Tang Daiyu turned towards her companion.

"It's a beautiful city. I've never been this far east before."

"Well, it's home," Bei Qing said proudly. "Now, Qiao Yue, where are you meaning to go? I'll see you there."

"Uh, wherever the Swift Breeze Sect is. I- I know someone there. We got separated on the journey here."

His eyes widened. "The Swift Breeze Sect? They're one of the three oldest martial art sects in all of China! Thunder Cloud Sword sect isn't as well-known as Swift Breeze Sect. Who do you know that's part of that renowned sect?"

Unsure of whether to tell him the truth or not, Tang Daiyu hesitated. After a few moments, she sighed.

"Uh, just someone there. He's an old friend."

"Ahh. He must be very talented then to have been accepted as a disciple of the infamous Swift Breeze Sect."

She nodded. "He really is."

"Well, it'll be my pleasure to deliver you there. Come on, the manor is back this way."

Tang Daiyu followed him up away from the river. They headed northwest and started up towards the mountains.

"Mr. Bei, where is Swift Breeze Sect anyways?"

"It's on the east side of Huangjia Lake. They're quite lucky to have a lake view. Very few of the other sects are built right next to water."

Speechless, Tang Daiyu kept trying to keep up with Bei Qing's long stride. The horse trotted along behind them.

When they finally came to the front gates of the Swift Breeze Sect, gold characters decorated a red paifang. She read Swift Breeze Sect and looked beyond at the expansive manor.

"This is amazing. I've never seen a manor so large! It's almost like the palace."

Bei Qing chuckled, "Yes. The Swift Breeze Sect is surely the most widely known martial arts sect. Therefore, everyone tries to become a disciple here. The few that do have some pretty good luck. Master Zhuge was very strict with his choosing of disciples; and from what I've heard, Master Liang is even more strict on the admittance trials. Swift Breeze Sect barely accepts any disciples anymore."

Tang Daiyu turned towards him. "Did you ever try?"

"Hmm? Oh, no. I was born into Thunder Cloud Sword Sect, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Thunder Cloud Sword Sect is one of the other two oldest martial arts sects, so we have prestige as well, just not as much as Swift Breeze Sect."

She nodded along, unsure. I never heard my father mention

Thunder Cloud Sword Sect. Unless... it was the sect whose master he had a falling out with and never spoke to again.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Bei, but can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"Was your sect’s Master once friends with Chancellor Ru of Chang?"

His eyes darkened immediately, and she knew the answer. Waiting patiently, she wanted to see what he'd say.

"Somewhat. The previous Master and Chancellor Ru were sworn brothers once. But after Liu Song became Emperor Jianyuan of Chang, their priorities changed. Chancellor Ru believed that he'd be able to unite the martial arts world with the new dynasty. Our Master, on the other hand, wished for them to remain separate and to govern themselves separately. When Chancellor Ru left for Chang'an, too much damage had been done. They broke their vows as sworn brothers; and as far as I know, they never spoke to each other again."

Tang Daiyu took a deep breath and asked, "Whose fault was it?"

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Bei Qing shook his head. "I don't believe there was fault. They just had differing opinions that drove them apart."

Relieved, Tang Daiyu bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Mr. Bei for bringing me here. My friend will surely reward you."

He waved it off. "No need, Qiao Yue. For a beautiful young lady such as you, I'm happy to help."

Tang Daiyu blushed and looked down at the ground. Then, she heard footsteps. Her head shot up, and she turned around to see a familiar face walking towards them, cane in hand.

"Master Bei, what a surprise."

Shock flashed across her face.

Master? He’s the Master of Thunder Cloud Sword Sect? So that means… his father and mine… were once sworn brothers. The three oldest martial art sects… what if my father was sworn brothers with the two other sects’ masters and Master Zhuge?

Bei Qing bowed respectfully. "Master Liang."

Liang Yingzhou's eyes flicked towards Tang Daiyu.

"I see you managed to get here. I'm glad."

She pulled herself from her thoughts and bowed, "Thank you for urging me to leave."

"You two know each other?" Master Bei asked in shock.

Liang Yingzhou looked at him. "Yes. She's like a little sister to me. Thank you for seeing her here safely."

"Of course. Happy to help," he bowed. He turned towards Tang Daiyu. "Qiao Yue, you didn't say that it was Master Liang you knew."

"I'm sorry. I didn't know whether or not to tell you."

"Ah Yue, say goodbye to Master Bei."

She nodded and did as she was told.

"I shall take my leave then."

Bei Qing bid them his goodbyes and turned, heading back down towards Nanchang. Tang Daiyu faced Liang Yingzhou.

"Are you badly hurt?"

He shook his head. "I'll heal."

"Should I have trusted Master Bei?"

"You were right to not tell him your real name, Ah Daiyu. And I've known Bei Qing for a long time. He's a respectable man. I didn't know he was journeying on the road, but if you had to have wound up with anyone, I would've wanted it to be him."

"So I did good?"

He nodded. "Come on inside. I want to show you the glory of your origins."

"My origins?"

Liang Yingzhou stopped in his tracks and turned to face her, surprised.

"You don't know?"

She shook her head. "Know what?"

"Swift Breeze Sect is your legacy, Ah Daiyu. It has been led by Tangs for generations. I thought you knew. Your grand- father entrusted the sect to Master Zhuge when the Fifteen Years War broke out. Your father didn't have the motivation for martial arts at the time, so it was handed over. Tang Ru let Master Zhuge remain Swift Breeze Sect's master when he decided to accept Emperor Jianyuan's invitation to be Chang's Chancellor. On his deathbed, Master Zhuge told me the truth of the Tangs' legacy right before he handed Swift Breeze over to me."

"So, Swift Breeze Sect is technically mine?"

"Yes," Liang Yingzhou said. "You, of course, were aware that your father knew martial arts. He just never said that what Master Zhuge managed was actually his by birthright. Which means, even though you don't have any martial art skills, the manor and property are actually yours."

If only you knew, Zhou-ge.

"Well, maybe when this is all over and done with, I'll come here and spend the rest of my days in Swift Breeze Sect," Tang Daiyu tried to joke.

"You're welcome any time, Ah Daiyu."

He showed her around the blossoming garden and introduced her to all of the halls in the manor. Liang Yingzhou then led her to a small hall off to the left side of manor. At the bottom of the entrance stairs, he stopped and faced her.

"I know it's small, but it's private. Riluo Residence is yours if you want it. The last person to use it was your grandmother."

"My grandmother?"

"Yes. According to Master Zhuge, she was originally a disciple here, living in Cangxi Hall. But when she married your grandfather, he had Riluo Residence built just for her."

"I never knew any of this. My father never spoke about it.”

"As Chancellor, he couldn't dwell on his martial arts past. Plus, like I said, I’m not aware that he ever told you."

Tang Daiyu shook her head and looked at him. "I'm just glad you know and that you're telling me. I guess there were many things that my father kept hidden from me."

Liang Yingzhou stepped forward and gently took her hands in his. "All that matters now, Ah Daiyu, is that you do know. Swift Breeze Sect is your past, present, and quite possibly future."

Sadness filled her eyes. It will never be my future.