Clad in newly-given robes of a deep violet, Lu Chang followed the old butler into a pagoda behind the main bloodline’s manor. The old butler would soon present Lu Chang to Lord Feng’s granddaughter. Lu Chang couldn’t help feeling a flutter of nervousness at the idea even though he thought himself above it.

Lu Chang closed his eyes to remind himself of his goals. He would only be here long enough to figure out a method to remove the chains from his dantian, then he would escape. Returned to calmness, he turned to another entrance to the pagoda where he could feel a soft breeze heralding a new arrival.

A moment later, Lord Feng stepped in, whistling a cheery tune. Lu Chang heard the old butler sigh heavily at Lord Feng’s nature, so different from the expected severe mien of a clan patriarch. Noticing the two of them standing there, Lord Feng glided over, beaming.

“Little Lao! Since you’re here I assume my discovery turned out alright?”

The old butler bowed deeply.

“Of course, Lord Clan Head. Lu Chang exceeded all of my expectations in training. Truly you found a diamond in the rough, as expected…. Bow Lu Chang, hurry!”

Lu Chang scrambled to follow the butler’s order, but found his body would not follow his instructions. His martial spirit had been riled by Lord Feng’s aura, and wouldn’t allow Lu Chang to show deference to anything right now. He grit his teeth, trying to suppress the violent storm that had suddenly exploded in fury, only for Lord Feng to raise his hand to stop him.

“It’s fine, Little Lao. That’s the kind of attitude we main family members prefer in our closest servants. How will we know if we’re making stupid decisions if our confidants are so submissive? You could learn a thing or two from this young man, Little Lao ahaha.”

Abruptly, the pressure Lu Chang felt from Lord Feng ceased and his martial spirit calmed, content in its ‘victory.’ Lu Chang almost bowed down reflexively, but managed to stop himself as he thought on Lord Feng’s words. It seemed preposterous for a slave to act that way with their master, but then again everything Lord Feng said seemed preposterous.

The old butler straightened up, and for the first time, Lu Chang saw a hint of ill-intent in his eyes directed at him. The moment passed so quickly that Lu Chang would have thought he imagined it had his spirit not stirred again at that moment, seemingly in warning. Lu Chang decided to keep the old butler in his sights from now on.

“This old butler hears you, Lord, but is unsure of learning anything new in his old age.”

Lord Feng’s speech had washed over the old butler like a quick gust of wind, noticeable at first, but quickly forgotten. Lord Feng actually frowned for a moment, the first Lu Chang had seen, then just as quickly regained his wide smile.

“Not to worry, Little Lao. You’re fine the way you are. Mei’er will be here soon. Oh I do hope she’ll like my gift.”

Lu Chang flinched at the implication that he was property. Though it was true, it was seldom spoken of so bluntly in his time at the Feng clan thus far. To hear it like that reminded Lu Chang that beyond the facade of amicability these people exuded, they were all slavers that condemned thousands of people to a life of servitude. Lu Chang resolved to keep that notion in his mind going forward.

Lord Feng and the old butler conversed on a number of subjects while they waited, until the old butler spoke up, almost hesitantly.

“Lord, what about Lady Mei’s father?”

An uncharacteristic scowl appeared on Lord Feng’s face, but before he could respond, the door behind them slammed open. In walked a handsome, middle-aged man in bright violet robes, an arrogant sneer on his face that looked so natural Lu Chang decided it must have been permanently affixed.

Behind him trailed a few of the clan elders that the old butler had pointed out to him, as well as a young man dressed in the same kind of robes as Lu Chang. The handsome man looked at them, contemptuously snorting at the sight of Lu Chang and the old butler, then glaring at Lord Feng. He spoke to Lord Feng, voice dripping with venom.

“Yes, father. What about me? Should I not be present when my own daughter is presented an attendant? Or have you forgotten in your old age that the elders also have a say in the appointment of an attendant to the main family?”

Lord Feng merely smiled easily at him.

“I could point out that you’ve brought only the elders currently aligned with your faction in the clan, rather than all of them. Such a small mistake for someone so concerned with rules as you.

I could also remind you that although it is customary for the parents of the child receiving an attendant be present, that it is not required. Lastly, I could further say that all of these rules are moot; I can change any of them as I wish, as is the prerogative of the Clan Head.”

He shook his head disappointedly.

“I could do those things. I won’t, though. I’m an old man with too little time to waste, so I’ll only ask what it is you want, Jian? Surely you didn’t just wish to cause a scene?”

The gathered elders broke out in quiet whispers amongst themselves, frowning at Feng Jian. It seemed they’d been expecting something other than what had happened. Feng Jian was only taken aback for a moment before he smirked victoriously.

“All I wish is to question the qualifications of your proposed attendant, father. Surely you must have known I’d had a slave in training for my daughter? The utmost care has been shown to the training of my candidate. Come forward Jinghai.”

The young man dressed in similar robes to Lu Chang stepped forward to stand beside Feng Jian, glaring daggers at Lu Chang. This only inspired exasperation in Lu Chang. Should he not reserve that resentment for his masters, not a fellow slave?

“This random slave you plucked from the market cannot possibly be superior to one of our own slaves trained from birth for the occasion. I would not have my daughter saddled with a lesser option.”

The room descended into a tense silence at his declaration, while Lu Chang puzzled over the inanity of labelling slaves of all things as lesser or greater. The old butler spoke up in defense of Lu Chang, or rather in defense of Lord Feng’s decision.

“Lord Jian, you know of your father’s abilities. He found this young man following the wind. I can personally attest to his qualifications as well. Should you-”

A quick grabbing motion from Feng Jian seemingly stole the breath from the old butler. He ignored the choking sounds as he spoke.

“Silence! When I require the opinions of a mere servant family I shall ask for them, heavens forbid.”

Lord Feng frowned then, as a wave of his hand dispelled whatever technique ailed the old butler. Lu Chang stepped forward to support him. No matter what evil intentions the old butler held for him, Lu Chang had to admit the man had treated him well thus far.

Lord Feng’s aura filled the room again, and this time the pressure befit a high-level cultivator, nearly debilitating for most in the room. The elders weathered the storm, though not without some effort evidenced by the sweat on their brow.

The old butler was seemingly excluded from the crushing pressure. Feng Jian also seemed fine, though the slave Jinghai immediately collapsed to the ground, catatonic. Lu Chang was only able to remain standing by relying on the waves of power emanating from his martial spirit, it once again sensing something like a threat to its majesty.

As abruptly as it came, the pressure disappeared, to thankful sighs from the elders echoed silently by Lu Chang. The slave Jinghai hurried to his feet, shame-faced. Feng Jian looked at the slave with contempt, then at Lu Chang curiously, before shaking his head.

“That proves nothing, father. Just because this little slave has some sort of resistance to the pressure of your spiritual energy doesn’t mean he’s more qualified to be my daughter’s attendant.”

Lord Feng opened his mouth to respond, when a melodious voice rang down from the upper floor.

“As the person in question, should I not have a say in this quarrel?”

All eyes turned to the stairway. At the top of the stairway stood the young lady of the main family, Feng Mei.

Lu Chang was unimpressed.

All he’d heard since entering the Feng clan was that the young miss had an unearthly beauty, like a heavenly celestial descended to the mortal world. She’d just turned twenty and her hair was reputed to be long and glossy black so dark that it resembled a void, her skin smooth and pale like the finest of white jade, her violet eyes so bright and piercing that to hold her gaze was akin to staring at violet stars.

The woman descending the stairs was a beauty, sure. She could perhaps even be called a stunning beauty. She was not, however, the ethereal beauty that existed in the tales told of her. Her hair was black, though fashioned into a high ponytail and not especially glossy. Her skin was a healthy tan that spoke of long hours outside in the sun, and her eyes were no more brightly violet than the rest of the clan. Lu Chang thought he could be excused for being disappointed.

She greeted her grandfather with a genuine smile full of familial warmth after she’d descended to join them, but in contrast only favored her father with a cold smile. Lord Feng beamed back at her and sneakily slipped her a treat of some kind behind the backs of Lu Chang and the old butler. Lord Feng winked at Lu Chang when he noticed.

Feng Jian smiled just as coldly back to his daughter, then spoke.

“Daughter, I was merely concerned for the quality of your attendant. This is no small thing. An attendant is unlike all those servant slaves and pleasure slaves you take in and set aside so capriciously, they will be with you for life.”

The smile on Feng Mei’s face grew colder at that, and Lu Chang thought he could feel a faint murderous intention on the wind. It was gone as quickly as it came, though, leaving him wondering if he’d imagined it.

“I’m well aware of the importance, father. To me the issue of qualifications is an easy thing to solve. Why not have them fight? An important part of being an attendant is to protect me in battle is it not? Test them against each other and I shall take the winner as my attendant.”

Lu Chang’s first impression of her improved drastically when she actually had a plan. He was tired of standing here listening to power plays that could have only passed for subtle amongst toddlers. Her suggestion inspired a round of whispering amongst the elders and Feng Jian. Lord Feng just gave Lu Chang a confident smile.

Eventually the whispering came to a conclusion and Feng Jian stepped forward again.

“That sounds acceptable, daughter. Do you have any objections, father?”

“Haha, no, no. No objections. Shall we use the arena upstairs, then?”

No one disagreed, and so they all gathered upstairs where there was a small martial arena. Lord Feng and the old butler sat on one side with Feng Mei, while the elders and Feng Jian sat on the other. Lu Chang rolled his eyes at the pettiness.

They were given a choice of weapons: Lu Chang took a dagger, and Jinghai chose nothing. Lu Chang walked to his position across from Jinghai, who’d not stopped glaring at him the entire time. As soon as they were in place and the match began Jinghai spoke imperiously.

“You trash can’t possibly be good enough for Lady Mei. I’ve been trained from birth for this. Some random slave picked from the market has no chance against me.”

“Whatever you say.”

Lu Chang lazily replied, causing his opponent to sputter apoplectically.

“Hmph! Regardless, you’ll not be able to penetrate my Stone Golem Art. It’s invincible to someone like you. Go ahead and give up!”

After saying so, Jinghai bent over and touched his hands to the ground. Rock flowed up his arms and legs like water, covering him in a thick armor. He stood back up and immediately leapt at Lu Chang, showing that his speed was not at all impeded.

Lu Chang evaded around him and made some distance, swapping sides of the arena. He heard Feng Jian arrogantly taunting his father.

“With this Stone Golem Art and the Feng Barrier skill, Jinghai is the ultimate defense for my daughter. I’d wager even an actual Feng clansmen on the same level as Jinghai wouldn’t be able to penetrate his defenses.”

Lord Feng hummed neutrally in response.

“We shall see.”

Feng Jian sneered at him as they turned back to the fight, where Lu Chang had been dancing around Jinghai’s strikes.

Eventually Jinghai became frustrated with his inability to hit Lu Chang. He bent down to slam the floor again.

“You can’t run from this; Palms of the Stone Deity!”

Gargantuan stone hands erupted from the ground on either side of Lu Chang and accelerated towards him, as if to squash him like a fly. Making a quick decision, Lu Chang leapt upwards, floor tiles cracking beneath him as he used the Explosive Step to clear the height of the stone palms.

The hands clapped together beneath him with a deafening bang. At the apex of his jump Lu Chang created a small construct of spiritual energy with the Feng Barrier skill. Flipping over, he kicked off the barrier he’d created with another use of Explosive Step and rocketed downward toward the very surprised Jinghai.

The missile that was Lu Chang impacted Jinghai footfirst, throwing him away heavily. Lu Chang landed lightly on the ground, but frowned as Jinghai stood back up seemingly uninjured. A great laugh echoed out from inside the armor of stone.

“Hahaha, do you see now, trash? Nothing you can do can pierce my armor. It is the perfect defense.”

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“There is no perfect technique.”

Lu Chang muttered to himself, remembering a piece of wisdom his father had imparted to him once upon a time. He just had to figure out the weakness of this stone armor. Lu Chang closed his eyes to better feel the wind stirred up by their battle.

He could feel the fresh breeze blowing in from the windows, the small winds generated by the breathing of the audience, and the gusts kicked up by their movements. He immersed himself in the breeze from outside as it flowed over everything in the room, exploring even the most forgotten corners.

Lu Chang opened his eyes then, a small smile on his face. He’d found exactly what he needed in that instant. He drew the dagger he’d been given for the first time as Jinghai barreled down upon him, arms outstretched to either side to stymie Lu Chang’s attempts to evade.

Lu Chang did not intend to evade, however. He stepped in close to Jinghai and struck out with his dagger at the top of his opponent’s thigh. The dagger sank in with only a little difficulty. Jinghai staggered back with the dagger stuck in his thigh.

“What? How did you pierce my armor?”

“Your technique is not mastered, there are locations with much thinner armor than the rest. The wind flowed much easier to those areas. You should give up, you’ll bleed out quickly with that wound unless you receive healing.”

Jinghai’s face twisted in hatred, but he did not refute the statement. Lu Chang looked over to Lord Feng, to see if he would end the fight. He did speak up, a genial smile on his face as he addressed his son.

“Well, Jian’er; do you have any objections to ending the fight here?”

Feng Jian shook his head stiffly, glaring at the defeated Jinghai.

“Very well. It is decided then. Lu Chang will become my granddaughter’s attendant.”

Feng Jian and his group of elders stood up abruptly to leave. Jinghai made to follow them out, limping from his wound. Feng Jian turned as he was about to exit, however, and stared straight at Jinghai.

“I’ve no use for you anymore, slave. Better to bury the shame you caused me here.”

A wave of his hand summoned a gust of purple wind that soundlessly enveloped Jinghai and rendered him to nothingness, with scarcely time for him to cry out.

Lu Chang was aghast. Jinghai had been killed for something so simple? He looked around at Lord Feng and the old butler. They seemed to not even register that something had happened.

Lu Chang was drawn from his worrying thoughts by Lord Feng.

“Lu Chang, come over here. Let me present you to my granddaughter.”

He calmed himself, then walked over to where Lord Feng sat with Lady Mei and the old butler. Lord Feng was smiling that same beatific smile that Lu Chang had come to associate with him. The old butler stared stonily at him, not a hint of his thoughts on his face. Lady Mei, however, looked at him with unabashed curiosity.

“Well done Lu Chang. I knew you were something interesting when I found you at that auction. Well done indeed.”

Lu Chang bowed at the praise from Lord Feng.

“I merely did my duty, Lord Feng.”

“Oh don’t be so stuffy; It’s no fun. Now let me introduce you to my granddaughter. This is my little MeiMei.”

He was interrupted by a protesting sound from Lady Mei, who objected to being introduced as ‘little MeiMei.’

“Granddaughter, this will be your attendant. He’s a splendid young man. I’m sure you’ll get along.”

Lu Chang bowed deeply again.

“I’m honored, Lady Mei.”

She nodded her head elegantly.

“Likewise. You put on a good show in that fight. Clearly you’ve had real fighting experience, not just spars with no stakes?”

Lu Chang winced at the memories of his nightly pit fights, and Li Feng.

“Yes. The ones who captured me had pit fights that I was a part of.”

Lady Mei clearly knew she had tread on terrible memories.

“I see. I apologize for bringing it up.”

Lu Chang nodded his acceptance of her apology. There was a short, awkward silence, then Lord Feng laughed and stood up along with the old butler.

“Well, I’ll let you kids get to know each other. It was good to see you, granddaughter. Don’t forget about the Long family’s invitation.”

A frown settled on Lady Mei’s face at the reminder.

“I won’t forget. If I must go, I will.”

Lord Feng and the old butler exited then, leaving Lu Chang and his new master alone. She held a small tag that Lord Feng handed her on their way out. Lu Chang recognized it as the slave-binding talisman that Lord Feng received when he was gifted Lu Chang. His master saw him staring at the talisman.

“Do you know what this is, Lu Chang?”

Lu Chang thought she should already know, but she could just be testing him.

“If I’m not mistaken, then it is the slave-binding talisman that Lord Feng was given when he acquired me, master.”

She nodded.

“Yes. When I use this, your slave crown will be attuned to me only. I will be the only one who can remove it or use it to kill you with a thought. Do you understand?”

Lu Chang’s thoughts raced at what his master had revealed, perhaps unintentionally. It had clearly been a threat, but the more important information to Lu Chang was that she could remove it. Did that mean if she died, the crown would dissipate? It was possible, but Lu Chang would need to learn more. He merely nodded at her threat.

“Good. I’ll not have an attendant that is not loyal to me above all.”

At that statement, she activated the talisman with spiritual energy. It lit up with a bright glow, then Lu Chang felt a piercing pain from his brow where the crown was. As the glow of the talisman faded, Lu Chang could feel the crown writhing on his head like snakes beneath the skin.

After it was all over, the diamond on his brow had changed from gold to violet, along with the black thorns. Lu Chang could now feel a faint connection to his master, like she held the end of a spiritual leash attached to him. It was a thoroughly unsettling feeling, and Lu Chang hated it.

His master looked him over, and he could feel her spiritual energy prodding the faint connection between them. Finally, she smiled beautifully.

“Very good. You are mine alone now, Lu Chang. Have no fear, I’ll treat you well. Come, I’ll show you my rooms and you can tell me about yourself.”

Lu Chang followed her out of the pagoda and into the building where the main family of the clan lived. As they walked, his master requested him to tell her about how he grew up. He told her of his time in Hundred Fragrance City, about his mother and father and his best friend Li Feng. He told her about the awakening of his spirit, though he kept the fact that it was a variant to himself.

He told her about the start of the disastrous tournament, then of the terrible battle that followed, though skipping most of the personal details. Then he spoke of the forced march from Hundred Fragrance City to the Painted City. As they approached her rooms, Lu Chang finished his tale.

“-had already bought me, but then your grandfather showed up and wanted me. They nearly bent over backwards to accommodate him.”

Lady Mei giggled at the description.

“That does sound like my grandfather, always so dramatic. But that was quite the story Lu Chang. I can tell you’ve left quite a bit out, but I won’t pry. I hope that someday we’ll be close enough for you to share that, though.”

She looked at him with a smile then. Lu Chang felt that she meant it, too, and was surprised. He returned her smile hesitantly.

“I hope so too, Lady Mei.”

She snorted very unladylike at that.

“Don’t be so distant. You’re my attendant; call me Mei, at least in private.”

Lu Chang had no qualms with that.

“Of course, Mei.”

She beamed at him, then opened the door they’d just reached.

“Here we are!”

He followed Mei in and looked around. As expected, it was lavish. The main room could have been an entire house in Hundred Fragrance City. Fine furniture and decorations filled the edges of the room, along with shelves full of scrolls and books. In the middle of the room there was a smaller version of the spiritual energy concentrating arrays in the fields outside. It concentrated wind spiritual energy inside of it, a lavish expense for only one person. There was also a smaller bedroom, equally opulent, and a bathroom.

Mei looked at him expectantly as he took it all in.

“Well? What do you think?”

“It’s.. very nice?”

Lu Chang responded hesitantly. Mei let out a tinkling laugh at his response.

“Not that. I meant where do you think we should put a bed for you?”

Lu Chang was confused.

“You mean I’ll sleep here? I had assumed I would stay in the slave quarters.”

She huffed at him.

“Of course not. Attendants are as close to us as family. I won’t have you sharing quarters with the regular slaves.”

Lu Chang just nodded mutely, still wondering what the difference between a ‘regular slave’ and him was. Mei hummed to herself as she looked around.

“I’ll have a few of the servants bring up a bed. I suppose we can remove one of the couches for it.”

She sat on one of the chairs nearby and motioned for Lu Chang to do the same.

“Now, first things first. How many meridians do you have open.”

His master stared at him seriously now, no hint of the cheerful girl she’d just been to be seen. Lu Chang thought to himself about whether he should lie or not. It would give up a big secret if he told the truth, but at his current rate of advancement he’d die before much longer.

He’d also still not found any methods to disperse the cage around his dantian. He’d have to chance telling the truth. Perhaps his master had a method to delay his advancement.

“I have ten opened meridians and am not far off from opening the eleventh. Even with abstaining from actively cultivating I will reach the limit in a few months.”

Mei stared stonily at him.

“You realize when that happens, you will die, yes?”

Lu Chang nodded.

She kept up her stony expression in the silence that followed, but gave him an arrogant smirk after a short time.

“Luckily for you, I have a method that can help.”

Lu Chang’s eyes widened, and he paid utmost attention to her.

“This information is only given to actual clan members, along with attendants that prove themselves worthy. I don’t know about worthy just yet, but I can’t have my attendant dying before he can do anything for me, can I?”

She teased him. Lu Chang sighed in relief.

“I will do everything I can to prove myself worthy to you, Mei.”

She nodded matter-of-factly.

“Of course you will. Now listen up. I know you’re familiar with the twelve meridians that all cultivators open before sea formation. Everyone opens those. There are more meridians, however, called the eight extraordinary meridians.”

Lu Chang nodded thoughtfully.

“I think I remember my father telling me about them before. He said that only ancient cultivators were able to open them.”

“He was wrong. They are extremely difficult to open, though. Only families like mine or better can afford the medicines and natural treasures needed to fully open the extraordinary meridians. Every one you open before you advance to sea formation will strengthen your foundation extremely, though. And if you open all eight before advancing, you’ll have achieved a perfect meridian opening. Only the main family of our clan can afford that, though. I’ve currently opened two of my extraordinary meridians.”

Mei proudly revealed her cultivation. Lu Chang praised her as was appropriate, then asked his question.

“That’s amazing. How does that help my situation, though? I can’t imagine I would receive any of these medicines.”

She scoffed.

“Of course not. Once you’ve opened all of your regular meridians, though, I can teach you to begin opening the first extraordinary meridian. It would take you many years to fully open it, of course, but it will soak up all the spiritual energy you passively cultivate in the meantime. That means you won’t die!”

Mei looked very satisfied with herself at that, and Lu Chang couldn’t blame her. It was an ingenious solution. He stood up and bowed deeply to her in thanks. She waved him off.

“It’s nothing. Without the medicines the information isn’t all that useful outside of this specific situation. Now, let’s go find the servants and get that bed.”

Lu Chang followed after her and thought that perhaps serving Mei wouldn’t be too onerous while he figured out how to escape.

The next few weeks settled into a new routine as Lu Chang integrated into Mei’s life. He spent many hours telling her about the Sacred Empire as she had always been interested in it.

He accompanied her everywhere: to the markets where she purchased anything that caught her eye, to the gladiator arenas where she marveled at some of the techniques on display, and to the outskirts of the city where they worked together to hunt spirit beasts and gather rare herbs.

In the evenings she would cultivate in the gathering array in her room, and would sometimes share tidbits about cultivation with Lu Chang.

When she learned Lu Chang didn’t know any attacking techniques, she generously took one from her personal library for him. The technique she gifted him was a multipurpose one called Slicing Wind. Using it allowed one to swing a bladed weapon and launch blades of wind.

He used it along with the dagger he favored, also gifted to him by Mei. He was certain that with this technique he could have broken through Jinghai’s armor much easier, though remembering what happened to the boy always made him wince.

He and Mei grew closer over the weeks. True to her word, she treated him much like one would a close family member or confidant, and Lu Chang was touched by her genuineness. He never forgot his ultimate goal, or the indignity of enslavement, but he put it to the side in her presence. The trust she favored him with engendered its own from him.

The third month after his appointment as Mei’s attendant, a servant came by with a letter for her. Reading it, she huffed loudly and flopped face-first onto Lu Chang’s bed. He looked over at her curiously from where he’d been organizing her desk; she was worse than his father ever was about leaving scrolls and books out.

“What was that about? Your father pressuring you to find a proper match again?”

She snorted indignantly.

“No, that I can handle. This is worse.”

She flung the letter at him to read. He tried to pull it to his hand with the wind like he’d seen Lord Feng do, but overshot it and the letter smacked him in the face. Mei cackled at the sight, like she had every time.

“You still haven’t got it. I’d give it up, your fine control isn’t as good as grandfather’s, obviously.”

“I’ll get it eventually. Failure is only a stepping stone on the path of success.”

Lu Chang said sagely. Mei only laughed again.

“If that’s true then your path has already exceeded all the roads of the empire.”

He grumbled in response then started to read the letter. It was actually two letters. The first was another invitation from the Long family to a gathering of the younger generation, one that Mei had been avoiding for weeks. The second was from her grandfather, telling her that she actually had to attend this one instead of going out spirit beast hunting like they’d done to get out of the last one.

He looked over at Mei amusedly; she was still wallowing in his bed. He had no idea why she did that, but it seemed to be her favorite place in the last week or so.

“Well, I suppose we’ll have to get ready to attend this meeting. Are they really so bad?”

She groaned in discontent.

“You have no idea. All the other clan heirs are awful. The boys are pompous idiots that think they are the heavens’ gift to women. The girls aren’t much better. They’re all stuck up and annoying. These meetings are just chances for them to brag about their families and deliver veiled insults to each other. The only interesting thing is the duels.”

Lu Chang raised his eyebrow.

“They actually duel each other?”

“Heavens no. They get their attendants to spar in their place.”

“So I would be expected to fight?”

A lone eye stared out at him from underneath his blankets.

“Not unless you want to. I wouldn’t force you.”

“Even if it would lead to embarrassment for you if I declined?”

She nodded decisively.

“Even then.”

Lu Chang hummed to himself.

“I wouldn’t mind testing my skills now that all twelve of my meridians have opened.”

Mei launched herself out from under the covers excitedly.

“Excellent, then this might not be so bad. Oh! I’ll need a new set of robes, I’ve worn all these before. Come on, Lu Chang. To the market!”

He gave a long-suffering sigh.

“Yes mistress.”

A balled up piece of paper hit him in the face as he went to follow her.

“No sass from you.”

Lu Chang rolled his eyes at the dramatics of his master. He wondered about these other clan scions and their attendants. Were their relationships like his and Mei’s? Regardless, he was eager to see how his skills stacked up.

It would be interesting.