I open the door, finding Xia Jing jumping up and down with barely contained excitement, and Lai Ming who looks exasperated with our friend’s energy.

  Neither one is dressed in their martial robes. Instead, they are both wearing the higher quality robes of an Inner and Core disciple respectfully.

  “Aren’t we supposed to meet with the martial Masters?” I ask them, looking down at my own martial robes.

  Xia Jing csps her hands together. “Nope. Go get your other robes on, we have a surprise for you.”

  I nod, closing the door so that I can change into my other robes. After a second of thought, I grab the talisman I’d gotten from the merchant.

  Once I feel ready enough, I reopen the door to see both of the girls whispering to each other. Xia Jing turns to me as I leave my room. She grabs me and squeezes me in a hug, “You’re as cute as ever Sister Lin.”

  I push her away, embarrassed by the hug. Despite my recent growth spurt, I still stand a full head shorter than both of my friends.

  “Come on you two, we should get going.” Lai Ming says to the both of us, motioning down the hallway.

  “Where are we going?” I ask, breaking free of Xia Jing to follow Lai Ming.

  Xia Jing opens her mouth to tell me, but Lai Ming shoots her a look. “Like Junior Sister Xia said, it’s a surprise. I’m sure it won’t take you long to figure it out.”

  Maybe we are going back to the Merchant House? I always enjoy my time there. We could be going to the waterslides, a pce where the stream had worn the rock into a ft surface perfect for sliding down into a swimming hole. It’s quite the popur spot for inner disciples.

  We take a left on the path, leading away from the waterslides and making me unsure of our destination. We enter the living area of the Masters and Elders of the sect.

  Standing in front of a small hut is an Elder I’ve only seen once before.

  Xia Jing and I bow, ““Greetings to Elder Wu Li Mei.”” we both say.

  Lai Ming bows a moment ter. “Student Lai Ming greets Elder.”

  The Elder is a beautiful woman. Her hair is done up with two pins shaped like butterflies, and the lower half of her face is covered with a purple veil, simir to the style of many noblewomen. Her robes are luxurious with the images of rivers sewn into them, seeming to flow with every movement she makes. An ornate fan rests in her palm as she watches us, her eyes not showing any of her emotions.

  “Is this all of you then?” The Elder asks.

  “Yes elder.” Lai Ming responds.

  “Wonderful.” Her expression is hidden by the veil, but her eyes fsh with good humor as she takes one of the hairpins out of her hair.

  The pin expands into a crystal ptform still in the shape of a butterfly, but rge enough for the four of us to sit comfortably.

  Elder Wu Li Mei steps onto the front of the ptform and motions for us to join her. Once we are all on, the ptform rises up.

  I gasp at the ck of resistance as we move into the air, almost as if we aren’t moving at all.

  My breath catches as I look down onto the world so far below us.

  I hear a soft ugh, but when I turn, I only see Elder Wu Li Mei watching me.

  Lai Ming sits in a lotus position as we move through the air, Xia Jing and I follow her actions a moment ter.

  My attention stays on the ground as it passes underneath us, the height making me anxious. It takes me a full minute to realize we’ve left the sect behind. Rivers, forests, roads, vilges. They all pass underneath us as we travel. Occasionally I catch glimpses of the great beasts roaming the nd, or a merchant caravan traveling down the road.

  “Do you like your birthday present?” Lai Ming asks.

  “Of course!” I look up at her. “I’ve never even imagined something like this. Thank you Sister Lai.”

  Lai Ming looks away, the faintest of smiles visible.

  Xia Jing looks over, then giggles when she sees the older girl’s expression, “We thought you might enjoy getting out of the sect. Lai Ming managed to convince the Elder to take us with her on their next outing to the mortal city.”

  “Unfortunately,” Elder Wu Li Mei says, her smooth voice bringing our attention to her. “There are some rules you both must follow on this trip.”

  Xia Jing and I share a gnce.

  “First, both of you must stay with Lai Ming or myself. There are many dangers in cities such as this one, especially for young cultivators like yourselves.” Wu Li Mei’s eyes fix on me as she speaks. “Second, do not seek out confrontation. The mortal city is neutral territory, and many minor sects send their disciples there for various reasons. Defend yourselves if you must, but try not to worsen our retions with any sect.” Wu Li Mei’s eyes wander over to Lai Ming as she says that, causing my friend to look away embarrassed. “And finally, remember nothing is a coincidence. If you see something out of the ordinary, tell me. Can you follow these rules?”

  ”Yes, Elder Wu.” I say, Xia Jing echoing me.

  “Wonderful.” The Elder says, closing her eyes.

  I panic, wondering how she can know where we are going with her eyes closed. The panic fades as I think about how much her cultivation outstrips my own. She probably knows where we are through some form of qi connection with the ship we’re traveling on.

  The three of us continue to talk as the Elder rests and we travel. Every few minutes, my gaze is drawn to the ground passing below us, witnessing things both mundane and fantastical as we travel.

  Not too long into our travels, I catch sight of a glistening city with high walls. The city rests on the edge of the ocean. Golden arches of the more ornate building reflect the sunlight, while wooden houses popute the majority of the city. I see many boats, both rge and small, on the coast of the city.

  I’d never seen the ocean from this perspective, and my breath catches for the second time that day at the sight of the endless water, stretching out far into the horizon.

  “Welcome to Yuan City.” The Elder says.

  Mortals entering the city stare up in awe as we pass overhead.

  A man wearing the robes of an official comes out to greet us as we arrive at an important looking building.

  The Elder waves the three of us off as she goes to speak with the official.

  “Where do you want to go first, Junior Sister Lin?” Lai Ming asks. She holds her hands behind her back as she tries to look serious.

  I open my mouth to answer, but my stomach rumbles, causing me to halt in embarrassment.

  “Breakfast it is!” Xia Jing grabs my hand as she starts walking towards the exit of the building.

  Lai Ming sighs at the two of us before hurrying to catch up.

  The two of them lead me to a busy street. The crowd parts as we pass, bowing in fear of getting in a cultivator’s way. Lai Ming doesn’t seem to notice, but I feel Xia Jing’s hand tightening around mine.

  I squeeze her hand, giving her a smile when she turns to look at me. She smiles back, her grip loosening.

  It doesn’t take long to find a delicious food stand selling meatballs wrapped in dough.

  We move over to a fountain, away from the majority of the crowd. Lai Ming and Xia Jing discuss the different cities they’ve been to as we eat our food.

  I watch everyone pass us by with curiosity. I’d never been in a city just to… be in a city. I was always meeting some important family, or attending an official party with my father.

  The people of the city keep a respectable distance from us as they go about their business, but I still see many things I’ve never seen before.

  A boy dressed in rags steals a pouch from a passing woman. Two dockworkers get into a friendly argument as they walk, their hands moving to and fro as they make wild gestures. A beautiful woman rests her hands on the arm of a wealthy young man. Three cultivators our age walk down the street, the people keeping a simir distance from them.

  My attention stays on the cultivators, I’ve never interacted with the disciple of another sect. These cultivators wear orange robes and keep their heads high, reminding me of the officials of the imperial pace, too busy with their own work to pay attention to those around them. The first of the boys, the leader of the group, walks with a confident gait. He looks to be four years older than me. The second cultivator wears a zy smile and looks to be about the same age. The third and final member of their group walks quickly to keep up with them and looks to be my age, if not a year older.

  The pickpocket moves up to the dockworkers, his fingers nimble as he reaches for the pouch of the shorter one. The taller of the dockworkers notices the boy trying to pickpocket them, and shoves him right into the way of the passing cultivators.

  The cultivators stop as the boy sprawls out in front of them, spshing into a puddle and wetting the bottom of their robes. The cultivators look at the boy the same way one might look at a bug.

  Two words I never thought would be uttered for such a situation come from the lead cultivator's mouth.

  “Kill him.”

  The boy looks on in terror as the youngest cultivator draws his sword. The crowd around the cultivators comes to a stop as everyone watches. Even my sister disciples turn to look at the commotion.

  But neither of them make a move.

  I realize the boy is going to die.

  The cultivator moves slowly, taking his time with the execution of the boy.

  Before I can think about my actions, my own sword is drawn from my waist as my body is enhanced with qi.

  My body moves faster than it ever has before as I use Whispers Of the Silent Raven to appear in front of the descending sword, blocking the leisurely strike.

  The cng of the metal is the only sound on the road, as everyone simply watches the spectacle.

  The three cultivators turn their attention to me, and my adrenaline fades as a deep nervousness fills me.

  I drew my sword on a cultivator from another sect.

  May Elder Wu Li Mei have mercy on me.

  I send a small prayer to the Elder as I do my best to steady myself. My qi flows through me, steeling my nerves.

  A burning question comes to me, and I know I need to know the answer. “Why do you take a life so easily?”

  There is complete silence after my question, the cultivator who drew his bde backing off, and raising his sword into a ready position.

  I keep my sword lowered, waiting for an answer. A simir question has pgued me ever since I started cultivating The Twelve Requiems of Illusion. How can people take lives so easily? Why do those warriors kill each other in the field of blood? Why did the woman murder the man she kissed? Why did those warriors kill the man who sacrificed himself for his lover?

  Why do people in this world pce so little value on life, as to take it on a whim?

  I have accepted that people do die, and sometimes you must kill to protect those who matter to you. Still, life is never something to be taken lightly.

  My question burns inside of me.

  “Who are you?” The lead cultivator lowers his hand to the sword at his own waist as the second, quieter cultivator also reaches towards the sword at his waist.

  I frown, frustrated they didn’t answer my question.

  “This is none of your business.” The lead cultivator says. “Stay out of it, and leave your betters to their business.”

  I look down at the boy, still lying on the ground terrified. He only looks to be eight years old or so.

  I look back up at the lead cultivator, only a few years older than me and say the first thing that comes to mind. “You are truly disgusting.”

  The lead cultivator pauses, taken aback by my direct insult. Then he draws his bde, the second cultivator following his lead.