《Nine Worlds Saga - Burning of the Dew》 Dance of the Evening Chi Life is a dance of light. We can see plants drink water and turn to drink the light. While all humanity needs the light to eat, to work, and to fight back the night. The kingdom of heaven gifted all life with ki, the dantians to transform ki to chi, and the forms needed to pull chi through and out of the body. Tension, Release, and the Balance between is the call of every soul to the Kingdom of Heaven. ~From writings of an unnamed student of the Philosopher of Good. PoV - Xinyi A tingling burn rippled through Xinyi¡¯s body as Chi surged into her clenched muscles. The warmth pulsed, flowing through her limbs before stilling in her hands as she unclenched her hands, bringing currents of restoration. She moved through the Chen Style, flowed and halted, each stance a deliberate contrast of motion and stillness. The courtyard was quiet, save for the droning of neighborhood Cicadas in the afternoon heat and the faint pulsing hum of her Radiant Chi. Sunlight lightly painted golden streaks across the terracotta roof tiles. As she kept the tension in her hands and feet, spinning into a strike and holding the pose before releasing to flow seamlessly into the next sets. With a sharp inhale, she swept her arms toward the target, a bundle of dried leaves bound with twine, and clenched her fist, two fingers extended. Whamp! The leaves scattered, disintegrating into smoking embers. The tattered twine falling to the ground curling in like a recently extingiushed wick. A flicker of satisfaction swelled in her chest. She bowed, exhaling slowly. (Should I use fans? Or maybe ribbons? ¡­No, ribbons will reveal flaws in the rests.) The scent of smoldering foliage lingered, mingling with the soft fragrance of jasmine and hibiscus that drifted from the Siheyuan courtyard garden. She scanned the walkway for more leaves to bundle with the remaining unburnt twine. (Is it good enough? I wish I had Light Weaving Chi already¡­ or maybe I should have chosen Warding Chi instead. Then, I could win at the festival for sure. I could do the image reflection forms, and have a defense for Radiant Chi. But Gyam is so far away¡­ It¡¯s too much to ask of Baba and Mama.) She scoffed while tying another twine-wrapped bundle to the hook in front of the sand and water buckets next to her father''s worn-smooth wooden dummy. (Like you could master one, let alone two new forms, without a tutor¡­ How would you blend them with Chen Style anyway? Argh, I wish I could know everything!) Her fingers clenched around the twine with each leaf she grabbed. (But, Mama and Baba promised¡­ We¡¯re supposed to go on a trip to get a new Chi. But is the journey really worth the cost and time? Do I even deserve it?) She counted through the forms she had prepared in then counted the ones still needing work. She pictured the martial forms of different types of Chi users. Her thoughts drifted beyond the courtyard, beyond Guangzhou Village, past the borders of Hu¨¡ L¨´ Kingdom, to distant worlds she only imagined. Worlds captured in ink and scribbles. She pictured the caricature drawings her father had brought home, portraits of people from beyond the world gates, their features strange, yet undeniably human. The Light Weaving Chi users of Hozho bore some resemblance to the people of Kas¡¯Hao, yet their eyes, foreheads, and cheeks carried unfamiliar shapes and depths. Subtle differences that marked them as foreign, unlike anyone she had ever seen. The people of Gyam, as drawn, were even more distinct. Not copper or bronze toned like those of Kas¡¯Hao or Hozho, but pale, like rice dusted with the barest hint of cinnamon and chili oil, or the pink of a cherry blossom just beginning to fade to white. Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on. (Mother said I must be flawless if I want the judges to notice me. And if I succeed, we¡¯ll visit Gyam or Hozho. Will the Juniper shrine accept me? Will it truly bless me with more Chi?) A wave of sour nervousness bubbled within her. She clenched her teeth, exhaling deeply through her nose. She moved into the first stance, letting out a h¨¥ xi¨¤o, forcing the doubt from her body. She turned to face north, eyes locked on the bundle of leaves swaying from the twine. Chi tingled down her arm to pool in her fingertips. She nodded, ¡°I will be perfect at this before the festival¡­ before I humiliate myself in front of the judges and the community.¡± Her stomach gurgled from the lingering fullness. (One more time. Stronger this time.) She raised her hands, Chi coursing through her, pooling in her cramping fingers. She held her breath, tension coiling, ready to strike¡ª ¡°Xinyi! Did you hear? The Kingdom of Miezaru Hi locked their world gate! All the trade routes are blocked! Maybe we won¡¯t get to go on the ship Baba and Mama promised!¡± Hao¡¯s excited voice burst into the courtyard. Xinyi jolted. ¡°Hao!¡± Xinyi whipped her head toward him. Chi broke free from her fingers, wildly as her arm shifted. Flash! Whamp! The blast cratered the stone wall, cracks spiderwebbing outward, roof tiles shattered, debris rained down. Scorch marks blackened the carved beams and stone. But worst of all¡­ The blast struck their father¡¯s wooden training dummy. The upper half exploded into smoking splinters. Xinyi gasped, the dazzling afterimage of her uncontrolled Chi that dipped into visible Radiance flickered in her vision. A massive mistake. A Chi deviation-level mistake. A slow sizzle, followed by a sharp crack. The smoking dummy caught fire. She bit her lip, fear and anger washed over her. Hao tilted his head in that stupid bird-like way, then glanced at her. He rubbed his thumbs over his fingertips, his nervous tick. ¡°Baba, won¡¯t like that.¡± ¡°You think!¡± Xinyi¡¯s stomach sank the digesting food congealing. ¡°Hao! Why did you¡­¡± She snapped her mouth shut, pressing her palms to her temples. (It wasn¡¯t his fault.) A charred striking post fell from the dummy, rolling towards Hao. He poked with his shoes before picking it up, running his fingers along the blackened edges. ¡°Do you think this wood was already stressed? See, the grain is uneven here.¡± He traced the cracks with near-reverence, his eyes gleaming with curiosity instead of concern. Xinyi groaned, rushing to the buckets. She grabbed the nearest pail and poured water slowly over the dummy smoldering remains. ¡°Hao, you can¡¯t just yell like that when I¡¯m practicing forms and Chi channeling! I¡­¡± She gestured wildly at the scorched wall, and dummy debris. ¡°Look what happened!¡± Hao paused, tapping his fingers against the broken post. One, two, three. Before looking up. ¡°But it¡¯s important.¡± Xinyi sighed, frustration warring with guilt. ¡°What is?¡± He adjusted his grip on the uncharred end, in an overly serious imitation of Baba¡¯s tone. ¡°Miezaru Hi locked the gate! No trade, no ships, no new Chi! Not even beaver pelts or that big grain Baba likes.¡± Xinyi blinked, her frustration faltering. (That¡­ actually is important. Argh, Baba¡¯s going to kill me.) She rubbed her forehead, her mind scrambling for a solution. Hao tilted his head. ¡°If you had Warding Chi, do you think the dummy would¡¯ve been protected? Like if we embedded a Chi Beast crystal full of Warding Chi?¡± Xinyi exhaled, ¡°Possibly¡­ but it would need command words. What are we talking about? We need to clean this up!¡± He nodded, setting the broken post down with careful precision. ¡°I think I like Warding Chi. I will be a warding master.¡± Xinyi rubbed her face. ¡°You? A warding master? What happened to wanting to be a healer?¡± Hao grinned. ¡°You don¡¯t need healing if you aren¡¯t hurt.¡± Xinyi stared at him. Snorting despite herself. (Of course, he wants that. Bet he¡¯ll try for both.) Okay, well need a mason Judgment is found in that which you decided yesterday shall apply to today. Discernment is found in forgetting yesterday to reach the tomorrow you want. Wisdom is found in balancing them both. Tension, Release, and the Balance Between. ~Quote from A Gyamian trader. PoV - Xinyi Xinyi fretted at the hem of her shirt. ¡°There¡¯s no way I can fix this before Baba gets home¡­ Even if I had the Material shaping Chi of¡­¡± She paused, clapping her hands, ¡°B¨´ Bi¨¤n De Xi¨¤nsh¨ª. No wait¡­ they have another name. Mama told me it once what was it?¡± Hao balanced precariously on the overturned water bucket, tracing his fingers along the cracks in the wall. ¡°She said it yesterday. ¡®Bradorramese, or Land of Unchanging Reality. But it makes no sense their Chi changes the shape of things.¡¯ That¡¯s as much of what she said that I can remember.¡± Xinyi rushed over, ¡°Get down from there! I''m already in enough trouble without you getting hurt falling.¡± She grabbed his arms, pulling him off the bucket. He landed lightly, his large, unblinking eyes stared up at her. ¡°Should we clean up more? Or set up a barrier before W¨¤ig¨­ng comes over? What if more roofing tiles fall?¡± Xinyi darted a glance upward. Then pulled Hao away from the fall radius. ¡°We should¡­¡± ¡°Explain.¡± Baba¡¯s voice cut through the courtyard, cold and firm. His eyes swept over the wreckage, from the shattered roof tiles to the cracked wall, and finally to his splintered and scorched dummy. Xinyi froze. The silence stretched like a cat leaving a sunbeam. Baba¡¯s jaw tightened, his expression unreadable. He took a slow deliberate breath. ¡°Explain why there is structural damage to our house when you promised to be gentle with your Chi during solo practice?¡± Xinyi opened her mouth but couldn¡¯t think of anything to say. ¡°It was both of our faults.¡± Hao declared, dashing over to grab the broken post. ¡°Still mostly Xinyi¡¯s. She used too much Chi, but I startled her.¡± His words spilled out in a rush. ¡°But-but-but she actually did you a favor-look.¡± He jabbed the broken post up at Baba¡¯s face. ¡°See? The wood was already weak! It could have broken and cut you!¡± Baba exhaled through his nose, slow and measured. Hand-blocking Hao¡¯s jabs. Xinyi held her breath (Oh no, He¡¯s really mad. Hao you¡¯re making it worse.) She bowed. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Baba. I have no excuse. I shouldn¡¯t have let my hopes for the festival distract me, or allowed Hao¡¯s interruption to startle me so much.¡± Hao shoved the broken post into Baba¡¯s hands, tapping the sharp, ash-charred edges. ¡°Well, it was way too much Chi. I could see the casting.¡± Baba¡¯s back stiffened, his grimace deepening into a frown. ¡°You lost control that much? You could have had a Chi deviation. You could have demonized.¡± Xinyi swallowed hard bowing deeper. Baba turned away, passing Hao back the post, moving to inspect the damage. Hao, incapable of handling this much silence trailed after him. ¡°But it was in her hands, so the deviation couldn¡¯t have affected her mind. Still, we should watch out for falling tiles.¡± Baba swiped a finger along the sooty, cracked wall, stepping back to assess the roof damage. Xinyi pressed her lips together. (Hao, Please stop talking.) But Hao, as always, prattled on. ¡°Maybe we need Warding Chi. If the house and Dummy had been reinforced, this wouldn¡¯t have- ¡°Enough Hao.¡± Baba¡¯s eye twitched. Exhaling then more softly, said. ¡°This is my fault too. Your mother told me we should only let you use Healing Chi when we weren¡¯t present.¡± Xinyi ducked her head, staring at the ground. ¡°I am sorry, Baba.¡± Bright, musical laughter rang behind them. Like an eager puppy, Hao bounded over to Mama, thrusting the broken post up towards her face. ¡°Look at what Xinyi did! Strong but no control, just like me.¡± Mama¡¯s lips curled into a mischievous grin as she glanced at Baba, ¡°See? And you worried the kids wouldn¡¯t take after us. Powerful and adventurous like me, and rash and impulsive like you.¡± Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. Baba sighed, rubbing his forehead, though a small, pursed-lipped smile betrayed him. ¡°Yes, well¡­ First, we need to determine punishments.¡± Then added softly, ¡°And seek the masons and a carpenter.¡± Mama ruffled Hao¡¯s hair, ¡°That has pointy bits. Don¡¯t wave it in people''s faces, okay?¡± Hao¡¯s eyes widened nodding seriously. ¡°Okay. Oh! At school today, the teacher said Miezaru Hi closed their world gate, does that mean the trip is canceled?¡± Mama nodded for them to move inside. ¡°Let''s talk while we make dinner before W¨¤ig¨­ng and N¨£inai get here. We may need to reconsider several things we planned for the Autumn break.¡± Baba gestured for Xinyi to follow. She hesitated, then grimaced, keeping her gaze low. ¡°I, Am sorry.¡± Baba exhaled, nodding. ¡°You have Tension from Radiant Chi and Balance from the Healing Chi. To improve your control, we need to get you a Release Chi. Hao might be right, Warding Chi could help, but fitting the trip into Autumn break would be rather difficult.¡± Xinyi shallowed, slipping off her shoes before stepping inside. ¡°So¡­ Hozho might not be possible?¡± Baba shook his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know any more than anyone else about what Miezaru Hi is doing. They wouldn¡¯t close the gate without a reason, it¡¯s politically dangerous, a threat to stability. I can¡¯t imagine what could have caused it.¡± From the kitchen, Hao¡¯s voice range out. ¡°I want bean buns, bean buns, BEANS BUNS!¡± Mama''s amused voice followed, ¡°Then come help cut the onions, peppers, and sprouts?¡± A moment later, Hao bolted past Xinyi and Baba, wailing, ¡°No, no, no! My eyes will burn!¡± Mama sighed, waved them into the kitchen to help. As they entered, Baba continued. ¡°The plan for Hozho was to get you Tranquility Chi, not Light Weaving Chi. Though¡­ you likely would have achieved both if Juniper willed it.¡± Xinyi frowned as she took her place at the cutting station, where Mama pointed. She washed her hands at the spigot and basin, ¡°Why tranquility Chi?¡± Baba began splitting kindling. For a moment, Xinyi nearly suggested using the splintered wood in the courtyard, but for the sharp look Baba gave her. It was like Baba had read her mind, he said, ¡°Tranquility Chi allows for a peaceful end to hostility. A very suitable Release Chi for Radiant Chi users.¡± Mama humming a folk song as she worked Xinyi picked up a knife. ¡°So¡­ suitable, but not optimal?¡± Mama nodded carrying the song tone. ¡°Exactly. The best Chi for Chi control oddly enough is a Tension Chi from Aenoria, but that world gate is months away. If these are unavailable balancing the Chi triggers is the best practice. Baba gained release Chi from Gyam and I from Hozho. I had hoped to meet with the same people I visited for the World Exchange student program before you were born. We traded stories and their Juniper Shrine is very safe. Hozho, the World Mind, is very active there.¡± Xinyi began slicing the vegetables. Glancing at Baba. ¡°Why is Kas¡¯Hao silent then? The Heavenly Queen and our World Mind Kas¡¯Hao give us Chi, but don¡¯t speak to us anymore.¡± Mama nodded. ¡°A good question. I don¡¯t know an answer either.¡± Baba paused while washing the rice, ¡°An interesting question, that will not distract me from setting your punishment. You will need to Complete the Chen Forms while fasting one hundred times without mistakes before you can do the forms with Chi again unsupervised.¡± She looked up, ¡°But the fes-¡± Baba turned away, not quite hiding a smirk. ¡°Exactly. You hate this, which makes it an effective punishment.¡± She leaned on the table, arms crossed. ¡°Fine, Baba. I can track that.¡± Baba¡¯s tone was far too pleased. ¡°And it will only be counted by your mother or I?¡± Her jaw dropped. ¡°That¡¯s not fair!¡± Baba sighed, unbothered. ¡°Like my loss of a training tool, we will both adapt. Now, enough complaining,¡± He rinsed his hands, voice shifting to something more thoughtful. ¡°I know the world Mind Kas¡¯Hao exists. We have Chi-Stone recordings. One conversation I¡¯ve heard was with a being that calls itself Kas¡¯Hao, granting Chi blessings and so much more. The Museum in Hu¨¡ L¨´ City plays them to visitors.¡± Xinyi moved on to the green peppers, ¡°L¨£o Y¨¦ye told me a story about speaking with the Queen of Heaven herself.¡± Baba snorted. ¡°When I was a child, he used to say it was a child of the Heavenly Queen. Other times, it was one of her sisters in disguise.¡± Baba set the rinsed rice aside to soak. ¡°Guangzhou is only a few hours'' journey by boat from Hu¨¡ L¨´ City. Maybe we can go there for the Autumn break. And the issue with the world gate is resolved by summer, we could plan a journey across worlds.¡± Xinyi bit back a response, wary this might be another trick to fish for punishment ideas. Instead, she asked, ¡°If they don¡¯t speak anymore, how do they still give blessings?¡± Baba shrugged. ¡°No clue. People say many things. Some say they are in mourning for the Maker''s death. Others it¡¯s for the loss of Terra. And there are those that claim the Queen of Heaven and the World Mind never existed at all. That every record and piece of evidence is fake and should be destroyed.¡± She frowned as she portioned out the chili oil, pickled beans, and pickled mustard greens. ¡°Why destroy recordings? We can''t even make those anymore. And Terra was lost so long ago that we barely have any history of it. And the Makers died? I thought they left to build a new Realm. ¡± Baba stoked the fire, tending to the rice. ¡°Well, to some people, left and died mean the same thing. We know Life died. There¡¯s a Chi stone recording of Change and Creation speaking to a distraught Juniper. Kas¡¯Hao, Gyam, Hozho, Terra, and Aenoria discussed sharing Chi to manage Juniper¡¯s absence while grieving with her Sisters and Brothers. They called Chi some foreign word.¡± She nearly cut her fingers. ¡°Wait¡­ That would make the recording older than the loss of Terra?¡± Baba nodded, his expression serious. ¡°The Museum idea growing on you?¡± She grumbled, slicing through the pickled greens. ¡°Like a mushroom. But, I still think getting more Chi types sooner is better.¡± Baba laughed. ¡°I said the same thing at your age.¡± Hao came running into the kitchen screaming. ¡°N¨£inai and W¨¤ig¨­ng are here!¡± Mama set the rice dough to rest covered near the fire. Wiped her hands. Baba nodded scoping more rice into his rinsing bowl. ¡°Tell N¨£inai we will be right there.¡± Hao darted off on his mission. Xinyi wiped her hands on a cloth and sighed. ¡°Same volume as when I was doing my forms.¡± Baba chuckled, following her and Mama out of the kitchen. Tea before dinner Ants are the best they work and never stop. Unless they''re dead then they¡¯ve stopped. ~Excerpt from Hao¡¯s first-year book report. PoV - Hao Hao paused, crouched near the eastern wing by the Screen Gate, inspecting a dry moth carcass. Its wings, though brittle, were still covered in dust armor W¨¤ig¨­ng thought about. Click. The main gate latch shifted. Slow, deliberate steps followed. Creak. Bang. Hao forgot the moth. His mind snapped to a new focus. He bolted through the screen wall gate to the main gate, ¡°Hi, Lao W¨¤ig¨­ng! Hi, Lao N¨£inai!¡± He bowed quickly, then pivoted to N¨£inai, bouncing on his toes. ¡°I can help?¡± N¨£inai chuckled, pinching his cheek. ¡°Xiao Hao, please let your Mama and Baba know we are here.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng raised a hand in a silent greeting, eyes half-closed with his pseudo-bow. The scent of strong, bitter herbs clung to his robes wafting over Hao¡¯s senses. Hao nodded up at N¨£inai, then hopped twice before pivoting. Changing directions is easier after jumping. He ran back through the Screen Wall Gate, cutting through the quartered courtyard Xinyi and Baba trained. Up the Main House steps. Outside shoes, (Off, Off, Off!) Barefoot, he ran across the smooth wooden floors, thrilled at the texture, yet dreading the groat in the corner room kitchen¡¯s stonework. He dodged it veering erratically across the smooth gray stone centers. ¡°N¨£inai and W¨¤ig¨­ng are here!¡± His momentum carried him too fast. He nearly tripped, stumbling to an abrupt stop nearly touching the groat. Baba grabbed a soaking rice bowl. ¡°Tell N¨£inai we will be right there.¡± Hao shuttered, staring at the unglazed ceramic exterior. It made his skin prickle just thinking about it. He reached into his right-hand pocket, rubbed his fingertips on the polished spoon he kept. The smooth surface soothed the fantom texture pain crawling up his arm. His shoulder loosened. The sensation settling from his mind. Then ran from the kitchen. The wood floor of the main house calms his senses further. The hum of Baba, Mama, and Xinyi¡¯s Chi faded behind him as he rushed towards the Main Room entrance. W¨¤ig¨­ng was just stepping up to the Screen Gate with N¨£inai as Hao shoved his feet into his outside shoes. Hao opened his mouth, then snapped it shut. (We don¡¯t yell at elders) Mama¡¯s rule. He finished and scrambled to his feet. N¨£inai smiled at him as he ran up. She nodded towards the Eastwing Wall of the courtyard. ¡°What happened here?¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng¡¯s gaze swept over the damage. First the cracked wall, the broken roof tiles, and then scorched family training dummy. Hao looked back at the debris. ¡°Oh, that was partially my fault. But not completely.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng¡¯s expression darkened. ¡°Tao, you damage the house?¡± He sounded disappointed. ¡°You are not old enough to do casting drills. Why would you do this? I expected better.¡± Hao¡¯s stomach dropped. (Tao?) He tilted his head. ¡°I¡¯m Hao, W¨¤ig¨­ng, Uncle Tao is in Baishi up north. And it wasn¡¯t me.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng¡¯s brows furrowed. His certainty wavered, like an overly wet brush bleeding the paper. N¨£inai cleared her throat, speaking slowly. Carefully. She rested a hand on W¨¤ig¨­ng¡¯s arm gently. ¡°Hong, we¡¯re here to see your daughter, Mei, and my son, Wei. They¡¯re handling this.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng¡¯s voice softened. ¡°Xiao Mei is married?¡± There was a flicker of sadness, then clarity. He looked at Hao again. ¡°This was Xinyi¡¯s casting, wasn¡¯t it?¡± Hao nodded. (W¨¤ig¨­ng forgot me for thirteen seconds.) The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings. Then said. ¡°Yeah. It was Xinyi. But I startled her. I was telling her what I heard at school about the World Gate and she blew up the dummy.¡± N¨£inai sighed. ¡°I assume she normally doesn¡¯t cast this much uncontrolled. Hao frowned. (Why would blowing up the house be normal?) N¨£inai muttered. ¡°Well, she can answer for herself I can see them now.¡± Hao straightened. ¡°Oh don¡¯t walk around there the roof tiles could fall.¡± At that moment Mama, Baba, and Xinyi stepped out from the main room. Xinyi glares at Hao. He shrugs back at her. Mama takes W¨¤ig¨­ng¡¯s arm. ¡°Dinner isn¡¯t ready yet. Would you like some refreshment or would you rather wait for the meal?¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng paused, then started to follow Mama¡¯s lead. ¡°Tea would be pleasant.¡± N¨£inai, meanwhile, wrapped Baba in a brief hug, then surveyed the eastwing wall. ¡°So, the kids blew up my bit of the house, I see.¡± Baba exhaled sharply, glaring at the cracked wall and scorched dummy. ¡°Yes, I have set Xinyi¡¯s punishment. She will while fasting completing the Chen Forms one hundred times, without error. But I still need to decide on Hao¡¯s.¡± Hao froze, stomach twisting. (Chen Forms take three to five minutes per cycle. That¡¯s¡­ seven to eight hours. While fasting. That seems inefficient.) Then Baba turned to him. ¡°Hao, you will be punished for interrupting a training in progress. Which we¡¯ve told you is dangerous to do.¡± Hao braced for some long apology he would need to write. ¡°Your punishment,¡± Baba continued. ¡°Is to measure all the damage and inventory the supplies needed for repairs.¡± Hao¡¯s fingers twitched. He immediately began counting the missing roof tiles. ¡°That doesn¡¯t seem like a punishment.¡± He tilted his head. ¡°I¡¯d like doing that anyway. Xinyi gave him a wide-eyed stare. He frowned back at her. Continuing. ¡°Xinyi¡¯s punishment is way worse. That doesn¡¯t seem fair.¡± Xinyi shook her head in shock at him for some reason. N¨£inai laughed, her tone light and confusingly amused. ¡°Wei, he wants a fair punishment.¡± Baba¡¯s lips twitched. ¡°Then let¡¯s make it fair.¡± His eyes settled on Hao. ¡°You will give me the raw material list, but you will not be allowed to explain why you made these determinations.¡± Hao¡¯s jaw dropped. His heart sank. ¡°But, if I can¡¯t explain, I could be wrong. And then I can¡¯t fix it.¡± Xinyi rolled her eyes. ¡°Mama and W¨¤ig¨­ng will reach the table soon. Should I go prepare the tea?¡± Baba nodded at her. ¡°Set out rice cakes too.¡± Hao watched as N¨£inai and Baba headed towards the main room. He was still processing his punishment, turning it over in his mind. (The task is fun if I am able to be right, but I could be wrong now.) N¨£inai gestured back at the cracked wall. ¡°Where should I stay while things are fixed?¡± Baba nodded towards Hao. ¡°The kids will sleep on mats in the main room. You¡¯ll take their space.¡± N¨£inai smirked. ¡°Part of the punishment?¡± Baba simply grunted in affirmation as he stepped inside, removing his exterior shoes. At the Mainroom table, W¨¤ig¨­ng sat with Mama, waiting on the tea and rice cakes. Hao wanted to ask if the W¨¤ig¨­ng and N¨£inai had heard him when he brought up the world gate closure. He didn¡¯t know how to ask. The adults were talking. W¨¤ig¨­ng was complaining to Mama that Tao doesn¡¯t visit enough despite Tao visiting last month. Hao¡¯s finger tapped lightly against his leg. (That¡¯s not right either.) Hao took a seat, listening. N¨£inai and Baba were discussing the sleeping arrangements. If repairs weren¡¯t finished before the Autumn break, they¡¯d have to adjust. Hao sat up. ¡°The World Gates closure might affect the trip. Do you think it will open before then? I really want to ride the boat.¡± N¨£inai smiled at him. ¡°No matter what happens with the gate your Baba and Mama will take you on a boat even if it''s just to visit up north.¡± Xinyi kicked his chair leg as she passed him, pouring tea into the set-out cups. Before Hao could ask why, W¨¤ig¨­ng cut in. ¡°The Gate is closed? That¡¯s only happened in times of war and conflict.¡± Hao nodded excitedly, gesturing to W¨¤ig¨­ng. ¡°Exactly, you told me all about the Gate to Bradorram during the Merchant War.¡± Baba picked up a rice cake as Xinyi returned to the table. ¡°That was a war over Matter Shaping Chi access. The Gate to Hozho on the other hand their Chi¡¯s are not as lucrative for a nation to control access to it.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng gestured at Xinyi and Hao. ¡°Mei and Tao will need to decide if they will make the trip to Aenoria, or Hozho for their third Chi type¡± Baba paused, glancing at Mama. ¡°We were choosing between Hozho and Gyam.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng froze. Just for a second. ¡°Yes¡­ yes, Gyam would be a good choice too. I¡¯ve wanted to go to Hozho. It¡¯s a shame the gate is closed.¡± Hao frowned. ¡°W¨¤ig¨­ng, you went to Hozho with Mama before I was born. She told me.¡± Xinyi¡¯s foot slammed into his shin under the table. Hao yelped, jumping in his seat. (What was that for?) Before he could demand an answer, Mama stood abruptly, her eyes watery. ¡°I¡¯m going prepare dinner,¡± She said. Then softer, ¡°Hao, come help me.¡± He rose immediately, but not before pulling on Xinyi¡¯s sleeve. ¡°W¨¤ig¨­ng is forgetting things.¡± Xinyi pulled she sleeve away. ¡°I know! Good help Mama.¡± Hao hesitated. His gaze flicked to Baba, W¨¤ig¨­ng, and N¨£inai, still talking about the Hozho tribe the People of the Giant Red Trees that live near that World Gate. His fingers twitched against his spoon. ¡°Why are we letting him forget?¡± Xinyi¡¯s glare was sharp. ¡°We aren¡¯t letting him forget. He just is. Shut up and go help Mama.¡± Hao rubbed the spoon in his pocket turning towards the kitchen. Up ahead, Mama blew her nose. ¡°Is it the pollen Mama?¡± He asked avoiding the groat. She gave him a puffy-eyed smile. ¡°Something like that.¡± Her voice was a little too quiet. She gestured towards the counter. ¡°The Onions are already cut. Can you mix them with the other ingredients?¡± He nodded. Then without thinking, he hugged Mama. ¡°Feel better soon, okay.¡± Bad News for Hao Trade is the blood of a nation. Blood is messy if it is not inside the body. Which is why Mama has the butcher prepare the chickens. So trade is also messy if it is happening in places it is not expected. Baba calls that smuggling. ~Excerpt from MingHao¡¯s, second-year book report. PoV - Hao Hao hopped twice before returning to the counter, the tiles cool against his feet. He carefully mixed the chopped vegetables, crushed meat, and sauces, watching as the colors blended in a bowl. As his fingers squished through the raw meat. Mama checked the steaming pot of rice, the simmering broth, and the rolling boiling of the cabbage water. ¡°So, Minghao is coming over this weekend.¡± Mama¡¯s tone was light, but she slowed her work. ¡°What do you two want to do?¡± Hao paused mid-squish-mixing, tilting his head. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± he admitted, then shrugged. ¡°Today, making leaf boats along the M¨°h¨¦ sounds fun.¡± Mama pursed her lips, her cooking chopsticks clicking against the pan as she added the chili oil, sizzling ginger, and onion greens. ¡°Well, we aren¡¯t seeing the Sun family today?¡± She said carefully. Hao nodded, already moving on in thought. ¡°I know, but I don¡¯t know what I will want to do in a couple of days.¡± He rinsed off his hands at the water spigot, looking up. ¡°What next, Mama?¡± Mama leaned over his bowl, inspecting. ¡°Add some salt, then it looks ready to wrap in the cabbage leaves.¡± He fetched the salt, ¡°Okay, got it.¡± Then sprinkled it out with a three-count. The water gurgled down the basin drain, flowing to the catch below the spigot as Mama drained the wilted cabbage leaves. Mama¡¯s fingers tighten around the pot before setting it by him. ¡°Hao, we must talk about your classes after Autumn break.¡± Hao picked up a softened leaf, patting it dry with a cloth before adding a precise spoonful of the mixed meat and vegetables. ¡°Oh,¡± he folded in and rolled the leaf before looking up. ¡°Am I being held back like Minghao?¡± Mama¡¯s forehead wrinkled. He nodded, unconcerned. ¡°He told me that his parents needed him to leave Q¨©ngt¨¢o Sh¨±yu¨¤n to move up a level.¡± He frowned slightly. ¡°I don¡¯t want to repeat a level, I¡¯ve already learned everything.¡± Mama paused, stirring the fire embers under the rice pot, her motions slower than usual. ¡°You and Minghao will be changing schools,¡± She said finally. ¡°We won¡¯t have you repeating a level.¡± Hao kept folding the mixture, keeping each piece uniform in size. He wasn¡¯t sure what to feel, but there was an odd tightness in his stomach. His fingers tingled unpleasantly, like touching unglazed terracotta. ¡°I thought I did well in exams.¡± He said slowly. Mama wiped off her hands on a cloth. ¡°You did, Xiao Hao. You did.¡± Hao paused mid-wrap, his current cabbage leaf limp in his hand. ¡°Then why are we changing schools?¡± Mama rested a hand on his shoulder, thumbs rubbing a smoothing circle. ¡°Sometimes, learning isn¡¯t just about remembering facts.¡± She said carefully, too carefully. ¡°And Administrator Zhao teaches the next level this year.¡± She paused, hiding a flash of anger. Then continued more softly. ¡°And he refuses to teach you. Or Minghao. And some others.¡± Hao pressed the next roll too hard, making the filling squish out. He blinked at it, frowning. ¡°So if I stay, I repeat the same level, and everyone else would move up?¡± Hao stacked the finished rolls neatly. ¡°But if I go to a different school, I won¡¯t know anyone.¡± They stood for a moment, Mama holding her breath. Then he brightened up. ¡°But Minghao will be there. That¡¯s good.¡± Mama turned back to the rice, checking the pot, but not stirring it. ¡°It will be for the best,¡± She said, ¡°The new school is farther across town, but at least you¡¯ll advance. And they have a group that helps students learn in¡­ different ways.¡± He washed his hands, watching the meat juices swirl down the drain. ¡°Will the level have kids my age?¡± Mama nodded. ¡°Yes, for regular lessons. But the smaller group has students of all levels.¡± Hao watched Mama carefully as she placed the stuffed cabbage into the steamer. ¡°Why do I need to go to an additional class? And is Xinyi changing schools too?¡± Mama hesitated, just for a second. Then, she nodded. ¡°That depends on how she does at the Festival.¡± Hao hopped onto a chair, rocking slightly. ¡°Isn¡¯t Administrator Zhao a judge?¡± Mama smiled, but the corners of her eyes didn¡¯t crinkle. ¡°Yes, there are five judges. He¡¯s one.¡± Hao kicked his feet up, thinking. ¡°You don¡¯t like Administrator Zhao?¡± If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. Mama waved a spoon at him. ¡°He¡¯s not my favorite, no.¡± Then she turned back to the rice, stirring it unnecessarily. ¡°Egomaniacal, self-proclaimed Chi Master.¡± Hao stilled his legs, patting his knees. (There¡¯s something weird about how Mama said that.) ¡°How will the new school be better?¡± He asked. Mama tilted her head towards the cabinet. ¡°Bowls.¡± She sighed. ¡°It¡¯ll mostly be the same. But the support class will help you learn in new ways.¡± Hao drummed his fingers against his thigh, counting his thoughts. ¡°How is learning new? Don¡¯t we learn by understanding and thinking? Oh, is this like new Chi?¡± Mama paused mid-stir, then pointed at the cabinet again. ¡°Bowls, please.¡± She exhaled through her nose. ¡°It¡¯s not like new Chi, which is about intention and digestion. It¡¯s about finding ways for you to understand things that others do without thinking.¡± Hao hopped off the chair. ¡°Oh, so it¡¯s like learning to be like Xinyi.¡± He bounced three times before dodging grout and landing by the cabinet. He braced himself for the rough, awful texture of the bowls before grabbing six of them. Mama watched his movements with a heavy sigh escaping her lips. ¡°Yes. To help you be more like Xinyi.¡± Hao rushed back, setting the bowls by Mama on the counter. ¡°Good. But I won¡¯t blow up the house.¡± Mama gave a tired chuckle, unstacking the bowls one by one. ¡°Well, I appreciate that. Keeping the house in one piece is a personal goal of mine.¡± Mama portioned out rice, broth, and stuffed cabbage, finishing with a sprinkling of green onion. ¡°Grab spoons and chopsticks. Then take these to the table.¡± Hao dodged grout again, pushing himself off the floor with a leap. ¡°Bwahahaha, I¡¯m the stone champion!¡± Mama smirked, shaking her head. ¡°I think you need Shaping Chi to be a stone champion.¡± Hao blurted on the way to the table with a full bowl and the utensils. ¡°Stone-hopping champion.¡± The hot bowl pressed against his fingers, sending a jolt of discomfort up his arms. The texture, pressure, and heat were too much, he needed to move. He rushed to the table. Baba scolded as Hao set the first bowl down with a loud thud. ¡°Hao, you could spill, slow down.¡± Hao bobbed his head quickly, already dashing back to the kitchen. ¡°Yes, Baba.¡± Behind him, N¨£inai called out. ¡°Bring a water pitcher too.¡± Hao rubbed his fingers on his shirt, shaking off the lingering sensitivity before grabbing another bowl. He considered carrying two Like Mama, but that would mean balancing them against his wrists, (Pokey, no, bleh. But if I carry two, I¡¯d be done sooner.) He grabbed one bowl instead and rushed after her. Mama was seated chatting with W¨¤ig¨­ng about some kind of medical tea. (How long did I think about one verse two bowls?) He set the bowl before N¨£inai and ran back to the kitchen. (Baba says across town is where bad people live. I hope the school isn¡¯t run by them.) He grabbed a bowl and sprinted out. Xinyi brushed passed him, heading into the kitchen. ¡°I¡¯ll get my bowl and the water. Just sit down and eat that one, it¡¯s yours now.¡± He called back, ¡°Okay, thank you.¡± Hao slid into his seat at the table. Baba and N¨£inai were eating and chatting while Mama argued with W¨¤ig¨­ng, trying to get him to take a bite. Hao sighed in relief. (Finally, no more bowls to touch.) Baba turned to him. ¡°Hao, are you ready to test for Chi proficiency and begin Level Two training?¡± Hao set his sticks and spoon neatly along the rim of his bowl. ¡°No. Testing in a new school will be weird?¡± Baba nodded, but W¨¤ig¨­ng cut in frowning before Baba could speak. ¡°New School? Why aren¡¯t you continuing at Q¨©ngt¨¢o Sh¨±yu¨¤n?¡± Mama grimaced. ¡°Baba, Wei and I need to move Hao because of how he learns.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng¡¯s eyebrows knitted together. ¡°I taught at Q¨©ngt¨¢o, before the University. It has excellent teaching.¡± Mama gestured for Hao to eat as Xinyi returned setting a bowl and the water pitcher. ¡°Baba, the teacher for Hao¡¯s new level is refusing to teach Hao and several other students. We can¡¯t force someone to teach a child, and we wouldn¡¯t want him as a teacher anyway.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng looked stunned, then angry. He pushed away the spoonful Mama proffered him. ¡°What kind of person at Q¨©ngt¨¢o refuses to teach a child? That¡¯s ridiculous.¡± Baba gestured for Xinyi and Hao to eat. ¡°Zhao Min is the administrator now. He¡¯s changed a lot of policies, especially for the levels he teaches.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng glared at Mama as she finally forced a spoon in his mouth. Mama smiled in victory. ¡°L¨´f¨¥ng Sh¨±yu¨¤n is a good alternative. And they have special sessions after main class sessions at M¨´x¨©n Hu¨¬.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng froze mid-chew. ¡°The school for the blind and crippled? Why would Hao be going there?¡± Hao frowned, watching the words fly like a sparring match. (School for the crippled? I¡¯m not crippled or blind. Why is everyone getting angry?) Mama shot a warning glare at W¨¤ig¨­ng. ¡°M¨´x¨©n Hu¨¬ also works with students who learn differently.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng grunted, taking the spoon from Mama¡¯s hand. ¡°Hao is no Halfmind.¡± (Stop fighting!) Baba¡¯s voice was firm. ¡°No, he isn¡¯t. But you know he thinks differently, and M¨´x¨©n Hu¨¬ has begun accepting students like that.¡± Xinyi set down her spoon with a clatter. ¡°Hao, is fine! If Administrator Zhao wasn¡¯t a jerk, none of this would be happening.¡± Mama''s tone turned from warm to sharp. ¡°Xinyi, you can¡¯t say that. Zhao is a festival judge. He¡¯ll know if you disrespect him with his Emotion Sensing Chi.¡± N¨£inai waved a spoon. ¡°Listen to your mother! If you anger a judge, you won¡¯t get into Ti¨¡nm¨ªng Xu¨¦g¨­ng.¡± W¨¤ig¨­ng slammed the table. ¡°Then I¡¯ll talk to this Administrator Zhao myself.¡± (Stop being angry!) Something buzzed under Hao¡¯s skin. His fingers tingled. His chest was tight with Chi. Baba¡¯s voice was low and warning. ¡°Let us take care of our children.¡± Xinyi crossed her arms. ¡°I think W¨¤ig¨­ng could do something about it.¡± Mama turned to her. ¡°That is not the right attitude young lady-¡± Whamp! Hao¡¯s bowl flash-boiled. A burst of steam hissed into the air. Hao scrambled back, heart pounding. The table fell silent. Tears stung his eyes. ¡°Sorry, sorry.¡± Before anyone could speak, he turned and ran, straight to his and Xinyi¡¯s room.