Lingqi drifted into the dining hall, a heavy fog shrouding his mind. Anxiety gnawed at him like a relentless beast, pushing worries and fears to the forefront of his thoughts. The Khalkan threat against the Jade Sovereignty cast an ominous shadow over his heart. Were they truly so near? Was invasion imminent?

Lingqi masked his inner turmoil with practiced neutrality. His training had honed his ability to conceal his emotions, yet his Prana often betrayed him, seeping from his pores like an ethereal mist, portraying his innermost thoughts to those perceptive enough to sense it. The more he cultivated his Prana, the harder it became to control. When his emotions flared, it was a reflex, an involuntary outpouring of energy.

He saw his friends gathered around the serving counter, their laughter a fragile balm against his troubled thoughts. Yuyan waved him over, her smile a beacon. The others turned, their eyes filled with expectation.

"Where have you been?" Yuyan's smile was wide and warm, a stark contrast to the churning sea within Lingqi.

"Master Zhang wanted to speak with me," Lingqi replied, his gaze meeting theirs, struggling to mask his worry beneath a veneer of calm.

"What about?" Li Bie asked, curiosity sparking in his eyes. Gao stood with arms crossed, while Chen loomed over his shoulder, anticipation writ large on his face.

"Elder Zhu invited me to accompany him to the Opal Palace," Lingqi revealed, the weight of his words hanging heavy in the air.

Chen and Li Bie's jaws dropped in unison, and Yuyan gasped, a hand flying to her mouth. Gao's lips curled into a slight grin, a rare expression of approval.

"Are you serious?" Chen's voice was a mix of disbelief and excitement.

"That's awesome!" Li Bie exclaimed, his enthusiasm infectious.

"I'm so jealous," Yuyan giggled, her eyes sparkling. "I've been there before; it's wondrous."

"We've all been there," Gao reminded her, his tone smug, arms still crossed.

Lingqi felt a tinge of embarrassment, a blush creeping onto his cheeks. "I'm excited too, but Elder Zhu said the journey could take weeks. I'll miss you all," he smiled softly. "Even you, Chen."

Chen snorted, rolling his eyes, which elicited hearty laughter from the group.

"We're going to miss you," Yuyan placed a comforting hand on Lingqi's shoulder. Her touch was soothing, her smile infectious.

"When do you leave?" Li Bie inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"Tomorrow," Lingqi replied, his nervousness evident in his voice.

"That soon, huh?" Gao's eyes widened in surprise. "Well, that gives us today to give you a proper send-off."

Chen nodded, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I've got a great idea! Why don't we sneak into the capital? There's always something happening there!"

Li Bie frowned, his shoulders slumping. "Why don't we just play Cuju or something?"

"No way! If this is our last time hanging out with Lingqi, we should do something memorable!" Chen declared, his tone indignant.

"Who said it would be our last time?" Yuyan wrapped her arms around Lingqi, embracing him protectively. Though he had grown to match her height, he was still shorter than the others.

"I agree with Chen for once," Gao smirked. "Let's go check out the capital."

"Shouldn't we ask what Lingqi wants to do?" Li Bie interjected with an exasperated sigh.

"Actually..." The thought appealed to Lingqi more and more. The capital wasn't far from the academy, and he had never had the chance to explore it. "It sounds fun," he smiled.

"See?" Chen grinned at Li Bie smugly. "He agrees."

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Li Bie hesitated but found himself intrigued by the idea of experiencing nightlife in Huadu. "Alright, alright, let's do it," he conceded, unable to hide his excitement.

"We'll have to leave before the gates close at dusk, or the guards won't let us in," Yuyan advised, a hint of apprehension in her voice.

"We can leave after dinner," Chen suggested.

"But what about Master Zhang? He won't just let us walk out the door," Li Bie pointed out, doubt masking his face. "Someone or something will have to distract him."

Silence permeated the group as they pondered a solution. The long lull was evidence of their collective stumped state.

Yi Ming approached, holding a piece of paper. Seeing the group's perplexity, he paused. "Did I interrupt something?" he asked, curious yet concerned.

The group turned to him, eyes filled with hope.

"Yi Ming, my good friend," Chen draped an arm around his shoulders, leading him into the group. "We were wondering if you could help us out with something," Chen's eyes gleamed with excitement.

Yi Ming sensed the importance of their mission, curiosity overcoming him. "Okay, what is it?" he asked, a hint of uncertainty in his voice.

Gao moved in, wrapping an arm around Yi Ming's shoulder. "Our cute junior Lingqi is leaving for the Opal Palace tomorrow, and we want to spend the night with him in the capital."

"Congratulations," Yi Ming said to Lingqi, who responded with an innocent smile.

"But we need someone to distract Master Zhang," Li Bie pressed, placing a hand on Yi Ming's shoulder. The determination in Li Bie's eyes was palpable.

"They got you in on it too, huh?" Yi Ming muttered. To think they convinced straight-laced Li Bie to sneak out...

"Please, Yi Ming..." Yuyan moved closer, pleading, hands clasped. "And can you really say no to this face?" She gestured to Lingqi, who gazed up with doe-like eyes.

Their earnestness was overwhelming. Yi Ming sighed, shaking his head. "Okay, I'll do it," he acquiesced.

The group cheered, smothering Yi Ming with affection. He smiled, laughing.

"You're a lifesaver, man," Gao patted his back.

"We're forever in your debt," Li Bie thanked him.

"Thank you so much, Yi Ming!" Yuyan's smile was radiant.

"Thank you, Yi Ming," Lingqi bowed.

"It's not a big deal," Yi Ming downplayed his role. "I play Weiqi with Master Zhang a lot. We'll just do that while you leave."

The group nodded, pleased.

"We owe you one," Chen patted Yi Ming's shoulder, genuine gratitude in his tone.

"Speaking of which," Yi Ming handed Gao the paper. "Your letter arrived."

The group's mood shifted, not with shock but with a reminder of an obligation.

Gao took the letter, his expression blank. "Thank you, Yi Ming. I'll read it later."

Yi Ming sensed the awkwardness. He recalled Gao sending a letter months ago, addressed to his grandmother. It was private, but now curiosity gnawed at him.

"So, when are you heading out?" Yi Ming asked.

"After dinner," Chen responded. "Meet us in the dining hall."

Yi Ming nodded. "Sounds like a plan."

"I'm going to pack," Lingqi said, running to his dorm.

"We'll see you at dinner!" Yuyan waved.

Gao waved the letter, drawing the group's attention. They knew it was from his grandmother, and anticipation had built over weeks.

"Shall we?" Gao proposed. Everyone nodded, following him to his dorm.

Once inside, Gao opened the letter.

"Dear Grandson Gao," he began, voice solemn and subdued. "Know that I shall instruct you and your friends in due time. There is no need to seek me out, for I shall come to you first."

"That's it?" Chen frowned, leaning in.

"Yeah, it's short," Li Bie added, confused.

"What does it mean?" Yuyan wondered.

Gao sighed, placing the letter on the table. "She speaks in riddles. If she says she'll come to us, she will."

The others were silent. Gao's grandmother was wise and eccentric.

"So, what do we do?" Chen asked.

"Wait," Gao replied.

—-

Lingqi packed extra clothes and borrowed books into a satchel. With time before dinner, he opted to pass the time by meditating.

He sat cross-legged, eyes shut, focusing on his Prana. The smoldering flames within him had grown fierce, flowing through his veins, fueling his being. As his awareness expanded, he sensed a shadow—a presence he hadn't noticed before.

Startled, he opened his eyes to see the mysterious old woman from the library. His room darkened unnaturally, his senses dulled as if veiled.

The wraith stepped forward, shadows moving with her, her hooded robes obscuring her form.

"You again..." Lingqi stepped back, unsure. Should he scream? Run?

"You have nothing to fear, young one. I come to commend your progress. You have learned much," her tone was soft, yet unnerving.

"You're a cultivator," Lingqi surmised. "That's how you're doing this."

The elder chuckled, a sound like a soft breeze. "Ah, perceptive indeed."

"What do you want?" Lingqi asked, wary.

"To inform you that you shall witness the Jade Sovereignty's failings firsthand. Once the truth is etched into your soul, there shall be no turning back."

Lingqi was taken aback by her knowledge of his journey to the Opal Palace.

"How did you-"

She cut him off. "You shall have no recollection of this conversation. Only the impression of my words, resonating within. For seeds cannot be planted in infertile land."

Lingqi stood, trying to comprehend her words, but they eluded him, drowning him in confusion.

Darkness enclosed him, a shroud veiling his vision. Breath escaped him, senses dulled, clarity robbed.

The teen awoke with a gasp, sweat pouring down his forehead. His senses were normal again, and he was back in his dorm room, sitting on his bed. He was alone.

Had he fallen asleep?

Lingqi shook his head and sighed. There was a feeling that escaped him, a dream that he could not remember. A thought that he could not grasp.

He shook his head to clear his mind of the cobwebs. The teen washed the sweat off of his face in the water basin and gingerly left his room, his mind occupied by thoughts of the capital.