Rebirth as a Wind Cultivator-Chapter 90: Friends

The most valuable treasures cannot be stored in spirit pouches or hidden in secret vaults. They reside in shared laughter, whispered confidences, and the silent understanding between kindred souls who walk the path together.

—Master Yan Hui, Teacher of Common Wisdom

Xiulan hummed a cheerful tune while completing the final strokes on her talisman practice sheet. The morning sunlight streamed through the pavilion windows, highlighting the fresh ink patterns.

Finished. She gathered the brushes and arranged them neatly beside the inkstone.

Ming rolled her eyes at Xiulan’s obvious excitement. “Go ahead. I’ll finish cleaning up here.”

Xiulan paused. “Really?”

“If I hold my junior sister back from seeing her friends after a month apart, I’ll probably incur bad karma.” Ming straightened the stack of completed talismans.

Xiulan launched forward and wrapped her arms around Ming in a quick embrace. “Thanks! You’re the best!”

She darted through the pavilion halls toward her quarters, her footsteps light against the polished wooden floors. Inside her room, Xiulan grabbed her bag and secured her small spirit stone pouch at her waist. A quick glance in the mirror confirmed her robes sat perfectly aligned, not a wrinkle in sight.

She burst through the pavilion’s ornate doors into the bright morning sun. The cultivator district buzzed with activity—disciples in various colored robes hurried between buildings while merchants hawked cultivation supplies from wooden stalls.

Xiulan wove between a cart loaded with spirit herbs and a group of chattering disciples. The scent of medicinal plants mixed with incense from nearby shops filled the air. Her feet carried her past arrays of gleaming weapons and stacks of talismans toward the market proper.

The market square was packed with colorful awnings and people. Xiulan ducked under a merchant’s arm as he gestured wildly about his “authentic” spiritual trinkets. She spotted the Tea Lotus tavern’s wooden sign swaying gently in the breeze.

Inside the tavern, paper lanterns cast a warm glow over polished tables. The scent of jasmine and oolong wafted through the air.

“I’d like a tea service, please. I’m waiting for my group,” Xiulan said to the server, a young man in a simple brown tunic.

The server’s eyes widened. “Are you Fairy Lin?”

“Yes?” Xiulan blinked at the unexpected recognition.

“Ah, your group arrived earlier. They’re in the private room upstairs.”

“Oh!” Xiulan followed the server up the worn wooden stairs, each step creaking beneath her feet.

The private room opened to reveal a familiar scene. Feng Yu sat poised in her black and gold robes at a round table, her sandy hair catching the morning light from the window. Beside her, Mei Chen leaned forward, absorbed in conversation, the mindful spirit’s pale features framed by brown hair and a braided ponytail.

Anticipation bubbled in Xiulan’s chest. “Hey! You’re starting without me?”

“We just got here.” Feng Yu’s amber eyes sparkled with amusement.

“Miss!” Mei Chen spun in her seat.

Xiulan rushed forward and crushed Mei Chen in a tight embrace. Their shared laughter filled the room, echoing off the wooden walls.

“You’re looking good, Mei.” Xiulan studied the healthy glow in Mei Chen’s cheeks. Maybe the body repair talismans wouldn’t be needed?

The server brought steaming cups of fragrant tea and a plate of golden-brown sweet buns on the table. The aroma of tea and fresh-baked bread filled the private room.

A flash of gold scales caught Xiulan’s attention as Liuhuo slithered from Feng Yu’s sleeve. The fire dawn serpent chirped a greeting before coiling around the nearest teacup, soaking in the warmth.

“The classes at Skyward are incredible.” Mei Chen bounced in her seat. “Though the Lingdao group keeps running tests on me. I spend most of my time meditating while they observe.”

“Tests?” Xiulan’s stomach clenched. She shot an accusatory glare at Feng Yu. “You promised to watch over her!”

“No, no!” Mei Chen waved frantically. “They’re just curious since they’ve never seen someone like me before. No one hurt me, I promise.”

Feng Yu sipped her tea. “Mei Chen is doing fine. It’s Ren Chun I’m worried about.”

“What happened to him?” Xiulan asked.

“Well...” Feng Yu traced the rim of her cup. “All the seniors saw him apply with us. Now they keep harassing him about having multiple lovers.”

“What?” Xiulan nearly spilled her tea.

Mei Chen rolled her eyes. “That’s Fairy Feng’s fault! She confused them on purpose to get back at him.”

Feng Yu lifted her teacup to hide her smirk before taking another sip.

“Miss Xiulan!” Mei Chen leaned forward, eyes bright. “How are you doing at the Treasure Pavilion? Do you think maybe... I could join and stay with you?”

Xiulan reached across the table and pulled Mei Chen into a tight squeeze. The familiar floral scent clung to the other girl. “I wish you could, but there aren’t any spirit specialists there. I’ve got my own troubles to deal with, too.”

Mei Chen melted into the hug but pulled back with a pronounced pout that made her look more like her old self.

“I got kicked out of martial practice on my first day.” Xiulan tapped the side of her teacup. “Now I have to take personal lessons with Senior Sister Ming. The only classes going well are alchemy and talisman calligraphy.” She brightened. “Oh! I decided to specialize in talismans with Ming’s guidance.”

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“Hmm.” Feng Yu set down her cup with a thoughtful expression. “It’s good Senior Sister Ming is there to help. I wasn’t sure what to think when Master Qingfeng appeared suddenly, but Sister Ming seems reliable.”

Xiulan nodded, tilting her head toward Feng Yu. “So what’s this about dragging our honor through the mud as ‘Ren Chun’s lovers’? That seems rather grave.”

“Oh!” Mei Chen bounced up from her cushion. “He beat her in a sword duel right in front of everyone and proclaimed his victory so loudly! While everyone watched, Fairy Feng brought up...”

Feng Yu waved her hand in the air frantically.

Xiulan bit into a sweet bun, the honey-glazed exterior cracking pleasantly. She covered her mouth to hide her laugh. “Oh dear...”

Xiulan brushed crumbs from her lips, watching Feng Yu with amusement. “I thought the princess would need to maintain her reputation.”

Feng Yu raised her teacup higher, using the porcelain to obscure her face. Liuhuo let out a cheerful hiss.

“You knew about that?” Mei Chen blinked rapidly. “The other students figured it out fast. Now they keep their distance. Apparently, the imperial family has lots of graduates from Skyward Institute.”

Feng Yu lowered her cup with a heavy sigh. “It’s better if I don’t stand out too much as a princess. Or seem too… imperial. Words and events have a way of reaching the palace...”

“So you need to keep a low profile?” Xiulan set down a half-eaten bun. “You owe us an explanation, don’t you? It’s not exactly a secret anymore, and we never really talked about it.”

Feng Yu nodded solemnly. “I owe you both an explanation.”

Mei Chen leaned close to Xiulan’s ear, her breath tickling as she whispered. “She hasn’t told me anything yet either.”

The sweet bun remained forgotten as she watched Feng Yu’s amber eyes grow distant. Steam curled up from their untouched tea cups.

“I should start at the beginning.” Feng Yu straightened her robes. Liuhuo uncurled from around her teacup to rest his head on her wrist. “I was born to the second imperial concubine. My mother held great favor with the emperor at the time.”

Xiulan noticed the slight tremor in Feng Yu’s fingers as she stroked Liuhuo’s scales. The sun streaming through the window cast shadows across her face, highlighting the tension in her jaw.

“My older sisters died within a few years of each other. That left me as the eldest daughter.” Feng Yu’s words came out measured and precise. “Then came the plot. Someone wanted to drive a wedge between my mother and the emperor. They...” She paused, swallowing hard. “They killed his oldest son. My brother. Somehow my mother was found to have ‘involvement,’ although not conclusive.”

She moved to take a sip of tea before continuing. “After that, they confined us to our own palace.”

Feng Yu’s fingers trembled against her teacup. “A year later, the palace burned down. Someone locked all the gates.”

Xiulan’s heart pounded against her ribs. Mei Chen squeezed her hand. The sweet bun lay forgotten on her plate as they watched amber eyes grow distant with remembered horror.

“The imperial guards covered it up.” Feng Yu’s voice felt hollow. “I watched it happen. The flames spread so fast...”

Liuhuo curled tighter around her wrist. Feng Yu stroked his head with mechanical precision.

“My fire cultivation root saved me, but everyone else...” Her voice cracked. “My mother... the servants... they burned in my arms while I remained untouched.”

Mei Chen pressed close to Xiulan’s side. Her form radiated cold against Xiulan’s skin.

“The palace collapsed.” Feng Yu stared into her cooling tea. “I ended up buried under the rubble. Everyone thought I had died that day. A few loyal servants helped me survive for years afterward, hidden away...”

The private room fell silent except for Liuhuo’s soft hissing. Steam no longer rose from their cups, the jasmine scent growing stale in the heavy air.

Xiulan leaned forward. “Did you ever find out who started the fire?”

Feng Yu shook her head. “No. The investigation vanished as quickly as the ashes cooled.”

“But you didn’t stay hidden forever,” Xiulan said.

A flash of determination cross Feng Yu’s face. “When I turned twelve, I walked straight into the Imperial Academy. I demanded my right to education as a cultivator in front of everyone. The look on my father’s face when he realized I survived...”

Liuhuo slipped onto the table, his scales gleaming as he snatched a piece of Xiulan’s unfinished sweet bun.

“They couldn’t refuse me without breaking tradition.” Feng Yu smiled with remembered satisfaction. “For three years, I studied cultivation there. Several court officials supported me—probably those who opposed my father. They provided resources.”

Mei Chen frowned. “But it wasn’t safe?”

“No.” Feng Yu’s fingers traced abstract patterns on the wooden table. “The assassination attempts grew bolder. As soon as I gained enough strength, I left to seek experience away from the imperial family’s reach.”

Xiulan nodded then met Feng Yu’s gaze. “What about Prince Sheng Hao? We met him recently.”

“Ah, my older brother.” Feng Yu straightened her robes. “He’s the fifth son, fighting for influence like the others. The Ministry of Investigation gives him significant power, but the third and fourth princes hold more favor with father.”

“He struck me as quite the showman.” Xiulan recalled his affected mannerisms at their meeting.

“Part act, part survival mechanism.” Feng Yu tapped her fingers against the wooden table. “Don’t underestimate him, though.” She sighed. “He wasn’t in the capital during the fire—spent those years hidden away somewhere. I’m certain he wasn’t involved.” She frowned at her cooling tea. “Though I still haven’t decoded his cryptic message about someone in Aeris being connected to everything.”

Liuhuo slithered across the table to tickle Xiulan’s hand with his tongue. She raised an eyebrow at him, but he seemed more interested in her fingers. She gave him a gentle rub on the head. “Is there anything we can do to help?”

“No.” Feng Yu shook her head firmly. “I’d rather you both stay uninvolved.”

Xiulan shared a look with Mei Chen. A silent understanding passed between them.

“That’s not really possible anymore,” Xiulan stated.

Feng Yu’s brow furrowed.

“You’re our sister.” Mei Chen straightened on her cushion. “If you deny us the chance to help when we can, you’re falling from the correct path.”

“But—” Feng Yu grunted.

“Mei Chen speaks truth,” Xiulan said. “Maybe you worry about us getting involved, but we earned this trouble alongside you.”

Feng Yu’s fingers tightened around her teacup. “This isn’t a joke. You could both die.”

“I’m aware.” Xiulan glanced at Mei Chen, who nodded firmly. The other girl’s features held unwavering determination. “Mei knows that too. We stand with you regardless. If you discover more, tell us so we can make the best decisions together.”

Silence stretched between them. Feng Yu frowned at her tea before giving a slow nod. “When I figure out more, I’ll tell you. Though there’s a chance I never will. Finding who orchestrated everything after so long...” She trailed off into silence.

“Let’s change the topic?” Mei Chen offered.

Liuhuo poked his snout against Xiulan’s wrist.

“What are you looking for?” Xiulan watched the fire dawn serpent explore up her sleeve.

Feng Yu raised an eyebrow. “Liuhuo, don’t bother her.”

Liuhuo continued to explore until he focused intently on a specific spot on Xiulan’s robe, his serpentine body coiling with interest.

“Oh, gee.” Xiulan reached into her robe and pulled out the spiritual fox egg. Its smooth surface glowed with a faint light, pulsing with dormant qi.

Mei Chen sucked in a sharp breath. The spirit’s pale features lit up with wonder as she leaned forward to study the egg.

Feng Yu stared at the egg, her amber eyes widening. “You found a spirit beast egg?”

Xiulan laughed. “I’ve been caring for it for a while now.” She cradled the egg in her palm as Liuhuo circled it with interest. “Looks like Liuhuo will have some competition soon.”

Liuhuo’s jaws stretched impossibly wide and inched forward.

Xiulan snatched it back against her chest, eyes widening at the fire dawn serpent’s audacity.

A series of chirping hisses erupted from Liuhuo—unmistakably mocking laughter.

“Behave yourself!” Xiulan waggled her finger at the serpentine troublemaker.

“He doesn’t listen to—” Feng Yu cut off mid-sentence.

The fire dawn serpent wrapped himself around Xiulan’s wrist, his crimson scales warm against her skin. His eyes closed and breathing deepened into the steady rhythm of sleep.

Feng Yu’s mouth dropped open. She stared at her sleeping companion with naked disbelief.

“What can I say?” Xiulan grinned broadly at her friend’s stunned expression. “I’m naturally better with spirits than my dear sister.”

“I’m sorry Fairy Feng.” Mei Chen squeezed Xiulan’s arm affectionately. “But I have to agree with Miss Lin.”