Breathe in, breathe out.

Reach deep into the earth, like the roots of a plant, mingling with the golden energy there.

Feel the energy cycle.

Cai Xiulan felt peace.

A contentment borne of success and repayment.

The sun’s rays felt warm on her face while a cool breeze flowed over her. For the moment, she simply… existed. Luxuriating in a feeling that had been only fleeting once.The energy filled her body. Washing through her meridians and her dantian, rising in a crescendo. It was like she was going to ascend to the next stage of her cultivation, as it swirled, and buoyed her up… before it started to ebb, not quite allowing her to break through to the Fifth Stage of the Initiate’s Realm.

A year ago, she would have grabbed at the energy. Forced it, pulled it into her body and consumed it in a desperate attempt to breach the divide. Instead, Xiulan let the energy go. She let out the breath she was holding and it faded away.

Patience. Patience was key.

As the energy receded, so too did minute impurities within her foundation. The Qi of the land taking, purifying, and removing them, leaving her Qi pure, her foundation more solid.

Idly, she expected a sneering scoff from a little girl, her face and body coated in cracked gold. The little earth spirit had not danced with her since the Dueling Peaks. She still felt the connection to her through the golden crack that was in the center of her chest, part of the Earth Spirit’s own body sealing a wound shut.

She could feel a sense of… drowsiness. The spirit had evidently expended much energy in aiding her. She would not begrudge the little one her rest.

The scar was an ever present reminder.

She had been burned, burned by Zang Li’s Qi from the First Stage of the Profound Realm all the way back the the Third of the Initiate’s Realm. For a cultivator of the Azure Hills, it was a crippling loss of power, a tragedy for the Young Mistress to be so maimed.

Xiulan felt no loss at all. The thought of Tigu, Ri Zu, Gou Ren, and Yun Ren hurt and broken… was unacceptable.

Even if her cultivation had been destroyed completely, she would have been content with the outcome of the final battle.

Yet she had not been. And even now, she regrew. The ashes in her soul were like fuel, the stalks of grass growing anew.

It was humbling and gratifying at the same time—

“Cai Xiulan, you’re supposed to be a blade of grass, not a weed.”

Slowly, Xiulan opened her eyes to a river and the grass of a farm, both splashed through with reds, oranges, and golds from falling leaves. She was sitting on the veranda of the house, facing the river. Slightly behind and to the left was the swinging chair Jin and Meiling spent many an hour on.

She glanced up to Xianghua, the source of the voice that sounded both impressed and annoyed, raising a single eyebrow.

It had been a week since her return to Fa Ram from the Mid-Autumn Festival. It was a little annoying how fast Xianghua seemed to just… fit in. Her boisterous laughter just seemed at home at the table as she feasted and just seemed to be able to go with the flow. The irrepressible woman already had a routine that she had crafted for herself, eagerly joining their group in the morning, taking tea at noon with Meiling and Xiulan, and sparring in the afternoon.

“Oh? Maybe it’s just my natural talent shining through, Damp Pond. Try not to get too jealous. Stagnant water is unappealing.”

The woman just laughed as she slid down to sit beside Xiulan. Her hands were still damp, looking like they had been recently washed. She seemed in a good mood.

“It’s going well then?” Xiulan asked,.

Xianghua nodded happily. “The deer is completely healed and walks perfectly.” The young woman excitedly reported to Xiulan the details that she had missed while meditating.

A trial run for restoring Bowu’s leg had been planned. Ri Zu, Meiling and, surprisingly, Wa Shi had worked on it. A trapped deer was rendered unconscious with the medicine of Hong Yaowu. The leg was then paralysed with more paralytics and acupuncture, the nerves mostly shut down. Meiling had cut open the leg while Ri Zu monitored the poison and Wa Shi aided with keeping the incisions clear of blood. With Meiling’s skilled hands the procedure took all of ten minutes to perform. It wasn’t a perfect one to one comparison… but the deer had been walking within the hour after being healed by the Spiritual Herbs.

They had kept the deer for a time, to see if any infection would set in or if the healing was imperfect. But the deer seemingly hadn’t noticed, content to be fed and watered. In the end it was like nothing had happened to it at all. Xinaghua had noticed Meiling muttering something about “bullshit cultivators”.

“Yes, it’s going to be soon. Very soon. Lady Meiling wishes to do one more mock run just in case… but it will work.”

Xianghua’s eyes were full of bright hope as she stared across the courtyard.

A small smile was fixed on her face as she looked out into the courtyard where there was a mahjong game in progress. Tigu, Bowu, Ri Zu and Pi Pa were all playing, while Gou Ren and Yun Ren watched idly on as they performed their own chores. Gou Ren was maintaining his bow while Yun Ren fletched arrows. The feathers were a very familiar red, Bi De having donated a few out of curiosity to see if the arrows flew better.

The orange haired girl slapped down half her tiles, smug as could be. “The house of Master!” she called proudly.

The entire table stared at her play. Or rather the completely random hand Tigu had arranged into something resembling a house, instead of a proper arrangement.

“We spent two hours teaching you how to play yesterday—You’re doing this on purpose!” Bowu shouted, pointing an accusing finger at Tigu.

Tigu smiled brilliantly at him, the picture of innocence.

A rat bounced off the back of Tigu’s skull, a terrific flying kick sending her staggering. Bowu reached up, putting the orange haired girl’s head into a lock. He jammed his knuckles into her head and started twisting. Pi Pa looked as if she was above such things, a perfect aloof lady… then there was movement and Tigu yelped as a trotter delicately stomped on her foot as it drifted too close to the pig.

Tigu could have broken out in an instant. But she didn’t, instead allowing the indignity of Ri Zi jumping up and down on her nose and squeaking angrily at her.

Xianghua let out a little chuckle as she looked on, then turned to Xiulan.

“Sometimes the luck of Heaven does go to the virtuous.” Xianghua stated solemnly. Xiulan flushed at the earnest remark.

They watched the scrambling mahjong players for a while, until Meiling came out carrying a stack of blankets.

The blankets were tossed on top of the squabbling pile, turning it into a writhing mass, as her voice rose in a scolding.

Xianghua shook her head as Meiling forced all four of them to kneel before her, her arms crossed and foot tapping as she waited for them to explain who started it.

“A Fall’s colours viewing today, hmm?” Xianghua asked, as Meiling started to sort out the children. “Interesting.”

Xiulan was looking forward to it. She had gone to flower viewings before, on the days when the lotus blooms broke the surface of the ponds in the Verdant Blade Sect, but never as the leaves fell.

Perhaps some felt as if it would be too close to celebrating death? Or more likely it was because the trees to the south did not get quite so vibrant in colour when they turned for the winter.

“Xianghua, could you take some of these blankets please?” Meiling asked kindly as she sent off the younger ones with fond exasperation, Yun and Gou following after them.

“Of course, Lady Meiling! I shall convey each and every blanket to its destination in a heartbeat!” the woman declared.

She received a quiet chuckle in response from Meiling.

“Xiulan, could you go check on Jin and make sure everything is almost done?” Meiling asked her next, and Xiulan raised an eyebrow in confusion.

“I can get the blankets instead, if you wish.” Xiulan offered.

“He said he was making some kind of cheese.” Meiling clarified petulantly.

“Or course, Senior Sister. Your champion shall brave the dreaded cheese’s stench.” she said mockingly. Xiulan clambered up from her meditation spot.

Meiling huffed and bumped her with her hip as Xiulan walked past. Xiulan bumped back.

======================

Xiulan poked her head into the kitchen where Jin was humming to himself while working. He was spreading a thick, creamy looking sauce over the top of oddly shaped, golden-brown rolls.

Bi De was nearby flapping his wings, clearing off some of the leftover flour. While Xiulan and Meiling had contributed some help for the meal, the majority of the work today had been Jin. He had wanted some very specific things for what he called a “special treat”.

He had that focused look on his face, along with the smile Xiulan remembered when she first met him. He looked carefree again, instead of having his brow furrowed with concern.

It suited him much better.

The small smile as he bowed to Xiulan and Tigu. As he asked for their help.

The opportunity to give back… no. Not to give back, but to help as he had helped her.

It had taken some time, but he finally looked to have recovered the calm he had been missing.

“Jin? Is everything almost ready?” she asked.

Jin turned to her, and his grin brightened as he saw her.

“Yup! It’s good to go! Just finished putting the icing on.”

Xiulan stared curiously at the strange things. If Jin had made them then they were undoubtedly good, and she was curious about the sauce.

He noticed her intent look and glanced around, shiftily, before leaning towards her.

“Don’t tell Wa Shi,” he said with a wink, handing her the spoon, which was normally the fish’s prize. The dragon and Chun Ke had been in the forest nearby the last she had seen of them, going around and burying some of their nut stache so they could have something to eat if they went for a walk in the winter.

Xiulan smiled, taking the spoon from him and examining the thick frosting. It certainly didn’t smell like cheese. It just smelled creamy and tangy. Intrigued, she sampled some of it—

“MmmMmmmmmHHHH~” The sound, as always, came out unbidden. The substance was almost sickeningly sweet. Decadence incarnate melted in her mouth, everything that the austere masters that had trained her warned about.

Jin’s eyebrow twitched slightly and his face flushed. Xiulan stuffed the spoon in her mouth.

“Cream cheese frosting and cinnamon rolls.” Jin said proudly, after awkwardly clearing his throat. “Along with maple ice cream and shooter sandwiches,” he declared, pointing to what looked like a whole loaf of bread that had weights placed on it, crushing it down. “Also got a pure veggie one for Chun Ke.”

“Cinnamon rolls?” she asked, staring at the sweet looking cakes.

“Well… Spicebark, but it tastes close enough Jin said, as he grabbed the bowl to start to clean up.

Xiulan eyed the dregs of the icing left in it.

“Now, now, Sister, there is plenty to eat later.” Bi De chastised her, the rooster sounding most amused.

Xiualn helped him pack everything together and then they were off too. Jin carried a basket while Xiulan held the box filled with ice and ice cream. Bi De alighted on Xiulan’s shoulder and picked a leaf out of her hair. The trio marched out of the house and away from the courtyard, to where the new project was starting. The leveled out and staked section of land had pieces of copper scaffolding set into place, and what looked like a warped piece of glass stuck between the frames. Jin’s “greenhouse” was still in its early stages, as Miantiao tried to make the “floating glass” Jin had mentioned work.

They journeyed in companionable silence, past the fields, empty of now harvested crops. Past the sheep grazing in the fields and the bend in the river.

Everyone else was loitering at one of the bridges across the river, and perked up when they came into view.

Meiling squeezed in between them and linked arms with them both as Tigu clambered onto Xiulan’s back, batting playfully at Bi De until he swapped to Jin’s shoulder with an annoyed huff.

They ventured into the forest that blazed in the sunlight with a riot of colours until they came to a grove of maples where they set out their blankets.

They all settled in for a meal on the blankets, sitting around, talking, and watching the leaves fall.

It was nice, just drifting in and out of the conversations, as they ate and drank fruit juice.

Xiulan turned to where Pi Pa, Ri Zu, and Meiling had cornered Xianghua.

‘Miss Liu, Ri Zu must know!’ the rat said, her eyes sparkling.

‘Indeed, dear, it’s really quite important.’ Pi Pa intoned.

“Yeah. You and Gou have been cagey. When is the wedding, anyway?” Meiling continued, smiling brilliantly.

Xianghua blinked, then shrugged.

“We do not know yet. He wants to have something “more worthy of you”, the fool. But I don’t hate his earnestness.” she said fondly.

Meiling on the other hand, frowned. “It’s fine if you’re married, but should you be…?

“Ah. He offered to stop until we were wed. Gou has been a perfect gentleman!”

Meiling cocked her head to the side.

“Naturally, I refused this.” Xianghua stated cheerfully without an ounce of shame.

Xiulan shook her head and looked somewhere else while Meiling seemed torn between impressed and just a bit scandalized.

Xiulan looked to the sky as a single red leaf fell; the same leaf that was on the symbol Meiling had designed and the same one on the sign outside the gate.

She raised a hand, touching the falling red leaf. It rested for a moment on her outstretched finger. And then she let it fall to the earth.

There was a small scuffle as Jin, Gou Ren and Yun Ren began to squabble over the last slice of mushroom and meat bread. It had been delicious… and the boys didn’t notice the fish slinking in behind them to nab the prize.

Xiulan chuckled. There were still many trials ahead, that much was certain. Yet she still could not help but be optimistic for the future.

==========

“The road changes up ahead, sir.” A man in a uniform reported. “Smooth stone up ahead. I thought I was dreaming at first, but it looks like the roads near Pale Moon Lake City.”

“Really?” Guan Bo, merchant of the Azure Jade Trading Company, asked as he looked back at the caravan. His first trip had been bad enough, but it had only really been himself and a few guards.

Now the train was twenty carts long and they had nearly sixty guards with them, the finest money could buy, all with hazard pay bonuses. The break downs and the amount of times they had gotten stuck on the poorly maintained roads had been murder.

Metaphorically, at least, anyway.

Still, they were nearly there and that was what mattered.

“It really is far away.” a woman with scarlet hair muttered from beside her brother as they marched down the road to Verdant Hill.

“I did tell you.” Bo replied. “Not my fault you’ve barely been out of Pale Moon Lake City, Chyou.”

The woman, Guan Chyou, let out a breath. The trip had been slow and uncomfortable if uneventful, taking over a month.

“Is everything ready for when we arrive, Bo?” she asked, biting back a tart reply.

Her brother rolled his eyes. “For the last time, yes. The gifts are ready to go, we have the route back mapped, and all the stuff we need for the outpost. It’s going to be fine. I know you’re nervous because of how big this is, but it’s all going to turn out great!”

Chyou let out a breath, before nodding.

“To Verdant Hill, then,” she muttered, staring around at the large undertaking.

All of this mobilized for one man. It seemed almost absurd when thought of it that way.

Except it was one man with the finest rice this side of the Empire. They had samples of other Gold Grade rice, and none of them compared.

The Azure Jade Trading Company wasn’t just banking on a man.

They were banking on a future.