Lady Wu waits for the two at the entrance to the mansion, back in Star City, as if aware of their imminent arrival. The very moment Wu Yulan jumps off her flying sword, Lady Wu gives her a hug that demonstrates both her possessiveness and pride.

Lan Xiaohui watches this exchange from a few steps away and then looks away. She feels slightly guilty, but also happy about this.

The reason is simple. Even now, Lady Wu is still upset about her daughter competing in the Martial Meeting, but she cannot deny the results that Wu Yulan has achieved. For the Wu family, influence is the most important currency that ensures their continued survival in this city, and with Wu Yulan’s unprecedented result, the Wu family now has more influence than ever before.

On one hand, this result is the best thing that could have happened to the Wu family, but it will likely come at a price that Lady Wu does not wish to pay — the future of her daughter.

Besides Lady Wu, Lady Yue and Zhu Ye are also present, including several servants. They are quickly ushered into the villa, exchanging a few words about the time they have spent at the family retreat, and no mention is made of training or the progress they’ve made during this brief stay.

There is no reason, whatsoever, to suspect that a few days at a cultivation retreat could possibly lead to anything other than relaxation. Not even Wu Yulan’s and Lan Xiaohui’s signs of mild exhaustion raise questions — this matter of training progress is simply unthinkable to them in this short span of time.

Over lunch, there is some light conversation about plans for the Red Banner Festival, which is already in full swing but will last another couple of days, before the Martial Meeting’s junior tournament event. Other than this, there is no mention of the Martial Meeting, or what the Wu family plans to do — likely a conversation Lady Wu will privately have with her daughter.

That is, until Wu Yulan brings up the topic.

“Everyone,” the white-haired girl says, standing up from her seat. “I have decided that I want to become a sword cultivator.”

At once, the atmosphere in the room changes. There is well-concealed excitement, but it is concealed for a good reason. Everyone’s eyes are on Lady Wu — the only person with the authority and desire to not allow this to happen.

“I don’t want to be treated like cattle and wed off to some nobody who only has a family name to inflate his worth! I now know that I am meant for more and I want to seek the Dao!” Her declaration is filled, simultaneously, with both conviction and uncertainty. It is clear that she has practiced the way she would deliver these words, and the conviction in her tone is fake. If anything, it almost comes across as arrogance.

I had expected more from the Wu princess, in terms of being an orator, but the way she keeps glancing at her mother while trying to keep her head high shows me that she is not without weaknesses or fear. Even so, I approve of this.

While Lady Yue’s eyes sparkle with approval and amusement, Lan Xiaohui lowers her gaze. My owner knows that this discord in the family is her fault, and though her intentions were pure, she cannot deny that the consequences of her dangerous diplomacy are destructive.

Lady Wu does not reply yet and instead, she reaches over to the cup of tea and, in a very refined manner, takes a sip. It is not difficult for me, even if I weren’t capable of reading her surface thoughts, to see that her anger flashes red-hot for a brief moment, before cooling down slowly.

“She reminds me a bit of you, Wu Yaxuan,” Zhu Ye says, looking over toward Lady Wu. “You used to be quite rebellious back in the day, too.”

Lady Wu narrows her eyes at those words, shoots Zhu Ye a glare, and then sighs after a moment and puts the teacup down.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“But I eventually came to my senses and did the right thing,” Lady Wu says, voice even and measured.

“Why not let her compete in the Martial Meeting?” Lady Yue suggests with a smile.

“She could get hurt,” Lady Wu replies immediately, clearly having given this some thought already. “Can anyone guarantee that the other clans are not jealous of my Lan'er, and have not made arrangements to cripple or kill her in the tournament?”

Lan Xiaohui’s eyes widen — not because of the possibility that the other clans are plotting against her friend, but for a different reason. “There is no one in this city who could defeat Wu Yulan in the tournament!” she declares without thinking her words through or hesitating in delivering them.

At the very least, my owner's conviction is not in the least bit fake. Even calling it arrogant would be wrong. Even I would like to meet the kind of monster who would not fall to Wu Yulan's sword; they'd probably be worth a lot of blood points.

Lady Wu looks at my owner with a dismissive glance. “And who are you to claim such nonsense? Have you become a Sword Saint already? Do you know everything?”

Lan Xiaohui’s jaw hangs open for a brief moment and then, feeling slightly foolish leans back in her chair and lowers her head.

“Even if you don’t let her compete, those same families will claim that Wu Yulan got lucky, or that she cheated. If she doesn’t join the Galaxy Sword sect, her result will only become a burden, not a boon,” Lady Yue explains. “It is best to let her compete in the tournament, even if she doesn’t have to. Wu Yulan is stronger than you think, Yaxuan.”

Lady Wu frowns at Lady Yue’s words but nods in agreement.

“Her result will be known worldwide soon, and, eventually, powerful people will come to take her away if she has not joined a sect yet. At least if she joins the Galaxy Sword sect, she will remain close to you,” Lady Yue concludes.

This is the exact moment when Lady Wu’s resistance crumbles and she sighs helplessly. “Fine,” she says. “You are right.”

Wu Yulan smiles, having smartly remained silent during this exchange.

“Excuse me,” Lady Wu says, stands up from her chair, and departs the dining room. Even though I can tell that she is deeply affected by this course of events, I can also sense that there is satisfaction in her heart. She never could’ve imagined that her withdrawn and disinterested daughter would ever have such strong desires to become a sword cultivator.

Wu Yulan watches the departure of her mother with equally mixed feelings and then smiles at Lan Xiaohui. “Sister Xuelian, let’s go to the sect in an hour. There is a matter I must attend to, first.”

Lan Xiaohui nods. “As you wish,” she says.

Wu Yulan bows her head politely to the other guests and then departs after her mother.

Zhu Ye also then, at that point, excuses himself and departs, leaving Lan Xiaohui and Lady Yue alone.

When everyone leaves, Lady Yue rests her jaw in the palm of her hand and leans toward my owner with a mysterious smile.

“You and I also have much to talk about, my little lily,” Lady Yue says, tapping a finger on the table.

Lan Xiaohui lowers her head. “I apologize for my poor performance at the Martial Meeting,” she says.

Lady Yue tilts her head. “Oh, I am not upset at all about that,” she says. “You did as well as I expected.”

Lan Xiaohui frowns. “You knew I would fail?”

Lady Yue laughs. “Of course,” she says. “How old are you now, lily? Eighteen? Nineteen? What do you know about life or the vast road ahead of you? No one is without flaws, no matter what their result in the Pagoda says. You just got unlucky and were asked the wrong question.”

Lan Xiaohui’s eyes widen at these words, and it is clear that she has never considered it from that perspective.

“But now, I won’t be able to join the Galaxy Sword sect,” my owner says.

Lady Yue scoffs. “Why are you being coy now, little lily?” the older woman asks. “You stubbornly held on to your desire for vengeance, failed the Pagoda exam, and now you are going to roll over and let this be the end for you? Don’t tell me you are now ashamed of yourself for holding on to such a matter.”

Lan Xiaohui glares at Lady Yue for even suggesting she could be ashamed of this ‘matter’, which in reality is Lan Xiaohui’s attachment to me, not her desire to kill Yu Shun.

“Good, good,” Lady Yue hums, seeing Lan Xiaohui’s reaction. “It doesn’t hurt to be shameless to the end then, my little lily. The Galaxy Sword sect values power; your result at the Pagoda is irrelevant. If you challenge the strongest fighter at the tournament and win, who could refuse your entry into the sect? I am quite certain those old elders will strongly consider your request.”

The way Lady Yue says these words is not just conviction, but absolute certainty; as if implying she is personally involved.

Lan Xiaohui nods at these words and her shoulders slump slightly in relief.

“I am far more interested in your experience at that forbidden ancestral land of the Seven Killing Swords sect. It is time that you tell me what happened at the center of the forest,” Lady Yue says, her words mysteriously concealing a hidden meaning.