Yu met the girls and had a fire-based lunch to support her fire classes in the afternoon. All three had been accepted into the professions they had aimed for and would start on those classes the following week. Yu bought them all infused tea to celebrate. They declined but she did it anyway and as she had paid already they thanked her and drank up. It was only 15 points for a pot full so she split it with them. The twins were astonished at how it felt, having never had infused tea before, but Ai just thanked her in her own quiet way. She probably grew up on the best stuff so it was nothing to her. Then again, Ai hadn’t eaten any infused meals since she’d been there that Yu saw.

In truth, Yu was getting concerned for her friend. Ai had better start earning points or she wouldn’t have enough to stay. Or perhaps they have worked something out between the sect and the imperial family given Ai’s. . . issues. Yu decided she would talk to her about it that evening.

They split up and Yu went to Fire class. Thinking of her friend, Yu finally realized that Ai wasn’t in either Fire class with her. Clearly, something had been worked out. Then again neither was her annoying brother.

For Yu, both classes were similar to the previous week with two exceptions. The first was the instructors started giving individual advice as they watched each disciple work. And the second exception was that Yu managed to stay calm during the physical exercises at the end. Her Fire Mage teacher was still annoyed Yu hadn’t a skill yet and warned her she needed to get a skill before they moved off of learning about their Qi. On the other hand, that was months away.

On the happy news side of things, Yu felt like she started to see a little bit of the nature of fire in her Qi. Maybe. She could have sworn she “saw” some flickering and a sense of wildness in it. It was when Yu compared it to her experiences and lessons with her ancestor in the Long’s testing crystal that she finally saw something. Or it could have been her imagination. She’d know more the next day for the Water class. Of course, that was going to be an adventure too.

After her Fire classes, she ate another Fire meal, checked on Bai, who was bored out of his mind, and then went to the Mission Center for the two hours of her “punishment.” Yu met the same disciple as last week and thankfully he remembered her so she did not have to endure another lecture on the silliness of her fellow disciples. Elder Ting arrived and took her to a different room from last time and gave her instructions. “Disciple, you are to study each mission and make a recommendation for the risk level for the next hour. I will review them after and we can discuss it then.”

She was just turning to leave and Yu says, “Umm. Elder. Before you go could I speak to you for a moment about a mission?”

The elder raised her eyebrow causing her forehead to wrinkle but she waited silently. Yu walked up and closed the door. Then she said in a low voice. “Elder Ting, I don’t know if you are aware, but I am the one who took the monthly food mission.”

Elder Ting said nothing but her facial expression changed from curious to focused. “I was not lying when I said we do not share our mission records, even internally unless the law enforcement group requires it. Only the vice leader is permitted unfettered access.”

Yu responded, “I want to turn in my meat, but I don’t know how to do it without being found out.”

The old woman’s face showed she realized what was being asked. “Of course. . .” Then she was thoughtful for a few breaths and Yu waited in silence. Eventually, she provided an answer. “I’m sorry to tell you this, but it’s going to come out eventually. You will have to turn in the meat to the dining hall’s head butcher who accepts the meat and judges quality using the sect’s formations and other tools. He or one of his staff is almost certainly going to be bribed to share it, if they have not already. It is up to you whether you wish to wait until the last day to turn it in and earn the ire after all is said and done, or do it earlier and deal with the anger immediately.”

Yu sighed and slumped. “I see. Thank you for telling me.”

Elder Ting said, “If I may ask, why did you take it?”

Yu said in an exasperated tone, “I didn’t mean to. It happened when I was shoved into the board by Bao Qing on that day you and I first met.” You described it briefly, and remembering the incident, Elder Ting’s face turned slightly red. But she gathered herself and said with a small smile, “I see. What an irony that is.”

Yu chuckled and agreed. “I know, right? Anyway, there is nothing to be done now. I’ll start and see you in an hour.”

She nodded and left. Her specific instructions were to rotate between each type so she could get an impression of the different missions so she started at maintenance: cleaning some elder’s office. Yu listed that as “none” for risk and moved to the next. The crafting mission was also listed as none. The gathering mission took a little more thought. It was in the eastern fields and involved gathering common herbs for the healer’s hall. There was some risk because aggressive insects and rodents were known to be common in that particular field.

You recommended ‘low’ based on that and went to the next which was beast hunting. That mission’s request was for the parts of a grade 1 or 2 beast in the forest. The beast, a fox, was not a ferocious fighter and mostly ran away from combat. It could certainly do some damage with its claws and teeth but was not terribly adept at it. That species really only became dangerous at grade 3 when it could use Qi externally and fog the mind and create illusions.

Once again, Yu wrote ‘low’ and moved onto the bounty hunting mission. This mission was for the capture or kill of a fugitive who apparently deflowered some low-level noble’s niece. The mission did not say whether she was a willing participant and as it was not listed outright she probably was. Usually, rapes were called out, at least that was what Yu saw in her last mission work. It was also one of the reasons she had to leave.

Yu nearly vomited thinking about it and then recalled Xing from the alchemist’s building. She found her hands shaking again and put down that mission for later. After a few minutes of calming herself, Yu took a deep breath and picked up another. That mission was a hunt for a thief who was wanted alive specifically because the victim wanted to retrieve what he stole. It was believed he was in the late foundation stage which meant no external Qi skills, so Yu listed that as ‘low’.

For the next hour, Yu repeated the same actions. She ended up assigning ‘moderate’ as the target was thought to be in the early Formation stage for that first bounty mission. Elder Ting returned and they went over her findings.

Apparently, Yu was a tough grader. She was told that some of the ones she listed as low were moderate, and some of the ones she listed as none were low. In particular, she judged against her own standards for some of the missions that involved beasts. “Disciple Yu, you must not just missions on how difficult you would find them, but how the average disciple would.”

Yu responded with, “I’ll try, but I am not entirely sure how to do that. What does average mean? How am I different? I am probably average in using a bow, above in swords, and below in spears. Honestly, I don’t know if I am the right person to do this particular job. I think I might struggle to separate my own perspective on difficulty.”

Elder Ting looked at her and then nodded. “Fair enough. It does you credit that you recognize your own flaws. We’ll stop here for today. Next week we can get into how we post, judge, and award them.”

Yu bowed and thanked the Elder. Then Yu went to a healing center where she knew one of the healers from the incident with Shishi. Hopefully, he would be there. Unfortunately, Elder Bangwen was not on duty so Yu turned around and left. She went home and spent time with the girls and Bai. The poor cub needed to get out more.

“Hey girls, I know it’s late, but Bai needs to get out. I am going to go take him for a walk and play in one of the grassy areas. You can join or not, it’s up to you. I also got a message from my brother and need to pick it up.” Li was about to decline but at that last sentence, she leaped up and said she was in. The other two were fine with coming also and they went for a walk. When they got to that grassy area with the boulder Yu let Bai out to play and romp around. He chased after them and they ran away while occasionally letting him catch them and then wrestle.

After about half an hour of that, Bai was pooped out and Jao Lu carried him to the message center. Yu picked up the letters she wanted and left the ones she didn’t. The only ones that interested her were from people she knew. The rest she let stagnate and would be disposed of. Li said, “You know, Yu. You really should at least read the ones from the boys. Some might not be horrible.”

Yu just rolled her eyes and said simply, “No.”

Li huffed and changed the topic to to thing that mattered most: her brother’s letter. “So? What’s it say?”

Yu laughed and opened it.

Yu’er

Can you not make enemies of everyone? Please? You aren’t the only one who has to live here you know.

In answer to your questions, I do not know everything. I can tell you of the well-known factions only. The three big ones that cross sect lines are the Bao Consortium, the Royal Imperium, and the Nobility Society.

You are already familiar with the Bao clan. They are a large clan with numerous subordinate clans who dedicate themselves to them and receive rewards and protection in exchange. The group also has numerous elders and disciples in the sect. Generally, they are considered a very high-level noble clan, lesser only to the imperial family. I am not sure why, but the Baos seem to be at odds with your master. I have an ear to the ground to figure out the cause.

The Royal Imperium are similar but of the Gui Clan. They include all royals and all their particular subordinate clans. The rumors going around are that they are currently in defensive mode to the Bao clan. That the Gui clan is powerful, large, and has many strong cultivators doesn’t seem to matter at the moment. They also have no elders in this sect due to a potential conflict of interest although they have petitioned to change that. I do not know the outcome.

The Nobility Society is a group of moderate and lower power noble families who are exceptionally arrogant. Their primary purpose, as far as I can find, is to laud their nobility over the lesser disciples. They believe nobility should receive the best resources, the most attention, and be considered superior simply for being noble. They are not for or against the Bao or Gui’s, but simply pro noble. It is something of a weird dynamic.

From what you told me in your letter, you have pretty much alienated at least two, maybe all three of these groups. Nice work. Can you stop? I have responsibilities and if we are connected I will be punished as much as you. Not to mention your friends. While the 3rd princess may be safe given everything, your friends, the Jao twins, would be vulnerable. You need to think of more than yourself when you act. Our city and clan need both you and me to succeed and we cannot do that if you alienate everyone and everything that can help.

Now, having gotten that out of the way, don’t forget I support you. You’re my favorite sister so don’t go and get yourself hurt too badly. I’m looking forward to dinner with you and your friends on Day 5 at the same place as we met last time.

Lei

Yu looked thoughtfully at the letter with a small smile. Li was jumping up and down looking nervous. Yu sighed and handed it over. The other two looked over Li’s shoulder and read it.

Yu could tell Ai was uncomfortable at her mention when she blushed brightly, but then Li squealed when she saw the end. “Heavens, we’re having dinner in a few days. I need to buy a dress. Or maybe I shouldn’t. I don’t want to be too aggressive. Does he like aggressive or passive girls? What should I say?”

And Li went on even as Yu shook her head and walked out. They all followed, Lu trying to calm her sister, Ai giggling softly and Yu just walking away, thinking of the consequences of her actions.