Ruidie sat crossed-legged on her bed.

The instructions which Fundamental Orthodox Study outlined were not only the timing and depth of breaths but also tensing of muscles, pulling of tendons, and changing of blood pressure.

There were few indicators of whether she was doing it correctly, with her heart rate being one of them. What the cultivation initially described as a new sense of the body, did not feel like a sense at all. To her, it was like having an odd form of intuition which confirmed true or false questions such as whether it was her left or right leg that was more tired.

At certain times, there was also the feeling of a prickling and stinging sensation when the flow of blood restricted and came back. At other times her limbs felt sore and then the immediately refreshed, depending on what she did.

And for what energy the girl gained for every breath, perhaps there was more, but as far as she understood, it was just heat. Her skin and flesh remained at the same temperature because she ensured there was no loss of that heat from her meridians. Like a red glowing piece of metal taken out of a furnace that was cool to touch because no heat actually escaped.

Based on the cultivation method, there should be improvements eventually. For example, Instead of cultivating using intakes of air, there was a method that could use the air that touched her skin. It was called embryonic breathing, breathing through the pores, but she doubted it meant simple pores. Close enough, every part of the skin was technically a pore, otherwise, it would be too inefficient. Also, why would heat care either way?

In the middle of the night, she opened her eyes. “I should have known cultivation would be this boring.”

Progress was being made, yet unlike her studies, it seemed intangible. Although she knew better, it felt as if her time was being wasted.

She hasn’t cultivated long enough to be able to do it in place of sleeping, so she placed the stone pillow below her neck and decided to test the pillow for the rest of the night.

She closed her eyes.

…

Ruidie was laying on the floor of the Moonless Courtyard. She sat up and immediately attempted to cultivate. Although everything felt correct, there was a disconnect. Her body could recognize that the world was fake. Then, her mind recognized that her body was fake. She was asleep in reality, so even if she could cultivate while asleep, it would in that environment and not here.

She extended her hand and created a porcelain bowl. With her eyes closed, she threw it on the stone ground. Looking down, it was broken in a multitude of pieces. Real, unlike her memory palace.

The black pagoda was still at the corner of the courtyard. Ruidie went up to and sat on the second-floor balcony of one of the buildings next to the pagoda. A steel javelin fell onto the ground. She waved her hand and no matter what, she couldn’t move it. Trying again, a new javelin shot and pelted the door and lock. Creating something that is already moving was possible.

A hundred more javelins shot in the span of several breaths until she realized it wasn't working.

Ruidie wondered if she should use her remaining time to study, but shook her head.

A colossal metal cylinder resembling a sideways pot wedged between the two buildings and the pagoda suddenly appeared.

“Boil and steam!” the girl shouted with a laugh.

A loud explosion tore at her eardrums.

Ruidie shot up. It was morning.

“Huh. I died. But did it work?”

…

Shibara picked up a slice of mutton to bite. In the campus’ canteen, she preferred the food which reminded her of the North. Though while chopsticks were still weird, she had gotten used to using them.

Ruidie was telling her story from across from their table at the corner of the hall.

“Take me with you,” Shibara said.

“Eh?” Ruidie was actually surprised.

“Isn’t it obvious that I would ask to come along? After all, don’t you think it’s suspicious?”

“It’s definitely suspicious. The man somehow knew about my conversation with Sun Ming. Having informants within the Mayor’s Office is definitely illegal, perhaps treasonous.”

“It’s suspicious besides everything else involving a conflict you don’t understand.”

Ruidie hummed. “Right. That too.”

“Then it’s settled.”

Ruidie looked over Shibara and decided something. She pointed her finger up until a small blue beetle suddenly landed on it. “I’m in the lower state of Knowing Self, though that means very little. I’ve become familiar enough with the common insect species of the capital to at least gather them. I can memorize anything visual and sound as long as I focus on doing so. I have a neck pillow that, while I don’t understand, is sure to be valuable to many people. I don’t know any martial arts, but I know how to grapple a single normal person so that both of us would be restrained. I am acquainted with Sun Ming, an official at the Mayor’s Office, and Bi Tong, a member of the True Heart Sect. My father is also supposedly an official at the Outer Palace, but I refuse to rely on him. These are essentially my tangible tools for problem-solving.”

Shibara understood what she was doing and nodded with a smile. “Likewise, although I am an Ashina, I would like to avoid relying on the branch of the clan here in the capital. I’m in the middle state of Dao Seed, which also means very little. However, I am also at the peak of the Ashina Primal Path's first realm, so although limited, I have some methods available to me.”

“Like what you did during the entrance exam?”

She nodded. “The basis of my current methods is connections between the earth. For example, if I had two stones, by moving one, I can partially move the other. The difference with what a cultivator at Dao Tree can do and what I can do is that I can toss you a stone and let you move the other stone as well. I am not connecting myself to something, instead, I am creating a connection between two things. But the true advantage lies in the distance in which my methods remain effective. For example, I left behind a stone in the Grasslands. By doing so, I can still determine the relative direction of north even from here.”

Ruidie sat up straighter. She found the possibilities fascinating. “But then what about the method where you used a mirror to show the vision of your hawk, Isitin?”

“The small layer of my blood over the silver mirror contains many different types of crystal dust. Their arrangement is how I change the color of the reflection’s light. Your own blood is a very useful tool in many methods because flesh can be considered a part of yourself. Its why many swordsmen quench their blades.”

She frowned. “That still doesn’t explain retrieving the intent from Isitin, much less translating it.” Her arms crossed. “I remember you covering an eye, so you were sharing sight and then creating the picture yourself, but how would sharing sight be possible given your explanation of connections between earth.”

Shibara smirked. “How do you think I did it?”

Ruidie blinked. That smirk is a clue, I’m clearly misunderstanding something which she finds humorous. She remained silent until considering a line of thought. “Your actions were distractions.”

“And?”

Ruidie narrowed her eyes. “It’s all a trick. Covering the eye was meaningless. You didn’t share sight with Isitin at all. You tied something onto Isitin, likely something similar to the mirror. You captured the color of light from the sky and then directly transferred that arrangement of colors to the mirror that you held. It’s the reason why everyone saw the view downwards instead of forward.”

Shibara's expression remained paused until it broke into a light laugh. “Yup! All the judges were fooled into thinking I did something more impressive than it really was.”

Ruidie leaned forward with focused eyes. “How many minerals have you tried experimenting with?”

“Many.”

“But not all right? What about forms?”

“Forms?”

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“Like different shapes.”

“Shapes for what function?”

Ruidie stood up immediately. “Are there places to get a variety of metals somewhere in the capital?”

“The Three Institutes all share unique resources and utilities. Whereas Stargazing shares its workshops and Thousand Thought shares its library, Grand Heart shares its smithy, which Israk tells me has a collection of materials.”

“That sounds perfect.”

She shook her head. “Even small amounts of materials cost multiple taels to take.”

“Say again?”

…

At the usual southern entrance of Thousand Thought, Ruidie and Shibara stood.

“He was supposed to meet me here,” Ruidie said.

“Up here!” Xiaosi jumped down from the wall.

Shibara raised an eyebrow.

“Ashina Shibara, Chen Xiaosi. Chen Xiaosi, Ashina Shibara,” Ruidie introduced.

“Hello.” He nodded toward Ruidie as well.

“Did you complete the Memory Palace Technique?” Ruidie said.

“I chose a village house and its yard as my palace,” he said.

“So step one is done. We can talk about step two later.”

“Do you know where we’re supposed to go?”

“Golden Spices Pavilion should be a restaurant. Since the address wasn’t written on the note, it is likely famous.”

She was right. Asking the locals, they found the restaurant in central Taiping, not far from the Capital Schools. It was a large balconied building three stories tall. The wood was painted pristine white and the tiled roof and hangings were all dark green.

When they entered, they were immediately stopped by the hostess. “Do Guests have a table?” Her lips were quirked upwards.

Ruidie did not spot the recognizable man in the first-floor hall. “We have a reservation.”

“Under who?”

“Arsi Chunjie.”

The hostess shifted her brow and bowed. “Please, follow me, Guests.”

While being led up the center stairwell until the third floor, all the jade ornaments they passed on the way reflected the wealth of the restaurant’s patrons.

Private dining rooms made up the entire third floor. The hostess swayed her hand towards one of the doors and walked away.

Xiaosi immediately knocked on it.

“Come in.” Arsi Chunjie sat at the table alone. Behind him, the windows were open to the avenue below. “You can order food anytime.” He took a confused glance towards Shibara.

“Ashina Shibara,” she introduced herself.

“The Ashina?” he said. “You should be the sister of the heir that the northern branch is raising, correct?”

Shibara was unfazed, casually sitting down at the table. “And I assume ‘Arsi’ means your ancestors were originally from the oasis city.”

Chunjie closed his mouth.

Ruidie sat down across from the young man while Xiaosi took the side opposite of Shibara. “Senior Ran didn’t want us to be involved in her problems. You are going behind her back?” she immediately said.

Chunjie blinked and gave a forward smile. “Orchid Bookstore and the Ran Family are business partners. I obviously want to help and to do so in a quick fashion, but Lady Ran simply has another perspective.”

“Like what?”

“Paper villages.”

Ruidie inclined her head for him to continue.

“The Ran Family’s recent growth can be attributed to the paper trade. The Ran Family is currently one of Zhao's largest paper producers with no other family to rival it. We give recipes, tools, and instruments for creating paper to villages close to trees such as the mulberry and edgeworthia. In return, these villages are contracted to sell all the paper they produce to us at a specified price. Other villages which produce paper are also offered higher prices than they were paid by other traders before.” He raised his finger up. “Concerning the harassment and closing of stores, most of the Ran Family’s paper profits are from supplying paper in bulk to other organizations, so public sales are not a major loss. For example, our biggest customer, the Palace, has always needed paper since Zhao’s conception. Of course, you no longer hear stories about the scholars resorting to reusing old decrees and edicts when there are deficiencies, but the demand for paper is shown all the same.”

Ruidie was in thought.

Shibara spoke. “She’s allowing the front of the Ran Family, the stores, to suffer so as to prevent her enemies from focusing on their real foundation, the people. Remaining firm and facing pressure alone in fear of escalation. Isn’t it admirable?”

Chunjie nodded grimly. “In a way, but it is family members and the close associates who run storefronts and warehouses that blunt the waves. Yet, the Orchid Bookstore has not suffered one bit, despite it being partially our fault that the Ran Family garnered the attention of the Xiao Family.”

“What’s so special about the Xiao Family?” Xiaosi said.

“The Seven Families, and to a lesser degree Donghong’s Households and Guanzhong’s Surnames... The power of old traditional families declines with every generation.” His lips twisted to a smile. “Especially the last.”

Ruidie raised an eyebrow.

He cleared his throat and continued. “Among the emerging families such as the Ran Family, it is the Xiao Family that lead the pack. Over the years, Old Master Xiao has reached his hands on many industries across Zhao. Although he is inactive today, his children have not stunted the family’s growth. If paper is such a lucrative trade, isn't taking over the Ran Family's business, which already dominates the market, the best way to go?”

“No one knows about your partnership with the Ran Family. So they see a family growing at an extraordinary pace, with new recipes for paper and methods of printing books, and pounces immediately. And the Ran Family wants nothing to do with them,” Ruidie concluded.

“Then do you understand everything now?”

“There’s one more thing I don’t understand,” she said.

“What?”

“Who are you?”

He laughed. “That’s hard to answer. Some people likely know our bookstores for selling information, but we really just do what we can to survive.”

“Who is your owner?”

Chunjie's eyes slowly opened wider.

Ruidie tilted her head.

He creased his lips. “Owner?”

“Isn’t it obvious you’re someone’s hand?”

He laughed again. ”Besides that, let’s get into why I need your help to help Lady Ran.”

Ruidie and Shibara exchanged narrowed glances.

“Sure,” Xiaosi said. It was the reason why they were here.

Shibara pressed her hand to her forehead, but Ruidie was used to it already.

“Although no plan is finalized, there is one thing I need.” He looked towards Ruidie. “Your father is the Ministry of Revenue’s Bureau of Taxes Chief. The Tiger Tail Gang engages in smuggling goods in addition to weapons, in other words, avoiding the capital’s taxation. Their primary business partner is precisely the Xiao Family which controls the West Market and is respected traders at the gates.”

Underneath the table, Ruidie gripped her fists. “You are sure?”

Chunjie mistook what she directed her question towards and opened the wooden case of paper beside him. “I have everything you would want to know concerning the Tiger Tail Gang's recent activities. However, unless the palace investigates themselves, this will never be considered as evidence, nor can I or Ran Qiang present it.”

“You were able to eavesdrop on my conversation within the Mayor’s Palace. Why can’t you do this yourself?”

“There is a great difference between the Mayor’s Office and the Outer Palace. There is an even greater difference between a passive informant and an active agent. Right now I am not asking for you to help the Ran Family, but help Orchid Bookstore drag down the Xiao Family.”

“And how do you know my father can do so?”

“Do you want to hear a story? We are quite good at telling stories.”

She raised her head and nodded.

“One summer day in Taiping, a young man arrived to take the Palace Exam of the Imperial Examinations. No one knew his name, but he claimed the title of Top Thesis Author and was immediately positioned in the Outer Palace. While many expected a meteoric rise, the man did the bare minimum that was required from him, ignoring all social gatherings and the palace’s cliques. He was eventually ignored and became another part of the palace’s background.”

Even both Shibara and Xiaosi became engrossed in the story.

“One day by chance, the man was caught between two opposing factions of the Palace. During the court session, a censor stood before Emperor Taizong and read out a list of officials charged with corruption. The moment the censor read out the man’s name, Emperor Taizong stood up from the dragon chair and kicked the censor across the floor. After doing so, Emperor Taizong went on to curse his court for the remainder of the session. The entire palace was uprooted by the end of the day. Officials of all ranks were dishonorably discharged. Both factions were destroyed. All because the Censorate, the department that is supposed to be overseeing officials, falsely accused an innocent man.”

There was a laugh from Shibara. “I apologize. I hear too many stories involving Taizong. This one is among the most amusing.”

“Emperor Zhenzong promoted your father to Deputy Chief and the current emperor promoted him to Bureau Chief, someone capable of attending court. As the one managing the West Market, the First Master of the Xiao Family is also an official in the Ministry of Revenue, but he wouldn't be able to prevent an investigation from your father using what I have already collected.”

Ruidie breathed out slowly and stood up. The girl began pacing in a circle around the room.

Chunjie's confused eyes followed her.

“What is the state of gangs in Taiping?”

“Pardon?”

“Like the Nine Dragons Gang.”

“The gangs in the provinces are easily defined and stable. Each province has one main gang. However, there are always multiple local and foreign powers that attempt to control the capital’s underworld. This could be said to be a unique feature of the Rivers and Lakes. Currently, the Nine Dragons Gang is the Tiger Tail Gang’s main competitor. They mainly profit off Taiping’s casinos and gambling dens.”

“The Escort Agency and Black Fan Society?”

“The Escort Agency, like the name implies, is a bodyguard service for people and goods. As for the Black Fan Society, they were recently created by matrons and high ranked courtesans using the vast amount of wealth gained from Taiping’s brothels. Altogether, these are the four most stable powers today.”

“Is there any connection you can think to one of them?”

Chunjie creased his lips. “Connection?”

“What is the likeliest way I would ever come into contact with one of them?”

He traced his chin. “Since you are a student, the Head of the Nine Dragons Gang’s son is currently attending the Grand Heart Institute. I would consider that the likely way.”

She finally shifted her gaze to Shibara who pressed lips together in confusion but then suddenly nodded in understanding.

Ruidie turned and looked straight at Chunjie. “Three Days. Give me three days.”

“Three days? What are you talking about? What about your father?”

“In three days alone, with your support, I will bring down the Xiao Family. If I can't, I promise to do everything I can to convince my father to help you investigate.”

Chunjie opened his mouth and closed it right after. He slowly spoke. “You are the daughter of Luo Yizuan, named Hei Ruidie, correct?”

“You already know all this.”

The young man closed his eyes.

It was impossible for Rudie to know what he was thinking.

“You have two days.”