Israk had decided on his Path.

Shibara chose hers next. "This one."

"The Heart Path?" Ruidie flipped open Fundamental Dao Heart.

The summary was surprisingly similar to the description of the Union Path. After entering the Path, the usage of energy within the body was also meant to subtly change. Yet, instead of becoming more acclimated to a single object, it was to a specific natural occurrence referred to as a law. As an example, whereas every sword is unique, iron remained the same no matter where it came from, but the natural occurrence of iron was unique. Capturing the qualities of a law within your body was what the book referred to as the Dao Seed realm.

Much of the summary was wasted on a nonsensical analogy of growing a plant. The only other thing Ruidie got out of the description was that in the Dao Tree realm, manipulation of the chosen law became possible, such as with an innate control method.

"Both the Heart Path and the Union Path, which allows me to make a specific connection to something, are my best chance at integrating with my existing Path. Since the Ashina’s Path does not hold any specific object as important, I believe the Heart Path is the most suitable," Shibara said.

Ruidie tilted her head. "The book remarks how it is common for the five elements to be used as laws. Although metal, fire, and water remain the same no matter how much they are split, what about wood? What about earth? How can those be considered unique when they are made up of so many different things?"

"Why can’t the land be a natural occurrence? Isn’t anything in the world a natural occurrence? Isn’t the world a natural occurrence?"

Ruidie remained silent.

Shibara closed her eyes. "The blue sky above us. The black land below us. In the middle, human beings connect the two. Only by interacting with the land can we communicate with the blue sky and the spirits below it. If this is the Ashina’s Path, and the Heart Path communicates with a law, I might be able to bridge the gap with the ground beneath us."

"I wish you luck." Ruidie picked up the last book and creased her lips. Fundamental Orthodox Study. Before she could open the text, footsteps pulled her attention to a figure that walked up to their table.

He was a brown-haired youth who wore a white and brown uniform. He held a book in his off-hand. His gray eyes met Ruidie’s.

She recognized him.

Israk sat up with sharp eyes. "Need something?"

The youth gave a short nod. "I’m Yuwen Du, a second-year from the Arithmetic School." He turned towards Ruidie. "Can we speak?"

Ruidie placed a small smile over her lips and jumped off her seat. She stood across from the youth perhaps a year older than her. "What do you need?"

The youth thinned his lips and gave a quick glance at the Ashina siblings.

"No matter what it is, they can listen to anything you have to say," Ruidie said.

Yuwen Du nodded. "Please apologize to Teacher."

Ruidie frowned. She was honestly confused. "Are these your words or his?"

"These are my words."

Ruidie nodded. "Then, no."

Yuwen Du frowned. "It is in his nature to be easily misunderstood."

Ruidie nodded again. "I see."

"Teacher is actually a very good person." His expression was brightening.

"I believe I understand."

"Then?"

"I don’t care."

"What?"

Ruidie smiled. "The first thing I was ever taught is that cause and effect exist in this world. There exist consequences to even the smallest of actions, and for me to end these consequences so easily will only spoil your teacher."

The youth stood in silence absorbing the words. "Spoil Teacher?" he muttered in disbelief. He raised his head. "You don’t refer to Teacher as your father when speaking."

"In the two days that I stayed at that manor, he only met me once. I have called your Teacher ‘Father’, but he has yet to call me his daughter or even my name. Therefore, before I am my father’s child, I am obviously my mother’s daughter."

Yuwen Du curled his open hand into a fist. "That’s just how Teacher is. You should meet with Teacher again."

Ruidie could understand some things about this youth from their current interaction. Like her when she was in Lanzhou, perhaps he had no family. He respected her father, and when she had what he always wanted, she essentially ran away from home. Yet, why should she be the one to compromise first? "Why do you care?"

Yuwen Du paused.

"Do you know my name?" Ruidie asked.

Yuwen Du’s eyes widened. He then closed them in thought. "Your name… Your name is Rui… Your name is Luo Rui-"

"Wrong!" her voice resounded. Ruidie touched her mouth and let out a breath. She spun around and found that she definitely attracted some attention. She turned back to Yuwen Du. "My name is Hei Ruidie. I guess this proves that we’re strangers. So I’ll ask again. Why do you care?"

"Do you know how often it is for people to be personally invited to attend an Institute? Last year it was only the exemplary Miss Dong Xia of Stargazing. This year, it is only you. Even if you are Teacher’s daughter, you were already offered a place in Four Gates, I don’t believe you deserve to be here." His words echoed outwardly.

In all fairness, she basically did fail the Stargazing Exam, but for some reason, she was helped. The real reason she frowned was the insinuation that she was entitled to a place at Four Gate Academy. "I don’t believe you truly care." She met his eyes. "Say the real reason."

After several moments, Yuwen Du found it. "I simply want you to acknowledge Teacher. It is my selfish desire."

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Ruidie finally smiled. "I like that answer. You have something you want, so you try to make it a reality. And now, I also have something I want. I want you to apologize to me this instant."

"I will apologize after you apologize to Teacher," he said firmly.

"We each want something that only the other can provide. There is no confusion or misunderstanding between us. Then, this is what I like to call a true conflict. In such a situation what can be done?"

Yuwen Du glanced at the book in his off-hand. He held it up. Coincidentally, it was the text of Fundamental Orthodox Study. "This year, I plan to begin cultivating. Then, let’s make a bet. When autumn ends and the school year ends along with it, we will compare cultivations. At that time, if my cultivation is lower than yours, I will apologize or do anything you ask, but if your cultivation is lower than mine, apologize to Teacher."

Yuwen Du waited for a reply.

"No," the girl answered.

The youth felt his balance interrupted.

"I think it’s unfair," Ruidie continued.

"You think it’s unfair?"

"I am a student learning at an Institute. I will be focusing all my effort on cultivating and learning The Way. On the other hand, you are learning at the Arithmetic School, and must simultaneously continue your normal studies and studies on The Way at the same time. Then, isn’t this bet unfair to you?"

"Unfair to me?" Yuwen Du mouthed.

"Therefore, our bet should have arithmetic added in to decide everything at the end of autumn. It doesn’t matter how, even If I need to steal the annual final tests from the Arithmetic School, but we’ll compare both our cultivation and what you’re learning at the Arithmetic School as well."

Yuwen Du bit his lips. "Fine." He turned around and headed into the nearby shelves.

Ruidie watched. She remained standing and noticed Shibara walking up to her side. "You should stop me if you see me wandering into the Plum Forest."

"Oh? Why is that?"

"I currently have an immense urge to cover that person’s room in centipedes and only you can stop me."

Shibara shook her head with a weary smile. "Besides that…" She raised her hand.

Ruidie felt a pinch on her cheek. "Why!?"

"Unfair? Unfair to him? Did you really say that? He’s a second-year. What is unfair? Brother, what do you have to say."

Israk waved his hand. "Not that I want to comment but... even I think that was a dumb move."

Ruidie pouted. "You two don’t know, but even before this, I wanted to take advantage of the school to learn something outside of the so-called Way. If I had in-depth knowledge of a topic during the entrance exam, things would have been much easier. I need to catch up."

"Catch up? Catch up with who?" Shibara said. 

"You, Israk, and everyone else in the world." 

The Ashina sibling caught each other’s eyes.

Ruidie crossed her arms. "Always improving and striving to become the best at something is a fulfilling act in and of itself. Otherwise, what’s there for me to do in this world?" Isn’t everything a bit pointless? "Just now, I just gave myself something I needed."

"And what’s that?"

"Pressure and motivation."

Shibara sighed. "At least that’s one thing I can understand."

Israk stood up. "I am tired of this library already. Are we done for today?"

Shibara picked up her books. "I also plan to return to my room and study until nightfall. This reminds me, last night was quite loud."

"Curfew has been lifted because of the Lantern Festival," Ruidie answered.

"Lantern Festival?"

"It began yesterday and for the next two nights there won’t be any curfew in the capital either."

"Interesting. A shame that I want to enter the Heart Path as soon as possible."

Ruidie thought about the stories of the night sky filled with floating lanterns and shook her head. "I think I’ll stay here a little longer before going back to my room."

"Then I’ll see you tomorrow."

Ruidie nodded.

…

Standing behind a row of shelves were two youths, a boy and a girl who, like many other students inside the library, had just witnessed a bet take place.

The girl, Ran Wen, spoke. "Isn’t he supposed to be helping us get started?" 

Whereas Yuwen Du was a returning student at the Arithmetic School, both her and Gao Jian had only just tested into the Calligraphy School and Law School.

"Teacher treats him so well and all he does is cause trouble for Teacher," Gao Jian said with a smirk. He was returned with silence. "Hmm? Why aren’t you agreeing with me here, Ran Wen?"

"I don’t know, Kettle. Why aren’t I?"

Gao Jian clicked his tongue.

Ran Wen spun around. "I want no part in this mess between Yuwen Du and Teacher’s daughter. Since both of you are so useless, I’m going to find my cousin for help."

Gao Jian ran after her. "Hey, wait! I don’t want any involvement in this either."

...

At a table next to the fifth-floor balcony sat another two youths.

The male Thousand Thought student supported his head with his palm as he slouched against the table. He tied his hair into a loose ponytail and had to blow a strand away. His lazy eyes remained fixated in front of him.

Opposite the student was a female Stargazing student whose face remained hidden behind both a veil and the book she held in front of her head.

The male student tapped on the table three times, yet the female student’s book remained held. "Well, the incoming students sure are noisy." His voice was sandy with little intentions placed into it.

"Jiang Jingxin, you invited me to compare notes, so let’s get it done," the clear unfeeling voice behind the veil replied.

"Ladies first."

"I would prefer the opposite."

Jingxin turned his head towards the balcony well. "Your name was mentioned. So even the other six schools call you exemplary. Not even ‘Schoolmate’, after just one year, they call you ‘Miss’ now."

Dong Xia flipped a page of the book that blocked her vision. "You would be treated similarly if you didn’t almost fail all your classes."

"Everything the instructors teach, I already learned by myself. Isn’t it the same for you? Why waste your time in class? Who would judge our grades once we break into the second realm? Our competence is in our cultivation. My time is better used to further my cultivation. Isn't focusing on studying The Way the type of thing you would agree with the most?"

Dong Xia flipped another page. "You are actually similar to that girl down there."

Jingxin sat upright. "I resent that. She intentionally made things more difficult for herself based on a convoluted principle of fairness. If it was me, why would I willingly help someone acting against me."

Dong Xia hummed. "Then I’m wrong. I apologize."

Jingxin closed his eyes. "Though I might have done what she did if I was in her position. You might not have noticed but, in a way, she actually increased her chances of getting what she wanted. She changed a single bet into two. If she wins one but loses the other, it becomes a tie. The Arithmetic School student obviously cares more about their matter than she did, so in the case of a tie, it’s her who benefits the most."

The girl hummed again. "Then I’m correct. She is similar to you. Please return my apology."

Jingxin sighed. "This is getting tiring. Fine, I’ll be the one to start." He opened his palm and placed his hand before the table. An area of his skin reddened and a speck of light began shining.

"Upper state of Knowing Self. Somewhere around the middle," Dong Xia said without looking. She brought her finger forward and a speck of light with similar brightness appeared.

"I caught up." Jingxin smiled and stood up. 

"Can I hear your logic for why you’re smiling?"

"I began cultivating last year. You have been cultivating since you were ten. In this case, ‘catching up’ should be styled as ‘surpassing’."

"I disagree." Although nothing about her had changed, she did not flip another page.

"Then let’s see in two years. The Spring and Autumn Archives already has a position reserved for me and I expect the Imperial Observatory has one for you as well. The only reason they have yet to officially invite us is that they want us to represent the Institutes at the conference. Not that I mind delaying graduating if it’s for the benefits of participating in the next conference."

Dong Xia closed her book and stood up. Her straight hair fell down and for a moment the sight of a sharp yet clear eye escaped the veil’s opening. "Then, good day, Schoolmate Jiang." She left before Jingxin had the chance to turn around.