“It is not the commotion which troubles me, this is a training hall,” her father said mildly.

Gu Xiulan remained as she was, head bowed, hands clasped. She could tell he was not done. Zheng Nan turned to face her father as well, his expression guileless.

“It is not, however, a proper place for a spar with guests,” her father continued, turning his eyes to Zheng Nan.

“Ah well, my curiosity got the better of me,” he chuckled. “Your daughter is really loud, you know.”

Gu Xiulan felt sweat beading on the back of her neck as the temperature in the room crept upward. She chanced a glance upward, and found her fathers face impassive and cold.

“Nonetheless, son of Zhi, I have broken your fast, given to you my wine, will you skulk in my cellars and thieve from my pantry?”

Zheng Nan’s easy smile dropped away and he straightened up, losing his slouching posture. “I’ve done no such thing.”

“Yet here you stand, in a part of my palace reserved for kin alone,” her father replied. “I forgive this, for surely you were only lost in your wandering.”

For a change the great red haired brute looked contrite, scratching the back of his neck sheepishly. “Oh, yeah. My apologies then, didn’t notice the marks. Lord Gu.”

“Understood, please go then, honored guest. The training yards of the south wing are open for your use, if you are still feeling constrained.”

Zheng Nana glanced at her, then back to her father, letting out an explosive sigh as he turned to amble out of the room. Silence remained for a beat as he left, leaving them standing there, Gu Xiulan with her head still bowed.

Her father sighed. “Xiulan, raise your head.”

She did, feeling small, like a child caught with their hand in the sweet jar. “Father, you must know…”

“I do not fear for your virtue daughter, you are not the kind which would fall for a Zheng’s wiles,” her father dismissed, and Gu Xiulan felt a flicker of relief. Father didn’t see her as an impetuous child.

“How did you so quickly shame him?” she asked curiously, trying not to look at the way the wall behind where Zheng Nan had stood was shimmering with heat, distorted and rippled where stone had begun to melt.

“In my youth I traveled a great deal, including the Zheng lands. There are certain privileges accorded to a formal host, by even the most rambunctious of the stone ape’s kin,” Father said, returning to stroking his beard as he regarded her. “The trouble is they have very exacting definitions of formal hosting, which may give them wide leeway with the uninformed. Some are honorable and hew close regardless, some are not, as with all men. Do not be fooled by their attitudes my daughter, the Zheng have traditions as strong and hidebound as any ancient clan.”

Gu Xiulan nodded, that sounded right, from her admittedly brief experience.

“But let us leave our troublesome guest aside. Xiulan, what has you in such a mood. Your cultivation did not seem troubled in our spar,” he asked, and Gu Xiulan immediately felt her face flush with shame, that her poor temper could have interrupted fathers many important duties.

“I am merely feeling impatient, I understand that it is childish of me, but I grew accustomed to a certain ability to wander during my time in the Sect,” Gu Xiulan said, deflecting.

She found herself shifting from foot to foot as Father peered down at her. “I see. Walk with me, Xiulan.”

“Yes Father,” she agreed, falling in beside him as they left the damaged training room. Entering the painted halls of the inner palace, they walked for a time in silence.

“Was it some matter involving your sisters,” her Father asked, finally.

Gu Xiulan didn’t answer right away, biting her lip. “I don’t know how to talk to them anymore.”

He was silent, the only sound their footfalls on the softly carpetted hall. They were heading back toward the spires, she thought.

“Ambition, cultivation, it divides us,” her Father finally said. “Do you know my age, Xiulan?”

"Father is very young, your talent is unrivaled in your generation. “Xiulan said automatically.

He smiled, it was an odd expression. “I am two hundred and forty seven years old, Xiulan. Consider this. I am not the eldest of my siblings. I can recall seeing my eldest brother breathe his last, a wrinkled and fading old man, for he never rose above the third realm. This will happen again. One day, I will see this happen even to kin younger than I. I may yet outlive even some of my children. This is cultivation. Between those who cannot stop, and those who are content, there will always be a gap. It can be very difficult for one to understand the other.”

That was part of it. She could not understand their contentment, their acceptance of their lives as they were. It wasn’t all of it though. “I understand Father.”

“Do you?” he said gently, and she looked up as he turned to face her. They stood in front of the pair of polished crimson wooden doors which lead into the base of the Cloudspire. “I do not seek to one-sidedly lecture you, daughter. That is not my way, nor the Gu’s way. If you do not speak, I cannot understand your mind.”

Gu Xiulan looked away. She really couldn’t trouble father with her more childish concerns.

He looked back at her waiting patiently, until at last, he furrowed his brow. “Hm, it seems I have my failures. Follow me, Xiulan.”

He turned away from her again, the doors creaking open without even a touch, inside was the stairs that she knew would lead up and up to Fathers, or rather, the Gu heads' private cultivation grounds.

“You intend further training Father?” she asked, and despite herself she felt a kindling of interest. She knew it was selfish of her, that father had better things to do, but she couldn’t help but feel excitement and pride.

“That irritating boy was correct in some ways,” her father replied from ahead of her, following the winding glass stairs that burned beneath their feet with sparks of frozen fire. “In the end, those such as you and I must sometimes speak with the crackle of flame and the flash of lightning. Xiulan, I hope that in your flames, you can be more honest with your Father.”

“Father, I…” Gu Xiulan lowered her head. “I don’t-”

He stopped upon the stair.

“I am not even sure myself,” she finally managed. “I don’t want to trouble you when I cannot even articulate the problem.”

“All the better for this method then,” he replied, glancing back. “In the purity of your flame and your lightning, channeled without need for concern of your opponent or the world, I find there are often answers. But if you truly do not wish for this, I will not force you.”

Gu Xiulan blew out a breath. It was full of sparks. Father had tested her before allowed her to show off her techniques, but that wasn’t quite what he was offering, was it. “Thank you Father. I will do my best not to waste your time.”