Over a century before Lee Jia was born, Seong Heiran left her mark on the world. In Yamato, she was relatively unknown—at the time, there was a great deal of infighting as the Ienaga clan slowly rose to prominence, and communication between nations was sparse. In Goryeo, even back then she was a polarizing figure, and that divide only became more apparent after her death. Qin, however, knew her.

  She was a black mark upon their illustrious history. A rare challenge to the empire’s hegemony that had actually succeeded. Soul magic was so feared and forbidden in Qin that among all but the highest powers its very existence was denied. Seong Heiran was, if not the reason, an oft-cited example of why, and she was so well known that her name persisted as the exception that ‘proved’ the rule. Soul magic didn’t exist—except for the Fox Princess.

  Heiran was the story you told naughty children to make them behave. Finish your dinner and go to bed, or the Fox Princess will steal your soul and eat your liver. She was the face of demons as Qin’s cultivators understood them—even though she’d never actually been one.

  She was—to Yoshika—an enormous pain in the neck. Her aunt, via Eunae, had such a fearsome reputation in Qin that the mere association had been enough for Sun Quan to send assassins after Eunae before she’d even reached xiantian.

  All because of a power Heiran and Eunae had each inherited from their common ancestor, the great spirit of the Kumiho, the legendary nine-tailed fox. A bewitching gaze that could twist the hearts of mortals and immortals alike, bending them to her will. The Kumiho was a trickster, a seducer, and a manipulator. Her schemes had, in part, led to the creation of the entire half-spirit race, and the Seong clan had been founded for the sole purpose of reviving her.

  They’d lost some of the intentionality behind their traditions over the centuries, and after triumphing over the fragment within Eunae’s soul—and that of her other aunt and predecessor, the late Queen of Goryeo—Yoshika wasn’t too concerned about the risk of her return anymore.

  Qin Yongliang and Sun Quan clearly were.

  “I probably shouldn’t tell you this, since you’ll use it against me, but ever since Seong Eunae’s soul became part of me, I’ve lost the power she inherited from her great ancestor—at least, as you understand it.”

  The prime minister blinked at her from across the table. Sun Quan already knew this—though he didn’t believe it—but it wasn’t something she shouted from the rooftops, and he had little reason to spread that knowledge around.

  “Is that so? As much as I would like to believe that, I cannot take such a grave matter at your word. How, pray tell, does one lose the power of a great spirit?”

  “By matching it with my own. When Eunae joined me, I was changed by her, and she was changed in turn. The power she inherited from our ancestor became something else. I am no longer capable of compelling even a regular mortal to act against their will. Or at least, no more than anyone else at this table.”

  Sun Quan stood and bowed, indicating a desire to speak. On a slightly petty whim, Yoshika preempted Qin Yongliang and gestured to the elder herself.

  “Go ahead, Elder Sun—you have better standing than most to question me.”

  He gave her a strange look, then glanced at the prince for permission. Qin Yongliang nodded, though he was not pleased to have his authority challenged. Yoshika felt slightly bad about that—she didn’t dislike the man, but she had her reasons for doing it.

  “Empress Yoshika, you are already known as a user of forbidden arts. The entire basis of your power is dual cultivation—a demonic practice outlawed within the Heavenly Empire. You harbor demons within your realm, and even brought them to battle against our forces at Kucheon. Why should we trust you to stop there?”

  “Let’s not relitigate the matter of my cultivation methods. Prince Qin Yongliang himself already ruled that my methods were not abusive and granted an exception.”

  “Yes, more than five years ago, when there were only two of you. Now there are four, and I’ve heard rumors of a fifth. With respect to His Highness, I believe that the precedent has changed. You claim you cannot steal souls, yet that seems to be the entire basis of your power.”

  Yoshika sighed heavily.

  “Those who become part of my collective do so of their own will. If either they or I had any doubts, it wouldn’t work. Dual cultivators—or dao companions, as I’ve heard us called—cannot reach my heights without perfect harmony. I can’t force someone to join me any more than you could spontaneously grow a second head. But you know that already.”

  She loosened the restraint of her domain within the room, allowing the xiantian experts in the room to easily read her aura—though she doubted many of them could match her or Long Chunhua in that regard.

  “You can sense my domain for yourselves. I have always been open about my nature. Your Highness, if you still feel that my cultivation methods are morally objectionable, then I invite you to judge me here and now.”

  Qin Yongliang grimaced uncomfortably. He probably would have liked nothing more than to overturn his previous ruling, but even if she couldn’t read his aura she felt that she had some understanding of the man. He took his role as the arbiter of imperial law seriously, and acted with integrity.

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  “I see no need for that at this time, Empress.”

  She nodded, unsurprised.

  “Very well. As for the matter of my demonic rehabilitation programs, I believe the princesses saw them first hand during their tour of my lands.”

  The twin princesses, who’d been sitting quietly the entire time, watching on with urbane amusement, perked up at that. Qin Ling smiled brightly at the opportunity to contribute.

  “Indeed we did! Quite ambitious, and very noble!”

  Her sister was less complementary.

  “Though you hadn’t made much progress, and I don’t see how using them as soldiers is supposed to help. If I were more cynical, I might think you were only keeping them to use as weapons.”

  Yoshika ignored the jab and bowed.

  “Then I am glad you know better, Your Highness. I have no need for demonic weapons.”

  Jianmo vibrated indignantly at her hip.

  “Present company excluded.”

  Nearly everyone eyed the sword with some level of apprehension. Jianmo was the oldest being present, and had nearly as bad a reputation in Qin as Seong Heiran, but the summit wasn’t about them.

  Qin Yongliang shook his head and frowned.

  “That still doesn’t mean we can take you at your word about the Fox Princess’ bewitching gaze. Have you a definitive way to prove that you did not unduly influence the prisoners?”

  “Of course not—that’s impossible, but I am prepared to present my case. Lin Xiulan is the continent’s foremost expert on healing damage caused by soul magic, including those enthralled by Seong Heiran herself. I’ll let her testify.”

  Xiulan stood and bowed.

  “The human soul is a resilient and flexible thing. It is possible, through thought exercises and meditation, to reshape oneself. This is, arguably, the very basis of cultivation. The Kumiho’s magic leaves deep, scarring wounds on the soul. With time, they can be overcome, and with the right techniques, they can be detected.”

  Sun Quan scoffed, speaking out of turn again.

  “Dual cultivation, you mean. The healing cults were uprooted for a reason, Lin Xiulan.”

  “That’s Elder Lin Xiulan at a minimum to you, Elder Sun. I don’t recall hearing any complaints about the therapy I provided your people after the Fox Princess fell.”

  “And now you take her side. Should I worry about those I entrusted to your care?”

  That was a dark accusation, but before Xiulan could offer a retort, their argument was interrupted by a low growl. Long Xiaofan didn’t even bother rising, much less await permission to speak.

  “This is pointless. Stop wasting time on quibbling and bring in the supposedly afflicted. You can’t prove whether they’ve been corrupted? I can.”

  Sun Quan gave her a strained smile.

  “While I am sure our honored emissary from the mighty dragon clan is very capable, there are hundreds, if not thousands of cultivators under suspicion. Furthermore, I mean no offense, but can we be certain of your evaluation?”

  “Your words are as empty as your head, human. Whether you mean offense or not, you offer it with every breath. If I cannot sense Empress Yoshika’s influence upon a soul, then this conversation is meaningless because every one of us is under her spell.”

  Yoshika winced. Xiaofan was...helping, sort of. But the wary looks even her allies were giving her didn’t do her argument any favors. Several people stood to argue, but it was Qin Zhao who was given the first opportunity to speak.

  “Lady Long Xiaofan is an expert who predates our very empire. The great hermits of antiquity learned from her kind, including the God-Emperor himself. I personally vouch for her judgment on this matter.”

  Yongliang nodded at his nephew, then gestured towards Sun Quan.

  “Then we shall accept her generosity to expedite this matter. Elder Sun, please present your most compelling cases for Empress Yoshika’s use of forbidden magic.”

  The Silver Orchard’s grandmaster grew nervous at the shift of focus. Suddenly it wasn’t about Yoshika proving that she hadn’t done anything, but him proving that she had. She wondered, idly, whether the burden of proof should be standardized to simplify such cases. Something for the future.

  In short order, Shun Song, Gao Yuanjun—who had never even been taken prisoner—and a handful of others were brought in for Long Xiaofan to examine. Yoshika remembered the involved and rather personal ritual that Lin Xiulan had used to check her own soul for the Kumiho’s influence, back when Eunae had accidentally placed a geas on her.

  Xiaofan didn’t do that. The nervous cultivators barely had time to present themselves and bow before she waved a hand dismissively.

  “None. Those two have experienced her blessing—among dozens of others—and that one is on the precipice of a total collapse, but none of it is Yoshika’s influence. Not directly.”

  Gao Yuanjun blinked and pointed at himself with a confused expression. He was the one she’d singled out. Xiaofan smiled at him—an unfriendly baring of the teeth, like a predator’s snarl.

  “It’s a good thing, boy. It will change you, make you stronger—or break you. Either way, an improvement. Don’t run from it.”

  He bowed uncertainly, and Qian Shi gave him an appraising look before nodding gratefully at Long Xiaofan. She ignored both of them and turned to address Qin Yongliang.

  “There. She has not enthralled them, nor can she. Yoshika’s domain can’t change anyone without changing herself—your Emperor Qin is a far more dangerous wielder of soul magic.”

  The entire room froze at that, and Yoshika had to suppress a wince. She’d had her suspicions, and at least a few of the people in the room already knew, but nobody was supposed to know—least of all the rank and file soldiers like Gao Yuanjun and Shun Song.

  Qin Yonliang stood in a hurry and spoke in an icy tone.

  “Lady Long Xiaofan, it is only out of extreme respect for your ancient clan that I allow your baseless comments to go with only a warning. I trust that everyone present understands not to repeat such claims.”

  She gave him a flat look, but didn’t argue. Everyone else was stuck between pretending to have heard nothing or hurrying to swear themselves to secrecy. Of everyone, Yoshika noticed that it was Gao Yuanjun who simply frowned in deep contemplation. She could almost see a flash of insight crystallize within his soul—the precursor to a personal breakthrough.

  Well, good for him. Yoshika had a diplomatic incident to avert.

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