A few hours later, Shin Mu awoke from an unconscious state with newfound power.

The world he could see through his left eye was one much different than what he was used to.

Instead of the shapes and colours of the objects around him, he was instead able to see the flow of qi.

This occurred whether the object in question was a fellow human or a simple blade of grass.

Strangely enough, he was unable to see anything when looking at Tianlan. All that was there was a black shadow that had piercing blue eyes.

Shin Mu found it incredibly difficult trying to look into those eyes.

It was as if his body were instinctively aware that it shouldn’t try to peer into the secrets hidden behind them.

He decided not to say anything about it for fear of treading on thin ice.

Before long, the time came for the group to go their separate ways.

They exited the cave and before the others could leave, Shin Mu cupped his fist and bowed to Hei and Tianlan.

“I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me,” he said as he looked at Hei, his sincerity plain to see.

He lowered his arms and stood straight while saying, “if I can do anything to repay the favour, you only need to say the word.”

Hei laughed.

“There’s no need for that,” he said. “Just focus on rescuing your family.”

“But...”

Shin Mu may have been young and naïve, but he was no fool.

There was no such thing as a free lunch in this world, and he knew it well.

He looked into Hei’s eyes once more, his intent clear.

Hei’s whimsical air vanished, replaced with one of seriousness.

“If you really want to return the favour,” he said, “then when you see someone who needs help, show them the same kindness I have shown to you.”

“...”

Shin Mu was surprised.

Such an answer was well beyond his expectations. If you asked him, he would say it didn’t quite fit the criteria of returning a personal favour. There was nothing in it for Hei, after all.

As such, it felt...

“You’re wondering how this will benefit me, are you not?”

Shin Mu nodded his head.

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“Well. If I help you, and because of that, you end up helping someone else, who in turn, helps yet another person; if a chain like that were to continue, then wouldn’t the world become a better place?”

“...”

Shin Mu stared in stunned silence.

“It’s silly, I know,” said Hei, who looked to the ground, seemingly embarrassed.

“It’s not!”

It was Meilin who yelled that out.

“Hm?”

“It isn’t silly at all,” mirrored Shin Mu.

Hei shifted his gaze between the two who had suddenly closed the gaps between themselves and him.

“Mm. It’s not silly,” said Meilin. “It’s wonderful!”

“The world really would be better if that happened,” added Shin Mu

“You think so?”

Hei said that as he took a step back, regaining his breathing room.

““Absolutely!”” exclaimed the two as they closed it again.

Hei chuckled.

“Then let’s make the world a better place.”

***

There was a dark, hazy fog obscuring her vision.

The wind blew violently, whipping her hair chaotically.

Her younger sister’s voice rang out from beyond the shadowy veil.

She could hear her so clearly, but she couldn’t see her at all.

The fog was too thick.

“Meilin?!” She yelled. “Meilin, I’m here! Where are you?”

“I’m over here, Big Sis! Help me!”

The voice was still clear, but it was further away this time.

She reached her hand out, trying to grab hold of something, anything, but there was nothing there.

“Meilin?”

“Big Sis, they’re taking me away! Don’t let them take me!”

“Meilin!”

“Big Sis!”

***

“Meilin!”

“Hm? Oh, were you saying something?”

“What happened? You spaced out for a while there.”

“Yeah... I was just thinking about Big Sis. She’s going to give me a big lecture when she sees me.”

“Well, it’s hardly unwarranted, isn’t it?”

“Tianlan...”

Hei, Tianlan, and Meilin were currently walking through a forest on their way back to the sect.

As he heard the sounds of twigs snapping under his feet, Hei couldn’t help but voice a complaint.

He turned to Meilin, who seemed to be used to such things at this point.

“Tell me, Meilin.”

“Yes?”

“How can a cultivator be afraid of heights?”

“...”

The only reason they were walking instead of flying was that Meilin was deathly afraid of heights.

A trait Hei found hard to comprehend.

“I just prefer being on the ground, okay? It’s not a big deal.”

“No, that’s where you’re wrong. Do you know how much time we could save by flying?”

“It’s just a few hours.”

“Maybe for someone who just watches movies all day.”

“Hey! What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Nothing. I’m just saying that some of us actually have things to do.”

“I have things to do too, you know?”

“Oh? Like what?”

“You know... there’s... stuff…”

“I see.”

“...”

***

Her eyes shot open.

She was no longer in that dark place.

In front of her, she could see her hand. Behind it, the ceiling.

It had all just been a dream.

She lowered her hand to her face and felt dampness around her eyes.

“Meilin...”

It had only been a dream. That was true enough. Just opening her eyes was enough to get away from it.

But what she opened them to was the real nightmare.

“How long has it been?”

Only a few months.

But to her, it may as well have been an eternity.

“Sigh.”

She couldn’t help but the recent past.

It wasn’t long ago. Not in the grand scheme of things.

She had awoken, ready to begin her day’s training.

But first, she went for breakfast.

A girl had to eat.

It was as she was halfway through her meal that she noticed a lack of a certain someone.

‘Strange,’ she thought, but she didn’t pay it any mind.

She finished her meal, then went out to the weapon room to pick out a sword.

She began her training, her father in tow. Studying hard the techniques he’d bestow.

After seven long years, she had much to show. But regardless of that, she continued to grow.

Her youngest sister, Yanmei joined them, as she would usually do, but the middle child was nowhere to be seen. She had long since given up on her training.

That was why no one noticed anything strange.

It wasn’t until later in the day that their worlds would be turned upside down.

Their mother, as loving as she was, nearly collapsed when they failed to find her daughter.

Every person available was sent to look for her.

Alas, they failed to find her.

She had just up and disappeared.