I stare at the three cultivators with their bdes drawn, a bead of sweat dripping down my back. But my hands do not shake. I have seen murderers far scarier than these three.

  The lead cultivator raises his sword, and a dainty hand grabs the bde, stopping its movement. “Let’s not be too hasty now.” Lai Ming says, ice forming around her hand and traveling down the bde, holding it in pce. For the first time, I get a glimpse of her cultivation, already in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment. It outstrips all three boys and anyone else her age by a mile.

  Xia Jing also arrives beside me, her hands folded in front of her as she stares at the other cultivators.

  “I was willing to let my Junior Sister fight her own battles, but three on one seems quite unfair to me, don’t you agree?” Lai Ming says. Her voice sends shivers down my spine, colder than I’ve ever heard it.

  The lead cultivator freezes in fear before his body recovers “She insulted me, and in doing so, insulted my sect.”

  Xia Jing speaks up, “Didn’t you insult her first by ciming you were her ‘better’?”

  Lai Ming smiles, her expression holding no warmth. “Indeed, I seem to remember you saying that…. Does that also mean you meant to insult The Flowing River sect?”

  “Of course not.” The cultivator says through his teeth.

  “Good.” Lai Ming says, her ice completely covering the bde of the lead cultivator. “That would be quite unfortunate.”

  Lai Ming twists her hand, and the bde shatters onto the ground.

  “Still.” Lai Ming continues, “All three of you pulled a bde on my Junior Sister, I don’t think that should go without punishment, do you?”

  “Senior,” The lead cultivator starts, a tinge of fear and forced respect in his voice, “She gave insult to us, how could I not respond?”

  Lai Ming gnces at me. My sword is still lowered as I stand ready in front of the pickpocket.

  “Senior Sister Lai, he says the truth. I insulted him.” I say. “I believe I called him disgusting trash that dirties the earth he stands on…” I pause, “or something along those lines.”

  Xia Jing ughs, and Lai Ming warms slightly.

  “I see” Lai Ming says, “then it is only right they seek to save face by challenging you” Her gaze focuses on the youngest of the three. “You. Why don’t you face my Junior Sister in a duel? If you win, I will forgive your brothers for raising their weapons against her. If you lose… I will expect compensation.”

  The youngest cultivator looks at their leader. The lead cultivator looks conflicted before giving a nod of his head.

  The youngest cultivator raises his sword towards me.

  I bow to my opponent. “I am Inner Disciple Lin Jia of The Flowing River sect.”

  “I am Core Disciple An Ma of the Roaring Beast sect.” My opponent responds.

  He strikes at me, his bde moving before his words reach me.

  I move backwards, dodging the strike.

  I start to sing.

  My voice carries across the road, the people still watching able to hear me as if I were right beside them.

  The world changes for my opponent and I.

  The ground beneath us runs with blood. The screams of those killed and dying surround us.

  The First Requiem: Field Of Blood.

  My body enters the first stance for The Roars of The Ruinous Dragon.

  My opponent takes a step back in fear.

  I don’t let him run as my sword strikes, thirsting for blood.

  He blocks the first strike, but a second soon follows, and a third. A dying man’s scream distracts him, and he falls, slipping on a patch of bloodied ground.

  My sword goes for his throat.

  Then I stop singing, and the illusion disappears.

  A single bead of blood forms, pooling around the indent the tip of my sword makes in his neck.

  “I still want an answer.” I say to him, “Why do you take a life so easily?”

  He gasps for air, fear in his eyes.

  When I realize he isn’t going to respond, I pull my sword away, wiping the blood off on his robe. Then I sheathe the sword and turn away from him.

  Lai Ming, Xia Jing and the other cultivators stare at me, shocked.

  “I won our duel.” I say to them.

  Murmurs spread through the crowd of onlookers. I look at the pickpocket, who looks back at me in awe.

  I rub my arms in agitation as I realize how many people are watching us. The crowd had grown since this all began. Primal fear enters me as I catch the eyes of Elder Wu Li Mei standing next to an older man wearing the orange robes of the other cultivator’s sect.

  Please let me leave the sect grounds again before I turn into an old woman.

  My sisters and the other cultivators look to where I’m staring. Lai Ming and Xia Jing freeze, while the other three cultivators hurry to bow down in front of the orange robed older man.

  Elder Wu Li Mei holds out her hand to the orange robed cultivator, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

  He grumbles “He just wasn’t ready.” before pcing a rge pouch in her hand.

  She pces the pouch into her robes before walking towards us. She doesn’t say anything as she motions for us to follow her.

  Had- did- was she betting on our match? I stare at Wu Li Mei as she gives me a wink outside of the vision of my sisters.

  I stare at her, my view of the Elder shattering.

  I hurry to follow them, gncing back to see the pickpocket somehow disappearing into the crowd.

  “It seems.” Elder Wu starts as we return to the building we had originally nded in. “That the three of you have already broken my rules.”

  Lai Ming looks down at the floor, while Xia Jing opens her mouth before closing it several times.

  Elder Wu stops, turning to the three of us. She observes us quietly as we all look away.

  “I do not bme you, Lin Jia, for saving that boy’s life.” The Elder says, her eyes on me. “It is good to see you still care for the lives of others, even with the power you have gained.” She turns her attention to Xia Jing and Lai Ming, “Nor do I bme either of you, for protecting your Junior Sister when they drew their swords against her.”

  She pauses again, watching as we all turn to look at her with hope in our eyes.

  “However, you are very lucky Huang Jun and I have known each other for many years, and our retions with the Roaring Beast sect were not harmed. There will be punishments for your actions, no matter how righteous they may have been.”

  With that said, she turns away from us and leaves.

  We all stay quiet for a moment.

  “That went better than I thought it would.” Xia Jing says.

  Lai Ming puts her head in her hands. “I won’t ever be allowed outside of the sect again.” she moans.

  “She bet on our duel.” I say to the others.

  Both the girls turn to look at me.

  I giggle.

  Both girls stare at me. Lai Ming giggles and soon we are all ughing.

  “You were so cool, Senior Sister Lai.” I say after a moment.

  Xia Jing nods emphatically. “When you shattered his bde, I thought he would wet himself!”

  Lai Ming turns away, hiding her face, “I was just angry.”

  “I thought the coolest moment was when you stopped his sword with your bare hand.” I add, smiling at her.

  “And when you asked him if he insulted our sect!” Xia Jing continues, “The look on his face was priceless.”

  ***

  The rest of our trip to the city is uneventful with Elder Wu Li Mei keeping an even closer eye on us. She has us repent by making us do all of the menial chores for her. We cook food for her, clean her clothes, and warm the water for her bath. She especially likes me to py the flute for her, saying it has a calming effect. I try not to create any illusions with the music, thinking it might be best to let the music work on its own.

  After three days, we return to the sect with Elder Wu. The flight is just as exhirating as it was the first time and ends too soon for my liking.

  The other girls walk off but Wu Li Mei calls out, “Disciple Lin, if you would stay for a moment, I wish to discuss something.”

  I look into her eyes, trying to guess what she wants. Her veil hides most of her expression and her eyes don’t give anything away.

  The other girls look back at me with curiosity, before walking away.

  The Elder watches them as they walk away, waiting until they are out of sight before speaking to me. “You are young, and much is forgivable.” she starts, “But you must be aware every action of yours has a consequence. Although they are young, each one of those boys will grow to be powerhouses in their sect. None of them will treat you kindly when they see you next.” She stops speaking, her eyes watching me as she waits for some kind of response.

  “I acted before thinking, Elder.” I lower my head.

  “Would you do the same thing, if offered the choice again?” She asks.

  Our flying ride shrinks back into her hairpin as I think. She pces the hairpin into her hair, her gaze waiting for my response.

  “Yes.”

  “Good.” She says, her eyes wrinkling as she smiles beneath the veil. “One must not let horrors happen simply because of what consequences may come. You may leave, Lin Jia.”

  I bow to her.

  As I turn away she speaks, “One more thing.” I turn back to look at her. “If Qiu Tai is unable to take her position as Elder and make you a Core Disciple, know you will always have a position at my side.”

  I bow again, recognizing the power of the offer she gives me. Then I leave, caught in my thoughts as I wander down the road.