue stared at the scattered stones. ¡°True.¡± Shadow drifted lower. ¡°I can guide the energy¡ªif you trust me.¡± ¡°I¡¯d rather die.¡± Lin Yue spat the words. ¡°Well, boss, it¡¯s your choice.¡± Shadow¡¯s tail flicked through the air. Lin Yue snatched up the first spirit stone. The crystal pulsed against her palm, warm and alive with stolen souls. ¡°Fine, you opportunistic snake. Let¡¯s get this over with.¡± She squeezed the stone tighter. ¡°What¡¯s the worst that can happen¡ªI die faster?¡± Shadow exhaled a puff of ethereal smoke through his nostrils. The gesture did nothing to boost her confidence. Chapter 10 – Opening Meridians Chapter 10 ¨C Opening Meridians Lin Yue pressed the spirit stone against her navel. A faint tingle spread across her skin, like static before a storm. Heat radiated from the crystal¡ªpleasant at first, then increasingly uncomfortable. The sensation reminded her of touching a car that had sat too long in the sun. ¡°This is stupid.¡± Lin Yue shifted the stone against her stomach. ¡°I feel like an idiot pressing a rock into my gut.¡± Shadow coiled through the air above her head. ¡°You need to focus. Open yourself to the energy. I can¡¯t help if you don¡¯t break the dantian free.¡± ¡°Open myself? What mystical bullshit.¡± Lin Yue clenched her jaw until copper flooded her mouth. The stone¡¯s edge dug deeper into her flesh, sharp enough to leave marks. Pressure built beneath her skin. The same crushing weight from the demon market returned, squeezing her insides like a giant¡¯s fist. Each breath became a battle against the mounting force. A wet pop echoed through her core. Lin Yue¡¯s eyes widened. Fuck, did I just impale myself with a rock? Fire erupted in her belly. Not the gentle warmth of soup or tea¡ªbut molten metal poured directly into her guts. Lin Yue snatched the pillow and buried her face into the rough fabric. Her screams filled the thin cushion as her back arched off the bed. Every muscle seized. Her legs kicked against the mattress in a desperate dance. Warmth spread down her thighs. The acrid smell of urine filled the air as her bladder gave out. The spirit stone vanished completely, leaving no wound despite the inferno raging inside her. She clutched her stomach and writhed. The liquid fire burned where her core should be, searing through flesh and bone with relentless intensity. ¡°That looks exceptionally painful.¡± Shadow drifted closer, his serpentine form casting no shadow on the sweat-soaked sheets. She thrashed against the mattress. ¡°Do something, you useless fucking parasite!¡± ¡°Fascinating. You¡¯ve located your dantian.¡± Shadow¡¯s clinical tone made Lin Yue want to strangle him. ¡°Let me take a closer look.¡± The shadowy form dove straight into her abdomen. The burning sensation intensified where his ethereal scales touched. Lin Yue squeezed her eyes shut. Make it stop. Just make it stop. ¡°Focus on your core.¡± Shadow¡¯s whisper tickled her ear. ¡°That burning pit is your dantian. The power has nowhere to go¡ªit¡¯ll consume you from within. Death comes soon.¡± The words struck deep. She believed him. The inferno raged stronger, threatening to reduce her organs to ash. Tendrils of energy swirled outward from the burning core in her belly, reaching through her flesh like searching fingers. ¡°Find the meridian.¡± Shadow¡¯s voice turned urgent. ¡°Look for the knot. You need the second stone.¡± Lin Yue grabbed another spirit stone with trembling fingers. She closed her eyes and tried to track the wandering tendrils, fighting to ignore the scorching pit at her center. The energy tendrils writhed from her dantian like octopus arms. One brushed against something solid¡ªa knot of resistance that felt like stone beneath silk. ¡°There it is.¡± Shadow¡¯s words echoed through her burning core. The tendrils snapped back, leaving emptiness where Shadow¡¯s presence had filled her. She gasped at the sudden withdrawal. The burning intensified without his guidance. How do I reach that knot? Death loomed closer with each breath. She needed to act. Lin Yue pictured a garden hose in her mind¡ªsomething simple. The mental image helped focus her scattered thoughts through the pain. She imagined grabbing that spiritual tendril and pulling it toward the blockage, just like dragging a hose across a lawn. Shadow¡¯s manic laughter filled the room. His serpentine form spun in delighted circles above the bed. She ignored his theatrics and concentrated harder. The hose refused to penetrate the hard knot. Each attempt felt like trying to thread a needle with a rope. ¡°Spirit stone!¡± Shadow¡¯s excitement peaked. Lin Yue pressed the spirit stone against her navel again. Fresh heat flooded through her system, amplifying the inferno. The imagined hose pressed harder against the hardened meridian, energy building like water pressure behind a clog. The blockage remained stubborn, refusing to yield. A needle. The thought sparked through her pain-addled mind. She reshaped her mental construct, transforming the ineffective hose into a thin steel needle trailing golden thread. The needle struck true, piercing the crystallized barrier. Cracks spider-webbed from the puncture point. Energy surged through the opening, shattering the blockage like glass. Power rushed through the newly cleared channel. The overwhelming heat diminished to a bearable burn, though each breath still scorched her lungs. ¡°Excellent work, newbie.¡± Shadow¡¯s serpentine form twisted above her. ¡°Now connect it back to your dantian.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s skull threatened to split as she fought to maintain focus. Sweat drenched her clothes while she guided the energy flow back toward her core. The connection snapped into place with an internal lurch that made her stomach flip. The endless pit of agony transformed into a river of molten power that ebbed and flowed with each labored breath. The change brought little comfort¡ªher insides still felt like they¡¯d been doused in boiling oil. ¡°Ten more spirit stones to go!¡± Shadow¡¯s enthusiasm grated against Lin Yue¡¯s nerves. ¡°And don¡¯t you dare pass out? You¡¯re not safe yet.¡± Shadow bared his ethereal fangs in what might have been a smile. ¡°Instead of dying in minutes, you¡¯ve bought yourself a few hours. Isn¡¯t that wonderful?¡± Each breath required concentration as she fought to maintain control over the burning current inside her. No room to breathe¡­ She reached out with her thread and needle, probing for another blockage. There were plenty of pebbles to run into, but she had to find another thick knot. Time lost its meaning until she slammed into it by accident. She pushed her spiritual needle through the rock hard shell. The crystallized barrier shattered, sending fresh waves of burning qi coursing through her system. Her new meridian drank from the raging inferno as she added it to the loop. The intensity of everything diminished. Shadow¡¯s ethereal form twisted through her spiritual landscape like smoke through branches, hijacking the splintered material to highlight pathways she couldn¡¯t feel. ¡°Here.¡± Shadow¡¯s tendril traced a deep channel that branched from her core. ¡°This river needs opening next.¡±Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author''s consent. Report any sightings. Lin Yue gritted her teeth and drove her consciousness forward. The needle pierced true, cracking another barrier. Sweat soaked through her robes as she guided the flow back to her dantian. She repeated the dance over and over. Each time, it was easier. Each time, it felt less like she was going to die. When she punched open the fifth major meridian along with the four major paths, it felt like heated water from a faucet for cleaning dishes was tumbling through her. Uncomfortable, but something that wasn¡¯t going to kill her. ¡°Three stones left.¡± Lin Yue clutched another spirit stone. ¡°You said five meridians and their paths. What¡¯re the last three for?¡± Shadow spun through the air, his laughter echoing off the inn¡¯s walls. ¡°Done? You think you¡¯re done? That was just the core framework, little cultivator. Dozens of smaller meridians still need opening.¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Yue squeezed the spirit stone until her knuckles turned white. ¡°Look here.¡± Shadow¡¯s spirit condensed inside of her. A pinpoint of pressure indicated another blockage¡ªtiny compared to the main channels. Lin Yue pressed the stone against her navel and directed a thin stream of qi. The smaller point burst open with a sharp sting, like a needle prick compared to the earlier agony. The energy settled without needing constant attention. ¡°At least these don¡¯t need babysitting.¡± Lin Yue targeted another minor meridian. Five minor points were cleared with one stone. Six with the next. Each release sent fresh sparks of pain through her system, but nothing compared to the initial meridians. The last spirit stone crumbled to dust between her fingers. Lin Yue traced the web of blocked meridians through her spiritual awareness. Dozens of crystallized points dotted her inner landscape like stars in a night sky. ¡°What about all these?¡± Lin Yue directed her focus toward the remaining blockages. Shadow coiled through the air in lazy loops. ¡°Leave them. Your pathways burn raw from the forced opening¡ªlike someone took sandpaper to your insides. Healing comes first.¡± ¡°Also...¡± Shadow paused mid-loop. ¡°You¡¯re about to suffocate.¡± Lin Yue blinked her eyes open. Thick, black oil coated her face in a suffocating layer. The tar-like substance clung to her mouth, nose, and eyes. It soaked through her robes and spread across the bed in greasy pools. The putrid stench hit her¡ªrotting meat mixed with sewage. Her stomach heaved. Bile rose in her throat, threatening to add to the horrific mess. Shadow¡¯s ethereal form darted around her body. Each pass through her flesh swept away layers of the black filth. He spiraled faster, gathering the disgusting substance into his serpentine form until the last traces vanished from her skin and clothes. Then he gathered what had found its way onto the bed and floor. The shadow dragon floated onto his back, patting his belly with his tail. A loud burp echoed through the room. ¡°Now that¡¯s what I call a proper meal.¡± Shadow stretched mid-air. ¡°The fuck...¡± Lin Yue whispered. Exhaustion drained the venom from her words, leaving only hollow confusion behind. She sprawled across the sweat-soaked sheets, each breath sending ripples of burning qi through her system. The spiritual energy pulsed erratically, grinding against her channels like sand in machinery. No mystical enlightenment flooded her mind. No divine understanding opened the secrets of the universe. Just pain, exhaustion, and the constant awareness of power scraping through her newly opened channels and bits of whatever formed them crumbling away to join the flow. ¡°Why do I feel like death warmed over?¡± Lin Yue pressed a hand against her burning core. ¡°Aren¡¯t cultivators supposed to be stronger?¡± Shadow drifted closer, his ethereal scales catching non-existent light. ¡°You didn¡¯t exactly take the scenic route to power. Most cultivators spend years in meditation, gradually opening their meridians through enlightened self-reflection. Others use magical pills or blessed techniques.¡± He swirled around her head. ¡°You? You just shoved burning metal through your spiritual system and blasted holes in the dam. The energy flows, but it¡¯s messy¡ªlike trying to irrigate a field with spark powder instead of proper channels.¡± ¡°But did it work?¡± Lin Yue clenched her jaw against another wave of burning pressure. ¡°Or am I just dying slower?¡± Shadow spun lazy circles above the bed before freezing mid-loop. ¡°You¡¯ll survive. The energy from the spirit shards should sustain you for now, and I have more souls in reserve.¡± His serpentine form twisted into a tight coil. ¡°Though depending on how quickly you learn the Sable Script, we¡¯ll need to go hunting again soon.¡± Of course, that¡¯s his answer. Lin Yue tracked Shadow¡¯s movements through half-closed eyes. Any excuse for more souls. Something about what he said made her frown. The spirit stones would sustain her? She took a breath and focused on the hot pot of her dantian. It was nearly full. It being overfilled was what had burned her, and now it was trickling down as she breathed? ¡°So I¡¯m losing energy over time?¡± she asked. Shadow barked a laugh. ¡°Of course you are! You didn¡¯t think there was free energy in the air in Big City, did you? This isn¡¯t some cushy realm where you can simply exist and get power. Unless you¡¯re part of a sect and breathe near a point of power, you¡¯ll be feeding the world around you with every breath!¡± Fuck¡­ She stared at the clean sheets, grateful Shadow had devoured the black filth before it could seep into the mattress. The innkeeper would¡¯ve thrown them out for destroying the bedding. She reached out and collected the leather-bound manual: ¡® The Sable Script Manual: Lin Yue ¡¯ was embossed in dark characters across the cover. She traced the letters with her fingertips before attempting to open it. The cover remained sealed tight, like pages fused together. ¡°What the hell?¡± Lin Yue tugged harder at the binding. ¡°The ink.¡± Shadow floated near her shoulder. ¡°Use the ink.¡± Lin Yue blinked. The red ink? She pushed up her sleeve, revealing the crimson mark Master Yan had branded into her skin. The symbol pulsed as she pressed it against the manual¡¯s cover. The book fell open without resistance. ¡°So this obedience mark doubles as a key?¡± Lin Yue flipped through the first pages, scanning the text about meridian opening. The detailed diagrams matched what she¡¯d just experienced¡ªfrom the initial burning sensation to the proper flow of energy through opened channels. The next section outlined organ refinement, followed by strengthening a person¡¯s skin. An entire section detailed how to refine the ¡®immortal¡¯ bones. Each page described increasingly complex methods for gathering and controlling qi. Her eyes blurred as she tried to absorb the information. The words swam across the page while exhaustion crept through her system. ¡°Too much.¡± Lin Yue dropped her head back against the headboard. Exhaustion pulled at her consciousness like an eager child tugging a sleeve. But she needed to check one last thing before giving in. She thumbed through the manual¡¯s last pages before they went blank. The paper crackled beneath her fingers until a bold heading caught her attention: ¡®Soul Binding Law.¡¯ The text detailed an intricate technique for binding weaker spirits and mortals into permanent servitude. The process required integrating their souls directly into the cultivator¡¯s spiritual network¡ªa method that ensured absolute obedience through metaphysical chains. Ice spread through Lin Yue¡¯s veins as understanding dawned. Master Yan expected her to bind Xue into a puppet. The price of bringing Xue with her meant taking her soul. Yue frowned. She didn¡¯t even fully understand all the ramifications of that. Blackspire Pavilion. Lin Yue stared at the manual¡¯s crimson markings. The name felt ominous. Shadow might know more about the sect, but that question could wait. Lin Yue glanced toward the window. Two paths stretched before them¡ªshe could seek an orphanage, some haven where Xue might grow up normal. Maybe with enough threats, coin, and her new power, she could actually do it, too. Or she could drag the child into a world of soul-stealing cultivators and demonic arts. The choice weighed heavy: abandon her to chance, or chain her soul forever? Chapter 11 – Xue’s Choice Chapter 11 ¨C Xue¡¯s Choice Frantic pounding jolted Lin Yue from her spiritual exhaustion. Xue¡¯s muffled voice pierced through the door. ¡°Yue? Are you angry? Please answer!¡± Lin Yue dragged herself off the bed. Her legs worked fine¡ªbetter than expected, given the earlier ordeal. She shuffled to the door and turned the lock. Xue burst in, balancing an oversized wooden tray stacked with steaming dishes. The rich aroma of pork and soy sauce filled the room. Bowls clinked against each other as she wobbled toward the table. ¡°Whew!¡± Xue set down the feast with a triumphant grin. Steam rose from bowls of soup, perfectly formed buns, and platters of vegetables. A large cup of soy milk completed the spread. ¡°I thought I¡¯d drop everything! What took so long to open up?¡± ¡°Exhausted.¡± Lin Yue blinked at the realization. Her muscles felt fine, but her mind dragged like lead weights had replaced her thoughts. The spiritual energy still burned through her meridians, and her consciousness felt wrung out like a wet cloth. Xue grabbed a steamed bun and took a huge bite. ¡°Aren¡¯t you eating?¡± Lin Yue shook her head at the food. The thought of eating made her stomach turn. Shadow materialized above the table, his ethereal form casting no shadow on the feast below. ¡°You should eat. Food helps conserve spiritual energy.¡± Lin Yue stared at the spread. How many calories does spiritual energy provide, anyway? The thought struck her as absurd. If regular food could replenish spiritual energy, cultivators wouldn¡¯t need spirit stones or... other methods. But Shadow insisted she eat. If food preserved spiritual energy, did that mean qi only worked one way? The concept nagged and felt incomplete. She ignored Xue¡¯s concerned look and sat cross-legged on the bed. The simple act of holding her breath triggered an immediate response¡ªher qi pulsed in protest, like a rope suddenly pulled taut. The familiar burn built in her lungs, but something felt different. No lightheadedness crept in. The desperate need to gasp never materialized. Her qi continued its steady burn through her meridians, fighting against the artificial constraint. ¡°What are you doing?¡± Shadow coiled anxiously above her head. ¡°Stop wasting spiritual energy!¡± He was right. It was hard to measure, but it seemed like the level of energy in her dantian was going down faster when she didn¡¯t breathe. ¡°Yue?¡± Xue paused mid-bite, bun forgotten in her hand. ¡°Are you playing some kind of game?¡± Lin Yue released her breath and reached for the teapot. The ceramic felt warm against her palms as she poured a cup. ¡°Just testing something.¡± Breathing didn¡¯t make it go up again. It just slowed how fast it drained. So Shadow hadn¡¯t been lying about that. Assuming he was correct, then Big City was like being on top of a tall mountain, and she needed oxygen bottles. Souls. Or a hose to somewhere with denser qi to breathe. Which she suspected were in the places the cultivators hoarded. Okay. That sucked. It was one thing to be told she was forced to do something, and another to confirm the bastards weren¡¯t just trying to pull one over on her. Xue shoveled food into her mouth between worried glances at her. The kid hadn¡¯t lost that street-rat desperation when it came to meals. Lin Yue suppressed a bitter smile. She¡¯d taught Xue that particular survival skill¡ªeat fast while you can, because you never know when the next meal might come. She pulled a plate closer and picked at the steamed vegetables. The food sat heavy in her stomach, but Shadow had a point about conserving energy. Besides, watching Xue eat alone felt wrong. After they finished, Xue perched on the edge of her seat. The girl¡¯s fingers twisted in her lap as she studied Lin Yue¡¯s face. Smart kid. She¡¯d already picked up that something was wrong. Of course she notices. When your life depends on someone else¡¯s mood, you learn to read them fast. The thought left a sour taste that had nothing to do with the meal. ¡°We need to talk.¡± Lin Yue patted the space beside her on the bed. Xue crept over, her eyes darting between the spirit stones and manual scattered across the covers. The symbols were probably chicken scratches to her. Shadow drifted overhead in lazy circles. ¡°You should really master those techniques before you try stealing her soul. Just saying!¡± Lin Yue rubbed her temples. ¡°You deserve a choice in what happens next.¡± She explained everything¡ªthe cultivation, Shadow, Master Yan¡¯s mark, the requirement to go to the Blackspire Pavilion, and the soul binding requirement for Xue to follow. The words spilled out in a clinical detachment as she detailed the supernatural horror show their lives had become. Shadow swooped down between them. ¡°You¡¯re just going to tell your pet and give it a choice?¡± ¡°What happens if I don¡¯t want to go?¡± Xue pulled her knees to her chest. ¡°There¡¯s an orphanage near the temple district. Clean place, runs on donations from the nobles trying to buy karma. I can come up with a bribe to get you in.¡± Lin Yue traced the edge of the manual. ¡°You¡¯d get regular meals, education. Chance at apprenticeship when you¡¯re older. But you¡¯d be stuck following their rules, doing what they say.¡± ¡°But I won¡¯t see you anymore?¡± Xue¡¯s fingers dug into her legs. ¡°And what if it¡¯s not safe?¡± ¡°I¡¯d check on you when I could¡ª¡± Shadow cackled. ¡°No, you won¡¯t! Ink House will keep you far too busy for social calls.¡± ¡°What about going with you?¡± Xue straightened. Lin Yue laid out the brutal truth¡ªthe soul binding, the risks, the uncertainty. She admitted her own ignorance about what it all meant. Shadow coiled around her shoulders. ¡°Take a hint from Master Yan¡¯s mark. You don¡¯t have a choice in this anymore. She won¡¯t either, even if you try to give her one.¡± Lin Yue explained the mark burning on her skin, the forced discipleship, the dark path ahead. ¡°Everyone else was mean to me.¡± Xue stared at her hands. ¡°The gang, the streets, everyone. But you shared food. You taught me things.¡±Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. The words hit Lin Yue like a physical blow. She¡¯d manipulated Xue, used her as a tool, treated her like a burden. Yet somehow she¡¯d still been the best option in Xue¡¯s hell of a life. ¡°I want to stay with you.¡± Xue lifted her chin, shoulders squared. ¡°Okay.¡± Lin Yue exhaled the word. The orphanages didn¡¯t inspire confidence¡ªeven the noble-funded one stank of corruption and abuse. Better to deal with the evil they had already fallen into than risk Xue disappearing into that system. Lin Yue scooped Xue up and settled her onto her lap. ¡°You belong to me now, brat.¡± She ground her knuckles into Xue¡¯s scalp, giving her a playful noogie. Xue squealed and launched a counter-attack, tiny fingers seeking Lin Yue¡¯s ribs. ¡°Stop it!¡± Shadow darted around them in agitated loops. ¡°This is ridiculous!¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Lin Yue swatted at his ethereal form. Xue paused mid-tickle. ¡°Are you talking to the worm?¡± Shadow expanded to three times his size, ethereal scales bristling as he roared at Xue. The sound echoed through the room, but Xue just blinked, oblivious to the tantrum above her head. ¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a dumb lying worm.¡± Lin Yue smirked at Shadow¡¯s indignant thrashing. ¡°You should put it on a leash!¡± Xue giggled. ¡°That¡¯s actually not a bad idea.¡± Lin Yue tapped her chin thoughtfully. ¡°Don¡¯t you dare pursue that line of thought!¡± Shadow shrank back, coiling defensively around himself. Xue gathered the empty bowls and plates onto the tray. The ceramic clinked as she stacked them with practiced efficiency. Lin Yue watched the methodical movements¡ªthe kid had picked up proper serving skills fast. ¡°I¡¯ll be right back!¡± Xue balanced the loaded tray and shuffled toward the door. Lin Yue turned to the scattered items on the bed. The manual¡¯s dark leather cover absorbed the lantern light. She traced the embossed symbols with her fingertip, feeling the slight raise of each character. Shadow drifted above the pages. ¡°Finally ready to learn something useful?¡± Lin Yue remained silent for a few minutes, lost in her own head, until the door creaked open as Xue slipped back inside. She bounced onto the bed, snuggling under the covers next to Lin Yue. The mattress shifted as she squirmed into a comfortable position. ¡°Read me a story?¡± Xue yawned and pressed against Lin Yue¡¯s side. ¡°Go to sleep, brat.¡± Lin Yue ruffled Xue¡¯s hair. The gentle rhythm of Xue¡¯s breathing soon deepened into sleep. Lin Yue unlocked the manual. The first pages contained densely packed characters that seemed to shift and dance in the flickering light. She blinked hard and focused. Flowery wisdom quotes filled entire sections. A drop of ink contains infinite possibilities. The void between strokes holds meaning. Lin Yue rolled her eyes at the pretentious garbage. But beneath the philosophical nonsense lay practical information. Detailed meridian maps showed pathways that would be needed for Sable Script techniques. Tables listed soul-to-ink ratios and mixing techniques. Diagrams demonstrated brush strokes that could channel spiritual energy. The basics emerged from the cluttered text. This was some sort of calligraphy-based cultivation style. Instead of direct qi manipulation, it used a mix of energy, ink, and strokes to power magical writing. Ten full pages covered soul-infused ink creation. The process bypassed personal qi expenditure. Different souls produced different effects¡ªcriminal souls for attack talismans, innocent souls for protection scripts. ¡°So I¡¯m learning demonic bookbinding?¡± Lin Yue muttered. ¡°More like becoming an artist of death!¡± Shadow preened. ¡°Though I prefer to think of it as creative soul recycling.¡± She shook her head and yawned. It was time for some rest. She closed the manual and put it aside before shifting onto her side and pulling Xue closer. The kid radiated warmth like a tiny furnace. Shadow coiled above them, his ethereal form casting faint red reflections on the ceiling. Creepy as all hell¡­ was he going to stare at them all night? Despite the annoyance, sleep came quick, dragging Lin Yue into darkness before another thought could form. * * * Harsh sunlight stabbed through the window, painting bright rectangles across the floor. Lin Yue blinked away the remnants of sleep. Xue still snored softly against her side, drooling slightly on the pillow. ¡°Time for work, brat.¡± Lin Yue poked Xue¡¯s ribs. Xue grumbled and burrowed deeper into the covers. ¡°Five more minutes.¡± ¡°Nope. Those dishes won¡¯t wash themselves.¡± Lin Yue yanked the blanket away. ¡°Besides, you need breakfast before your shift.¡± Xue stumbled out of bed, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She splashed water on her face from the washbasin and pulled on her work clothes. ¡°Be good.¡± Lin Yue tossed Xue a silver coin. ¡°Get something hot to eat first.¡± The door clicked shut behind Xue. Lin Yue turned to the manual spread across the bed. Sunlight illuminated the pages as she traced complex characters in the air. The manual¡¯s dense instructions covered every inch of the paper. ¡°No, no.¡± Shadow swooped down. ¡°You¡¯re thinking of it like regular writing. These strokes channel spiritual energy¡ªeach line must flow like a river of power.¡± Lin Yue dropped her hand. ¡°It¡¯d help if the instructions weren¡¯t buried under fifty metaphors about autumn leaves and moonlit pools.¡± ¡°Sages love their poetry,¡± Shadow said, pacing lazily around the manual, his smoky form curling like ink in water. ¡°Think of each stroke as a binding¡ªcommands etched into the fabric of the world. Each seal is a pact, a promise that must be honored.¡± That made more sense than all the flowery nonsense. Lin Yue flipped through the pages, reframing the instructions in clearer terms. The soul-to-ink ratios became precise calculations. The brush strokes transformed into deliberate structures. It was easy to get lost in the elements to the point where time lost its meaning. A knock interrupted her study. Xue poked her head in, wearing an apron stained with dishwater. ¡°I¡¯m learning so much! The cook showed me how to properly stack plates without dropping them. Also¡ªuh, they want a silver for our dinner.¡± One wasn¡¯t enough? Just how much was this brat eating? Lin Yue sighed, fishing a coin from her pouch and flipping it to Xue. ¡°Great. Now go earn our keep.¡± Xue grinned and bounced away. Once the door shut, Lin Yue turned back to the final chapter. The soul binding instructions filled twenty pages with elaborate diagrams and warnings about proper technique. But actual effects on the bound soul occupied barely a paragraph of vague platitudes about ¡°eternal connection¡± and ¡°forced servitude.¡± ¡°Shadow.¡± Lin Yue tapped the page. ¡°What happens to Xue when I bind her soul?¡± Shadow stretched across the manual. ¡°It¡¯s perfectly safe. Mostly. Sometimes. Depends on if you do it right.¡± ¡°That¡¯s not an answer.¡± ¡°Fine.¡± Shadow coiled tighter. ¡°Best case? She becomes your eternal servant, bound to obey your will. Worst case? Her soul shatters and she becomes a mindless husk. But hey, you¡¯d still have the soul fragments to use!¡± Lin Yue slammed the manual shut. She went to the washbasin and rinsed her face. ¡°We¡¯re running low on soul energy.¡± Shadow swooped down. ¡°One full soul left. Maybe two if we count the fragments.¡± Lin Yue rubbed her temples. This felt like trying to juggle while blindfolded. ¡°I need more time to practice.¡± ¡°Time means souls.¡± Shadow expanded, filling the room with writhing shadows. ¡°And souls mean hunting. Tonight.¡± ¡°Fuck.¡± Lin Yue stood and grabbed her knife. The weight felt reassuring against her palm. ¡°Fine. Let¡¯s go shopping.¡± Shadow¡¯s pleased laughter echoed through the room. Chapter 12 – Temple Offerings Chapter 12 ¨C Temple Offerings Lin Yue ran her fingers through Xue¡¯s tangled hair, smoothing out the knots with gentle strokes. The young girl¡¯s breathing slowed into a steady rhythm against the pillow. A small smile tugged at Lin Yue¡¯s lips as she watched Xue drift off, looking peaceful despite the chaos of their lives. The door¡¯s heavy lock clicked into place. Lin Yue tested the handle twice, then wedged a chair under the knob for good measure. No one would reach Xue tonight. The bouncer gave his usual acknowledging glare as she passed. She ignored him, maintaining their unspoken routine of mutual distrust. Night market aromas assaulted her senses¡ªroasted meat, incense, sewage, and unwashed bodies all competing for dominance. Lantern light cast dancing shadows across vendor stalls and hurrying pedestrians. ¡°Keep your qi suppressed,¡± Shadow whispered. ¡°Cultivators aren¡¯t supposed to mingle with mortals. You¡¯re technically breaking sect law just being here.¡± ¡°Since when do you care about laws?¡± Lin Yue glanced down at her ruined clothes. Scorch marks and blood stains marred the fresh fabric. ¡°Fuck, I just bought these.¡± ¡°No one important will notice a bottom-feeding cultivator like you.¡± Shadow swirled lazily around her shoulders. ¡°As long as you don¡¯t stand out.¡± Lin Yue counted their remaining coins. The silver pieces wouldn¡¯t last long at this rate. ¡°What could we get for one spirit stone fragment?¡± ¡°A few gold, easily. Full spirit stones fetch a jade tael minimum.¡± Lin Yue stumbled. ¡°A jade tael? Each?¡± ¡°Of course. They¡¯re cultivation necessities.¡± ¡°I just burned through twelve of them.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s mind raced through calculations. Twelve jade taels could have bought a mansion in the merchant district and maintained it for decades. Secured Xue¡¯s safety¡­ Turn them into the wealthy merchant class. Instead, she¡¯d consumed a fortune just to unlock her dantian and meridians. ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°What would be the point?¡± Shadow drifted through the lantern-lit street. ¡°Mortal concerns stopped mattering the moment Master Ruixian branded you. Money, clothes, food¡ªthose belong to your old life.¡± Lin Yue snorted. ¡°Right. The life I had before you led me straight into his trap.¡± ¡°I am compelled to follow orders.¡± Shadow¡¯s form compressed into a tight coil. ¡°And I lack your freedom to simply die rather than obey.¡± ¡°Not much of a ¡®Shadow Dragon God,¡¯ are you?¡± The puff of smoke and silence spoke volumes. The night market¡¯s silk merchants displayed vibrant robes that sparkled with golden thread¡ªfar too ostentatious. The regular tailor would have closed hours ago, leaving overpriced options as her only choice. Lin Yue watched Shadow¡¯s serpentine form twist through the air. ¡°Maybe you are just too weak to resist?¡± Shadow snarled. His ethereal body expanded, rushing through a merchant¡¯s carefully arranged display. Supernatural wind scattered trinkets and knocked over stacks of fabric. The vendor cursed, scrambling to catch his tumbling merchandise. ¡°You¡¯re such a jerk.¡± Lin Yue shook her head at the mess. Lin Yue wandered past the gaudy silk merchants until she spotted a more modest stall tucked between two larger shops. Simple robes in muted colors hung from wooden racks, the quality evident in their tight stitching and clean lines. A pitch-black outfit caught her eye¡ªsilk rather than cotton, but without the embroidery that screamed ¡®rob me.¡¯ The fabric slipped like water through her fingers. Fifteen silver pieces seemed reasonable for something that wouldn¡¯t fall apart after one street fight. The elderly shopkeeper ushered her behind a privacy screen. Lin Yue changed quickly, the silk settling cool against her skin. When she stepped out, the merchant guided her to a bronze mirror. The reflection surprised her. The cut and drape transformed her usual street rat appearance into something refined. She looked like a merchant¡¯s daughter who¡¯d snuck out for a midnight adventure. ¡°You dress up nice,¡± Shadow drifted beside the mirror. ¡°Shame about that face, though.¡± Lin Yue ignored him and bowed to the shopkeeper. ¡°Thank you for your help.¡± ¡°So how exactly do you plan to harvest souls dressed like some rich brat?¡± Shadow coiled around her shoulders. ¡°The slums are full of easy targets, but this outfit will juts get messed up.¡± ¡°Big City claims plenty of souls without my help.¡± Lin Yue adjusted her new sleeves. ¡°People die here every day.¡± Shadow¡¯s form twitched with anxiety, like he knew something she didn¡¯t.Stolen story; please report. Lin Yue strode through Tax Square, past the towering administrative buildings with their pristine white walls and gleaming gold trim. The twilight of Big City cast long shadows across cobblestones. Neither hot nor cold touched the air¡ªjust the same regulated temperature that pervaded every district, every day. Shadow twisted anxiously around her shoulders. ¡°Why are we heading toward the temple district? Have you lost your mind? Did you forget about last time?¡± ¡°Shut up. We¡¯re not going to those temples.¡± Lin Yue kept walking, her new silk robes whispering with each step. ¡°Kid, I know exactly which temple you¡¯re thinking of.¡± Shadow¡¯s form compressed into a tight coil. ¡°This is a terrible idea.¡± Lin Yue rounded the corner and spotted what she sought¡ªclusters of ragged figures hunched at the base of weathered stone steps. The Temple of Mercy loomed above them, its facade etched with prayers for peace in death. Row upon row of stone benches formed a small amphitheater below, where the desperate gathered to await their end. The sharp tang of decay mingled with incense. Several still forms lay wrapped in cheap shrouds, waiting for the temple¡¯s servants to cart them away. The dying knelt in prayer, their labored breathing echoing off ancient walls as they begged for a gentle passing. Skeletal figures swayed in their seats, too weak to hold themselves upright. Every day, temple attendants emerged to select five random supplicants. The massive bronze doors would groan open, swallowing the chosen into the temple¡¯s depths. Lin Yue studied the weathered stone steps where countless feet had worn smooth paths¡ªall leading in, none leading out. They probably dump the bodies out back. Lin Yue watched an elderly woman press copper coins into a collection box. The desperate always paid, offering what little they had left for the promise of a peaceful death. Some even pledged their souls to whatever god or demon promised relief from suffering. ¡°What¡¯s your range for soul collecting?¡± Lin Yue kept her voice low. Shadow coiled tighter around her shoulders. ¡°Not far. Thirty paces at most. You¡¯ll want the center bench for maximum coverage.¡± ¡°And if someone dies while I¡¯m¡ª¡± ¡°Don¡¯t examine the bodies.¡± Shadow¡¯s form rippled. ¡°Act appropriately distressed like everyone else. Though this wasn¡¯t your brightest idea.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°Did you think you alone discovered this golden opportunity? This place draws every soul-hungry parasite too squeamish to kill.¡± Lin Yue scanned the huddled masses for any signs of cultivators or demons lurking among the dying. ¡°Will they attack me?¡± ¡°Doubtful.¡± Shadow¡¯s ethereal form rippled through the incense smoke. ¡°They want to avoid attention as much as you do. Though sometimes a self-righteous prick shows up to check for demons.¡± ¡°Great. Just what we need.¡± Lin Yue shifted her weight on the worn stone steps. ¡°Relax. The sects don¡¯t really care unless it makes them look bad.¡± Shadow drifted closer to her ear. ¡°To these mortals, dying is dying. Whether their soul feeds a demon or ascends to heaven¡ªthey¡¯re still just as dead.¡± The temple bells tolled, their deep resonance mixing with the soft moans of the dying. Lin Yue watched an elderly man collapse into a coughing fit, blood speckling the stones at his feet. Shadow lunged forward, his ethereal form stretching like smoke across the temple steps. The dying man¡¯s final breath escaped in a rattling wheeze. A silvery wisp rose from his body, twisting in the air before Shadow¡¯s jaws snapped shut around it. Lin Yue studied the worn grooves in the stone steps, considering their next move. One soul would buy them time¡ªmaybe enough to figure out a better plan than lurking in death¡¯s waiting room. ¡°Well, that¡¯s one!¡± Shadow swirled excitedly around her shoulders. ¡°Right on time! You¡¯re a natural at this, Boss!¡± Temple attendants shuffled past with fresh linen wrappings. They worked with practiced efficiency, shrouding the man¡¯s body while muttering prayers. Not a single mourner looked up or showed interest in the scene. Death held no novelty here. Lin Yue counted the coins in her purse. With the extra soul, she had more time. Enough for a better plan, anyway. ¡°Why are you fidgeting?¡± Shadow drifted in front of her face. ¡°Don¡¯t tell me you¡¯re running away already?¡± You were just complaining that we were here. Heat rushed to Lin Yue¡¯s cheeks. She stood abruptly, silk robes rustling against the stone steps. Fuck this parasitic bastard. Her feet carried her up the steps, leaving Shadow¡¯s taunts behind. Two temple attendants at the top moved to block her path, their white robes pristine against the temple¡¯s weathered facade. The fabric looked expensive¡ªprobably silk, not the rough cotton most temples used. ¡°Sorry, I changed my mind.¡± Lin Yue stepped back, studying their immaculate appearances. No blood stains, no signs of handling corpses. These weren¡¯t normal attendants. ¡°You¡¯ve been selected.¡± The taller attendant smiled with perfect white teeth. ¡°The gods have blessed you with their notice.¡± Shadow swirled through the incense smoke. ¡°They spotted the healthy young woman! Definitely worth one of their daily quotas. Probably sells for twice what these other wretches would fetch.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t want to go.¡± Lin Yue tensed as both attendants shifted their stances. Wooden cudgels appeared in their hands. ¡°This can be easy or difficult,¡± the shorter one said. ¡°Your choice.¡± ¡°Should¡¯ve listened to me.¡± Shadow¡¯s laughter echoed inside her skull. ¡°Could¡¯ve just knifed a few pricks in the slums instead. But no, you had to be clever!¡± Opportunistic bastard. But he might be right. Lin Yue scanned the temple steps. Too many witnesses. Fighting here would draw attention she couldn¡¯t afford. ¡°Fine.¡± Lin Yue forced her shoulders to relax. ¡°Lead the way.¡± Her fingers found the familiar grip of her knife beneath her sleeve as she followed the attendants toward the pagoda¡¯s gate. Chapter 13 – The Fairy’s Mercy Chapter 13 ¨C The Fairy¡¯s Mercy The attendants marched Lin Yue toward the bronze gates with practical efficiency. One led while the other followed, maintaining perfect positions that eliminated any chance to slip away. Their synchronized steps echoed off the temple walls until they reached the massive doors. Both men stepped forward in unison, shoulders aligned as they focused on the gates ahead. Perfect. Lin Yue spun to bolt¡ªand nearly slammed straight into a wall of white-robed muscle. She stepped back, neck craning to look up at the mountain of a man blocking her escape. ¡°Going somewhere?¡± The brute¡¯s deep voice rumbled through the hall. Lin Yue eyed the wooden club visible beneath his pristine robes. The weapon looked sized to crush skulls with minimal effort. Her fingers tightened around her concealed knife. Three against one. Shit odds. Lin Yue¡¯s fingers tightened around the knife handle. One quick thrust up under his ribs would open a path¡ªbut the two attendants still stood behind her, ready to pounce. A deep gong reverberated through the temple. The massive bronze gates groaned as they began their slow descent, each inch of movement echoing with finality. ¡°Well, this is delightful,¡± Shadow drawled. ¡°Trapped like rats in a temple. How poetic.¡± Shut up, you useless parasite. Lin Yue ground her teeth, scanning the chamber. The second-floor balcony had caught her attention on the way in¡ªits decorative pillars and ledges formed a perfect climbing route. If she could reach the stairs... Shadow¡¯s laughter echoed through Lin Yue¡¯s mind. ¡°Do you feel it?¡± Lin Yue¡¯s jaw clenched. The attendants¡¯ footsteps continued their methodical rhythm against the stone floor. She couldn¡¯t reply without giving herself away. ¡°Time to kill. Kill, kill, kill. Tasty souls, maybe innocent, probably not,¡± Shadow chattered. ¡°Death is near!¡± Blood rushed through her ears. Each breath brought new sensations: the musty temple air, incense burning somewhere distant, the soft swish of robes against stone. Her skin prickled with heightened awareness of every movement around her. ¡°Where are you taking me?¡± Lin Yue injected a tremor into her voice. The attendants maintained their steady pace. ¡°Please, I want to go home.¡± She let her shoulders slump, projecting helplessness. ¡°Ah, but strife and conflict create the conditions to find meaning... and power.¡± Shadow¡¯s words dripped with philosophical smugness. Really? Philosophy lessons now? Unless he aimed to distract her from something... An open doorway appeared ahead, revealing a darkened stairwell before the hallway¡¯s intersection. Lin Yue¡¯s muscles coiled tight. Three quick moves¡ªplant the knife in the back of each guard in front of her, then face the brute. Her fingers wrapped around the weapon¡¯s handle. ¡°What are you doing?¡± A female voice cut through the silence. Lin Yue and her escort froze mid-step. The unexpected words shattered her focus. Dammit, interruptions! Shadow coiled tight around Lin Yue¡¯s neck, scales pressing against her skin. ¡°A female fairy,¡± he hissed close to her ear. The lead attendant bowed deep. ¡°We brought an offering, Immortal Maiden. She came to pray for mercy.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s breath caught. The young woman before them wore a refined lavender dress cinched with a black sash that rippled like liquid shade. Pure white hair cascaded down her back, framing striking light blue eyes that seemed to pierce straight through everything. A lacquered black short sword hung at her waist, its presence more threatening than any crude temple guard¡¯s club.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation. Fairy? Righteous sect cultivator? Lin Yue¡¯s stomach twisted. The woman¡¯s cultivation level remained completely unreadable¡ªa sure sign she operated on a whole different level. One wrong move and Lin Yue¡¯s knife skills and one day of open meridians wouldn¡¯t mean shit against proper spiritual whatever. ¡°I want to go home.¡± Lin Yue forced the words past dry lips. The fairy¡¯s perfect brows drew together as she frowned at the attendants. ¡°Leave us.¡± Lin Yue blinked. That¡¯s it? The simplicity of the command caught her completely off guard. The attendants exchanged uncertain glances but backed away with respectful bows, leaving them alone. The fairy¡¯s serene expression hardened into sharp angles. Her light blue eyes narrowed as she studied Lin Yue with predatory focus. ¡°What do you want?¡± The words cut through the air like frost. Lin Yue shuffled back half a step. ¡°To go home?¡± A weary sigh escaped the fairy¡¯s perfect lips. ¡°You shouldn¡¯t have come here.¡± Lin Yue stared at the intricate floor tiles, counting the spiraling patterns. ¡°I was in trouble.¡± ¡°I know exactly what you came for.¡± The fairy¡¯s hand drifted to her sword hilt. ¡°You need to leave.¡± ¡°Perfect.¡± Lin Yue straightened. ¡°I changed my mind, anyway. Those guards dragged me in when I tried escaping.¡± The fairy¡¯s brows knitted together. ¡°Then why¡ª¡± She stopped mid-sentence, shaking her head. ¡°It¡¯s good you didn¡¯t kill them. Follow me.¡± Shadow coiled tight around Lin Yue¡¯s neck, scales pressed flat against her skin. The usually chatty dragon remained deathly silent, as if trying to compress himself into nothingness. The fairy turned toward the stairs, her black sash rippling. Each step echoed with graceful precision as she ascended toward the balcony. Lin Yue followed, hyper-aware of the distance between them. The fairy stopped at the balcony¡¯s edge and pointed toward the street below. ¡°You can make it down from here, can¡¯t you?¡± Lin Yue studied the handholds and ledges she¡¯d spotted earlier. Although¡­ she could probably just jump down from this height now with no issue. ¡°Yes.¡± This seems too easy. Lin Yue watched the fairy¡¯s every movement. No cultivator just let potential victims walk away¡ªespecially not after catching them harvesting souls¡­ Or that was what Shadow had led her to believe. She didn¡¯t think he¡¯d be wrong on that¡­ so what was wrong with this girl? The distance between them vanished. Lin Yue breathed in fresh lavender and delicate florals as the fairy pressed something cold into her palm. The smooth surface sent a jolt of spiritual energy up her arm. Lin Yue stared at the spirit stone gleaming in her hand. Pure spiritual energy pulsed within¡ªworth more than everything she had ever stolen in her life before this mess had started. ¡°Why?¡± The word scraped past her dry throat. The fairy¡¯s light blue eyes softened. ¡°Because I still believe this is a place of mercy.¡± Steel crept back into her tone. ¡°Now leave and never come back.¡± Lin Yue gripped the spirit stone tight. ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± The other girl¡¯s piercing glare could have frozen hellfire. ¡°Yin Ruo.¡± The name struck Lin Yue like a physical blow. Silvery-like. The meaning echoed through her mind as she stared at Yin Ruo¡¯s flowing white hair catching the temple¡¯s lamplight. Those pale blue eyes drew her in, sharp and beautiful as winter frost. The tension crackled between them, shattering Lin Yue¡¯s careful self-control. Instead of retreating, Lin Yue stepped forward. Her fingers reached out to capture a strand of that ethereal white hair. Yin Ruo stiffened but didn¡¯t move away, confusion replacing her expression. ¡°My name is Lin Yue.¡± The words tumbled out before she could stop them. ¡°And the moon in the forest is silvery and soft¡ªlike your name, like you.¡± A fierce blush blazed across Yin Ruo¡¯s pale cheeks. Lin Yue spun and darted for the balcony. She vaulted over the railing and dropped, catching ledges and handholds in rapid succession. Her boots hit the temple square¡¯s stones with a solid thud. She power-walked out of the temple square, forcing herself not to run. ¡°Way to go confusing the enemy like that!¡± Shadow¡¯s excitement bubbled. ¡°The master con artist strikes again!¡± Pure panic flooded Lin Yue¡¯s chest. Why did I say that? The thought screamed through her mind on endless repeat. She was never going back to the temple district ever again. Chapter 14 – Speed Kills Chapter 14 ¨C Speed Kills Lin Yue stepped into Rat Square, letting the familiar stench of piss and decay wash over her. The usual night predators lurked in shadows, watching but keeping their distance. She puffed out her chest, projecting confidence she didn¡¯t quite feel. ¡°Admit it¡ªthat righteous prick fairy terrified you.¡± Shadow spiraled through the air. ¡°But hey, you conned a spirit stone and walked away free! Total win in my book. Why so worked up?¡± The laugh burst from Lin Yue¡¯s chest, tension draining from her shoulders. The temple district sat far behind them now, its pristine walls and self-righteous cultivators nothing but a distant memory. Shadow zipped past her face. ¡°We could hunt down more souls? I mean, I was hoping you¡¯d slaughter everyone in that temple¡ªimagine the haul!¡± Lin Yue frowned, mind racing through calculations. One spirit stone plus a single soul counted as decent progress. Nothing compared to the massacre, but the press of ¡®starving¡¯ to death was pushed back. The real question nagged at her¡ªhow many souls did she need to master the manual and complete the binding? Master Yan Ruixian loomed in her thoughts like a circling vulture. If she collected too many souls, would he simply confiscate them all? Or could she set some aside specifically for the Sable Script ink making? The manual had been clear¡ªsoul flavor mattered for the ink. Different deaths created different resonances. A full arsenal would serve better than rushing in half-prepared. Lin Yue kicked a broken bottle across the filthy cobblestones. ¡°These soul flavors the manual mentions¡ªcan you actually taste the difference?¡± Shadow twirled mid-air. ¡°Wondered when you¡¯d ask about that. Yes, each soul carries its own distinct essence. And yes, they maintain their unique qualities while stored. I can even extract specific flavors for your ink-making needs.¡± ¡°But?¡± ¡°Once I digest them, they lose their individual properties. Food is food, after all.¡± Lin Yue pointed at Shadow¡¯s bloated form. ¡°And you get bigger with each meal.¡± Shadow shrank back, coiling tight. ¡°Don¡¯t mention that! Master Yan will strip me of souls again. The pain, the agony, the loss¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you don¡¯t like losing souls, but cut the act.¡± Lin Yue crossed her arms. ¡°You¡¯re not fooling anyone with the pathetic routine.¡± Shadow¡¯s red eyes flared. ¡°Tch. Fine. You¡¯re sharper than most.¡± He stretched back to his normal size, dropping the wounded tone. ¡°So what¡¯s the plan then, oh clever one?¡± Lin Yue tapped her fingers against her thigh, recalling the manual¡¯s instructions about soul-infused ink creation. Innocent souls produced the strongest protective scripts¡ªwhich sucked since she needed shields more than anything. The single pure soul Shadow had collected from the temple wouldn¡¯t stretch far¡­ or would it? How many defensive things could she make with the ink from one soul? Fuck, she needed to go back to the inn and learn more from the manual. ¡°Damn.¡± Lin Yue kicked another bottle across the square. ¡°Using an innocent¡¯s soul for protection feels wrong, anyway.¡± Shadow perked up. ¡°Having moral qualms? That¡¯s new.¡± Lin Yue scanned the dark corners of Rat Square. ¡°The manual said criminal souls work best for attack talismans. Those would be easier to find.¡± ¡°And more fun to collect.¡± Shadow bobbed in the air. Lin Yue moved across the filthy street. Master Yan had stripped Shadow of the Tiger Gang souls¡ªprobably just to remind the parasitic dragon who held his leash. She wouldn¡¯t have cared, except now it felt like he robbed her, instead of Shadow. The streets grew narrower as she ventured deeper into the city¡¯s bowels. Ramshackle buildings leaned against each other like dying men, their foundations rotting in the perpetual sewage that leaked from the sewer. The stench of unwashed bodies and festering wounds drifted from the alcoves.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Sunken eyes tracked her movement. Skeletal hands clutched tattered robes. Disease-ridden beggars huddled in doorways, too weak to even beg. Perfect hunting ground for souls¡ªif she could stomach it. Two men blocked the narrow path ahead. The taller one brandished a splintered club while his companion pulled a rusted knife. ¡°Bingo!¡± Shadow spun excited loops through the air. ¡°Fresh customers!¡± ¡°Come with us, girl.¡± The tall thug tapped his club against his palm. ¡°Nice and quiet-like.¡± Lin Yue gripped her knife handle. ¡°No. Shadow, pop their heads off.¡± ¡°What? No way.¡± Shadow drifted lazily overhead. ¡°Handle these mortals yourself. You¡¯re a cultivator now, remember?¡± The men lunged forward. Lin Yue¡¯s heart hammered¡ªbut everything moved like they were underwater. The club swung past her face in slow motion, disturbing the air in visible ripples. The thug¡¯s movements stretched out, giving her endless time to simply step aside. ¡°Welcome to a whole new world of perception!¡± Shadow cackled above the frozen tableau. ¡°Poor mortals can¡¯t keep up with a cultivator¡¯s speed. Fun, isn¡¯t it?¡± Lin Yue reached out, driving her knife deep into the first man¡¯s neck. Blood sprayed in a warm arc in front of her face, but she slipped past it. The metallic scent filled her nostrils. She pivoted behind him as he stumbled, jamming the blade up into his kidney. The steel sliced through cloth and flesh with practiced ease. The second thug blinked stupidly, frozen in the cultivator-enhanced moment. Lin Yue darted behind him before he registered movement. The knife plunged into his kidney as well. His muscles tensed under the blade. She reached up and yanked the steel across his throat in one fluid motion, opening a crimson smile. She jumped back and reality snapped back to normal speed. Blood pooled toward her feet, soaking into the packed dirt. ¡°What the¡ª¡± The words stuck in Lin Yue¡¯s throat as she stared at her handiwork. Shadow swooped down, eagerly slurping up the wisps of light that rose from the corpses. His serpentine form swelled. A woman¡¯s scream pierced the night. Footsteps pounded against stone as people fled the alley. The remaining beggars stared at Lin Yue with dead eyes, accepting death as inevitable. ¡°Kill! Kill! Kill!¡± Shadow writhed through the air in ecstasy. Lin Yue glanced down at her new black silk robes. Not a single drop of blood stained the fabric¡ªshe¡¯d moved too fast for the spray to reach her. The bodies sprawled in their own crimson pools at her feet, already cooling in the night air. ¡°What the hell was that?¡± Lin Yue stared at her steady hands. Shadow drifted down beside her. ¡°You¡¯re a cultivator now. Your mind and body process everything faster than mortals can even think. Their movements might as well be frozen in amber.¡± ¡°And other cultivators?¡± ¡°They¡¯ll move just as fast¡ªor faster. You need to get stronger before taking them on.¡± Shadow coiled through the air. ¡°Much stronger.¡± Lin Yue peered down the dark alley. Distant shouts echoed off the walls. Time to move before anyone investigated the screams. She stepped around the bodies, avoiding the blood-soaked dirt. The knife felt heavier in her hand. She¡¯d killed before¡ªslit throats for vengeance, stabbed hearts for survival. But this... this had been different. The way they¡¯d moved in slow motion while she darted between them like a ghost. The absolute control. The ease of it all. Was this what being a serial killer felt like? A sociopath? Lin Yue wiped the blood from her knife on one of the comatose beggars, the crimson staining their already filthy rags. The question nagged at her mind¡ªwas she becoming a monster? Did killing so easily make her evil? A bitter laugh escaped her lips. The time for moral debates died along with her two left-hand fingers in that marketplace years ago. Survival meant getting hands dirty. Besides, the thugs had chosen their path just as she chose hers. ¡°Look who¡¯s having an ethical crisis.¡± Shadow swirled around her head. Lin Yue slipped her blade up her sleeve. The cultivation path ahead promised more violence, more death. Master Yan¡¯s mark burned against her skin¡ªa constant reminder that hesitation meant weakness. Weakness meant death. ¡°Fuck it.¡± Lin Yue muttered. ¡°If being a good person means dying in a gutter, then I choose survival.¡± Shadow preened. ¡°Excellent choice!¡± The last of her tears had dried up years ago, along with any illusions about fairness or justice. The world ran on power. Now she finally had a taste of it. Lin Yue aimed them toward another alley down the street, one she knew a gang would be guarding to control the local drug market. ¡°Let¡¯s find more souls. I need to get stronger.¡± ¡°That¡¯s my girl!¡± Shadow swooped through the air. ¡°Finally embracing your true nature.¡± Chapter 15 – Binding Ink Chapter 15 ¨C Binding Ink Lin Yue clicked the iron lock shut and pressed her ear against the wooden door. The familiar sounds of the inn¡ªdrunken laughter, clinking dishes, and shuffling feet¡ªfiltered through. No shouts about murderers or cultivators. No city guards pounding up the stairs. She stepped back and examined her new black silk robes in the bronze mirror. Not a single crimson drop marred the fabric. The speed of cultivation had protected her from the usual mess of murder. So that¡¯s why the law wants cultivators to stay separate from mortals. The power imbalance turned any conflict into a slaughter. Especially for those who encountered those who walked the demonic path. The ease of tonight¡¯s kills puzzled her, though. No one had noticed her killing spree¡ªno spiritual alarms, no cultivator response team. Maybe because she¡¯d waited for prey to come to her instead of clearing entire streets like a proper demon? Shadow bobbed near the ceiling, drunk on fresh souls. His serpentine form twisted in lazy loops as he muttered about finding more victims. Lin Yue ignored his ravings. The difference between tonight and the Tiger Gang massacre eluded her, but Shadow¡¯s current state made him useless for answers. The red ink mark on her arm sent sharp tingles through her skin. Master Ruixian¡¯s command echoed through her thoughts with the same cold precision he¡¯d delivered it. Come back after you open your meridians. If you fail to do so in ten days, kill yourself. The mark pulsed again. Her newly opened meridians buzzed with spiritual energy¡ªperhaps triggering the reaction. A cold sweat broke across her skin as the implications sank in. But wait. Lin Yue traced the mark with her fingertip. The old bastard hadn¡¯t specified how many meridians needed opening. She¡¯d cleared the five major ones, the main channels, and quite a few minor ones. Technically speaking, she hadn¡¯t broken his command. Plenty of smaller meridians remained blocked throughout her body. Ten days. Some of those were already gone. Lin Yue stared at Xue¡¯s sleeping form. The girl curled into a tight ball under the thin blanket, breaths steady and peaceful. She grabbed the Sable Script manual from beneath her pillow and settled at the desk. The lamp light cast dancing shadows across the detailed diagrams of meridians and soul bindings. Each page revealed secrets and demonic wisdom. When Shadow finally sobered up, he occasionally pointed out details she missed. The nights blurred together as she studied, practiced the brush strokes, and memorized the intricate patterns needed for the soul binding tattoo. Their silver dwindled. Inn fees and meals ate through their funds until copper scraps remained. But Lin Yue¡¯s newfound powers solved that problem. Her enhanced speed and strength made picking marks child¡¯s play. They never saw her coming¡ªjust felt their purses vanish as she passed. Five days of study and practice later, Lin Yue felt she could attempt the binding. The market yielded everything she needed¡ªgrinding stone, essence powders, special inks, hollow needles. The tools of a demonic tattooist filled her bag. Back in their room, Shadow retched up a fresh soul into the mixing bowl. She ground the components together, adding drops of spiritual essence until the ink turned midnight black. Without a proper qi-sealed container, it would only last a few days, but that would suffice. After their usual dinner of noodles and vegetables, Xue trudged up the stairs toward their room. Lin Yue corked the bottle of soul-ink. Time to begin. Xue splashed water on her face from the washbasin, droplets scattering across the worn wooden counter. She patted her skin dry with the threadbare towel and turned toward their bed. ¡°It¡¯s time,¡± Lin Yue said. ¡°Oh, okay.¡± Xue¡¯s small fingers twisted in her robe. ¡°Strip and lay down on the bed.¡± Xue pulled off her clothes and climbed onto the mattress. She grabbed a pillow, hugging it tight against her chest as she settled onto her stomach. Lin Yue sat beside her and arranged the tools on a clean cloth¡ªneedles, ink, and cloths lined up with precise spacing. The flame licked at the needles as she sterilized each one. ¡°This will hurt a bit.¡± Lin Yue tested the first needle¡¯s point and drew her own blood and added it to the ink. ¡°Stay still and hold onto that pillow as tight as you need to.¡± Xue nodded, eyes fixed on the gleaming metal. Her knuckles whitened around the pillow¡¯s edges. ¡°See how the ink sits inside?¡± Lin Yue held up a needle, turning it to catch the light. ¡°I¡¯ll push it through your skin, and the ink will stay underneath. It¡¯ll sting, but it won¡¯t kill you. This is how we¡¯ll complete the binding.¡± Xue nodded. ¡°Okay.¡±Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. Shadow coiled near the ceiling. ¡°Won¡¯t kill her¡ªif you get it right. And since this is your first time...¡± He chuckled darkly. ¡°That¡¯s quite the if.¡± Lin Yue ignored him, but her stomach twisted. The needle trembled slightly between her fingers as she dipped it into the midnight-black ink. She traced the first line across Xue¡¯s pale skin. The needle pushed deep, depositing ink beneath the surface. Dark characters bloomed like poisonous flowers, each stab precise and deliberate. The manual lay open beside her, its diagrams guiding her movement. The fractal pattern spiraled outward from a perfect circle at the center of Xue¡¯s back. Each line connected to form an intricate web of power. The soul-infused ink spread through the channels Lin Yue created, following ancient paths of binding. Xue remained motionless throughout the process. Not a single twitch or whimper escaped as the needles pierced her flesh again and again. The pillow remained clutched tight against her chest, but her breathing stayed steady and calm. Lin Yue released a slow breath as she completed the final jab. The pattern matched the manual¡¯s illustration perfectly¡ªevery curve and angle aligned with cultivator precision. One step remained. Lin Yue picked up her knife and sliced across her thumb. Blood welled up dark and thick. She pressed the wound into the circle at the center of the design. Blue light erupted from the markings. The characters blazed across Xue¡¯s skin like burning stars. ¡°Looks like you did it!¡± Shadow cackled from above. Heat radiated from the inscription as power surged through the binding. The markings pulsed. Xue sucked in a sharp breath. A long, peaceful sigh escaped her lips. Then silence fell as her breathing stopped completely. A blue orb rose from Xue¡¯s lifeless body, pulsing with spirit light. The soul floated upward, casting soft azure reflections across the room¡¯s wooden walls. Shadow circled the glowing sphere, his serpentine form twisting in excitement. ¡°Such a pure little soul. Maybe we could share? Just a tiny taste?¡± ¡°Touch it and I¡¯ll find every exorcist manual in existence until one works.¡± Lin Yue bared her teeth. Shadow puffed up like an offended cat. ¡°Fine. Be that way.¡± He slithered to a dark corner, muttering about ungrateful hosts. The soul drifted in place, its light already dimming. Xue¡¯s chest remained still¡ªno breath, no movement. No time to waste. Lin Yue inhaled sharply, drawing the soul toward her. The orb phased through her skin, sliding into her spiritual network like ice water. Panic erupted inside her meridians. Xue¡¯s soul bounced frantically through the channels, a trapped bird fighting invisible cage bars. The desperate energy threatened to tear the newly opened pathways apart. Lin Yue wrapped her spiritual essence around the terrified soul, enveloping it in warmth. I¡¯ve got you. You¡¯re safe. She poured comfort through their connection, a gentle embrace of energy. The chaotic movements slowed. Xue¡¯s soul settled, nestling into the protective cocoon. Lin Yue pressed her palm against Xue¡¯s cold skin. Spiritual energy threaded through the girl¡¯s empty shell, seeking the vital core. The qi probe discovered Xue¡¯s dantian¡ªa solid, dead mass like granite beneath her navel. A quick jab of concentrated energy pierced the crystallized spiritual center. The rigid surface cracked and collapsed, leaving an empty vessel. Lin Yue traced her qi back through Xue¡¯s network, weaving a gossamer thread between soul and flesh. Energy flowed through the connection. Xue¡¯s body convulsed. The girl bolted upright, coughing and choking as air rushed into her lungs. Crimson light blazed in her eyes as she gasped for breath. ¡°Everything feels... strange.¡± Xue panted between words. ¡°Like¡­ I¡¯m in two places at once?¡± Lin Yue pulled her into a tight embrace. ¡°It worked.¡± ¡°Pity.¡± Shadow drifted closer. ¡°I rather hoped you¡¯d botch it. Would¡¯ve made a tasty snack.¡± Xue jumped at the voice and stared up at the serpentine form. ¡°He¡¯s even uglier than you described.¡± ¡°I am not ugly!¡± Shadow puffed up again. ¡°I am a magnificent shadow dragon god!¡± Xue squinted at him. ¡°For a god, you¡¯re awfully small.¡± ¡°All the more reason to gather souls!¡± Shadow spun in agitated loops. ¡°I must restore my former glory!¡± Lin Yue snorted at Shadow¡¯s declaration. The ¡°god¡± part seemed questionable¡ªmore like a parasite with delusions of grandeur. Xue leaned against her shoulder, warm and alive. The soul binding had worked perfectly, though Lin Yue couldn¡¯t shake the image of Xue¡¯s lifeless body from her mind. Technically, she was dead. If Xue¡¯s body was destroyed, her soul would remain inside her spiritual network and she could be deposited into another vessel. The manual had described the process clinically, but experiencing it firsthand twisted her stomach into knots. Tomorrow loomed and created even more anxiety. The demonic market¡¯s eternal twilight waited, filled with creatures that would devour them both, given half a chance. And beyond that... Lin Yue rubbed her arm where Master Yan¡¯s mark burned. Blackspire Pavilion. The name alone sent chills through her newly opened meridians. What twisted trials awaited? What horrors would the old bastard demand? The mark pulsed again, a constant reminder of her bound status. She possessed no reference point for what a proper master expected from disciples. The stories she barely remembered from Earth painted cultivator sects as places of enlightenment and wisdom. But this was different. The Sable Script manual spoke of defying nature¡¯s laws and re-writing reality with ink and will, of power gained through others¡¯ suffering. Master Yan had proven himself a manipulator who collected souls like others gathered coins. The only path she saw was to become a better merchant of the dark. Chapter 16 – Black Robes, Black Tower Chapter 16 ¨C Black Robes, Black Tower Lin Yue tugged at Xue¡¯s collar, adjusting the silk until it draped properly. The black fabric rippled against the blood-red sash. Not bad for street rats. A few loose threads stuck out near the hem¡ªshe¡¯d need to trim those later. She turned her last-minute check toward herself. The defensive shield and the explosive talismans crinkled beneath her own matching robes as she patted them down. Her fingers traced the folds of paper, counting. One shield, four bombs. She hadn¡¯t tested them yet, though it was better than nothing. The weight of both knives pressed against her forearms and was, just as if not more, reassuring. Slum dwellers lurked in doorways and alley mouths around the square, their gazes sharp with hunger and calculation. A few wore the telltale colors of local gangs. None approached. Maybe they sensed the qi radiating from her. Or maybe the amount of bodies stacked in the last week or so had made everyone cautious. Shadow coiled through the air above them. ¡°This is boring. When are we going to eat someone?¡± Lin Yue stared at the shimmering air that marked the demon market¡¯s entrance. The distortion rippled like heat waves off summer stones, beckoning and warning in equal measure. It hadn¡¯t been visible to her before. Her fingers drummed against the knife hilts in her sleeves. The last visit had ended in spiritual devastation and blue-robed cultivators throwing around enough power to level buildings. She had no idea of what happened after their rampage. Running into one of them was certainly a fast ticket to getting her heart stabbed out or body crushed. From what she had seen, righteous cultivators stabbed first and questioned later. Except¡­ The memory of Rin Ruo¡¯s face surfaced with painful clarity¡ªthose frost-blue eyes and flowing white hair. The way her pale cheeks had flushed pink at Lin Yue¡¯s play on their names. Heat crept up Lin Yue¡¯s neck. Nope. The temple district is permanently off limits. She rubbed her burning cheeks. The demon market waited, but at least it didn¡¯t come with confusing feelings. ¡°Are you getting sick?¡± Shadow poked his head over her shoulder. ¡°Your face is all red.¡± Xue peered up at her. ¡°Who is that person you like?¡± The innocent question shot through Lin Yue¡¯s chest like an arrow. The soul bond pulsed between them, raw and new. Fragments of thoughts flickered across their connection at random. The Sable Script had detailed brutal methods for imprisoning bound souls, crushing them into submission. The mere thought of doing that to Xue made Lin Yue¡¯s stomach turn. Lin Yue grabbed Xue¡¯s narrow shoulders. ¡°No one. Just a ghost.¡± The lie tasted bitter. ¡°Listen, we¡¯re heading somewhere dangerous. You¡¯ll need to be brave.¡± ¡°How scary?¡± Xue¡¯s eyes widened. Shadow swooped down from above, expanding into a massive serpentine form. He reared back and unleashed an ethereal roar that echoed. ¡°This scary!¡± His spectral form rippled with dark glee. Xue¡¯s tiny fist shot into Shadow¡¯s snout. ¡°Ow!¡± Shadow recoiled, spiraling upward with exaggerated pain. ¡°Ungrateful brat,¡± he muttered, retreating to sulk. ¡°Good.¡± Lin Yue patted Xue¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Remember¡ªif that nasty dragon misbehaves, punish him.¡± Xue bounced on her toes. ¡°I will!¡± Shadow twisted through the air as they approached the market¡¯s shimmering entrance. ¡°Remember¡ªcultivation or not, you¡¯re still bottom-feeding trash here. The only difference is you won¡¯t instantly die when someone looks at you funny.¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t die last time, though.¡± Lin Yue stepped through the barrier. The sensation of reality warping around them sent pins through her meridians. ¡°Pure luck,¡± Shadow muttered, coiling tighter. Xue¡¯s small hand squeezed Lin Yue¡¯s fingers as they emerged into the eternal twilight. The market sprawled before them, packed with new stalls. Beast-folk bartered over glowing crystals while hooded figures haggled for herbs that writhed in their jars. The devastation from the blue-robed cultivators might never have happened. Cultivator equipment glinted from every surface¡ªjade meditation mats, spirit-infused weapons, and bottles of refined qi essence. All of it highlighted that they might have moved to ¡®wealthy¡¯ in the mortal world, but they were very poor here. Shadow darted toward a nearby stall where bleached bones lay arranged on black silk. ¡°Fresh righteous cultivator bones! Full of refined qi!¡± The vendor¡¯s proclamation carried across the crowd. Shadow sniffed at a femur. ¡°Now that¡¯s the good stuff.¡± Lin Yue ignored his enthusiasm and pressed forward through the crowd. She knew exactly where she needed to go¡ªassuming it still existed after the attack. The familiar dirt walls of Madam Yanlue¡¯s hovel came into view, unchanged amidst the market¡¯s chaos. Xue pressed against Lin Yue¡¯s side as they ducked into the hovel. The familiar blue flames flickered across shelves of bones and bottled horrors. ¡°Here to trade.¡± Lin Yue stepped toward the stone slab table.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. The shadows didn¡¯t writhe and twist like before. Instead, her enhanced senses picked up the dense spiritual pressure saturating the air. Trapped souls pulsed within the walls, their essence thick enough to taste. The qi pressure rivaled Master Ruixian¡¯s overwhelming presence. A massive shape emerged from the rear of the room. Madam Yanlue¡¯s frog-like form towered over them, golden rings glinting in the folds of her throat. Xue squeaked and stumbled backward. ¡°Pathetic.¡± Shadow swooped through the air. ¡°And here I thought you were getting braver.¡± Madam Yanlue¡¯s painted lips stretched into an amphibian smile. ¡°What delicious morsels visit my humble shop today?¡± ¡°One soul to trade.¡± Lin Yue kept her voice steady. ¡°Looking for inert spirit stones again.¡± ¡°A soul?¡± Madam Yanlue¡¯s tongue flicked out, tasting the air. ¡°Perhaps this innocent child¡¯s? Such pure essence would fetch quite a price.¡± ¡°A thug from the slums.¡± ¡°How mundane.¡± Madam Yanlue¡¯s rings clinked as she shifted. ¡°Though still of some value. Two inert stones for your offering.¡± ¡°That¡¯s worse than your last offer.¡± Lin Yue tightened her grip on Xue¡¯s shoulder. ¡°You promised exclusive trade with me.¡± Madam Yanlue¡¯s tongue flicked between her painted lips. ¡°That means I set the prices now.¡± ¡°Then I¡¯ll find another buyer.¡± Lin Yue turned toward the dirt doorway. The shelves of bottled horrors rattled as she moved. ¡°That would break your promise.¡± Madam Yanlue¡¯s rings clinked against the stone slab. Lin Yue spun back. ¡°I don¡¯t keep promises to cheats.¡± Spiritual pressure slammed down like a physical weight. The air thickened into syrup. Lin Yue¡¯s knees buckled. Beside her, Xue froze mid-breath, paralyzed by the crushing force. Lin Yue¡¯s fingers slipped beneath her robe, extracting one of the talisman papers. Fresh soul-ink gleamed on its surface, the explosion array she¡¯d practiced ready to trigger. The paper crackled with stored energy. The pressure vanished. ¡°This should level your little hovel.¡± Lin Yue held the talisman between two fingers. ¡°Take all those precious souls with it.¡± Madam Yanlue¡¯s throat bubbled with laughter. ¡°You¡¯d destroy my home and my collection, yes. But you and your child would die in the blast.¡± ¡°Try the pressure trick again.¡± Lin Yue raised the talisman higher. ¡°Test how much it takes to set this off? Don¡¯t you value your soul vault more than robbing a stubborn girl bound to Blackspire Pavilion?¡± ¡°Blackspire?¡± Madam Yanlue spat the word like rotten meat. ¡°Such filthy words in my shop.¡± Her painted lips twisted into a grimace. ¡°Fine. Three inert stones for one soul. Though I cannot fathom why you¡¯d trade with me.¡± Three crystalline shards clinked against the stone slab. The blue flames cast prismatic reflections across their faceted surfaces. Lin Yue glanced at Shadow. The spectral dragon sighed dramatically and swooped to the center of the hovel. Dark essence poured from his maw, coalescing into a writhing soul-orb. Madam Yanlue¡¯s tongue shot out¡ªa pink blur that Lin Yue¡¯s enhanced senses tracked with newfound clarity. The muscled appendage wrapped around the soul and snapped back. Wonder if I could catch that with my knife. The morbid thought sparked an itch in her fingers. Blue smoke curled from Madam Yanlue¡¯s nostrils as she burped contentedly. ¡°Delicious.¡± Lin Yue swept the spirit stones into her sleeve. ¡°Thanks for the fair trade.¡± ¡°I dislike threats during business.¡± Madam Yanlue¡¯s rings clinked ominously. ¡°Mutual feeling.¡± Lin Yue placed both hands on Xue¡¯s shoulders. ¡°Maybe skip the cheating next time, hey?¡± She steered Xue toward the exit, raising one hand in a backward wave without looking at the soul-gorged amphibian behind them. The market¡¯s eternal twilight welcomed them as they emerged from Madam Yanlue¡¯s hovel. Spirit stones moved from her sleeve to her bag. Shadow swooped down, coiling through the air. ¡°That was suicidally dangerous. Did you want her to kill us all?¡± ¡°Can¡¯t show weakness.¡± Lin Yue guided Xue through the crowded marketplace. A horned merchant¡¯s stall displayed rows of gleaming cultivation weapons. ¡°Not here.¡± ¡°Being dead is the ultimate weakness!¡± Shadow expanded dramatically. Lin Yue traced the outline of the talisman paper beneath her robes. ¡°When you¡¯re weak, you have to be stiff. Help me get stronger, then we can be more flexible.¡± Shadow twisted into annoyed spirals above their heads, grumbling incomprehensibly. ¡°She was the biggest frog I ever saw!¡± Xue bounced on her toes, seemingly recovered from the spiritual pressure. Her new robes rippled with the movement. Lin Yue chuckled, the tension draining from her shoulders. She looked to Shadow. ¡°Where to now?¡± ¡°Blackspire Pavilion!¡± Shadow swooped lower, his ethereal form rippling with excitement. ¡°Deep in the district.¡± ¡°Lead on then.¡± Lin Yue took Xue¡¯s hand. They wove through the market¡¯s twisted paths, past stalls selling bottled lightning and preserved organs. Lin Yue halted at the empty space where Ruixian¡¯s bookstore should have stood. Fresh stonework and unfamiliar shop fronts filled the gap without a trace of the previous structure. The architectural lie blended seamlessly with its surroundings, as if reality itself had been rewritten. Lanterns shifted to cast orange and red light across cobblestone streets as they continued. Paper ghosts dangled from eaves while carved demon masks leered from doorways. The whole district screamed ¡°spooky cultivation aesthetic¡± like some twisted theme park. ¡°This way.¡± Shadow darted down a narrow alley lined with spirit-binding talismans. The buildings grew taller and older as they pressed deeper. Ancient wood creaked overhead while spirit sewage pooled thickly in the gutters. Xue¡¯s grip tightened. A massive structure emerged through banks of rolling mist¡ªa towering pagoda crowned with blood-red lanterns that pulsed like beating hearts. More buildings sprawled behind it, encircled by weathered walls covered in yellowed talismans. The papers radiated traces of power despite their obvious age. A woman with black hair and amethyst eyes wearing segmented leather armor blocked the main gate. Her glaive gleamed with ethereal light as she positioned it in front of the archway entrance. ¡°Who dares approach the Blackspire Pavilion?¡± Chapter 17 – Five Houses Chapter 17 ¨C Five Houses Lin Yue squared her shoulders against the glaive¡¯s ethereal glow. ¡°My name is Lin Yue, and¡ª¡± The words Master Ruixian froze on her tongue. Shadow spiraled through the air, cackling. ¡°Were you about to off yourself right there? Did you forget?¡± He twisted into a mockery of Ruixian¡¯s face. ¡°¡®Tell no one about our arrangement!¡¯¡± Stupid, stupid, stupid. Lin Yue¡¯s teeth clenched. One sentence in and she¡¯d nearly gotten herself killed. Her cultivation manual pressed against her ribs beneath the silk robes, a reminder of her precarious position. The guard¡¯s armored fingers tightened around the glaive¡¯s shaft. ¡°Well?¡± ¡°I was sent here to join.¡± Lin Yue kept her voice steady. ¡°This isn¡¯t how you join.¡± The guard¡¯s lip curled. ¡°Stop wasting my time and leave before I remove you myself.¡± ¡°Show her the manual!¡± Shadow swooped down, passing through the guard¡¯s head. ¡°Quick, before she skewers you!¡± Lin Yue pulled the manual from her robes carefully, the leather binding cool against her fingers. The guard¡¯s eyes narrowed at the sight of the Sable Script¡¯s distinct markings on the outside. ¡°You already joined...¡± The guard paused. ¡°Who is your¡ªno, never mind.¡± The guard produced a slip of paper, folding it with practiced precision. The paper twisted into an avian shape, sprouting wings that caught the twilight air. It soared over the compound walls with a smooth, living movement. ¡°Someone from Ink House will collect you.¡± The guard¡¯s gaze shifted to Xue. ¡°Who¡¯s the brat? You know mortals aren¡¯t permitted...¡± She leaned forward, scrutinizing Xue¡¯s face. ¡°A corpse?¡± Xue pressed against Lin Yue¡¯s leg, fingers digging into black silk. ¡°She¡¯s bound to me.¡± Lin Yue lifted her chin. The guard snorted. ¡°That¡¯s Corpse House business, not something I¡¯d expect from an Ink House girl.¡± Ink House? Corpse House? Lin Yue¡¯s mind raced. The divisions within Blackspire Pavilion presented another layer to stumble into. ¡°I¡¯d love to know more.¡± Lin Yue kept her tone light. The guard straightened. ¡°Not my job to enlighten new outer disciples who aren¡¯t even part of my house.¡± ¡°Well, what are the houses, then?¡± ¡°You don¡¯t even know that much?¡± The guard¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°I was just told to come here after¡ª¡± Lin Yue bit her tongue. Shit. Almost admitted to being a fresh mortal. Might as well paint a target on my back. ¡°Five houses total.¡± The guard cut through Lin Yue¡¯s hesitation. ¡°Ink House, Herb House, Iron House, Corpse House, and Shadow House. Each maintains their own manual of study, elders. Each created by one of the five Blackspire sages under the teachings of the Grandmaster.¡± The glaive twisted. ¡°Name¡¯s Xiang Luhua, Iron House.¡± A hint of pride crept into her tone. ¡°Iron House and Ink House get along well enough. Lucky you ran into me instead of those Shadow or Corpse pricks.¡± Perfect. More politics. Because this clusterfuck needed another layer of complexity. Lin Yue forced a smile. ¡°Well, Sister Luhua, you seem nice enough. Glad we¡¯re on the same side.¡± Shadow drifted past, rolling his eyes. ¡°Brilliant strategy.¡± Luhua scoffed. ¡°Don¡¯t mistake basic courtesy for friendship. That¡¯s not how things work here.¡± ¡°Well, I don¡¯t know how things will work out.¡± Lin Yue shrugged. ¡°But thanks for the courtesy, anyway.¡± Luhua grunted and looked slightly taken aback, like she didn¡¯t expect any thanks. Maybe everyone in Blackspire was bluntly hostile and had never heard of guile? No, that didn¡¯t sound right. Line Yue suppressed a sigh and rubbed Xue¡¯s hair. Making enemies seemed pointless when potential allies stood right in front of her. Even if they currently had a weapon with a menacing glow in their path, still. ¡°Are you going to chop us?¡± Xue¡¯s small voice pierced the awkward silence. ¡°What?¡± Luhua stared down at Xue like she¡¯d sprouted a second head. ¡°Your spear keeps glowing all scary.¡± Lin Yue pointed at the ethereal light still dancing along the weapon¡¯s edge. ¡°It¡¯s a glaive, not a spear.¡± Luhua shifted her stance. The weapon¡¯s glow faded to nothing. She kept glancing at Xue while they all waited. Shadow swooped down between them. ¡°Smell that? Ink¡¯s coming.¡± He circled Lin Yue and Xue in lazy loops. Lin Yue peered past the archway entrance. An orange lantern bobbed through the twilight darkness, its bearer¡¯s footsteps drawing closer. The orange lantern cast dancing shadows across a tall man¡¯s angular features. A pair of glasses sat on his nose and he wore a black robe with dozens of intricate silver embellishments across the fabric. Scripts? ¡°What¡¯s so urgent, Sister Luhua?¡± He adjusted his spectacles. ¡°I¡¯m in the middle of a breakthrough.¡± ¡°Brother Hong Wei.¡± Luhua introduced before looking at him. ¡°Any progress with that combat enhancement sigil you mentioned?¡± Luhua tapped her glaive against the ground. A predatory grin spread across Hong Wei¡¯s face. ¡°Perhaps. Got some spirit stones to pay for a test?¡± ¡°Trade pointers instead? I could show you how to actually use a weapon.¡± Luhua snorted. ¡°Your form is terrible.¡± Hong Wei ignored the jab, his attention shifting to Lin Yue and Xue. ¡°What do we have here?¡± ¡°Your new junior disciple.¡± Luhua gestured with her glaive. ¡°Take her off my hands. I have guard duty.¡± Hong Wei¡¯s eyes narrowed behind his glasses. ¡°Never seen her before.¡± Lin Yue pulled the manual back out from her robes, holding it up like a shield. ¡°Let me see that.¡± Hong Wei extended his ink-stained hand. She offered the tome, watching his every movement. The lantern¡¯s glow caught the Sable Script¡¯s markings, making them seem alive against the dark leather. Hong Wei¡¯s fingers brushed the manual, and red sparks crackled across his ink-stained fingers. He yanked his hand back with a curse, shaking out his fingers.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. ¡°Legitimate Sable Script manual alright.¡± He adjusted his spectacles with his unshocked hand. ¡°Only responds to its intended disciple.¡± The lantern light cast strange shadows across his face as he studied her. ¡°Who¡¯s your master?¡± ¡°Uh...¡± Lin Yue¡¯s mind raced. Can¡¯t say his name, can¡¯t lie about having one, can¡¯t... Hong Wei waved off her hesitation. ¡°Never mind.¡± Xue pressed against Lin Yue¡¯s back, trying to hide from Hong Wei¡¯s scrutiny. The orange light caught her wide eyes as she peeked around Lin Yue¡¯s robes. ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Hong Wei pointed at Xue. ¡°She¡¯s mine.¡± Lin Yue shifted to slip a hand behind Xue¡¯s back. ¡°Well, an extra servant won¡¯t hurt.¡± Hong Wei turned to Luhua. ¡°We¡¯ll discuss that enhancement sigil later.¡± He gestured for Lin Yue to follow. ¡°Come.¡± Shadow swooped in lazy circles around them as they followed Hong Wei. ¡°Finally made it inside! Now you¡¯re less likely to get eaten by random demons.¡± He twisted through the air with a spectral flip. ¡°More likely to get into real trouble, though!¡± Lin Yue gritted her teeth. The urge to tell Shadow to shut his incorporeal mouth burned in her throat. Unless he planned to offer actual help, his commentary just added to her growing headache. Xue¡¯s small fingers squeezed tight. The girl¡¯s palm felt clammy against her skin. Black gardens stretched into the twilight on either side of the winding stone paths. Orange lanterns cast dancing shadows across thorny vines and dark flowers that seemed to pulse with unnatural life. The petals looked wet, like fresh blood in the flickering light. Cultivators drifted through the compound like wraiths. Some wore elaborate robes covered in silver script like Hong Wei¡¯s, while others donned simple black cloth adorned with red talismans. A group in deep green passed by, the scent of chemicals trailing in their wake. Near a side building, cultivators in iron-grey practiced with weapons that sang through the air. ¡°Where exactly are we going?¡± Lin Yue watched a woman in shadow-black robes seem to melt into darkness between two lanterns. ¡°We¡¯re heading to the Ink House compound.¡± Hong Wei¡¯s lantern cast wavering shadows across the path. ¡°You¡¯ll spend most of your time there as an outer disciple.¡± The orange light flickered across his glasses as he glanced back. ¡°I don¡¯t know your circumstances, but there¡¯s one rule you need to understand above all others.¡± ¡°What¡¯s that?¡± Lin Yue squeezed Xue¡¯s hand as they walked. ¡°Don¡¯t cause chaos where you sleep.¡± Hong Wei adjusted his spectacles. ¡°No backstabbing or harming other Ink House members. Actually, do nothing to anyone until you know better.¡± Lin Yue snorted. ¡°Well, I doubt this is some happy place where everyone¡¯s friends.¡± ¡°You¡¯re right.¡± Hong Wei stepped around a patch of writhing shadows. ¡°But someone like you isn¡¯t in a position to know who you can risk being enemies with.¡± ¡°Planned to keep my head down, anyway.¡± Lin Yue pulled Xue closer as they passed a group of cultivators with blood-red talismans. ¡°This isn¡¯t any different from the slums or Tiger Gang, really. Just cloaked in fancy silks instead of sitting on dirty streets.¡± Hong Wei grunted without commenting. Shadow drifted past, twisting through the air. ¡°Oh, it¡¯s much worse than that. At least gangsters can¡¯t set you on fire with a curse!¡± The Ink House pagoda stretched skyward, its dark walls covered in an ethereal script that pulsed with barely contained power. The building sat like a miniature fortress within Blackspire¡¯s larger walls, complete with its own protective barrier of glowing talismans. Those talismans look fresh compared to the others. Lin Yue studied the shimmering characters. Did Ink House create all the defensive scripts around Blackspire too? Hong Wei veered away from the pagoda¡¯s entrance toward a stone garden where five cultivators sat drinking tea around a low table. Three women and two men knelt on cushions, their black robes adorned with varying amounts of silver script. ¡°Who did you find wandering around?¡± The tallest woman lowered her teacup, her movements seeming to absorb the sound around her. ¡°A new junior disciple. Lin Yue will be learning the Sable Script.¡± Hong Wei gestured toward her. ¡°Yes!¡± The youngest disciple bounced in her seat, her simple robes showing basic silver scripts. ¡°I¡¯m not the newest anymore!¡± Lin Yue¡¯s eye twitched. Great. What kind of hazing bullshit am I in for? ¡°Who¡¯s the brat?¡± One of the men pointed at Xue with his teacup, flame-based scripts sparking along his sleeve. ¡°A corpse.¡± Hong Wei adjusted his glasses. ¡°Are you sure she¡¯s in the right house?¡± The other man frowned, defensive sigils pulsing across his conservative robes. ¡°It was the only way we could stay together.¡± Lin Yue pulled Xue closer. ¡°Oh, she¡¯s the sentimental type.¡± The older woman smirked, her form seeming to blur at the edges. ¡°Couldn¡¯t leave your sister behind, so you took her soul instead?¡± Hong Wei cleared his throat. ¡°Let me introduce everyone. Senior Sister He Jing.¡± He pointed to the tall woman. ¡°Junior Sister Xia Rou.¡± The bouncy one. ¡°Brother Zhou Yan and Brother Meng Hao.¡± The two men. ¡°And Elder Sister Wu Lan.¡± The older woman who¡¯d called her sentimental. Hong Wei gestured toward Xia Rou. ¡°Show our new junior sister where everything is and get her assigned a room in the script hall.¡± ¡°Yes!¡± Xia Rou bounced up from her cushion, radiating enthusiasm that seemed almost toxic in its intensity. ¡°Come on, I¡¯ll give you the tour!¡± Lin Yue studied Xia Rou¡¯s bright smile. Nobody¡¯s that happy. What¡¯s your angle? The enthusiasm had to be fake¡ªprobably sizing her up for weaknesses or trying to get her guard down. They walked toward the towering pagoda. Each step made the hair on Lin Yue¡¯s neck prickle from the weight of the other disciples¡¯ stares boring into her back. Her peers weren¡¯t the bloodthirsty demons she¡¯d half-expected, but their calculated observations felt just as dangerous. What did I expect, anyway? Fangs? Horns? Dramatic evil laughter while sacrificing small animals? At least they looked human. Normal faces, normal limbs, normal everything really¡ªjust dressed better than street thugs. Lin Yue almost snorted. Oh great, now I¡¯m being racist. Or would that be speciesist? She fought back an eye roll at her own thoughts. Bad Yue. Very politically incorrect of you. Shadow drifted past her ear. ¡°Thinking about demon rights? How progressive!¡± Shut up. Stop reading me. They already had enough problems. Better to focus on not getting killed by her new human¡ªprobably human?¡ªsect mates first. She could worry about offending any actual demons later, assuming she survived long enough for it to matter. The interior was a wash of polished dark hardwood floors as they entered the building. Spirit lanterns cast dancing shadows across ancient beams overhead, their pale light reflecting off ornate wall panels that probably cost more than everything she¡¯d ever stolen combined. ¡°Breakfast starts at dawn!¡± Xia Rou bounced ahead, gesturing wildly. ¡°Tea time¡¯s at mid-morning, lunch follows cultivation practice, and¡ªoh! The pavilion market has everything you¡¯ll need. Well, except spirit stones.¡± She spun around, walking backward. ¡°You¡¯ll need a job in the sect until you¡¯re cleared for missions alone. But don¡¯t worry! First six months of room rent are free!¡± Shadow swooped through a spirit lantern, sending its light flickering. ¡°She talks more than you steal! Impressive.¡± Xue¡¯s small fingers tightened around Lin Yue¡¯s hand as they navigated the winding corridors. The girl watched their guide¡¯s enthusiastic gestures warily. ¡°I¡¯m so excited to have a junior sister!¡± Xia Rou clapped her hands together before zeroing in on Xue. She crouched down, poking at Xue¡¯s cheek. ¡°And what¡¯s this? A little girl? Does that make you my littlest sister?¡± Her head tilted. ¡°Or are you just a very convincing doll?¡± ¡°I¡¯m not a doll!¡± Xue stamped her foot. ¡°I¡¯m myself!¡± ¡°How unique!¡± Xia Rou straightened, beaming at Lin Yue. ¡°Can we play with her sometimes?¡± Lin Yue shifted between them. ¡°If Xue wants, and it¡¯s safe.¡± ¡°Perfect!¡± Xia Rou clapped again. ¡°I specialize in decorative scripts¡ªI¡¯d love to offer pointers! And don¡¯t let those moody seniors get you down. Ink House is the best.¡± She leaned forward conspiratorially. ¡°We only have one murder per year, unlike those Corpse House savages. They slay each other monthly!¡± Chapter 18 – Rules and Rooms Chapter 18 ¨C Rules and Rooms Xia Rou added a thick black tome onto Lin Yue¡¯s already towering stack of books. The weight made Lin Yue¡¯s arms dip. Were all of them laced with some type of weight increasing qi? ¡°All the sect rules and tenets, plus junior study materials! Free of charge!¡± Xia Rou beamed. Lin Yue grunted. Great. More reading material. Xue stretched up on her tiptoes, small hands grasping at the bottom books. She managed to snag three volumes, hugging them against her chest. ¡°Such a helpful little assistant!¡± Xia Rou cooed. Xue darted behind Lin Yue, using her as a human shield against Rou¡¯s enthusiasm. The movement almost toppled Lin Yue¡¯s precarious book tower. ¡°You¡¯ll need to learn all the rules.¡± Xia Rou tapped the black tome. ¡°And there are plenty! Break them and you might face anything from a beating to unpaid grunt work.¡± Her cheerful smile never wavered. ¡°Worst case, your soul gets imprisoned in the pavilion cauldron for eternal torment!¡± ¡°That¡¯s quite the range.¡± Lin Yue shifted the books to redistribute their weight. ¡°Don¡¯t worry! Eternal torment is reserved for traitors!¡± ¡°Right.¡± Note to self: don¡¯t get caught being a traitor. Shadow coiled through the air near Lin Yue¡¯s ear. ¡°Let¡¯s go see your room!¡± Xia Rou spun on her heel. Lin Yue trudged up the solid oak steps behind Xia Rou, each floor marked with glowing script that pulsed with dark energy. ¡°First eight floors belong to us outer disciples.¡± Xia Rou pointed to various doorways. ¡°Workspaces, sleeping quarters, common areas¡ªeverything we need.¡± ¡°Wonderful.¡± Lin Yue adjusted her grip on the teetering stack. What she needed was a magic bag or something. ¡°Inner disciples get floors nine through fifteen.¡± Xia Rou bounced up another flight. ¡°And the elders live even higher.¡± Xia Rou spun around, nearly causing Lin Yue to drop everything. ¡°One very important rule. Never go above the eighth floor without proper authorization. Spies don¡¯t get trials here¡ªjust quick beheadings!¡± ¡°Noted.¡± Good to know where the murder-happy zones start. ¡°So, what¡¯s your specialty?¡± Xia Rou asked, eyeing Xue. Lin Yue shrugged, almost losing control of her book tower. ¡°Making ink, I suppose?¡± Xia Rou laughed. ¡°Everyone makes ink! This is Ink House¡ªit¡¯s literally in the name!¡± ¡°Well, you mentioned something about decorative glyphs earlier?¡± Xia Rou burst into peals of laughter and continued up the stairs. The sound grated against Lin Yue¡¯s ears like sandpaper. ¡°The others I met... one specialized in fire scripts, right? And someone else used shadows?¡± Lin Yue continued to trudge upward. ¡°There was something about sound manipulation, too. And Hong Wei mentioned combat enhancement.¡± ¡°Ooh, my new junior sister pays attention!¡± Xia Rou clapped her hands together. Pay attention or end up dead. The memories of her years on the streets flashed¡ªall the times staying alert had kept her breathing. Xia Rou traced a glowing silver sigil in the air. ¡°At the basic level, every outer disciple learns protective marks, simple combat scripts, and fundamental talisman formations.¡± Well, that didn¡¯t sound too bad. Lin Yue hid a smile. More ways to kill people. ¡°Then we branch into specialties.¡± Rou sketched another symbol. ¡°Some focus on elemental manipulation¡ªfire, water, earth, metal, wood. Others prefer stealth and concealment through shadow scripts.¡± Rou pointed to the silver scripts adorning her own robes. ¡°Combat enhancement specialists like Hong Wei strengthen their bodies through permanent tattoo inscriptions. They¡¯re basically walking weapons.¡± Permanent body modifications. Just what I need¡ªmore magical tattoos. Lin Yue studied the intricate patterns on Rou¡¯s robes. Script written right into the clothes seemed good to her as well. Who needed armor if you were shielded by magic cloth? ¡°The really creative ones develop artistic techniques.¡± Rou bounced excitedly. ¡°Landscape painting that affects reality, living calligraphy that moves on its own, even music-based formations!¡± ¡°And the practical applications?¡± Lin Yue asked. ¡°Oh, endless! Trap arrays, defensive barriers, spirit summoning.¡± Rou counted off on her fingers. ¡°Some even specialize in soul manipulation and binding.¡± She glanced over and stared at Xue purposefully. Lin Yue¡¯s grip tightened on the books. That caught her attention.If you come across this story on Amazon, it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it. ¡°Looks like you already got a head start on a specialty, though?¡± Xia Rou asked. Lin Yue shook her head. ¡°Just needed a way for Xue to come with me.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to be left behind.¡± Xue peeked around Lin Yue¡¯s side. ¡°Good choice!¡± Xia Rou bounced on her toes. ¡°Heavens know I wouldn¡¯t want to be a mortal either.¡± Yue bit her lip. Were they going to stand here all day? The fucking books needed put up, but it looked like Rou just wanted to chatter more. ¡°My decorative glyphs are a type of art.¡± Xia Rou traced silver patterns in the air that sparkled before fading. ¡°They make people feel whatever emotion I want. Very fun! Maybe you¡¯d enjoy helping test some new ones out later?¡± Lin Yue eyed the dissolving silver trails. ¡°Depends on how much benefit that gives me compared to grief caused.¡± ¡°So mercenary! So transactional!¡± Xia Rou clapped her hands together. ¡°Junior sister is primed to make a killing here!¡± ¡°Hopefully literally.¡± Shadow twisted through the air. ¡°Getting hungry with all these tasty things I can smell.¡± Lin Yue glanced at Shadow¡¯s ethereal form. He¡¯s been oddly quiet. The parasitic dragon usually never shut up about souls, yet here in a building full of cultivators, he seemed almost restrained. What¡¯s his angle besides more souls? He should have plenty, considering our recent... acquisitions. Xia Rou pushed forward down the hall. Finally, they were moving. Rou stopped at a plain wooden door marked with faded silver script. She pulled a yellowed talisman from her sleeve and studied the characters inked on its surface. ¡°This should be it.¡± She tapped the paper against her chin. ¡°The room will seal to you...¡± Her eyes flickered to Xue. ¡°And I suppose to your little shadow too, since you¡¯re bound.¡± Lin Yue shifted the stack of books. ¡°Just us?¡± ¡°One of Ink House¡¯s biggest rules¡ªquarters are personal space.¡± Xia Rou traced the door¡¯s frame with her finger. ¡°Breaking into someone¡¯s room without permission from them or an elder?¡± She whistled. ¡°That¡¯s the kind of offense that ends with you learning shadow limb technique to replace a missing arm. The walls block qi penetration, too.¡± ¡°Sounds secure.¡± Lin Yue studied the weathered wood. Xia Rou poked the door handle with her index finger. A blue spark crackled against her skin. ¡°See? Already primed for sealing.¡± She pressed the talisman paper flat against the wooden surface. ¡°Put your palm here. It¡¯ll seal to you until someone officially unregisters it.¡± Lin Yue balanced the books against her hip and pressed her free hand to the paper. Qi burned through her skin like molten metal. The talisman flashed bright blue and crumbled to ash. A perfect pentagram blazed on her palm in sapphire ink. Xia Rou clapped her hands together. ¡°Now open the door!¡± Lin Yue pressed against the wooden surface. The door swung inward without resistance. At least something¡¯s easy today. The room stretched barely larger than their inn quarters, but packed with amenities. Blue spirit-flames danced in wall-mounted lanterns, casting rippling shadows across a copper wash basin. A narrow bed hugged one wall while a sturdy table occupied the center space. A book cabinet stood empty, waiting to be filled, and a massive storage crate dominated the far corner. Not bad for a prison cell. Lin Yue stepped inside, with Xue trailing behind her. ¡°Aren¡¯t you going to let me in?¡± Xia Rou bounced on her heels outside the threshold. Lin Yue turned back toward the doorway. Right. More rules. ¡°I need a formal invitation.¡± Xia Rou pointed to the floor. ¡°Say ¡®I invite you into my space.¡¯¡± ¡°I invite you into my space.¡± The words tasted stiff on Lin Yue¡¯s tongue. Xia Rou bounded through the doorway. ¡°See? No zapping!¡± Lin Yue dumped her stack of books onto the table while Xue carefully placed her smaller pile beside them. She never wanted to carry a stack of magic-laced books again. ¡°Priority one: rules.¡± Xia Rou held up a finger. ¡°Priority two: safe space.¡± A second finger joined the first. ¡°And now we can move on to three!¡± ¡°What¡¯s three?¡± Lin Yue brushed dust from her hands. Xia Rou¡¯s grin spread wide across her face. ¡°The Tree of Inked Souls.¡± Shadow¡¯s ethereal form twisted through the air. His spectral tongue flicked out hungrily. Lin Yue stepped into the hallway, Xue trailing close behind. ¡°You are no longer invited into my space.¡± The words sparked a sudden surge of qi that snapped through the air like static electricity. Xia Rou stumbled backward as the energy barrier materialized. ¡°Hey... you¡¯re too smart!¡± ¡°Were you planning to mention that part?¡± Lin Yue studied the faint blue shimmer around the doorframe. ¡°Maaaybe.¡± Xia Rou hummed and twirled toward the stairs. They descended, following a different path that led through the pavilion¡¯s rear entrance. The halls turned into a maze. It was annoying. How was she going to memorize this? Lin Yue glanced at Xue. Should have let her rest after all this running around. But getting their bearings seemed crucial right now. Though after the soul binding, she wondered if Xue even needed sleep anymore. The girl fidgeted with her sleeve hem, radiating nervous energy rather than exhaustion. ¡°Every day before lunch, we hold meditation and cultivation practice at the tree.¡± Xia Rou skipped ahead. ¡°If you perform poorly, you¡¯ll need to return after dinner for night meditation.¡± ¡°How do you measure performance?¡± Lin Yue asked. ¡°Oh, you grade yourself! It¡¯s about absorbing the tree¡¯s resonating energy.¡± Xia Rou spun to face them while walking backward again. ¡°If you gain more energy than you use daily, do whatever you want. But if not...¡± She shrugged. ¡°Some newcomers end up meditating non-stop at first.¡± The garden opened as they exited the pavilion. A massive tree dominated the landscape, its purple leaves casting ethereal shadows. Red fruits pulsed with inner light, bathing the entire garden in a crimson glow. Lin Yue let out a tense breath. I bet I know what kind of fertilizer they use. Chapter 19 – Rice and Qi Chapter 19 ¨C Rice and Qi Lin Yue tracked Shadow¡¯s form as he darted between the glowing fruits. Each pass stirred a supernatural breeze through the purple leaves. The parasitic dragon snapped at invisible wisps of energy, growing more substantial with each bite. Great. He¡¯s gorging himself on whatever powers this thing. The fact that none of the other disciples noticed the spectral feeding frenzy suggested some advantages. She wouldn¡¯t need to waste time meditating to maintain her power levels. Only having to show up when they burned through Shadow¡¯s gluttony would save time. But¡­ she¡¯d still need to practice meditation, if only so she would not be dependent on him. Watching him bloat larger with each pass started to spark anxiety. What if he damages it? Or worse, kills the whole tree? Xue sat cross-legged on the ground beside her, mimicking Xia Rou¡¯s meditative pose with cute determination. Shadow swooped past again, now twice his original size. ¡°Okay, I¡¯m done.¡± Lin Yue stood up and brushed dirt from her robes. Xia Rou¡¯s eyes snapped open. ¡°What? We haven¡¯t even been here five minutes!¡± ¡°I¡¯m full.¡± Lin Yue shrugged. ¡°Ready to go study or whatever comes next.¡± ¡°But learning proper meditation techniques is crucial for¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯m good.¡± Lin Yue cut her off. ¡°Stay and meditate if you want. You can fetch me from my room after?¡± ¡°Bah!¡± Xia Rou bounced to her feet. ¡°What kind of senior sister would I be if I abandoned my junior to wander alone?¡± Xue tugged at Lin Yue¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Where will we go now?¡± ¡°Well, I expected us to meditate for a few hours at least.¡± Xia Rou tapped her chin. ¡°But I suppose we can check the available jobs instead.¡± Lin Yue shifted away from Shadow¡¯s bloated form as he drifted back toward her. ¡°Jobs?¡± ¡°Oh yes! The pavilion needs disciples to handle all sorts of tasks.¡± Xia Rou led them back into the building. ¡°Though until you learn some proper skills, most positions remain closed.¡± Lin Yue gripped Xue¡¯s small hand as they followed Xia Rou through the winding corridors. The contact helped ground her thoughts¡ªand kept the kid from wandering off to explore random doorways. Although the way Xue clung to her, that probably wasn¡¯t a worry. They rounded a corner into an open room. A wooden board dominated the far wall, emanating a soft spiritual glow that lit the space in ethereal blue. Ghostly text floated above the surface, arranged in neat columns and rows. What the hell? Lin Yue squinted at the supernatural display. The organized information reminded her of game interfaces from her past life, minus the fancy graphics. Just rows of text hanging in the air, describing various tasks and requirements. Lin Yue scanned the floating text, focusing on the job titles first. ¡°Inkstone Guardian¡± sat at the top, followed by ¡°Cloud Leaf Artisan¡± and ¡°Brush Spirit Keeper.¡± The list continued down with positions like ¡°Shield Path Walker¡± and ¡°Memory Vault Keeper.¡± Sounds like fantasy bureaucracy. Each title glowed with its own intensity, some dimmer than others. A separate box near the top displayed names in neat columns. Lin Yue spotted Xia Rou¡¯s name among dozens of others. ¡°When you registered to your room, the spirit script added you automatically.¡± Xia Rou pointed to Yue¡¯s name. ¡°It connects to all the pavilion¡¯s facilities. Pretty neat, right?¡± Yue grunted in agreement. Most of the jobs listed had names beneath them. Beside the listings, there were small numbers as well, but it didn¡¯t match the number of assigned workers. ¡°The other houses manage things differently.¡± Xia Rou bounced on her toes. ¡°But Ink House has the best system. As long as a job¡¯s available and you aren¡¯t already assigned somewhere, you can take any posting you are qualified for.¡± Shadow drifted through the spectral text, causing ripples in the ethereal display. I really wish I could swat him out of the air. ¡°Postings aren¡¯t permanent. People switch jobs all the time.¡± Xia Rou traced a finger along the numbers. ¡°But once you commit, you¡¯re locked in for at least a week before you can change.¡± ¡°What are those numbers?¡± Yue asked. ¡°That¡¯s your weekly pay for the job. They adjust based on supply and demand, plus however much the Pavilion needs it done,¡± Ruo explained. Lin Yue took in the numbers. Like a stock market for chores. ¡°Look!¡± Xue tugged at Lin Yue¡¯s sleeve and pointed to ¡°Outer Treasure Hall Keeper,¡± which showed the highest current payment of seven spirit stones. Lin Yue studied the shifting spirit script. ¡°This seems very... automated? How does it all work?¡± Xia Rou grinned, her robes swishing as she spun to face Lin Yue. ¡°That¡¯s advanced spirit script stuff! Maybe we¡¯ll understand when we¡¯re elders, right?¡± Lin Yue nodded. ¡°Which jobs can I actually take?¡± ¡°In my opinion, three good options exist for new disciples.¡± Xia Rou tapped the glowing text. ¡°First, Wind Step Messenger. You¡¯ll learn the sect layout fast, plus overhear lots of interesting conversations. Minimal supervision too. It¡¯s a fast ticket to learning where everything is, and you¡¯ll meet everyone important.¡± Lin Yue frowned at the payment, though. One measly spirit stone? Doordashing really isn¡¯t appreciated here, I guess. ¡°Second choice: Memory Scribe.¡± Xia Rou pointed to another entry. ¡°Lots of reading access, perfect for getting access to manuals. Very quiet, solitary work.¡± She yawned dramatically. ¡°Also boring. Really, really boring.¡± Rou took a step and moved down the board and pointed to another job title. Three spirit stones. ¡°Third option: Brush Spirit Keeper.¡± Xia Rou brightened. ¡°You¡¯ll learn about magical tools and have access to supplies. Low supervision, but you¡¯re responsible for damages. Better pay though¡ªbecause some tools hurt to clean.¡± Lin Yue eyed the payment amounts. The first two positions offered one spirit stone per week, while the tool cleaning job promised three. Other positions showed anywhere from one to seven stones except for the fancy ones. ¡°Do I have to choose now?¡± ¡°No rush.¡± Xia Rou gestured at the flickering numbers. ¡°But they pay in spirit stones, and you¡¯ll need them.¡± ¡°The best job for an outer disciple?¡± Xia Rou bounced excitedly. ¡°Inner Path Servant pays seven spirit stones per week. You just follow an inner disciple around and learn from them.¡± Learn from them? Yue frowned. She suspected it would be more like run their errands and do all their grunt work. ¡°Seven stones?¡± Rou nodded, but deflated slightly. ¡°But an inner disciple has to choose you first. They¡¯re pretty picky about who they let shadow them.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll think about the options.¡± Lin Yue studied the flickering spirit script. Rou nodded. ¡°When you touch your name, the ones that have openings and you have access to will highlight, so it¡¯s easy to see what you can pick at a glance.¡± Yue reached out and put her index finger on her label. Sure enough, half the jobs darkened. Mostly the ones that paid better. ¡°Oh!¡± Xia Rou stepped forward and pressed her finger against her name in the glowing text. A trail of light followed her fingertip as she dragged it down to ¡®Path Beginner Guide.¡¯ The characters flashed bright blue. ¡°Since I¡¯m already teaching you two, I might as well get paid for it!¡± A small crystalline stone materialized in the air. Xia Rou snatched it before it fell and slipped it into a tiny silk purse at her waist. Lin Yue stared at the purse. The spirit stone should have made an obvious bulge in something that small. ¡°How did that fit?¡± ¡°This?¡± Xia Rou patted the purse. ¡°It¡¯s a chudi¡ªa storage bag. They can hold lots of items as long as they fit through the opening. The neck size depends on the bag¡¯s price. Mine¡¯s pretty cheap, so I only use it for small things.¡± ¡°I want one.¡± Lin Yue eyed the purse with newfound interest. The possibilities for a magical storage space made her previous pick-pocketing schemes seem amateur. Xia Rou burst into laughter. ¡°The cheapest chudi costs a hundred spirit stones!¡± Lin Yue closed her eyes. Still cheaper than saving up for a new car. The memory of browsing dealership websites for her first beater brought a bitter smile to her lips. ¡°Most new disciples can¡¯t afford one right away.¡± Xia Rou patted her purse again. ¡°But it¡¯s usually their first major purchase. Makes sense¡ªcarrying stuff around gets really annoying after a while!¡± A hundred spirit stones seemed like a fortune now, but the convenience would be worth every piece. She¡¯d need to find some way to earn them faster than these entry-level jobs offered, though.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. At one or two stones per week, I would be hauling stuff around like a pleb for months. She glanced at Shadow, who was curled up in a ball at the edge of his tether, ignoring everything. Unless we find another solution. ¡°Since we¡¯re here, I might as well show you the class board!¡± Xia Rou skipped toward another section of the hall. Lin Yue frowned. ¡°Classes?¡± The word triggered memories of dozing through high school lectures. Please don¡¯t let there be pop quizzes in cultivation. Rou led them to another glowing board similar to the job listings. More ethereal text floated, organized into neat columns displaying class names and costs. ¡°Every week, inner disciples teach different subjects.¡± Xia Rou pointed. ¡°See? Basic Glyph Formation, Ink Refinement, Combat Scripts¡ªall the fundamentals!¡± Lin Yue studied the prices. ¡°One to five stones per lesson?¡± ¡°The better teachers charge more.¡± Xia Rou traced her finger down the list. ¡°But look¡ªDefensive Arrays only costs two stones this week! Spots fill fast.¡± Shadow coiled around Lin Yue¡¯s shoulders and yawned. ¡°The combat training might keep you alive longer.¡± ¡°Everything¡¯s self-service in Ink House.¡± Xia Rou bounced on her toes. ¡°You¡¯re responsible for your own education. The tools are here¡ªit¡¯s up to you to use them!¡± Lin Yue crossed her arms. ¡°What stops people from being lazy? Just doing the bare minimum?¡± ¡°Oh, those people exist.¡± Xia Rou¡¯s cheerful tone shifted darker. ¡°And?¡± ¡°They don¡¯t last long.¡± Xia Rou¡¯s smile turned predatory. ¡°Why not?¡± Xia Rou laughed. ¡°They tend to die on missions. Those start after your first year, determined by your master¡¯s needs. Or Ink House¡¯s if they are too busy to check on you.¡± Shadow¡¯s spectral form rippled. ¡°Ruixian is very demanding.¡± ¡°Speaking of masters...¡± Xia Rou tapped her chin thoughtfully. ¡°I wonder who yours is?¡± Lin Yue shifted her weight. ¡°That¡¯s a secret for now.¡± ¡°How interesting!¡± Xia Rou clapped her hands together. ¡°A mysterious master!¡± Lin Yue rubbed her temples. ¡°What¡¯s next on this tour? I¡¯d like to get settled in sometime today.¡± ¡°Oh! The supply shop.¡± Xia Rou spun toward the stairs. ¡°After that, you¡¯re free to explore on your own.¡± They moved to the second floor, passing several disciples hurrying up and down the steps. Lin Yue dodged a young man carrying a stack of scrolls. ¡°The shop¡¯s in the main building?¡± ¡°We have several inside.¡± Xia Rou hurried up the last few steps. ¡°All the basics are here¡ªjust like the workshops and quarters. Advanced facilities are spread out through the pavilion proper.¡± She wagged a finger. ¡°Don¡¯t worry about those yet. First-years stick to Ink House, mostly.¡± Xia Rou paused. ¡°Just remember what I said about getting lazy.¡± She studied Lin Yue with sudden intensity. ¡°You¡¯re not lazy, are you?¡± ¡°Not when effort pays off.¡± Lin Yue met her gaze steadily. ¡°Nice!¡± Xia Rou brightened and bounced toward a set of wooden double doors near the stairwell. The doors opened into a room lined with shelves. Cultivation supplies filled every surface¡ªbottles of ink, stacks of paper, rows of brushes. Three disciples browsed the merchandise, comparing items and muttering to themselves. A disciple in plain gray robes recorded inventory on a glowing scroll while supervising. The spiritual light cast dancing shadows across rows of ink bottles and stacks of pristine paper. ¡°Everyone gets basic supplies for free.¡± Xia Rou picked up a brush and twirled it between her fingers. ¡°Monthly quotas cover the essentials¡ªstandard ink, practice paper, brushes. The on-duty disciples track everything, even the free stuff.¡± Lin Yue ran her fingers along a shelf of colored inks. ¡°What about clothes?¡± ¡°Oh, they give us unscripted basic robes every three months.¡± Xia Rou straightened her own pristine black silk. ¡°Plus cleaning supplies for your room, and enough practice materials to keep up with basic training.¡± ¡°And if we need something special?¡± ¡°That takes approval from our seniors. Or going out of the house to shop.¡± Xia Rou set the brush back in its holder. ¡°We don¡¯t have merit points like the righteous sects. Blackspire operates only on spirit stones.¡± Lin Yue glanced at the recording disciple. ¡°Is there a list?¡± ¡°This shop handles all the basics.¡± Xia Rou counted off on her fingers. ¡°Ink Workshop for special mixtures and brushes. Paper Mill makes talisman sheets. Robe Workshop handles all the clothing. If you examine the jobs board, there are tasks to work in all of them.¡± Lin Yue eyed the rows of supplies. ¡°What are the shop hours?¡± ¡°All hours!¡± Xia Rou grinned. ¡°Lots of night owls in Ink House. Don¡¯t worry too much about the ¡®schedule¡¯ mentioned earlier¡ªplenty of disciples ignore it completely. Just show up for jobs and classes on time.¡± ¡°What about food?¡± Xue tugged at Lin Yue¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Where do we get that?¡± Xia Rou blinked slowly, tilting her head. ¡°Do corpses need food?¡± Lin Yue¡¯s hand tightened on Xue¡¯s shoulder. ¡°I¡¯m hungry.¡± Xue¡¯s stomach growled on cue. ¡°Actually, I haven¡¯t eaten anything either.¡± Lin Yue studied Xia Rou¡¯s confused expression. The enthusiastic guide¡¯s perpetual bounce had stilled for the first time since they¡¯d met. ¡°Huh.¡± Xia Rou tapped her chin. ¡°You must be pretty new, then?¡± ¡°What?¡± Lin Yue narrowed her eyes. ¡°Well, most disciples don¡¯t bother with food except as a luxury.¡± Xia Rou shrugged. ¡°Some buy spiritual food to increase their capabilities, but that¡¯s expensive and rare.¡± No food anymore? Lin Yue¡¯s stomach clenched at the thought. Even street rats scrounging through garbage managed to eat something. ¡°Is there no regular food at all?¡± ¡°Well, there is a restaurant in the main pavilion.¡± Xia Rou waved toward a wall. ¡°More of a drinking spot where all pavilion members gather, not just Ink House. They serve regular dishes alongside alcohol.¡± Lin Yue crossed her arms. The thought of giving up food twisted her gut into knots. Even prisoners get meals. ¡°I¡¯m not ready to skip eating yet.¡± ¡°I need food,¡± Xue mumbled. ¡°What if we left the pavilion to get our own?¡± Lin Yue watched Xia Rou¡¯s expression carefully. She had the impression that they weren¡¯t really allowed out. Xia Rou shook her head. ¡°Outer disciples can¡¯t leave without permission or good reason. It¡¯s for the safety of the disciples.¡± Yue choked back a dark laugh. For our safety? As if. Well, she had joined a cult, even if it wasn¡¯t entirely by choice. Xue¡¯s bottom lip trembled as she stared at the floor. ¡°Don¡¯t worry!¡± Xia Rou beamed at Xue. ¡°I can help today and fetch something while you study those rules I gave you.¡± ¡°Thanks.¡± Lin Yue squeezed Xue¡¯s shoulder. ¡°That would help a lot.¡± ¡°No problem at all.¡± Xia Rou patted the tiny purse at her waist. ¡°I¡¯m getting paid as your Path Beginner Guide, remember?¡± Xia Rou bounced away down the corridor, her endless enthusiasm echoing off the stone walls until she disappeared around a corner. Lin Yue watched the space where she¡¯d vanished, analyzing every interaction they¡¯d shared. Too helpful. Too friendly. The perpetual cheer reminded Lin Yue of multi-level marketing schemes from Earth¡ªall smiles until they had your money. But what angle could Rou be working? New disciples probably arrived broke and clueless all the time. ¡°Sister Rou seemed too nice.¡± Xue tugged at Lin Yue¡¯s sleeve. ¡°Sharp.¡± Lin Yue guided them back toward their room, climbing the oak stairs. At least she had memorized the primary path up and down. ¡°Not sure what she wants from us.¡± Shadow drifted alongside them. ¡°Everyone wants something.¡± Their room waited exactly where they¡¯d left it. Lin Yue pressed her palm against the door. It channeled a trace of qi that reacted with the sapphire tattoo on her palm and clicked open. Inside, the massive rules tome dominated their small table. Lin Yue lifted the heavy book. It outweighed the cultivation manual by at least triple. ¡°Great. More reading.¡± Xue looked at her and then at the floor. ¡°Maybe you could teach me to read?¡± Ha. Yeah, that would be a good idea. ¡°Sure, brat. Learning isn¡¯t that hard, just takes effort and time.¡± She had learned on her own stealing scraps and scanning the city official notice boards, after all. She dropped onto the bed, letting the tome fall open across her lap. Xue scooted close. The pages crackled with age despite their pristine condition. Rows of precise characters marched across each page in neat columns. Yue started sounding out the letters for Xue to figure out. A knock interrupted an hour later. They paused and Yue opened the door. Xia Rou smiled at her, holding up a tray with two wooden bowls of steaming white rice. ¡°Best I could do!¡± She set the tray in Yue¡¯s hands and then disappeared in a flash. What? Lin Yue studied the plain rice and brought it inside. A quick taste confirmed her suspicions. No sauce, no vegetables, not even salt. The blandness explained why most disciples skipped eating entirely. Maybe it would beat starving or chewing on street vendor¡¯s mystery meat. ¡°I want to go back to the inn.¡± Xue poked at her rice with wooden chopsticks. ¡°The food was better there.¡± Yue nodded. The feeling was mutual. Then again. Food was human nature. Were the members of Ink House inhuman? Or had they just been fed bland slop to the point where they no longer noticed the lack of good food? Maybe she and Xue could open their own store and sell¡­ literally anything better than plain rice. Then again, maybe she was totally off base. Another option was figuring out how to get inert spirit stones cheap, maybe from Yanlue. Then having Shadow fill them up from the Inked Soul Tree thing. If it didn¡¯t get noticed¡­ If the ¡®energy¡¯ from the tree was comparably the same soul stuff that went into the spirit stones¡­ That could mean a lot of stones fast. The wheels turned in Yue¡¯s head as she picked at the food with Xue. Shadow floated closer to her. ¡°What are you scheming?¡± Ha, he knows me so well already. Chapter 20 – Business and Barriers Chapter 20 ¨C Business and Barriers Lin Yue sat cross-legged on the meditation cushion, far enough from the Tree of Inked Souls that Shadow couldn¡¯t snack on the glowing fruits. Three days of careful observation had proven Rou¡¯s information annoyingly accurate. The daily meditation sessions didn¡¯t really help her recharge. Mostly because she had no skill at cultivation meditation, and she didn¡¯t dare get closer. Shadow wouldn¡¯t listen to her when she demanded he not eat the fucking tree. So meditation practice was a skill building exercise. First, she focused on wielding the thin needle of qi through her meridian network, poking open blockages one at a time. There were a seemingly infinite number of them and they liked to block off after she opened them after a while. According to her Sable Script manual, they would do that until she cleared specific groupings which would permanently open an area. But that required her to hold multiple points open at the same time, and that was difficult. Building her qi threading skill to the point where she could open all her meridians would take a long time. If only there was some cheat that would let her open them all at once¡­ Yesterday¡¯s session had yielded an unexpected discovery. She was able to use the qi needle to poke Shadow directly, catching him lurking like a parasitic worm through her soul pathways. The dragon squirmed each time she jabbed him. It was much more effective than jabbing the inky tattoo that still traveled across her skin. Other disciples started to leave, so she took the hint and followed suit. Best not to stand out or draw attention. Back in their room, Xue hunched over basic reading primers. The girl had begun to sound out characters with growing confidence. Literacy had jumped up to the very top of the list of important skills her little sister could learn. Yue grabbed the sect rule manual and began to study as well. The Blackspire Pavilion¡¯s sect rules proved surprisingly entertaining despite the dryness. She flipped through another page of increasingly specific prohibitions. Each one hinted at some disciple¡¯s spectacular failure of judgment. One rule stood out: ¡°Disciples shall not dump headless spirits from pagoda roofs at the Hour of the Rat in order to summon heart demons to torment junior disciples.¡± Lin Yue snorted. Some senior disciple had clearly gotten creative with their hazing attempts. Or was it revenge? There were a lot of more mundane rules, but they generally weren¡¯t anything extraordinarily strict. Thank god she didn¡¯t land in some type of ascetic monastery. More concerning were the lack of certain rules. Everything was mostly concerned with protecting the various Houses in the pavilion, rather than personal protections. Theft and murder stood out as the primary prohibitions of other members, but there was nothing about physical violence or blackmail. She drummed her fingers against the rule book. Learning to fight properly ranked highest on her priorities, but the senior disciples charged spirit stones for combat lessons¡ªstones she lacked. There were actually some lessons she could afford, but she needed to protect her seed funds. The basic jobs posted on the board offered measly payments of one or two stones per week. At that rate, it would take over a month before she even got her first ¡®lesson¡¯ and she doubted one would be enough. She had her explosive talismans, but those were more like suicide devices and had never been tested. And she had no idea how the shield talisman would do. She didn¡¯t really want to find out. Shadow coiled through the air above her head. ¡°Those three stones from the frog won¡¯t last long.¡± ¡°I know.¡± Lin Yue checked the charged stones tucked safely in her robes. Getting more meant sneaking back to the demon market to trade with Yanlue again. The pavilion¡¯s guards watched the exits like hawks, making unauthorized trips a risky gamble. She needed a cycle¡ªtrade souls for inert stones, have Shadow charge them, then repeat the process. There wasn¡¯t a way to do that inside the Pavilion. The supply store didn¡¯t sell inert stones. Charged ones were the primary currency of the sect. You couldn¡¯t even sell or trade inert ones. Everyone was expected to meditate and gain enough energy to recharge the stones themselves. Lin Yue tapped the book against her knee. The entire system seemed designed to keep outer disciples dependent on the sect¡¯s resources. There has to be another way to get more stones. She got up from her desk and went to flop onto their bed. ¡°Taking a nap?¡± Xue peered up from her reading primer. ¡°Just plotting.¡± Lin Yue stared at the ceiling beams. The Tree of Inked Souls pulsed with spiritual energy like a giant wireless charger, keeping the disciples topped up better than any modern EV station. If it could sustain Ink House¡¯s cultivation needs, surely it could handle Shadow snacking on it to charge some spirit stones. Her second plan involved solving the food situation. Her fellow cultivators might subsist on pure energy, but normal humans needed actual meals. Setting up proper food deliveries would require ingredients and contacts in the city, maybe kidnapping or hiring a chef? Or deliveries from outside, but that would probably be shot down because of security reasons¡­ Any mortal living in the sect would likely need to be desperate¡­ or suicidal¡­ She didn¡¯t think many would want to be bound like Xue, and she didn¡¯t want other people¡¯s souls mucking about in hers, anyway. Shadow insisted a spirit stone would fetch enough gold at any demon market money changer to fund the venture on the mortal side. Both plans crashed into the same wall¡ªgetting permission to leave the pavilion. Without reputation or backing, requesting an elder¡¯s approval seemed like begging for suspicion. Lin Yue rolled onto her side, watching Xue struggle through another character. The solution clicked. She needed allies first. Not friends exactly¡ªshe didn¡¯t do friends¡ªbut connections who could assist. People who could smooth the way to getting out regularly. Or at least people who could feed her useful information about the sect¡¯s inner workings. She rolled the thought around, examining it from different angles. Rou bounced through her mind¡ªall smiles and eager helpfulness. Too eager. The other disciple¡¯s constant cheer had set off warning bells. No one stayed that happy without ulterior motives. Other disciples had to exist who¡¯d prove more... reliable. Lin Yue drummed her fingers against the wooden bed frame. She¡¯d spent the past days avoiding everyone except Xue, treating the pavilion like another gang¡¯s territory to navigate unseen. Time to change tactics. Lin Yue sat up. Memories of how to navigate through life with the Tiger Gang flashed. Back then, socializing meant sharing watered-down ale that tasted like horse piss while plotting petty crimes. These ¡°brothers and sisters¡± probably expected more refinement.Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. ¡°Shadow.¡± Lin Yue glanced at the dragon coiled above her head. ¡°How do evil cultivators make friends?¡± Shadow twisted through the air, radiating smug superiority. ¡°Make them fear you first. Nothing builds respect like terror.¡± Lin Yue focused her qi into a needle-thin point and jabbed it through Shadow¡¯s soul. The dragon yelped, coiling away from the spiritual attack. ¡°That hurt!¡± Shadow rubbed his tail against the ceiling. ¡°Such disrespect for your ancient and wise advisor.¡± ¡°Ancient and annoying, you mean.¡± Lin Yue stood up from the bed. ¡°Xue, I¡¯m heading out to mingle. Maybe pick up some actual advice from people who aren¡¯t parasitic dragons.¡± Xue didn¡¯t look up from her book, finger tracing each character. ¡°I¡¯ll keep working on my letters.¡± ¡°Good girl.¡± Lin Yue patted Xue¡¯s head. The door¡¯s ward activated with a soft hum as Lin Yue stepped into the hallway. The sapphire tattoo embedded in her palm pulsed every time she used it. She flexed her hand, trying to ignore the collection of unauthorized markings decorating her body. Master Ruixian¡¯s red mark burned on her forearm, Shadow¡¯s inky black mass slowly shifted position at random, and the door ward key... She descended the oak stairwell, each step creaking under her feet. When she reached the main common room with the job and class boards, she found a spot to watch. Other disciples flowed around her like they were a river splitting around a stubborn rock. The room drew constant traffic, disciples crowding to scan new postings or chat in small groups. Without scheduled meditation to thin the crowd, the noise level rivaled a marketplace at noon. A few other disciples nodded to her randomly or just stared at her as they passed by. Great. Social interaction with strangers. Just shoot me now. Facing another demon market vendor started to feel more appealing than attempting to stumble through awkward introductions. Even Rou¡¯s relentless cheer seemed preferable to this mess. Hong Wei¡¯s tall frame caught her attention as he strode past, his black robes decorated with intricate silver scripts. The senior disciple who¡¯d first welcomed her hadn¡¯t shown any obvious hostility. Better than standing here like an idiot. Lin Yue pushed through the crowd, intercepting Hong Wei¡¯s path. ¡°Senior Brother Hong Wei.¡± He stopped, adjusting his wire-rimmed glasses. ¡°Junior Sister Lin Yue. What do you need?¡± ¡°I wanted to ask for some guidance about the sect.¡± Lin Yue kept her tone respectful. ¡°Didn¡¯t Junior Sister Xia Rou take a job helping you adjust?¡± Hong Wei raised an eyebrow. ¡°She showed me around and explained things. But I need some additional advice.¡± Hong Wei¡¯s shoulders tensed. ¡°If Junior Sister Xia left you with questions, I¡¯ll need to speak with her about her duties.¡± Lin Yue weighed her options. Throwing Rou under the bus might earn favor with Hong Wei, but it could backfire. In the end, the truth seemed safest. ¡°Rou gave an excellent tour on the first day. She explained the basics and showed us around.¡± Lin Yue shrugged. ¡°But I haven¡¯t seen her for the past two days. I¡¯ve just been following the meditation schedule and studying the manuals and rules.¡± Hong Wei¡¯s posture relaxed. ¡°At least you¡¯re taking the proper approach. Understanding what is and isn¡¯t permitted forms the foundation of being a disciple.¡± ¡°Right.¡± Lin Yue straightened her robes. ¡°About the jobs, though¡ªthe positions pay very little in spirit stones. Rather than take one¡­ I noticed a significant gap in the House¡¯s services that could be profitable.¡± ¡°You found a lack on your first day?¡± Hong Wei¡¯s eyes narrowed behind his glasses. ¡°Do tell.¡± Shit. Lin Yue¡¯s stomach clenched. Had she just insulted the entire pavilion? ¡°The food situation.¡± Lin Yue kept her tone neutral. ¡°The main pavilion restaurant only serves plain rice. A wider variety of properly prepared dishes could¡ª¡± ¡°Mortal food?¡± Hong Wei¡¯s brow furrowed. ¡°Why would we need that?¡± She studied his genuine confusion. Did advancing as a cultivator somehow strip away basic human desire? Or did they just forget what it meant to be mortal? Lin Yue measured each word carefully. ¡°The pavilion lacks variety in food options. With the right suppliers and ingredients, we could offer¡ª¡± ¡°Profitable?¡± Hong Wei scoffed. ¡°You want to sell mortal food?¡± ¡°Some disciples still eat. Like me and Xue,¡± Lin Yue said. ¡°Plain rice gets old fast.¡± Hong Wei pushed his glasses up with an ink-stained finger. ¡°You¡¯re wasting time on mortal concerns. The Tree of Inked Souls provides all necessary sustenance through meditation. Focus on your cultivation instead of chasing trivial pleasures.¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± ¡°No.¡± Hong Wei crossed his arms. ¡°Take the standard jobs like other disciples. Earn your spirit stones properly. This discussion is finished.¡± He left. She kept her anger and annoyance from showing while moving through the crowd to find a new spot to stand and rethink her approach. Shadow twisted through the air above her head. ¡°Such a na?ve little cultivator. Did you really think anyone would waste time listening to your ideas?¡± ¡°Shut up before I stab you with qi again,¡± Lin Yue muttered. The job board loomed, covered in the same pathetic listings. One spirit stone for organizing sect scrolls. Two stones for cleaning the ¡®gore pits.¡¯ What the hell was a gore pit? Nothing seemed worth the effort. ¡°Quite the intense discussion with Senior Brother Hong Wei.¡± Lin Yue turned. A woman stood behind her, edges seeming to blur in the dim light. The same disciple who¡¯d sat drinking tea when she had first arrived at Ink House¡ªthe one whose concealment techniques had caught her attention. ¡°You¡¯re Wu Lan, right?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± Wu Lan smiled. ¡°Now what exactly did you propose that got our stern senior brother so worked up?¡± ¡°Just a business idea.¡± Lin Yue gestured at the job board. ¡°Setting up proper food service here. Quality meals instead of plain rice, maybe even a delivery system. I thought it might earn spirit stones if done right.¡± Wu Lan leaned against the job board. ¡°So you¡¯ve been here less than a week. Haven¡¯t mastered any skills. Have no backing or connections. Yet you¡¯re already looking to start a business?¡± She crossed her arms. ¡°What stops someone from simply taking it from you if you succeed?¡± Lin Yue opened her mouth to argue, then closed it. Shit . The words hit like a punch to the gut. She¡¯d jumped in without thinking it through. From a street perspective, she¡¯d just walked into a new gang and proposed promoting a new drug and taking territory with no muscle or reputation to back it up. Of course Hong Wei shot her down¡ªshe hadn¡¯t earned the right to propose anything. She rubbed her forearm where Master Ruixian¡¯s brand lingered beneath her sleeve. She couldn¡¯t afford to waste years climbing the ranks through proper channels, not with whatever plans that bastard had for her. But rushing in half-cocked would get her killed just as fast. ¡°Point taken.¡± Lin Yue stared at the pathetic job listings. ¡°I got impatient.¡± What if there was another option? She met Wu Lan¡¯s appraising eyes. ¡°What if someone else ran it? Someone with actual standing in the sect? They¡¯d get a steady income stream, and I¡¯d get a better payout than what these jobs offer.¡± Wu Lan snapped open an ornate fan, the motion blurring at the edges. ¡°You might be in luck. I¡¯ve wanted to one-up our Senior Brother for quite some time.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Lin Yue straightened. ¡°But first¡ª¡± Wu Lan waved her fan lazily ¡°¡ªyou¡¯ll need to prove there¡¯s actual demand for this little venture.¡± Lin Yue nodded. ¡°To get started, I need a way in and out of the sect without getting locked up.¡± ¡°That...¡± Wu Lan¡¯s fan stilled. ¡°I might be able to help with. Of course you¡¯d be taking all the risks.¡± Chapter 21 – Poisons and Puppets Chapter 21 ¨C Poisons and Puppets Lin Yue flipped through the pages scattered across her desk. Wu Lan¡¯s promised assistance wouldn¡¯t materialize for days, which left plenty of time to dive into research. The pages crinkled under her fingertips as she scanned the text. Making this business idea work demanded understanding her potential customers. Normal food alone wouldn¡¯t attract her new peers¡ªthey¡¯d lost that basic human desire somewhere between meditation and qi absorption. She snorted. Only Xue and herself seemed to retain any scrap of normal humanity when it came to enjoying meals. The other disciples had developed a ridiculous blind spot by abandoning such a fundamental pleasure. Maybe decent food would make them less sulky. Lin Yue smirked at the thought. An exaggeration, but who knew? The constant diet of spiritual energy probably contributed to their perpetual bad moods. Or maybe that was from the endless requirement to watch one¡¯s back and trust no one. The real challenge lay in making food desirable to beings who¡¯d forgotten how to want it. That¡¯s why she was studying poison. Cultivator poison. She carefully read through the text, absorbing the details about how poison affected cultivators differently than mortals. For cultivators, entering the first stage of body refining made their organs capable of processing ordinary poisons at an almost unnatural speed. It explained how they could drink mortal alcohol and, at most, experience a fleeting buzz before their bodies cleared it within minutes. Their qi-infused organs simply operated on an entirely different level. Then there was the concept of unconscious acceptance . If a cultivator willingly consumed something, their spirit would allow it in without resistance. This slowed the body¡¯s natural purging response. If resistance did occur, their qi would cleanse the substance even faster, scouring it from their system. The text also mentioned active resistance , where cultivators could actively ignite their qi to burn away toxins directly. But that was an advanced technique, requiring control over all their meridians¡ªsomething she wasn¡¯t even close to achieving. It was also irrelevant. She wanted her new customers to enjoy the meal, not be forced to commit to spiritual cleansing. The first two effects were very relevant, though. The text focused on alcohol as an example, but Yue¡¯s thoughts drifted elsewhere. There were other substances. Drugs. Back when she¡¯d worked with the Tiger Gang, she¡¯d sometimes helped sell those drugs to the desperate souls of the Endless City¡ªpeople who sought even a brief escape from their unrelenting misery. And now, Yue realized, those same principles might not apply just to mortals. A small head popped up from beneath the desk, wedging between Lin Yue and her book. ¡°What are you reading?¡± ¡°Brat.¡± Lin Yue lifted Xue onto her lap. ¡°I¡¯m studying how poison affects cultivators.¡± ¡°Are you going to kill someone?¡± Xue squirmed to get comfortable. ¡°Actually, the opposite. I want to make them feel really good.¡± ¡°How can poison help with that?¡± ¡°It¡¯s about dosage and type. Most medicines are just poisons if you take too much.¡± Lin Yue traced a line of text with her finger. ¡°But cultivators work differently. Their bodies purge toxins unless the poison contains qi and special spiritual disruptions. Those block their natural purging ability.¡± ¡°Oh...¡± Xue leaned forward, squinting at the complex characters. ¡°The... body... requires...¡± Lin Yue pointed to each word as Xue sounded them out. The text contained far more advanced characters than her usual learning materials, but after just a few days of practice, Xue already showed remarkable progress with reading. Lin Yue drummed her fingers on the desk, considering the requirements. The drug needed to enhance her food¡¯s appeal to these qi-drunk cultivators. But should it energize or calm? The Endless City offered far more varieties of substances than Earth ever had, though the basic categories remained identical. Stimulants. Depressants. Psychedelics. The source didn¡¯t matter¡ªwhether synthesized in a lab or harvested from exotic portal-worlds. She needed something accessible in bulk quantities, relatively harmless, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªsustainable within the city¡¯s unchanging temperate climate. The eternal spring-like weather meant certain plants thrived year-round while others needed heat or cold applied. She¡¯d not have the resources for temperature control. As it was, lighting was a problem. The district Blackspire was in was cloaked in permanent twilight, and she didn¡¯t exactly have a garden space assigned to her, anyway. She¡¯d need to make a deal and contact with some mortals. That was already a given, and she had some ideas from her Tiger Gang days, but that would all have to hinge on whatever Wu Lan was planning. Lin Yue tapped her chin. Several options met one or two criteria, but only three or four satisfied all requirements. Psychedelics were out of the question. They¡¯d all end up dead in a massacre or something. That left two options. The first was Deadgrass¡ªa lot like weed, except it had a nasty habit of leaving people comatose for hours. And in the Endless City, that kind of vulnerability usually meant waking up robbed, murdered, or suffering something even worse. Yue frowned. She¡¯d have to be extremely careful with the dosage, especially for cultivators. Their bodies might process it better, and the book¡¯s information gave her a sliver of hope on that front. The second was Flamespout. Some kind of upper. She hadn¡¯t tried any hard drugs back on Earth¡ªjust the occasional weed before the truck had killed her¡ªbut she had tried Flamespout once during her time with the Tiger Gang. It had been a terrible idea. She remembered tweaking out of her mind, running around for two sleepless days like a lunatic. She hadn¡¯t even felt human by the end of it. After that, Yue swore she¡¯d never touch the stuff again. She really hated drugs. At least when it came to taking them herself. The streets had no such thing as quality control, so every hit was a roll of the dice. Worse than anything, it left you vulnerable . Vulnerable was stupid. Or dead. Lin Yue stared at the text, considering the possibilities. Performance enhancers might prove useful, especially if she could find overlap between the house¡¯s alchemy classes and drug production. The curriculum probably focused entirely on cultivation pills rather than mundane substances. A poison class might serve her needs better. ¡°Are you going to ignore me or tell me the word?¡± Xue poked Lin Yue¡¯s arm. Lin Yue blinked, pulled from her thoughts. ¡°Sorry, I was thinking.¡± ¡°You do that a lot now.¡± Xue shifted on her lap. ¡°Haha, show me which word, brat.¡± Lin Yue leaned forward.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation. Xue¡¯s small finger jabbed at the complex character on the page. ¡°That says ¡®cultivation.¡¯¡± Lin Yue traced the strokes with her fingertip. * * * Lin Yue glanced over her shoulder. Nothing. No footsteps, no flicker of movement. The path was deserted. Three days of waiting, and finally, Wu Lan had come through with the plan. Tonight. Everything she needed was in place: a small backpack slung tight, spirit stones secure, explosive talismans nestled carefully. The shadow talismans¡ªWu Lan¡¯s parting gift¡ªwere the last pieces of the puzzle. The Iron House guard at this gate had bad eyes, or maybe his qi sense was garbage. Either way, Wu Lan promised the talismans would get her through past him. As long as she stayed quiet. She pulled one of the shadow talismans from her jacket, its edges crisp beneath her fingers. A small pause. First time for everything¡­ Focusing, she gathered a thread of qi and pushed it through her palm. The paper erupted instantly, consumed by a sudden burst of purple flame that left no trace behind. She froze, then looked down. Her body was a black outline, her edges faint and transparent. Even her backpack and robe had vanished into the same ghostly haze. Weird as fuck. Exhaling softly, she turned toward the gate. The guard¡¯s post was just ahead, silent and unmoving in the pale moonlight. This was it. Her one chance. Moving carefully, she crept forward. Each step was deliberate, each breath steady and shallow. No mistakes. The Iron House guard stood motionless at his post, the same leather plated armor and glaive as Sister Luhua¡¯s catching moonlight. She crept forward, keeping her steps light. ¡°This is so boring,¡± Shadow whined loudly. ¡°Can¡¯t we¡ª¡± Her fingers twitched with the urge to strangle him, but she kept her focus locked on not giving herself away. The guard¡¯s eyes swept past her without pause. It¡¯s working. Each successful step past him built her confidence higher. She slipped out into the street, maintaining her careful pace and silence until she rounded the corner. Only then did she release her held breath. The streets grew darker as she pressed deeper into the demonic market district. The area around Blackspire Pavilion remained eerily empty¡ªapparently no one wanted to set up shop next door to her sect. Smart of them. ¡°Excellent work! We should celebrate with a fresh soul or two.¡± Shadow spiraled around her gleefully. ¡°Go back to sleep. You¡¯re better company when you¡¯re quiet.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t be like that! We¡¯re out and about¡ªhow about a quick hunt?¡± Lin Yue ignored his pestering and ducked into a shadowed corner. Wu Lan had said the talisman would only last five minutes, and walking through the streets while cloaked would draw more attention than being visible. The guard¡¯s blindness was apparently rare¡ªmost weren¡¯t so easily fooled. ¡°Where do you think you¡¯re going?¡± Lin Yue¡¯s muscles locked. That voice¡ªMaster Ruixian. Shit. She turned with deliberate slowness. A shadowy form of Master Ruixian stood in the darkness, edges bleeding into the night air. Shadow spiraled through the air above her head. ¡°Ohoho! Caught, caught, caught! Master¡¯s going to cook you up nice and crispy!¡± Master Ruixian extended a hand. Shadow slammed into the ground with a wet thud, gurgling as if invisible hands squeezed his spectral throat. The shadow-form¡¯s attention snapped back to Lin Yue. ¡°Well? Running away, girl?¡± ¡°No! I mean¡ª¡± Lin Yue shook her head frantically. ¡°I need spirit stones. And souls. I¡¯m researching drugs¡ªfor food! For the business. With cultivation-enhanced meals.¡± The words tumbled out in a rush. Something pressed against her fear, as if she didn¡¯t convince him this second she was going to die. Damn it, why can¡¯t I shut up? The shadow figure froze mid-step. ¡°Wait. This... this isn¡¯t right.¡± ¡°Something wrong?¡± Lin Yue kept her stance loose, ready to move. ¡°Master only wanted me to find out why you were running away. Then kill you.¡± The shadow¡¯s edges wavered uncertainly. Lin Yue¡¯s muscles tensed. A clone? Some kind of shadow construct¡ªnot Master Ruixian himself? She swallowed hard. ¡°Well, I¡¯m not running away, so that changes things, right? No need for step two.¡± ¡°But I want to kill you.¡± The shadow¡¯s form rippled with eagerness. ¡°That¡¯s... unfortunate.¡± Lin Yue took a careful step back. ¡°Master Ruixian must have reasons for keeping me alive. Killing me when I¡¯m not even running would be problematic.¡± ¡°I only follow what was commanded.¡± The shadow¡¯s form darkened. ¡°I don¡¯t care what Ruixian wants.¡± Shadow gurgled against the ground, still pinned by invisible force. The air grew thick with gathering energy. Lin Yue¡¯s skin prickled from the building pressure. Ah, fuck. Lin Yue slipped her hand into her robe and pulled out the explosive talisman she had prepared way back at the inn before she had joined the pavilion proper. The paper felt stiff as a playing card between her fingers. She threaded qi through it and tossed it at the shadow construct, releasing a burst of energy. Nothing happened other than a puff of smoke as it sunk into the shadow form¡¯s body and adhered there. Was my calligraphy really that terrible? She stared at her failed first attempt at talisman murder. Of course it was. God hates me. A shadow spear materialized and lurched toward her chest. Lin Yue pivoted sideways, the deadly point missing her by inches. She dove and grabbed Shadow, yanking him out of the phantom chokehold. She carried him along as she sprinted away. ¡°Run! Get out of here!¡± Shadow screamed. ¡°Do something useful instead of yelling! Blow its head off or something!¡± ¡°I can¡¯t! I¡¯m bound¡ªMaster Ruixian¡¯s shadows are off limits!¡± More shadow spikes slammed into the ground behind them as they ran, forcing Lin Yue to zigzag through the street. The shadow talisman¡¯s effects still clung to her as she darted around the corner. A massive bull demon blocked her path¡ªbut the translucent state let her slip past him. A shadow spike punched through the demon¡¯s chest before he could bellow. Shadow popped free from Lin Yue¡¯s grip and slurped up the demon¡¯s soul before the body could hit the ground. ¡°Delicious!¡± Shadow gulped down the fresh soul. ¡°Damn it!¡± Lin Yue sprinted faster. Shadow swirled through the air excitedly. ¡°This is perfect! Head toward the crowded areas¡ªmore souls for me!¡± ¡°Like hell.¡± Lin Yue ducked into a side alley and pressed against the wall. A quick glance revealed the shadow construct of Master Ruixian advancing with measured steps, a spear of pure darkness gripped in its hands. The failed explosive talisman still clung to its chest, pulsing an angry red that shifted to brilliant yellow. The night erupted in searing light and the shadow construct disintegrated in the blast, leaving nothing but scorched cobblestones. Lin Yue stared at the destruction. Holy shit. ¡°We should leave before someone investigates that lovely explosion.¡± Shadow drifted lazily overhead. ¡°For once, you¡¯re right.¡± Lin Yue pushed off from the wall and slipped deeper into the shadows. Chapter 22 – Coins and Contracts Chapter 22 ¨C Coins and Contracts Lin Yue jogged through the darkened streets, expecting sirens or shouts of alarm. The silence pressed against her ears. ¡°What kind of anarchy is this place?¡± She glanced over her shoulder. Shadow drifted beside her. ¡°We¡¯re still in Blackspire¡¯s territory. They¡¯ll come from the other direction.¡± That was all she needed to hear to pick up the pace. A few more streets and alleys over, she was weaving through the growing crowd of night market shoppers. As she rounded a corner, the shadow cloak¡¯s effects began to dissolve. ¡°Perfect timing.¡± She steadied herself against a wall. ¡°First priority¡ªtrade your new soul energy for spirit stones.¡± That would pay for a proper combat class or two. ¡°I really do need those classes.¡± ¡°Speaking of training...¡± Shadow swirled overhead. ¡°Maybe focus on clearing those lung meridians? You look rather red.¡± ¡°Fuck you.¡± The worst part was Shadow being right. Again. A cold thought struck her¡ªwhat if Master Ruixian decided to kill her anyway? Xue sat alone in their room, defenseless. Lin Yue knew exactly what would happen... ¡°Fuck.¡± The best indication that wouldn¡¯t happen was the ink brand on her skin remained cool and quiet. No burning sensation, no pain. Maybe destroying his shadow construct wasn¡¯t as severe as she¡¯d first thought. She trudged through the demon market. The plan sucked, but at least she¡¯d chosen it herself. A fox merchant hawked glowing crystals from behind his stall. Three rabbit-eared demons haggled over a pile of bones. A snake woman coiled around her display of bottled souls. Every time she came through, it was a different montage of stalls. Shadow spun lazy circles above her head. ¡°Left here. Yanlue¡¯s hovel reeks of fresh souls tonight.¡± Lin Yue skirted past a demon skinning something still screaming. The less she knew about that, the better. Madam Yanlue¡¯s amphibian bulk filled the doorway of her crude dwelling. ¡°Back so soon, little bird?¡± Yue followed her inside, the familiar scent of exotic herbs and incense wrapping around her. The cramped interior was lit by glowing crystals that cast everything in a soft, otherworldly blue. ¡°Business is business.¡± Lin Yue moved to her usual spot by the stone counter. ¡°Ten inert spirit stones for five souls.¡± Shadow would be able to spare that much without straining their reserves. Yanlue¡¯s webbed fingers traced patterns in the air as she reached into a lacquered box. She counted out ten inert spirit stones, arranging them in two neat rows on the worn stone counter¡ªenough for any class, plus testing shadow¡¯s ability to charge them on the Tree of Inked Souls. At Yue¡¯s confirming nod, Shadow heaved, the darkness rippling before producing five fresh soul orbs. Yanlue¡¯s tongue lashed out like a whip snagging all of them and tugging them inside her thick bulk. ¡°Your merchandise is always of such fine quality, little bird.¡± Yanlue settled back, reaching for her ornate pipe. ¡°Come back soon.¡± ¡°Yeah, I will.¡± At least until I find a better deal, and dealer, that isn¡¯t going to consider eating me. Lin Yue pocketed the stones. ¡°Actually, I need information.¡± ¡°Oh? About what, exactly?¡± ¡°Connections. Someone who can move things between here and the mortal world.¡± Yanlue¡¯s webbed fingers tapped her pipe. ¡°Why would you need that?¡± ¡°I want to import human food to Ink House. Turn it into spirit stones.¡± Madam Yanlue stared blankly at Lin Yue, her tongue flicking out to taste the air. ¡°Come on.¡± Lin Yue leaned against the stone counter. ¡°You know why I keep coming to you for spirit stones. More stones means more cultivation. More cultivation means more souls to share.¡± Yanlue¡¯s throat sacs pulsed. ¡°Fine. There¡¯s a corpse eater in the western market. Handles smuggling between realms.¡± ¡°Thanks. Now, about mortal money exchangers?¡± ¡°You ask too much for free, little bird.¡± Yanlue puffed her pipe irritably. ¡°It¡¯s a working relationship.¡± Lin Yue shrugged. ¡°No information means no need for spirit stones. No spirit stones means no souls. Simple math.¡± ¡°Ugh. The money demon sits in a booth near here. Fat blob of a thing, can¡¯t miss it.¡± Yanlue waved her webbed hand dismissively. ¡°Now leave! Don¡¯t come back without business!¡± ¡°Always a pleasure.¡± Lin Yue stepped backward through the doorway with an exaggerated bow. She took a winding path through the demon market until she spotted the money changer¡¯s stall. The sight made her pause. A massive blob of scaled flesh bulged against metal bars and sheets that formed a crude cage-like structure. The creature sprawled across what might have been a chair, though its flesh spilled over every edge. Multiple candles burned around the stall, each radiating intense spiritual energy. ¡°Well, you certainly look the part of a shady money lender.¡± Lin Yue approached the bars. Shadow charged one of her spirit stones at her command. She passed it through the metal bars to the blob-like demon. The creature¡¯s stubby appendage grabbed the stone. After a moment of inspection, it reached for a jade tael. ¡°No.¡± Lin Yue shook her head. ¡°Gold coins.¡± The demon gurgled. ¡°Ten percent fee.¡± ¡°Fine by me.¡± The blob shifted its mass, triggering a series of mechanical clicks. A massive bag dropped through a chute, landing with a heavy thud. Lin Yue lifted the bag of gold coins. Her enhanced cultivator strength made the weight manageable, though she knew any normal person would have struggled to move it at all. She hefted the heavy coin bag over her shoulder. She would need to find the smuggler¡ªbut first she needed something worth smuggling. The slums and Inn Street beckoned. A thought nagged at her mind. How many cultivators actually crossed between realms? The demons would stick out like burning buildings in the mortal world. And she didn¡¯t remember too many uproars when some showed up. They usually ended up dealt with by the cultivators¡­ after a few alleys were eaten. So, if it wasn¡¯t that hard to go back and forth, why not more incursions? The answer hit as she pressed through the alley barrier. Pain lanced through every meridian, burning like acid in her veins. Shadow cackled overhead. ¡°Did that sting a bit?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Lin Yue rubbed her arm. The transition felt worse than before¡ªher strengthened meridians blazed against the barrier¡¯s resistance. ¡°The masters designed it that way.¡± Shadow circled lazily. ¡°The more qi you cultivate, the more it burns. Except for me. All my feedback goes to you!¡± ¡°Fucking fantastic.¡± Lin Yue glared at the barrier shimmer. She¡¯d definitely need that smuggler¡¯s help, unless... She could recruit mortals willing to risk becoming demon food. But that would take time she didn¡¯t have. ¡°Outsourcing it is.¡± Lin Yue pushed through the slum¡¯s narrow streets. The stench of unwashed bodies and rotting garbage assaulted her nose. Shadow laughed overhead. ¡°You look like such a nice mark. Such a big bag over your shoulder. Who knows what they would do if they knew what it had in it.¡± The silk of her robes rustled too loudly. The coin bag clinked with each step. ¡°Can¡¯t you put out some kind of fear aura or something?¡± Lin Yue glanced at the shadows between buildings.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source. ¡°You¡¯re always asking me to blow heads off. Is that what you want?¡± ¡°No. That would cause hysteria.¡± The mercenary guild¡¯s weathered door creaked open. Inside, nothing had changed since her last visit. Sheng Bo¡¯s bounty still hung on the board, marked by her gold. No one would ever claim it now. Lin Yue smirked. She carried more wealth than Tiger Gang thugs or these mercenaries had ever seen in their lives. ¡°I need retainers to run a front house.¡± Her announcement echoed through the room. Most of the mercenaries ignored her completely. The silk robes weren¡¯t that impressive after all. Shadow snickered above her head. Lin Yue pulled out a handful of gold coins and scattered them across the floor. The metal clinked against the wooden boards. ¡°Do I have your attention now?¡± The mercenaries scrambled like dogs to collect every fallen coin. * * * The smell of roasted meat and spices wafted from the packed restaurant. Lin Yue counted at least thirty customers crammed into the tiny space, all shoveling food into their mouths. Lin Yue approached a busy server. ¡°I need to speak with the owner.¡± The server pointed toward a back room without breaking stride. Lin Yue pushed through the crowd to find a rotund man counting coins at a desk. ¡°Interested in expanding your business?¡± Lin Yue dropped several gold pieces onto his ledger. The owner¡¯s eyes widened. After a brief negotiation and more gold changing hands, Lin Yue stepped back into the street. The negotiation went as smoothly as all the others. Now she had an excellent selection of food suppliers. Time to check on the hideout. That meant a walk back to the slums. Even with her funds, she hadn¡¯t had enough to purchase a building in a nicer district without converting more spirit stones. Shadow drifted overhead as she approached her newly acquired building. The mercenaries she¡¯d hired lounged around the entrance, weapons prominently displayed. Gold and muscle had smoothed over the property transfer in record time. Inside, crates and barrels already lined the walls. Ten restaurants had agreed to supply food¡ªnow she just needed the drugs to make it worth cultivators¡¯ time. ¡°Time to visit our old friends.¡± Lin Yue headed toward Tiger Gang territory. The first den sat empty, doors hanging off broken hinges. The second hideout was completely abandoned. Even the third spot showed signs of hasty departure¡ªoverturned furniture and forgotten belongings scattered across the floor. ¡°Shit.¡± Lin Yue kicked a broken chair. ¡°Were they completely wiped out?¡± She stared at the empty Tiger Gang hideout. A strange heaviness settled in her chest¡ªnot quite grief, but something annoyingly close. The gang represented most of her memories in this world, even if those memories involved theft and violence. ¡°What the actual fuck is wrong with me?¡± Lin Yue kicked the ground. ¡°They were scum.¡± A street runner slouched against a wall down the block. Lin Yue approached him, keeping her movements casual. ¡°Need some supplies. Flameheart and Deadgrass.¡± The runner¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°Follow me.¡± Two blocks and one dark alley later, three more thugs emerged from the shadows. ¡°Strip.¡± The largest thug cracked his knuckles. Lin Yue struck. The runner¡¯s legs snapped with a wet crunch, femur jutting through skin. The first thug joined him on the ground a second later. Blood pooled beneath the runner¡¯s twitching form. ¡°Now.¡± Lin Yue turned to the third man. ¡°Take me to your supply cache.¡± ¡°D-demon!¡± He stumbled backward. ¡°Yes.¡± Lin Yue smiled. ¡°So please make this easy. I¡¯d hate to kill¡ª¡± The runner gurgled and went still, arterial blood painting the cobblestones. What, had he hit his head too? He didn¡¯t have time to bleed out¡­ Mortals really were fragile, or she didn¡¯t know her own strength. Maybe a bit of both. ¡°Dinner time!¡± Shadow spun gleefully overhead. ¡°¡ªmore of you.¡± Lin Yue bared her teeth. The survivor scrambled, leading her to a hidden cellar beneath an abandoned shop. Crates of various drugs filled the musty space. Lin Yue stuffed everything into bags until her arms strained under the weight. ¡°Fuck, I need that Chudi bag¡­ and not the tiny one.¡± Well, this was more than enough and the max she could carry for now. As soon as she headed for the exit, a series of pops heralded more heads exploding in rapid succession. ¡°Shadow! What the hell?¡± Weapons clattered to the ground as bodies slumped in the alley. It looked like a charnel house. ¡°I thought you¡¯d approve!¡± Shadow twirled through the air. ¡°Besides, I was hungry.¡± ¡°You¡¯re always hungry. That excuse doesn¡¯t count.¡± Shadow swooped down, devouring the dozen fresh souls with obvious relish. ¡°Whatever.¡± Lin Yue stepped around the expanding blood puddles and trudged back to her new hideout. The sight of the massacre didn¡¯t even phase her this time. The mercenaries recoiled as Lin Yue stepped inside. Blood spatter painted her face and robes in crimson streaks. ¡°Listen up.¡± Lin Yue dropped her bags of drugs onto a table. ¡°You¡¯ll guard food deliveries and sometimes special ingredients. Buy your own drugs if you want¡ªI pay in gold. But touch my supply?¡± She gestured to her throat and made a slicing gesture. ¡°I¡¯ll rip out your souls and feed them to my pet dragon.¡± Maybe that came out a bit intense. The mercenaries pressed against the walls, eyes wide and faces pale. Good enough. Part one and two down. Now for a cook... then that smuggler. Lin Yue ducked into a back room and sorted through her newly acquired drugs, tucking portions into her smaller pack. Also¡­ she needed a cleanup. The Sable Script manual had taught her a useful meditation technique called Ink Purification. Turned out it worked just as well on blood. Steam rose from her skin as she meditated. Dark spiritual debris evaporated into the air, leaving her clothes and skin pristine. Fucking miracle. She stared at the neat piles of drugs sorted across the table as she finished. Finding a cook came next. Need someone who can make food that reheats well inside the pavilion. The cook wouldn¡¯t have access to the demon district, which complicated things. Maybe cultivators could use qi to steam up the meals? Or she¡¯d need special preserving dishes¡ªbut those would cost too much right now. Spirit stones first, fancy dishes later. Lin Yue snorted at the absurdity. She¡¯d gone from stealing bread to planning a business empire in a week. The afternoon sun already hung low in the sky, marking half her day gone. The mad rush to get everything done quick was making her feel dizzy. Her feet carried her through familiar streets to a run-down shop near the district¡¯s edge. The Greasy Spoon had served decent food that didn¡¯t poison anyone. An old man shuffled from behind the counter. ¡°What you want?¡± ¡°I need a personal chef.¡± Lin Yue leaned against the doorframe. ¡°The desperate kind who¡¯d appreciate getting paid well.¡± The old man¡¯s eyes narrowed. ¡°What kind of work?¡± ¡°Cooking at my place. Managing food prep for my people and handling shipments. Management role. I¡¯ve got supplies sorted¡ªjust need someone to run the kitchen.¡± Yue raised her hand and ticked off fingers. ¡°I need three meals prepared each week that can be reheated. Plus daily meals for my guards.¡± Lin Yue traced a pattern in the dust on the counter. ¡°Simple stuff, but it needs to taste good even after sitting.¡± The old man scratched his chin. ¡°Five silver per week.¡± ¡°No silver.¡± Lin Yue shook her head. His shoulders slumped. ¡°Four then.¡± ¡°I¡¯m paying in gold.¡± Lin Yue placed a coin on the counter. ¡°Two per week. One for you, and one for you to spend on assistants or anything needed to keep things going smoothly.¡± The old man¡¯s jaw dropped. ¡°Gold?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll oversee everything. Hire help as needed.¡± Lin Yue pushed the coin toward him. ¡°I¡¯ll be gone most of the time. Need someone loyal running things, not just a wage slave.¡± ¡°That¡¯s...¡± The old man stared at the gold piece. ¡°I know what gold means around here.¡± Lin Yue leaned forward. ¡°And I remember your family eating in the back room. Things look rough now, though. What happened?¡± The old man¡¯s eyes hardened. ¡°Taxes went up. Gangs take more.¡± ¡°Well, I¡¯ve got a small army now. You can live in the hideout¡ªbring your family too.¡± Lin Yue shrugged. ¡°I don¡¯t care. Just need the food to be good. You in?¡± After a brief hesitation, the old cook nodded to her. Gold solved everything in the slums¡ªit opened doors, bought imagined loyalty, and made impossible things happen overnight. The speed of her plans bordered on insanity. Each decision could backfire spectacularly, but she needed everything ready and sorted by the time she left. No time for careful planning or backup strategies. There was no telling when she¡¯d get out of the sect again. Fuck it. I¡¯ll solve problems as they come up. She spent the next hour hammering out details with the cook¡ªdelivery schedules, kitchen setup, staff requirements. The conversation flowed easier as it went. ¡°Welcome aboard.¡± Lin Yue shook his weathered hand before stepping into the afternoon heat. Time to track down that smuggler. But first, she needed her samples. Back at the hideout, Lin Yue grabbed her small backpack. The rest of the stash would just have to stay here. She wasn¡¯t going to walk around looking like a loaded teamster. The mercenaries lounged around the main room, weapons close at hand. ¡°Listen up.¡± Lin Yue faced the hired muscle. ¡°Password is ¡®midnight tea.¡¯ Anyone shows up without it, send them away. If they get inside anyway, kill them.¡± Simple enough instruction. And if these guards proved disloyal, the second group she¡¯d hired in the building next door would handle cleanup. Trust but verify¡ªwith extreme prejudice. Lin Yue adjusted her bag and headed for the demon market district entrance. Chapter 23 – A Fragile Bloom Chapter 23 ¨C A Fragile Bloom The perpetual twilight of the demon market greeted Lin Yue as she stepped through the barrier. Familiar nausea rolled through her stomach from the realm shift. Blue-robed corpses littered the first square, sprawled across blood-stained cobblestones. Lin Yue¡¯s heart hammered against her ribs. What the actual fuck? She counted at least twenty bodies. ¡°Weekly occurrence?¡± Lin Yue muttered, stepping over a severed arm. The cultivators had lost this battle¡ªtheir pristine robes now shredded and soaked crimson. Whatever killed them hadn¡¯t bothered with clean deaths. ¡°Too old.¡± Shadow drifted past the carnage with obvious disappointment. ¡°Souls are long gone.¡± ¡°Ha.¡± Lin Yue turned toward the direction Madam Yanlue had given her. Although she was coming from the opposite direction so she needed to adjust. The carnage was quickly left behind, and three streets over it was business as usual. Yue¡¯s eye twitched. She still had never figured out how things could function like nothing happened with people dying around the corner. ¡°See anything that looks like a smuggler¡¯s den?¡± Lin Yue scanned the twisted buildings. Shadow burped loudly in response. ¡°Useless fucker,¡± Lin Yue muttered. A crooked three-story building caught her eye¡ªwindows glowed with sickly green light, door hanging half-open. No sign advertised ¡°smuggler,¡± but her eyes went to the second-floor window, where two green candles flickered. That was the mark Yanlue had told her to look for. Warm amber light spilled from the doorway, striking memories of Ruixian¡¯s shop. Her stomach clenched. The familiar glow promised similar dangers, but as she entered, the space held fewer shelves and the sharp scent of ink that permeated her master¡¯s domain was absent. The metallic stench of blood saturated the air instead. Fresh death hung thick enough to taste. ¡°Souls.¡± Shadow stretched toward the ceiling. ¡°Fresh ones. Multiple.¡± He tugged at the end of his leash. Great. Someone died screaming in here. Lin Yue flexed her fingers, ready to grab for a weapon. A figure emerged from the back room. White linen wrappings covered their form, dark crimson stains splattered across the fabric like abstract art. The wrapped figure tilted their head. ¡°Shipment or customer?¡± Lin Yue held her ground, keeping her movements casual despite the fresh bloodstains. ¡°Looking to move things between the mortal district and Blackspire Pavilion.¡± The bandaged head tilted at an unnatural angle. ¡°What manner of things?¡± ¡°Food. Drugs. The usual mortal vices.¡± Lin Yue traced her finger along a nearby shelf, collecting dust. A raspy laugh escaped from beneath the wrappings. ¡°How... unique. Why would cultivators need such base pleasures? Are not food and drugs beneath your exalted status?¡± What a pretentious asshole. Lin Yue rolled her eyes. ¡°Those are an awful lot of questions for a smuggler.¡± The wrapped figure straightened, fabric rustling like dead leaves. ¡°I despise that crude term. I am a gentleman who delivers what needs delivered.¡± ¡°Well then, gentleman .¡± Lin Yue crossed her arms. ¡°Can you help me or not?¡± Shadow coiled around her shoulders, red eyes fixed on the blood-stained wrappings. The smell of blood slowly began to shift to the pungent scent of death. The wrapped figure straightened. ¡°Delivery to Blackspire poses no challenge. Standard channels suffice for that route.¡± Lin Yue tapped her foot against the blood-stained floorboards. ¡°And the mortal side?¡± ¡°That requires more... specialized attention.¡± Fabric rustled as the figure shifted. ¡°One spirit stone per shipment. Full grade, no fragments.¡± Perfect. The cost aligned with her planned budget. Lin Yue pulled a scrap of paper from her robe and scribbled down the slum hideout¡¯s location. ¡°Password is ¡®midnight tea.¡¯ Can you handle pickups there?¡± ¡°Indeed.¡± The figure accepted the paper with bandaged fingers. Though payment presents a complication. I¡¯ll need to exit Blackspire¡¯s walls. Lin Yue rubbed her temples. Fuck. Getting past those walls would require planning¡­ Again. She reached into her robe and pulled out a single spirit stone, placing it on the table. ¡°Here¡¯s the first payment.¡± Lin Yue spent the next hour dissecting every detail of the smuggling operation. The wrapped figure answered each question with mechanical precision. ¡°One last thing.¡± Lin Yue tapped her brush against the paper. ¡°What do I call you?¡± The bandaged head twisted at an impossible angle. ¡°Your tongue couldn¡¯t pronounce my true name. Call me Darin.¡± ¡°Ha. Okay.¡± Lin Yue studied the contract spread across the blood-stained counter. Her sect manual had included information about demonic contracts flashed through her mind¡ªhow a single brushstroke could bind a soul or tear it apart. The parchment radiated a faint purple glow. Each character seemed to writhe beneath her scrutiny. Lin Yue traced each line carefully, searching for hidden meanings or trapped spirits woven into the text. ¡°Very good, Customer,¡± the wrapped figure rasped after Lin Yue signed her name. Shadow coiled lazily through the air. ¡°All this work for some stupid food scheme?¡± ¡°Got any better ideas?¡± Lin Yue grumbled as soon as they were outside. ¡°What if no cultivator wants your drug-laced garbage?¡± Shadow stretched his serpentine form. ¡°All this planning for nothing.¡± Lin Yue shrugged. ¡°Then I pay Wu Lan¡¯s penalty fee, cancel the shipments with our wrapped friend here, and figure out how to keep me and Xue fed on dried rations.¡± ¡°Ugh.¡± Shadow floated upside down. ¡°I want to sleep, not get dragged around on your ridiculous errands.¡± ¡°Speaking of errands.¡± Lin Yue reached up to snag Shadow¡¯s tail and pull him down and rub his soul-filled belly. ¡°We should convert the souls from the gang into inert stones.¡± Shadow recoiled and then slipped out of her grasp to keep the maximum distance from her. He grumbled loudly but was tugged along as Lin Yue navigated back through the blood-soaked square toward Madam Yanlue¡¯s hovel. The giant frog demon¡¯s rings clinked against each other as she processed the souls into spirit stones. Lin Yue spread the haul across the stone counter. Thirty uncharged spirit stones glinted in the blue flame light. Yes, that would do nicely. Maybe she would try for more in the next cycle. Then she could buy that spatial storage bag. ¡°We need to charge these at the Tree of Inked Souls during meditation time.¡± Shadow coiled through the air. ¡°Finally, a sensible plan.¡± Lin Yue didn¡¯t respond. Her momentary satisfaction at their progress dissolved as her thoughts turned to their return journey. The walk back toward Blackspire Pavilion twisted her stomach into knots. Each step brought a fresh wave of anxiety about Ruixian¡¯s destroyed shadow construct. The explosion had torn it apart, but what consequences awaited? Master Yan Ruixian¡¯s wrath remained an unknown variable. A scraping sound echoed through the demon district alley she had picked as a shortcut. Lin Yue froze mid-step. Shit. The desperate or deadly? The spirit stones clinked in her pouch as she reached for her knife. Moonlight caught the edge of a familiar blue-silver robe. Lin Yue blinked twice, convinced her eyes deceived her. But there stood Yin Ruo, the fairy cultivator from the Temple of Mercy. Blood dripped from a gash on her side, staining the pristine fabric crimson. Her sword gleamed with an otherworldly light as she held it before her in a defensive stance.Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. Well, this is awkward as fuck. She studied the fairy cultivator¡¯s ragged breathing. Damaged qi radiated from Yin Ruo in sickening waves that even Yue could feel with her scarce training. She wondered if the other girl even recognized her through the shadows. ¡°Hi there. Fancy meeting you again.¡± Yin Ruo stared with glazed eyes, confusion etched across her blood-spattered features. ¡°Mmm.¡± Shadow drifted closer, red eyes gleaming. ¡°A cultivator soul would taste extra delicious right now.¡± Lin Yue shot him a withering glare. Shut the fuck up. ¡°What happened to you?¡± Lin Yue kept her distance from the wavering sword. ¡°You should know.¡± Yin Ruo spat blood onto the cobblestones. ¡°Your demon friends attacked me. Now you¡¯re here to finish the job.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have any friends.¡± Lin Yue shrugged. ¡°So that doesn¡¯t track.¡± Yin Ruo slumped against the alley wall. Her sword trembled but remained pointed at Lin Yue¡¯s chest. The fairy cultivator¡¯s legs buckled, threatening to give out completely. Shadow coiled lazily through the air. ¡°Let¡¯s just get back, boss. Unless you want to kill her and take her stuff.¡± Lin Yue studied Yin Ruo¡¯s trembling form. The memory of their encounter at the Temple of Mercy flashed through her mind¡ªhow Yin Ruo had shown mercy instead of ratting her out on the spot. The fairy cultivator¡¯s pristine robes now hung in tatters, blood seeping through torn silk. Killing her wasn¡¯t on the agenda. Going back to Blackspire made the most sense. The safest option. Lin Yue could live with walking away. So why the fuck don¡¯t I want to do that? ¡°Hey.¡± Lin Yue kept her hands visible. ¡°Want me to help you get out of here?¡± Yin Ruo pressed harder against the wall, sword wavering. ¡°What kind of trick is that?¡± Lin Yue sighed and pulled Wu Lan¡¯s shadow talisman from her sleeve. ¡°I have this. It can get you to the exit.¡± Yin Ruo stared at the talisman through blood-matted white hair. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Well, you helped me before.¡± Lin Yue kept her hands visible, watching blood drip from Yin Ruo¡¯s wound onto the cobblestones. ¡°You¡¯re a demonic cultivator.¡± Yin Ruo spat another mouthful of blood. ¡°Why would you repay a kindness?¡± ¡°Ouch, that¡¯s harsh.¡± Lin Yue touched her chest in mock offense. ¡°Just so you know, I try to keep an eye for an eye, hand for a hand kind of deal.¡± ¡°How can I trust you?¡± Lin Yue sighed and stepped closer. The sword point rose to her nose, but she pushed the blade aside with two fingers. The metal felt ice-cold against her skin. Lin Yue leaned in until their noses almost touched. Yin Ruo swayed on her feet, eyelids fluttering. Dark circles marked the skin beneath her eyes, and a sickly gray tinge colored her normally pristine complexion. The damage ran deeper than the visible wounds. Lin Yue leaned in, keeping her fingers on the sword blade. ¡°Maybe I just think you¡¯re pretty and this is my way of seducing you.¡± ¡°I will never fall for a demon.¡± Yin Ruo choked out the words through blood-stained lips. She reached up to push Yue away. Lin Yue caught Yin Ruo¡¯s wrist and pressed Wu Lan¡¯s shadow talisman against her nose. Dark smoke enveloped them both, turning their bodies into shifting shadows. ¡°We¡¯ve got five minutes.¡± Lin Yue glanced at the talisman¡¯s fading edges. The time limit would mean cutting things close with Ruo¡¯s injuries¡­ Lin Yue ducked under Ruo¡¯s sword arm, careful of the black-lacquered blade still clutched in the other girl¡¯s grip. She wrapped her own arm around Ruo¡¯s waist, taking most of her weight as they stumbled forward out of the twisted alley. Each step sent ripples through their shadowy forms. Shadow swirled above them. ¡°This is too slow.¡± Yin Ruo stumbled, nearly dragging them both down. Blood leaked from her wound despite their incorporeal state. ¡°Shit. Hold still and don¡¯t complain.¡± Lin Yue adjusted her grip on Yin Ruo¡¯s waist. ¡°What?¡± Yin Ruo slumped further against Lin Yue¡¯s side. Fuck this slow shit. Lin Yue swept Yin Ruo¡¯s legs out from under her, scooping the fairy cultivator into her arms. The sword and sheathe clattered against cobblestones as Yin Ruo lost her grip. ¡°Put me down!¡± Yin Ruo squirmed in Lin Yue¡¯s arms, pushing against her chest. ¡°Hold still, princess. I¡¯ll get us there.¡± Lin Yue sprinted through the twisted alleys, her cultivation-enhanced muscles making the fairy¡¯s weight negligible. A ram-horned demon lunged from a doorway, claws raking at them. Lin Yue spun past, boots skidding on blood-slicked stones. Three more demons emerged from the darkness, drawn to their ethereal state. They began to bellow and shout, but she didn¡¯t understand a single thing other than it was time to go faster. She dodged a tentacled mass that dropped from above. Shadow weaved around them, red eyes tracking each threat. A wolf-headed creature snapped massive jaws where Lin Yue¡¯s head had been a moment before. The barrier¡¯s exit glowed ahead. Lin Yue glanced down at Yin Ruo and found the fairy cultivator unconscious, head lolling against her shoulder. ¡°What the fuck!¡± Lin Yue leapt through the barrier. Pain ripped through her core as reality reasserted itself. The slums¡¯ darkness enveloped them, broken only by distant lantern light. She dragged Yin Ruo into a narrow alley between two crumbling buildings. Moonlight filtered through tattered awnings. She pulled a spirit stone from her pouch, its smooth surface cool against her palm. Shadow writhed through the air. ¡°What are you doing with that?¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Lin Yue pressed the stone against Yin Ruo¡¯s chest. ¡°Just returning a favor.¡± ¡°You¡¯re wasting our spirit stones!¡± Shadow coiled tighter, red eyes blazing. ¡°We need those for cultivation!¡± Lin Yue snorted. ¡°She gave us one at the temple, remember?¡± Fuck, how does this work? Lin Yue concentrated on channeling qi through the stone like she¡¯d learned during meridian clearing. The crystal grew warm, pulsing with faint light as energy flowed into the girl. The stone slowly faded and then shattered. Dammit. It would have been nice if she could have recharged it¡­ Yin Ruo¡¯s eyes snapped open. She reached for a sword that had been left behind. ¡°Where have you taken me?¡± ¡°Some slums alley.¡± Lin Yue kept still. ¡°We¡¯re out of the demon district.¡± Yin Ruo glared at her through blood-matted white hair, her pristine features twisted with suspicion. Lin Yue leaned forward. ¡°Stop glaring at me like that. It¡¯s really turning me on.¡± Yin Ruo sputtered. A deep crimson flush spread across her blood-stained cheeks. Shadow spun in lazy circles above them. ¡°Stupid humans, always thinking with their sexual organs. Can we go now?¡± Yin Ruo looked away. Moonlight caught the fresh blush spreading down her neck, a stark contrast to the dried blood on her silk robes. Lin Yue pulled back, putting space between them. ¡°Can you get back safely on your own now?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Yin Ruo stared at the cobblestones. ¡°Great.¡± Lin Yue stepped further into the shadows. ¡°Just so you remember¡ªwe¡¯re even now. Never seeing each other again.¡± She didn¡¯t wait for an answer and sprinted through the twisted alley and back into the demon district. Her heart hammered against her ribs as she ran. The thought of looking into those frost-blue eyes again scared her more than any demon market horror. The shadow talisman had already worn off, and the demons she¡¯d avoided earlier milled about, glaring at her angrily. Haha. She kept her distance. She aimed for Blackspire, but more importantly, she detoured to the alley she had found Yin Ruo in. The black lacquered sword was still there. Yue sheathed it and added it to her belt sash. A chill lingered on her fingers where she had touched the hilt. Blackspire¡¯s towering pavilions slowly came into view. The sect¡¯s gate loomed, dark stone stretching above the street. Fuck. What was I thinking? The memory of frost-blue eyes and blood-stained silk made her stomach twist. Hormones or pure stupidity¡ªtake your pick. No shadow talisman, no way to sneak past. Only one option then. Lin Yue straightened her robes and strode directly toward the guard post. There was no point trying to be sneaky now. She kept her movements casual. The same guard from earlier snapped his head up, eyes widening. ¡°What the¡ª¡± ¡° Just returning from an errand.¡± Lin Yue kept walking. ¡°Are you insane?¡± The guard glanced around frantically. ¡°You should have used the talisman!¡± Lin Yue froze mid-step. The pieces clicked together in her mind like a twisted puzzle. This guard had seen her leave earlier¡ªhad watched her walk right past his post. ¡°You weren¡¯t blind at all.¡± Lin Yue crossed her arms. ¡°Wu Lan made a deal with you to pretend not to notice me going in and out.¡± The guard grimaced. ¡°Fuck.¡± That manipulative bitch. Wu Lan had played with her. The shadow talisman, the ¡®blind¡¯ guard. The man rubbed his face. ¡°Yes, but now I can¡¯t pretend I didn¡¯t see you. If anyone asks, you¡¯re on your own.¡± Lin Yue tapped her chin. ¡°Huh... Well...¡± A smirk spread across her face. ¡°I think I got permission from my master while I was out.¡± ¡°What?¡± The guard straightened. Lin Yue brushed imaginary dust from her sleeve. ¡°But he found out about me being out and I¡¯m still alive, so seems like he approves. Everything should be fine.¡± Nevermind that he had no idea who her master was. She didn¡¯t even know Ruixian¡¯s position in the sect. But it seemed like an arrogant and useful thing to say. The memory of the exploded shadow construct flashed. Probably best not to mention that part. Shadow coiled lazily through the air above them. ¡°Lying to guards now? You¡¯re getting better at this demonic cultivation thing.¡± Chapter 24 – The Living Ink Chapter 24 ¨C The Living Ink Lin Yue¡¯s boots clicked against the stone path leading to Ink House. The bloated moon stretched dark silhouettes across Blackspire¡¯s grounds, twisting ancient trees and walls into grotesque shapes. ¡°Too many souls give me indigestion.¡± Shadow drooped beside her. ¡°Need sleep.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Lin Yue slipped through the massive doors into the Ink House¡¯s pavilion. Ink and ancient paper filled her nose¡ªthe signature scent of demonic calligraphy. ¡°Someone might hear you.¡± ¡°I told you no one can see me. I¡¯m dying.¡± Shadow twisted dramatically. ¡°First that creepy wrapped thing Darin, then all that running. A divine dragon needs proper rest.¡± ¡°You¡¯re the furthest thing from divine I¡¯ve ever encountered.¡± Lin Yue padded across the wooden floor toward the central pavilion¡¯s staircase. The hall toward it felt longer than usual. Blue spirit-flame lanterns cast eerie light through empty halls. Ice shot down her spine. The temperature plummeted until her breath fogged. Something heavy suddenly pressed against her skin, making the hairs on her neck rise. Shadow¡¯s complaints cut off. He trembled once before diving into her tattoos. The black ink rippled as he burrowed deeper beneath her skin. ¡°What is it?¡± Lin Yue whispered. The ink on her skin only trembled harder. The spiritual pressure transformed the familiar corridor into an alien landscape. Each shadow deepened into infinite pools of darkness that watched¡ªwaited. Lin Yue¡¯s fingers brushed her knife handle. ¡°Don¡¯t move. Don¡¯t speak. Don¡¯t breathe.¡± Shadow¡¯s whisper barely registered against her skin. The black mass coalesced into Master Ruixian¡¯s form, his robes absorbing the blue spirit-flame light. His outline blurred and shifted like fresh calligraphy still wet on the page. Otherworldly power blazed in his eyes, sending Lin Yue¡¯s meridians into screaming recognition. The pressure doubled. Tripled. Lin Yue¡¯s legs shook under the crushing weight. Her joints cracked as invisible force pressed down on her shoulders. Despite straining every muscle, her knees slammed against the wooden floor. ¡°My construct in the demon market.¡± Master Ruixian¡¯s words sliced through the suffocating darkness. ¡°Someone destroyed it quite spectacularly.¡± The black ink patterns in the air rippled. ¡°Would you happen to know anything about that?¡± Master Ruixian stepped forward. His eyes blazed with centuries of accumulated power¡ªthe kind that could rewrite reality with a single brush stroke. Lin Yue¡¯s lungs struggled against the thickening air. Each breath felt like inhaling liquid iron. Shadow¡¯s earlier warning echoed in her mind: Don¡¯t move. Don¡¯t speak. Don¡¯t breathe. ¡°I witnessed the explosion.¡± Master Ruixian¡¯s words dripped venom into the suffocating air. ¡°Quite impressive for an untrained outer disciple.¡± Why was he even paying attention to her? She had nothing, not yet. Why was he wasting time with her? She needed to understand that, or there would never be a way out of this trap. ¡°Someone who interferes with my work must be either brave or foolish,¡± Master Ruixian said. ¡°Speak.¡± Her meridians burned and dark spots danced at the edges of her vision. ¡°I just returned to the sect.¡± Lin Yue fought to keep her voice steady. Sweat beaded on her forehead. ¡°Perhaps another disciple might know something?¡± Shadow whimpered from her tattoo¡ªa tiny sound that rippled through her skin. ¡°I needed cultivation supplies.¡± The words came in a ragged gasp. ¡°Spirit stones. For training.¡± The darkness around Master Ruixian thickened. His spiritual pressure bore down like an ocean of ink, threatening to drown her. The shadows along the walls reached toward her with hungry tendrils, writhing like freshly painted calligraphy come alive. Panic clawed at her. ¡°I did it.¡± The words scraped past her throat. ¡°Your construct attacked me in the market. I used an explosive talisman when it tried to kill me.¡± The pressure released all at once. She took a deep guip of air. Dark laughter echoed through the corridor. ¡°Very good.¡± Master Ruixian¡¯s tone shifted to something deceptively casual. ¡°I¡¯ve watched your progress. This encounter was arranged.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s newly opened meridians throbbed. ¡°The construct was a test?¡± ¡°A simple shadow construct.¡± Master Ruixian gestured. The darkness rippled around him like eager servants. ¡°Programmed to detect unauthorized movement and eliminate escape attempts.¡± ¡°It tried to kill me.¡± Blood pounded in Lin Yue¡¯s ears. ¡°Yet here you stand.¡± Master Ruixian¡¯s approval sliced through the darkness. ¡°No combat training. No advanced talismans. Just quick thinking and an explosive array that should have failed.¡± Shadow stirred beneath Lin Yue¡¯s skin. His ethereal head emerged near her neck. The movement drew Master Ruixian¡¯s attention. His eyes tracked the spectral dragon, studying the black tattoos that writhed across Lin Yue¡¯s skin. The moment of silence was agonizing, but finally Master Ruixian reached into his sleeve. A jade pendant emerged, dangling from a black silk cord. Inner light pulsed from within the stone, pushing against the oppressive darkness of the corridor. She stared at the intricate ink patterns carved into the jade. Ancient characters spiraled across its surface, refusing to stay still. Black ink filled each groove, radiating spiritual power that made her newly opened meridians hum.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. ¡°This is a personal disciple mark.¡± Master Ruixian held the pendant between them. ¡°The patterns bind master and student¡ªa tradition from our sect¡¯s founding. Such recognition is rare. It grants privileges, but demands heavy responsibilities.¡± Master Ruixian raised his hands, fingers curved in an intricate pattern. ¡°Channel qi like this. Follow the ancient scripts precisely. It will alert me.¡± Lin Yue studied each deliberate movement. The pendant swayed between them, its jade surface catching the dim spirit-flame light. ¡°One mistake will trigger the binding arrays.¡± Master Ruixian¡¯s qi flowed into the pendant. ¡°The consequences would be... severe.¡± He tossed it at her and she barely had the mind to catch it. The silk was soft, but the qi radiating from the jade pulsed with her heart. ¡°Let us discuss the price of misusing this privilege,¡± Master Ruixian said. ¡°Previous disciples thought themselves clever. They believed rules existed for others.¡± He reached out and ink flowed out of he sleeves to take several demonic shadow forms, red eyes and mouths flaring in the dark hall. The edges of the constructs flowed in a haze. At the very edge of Lin Yue¡¯s hearing she thought she could hear agonized screaming. ¡°I rendered them into pure ink.¡± His fingers sketched another symbol. ¡°Their consciousness remain intact¡ªaware of every moment. Years spent flowing through brushes, marking papers, serving as tools for their betters.¡± Lin Yue¡¯s stomach churned. The thought of existing as nothing but liquid consciousness made her newly opened meridians contract. Shadow¡¯s terror pulsed through her tattoos in waves of cold energy. Master Ruixian gestured to the pendant in her hand. ¡°This mark grants protection from the other elders. When properly displayed, they must acknowledge they have business with me, and not you.¡± Master Ruixian tapped his bottom lip. ¡°Discretion. Your survival depends on understanding the deeper currents within our sect. I have a task for you, though you aren¡¯t ready to complete it. You need to reach Qi Gathering¡­ before the end of the year.¡± Lin Yue let out a held breath. That was¡­ that was less than three months! ¡°Move carefully, but swiftly.¡± Master Ruixian¡¯s outline blurred at the edges. ¡°Poor judgment carries consequences beyond mere death.¡± Black qi swirled around his form like fresh ink dropped in water. The oppressive darkness receded as his form winked out. Spirit-flames flickered back to life, casting blue light across the wooden floor. Lin Yue felt like falling over, and her legs felt weak, like she wouldn¡¯t be able to get up off her knees. ¡°That.¡± Shadow emerged from her shoulder and floated. ¡°Is going to give me indigestion.¡± Lin Yue swatted at him. The spectral dragon circled her with uncharacteristic nervousness, his usual dramatics replaced by genuine fear. Silence stretched. The jade pendant pulsed against her palm. What did he really want from her? Why the elaborate hocus pocus? If he needed something from her, why didn¡¯t he just take it? Why conscript her, and why give her the trinket? The Ink House manuals had confirmed that Master Ruixian was the highest elder and leader of Ink House, but why would he bother paying attention to a mortal brought to him by Shadow? A simple outer disciple with no backing or use? Why, why, why? ¡°We shouldn¡¯t linger,¡± Shadow whispered. Lin Yue pressed herself up off the floor. Her legs shook, but she made it to the stairwell and up the flights of stairs to her room. The dark jade pendant pulsed along with the rythmn of her breath. It felt like a weight tied around her neck, pulling her down¡ªor perhaps a blade waiting to fall and take her head. The door opened with the press of her palm. Xue slept soundly in their shared bed, curled under the blankets. The click of the door shutting didn¡¯t bring comfort. Shadow twisted in the air. ¡°He¡¯s watching. Always watching.¡± ¡°Get out of my head,¡± Lin Yue muttered. ¡°Your paranoia gives me a headache.¡± ¡°Paranoia keeps you alive.¡± Shadow coiled tighter. ¡°I¡¯ve seen what happens to failed disciples. Didn¡¯t you see?¡± ¡°Enough.¡± Lin Yue watched Xue¡¯s steady breathing. She wasn¡¯t sure wether the personal disciple mark would help or cause her problems. But it was clear she shouldn¡¯t broadcast it. It wasn¡¯t worth the reminder of the leash around her neck. Or, well, the red ink brand that floated on her arm. Qi Gathering in three months? She hadn¡¯t even had her first lesson¡­ Ugh. If she had been charging ahead blindly as fast as she could, now it felt like she needed to jump off a cliff to keep the pace. It all came down to power. Power meant everything in this world¡ªand right now, she needed more of it. Wu Lan¡¯s support hinged on proving the food venture viable, but even if that failed, Shadow could help her steal from the Tree of Inked Souls. Less meditation skill seemed worth the trade for raw spiritual power for her stones. She rifled through her pack of ingredients. Flameheart and deadgrass packages crackled between her fingers as she sorted them into piles. The small amount of dried rice and small bag of sugar would make a simple staple. Refined sugar was a luxury, almost wasted on the plain rice, but it would help hide any off taste. The big test would be the affects of the drugs. Cultivators might ignore normal food, but with the right additions... If they worked then the better food would just be a bonus. ¡°You¡¯re planning something stupid.¡± Shadow coiled around her shoulders. ¡°I can taste it.¡± ¡°Shut up.¡± Lin Yue measured portions of deadgrass into a seperate bowl. ¡°We need test subjects.¡± Shadow¡¯s ethereal form twisted toward the door. ¡°The tree would be easier. Safer.¡± Lin Yue sorted out different dosages. She knew how much a normal person would consume, but what about a cultivator? She multipled it by ten for a start. ¡°Xia Rou¡¯s been suspiciously absent. Aren¡¯t guides supposed to help new disciples?¡± ¡°Ah.¡± Shadow¡¯s red eyes gleamed. ¡°And she won¡¯t know what¡¯s in the food.¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± Lin Yue stroked her sleeve. ¡°Time to be a good junior sister and share some treats.¡±