“So, what do you think?” Ling Qi asked as the last notes faded into the evening air. She hadn’t come up with something satisfactory on her own so she had simply returned to practicing the compositions Mother sent her.

  “I think you have surpassed me by a great deal,” Ling Qingge replied wistfully. They sat on a blanket laid across the porch overlooking the garden that lay behind the house. To Ling Qi’s eye, Mother’s condition had not improved too much. Part of her mother was still expecting a reversal, not for any logical reason but out of habit.

  “Maybe,” Ling Qi allowed, knowing that there was no point in dissenting on the matter. “But that doesn’t change the skillfulness of your composition,” she said with an encouraging smile. “I would like to hear your own take on the composition, if you don’t mind.”


  Mother looked hesitant as Ling Qi offered her the flute, but after a moment, she reached out to take it, though she did so gingerly as if handling something priceless. It was only after the flute was in her hands that her mother’s brows furrowed. Ling Qingge traced her fingers over the wood. “This is……”


  Ling Qi glanced away, embarrassed. “.…… It was yours, yes,” she admitted. “I am sorry. It broke after it was knocked from my hands in a fight, and I wanted to be able to keep using it.” She left out the fact that it had taken a spear through the stomach to disarm her.

  Ling Qingge looked down at the polished instrument in her hands, a mix of nostalgia and concern on her face. “It is a small thing,” she said quietly. “Why would you have a flute in your hands during a…… fight though?” her mother asked, uncertain and out of her depth.

  Ling Qi smirked. “My music is one of the most feared weapons on the mountain,” she boasted. “Men cower and dragons bow before my melodies!”


  Ling Qi’s not inaccurate boast had the desired effect of making her mother smile, but she had a feeling her mother didn’t quite believe her. “I see. If this old flute has given you some protection, then I have no complaints.” Ling Qingge’s fingers lingered on the mouthpiece, the most intact part of the old flute.

  “It did,” Ling Qi agreed, looking out over the garden lit by the colors of sunset. “I would really like to hear you play again.”


  Her mother hesitated a moment longer before raising the flute to her lips, and as she began to play the first melancholy notes of her song, Ling Qi closed her eyes and let herself focus on the music. Ling Qingge really was very good, near as good as a mortal could be, even with the little hitches and hesitations born of a skill that had fallen into disuse. It fed another ember to the resentment in her heart that had been born of her mother’s story. Mother could have made a living from her skill, if allowed.

  It made her dream what things could have been like. Perhaps that was simply the nature of the song she was listening to. The song spoke of mistakes made, opportunities lost, and the wish for something better.

  Eventually, the song came to an end. Ling Qi and her mother sat in comfortable silence, watching the sun sink beneath the horizon.

  “I have lost my touch,” Ling Qingge mused, breaking the silence. “Perhaps it is for the best that this is yours now,” she continued, slipping the flute back into Ling Qi’s hands.

  “You have time to practice again if you would like. You are better than you give yourself credit for,” Ling Qi pointed out, bringing her thoughts back to the present. “Mother, is there something lacking here?” she asked. For all that Ling Qi had changed, she was still blunt.

  “How ungrateful would I have to be to say that there was?” Ling Qingge asked, raising an eyebrow. “I have a home, equal to any in the middle districts of Tonghou. I have everything I need to care for Biyu, coin for luxuries, and even household servants to perform every task.”


  Ling Qi shifted uncomfortably. Household expenses were only a few red stones shaved from her pill furnace income. She hadn’t considered how excessive that might seem to her mother. How quickly she forgot the value of a silver coin. “Yet you aren’t happy,” Ling Qi countered. “I try to make as much time to visit as I can, but with the tournament approaching……”


  “Ling Qi,” her mother began, sounding pained. “Do not ever think that you have done wrong.” Ling Qi was surprised to see her mother reach out and put one of her hands over Ling Qi’s. Mother was still reluctant to initiate physical contact most of the time. “I simply do not know what to do with so much free time. The men and women working in this household hardly need oversight from one such as I, nor do I know them well enough to be comfortable in giving it.”


  “Even with Biyu running about?” Ling Qi asked with a smile.

  “Even so,” Ling Qingge replied dryly. “That girl is too much akin to you. She does not appreciate it when I hover.”


  Ling Qi let herself laugh, when she had come by earlier in the week and taken the task of watching her younger sister, only to be bored silly watching the little girl intently searching through the garden. Biyu refused help as she attempted to hunt down and catch one of the little frogs which lived in the central pond.

  “Should I dismiss some of the servants? They work for the Sect so they would not be losing their livelihoods.”.

  “No, you are a noble lady now, and having a household staff is part of such things. What message would it send to your peers to have your mother doing menial tasks?” There was no arrogance here, simply understanding.

  Ling Qi blinked. She hadn’t considered her reputation when seeing to the household. She just wanted her family well taken care of. “To be honest, I hadn’t thought of that…… but if it would make you happy, I wouldn’t mind losing a little face,” Ling Qi admitted. “In the end, I won’t receive much respect until I make some achievements for myself.”


  Cai’s patronage would prevent her from being openly dismissed, but Clan Ling consisted of one cultivator and two mortals. She could see how families with dozens or scores of members would regard her as little more than an upstart, even ignoring her own young age.

  Her mother pursed her lips and shook her head. “I would not demand such, not merely for my own satisfaction,” she answered with finality. Silence fell between them again after that, Ling Qi and her mother both falling into their own thoughts.

  Ling Qi broke the silence. “I mean what I say. Perhaps I am overcompensating, but Mother, if you want something, please just ask.”


  Ling Qingge shook her head slightly. “You are too generous, Ling Qi. You will have to reign in that impulse, else Biyu will become a spoiled girl.”


  “Maybe so,” Ling Qi replied in an amused tone, letting the deflection and change of subject lie. “You know,” Ling Qi began, “if you need something to occupy your time, you could always attempt to cultivate, at least a little.”


  Ling Qingge frowned, the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepening. “I was given to understand that I am too old for such things.” And not talented enough to be selected to begin with was left unsaid.

  “I’ve been doing some studying on that,” Ling Qi replied. “In your situation, it shouldn’t be completely impossible.” Highly unlikely maybe. It would be a struggle to even awaken given the dearth of medicines that an adult mortal could safely handle and the reduction in the capability of the medicinal energies from all the impurities, but she had come across oblique mentions of a few options. “It might take a very long time, but even a little cultivation would……” She trailed off, not able to put it into words. It would let Mother live a little longer and healthier.

  Mother met her eyes for a moment before looking away, expression wistful. “If you believe it possible, it would be rude of me to refuse,” she said. “What would I need to do?”


  “I can show you a couple of breathing exercises to begin with,” Ling Qi replied, a hint of excitement entering her voice. “First, you should close your eyes, and focus on the feel of the air entering your lungs……”


  There was no progress that night of course, but Ling Qi couldn’t bring herself to care.

  ***

  Ling Qi made sure to visit Mother every evening, whether to chat, visit Biyu, have a cup of tea and discuss music, or try again on getting Mother to feel her dantian. It was a nice way to wind down after a day spent in rigorous cultivation. She reached new levels of understanding in both of her musical arts under the tutelage of Zeqing and her hired tutor alike.

  Zeqing’s proud smile when she managed to properly unleash the power of Forgotten Vale Melody filled her with a paradoxical warmth. The art’s potency had increased greatly with her mastery of the sixth measure, the phantoms of dissonance growing from shadowy flickers to ominous wraiths and it was easier to strand others in her mist.

  She also met up with the tutor she had hired with some of her Sect points. It seemed that the Inner Sect either lacked in prominent darkness cultivators or none of them were up for tutoring. The lesson on domain effects and spiritual matters was helpful anyway, and the heavily veiled and shrouded young lady who answered her request had a few insights to offer on Ling Qi’s arts, even if the tutor only used darkness techniques in a tertiary role.

  The third cycle of Frozen Soul Serenade enabled her to bring more damage to bear with her songs, especially with her mastery of the completing half of Spring’s End Aria, Winter eternal Cadenza. With Spring’s End Aria active, Ling Qi would be able to unleash, if briefly, the absolute cold of winter without end.

  Things didn’t all go well though. Ling Qi had taken to checking on Xiulan every other day or so to see if she emerged from seclusion, and what she found one morning turned her stomach. Her friend succeeded in breaking through but reaching the Green Soul stage exacerbated her wounds due to Xiulan’s greater spiritual power. Flames openly burned on the girl’s arm, snapping and crackling loudly and carrying the scent of burnt flesh from a limb that was nearly skeletal.

  It was clear her friend felt every inch of the ruined limb because when she helped her friend from the meditation room to her bedroom, Ling Qi saw tears of pain in the corners of her friend’s eyes. Thankfully, the resistance to heat granted by her connection to Zhengui was enough to let Ling Qi safely help Xiulan rewrap the limb in the flame retardant linen bandages.

  She knew her friend, and so Ling Qi didn’t express a word of pity, only congratulations for Xiulan’s accomplishment. She strongly suspected that the proud girl was thankful for it.

  Ling Qi wondered if it was a good thing that she could now easily hide her disquiet to have a cheerful little celebration in Xiulan’s dining room, even after having just witnessed that. Then again, her composure was hardly something to be considered compared to Xiulan’s, who was back to her usual self in barely any time.

  Ling Qi was surrounded by reminders of the time passing. Zhengui was growing again, visibly so as his cultivation rose in potency. When she sparred with Meizhen,she couldn’t help but notice the increasing definition and independence of her friend’s shadow, and Cui had once again vanished to wherever it was that she went when she was growing and shedding.

  Most urgently, she had begun to notice a certain wispiness about Sixiang while trading musical tips. The edges of the spirit’s body were growing blurry, trailing away into smoke whenever the spirit’s attention wandered. It was increasingly obvious that their time was coming to an end.

  Knowing this, Ling Qi thought to ask Sixiang if there was anything they wanted to do before they lost the chance. It was a decision she came to regret almost immediately when she saw the speculative gleam in the spirit’s glittering eyes.

  Threads 177- Emissary 12

  Ling Qi quietly shut the door to her room behind her, leaving Hanyi and Zhengui to their rest and cultivation. They wouldn’t be participating in the talks today.

  “Join us, Ling Qi.” She looked up at the sound of her liege’s voice. Cai Renxiang and Gan Guangli were already seated at the table in the main room. She had felt their presences from within her room; a beckoning pulse of Cai Renxiang’s light had brought her out so early.

  “Of course, Lady Cai.” A flicker of shadow carried her to an open seat opposite Gan Guangli. “May I ask what you were discussing?”


  “Small matters of philosophy,” Gan Guangli said. “And what matters are reasonable expectations for the future.”


  Cai Renxiang gave a small, assenting nod. “But we have not the luxury of long ruminations. We should prepare ourselves for the meeting coming later this day.”


  “Should we not wait for the others then?” Ling Qi asked. “I believe we agreed Meng Dan’s presentation would be our opening move.”


  “It is. Prompting a reciprocation of information on their history will be important to avoiding misunderstandings in the future. However, there is something I need to discuss with the two of you before that. At this point we are unlikely to fail at our expedition's goals. Are you two in agreement?” Cai Renxiang looked at each of them in turn.

  “It would seem so,” Gan Guangli said. “These people are not greatly inclined to war. I do not think it is a weakness of character though, as most would think of such timidity. Although I have only spent a short time with them, I think there is a deep resolve in their hearts which should not be underestimated. So long as our demands do not become insulting, they should remain accommodating.”


  “I can’t say much about martial virtues, but I believe I understand Emissary Jaromila and her position well enough now to be certain that she wishes these negotiations to succeed. For her, additional ties with foreigners would only strengthen her position,” Ling Qi said thoughtfully. “We do not need to worry much about higher realm intervention either so long as we avoid offending their religious sensibilities.”


  “Yes, you did say that their higher realms abrogate temporal rule,” Cai Renxiang recalled. “I find it odd that the wisest and farthest seeing do not rule, but I suppose that their power remains as backing for government decisions. Given their focus on religious institutions and consultation with them, I suppose it is not so different from the patriarch, head, and heir systems most clans observe.”


  Sixiang muttered.

  Ling Qi nodded silently, gesturing to indicate that she had nothing else to say.

  “It is true that the abilities of those beyond the fourth realm are not necessary in most situations, except to counter their peers,” Gan Guangli mused, drumming his fingers on his elbow. “But I still find it strange.”


  “I do not completely understand their cultivation,” Ling Qi admitted. Gan Guangli’s point bothered her, but she couldn’t quite say why. “So I do not want to judge overmuch.”


  “Agreed,” Cai Renxiang said. “What I wish to ask you two then, is what you would advise we do with this accomplishment.”


  “You think the Duchess will grant us a boon?” Ling Qi asked.

  “I believe she will be inclined to give more duties to those who prove they can handle it,” Cai Renxiang corrected levelly. “Assuming we succeed beyond the parameters of the expedition, it will be possible to make choices on where those duties lie.”


  “You are wondering whether it is wise to remain where you are?” Gan Guangli asked to clarify.

  “I have been reminded of late that my accomplishments are still very thin on the ground,” Cai Renxiang answered. Her fingers tapped a steady beat on the hilt of her saber which was laid across her lap. “The path we are on, of achieving high rank in the Sect and being its champions at the intersect tournament, I have begun to wonder if it is enough. Excellence is the only thing Mother cares about, and this is the chance to pursue something more.”


  “You know, my lady, that the tournament is no small thing. Attendance and performance there will be seen throughout the province and the Empire beyond, particularly with the greater number of disciples from out of province arriving in recent years,” Gan Guangli pointed out. “The connections that can be forged there among the nobility of the Emerald Seas and its institutions will be tremendous.”


  Ling Qi was mostly worried that Renxiang was speaking of the task laid down by the Duchess herself could be “insufficient.” She knew that the girl pushed herself tremendously at all times, and wondered if she was now intending to take that even further. She didn’t know how healthy that was.

  “I acknowledge this, but in the end, they will still be the achievements of students,” Cai Renxiang pointed out.

  “But we are students,” Ling Qi said.

  “Nonetheless, we must think beyond a few years.”


  “What is it you propose, Lady Cai? It is unlike you to be so evasive,” Gan Guangli said, furrowing his brow.

  “I have found myself thinking that it may be best to stake my place in the province on this business,” Cai Renxiang said. “This matter we have stumbled into thanks to Ling Qi’s actions is not an opportunity to come again soon. We are guaranteed to have martial achievements given the war coming to the south and Mother’s participation. But we are uniquely positioned to gain influence over the relationship which develops here.”


  Cai Renxiang’s gaze turned toward Ling Qi, and she knew what the heiress meant. By quirk of fate, she was someone that these foreigners would extend at least limited trust to, even before building a relationship with them.

  “I am not sure this is a decision to be made now,” Gan Guangli protested. “My lady, even if these negotiations succeed, it will be many months before we can realistically expect there to be further contact. The base location will need to be prepared, and matters of the war and the border counts will need addressing.”


  “It is something which we must consider,” Cai Renxiang said. “Ling Qi, Gan Guangli, I will admit that I am considering a risky path, so please, consider it in your minds and later, when the time comes to debrief my mother, I would have your opinions.”


  Ling Qi crossed her arms. It was true that they had achieved something unique here, but did she really want to commit to that? The Sect remained a place of wealth and knowledge that she could continue to benefit from.

  Sixiang thought.

  Ling Qi acknowledged that at most, they would be with the Sect for another year. Was accelerating that in their best interests though?

  Sixiang whispered.

  “I can see the benefits you speak of, Lady Cai, but I think that many of the lords of the Emerald Seas will not respect it as much as a more traditional position for an heiress,” Gan Guangli warned. “That is unfortunate, but it cannot be denied.”


  “This is true,” Cai Renxiang admitted. “In the short term, it is likely that my—our—connections with the bulk of the nobility will be less than they would otherwise. This can be mitigated through personal effort, but it is absolutely a disadvantage.”


  “On the other hand, if we succeed in making something more here, we can use that success to boost those who do support us against the ones who didn’t,” Ling Qi said thoughtfully. “ I don’t know how that will work out though.”


  Cai Renxiang let out a long breath. “Breaking traditions…”


  Ling Qi was silent, and so was Gan Guangli. She knew what the heiress’ seeming non-sequitur was about. The image of the radiant titan burned in the back of her mind.

  It wasn’t going to be an easy choice.

  ***?

  “And so you can see, our people were allies once, and it would shame our shared blood to not at least seek to come to an accord,” Meng Dan finished smoothly, bowing his head at the conclusion of his speech.

  All of them were present again, this time on the upper floor of the redoubt. The hall here was more lavishly furnished, thick furs and wooden paneling softening the harsh iron edge of the chamber. They sat at a round table of polished marble set in the center of the room.

  This time, they were not just speaking to Jaromila and Ilsur. Two other emissaries of the White Sky were present, though they were junior to Jaromila. The most obvious addition was a thickset woman who by complexion and features would not look out of place in the south Emerald Seas. Their hosts had sent out a message to the closest outpost of their countrymen, the Sibiar, the day before. This woman, Emissary Khadne, had been the one to answer, riding hard through the night to arrive for the meeting in the morning. Her garb was much the same as that of their hosts, the Alaniar, save for a preference for green and white colors. She wore her hair in thick dark braids.

  “You spin a very good tale, I will grant,” Khadne said. Where the others were seated, she stood, looking down over the documents and books on the table. She glanced to her left where they had set up the tapestry, which, to Ling Qi’s amusement, seemed terribly indignant at the use they had put it to. “But I am not so eager to call you kin.”


  Meng Dan’s research had traced down the closest connections to the old prince, and in the modern Emerald Seas, they lay in the Meng and the Diao clans.

  “Blood is, of course, not the only thing which determines kin, especially when such gaps in time are in play.” Meng Dan said humbly, “It is only my intention to show that it is possible for our people to get along.”


  “I will compare this to our records when I return. Granting that you are not speaking falsehood, the Sibiar will give their support to these negotiations.” Khadne gave Meng Dan one last considering look before sitting down. “To business then.”


  “Thank you, Emissary Khadne.” Ling Qi stepped in swiftly as Meng Dan resumed his seat, gathering the props of his presentation back into storage with a sweep of his hand. “If I might make a suggestion, could you ask your clan leaders to share any such findings when next our people meet? It would be to everyone’s benefit if such matters could be proven to everyone’s satisfaction.”


  “Such old texts are not so easily shared. They contain many secrets of the Sibiar people. But your words do have some merit,” the woman said, mulling it over.

  “I think, as matters stand, allowing all of our peoples to present more information would be beneficial,” Jaromila persuaded. “I would be willing to press for the release of some records on the migration period as well. If you would be so kind, Emissary Khadne, I would consider this a favor.”


  The two women shared a look, which Ling Qi suspected passed something more between them, before Khadne responded. “The era of the Khan Queens is over. We will see what texts can be safely shared.”


  “Mother will see effort put toward unearthing greater information on our end as well,” Cai Renxiang promised from her seat beside Ling Qi. “You understand that we had need to hurry with this delegation.”


  “Yes, the cloud folk are stirring,” Khadne acknowledged. “I suspect the echoes rolling through the land are your own folk’s reprisals.”


  “It is likely,” Ling Qi admitted. She didn’t know what exactly the woman was talking about, but the Sect Head was taking the field. “This is why we wished to make certain that we spoke with you to avoid any more unfortunate conflict.”


  “On that note, I have compiled some documents regarding those tribes which are friendly to us,” Jaromila said. “I hope that the clan of Cai will give this consideration.”


  Ling Qi gave Cai Renxiang a sidelong look. The other girl inclined her head slightly.

  “So long as the clans of the Alaniar and Sibiar ensure that their allies know that certain actions cannot be overlooked,” Ling Qi said. “The people of the Emerald Seas will defend themselves.”


  Behind the women, Ilsur, standing beside a few other men, smiled thinly.

  “I would respect you less if you didn’t,” Khadne grunted. “We will need to compare maps as well. We are far apart now, but the Sibiar claim portions of the Great Bulwark. I know the Alaniar do as well.”


  “It would behoove us both to include cartographers in the next delegation,” Cai Renxiang proposed. “We have a map available among the gifts we intend to give you, but it is best to avoid discrepancies.”


  “Very much so. I believe that the Alaniar can provide maps as part of the document packages,” Jaromila said pleasantly.

  As friendly as things were going at the moment, Ling Qi was sure that their maps, like the one they were providing, were not going to include too much strategic information. She was also sure the lines on their maps wouldn’t line up with the territory in the wall that was actually settled, any more than theirs did……

  “Should we be expecting representatives from the other clans of your confederation when next we meet?” Ling Qi asked, moving things along.

  “The diplomatic efforts in the north have largely fallen to the Alaniar and the Sibiar. We will speak with the Kirgia, but until more concrete arrangements are reached, it will likely only be our two clans,” Jaromila said. “Should we expect more varied guests?”


  Ling Qi said apologetically, “I cannot be certain who Her Grace will choose for the next delegation.”


  “Eventually, all of the Emerald Seas’ great clans will show interest,” Cai Renxiang intervened. “But participants will likely be limited at first.”


  “There is also the matter of where any further meetings are to take place,” Ling Qi added. “Meaning no disrespect toward your hospitality, this redoubt is very far from our lands and the passage quite deadly. Something closer to the middle of the Wall would be better for both of us for many reasons.”


  “Yes, we do not need foreign [Runy] in Demar’s Rest. I would not know how to begin communing with him to allow it,” Khadne grumbled. The word she used didn’t translate fully, but it seemed to be their word for formations. She glanced at Jaromila. “The claims…”


  “Such a working is within the abilities of the Alaniar’s craftsmasters,” Jaromila observed. “The expense would be significant if it is meant for more than one use.”


  “My Honored Mother does not wish matters of distance to ruin relations,” Cai Renxiang said in response. “We need but a location which the transportation anchor may be placed in.”


  “If I may offer a suggestion,” Ling Qi offered. She had discussed this with Cai Renxiang already, and they had decided it was the best choice. “There is a valley less than two weeks’ journey from here which contains some ruins which might be refurbished for our purposes.”


  The Hui ruin was a useful midpoint particular since the Sect was occupying the territory north of it. It was also far enough away to avoid spooking either side.

  “I would need more details on the location,” Jaromila said thoughtfully. “Where is this valley?”


  Having anticipated this, Ling Qi dipped her head and allowed Cai Renxiang to take the lead. Her liege was better at laying out exacting details. They took the opportunity to unroll the map they were given, depicting the Emerald Seas and the Wall, and their hosts in turn called for a map that they had on hand. It lacked the luxurious illumination and color of their gift map, but their map was still useful.

  Ling Qi drank in the details as Cai Renxiang and the emissaries spoke on the placement of the valley and its geography. It didn’t show much of their lands. She saw the mark for this redoubt and a dozen similar marks dotted throughout the southern Wall. The furthest east was well south of the Grave, and the furthest west looked to be south of the Western Territories. Most were clustered in the area directly south of the Luo lands. It also showed the delineation of territory between the Sibiar and the Alaniar. This region was apparently a neutral strip with the Alaniar’s lands being further to the south and west.

  Soon, the matter was hashed out, and the valley was carefully marked on the other side’s map.

  “Workable,” Emissary Khadne grunted as they all sat back down, the maps left open on the table.

  “We can have a small delegation provide the blood price to the site as soon as we return,” Cai Renxiang said. “It should not take more than a month to arrive.”


  “I can have outriders available to watch the location,” Khadne said. “They can be in place in a matter of weeks.”


  Ling Qi wasn’t sure if the woman was being competitive or not.

  “Such a simple transaction will be good for mutual trust,” Jaromila said. “But I think it would be best to think about future interactions more. We will need further time to speak with our leaders and make adequate preparations for the site.”


  “And we will need time to collect the materials for our sharing agreement,” Cai Renxiang agreed. “Do you wish to establish a timeframe for the next major meeting?”


  “Being exact would just lead to problems,” Jaromila worried. “We will no doubt both run into troubles and obstructions. Shall we tentatively set it for the midsummer of the next year?”


  Quickly counting in her head, Ling Qi clarified, “Midsummer being about eight months from now?”


  “That is roughly correct,” Jaromila said. “We would agree to a wide span of availability at that time to avoid confusion until our scholars have determined how our calendars match.”


  “That seems agreeable,” Ling Qi said.

  “Now if only we all had proper oaths we could agree upon,” Khadne muttered. “This is enough for an initial meeting though.”


  “Indeed. I am sure that in the future, we will find commonalities which both of our peoples may swear upon. Until then, you have my word and the honor of the Cai.”


  “And my word with the honor of the White Sky,” Jaromila said pleasantly. “I hope we will see one another again, Cai Renxiang, Ling Qi. Will you be sharing our hospitality much longer?”


  Her pronunciation of their names was still stretched by the accent of her speech, but she was clearly improving already.

  “I think it would be best if we carried word back quickly,” Ling Qi said. “But we still need to present the rest of our gifts and it would be rude not to allow you to share a meal with us before we take our leave.”


  “Indeed,” Cai Renxiang agreed, placing the silver ring containing their gifts on the table, “Please allow us to share the works of the Emerald Seas.”


  ***?

  All too soon, it was time to go back out under the cold winter sun. The trip would be short this time. They were only traveling to the edge of the snowfield before using their escape talisman, and from there, it would be a week from the small fortress in the mountains back to the sect lands. Whatever came in the future though, this expedition had been a success.