In the training center, sighs echoed from all sides. Heavy, slow, discouraged. There were also those who sighed but had long since given up trying anything.

  — This is ridiculous, — said Gao Yu as he watched the clouds drifting through the dark sky — that damn door won't open!

  — If it were easy, what would be the point? — Wu Xue retorted, but then everyone followed Gao Yu's gaze and turned to the same spot, where a shining blade cut through the air — ...Forget what I said...

  — This is fun. — He Rui murmured, surrounded by the only sword in the entire place capable of flight.

  — Good that you think so.

  — What? Are you talking to me— — She froze at the looks she received. She shrank back, lowered her head, and the blade faded into glowing particles in the air. — Sorry...

  Even though he was one of those capable of forming a sword, like Gao Yu, Gao Yao, Wu Xue, Guang So, Guang Ai, and some others, Xiao Yun was still not satisfied. — How do you do that? — He could not maintain the form for long. It would disappear in the blink of an eye with the wind.

  — How..?

  — How do you not only create the blade, but also control it so easily?

  A general question. Everyone wanted to ask, but didn't have the courage. They were judging her with their gazes, so how could they shamelessly ask for her help? Some even viewed it as a kind of humiliation, and refused out of pride.

  — Ah, that... — Raising her hand, the blade formed in stages as she spoke. — Well, shaping it is not everything, you know?

  Everyone's attention shifted to He Rui's words. Even those pretending not to listen would complain if noise interrupted them from hearing her.

  The blade appeared, complete on the outside. But fragile. — It still needs to be... 'completed'? Or reinforced by something.

  — I think even an idiot here knows that, — Gao Yu commented, but fell silent when stared at by his sister. — Sorry, please continue.

  — The point is, by itself, ordinary Qi is not enough to do that, — He Rui continued. — It has to be denser to fill the blade. Tougher to keep it upright and firm. And above all, it must really act like molten iron—always malleable and under control.

  — That's a very... interesting description, — Wu Xue said.

  — And senseless, too, — someone whispered harshly.

  With raised eyebrows, Gao Yu's eyes widened and he jumped to his feet. Breath held, heart racing. — Dense and malleable... — He smiled, ecstatic.

  A silence echoed into the darkness ahead; with a slow movement, the previously unmoving door opened before his eyes.

  — You managed it too? — Xiao Yun asked. He raised his palm and calmly created a sword. This one was different from earlier attempts. Anyone could see as it floated and held firm against the cold wind surrounding them.

  Gao Yu soon did the same, succeeding. — Well, looking at it now, it really does seem a little fun.

  — Looks like you are worse than I expected... — The breeze seemed to go still and all faces turned to the figure floating above them, observing with an analytical and intense gaze. — If making a single blade is cause for celebration, I guess most of you never even achieved that.

  — Yeah, you hit the nail on the head.

  Noah followed the source of the whisper, but the responsible person was already elsewhere. With his back to everyone, Gao Yu whistled while leaning against Gao Yao, who clicked his tongue with a frown.

  — That technique isn't exactly 'easy' to learn, — Xiao Yun pointed out. — Learning it in a single day is impossible.

  — Really? Funny, I did it after seeing her use it just once.

  Everyone fell silent, incredulous. Some were a bit curious.

  — Anyway, there is something I forgot to say earlier. I don't trust you, and I don't intend to give you anything without a good reason or guarantee. — The confused looks followed him to the nearest arena, where Noah stopped, standing. — So, here's my offer—you can leave if you prefer, or you can stay and follow us. You can take some time to decide if you want, but... I'd rather you do it as quickly as possible.

  — Wow, it seems he thinks highly of us, doesn't he?

  — Stop it already! — Gao Yao exclaimed, her brother rolling his eyes in silence but reaffirming his thoughts. She turned to Noah, thoughtful. — You say you won't give us anything and say we can leave if we want, but what will happen now that we've learned this technique? ...Will you still let us go just like that?

  Many swallowed hard, alert to the answer to come. They wanted to ask him, but fear stopped them.

  — As I said, I learned this technique by watching someone else use it. Even though I adapted it for my own skills, it isn't mine, so why should I care? Use it as much as you want. — His eyes swept the crowd, cold and heavy. — That is, if you're able to do so.

  — How subtle—

  Gao Yao immediately turned, her eyes burning with her target already marked. However, Gao Yu shrugged. — It wasn't me. — Beside him, Wu Xue clamped her lips tightly closed.

  — Sorry... — she said, drawing her knees to her chest as she hunched her back.

  Even trembling, He Rui tried to raise her hand. It was her chance to leave. She couldn't let it slip by. Yet, she found herself restraining.

  Feeling a small discomfort in his head, as if being pricked by dozens of needles, Noah turned instantly, looking at Isadora in the distance, watching them from one of the gates. She left quickly after being seen.

  Noah cleared his throat. — Anyway, take the rest of the night to decide. — Gradually, the pain faded. He took from his spatial bag two vials. — For now, look for a place where you can all bathe together and mix this into the water.

  Xiao Yun received one of the vials and Gao Yao the other. — Bathing together, that's...

  — Split up if you want. There's a waterfall and a lake to the southeast, just before the wall. Divide and use them. At dawn, I will come back to hear your decision, so you may go. — He Rui stood up without much enthusiasm, having lost her chance. — You don't... You can stay, He Rui.

  She watched the others leave slowly, now wishing more than ever she could join them. She turned to the figure in front of her who, for some reason, couldn't seem to look directly at her.

  Did I do something wrong? She wanted to ask, but her own voice refused to obey her. Not even her lips could move properly.

  — Is there somewhere you feel comfortable for us to talk?

  Was what I did really that serious...? She nodded, and started leading the way out of the training center. No, firstly, what did I do anyway? They haven't even told me why I'm here yet.

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  Noah kept up with her slow pace. He wanted to return to Ting, was in a hurry. And yet, he found himself unable to stick to the plan. Saying the problem, giving the technique and the pill, and then leaving, it was simple in theory. In practice, it turned out differently. For some reason, starting that particular conversation was very difficult.

  They walked east of where they were and ended up at the servants' quarters of the residence, a place just before the southeastern forest. The rooms stood in a row, with little space between each.

  With trembling hands, He Rui opened the simple door in front of them. They entered, finding her roommate already there.

  — Could you give us a moment? — he asked.

  Despite the doubts in her mind, it didn't take long for the young girl to jump from the bed and leave in a rush. Those eyes gave her chills in places she'd never even touched herself.

  Noah took her place, sitting at the edge of the bed. His gaze wandered to He Rui a few times, but nothing was said. His fingers intertwined again and again as he avoided looking into her eyes. The discomfort was new in a way he'd never experienced before.

  — What I want is...

  As if trying to squeeze her shoulders together, He Rui hunched herself and shut her eyes tightly. But the next words left her even more confused. — Sorry. — She opened her eyes, anxious. — It's my fault, you...

  Noah looked her in the eyes. He wanted to put an end to this, to that feeling, and those constant tremors that lingered from the situation. — You are poisoned. — he revealed, trying to be as clear as possible to put her at ease.

  — Wh-what...?

  He Rui was stunned. Speechless, she smiled, and didn't know why. It felt as if the ground was vanishing beneath her feet. It must be a lie, it had to be. But she felt, if she took another step, she would lose all the strength she had left. She would fall. Drown. And she didn't know if she could get up again. — Why...? — Not even her words would come out right.

  — Do you remember the day I was brought here by Undric and Isadora?

  Her eyebrows arched and she nodded.

  It was him... She had only seen him briefly that day, so she wasn't sure.

  — Do you also remember what happened a bit later? You were there too, right, during that incident?

  Incident-!

  Shrinking inward, she remembered that desperate moment. The panic that crept through her fingers as she clung to the floor. The anguish choking her throat, suffocating her. All because of her curiosity about why so many people were gathering in this way. So that, in the end, horror would paralyze her as the crackling sound of coming bones echoed.

  She would have died at that exact instant, and could even swear she saw cadaveric hands reaching out, calling her. If it wasn't for a nearby guard who yanked her to the ground, that would have been her fate.

  She nodded.

  — Then maybe that was it. I believe it was at that moment that one of my bones hit you—

  — One of the bones?! — she interrupted, her eyes wide and fists clenched. — So... you're saying that was what poisoned me?

  — ...Yes.

  A small laugh escaped her, and her knees gave out, unable to hold firm. The laugh turned into timid giggles, all saturated with as much panic as memories from that day. However, about that moment, she remembers clearly and knows there were no wounds. Not on her, nor anyone present. "The bones had minds of their own," was the theory they floated. A stupid idea. But even more foolish was that, after escaping death by a hair, He Rui ran into his arms because of her own stupidity.

  She removed the bloody cloths wrapped around her finger as she raised her left hand. The small cut there wouldn't heal. The bleeding wouldn't stop, as if something was pushing her blood out of her body.

  — Could it be this...? — she asked, with dead eyes.

  Silence was all she got, but it was more than enough. She clenched her fist. Not with anger. There was no reason to be mad at Noah for her own incompetence. It was her own body, and she realized it. She didn't want to accept those drops meant more than they looked.

  — Am I... going to die?

  "I don't know" would be the correct answer, but maybe not the best one. She needed to be as mentally clear as possible to deal with this, and fear would only hinder her.

  Noah stopped twirling his fingers. — No. — he assured, his cold voice carrying confidence for someone who felt hers draining with the blood dripping from her finger. — You'll be fine.

  Something jumped from his bag, a shining sphere. Noah handed it to He Rui.

  Her trembling hands almost dropped it, but sighed in relief when she managed to catch it. He then handed her a scroll as well.

  — This pill will help you solve the problem. And the technique—well, unlike the others, you managed to create a blade in a single day, even though you just learned cultivation today, so I don't know if you'll really need it. But in any case, it'll help you control your Qi while absorbing the pill.

  Looking at the pill, He Rui noticed that just its sweet scent sped up her blood flow. — So I should just swallow this?

  He nodded. — Qi will spread by itself, so you just need to control it. But stay aware at all times. Otherwise, the pill's energy will scatter.

  She felt like she couldn't draw a breath, so she had to try harder to do so. He Rui looked at the pill, squeezing it gently for fear it might break.

  Noah stood up. — Go to bed, it'll be more comfortable. — He walked to the door. — I'll tell that girl it'll be better if she spends the night somewhere else today.

  — Right... Thank you.

  Opening the door, Noah paused. He looked back, seeing He Rui immersed in the words written on that dirty paper. Her last hopes looked so worn and lifeless. He looked around. The girl waited nearby. She shuddered when called and, after being warned, Noah left. But she didn't trust it. She approached the room reluctantly, afraid something had happened to He Rui. However, the sudden noises and faint blue glow escaping through the boards startled her. She realized Noah had told the truth, He Rui had indeed been taught to cultivate.

  Step by trembling step, she ran. She left, like someone denied the noble presence of air in her lungs, to spread the news. Though many servants already knew. Especially those who saw her being taken in the morning, and others who'd already heard the story.

  He Rui, for her part, again looked at the pill. Her hands shook, feeling the sting of lightning. Maybe it was necessary. — Maybe I used the technique wrong...? — seemed likely to her.

  She closed her eyes and searched for courage. She couldn't find it anywhere, so she had to force herself to push the little sphere into her mouth. She didn't want to swallow it in her mind and was grateful that wasn't needed. The hard, smooth object dissolved as it crossed her lips.

  The energy burst without barriers, spreading intensely through her entire body, making He Rui's skin flush red. Next came the rise in temperature. Under her skin, her veins shone brightly, glowing.

  I have to stay awake..! She told herself over and over throughout the night. Remembering. She needed to, to anchor herself to anything beyond the pain boiling her blood and melting her bones.

  She could feel and hear the blood flowing. The energy merging. Burning. Her skin screaming. She knew something inside her was changing. But what was it? As if in answer, two enormous shadows appeared before her eyes, their gazes paralyzing her very thoughts, let alone movements. They were distant memories of what they once were, suspended between the divine and the wild. Fearsome, unknown beings. Yet one of them seemed familiar. She'd seen those eyes before, or at least similar ones. A frightening gaze on a beautiful face; Noah's face flashed in her mind.

  But she couldn't let herself be swept away. Those monsters seemed wary, fighting to keep their places. Inside her, the pill didn't seem to be able to fulfill its purpose. She needed her own concentration and control to subdue them. She couldn't let the reaction linger. The pill's energy was running out, she could feel it. She sensed if she didn't finish this now, she wouldn't be able to do so later. She would die. Not by poisoning anymore, but by those beasts.

  With a spasm, lines appeared on her forehead. She bit her lips. Black, impurity-filled blood pooled in her mouth and dripped on the filthy blanket. The pain of such an internal struggle seemed to shake her entire world.

  As a final effort, she slowly brought her trembling hands together with the last of her strength. Moving more was impossible, maybe she no longer had bones to do so. She hesitated. The pain was the chant in her mind, soon recalled. But, taking a deep breath, in her thoughts, the Thunder God's chant began.

  I am the conductor.

  Through me flows all supreme energy.

  Life.

  Like an electric current, blue lightning danced on her skin. It burned her flesh at every touch, but it was still not enough. The beasts were unaffected.

  The thread of death.

  In the form of lightning.

  Flowing at the center.

  Penetrating her skin, electricity spread through her blood. Spreading. Reached organs and every hair tip. Her bones groaned, being pushed further for strength and resistance. Purity. The reaction came and He Rui spat blood. It was too much for her. But she wasn't the only one affected. The screams echoing inside her made her smile. It was working, so she increased the chant.

  Where the universe reshapes inside me,

  Flowing in utmost purity.

  A destructive storm that, within me,

  Dwells, pulsing gently.

  The lightning aided her actions, striking the shadows so they couldn't resist. The fever waned. The pill's energy faded. It was ending. She had to finish all at once.

  She sighed.

  Her fingers could feel each other. Energy poured from her pores and nails. And as they truly touched, it exploded like never before. The warm glow was replaced by a stunning blast. Lightning burst in all directions, splitting the floorboards, scattering them, scorching the ground.

  When all was over, the sun was already rising on the horizon, and its light was the last thing He Rui saw before her eyes closed, devoid of strength to keep them open. She was found by her roommate, as well as other servants. Yet, she couldn't be touched at first. The destroyed room repelled any approach. The lightning remained, whether on the ground or the air, dissipating slowly.