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Master Jin turned to Xiulan and Bi De. His eyes were calm and serene.

Xiulan coughed. Fire erupted out of her mouth. The burning in her chest tore the breath from her lungs, she collapsed. Master Jin’s eyes widened and he hurried forward to catch her.

He slung one of her arms over his shoulder, and carried her with him, Then she felt him move as he sped back to the town. Xiulan could barely breathe, the burning was getting worse by the moment. The firebreaks, the cracks she had made in her own cultivation to stop the spread of the flames, were overwhelmed.

The last thing she saw before everything went dark was Tigu’s face, safe and sound. It was worth it.

The darkness claimed her.

It was almost abstract, watching the destruction of herself.

To stand on that grassy field, and observe the flames rage, closer and closer.

There was a sort of resignation to the inevitability of it all. A sort of grief came over her, as everything she had ever worked for in her life was consumed by the ravenous orange maws of fire.

It was, however, mixed with righteous conviction. This was the price she had to pay. The cost of challenging a cultivator in the fourth stage of the Profound Realm, of fighting him to a standstill. This was what it took to uphold her oath to Master Jin and rescue Tigu. If this was what it had cost, so be it, she would pay it.

The fires were getting ever closer to her dantian. She could barely breathe for all the acrid smoke, the sky looked like the maw of some angry hell beast. She was barely upright, forced to lean against a rock in a field of grass littered with gold cracks.

Until, suddenly, her salvation came. From the heavens came a torrential downpour, a cush of water and mist that swept across the plains. It was Qi, Qi that felt familiar. Half concerned, half boasting that the fire was nothing, even as the water disappeared into gouts of steam from the force of the raging inferno. It didn’t let up, relentless in its headlong drive to the core of the fire.

The fire tried to burn her. It tried to drag more of her Qi from her, but she was so spent, all it could do was gutter and die.

And then she was alone. Alone, in a field of desolation. All that was left was ash, and puddles of water.

Reduced to the third stage of the Initiate’s realm. She knew that such a thing would be irreversible. The grass was dead. Her cultivation had been mostly destroyed. What was left of her life’s work. A lifetime of spending every waking moment pursuing cultivation and she had arrived at the third stage of the Initiate’s realm. She was back. Back to what she was before meeting Master Jin.

A bitter victory, but a worthy sacrifice.

She crouched down, and placed her hand against the ash and heated earth. She took a handful, and let it fall down through her fingers. A memory rose up whispering in her ear. The scent of rain, as she sat beside Master Jin.

After the fire burns through, the grass comes back, stronger than ever.

Xiulan froze.

Could this be fixed? Could she fix it? Could the grass grow again?

Or could she accept this. To be forever stuck at this level, a permanent scar from Zang Li?

No. No, she would not abide by it. Not when she finally found purpose. Not when she finally had a real goal to strive towards.

The dregs of Xiulan’s Qi churned. She staggered to her feet. She raised her hands, clapping them together, as the Earth Spirit had taught her.

Shoulders set. Eyes forward. Plant that lead foot.

Xiulan’s feet moved into position.

She felt the extent of the damage. The ravaged destruction of her cultivation.

But for all the fire’s ferocity, it could not reach beneath the earth. It could not burn out everything. It could not destroy her completely.

Her first steps were halting. Slow and not at all sturdy. But as she moved, she picked up speed. She picked up strength. The uncertain stumbling became graceful. The sound of drums thundered in her head. The memories of a life she had fallen in love with.

An earth spirit's lessons. A farm full of warmth.

Her feet tapped out the rhythm. Her body moved with a dance that was ancient beyond all reckoning..

A goal. Purpose. Something to strive for, to achieve, to have as her own, borne from her own ideals. The Azure Hills were all just tiny blades of grass. Alone, they were nothing. Alone, atrocities festered and mortals lived in fear of them.

No more.

Now it was time for the future. Xiulan kept her eyes closed as she completed the first act. Her feet moved into position for the second set, a loud stomp in time with the drums—

And a second foot planted itself into the ground, thumping loudly.

Xiulan didn’t dare open her eyes. She didn’t dare falter as her Qi spun and surged.

Fire from Zang Li, burning away impurities to birth Earth.

Earth From Master Jin, setting foundation for new growth, hardening into Metal.

Metal from a soft, whispering touch, condensed and formed to collect Water.

Water from Xianghua, cooling and nourishing, all helping to give rise…

To Wood.

The acrid smell of corrupted ash faded. A warm summer breeze flowed through her soul.

Xiulan opened her eyes. There was a little girl beside her. A bright, sunny summer’s day and a pure breeze flowed through her core. Her feet no longer stomped into acid dust, alight with foul Qi: but instead, soft, loamy soil and green shoots.

Xiulan’s body moved through the final forms. Her partner did the same, mirroring her movements. They moved as one, in perfect harmony. There were no corrections, there was no mocking laughter.

The final beat sounded. They both stopped in the position Xiulan had started in. Her hands clasped together like she was praying.

Xiulan bowed to her partner, signaling the end of the song, and the earth spirit did the same.

They rose as one, and Xiulan finally beheld the spirit.

She was in better and worse shape than Xiulan had seen her last. The gold plate that once covered a full third of her face was gone, returning the use of both of her eyes.

But while that piece of damage had been repaired, the gold itself was… dull. As if it had been drained of vitality. The earth spirit was drooping and had bags under her eyes. She seemed completely and utterly exhausted.

“Are you well, little one?” Xiulan asked the earth spirit.

The earth spirit startled at her question. Her eyes narrowed with anger and fear… before that drained away.

The little one beckoned Xiulan over.

Xiulan complied, kneeling down to be at eye level with the earth spirit. Her exhaustion could not be from the dance. It looked bone deep, and painful. Xiulan wondered how she could aid the little one—

The earth spirit grasped either side of Xiulan’s face and brought her down.

Xiulan reflexively flinched, expecting a headbutt.

A pair of lips pressed against her forehead instead.

Xiulan woke up.

Ri Zu, whose paws had been on her neck, jumped a foot in the air.

Ri Zu’s paw was on Xiulan’s wrist, checking her pulse. The little rat tapped out a rhythm, and nodded in satisfaction.

‘Qi is…stable. Heartbeat normal.’ Ri Zu recited as Xiulan spooned some cold broth into her mouth. She could have asked for something freshly made from the kitchens, but Master Jin’s food was better, even if it was cold. Ri Zu sighed, finished with her examination. ‘You gave Ri Zu a scare when your Qi started doing that!’ The rat scolded. ‘And when you started sweating out that filth!’

Ri Zu gestured to the dark spots on Xiulan’s covers. Impurities. They smelled disgusting, the dark, sludgy spots that had ruined both the covers and the sleeping robe.

“My apologies.” Xiulan whispered,her voice was a bit raw, but she could feel her strength returning. “Do I have a clean bill of health?”

Ri Zu glared at her. ‘No. Your Qi is still diminished. Your nerves are damaged in your hands. Your muscles will be sore… but you can get out of bed if you do not overexert yourself! Understood? ’ Ri Zu sternly commanded.

Xiulan nodded. She had awoken restless, and on learning that everybody was already out and working to restore the town from the damage done… well. She couldn’t be absent from everything that was happening!

“I shall be careful, Ri Zu,” she said, only to get a glare in return—before Ri Zu sighed.

‘Take care of yourself, Xiulan. None of us wish for you to be hurt further.’ She said before scampering out of the room to give her some privacy.

One of the maids had drawn her a bath, but Xiulan declined her offer of assistance. The woman looked ill from the stench of the impurities, and Xiulan had no desire to inflict it upon the poor woman.

Xiulan changed out of the stinking, sweat stained sleeping clothes she had been changed into while she recovered, rolling them up, and putting them on top of a wooden tray. They would have to be burned.

After washing her body, some of the sweat disgustingly sludgy, she intended to get dressed.

Only to realize her normal dress was completely beyond repair. It was torched and torn to pieces. As ruined as her body had been, before Ri Zu had worked her potent healing arts. So she chose another one. Slightly less flowy than her previous garment. Less embellishments. A simpler robe, with wider sleeves and a belt, in light hues of green. She briefly considered wearing the clothes Senior Sister had made for her… but she eventually decided against it. She would be going out into a destroyed town, and hopefully helping to clean up a bit. It wouldn’t be in defiance of Ri Zu’s orders. A bit of lifting wasn’t stressful.

Xiulan looked in the mirror. She ran her finger down the small crack of gold in the center of her chest. A crack in porcelain skin, filled in with metal.

One of the blows Zang Li had dealt her was filled with gold. An imperfect blemish on her otherwise perfect skin.

Xiulan instantly liked it, that tiny blemish, even as she bound her chest. Little white lines, already fading, criss-crossed her arms and legs. They were hidden by her dress.

The burns on her face had peeled off, with only slightly pinker patches to show where they had ever been. A brief brush of makeup and they disappeared completely. Her hair ties had been burned and her normal hair pieces had been damaged beyond repair. One melted and the other shattered.

So she tied her hair into a single thick braid.

She looked at herself in the mirror. Not a single trace of the damage looked to remain from that night. It was just her. It was just Cai Xiulan.

Satisfied, she closed her eyes and reached within herself. Her Qi rose to meet her.

Xiulan was at the third stage of the Initiate’s Realm. Her cultivation had been burned straight out of her… but it was not destroyed.

She felt those eager tendrils, excited to grow, and smiled. It would be hard… but she would return to her former strength one day and then grow beyond it as well, her grass growing stronger after the flame.

She met Ri Zu outside her door when she was ready. The rat sighed, and raised an eyebrow at her.

‘Really?’ She asked. Xiulan bent down, so that Ri Zu could climb onto her shoulder. Ri Zu, recognising that Xiulan probably wouldn’t listen to any command to rest, scampered up her arm, and cuffed her ear.

Xiulan smiled, as she descended the stairs. Where the mortal servants were all waiting for her. She knew each one by name. Xiping was wringing his hands, nervous. Liuan was brewing them tea.

“Young Mistress…are you sure you are well?” Xiping asked as she approached them, full of concern.

“Yes. I’m alright, Xiping. Thank you, all of you, for your concern.” She smiled at Xiping.

The tension dropped at her smile, the servants smiling with relief.

“That's our Young Mistress!” one of the old grandmothers said approvingly.

“I—it was our pleasure, Young Mistress.” Xiping said, his face flushed as he looked at her smile. He shook his head, and rapidly made the gesture of respect, the rest of them following through. “Do you require anything else…?”

“If you can, see about aiding the rest of the town, and be sure to pick up extra food. Everybody will be hungry tonight.”

“Yes, Young Mistress!”

Xiulan nodded to them all and walked out into the courtyard to the gates. She took a breath, and opened the gates, stepping out onto the street.

She only made it a block before she paused.

A mortal foreman was directing the Young Master of the Rumbling Earth Sect who was placing cobble into the roads. The young man nodded at the old mortal’s words, as the foreman rapidly filled in a section of the road, the Young Master looking almost impressed at the skill borne of age.

Xiulan forced herself to stop staring and kept walking. As she passed by more streets she needed an iron will to keep her mouth from opening in astonishment.

Cultivators were repairing roofs. Cultivators hauled water. Cultivators were having a contest to see who could split logs the fastest.

The mortals with them appeared bemused, or at least slightly less fearful.

A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. She was fairly

certain she knew who had prompted all this.

Ri Zu just nodded approvingly at the sights, as if this was something normal. Xiulan supposed for Ri Zu, it was.

She walked on, observing the work being done all the while. Ri Zu sniffed at the air and pointed the way to their true destination.

Those who noticed her paused in their duties. The cultivators began to whisper while the mortals just stopped and stared.

“Fought a man in the fourth stage of the Profound Realm…”

“Fought off ten disciples of the Shrouded Mountain Sect…”

“Barely even injured…”

The whispers followed her, carried on the wind.

She paid them little mind, simply continuing forward to her destination. She passed by Guo Daxian, weaving together ropes. He paused and gave her a nod, a measure of respect in the normally surly man’s eyes. Xiulan nodded in turn to the man who had aided them against the Shrouded Mountain.

She continued on until she found her destination.

A group of familiar friends sitting together. Xianghua was hanging off Gou Ren’s shoulder while she smirked at An Ran. In turn Xiulan’s Junior Sister was rolling her eyes at whatever Xianghua was saying. She noticed Huyi, Xi Bu, and Li cheering on a dancing rabbit while Yun Ren stood nearby with hands pressed to a wall, a mural of Yin’s dance flowing out from him.

Xianghua’s little brother, his eyes wide and shining, was pointing at a scroll and eagerly explaining something on it to Master Jin. The man looked intensely interested, and said something to the boy, who flushed and bounced excitedly. Tigu was curled up in Master Jin’s lap while Bi De was beside them both. Tigu’s fingers weaved through his feathers, as the rooster rested, his eyes closed.

Xiulan paused to admire it all for a moment. It had all been worth it.

Tigu was the one to notice her first. Her yellow eyes widened.

“Lanlan!” The girl shouted, bursting up from her seat. “Ri Zu!”

“Young Mistress?!” An Ran responded in shock.

Tigu’s dash sent her rocketing towards Xiulan, but instead of a tackling hug that Xiulan was braced for the girl skidded to a stop before her as Ri Zu squeaked out a warning. Tigu’s wide eyes searched her up and down, checking her over for injuries.

Xiulan opened her arms.

Tigu jumped the last part of the distance, clamping on to her and sniffling loudly, trying to hold back tears.

The rest of them followed soon after. .

“Young Mistress!” Li wailed, looking like he wanted to join in on Tigu’s hug.

“Up already?! Our Young Mistress is the best!” Huyi declared, his cynicism on hold as he grinned. Even his eyes were less fish-like.

“Ha! As if even twenty Young Masters could keep Cai Xiulan down! I shall have to challenge thirty cultivators superior in cultivation to me this year and defeat them!” Xianghua bellowed.

“Please don’t do that.” Gou Ren and her little brother said in unison.

“Junior Sister, your exploits were most magnificent!” Bi De praised, and Ri Zu squealed happily.

‘She beat the shit outta them!’ Yin enthused, bouncing up and down.

Xiulan felt the last of the tension drain away as she was welcomed back. As she was clapped on the back and hugged. As her friends swarmed around her.

All but one.

Master Jin watched on with a smile waiting patiently for them to greet her.

He made a gesture that he wanted to talk privately after she was finished.

Xiulan basked in the glory for a moment longer before she excused herself to hear what Master Jin had to say.

“I’m getting a lot of practice doing these,” Master Jin said with amusement as he knowtowed before her, even as Xiulan held her head in her hands.

“Master Jin, please.” Xiulan muttered, her face flushed. “You didn't need to lower your head so far to me. I only did as my oaths demanded—”

“And I appreciate that, and I owe you a debt,” Master Jin cut in, firm. “Thank you, Xiulan.” He said with conviction.

Xiulan took in a breath as the words struck her, earnest thanks from Master Jin.

He rose from his bow to take the seat next to her. They were seated together in a quiet spot of the town, a space with a bench that looked over the plains to the south. It was quiet and few people came here..

She stared out at the plains, still a bit embarrassed after Master Jin kowtowed to her.

It was horrifying that such an expert would lower himself so far to her after only fulfilling her expected duties…

Especially after what had happened.

Xiulan let out a breath she didn’t know she was holding. “What happens now?” She asked.

Master Jin turned to her and raised an eyebrow.

Xiulan chewed her lip. “I attacked the Shrouded Mountain Sect. I could not stand by and do nothing. There will be consequences…”

Master Jin turned away from her to look out at the plains as well.

After a moment, he spoke in a tone that brooked no argument.”I don’t know exactly what will happen but I’m not going to let them take you. Besides, I don’t think the Shrouded Mountain Sect will be too keen on trying to force the issue.” He said as he reached into his pack and pulled out a scroll.

Xiulan was stunned. She knew Master Jin was powerful, but what threat could he offer to deter the Shrouded Mountain Sect—!

Xiulan was confused as he handed over the scroll to her. It was a rather simple, unadorned document. She glanced at him for permission before unrolling it, and he nodded. Curious, Xiulan opened it up.

She stared at the impossible symbol emblazoned on it.

For a full minute, she just stared at it, her mind frozen.

As calmly as she could, she rolled it back up again. With a slight tremor in her hands, she handed it back.

Master Jin took back the scroll and stared at the sky before sighing and turning to her.

“I don't know if this is the best time for it… but… you deserve to know this story. I probably should have told you sooner really.” His face twisted into a sad crooked smile.

“There once was a man who joined the Cloudy Sword Sect…” Master Jin began.

Xiulan was silent as Master Jin finished his story.

She stared at him.

A man who had abandoned the great Cloudy Sword Sect. Left it all behind to come to pitiful Azure Hills. Not for any cultivation gain. Not to defy the heavens, or for any kind of secret method. But to farm. And in the end, he was stronger for it.

All of which was beyond her ability to absorb in this moment. All she could focus on was one little fact.

“You’re younger than I am?” she eventually said, disbelief coloring her words, and her hands raised in confusion.

“Yeah.” He said, smirking at her. “Maybe I should start calling you Senior Sister, eh?”

He sighed. The smile faded from his face.

“I feel like I’ve led you on.”

Really, it was obvious now. But she had just assumed, like an idiot. No wonder he kept just telling her to call him just by his name. If anything, it was beyond impressive. In any sect he would be an unparalleled genius. A man who would forge a new age.

And he had given all of it up. Or, if his words were true… He became powerful because he had given it all up.

Xiulan’s mind whirled. She leaned back in her seat and looked to the sky.

His story was absurd. And yet, it made so much sense.

In the past she would have scoffed. To give up on the path of defiance, to choose to be mortal?. Was not their goal in life to ascend? To strive for the Heavens?

And yet…

What was the point of striving to reach the Heavens when instead you could make one upon the earth?

His words… they resonated with her. They were her own half-formed ideas, after her battle with Sun Ken, her time at Fa Ram, and her conviction after her victory at the tournament.

What was the point of bettering a world you would leave behind? What was the point, if not to become immortal? In the end that was the question, what was the purpose of it all?

Did it really change the respect she had for him? Master Jin and Senior Sister Meiling had saved her life. They had saved her soul by helping her lay her demons to rest. Fa Ram and it’s people had given to her without restraint, aided her because they could.

She was better now in ways she didn’t even know she could become better in.

And he had done it all, not out of a desire for anything from her. Not as a Master training her for his own amusement or pride.

But simply because he thought it was the right thing to do.

Create his own heaven.

Xiulan felt her heart beat faster. She closed her eyes, remembering his look of conviction.

A goal that she could only declare was something worthy.

A goal that she hadn’t truly realized she was already following. That already the sects were following; cleaning up a shattered town, coming to each other’s defense.

Something gentler. Something kinder than this brutal world.

Xiulan turned to look at him. He looked nervous. Young. Even knowing it now it didn’t seem real.

She took a breath and stood up walking so that she was in front of him. She clasped her hands together in a gesture of respect.

“I do not regret a moment I have spent with you and Senior Sister Meiling,” she said, looking him directly in the eyes. “You do not wish for it, but what Bi De calls you, what I call you… I think you deserve that title. I would be honoured if you would allow me to call you my Master.” His face flushed crimson with embarrassment and he looked away, scratching at his chin. “And I would be twice as honoured to call you my friend, Jin.” She bowed to him.

His face screwed up, she could see him flashing through several emotions, before he sighed. “Is what I’ve done truly that worthy of respect?” he asked, uncertain.

“Yes.” She stated simply, rising up and looking at him.

He took a breath and stood. He bowed back to her. “Then…. I swear this on the trust you have for me. On my family that you’ve saved. I would be honoured to call you my friend, and sworn sister.”

He offered her his arm in the traditional warrior’s clasp.

Xiulan took it without hesitation.

“Please take care of me, Senior Sister.” His voice had a hint of teasing in it.

“Please take care of me, Master,” she returned, playing their game.

He glared at her. “So. We’re as good as family now, right?” He asked.

Xiulan nodded firmly.

The grip on her wrist tightened. She was pulled into his chest as his arms wrapped around her shoulders and held her tight.

Her own arms were frozen in shock for a moment.

And then she relaxed, leaning into his embrace.

“Thank you, Xiulan, for everything,” he whispered to her.

He pulled back slightly so she could see his warm smile.

In the end… it was all worth it.

He sighed. “Thanks for listening, Lanlan. I’m gonna go get back to work. The houses won’t build themselves.”

She nodded, stepping back. “I’ll join you soon. I just… need a moment.”

Jin nodded to her. He turned and left, walking back to the street where the rest of her friends waited.

Xiulan hummed to herself as she watched him go. A man who cared nothing for the Heavens, for actively defying them…There was probably a song there. A legend that in time would be told for a thousand years.

She sat back down on the bench.

He thought he was a farmer. She thought he was a Hidden Master.

Both of them were right.

In the end… she couldn’t help but think it fitting.

It was so… Jin.

Xiulan’s shoulders began to shake.

A little giggle slipped out of her throat.

She hugged herself, clutching at her sides, then laughed until she started crying, the tears of mirth sliding down her cheeks.