Shen: "Which game would you like to play first?"
Xu Yunfei: "Let's try this one!"
She took my hand, and we ran toward a curious setup. I slowed as we approached. There were arrows—but no bows. Instead, a tall, ornate bronze vessel stood at the far end of the courtyard, its mouth narrow and unforgiving.
Shen: "Pitch-pot?"
Xu Yunfei: "Mm-hmm. The old game of nobles. You throw the arrow from a set distance and try to land it inside the pot. You've played it before."
She picked up an arrow, weighed it in her hand, and gave me a playful glance.
Xu Yunfei: "Careful, Shen. This game reveals more than skill—it shows who's steady under pressure."
She went first. Her throw was clean—straight into the pot. She smiled, pleased.
Xu Yunfei: "Your turn, Shen. Here—take it."
I took the arrow and threw it. It struck the same target Xu Yunfei had hit—precise, deliberate. That was the one I'd aimed for.
I smiled at her. She smiled back.
Xu Yunfei: "You must've played this before, at least."
Shen: "Once, but that was quite some time ago. I remember playing it when I was young."
Xu Yunfei: "Who did you play with?"
Shen: "My siblings. Long ago."
Xu Yunfei: "I see. You should invite them sometime."
Shen: "I'd like that… but they all passed away before me. So did my parents."
She paused, her expression softening.
Xu Yunfei: "I'm sorry to hear that. Let's get back to the game, shall we? Forget all that—for now, let's just enjoy ourselves."
We both won a prize.
I stepped forward and looked over the selection—trinkets, tokens, small treasures. My eyes settled on a ring: black, silver-edged, with faint engravings along the band. I picked it up.
Xu Yunfei watched me, then turned to the display. Her gaze lingered on a ring nearly identical to mine—except hers was white.
She reached for it without hesitation.
Xu Yunfei: "I'll take this one."
Our choices mirrored each other. Not planned, but not entirely accidental either. Black and white. Shadow and light.
I glanced at her. She smiled.
I slipped mine onto the chain beside my Blackdragon necklace—the one I'd bought from the sweet old lady selling her beloved belongings.
Xu Yunfei fastened hers as well. The white ring rested just below her collarbone, gleaming softly in the lantern light.
She looked at me and smiled. Then, without a word, she took my hand again as we played other games.
There were sweet sticks for sale—brightly coloured, shaped into animals with delicate sugarwork. We bought a pair and wandered to a quiet corner beneath the lanterns.
Mine was a tiger. Bold, amber-striped, its stance carved with sharp precision.
Hers was a snow leopard. Pale, elegant, dusted with silver and curled in a crouch.
We sat together, the lantern light flickering between us as we tasted the sweetness.
Shen: "So… what next?"
She glanced up, thoughtful.
Xu Yunfei: "How about lighting a sky lamp?"
We found one and decorated it together. She painted her sect symbol with delicate strokes; I added mine beside it. Beneath the symbols, we wrote our names.
Then we lit the flame and released it into the night.
The lantern rose slowly, swaying in the breeze, its glow soft and steady. It drifted upward, past the rooftops, past the trees—until it hovered near the moon.
This was a grand celebration—held in honour of Xu Yunfei's half-brother's birthday. Only invited guests were allowed through the gates, and the courtyard shimmered with lanterns, laughter, and the scent of roasted sweets.
We mingled among the crowd, enjoying the food, the games, and the company of others. There was music in the air, soft and ceremonial.
We all returned to our seats at the dining table, the air still humming with laughter and lanternlight.
Xu Yanshang stood, raising his cup slightly.
Xu Yanshang: "I hope everyone's enjoyed themselves. The night is still young—so carry on. Eat, drink, and gossip to your heart's content!"
A ripple of cheer moved through the guests. Plates were refilled, cups raised, and conversations resumed with fresh energy.
The celebration continued, rich with warmth and the quiet joy of shared company.
We all watched the fireworks bloom across the sky—bursts of colour painting the night in gold and crimson.
Xu Yunfei turned to me, her voice soft beneath the crackle of light.
Xu Yunfei: "Thank you, Shen, for inviting me to enjoy the games with you. I had fun getting to know a little more about you."
I nodded.
Shen: "It was a pleasure. But I should go now—Liraine, Shuyin, and Sura are waiting for me."
Xu Yunfei: "I see. Could you practise with me tomorrow?"
Shen: "Sure thing."
I turned to leave. As I passed through the lantern-lit courtyard, I caught sight of her brother, Xu Xiao, approaching. They spoke briefly. She smiled at him—genuine, if brief.
When I returned to our room, the three of them were waiting.
They hadn't attended the celebration. Instead, they'd held their own quiet gathering—sweets, tea, and soft music.
Liraine hadn't wanted to be anywhere near Xu Xiao. I understood that. The other two—Shuyin and Sura—hadn't seemed interested. Because she didn't go, they stayed behind.
I met up with Xu Yunfei the next morning for training. The courtyard was quiet, the mist still clinging to the stone.
We began again—stance, breath, movement.
This time, Xu Xiao watched from the steps. His gaze was sharp, unblinking. Like an eagle watching its prey.
Xu Yunfei moved with precision, her footwork light, her strikes deliberate. Then she shifted—her posture changed, her energy surged.
She used a technique I hadn't seen before.
Xu Yunfei: "Cataclysm."
The air around her seemed to ripple. Her strike came swift, layered, and overwhelming—like a storm compressed into a single motion.
Shen: "That's new."
She smiled faintly.
Xu Yunfei: "It's not meant to be gentle."
I called my move—"Final Turn."
I raised my sword and slashed once. The blade ignited, cloaked in pitch-black fire and shadow. It surged with silent fury, cutting through the air as it raced toward Xu Yunfei.
The courtyard darkened for a breath, as if the strike drew light from the world.
I beat her.
She just laughed it off.
Xu Yunfei: "I'm glad you finally took it up a notch. With your moves, you're always just playing around with me—not giving it your all. That was much better. Thank you."
She smiled, then leaned in slightly.
Xu Yunfei: "Would you like to go somewhere with me?"
Before she could continue, her brother arrived.
Xu Xiao: "Maybe next time, sister. Mother called for you."
Her smile faltered. She glanced at me once more, then turned and left. The disappointment in her posture was quiet, but clear.
Xu Xiao stepped closer.
Xu Xiao: "Why are you getting so close to my sister?"
His tone was calm, but the edge beneath it was unmistakable.
Xu Xiao: "I thought it was fine at first. But now I've figured it out. The man she likes—it's you."
He studied me, eyes narrowed.
Xu Xiao: "I've seen your charm with women firsthand. You have a way of drawing people toward you… like it's instinct."
Shen: "You should be happy for your sister—not jealous. Your attraction to her is wrong, and you know it. What do you think she'll do when she finds out her own brother desires her?"
Xu Xiao stepped closer, his voice low and deliberate.
Xu Xiao: "Just do your part, Shen. Help me become patriarch of my family, and I'll reward you for it. I'll even join your sect."
He paused, eyes narrowing.
Xu Xiao: "I like you. Don't make me regret that. Don't make me hate seeing you near my sister more than I already do."
His tone darkened.
Xu Xiao: "She's mine. She'll be my wife one day—I'll convince her. She'll bear my children. Do you understand?"
I didn't reply.
I simply turned and walked away, his gaze following me—sharp and unrelenting, like an eagle tracking its prey.
As I walked away, I found Lingxue leaning near my door, waiting.
Lingxue: "So… did you convince them?"
I nodded.
Shen: "He's already convinced himself to join us. His sister—I'm still seeing how that's going."
I paused, then added quietly.
Shen: "Xu Xiao was there. He warned me not to get close to her. He doesn't like that she's interested in me."
Lingxue: "He's very protective of his sister—and his mother. Either way, it's good that Xu Yanshang will join us. Did he say who he wants alive and dead?"
I nodded.
Shen: "He wants Xu Xiao dead. His first wife too—and the others who've betrayed the Xu family."
I paused.
Shen: "As for those he wants alive… he didn't say it outright, but he didn't need to. Xu Yunfei—his half-sister. Her mother. His father. His own mother. A few others."
Lingxue's gaze darkened, thoughtful.
Lingxue: "Convince Xu Yunfei—sooner or later. I don't want to stay here any longer than we need to.
Once this is done, we move on to the Luo family. We'll decide our next move after that."