The ship pulls into the city that is our destination two days later. The captain had treated all of us nicer once we were outed as cultivators, it was kind of strange actually, seeing the difference in how the entire crew of sailors treated us.

Kun Lu leads our little group across the plank and onto stable land. My feet stumble slightly on the wooden planks of the dock the ship let us out on. It takes me a moment to get used to the actually solid ground, but Ai following me from the ship reminds me to keep walking. Fishermen and sailors walk the docs with purpose, but move to the side politely when they see us with our swords.

Ai has one hand on my robe, a nondescript gray robe that I’d managed to get from the tailor before we’d left the Capital city. Ai keeps a tight grip as we walk into the city proper. It’s a smaller city than the capital, but one still bustling with business. Kun Lu continues to lead the way as we are firmly within The Heavenly Truth Sect’s territory. Sun matches pace with me behind Kun Lu, yawning into his hand as he does.

I glance over at Sun, who is looking up into the sky. I follow his eyes to see a cloud in the shape of a teardrop. Lately, in the night, I’d been hearing him talk to himself, his spirit and qi fluctuating as he does. More personalities than just the two I’d seen would come out, muttering things that I can’t hear.

Sun glances over, noticing my attention, and I look away toward Kun Lu. I hadn’t been watching where the Disciple of The Heavenly Truth Sect was leading us, so I am surprised to see a large building with open doors and lit with red lanterns. Only a few people are visible on the inside, some of them drinking or talking with the beautiful women who occupy the house of courtesans. A woman wearing silk scarves and revealing clothing watches us as we approach the open doors, a fan hiding her mouth. Expertly pinned hair flows down her back and her eyes rise with a sensual smile. Even her spirit is seductive, an enticing flavor that draws me in and makes me want to surround myself with it.

“Little Tiger.” The woman purrs, her voice making me shiver. “It’s been too long.”

Kun Lu clears his throat, blushing slightly as he glances to me and Ai. “Aunt Mai. I was hoping to find you here.”

The woman looks over our little group, making a thoughtful sound. She turns back to Kun Lu, stepping forward to trail a finger down his chest. “Yes, Little Tiger? And why would you be looking for me?”

Kun Lu grabs her hand, gently removing it as she pouts. “We’re looking for a portal that opened up near here.”

The woman easily pulls her hand from his grip, sighing. She waves us to come through the doors, handing her fan off to another courtesan. “Come inside. It’s not good to talk business in the open.”

Ai peers curiously at everything around us, but thankfully nothing really scandalous happens in the front room. Just men and women drinking together and flirting.

I can’t help but feel a little uncomfortable, I’d heard of the Houses of pleasure, but I know very little about them and I’d certainly never been to one.

We follow the woman into a private room in the back. The room is bare except for a table with luxurious looking pillows surrounding it. She moves to the other side of the room, sitting on the floor and lounging comfortably into one of the pillows. A girl younger than me runs into the room, handing her a pipe, before bowing to us and leaving the room.

The woman takes a long hit of the pipe, blowing it out into the room. Qi extends into the smoke, making it swirl in unnatural patterns as it fills the room. I place my hand on my sword, caught by surprise. I hadn’t even realized that the woman was a cultivator until she used her technique. Kun Lu, however, doesn’t react to the qi, so I relax.

The four of us sit down on the pillows, across from the woman.

“Little Tiger, it’s been so long and you only came to see me for business.” The woman tilts her head and flutters her eyelashes. “You really do have to come by more often.”

I blush, while Sun looks away trying to hold back his laughter. Kun Lu clears his throat, his cheeks noticeably red. “Aunt Mai, we were hoping to know more about the portal.”

“Of course, of course.” The woman takes another hit of her pipe, releasing her breath and sending more qi into the air. “Hmm. That should be enough to stop that nosy sect from listening in.”

A young girl I hadn’t noticed steps forward with a metal bowl. The woman taps her pipe into the bowl, then hands the pipe off to the girl.

“Why do you want to find the portal, Little Tiger? The other side of it is… less than safe.”

“My friends wish to meet someone on the other side.” Kun Lu answers, his eyes flickering to me before going back to the woman.

“Oh?” The woman looks at me, studying me from under her eyelids. “And who do you know on the other side?”

Kun Lu interrupts before I can answer. “That’s her business, Aunt Mai. Do not sell the information of my friends.”

“Of course, of course. You know I wouldn’t sell you out Little Tiger.” She shrugs, “I was simply curious.”

She motions to the girl at her side, who quickly leaves the room. The girl is also a cultivator, but she doesn’t hide it as well as the woman. The girl returns a moment later holding a map which is quickly spread out on the table.

The woman places a slender finger on a spot some distance from the city we are in. “The portal is here, but it is heavily guarded. You would have to have permission from your Da’shi or an Elder of your sect in order to enter.” She looks up at Kun Lu through her eyelashes. “I doubt you have either.”

“Do you have a way for us to enter?” Kun Lu asks cautiously.

“I do.” She lifts her finger from the map.

“What do you want in exchange?” Kun Lu tries to hide it, but I notice the slight nervousness around the question.

To my surprise, the woman turns her gaze to me, “I wish you to deliver a message to Tai Qiu.”

I freeze, then stand up and place a hand on my sword..

The woman holds her hands up, showing no aggression. “Don’t worry, I wish you nor your master any harm. I was simply asked to deliver a letter to her, but she is… difficult for me to reach.”

“How did you know who I am?” I ask, circulating my qi as I enter a stance for The Whispers Of The Silent Raven.

“Your sect is looking for you. My sect was asked to search for you and the girl with you.” She points a finger at herself, “I, of course, am happy to keep silent as you are friends with the Little Tiger.”

Things click together with that revelation. She must be a member of the Sect Of The Watchful Crows, one of the six great sects. I don’t know much about the Watchful Crows as they are secretive and deal mainly with information, but I had been warned never to get on their bad side.

I relax slightly, taking my hand away from my sword. I bow to the woman, “I, Jia Lin, core disciple of the Flowing River Sect, apologize for my disrespect.” I get up from my bow. “And I appreciate your silence.”

“Of course, of course.” The woman tilts her head, pulling a letter from between her revealing clothes. “So, will you deliver this for me?”

I hesitate for a moment before nodding and taking the letter. I then place the letter in my storage ring for safe keeping.

The woman smiles, her face brightening from the expression. “Thank you. It is good news, I assure you.”

I nod, surprised by the change in her from her smile.

The woman turns back to Kun Lu, “You should stay here tonight and rest. I will have someone escort you to the portal and help you through tomorrow. By the time you get back, knowledge that you were here will spread to the Flowing River Sect, but they may have bigger problems by then.”

“We will happily take you up on your offer Aunt Mai.” Kun Lu stands up, bowing to her.

Sun and I do the same a moment later, Ai copying us to the best of her ability.

One of the girls that worked with the woman leads us to a room, thankfully far away from any sounds made by the women and men of the night.

Once we are settled in the room, Sun says that he has something to take care of and leaves me alone with Kun Lu and Ai.

I take out my flute, studying the instrument that had been with me for most of my life. “Can I trust her?” I ask Kun Lu, looking up to see him cleaning his large sword..

Kun Lu thinks over my question, stalling by putting oil onto his sword with a rag. “I trust her with my life. She has saved it more than once.” He looks up at me and into my eyes. “I trust her to keep her word.”

I let out a breath, thankful that he would say as much. I hadn’t thought about the resources my sect might use to find me. Asking the Watchful Crows hadn’t even occurred to me. I am lucky that Kun Lu knew the leader of the local group of Watchful Crows, otherwise my plan to get Ai to safety might’ve failed before it began.

I look over to the girl, who is looking at and poking her fingers through the eyeholes of her mask in boredom. The spirit of the demon inside her is less noticeable now, only the occasional whiff of it will come out.

Shia tells me that the seal on the demon will hold strong for as long as the girl doesn’t give into the demon, and Shia assures me that even if she does, the person we are taking her to will be able to stop her before anything drastic happens.

I stand up, making sure that Kun Lu will stay with Ai, then leave the room, wandering away from the city until I find an isolated spot next to a large willow tree. I sit down in a nook between the roots of the willow, leaning back and making myself comfortable.

The city is spread out before me, still bustling as the evening light begins to fade.

I pick up my flute, and lightly play some music. It’s a simple melody that I loved as a kid. I close my eyes, losing myself to the melody.

I pause, keeping my eyes closed as I take my flute away from my mouth and luxuriate in the leftover feeling of the music.

Once I feel that I am ready, I open my eyes and start The Ninth Requiem: Ruin

Before my eyes, the city slows to a stop, every person in it simply falling into dust.

Then the city starts to crumble as my music goes through sweeping tones of darkness.

Stones fall from homes as wood warps and rots.

The stones fall to the beat of the music.

Mold spreads over the food sold in the market, spreading with the sound of the flute.

Winter settles in, covering what was once a beautiful human city in snow.

Everything dies, nothing lasts forever.

And one day, I too, will fall into ruin.

I finish the music, staring out as the illusion ends. A feeling of dread fills me as I realize that nothing is forever. Even the greatest of immortals will die someday too.

I close my eyes, slowly coming to peace with that fact. Nothing is forever, which is why I have to value what I have now.

I open my eyes and carefully extract myself from the roots of the tree. The Tenth Level of Qi Awakening is still far away from me, but I have not reached a true bottleneck yet.

Tomorrow, I meet this mysterious friend of Shia’s. Tomorrow I’ll give the dagger to her and keep Ai safe.