The candles of the room were unlit. Books stacked to form a maze. Not just the texts from the old study, but also materials he had Danlu bring over from the carriage service were also scattered about.

In the middle of the dark room, Xiyun absently stared at the closed door. His hand held nothing, unlike usual where a book was always found. He gazed down to an open palm. Closing it. Tightening it. Opening it. Finally, he sighed.

The boy stood up and slid open the door to enter the courtyard.

Danlu’s stepped out from the kitchen. “Dinner is ready. It’s busy at headquarters right now, so my father won’t be joining today. I’ll go get Yeon.”

“I’ll do it.”

Danlu froze.

The two boys stared at one another.

“Are you feeling alright?” Danlu said slowly.

“What?”

“Like, are you feeling sick?” Danlu immediately raised his hands up when Xiyun thinned his lips. “I mean- I actually have an errand related there.”

Xiyun simply continued staring.

Danlu smiled dryly. “Fine, go.”

The boy nodded and passed the courtyard gate.

After reaching the compound, Xiyun walked west, eventually passing the street where he and Yeon initially entered the estate. He knew now that most of the buildings on the main street were a mixture of accounting offices and logistics management of many Xiao Family businesses.

In the evening, the compound bustled with the many employees of family businesses and servants caring for the estate. Seeing the rare sight of the Ninth Master, they either nodded or bowed.

Located on the west side of the compound was the training grounds. Xiyun opened the entrance gate.

In the open field, multiple men and women in black garments sparred with a partner. The True Guards were trained here.

One outlier was near the front where Yeon fought against a bearded man. In stable stances, both exchanged straightforward fist strikes and guarded blocks in a rhythmic pattern. Even Xiyun noticed that Yeon mimicked the man’s forms after he did them.

After exploring the entire estate, she had found this place where she spent most of her day.

Under the eaves of the building next to the entrance, a woman in dark-blue rested on an inclined bamboo chair. Xiao Zhurong, the Eighth Lady, threw a grape in her mouth as he absently watched over the spars. “So we finally meet.”

He nodded. “Aunt.”

“Don’t call me Aunt!” she immediately retorted. “Do you understand how old that makes me sound?”

Xiyun didn’t and hoped that this was the last time he needed to call her anything at all.

Zhurong continued. “If you admit that you’re a part of the younger generation, then there’s no reason for me not to acknowledge your place in the family. The girl is also helpful in beating some sense into my subordinates.”

Yeon ended her spar once she noticed him. She and the other man came over.

“Your thoughts? Duan Sui transferred over from the security service,” Zhurong said.

Yeon nodded. “Passing grade,” she said of the second-realm cultivator. “Although many cultivators incorporate the Martial Path up to Perception, very few actually break past and enter Control.”

If the first realm of the Four Paths of The Way develops intuition of a person’s self, then the first realm of the Marital Path develops intuition of the surrounding world. They did not interfere but complemented one another. However, the Martial Path’s second realm is defined by the body itself inhabiting a style. Most cultivators could never resolve the conflict between their Internal Alchemy and a pure style, keeping them stuck in Perception.

Despite the praise, Duan Sui’s expression sank. “You didn’t just match my forms, you copied my actual style.”

Yeon grinned. “You called it Reverse Impact, correct? Very helpful.”

Reverse Impact directed both components of equal and opposite force back to the opponent. In a way, it was a limited application of what Yeon’s Water Circulation, a more comprehensive style, could accomplish.

She usually dissipated the force of strikes, but during their spars, she learned to more efficiently direct force as outward contact. It was the right direction if she wanted to break through to the third realm, Harmony in Nature.

Yeon turned to Xiyun, only somewhat surprised he came. “Let’s go eat.”

Achieving his task, Xiyun began to leave.

“Wait,” Zhurong said towards the boy. Her eyes were trying to search for something about him. “You cultivate?”

Xiyun did not stop, only glancing back. “I don’t.”

She raised an eyebrow.

He could understand why, as well as what remained unsaid. However, it has been years, half his lifetime ago, since he read the Canon and the Scriptures. He has not touched a thing related to cultivation since. What the Eighth Lady saw did not matter.

…

Danlu had set up everything on the stone table. The three primary dishes were fish, bean curd, and cucumbers.

The three sat down, but a fourth seat and bowl of rice remained.

“It’s tomorrow,” Yeon alluded.

Danlu hummed. “The plan is set.”

The gate door opened. Xiao Xuexu stood at the entrance. “Call off the plan.”

Both Danlu and Yeon stood up from their seats.

“We know everything to get past the True Guards! What could have changed?” Yeon brows creased. Their small project began a week ago. They were even able to solicit advice from Xiyun.

“Is it because Qiu Gaokang returned today?” Danlu said. Around three months ago, Gaokang had left for the capital. It was today that he returned to Luoyi.

Xuexu slowly walked up to the table. Her expression revealed nothing until it widened in a bright smile. “We don’t need a plan anymore. Mother said to do what I want.”

Unexpected. Danlu’s eyebrows both raised. Even Xiyun’s expression slightly shifted.

Yeon took her hand and raised it up. “To the Beginning Fifth Festival!”

Danlu creased his lips. “Good news when it's unexpected isn’t always good news.” He suffered glares from both girls.

“You were raised here. I bet you have already seen everything. And Xiyun couldn’t care less. But, we will experience every festival in Luoyi! ”

“Every festival!“ Xuexu reluctantly but spiritedly imitated.

Danlu sought consolidation from Xiyun who shrugged.

Everyone sat back down and began eating.

Xiyun picked a bean curd and stared at it. “Do you have enough time?”

Danlu and Xuexu raised their heads. Then in realization, they turned towards Yeon.

“I believe I do,” Yeon answered.

“Until when?”

Yeon showed a mixed smile. “Until Eldest Brother finishes what he has to do. We agreed to return to Seonryeo together.”

“Seonryeo?” Xuexu said.

“There are three states on the Peninsula. Seonryeo, Silja, and Chaegun. Our school is located on the Senoryeo side of the Seonryeo-Silja border.”

“Then your Senior Brother? Does what he is doing take a long time?”

After a bite, she looked up. “Mulsunhwan has an internal ranking. For example, I’m last on seniority since I’m the youngest, but I’m around in the middle of strength based on the scheduled matches between disciples. Last year, for the first time in one of these matches, Eldest Brother lost against Second Brother. Then he lost again in their rematch. So in the third match, he did something no one, even Master, expected. He picked up a sword.”

“Eh?” Danlu reacted. “But you don’t use a sword. Does your school also teach swordsmanship?”

“It doesn’t. It’s not like there aren’t styles that rely on weapons, but Master teaches a pure fist style. Eldest Brother took Water Circulation and applied it to a sword instead. Most of my seniors see this as disrespecting Master and the school itself.”

“Then did it work?”

Her eyes lit up. “You’re asking the correct question. If he won, then Eldest Brother was right to choose the sword. If he lost, then he was wrong. It’s really simple, but it seems like I'm the only one who thinks so. The final result was that they tied. Right now Eldest Brother should be developing his new style in the South. Once we return, there will be another fight between the two.”

It implied that however long it took for her senior brother to train was how long she had. Yeon knew it was at least longer than a year.

The meal continued. Mainly, Yeon conversed with Xuexu. Both Danlu and Xiyun quietly ate. At one point, Xuexu’s eyes passed them. “Odd,” she commented.

Yeon quirked up an eyebrow. “You’re right.”

The boys’ gazes met. At that moment, a full conversation exchanged through their eyes.

“What’s odd?” Danlu said.

“Nothing is odd,” Xiyun agreed.

“Fine, I’ll let you both go for now,” Yeon said.

…

Morning, Qiu Gaokang strolled down the garden path at the northeast corner of the estate.

Stood before the small lake, the Fifth Lady, Xiao Tianling, cradled her infant daughter in her arms.

“Greetings, Fifth Lady Xiao.”

“Have you rested from travel, Mister Qiu? I apologize for calling you before you can settle back to your work.”

“No need, I am at least well-rested. I assume you have already read my report on the state of capital. Did you want to know more details?”

Tianling shook her head. “Besides losing the West Market, the other businesses within the capital were salvaged. As for the other matter, that’s a family affair concerning First Brother. I want to speak about things you were unable to write in your report to the family.”

Gaokang shifted his brows. “You mean…”

“What's the state of the Palace right now?”

He paused before continuing. “The Emperor suffered from another seizure.”

“Then is she the one holding court right now?”

“Actually, the Empress passed on the opportunity. She left Chancellor Zhangsun to hold court while simultaneously barring the Crown Prince from attending.”

She closed her eyes, comprehending the words.

“The Palace is a turbulent sea. We can’t be certain of anything,” Gaokang said.

“Then what are the chancellors currently arguing about now?”

“It's what they’ve always been arguing about since the beginning of the year. How to fill the draining Treasury.”

“Then I have one last question. That day, what changed the Emperor’s mind?”

“The first day?”

“Go on.”

Gaokang turned towards the lake. “The Emperor read a letter from Her Highness Jiading.”

Tianling smiled. “And what did he do with the letter?”

He sighed. “He immediately burned it.”

“You won’t tell me what the letter was about?”

“No one knows what the letter stated.”

“Well, we have an idea don’t we?” She looked down at her child. “Do you know it’s the Beginning Fifth Festival today?”

Gaokang shook his head. “Then those three are probably out there right now.”

“It’s actually four now.”

...

The top floor of Luoyi’s most affluent restaurant offered a full view of Luo River.

At the river and bridge, the crowds cheered on the participants of the dragon boat races. Apparently, the Xiao Estate also had a team participating with the driver, Wei De, as one of the rowers. Though, they had already been knocked out in one of the preliminary rounds. Luoyi’s races were a surprisingly competitive affair. Many wards, estates, manors, and businesses, had teams that practiced all year round just for this day, and the Xiao Estate was not one of them.

Yeon and Danlu went to the bridge to witness from the finish line once the finals began, leaving Xiyun and Xuexe overlooking the balcony. Outside the room stood three True Guards, one being Duan Sui.

Xiyun bit down and finished the glutinous rice with fillings in his hand, placing the bamboo leaf wrappings on the table. He found the moment similar to during the Lantern Festival. "You can go closer too if you want,“ he said the same thing as then.

Xuexu turned her head from the balcony. “What’s important is that I can say I’m here. That’s enough.”

“Is that so?”

“See, you are acting odd.”

He shook his head. “I am just close to my decision.”

“Decision?” She tilted her head.

“Whether to leave.”

Her eye blinked. “And go where?”

“It doesn’t matter where I go. As long as it isn’t here.”

“What about the other two?”

“Yeon will be fine. The Eighth Lady will likely let her stay at the estate until she has to leave as well. Chu Su and Danlu already regained the foundation of the carriage service. The family won’t move them.”

“I don’t understand. What are you looking for?”

“I am not looking for anything. Over the past months, I’ve realized I may have been wrong. I’ve said before I was content with who and where I was, but this fact has been challenged. Perhaps I’ve overestimated myself. Danlu is a fine cook. Even Yeon is surprisingly good. And Yeon was adamant about teaching you as well, despite the fact that we almost burned down the courtyard.”

Xuexu creased her lips. She clearly saw that he wasn’t talking about food. “Isn’t this all a good thing?”

“It is too easy to change. Change which is irreversible. So before then, I think I’ll stop myself. What do you think?“

It was not a crossroads which Xiyun saw in front of him, it was a straight path. Even after he decided to stand still on this path, the wind still pushed him forward. The only choice besides going forward was to walk back the way he came from instead. He always saw the core of his being, but every day, after every meal they had together at the courtyard, he would sometimes forget.

Xuexu let out a breath to compose herself. “There are things I can’t do, but I am also blessed to be born into a wealthy family. Should I be happy? I have figured out that no matter what it is, you can never have regret if you always try your best for what you want. As to what that is, in the end, what matters is listening to the heart.”

“The heart is beating.”

She glared.

“You’re talking about the expression,” Xiyun said.

“Yes, I’m talking about the expression.”

He looked straight forward. “What if my heart is telling me to disappear?”

“Can you?” she challenged.

“The routes between villages, towns, and cities. Waterholes and streams between destinations. Landmarks and guideposts. Inns, temples, and monasteries. Ports of rivers and common docks. The gate procedures of every city. Regional nuances and preparation. Training instructions for carriage drivers. These are all the things that the Xiao Family Carriage Service has compiled over the years. Danlu has supplied all of this for me when I asked.”

Xuexu slowly widened her eyes.

He continued. “Over discussing how to bypass the servants and guards to bring you out of the estate, Yeon has already shared the procedures of the True Guards she inquired while sparring with them. It won’t be difficult to slip past and avoid them.” His eyes met Xuexu’s. “Right now, I know everything I need to leave the city and navigate the twenty provinces. I can disappear today, and no one, the family or otherwise, will be able to find me again.”

There was no doubt in his words. Empty of all intent, as if stating a fact. It was this which welled up the unease in Xuexu. “Is this why you chose to take the carriage service from the very beginning?”

“No,” Xiyun denied. He subconsciously considered the advantages of many things. Usually, he ignored them, but it did not mean they didn’t exist.

Xuexu bit her lips and broke eye contact. She felt that she sat in front of something she couldn’t face alone. “Where are Yeon and Danlu right now? The finals have already ended.”

The boy rested his eyes, stood up, and walked to the door. He opened it. “Come in.”

Three True Guards entered. Besides Duan Sui, there was another man and woman.

Xiyun spoke. “Yesterday, Chu Danlu let it slip that he had an errand at your training field. I can only assume the True Guards are investigating something related to the carriage service, something Danlu didn’t want to speak about. As the business’ current owner, I am entitled to know.”

The three guards exchanged before the man stepped forward. “Two employees of the service, two drivers, recently died in Shangsuo Province.”

Xiyun blinked before sighing. He looked towards the woman. “Ensure the Fourth Miss gets home safely.”

“Wait! What about you?” Xuexu rose up from her seat.

“Yeon most likely got this information out from Danlu. Knowing her, it’s obvious what she’ll do next.”

He stepped into the halls followed by the other two guards.