Alex was surprised by the bitterness in his own voice when he explained what had happened, just as he was touched by the concerned looks all his friends gave him.

“At least you have no strictures at all for purchasing property and supplies, Alex,” Dui Zhong said in an attempt at comfort. “Silver Sands credits are as good as coin. In some circles, they’re worth even more.”

“Sure,” Alex said with a humorless chuckle. “If I don’t mind buying property in a city just a hairsbreadth away from a purge, it’s great. But if I actually came here to grow as a cultivator, being denied all access to spiritual tomes which would allow me to learn so much quicker than by simple observation is about as cruel a blow to my future as I could suffer, and probably exactly what that Tan Yi shithead hoped would happen.”

Surprisingly, it was Linnea who shook her head. “No, Alex. He was hoping you’d get kicked out altogether, so you’d be easy pickings for his clan. That’s my guess. I saw the hunger in his eyes. The way he looked like he wanted to explode with fury when Elder Win made it clear that you were still very much welcome to stay at the college and dare the rifts… because the gods above know they need Ruidians willing to take on those Shadow cats and get what cores they can… even if you’re not longer able to benefit from free instruction or any access to the library at all.”

Alex slowly nodded, conceding the point. He then flashed a bleak smile. “I’m almost tempted to leave school grounds right now and enjoy all that the city has to offer. And on the off chance any thugs feel like following me and making it clear how ‘unwelcome’ I truly am with the clan eager to seize control… I’ll be more than happy to let them know just how I feel about their strong-arm bullshit.”

Qing Wu snorted. “There’s no need for that, disciple. Besides, I happen to know for a fact that absolutely nothing prevents any cultivator from tutoring any associate of the school however they see fit… and that includes making use of whatever spiritual treasures they might have available.”

With a knowing smile he turned to Ya Ling who flashed a beatific grin. “That’s perfect, Grandfather! We received the same blessing consuming the same legendary treasures, so maybe it will work just as well for him as it does for me!”

Alex blinked. “I’m sorry?” Yet almost before he said the words, Ya Ling was gone in a flash and a gust of wind… only to return moments later holding a treasure radiating so much spiritual energy that Alex felt the world still at the sight of it.

His heart began to pound, instantly understanding the significance of that glorious glow. The hyper-realness of the prize causing everything near it to pale to gentle insignificance.

He gazed at Ya Ling in profound wonder. “You actually have a tome of that caliber. Here. In this city. How?”

He quickly looked around, relieved to see that Qing Wu was already two steps ahead, sensing the frigid wards now surrounding the property.

Qing Wu gazed at him for long moments, before giving a nod of bemused approval as Ya Ling placed the tome in Alex’s trembling hands. “I see you understand its significance. And the way you hold it, the look in your eyes...”

Reny’s gaze widened. “This isn’t the first time this boy has held an artifact of this caliber.”

Even Ya Ling blinked. “I know. He didn’t topple over under its spiritual weight!” She flashed Alex a curious smile. “Do you truly understand what this is?”

Alex slowly nodded. Also knowing better than to say it aloud. Just in case.

A Gold tier tome.

Here, in Liushi. A city with a double handful of Silvers at most.

But what was most remarkable of all, Alex thought, was that it wasn’t simply a tome emphasizing proper cycling and core formation exercises. In fact, if he didn’t know better...”

He gazed up at his smiling hosts. “May I?”

Qing Wu snorted. “I wouldn’t have revealed it if I didn’t expect you to peruse it.”

Alex flushed then grinned, before beginning his most careful perusal, wise enough only to glance at the upper left corner of each page, without allowing himself to get sucked into the story of its creation, or the tales of the authors within.

Reny gave an approving nod. “Good. It seems that our young prodigy here is both talented enough to understand the ramifications of spiritual communion with a cultivation tome… and wise enough not to lose himself before he’s truly prepared.”

After long moments of perusing the tome, an increasingly bemused Alex turned back to Reny and Qing Wu. “It’s a heritage treasure that radiates so much potency that I thought… but it has nothing beyond forging multi-strand cables while making use of half-step elements. Fascinating, yet it has nothing on forging a proper Gold Core.” He shook his head in wonder, ignoring the odd looks these words earned him. “Yet the techniques it offers… with Ice, Sand, Wind, even Lightning…” He gazed at his friends in wonder. “This tome is priceless. Beyond priceless. The pristine nature of the techniques within are as refined as is possible.” His eyes crinkled in a heartfelt smile. “This is a truly priceless treasure.” He sighed. “What my librarian would give for a copy of this tome.”

Qing Wu snorted. “And just how prestigious is your own background that you keep from us that you actually have a library of your own, let alone a librarian?”

Linnea exchanged a long glance with Alex that caused his cheeks to blaze. Reminding him once more that this beautiful redhead now had access and awareness of secrets not a single other living soul knew in this time and place.

The young Ruidian flushed and looked away, sensing his dismay.

Alex winced. “Sorry.”

“I would never break your trust, you know that,” she whispered with her mind alone.

Alex squeezed her hand in gentle apology before turning to his friends. “To have stumbled into such pristine good fortune...” he slowly shook his head. “No. There’s no way I’ll believe that you actually stumbled upon this treasure just by simple chance.”

Reny and Qing Wu both exchanged satisfied smiles of there own. “Let’s just say that there was more than one reason why we came back to Liushi,” Reny conceded, eyes twinkling.

Qing Wu flashed a hard smile of his own. “When word came to be that an old acquaintance had passed on… the source of so much contention and half the reason why we became nomads so many years ago… I thought it high time we return to our roots.”

“And reclaim the heritage treasures that another had dared to claim in our steed!” Reny declared, eyes flashing with sudden heat, before it faded in a sigh. “We knew there were no guarantees, of course. But when we saw that this property was currently in contention...”

Qing Wu flashed a hard smile. “Let’s just say we were eager to make it our own. And if a certain Bursar was open to aiding us in circumventing unwanted competition… we were not opposed to making it worth his while.”

Alex gazed at his friends for long bemused moments, before breaking out in laughter. “And here I thought you were the aggrieved property. But you were using that missing asshole just as much as he was using you!”

“And we had thought ourselves so clever,” Reny said with a rueful chuckle. “Our focus being on making sure that we had the royal bursar’s own stamp of approval on our deed to match the one our own fixer was using. Only to find that we had been focusing on entirely the wrong things.”

Qing Wu nodded. “We should have realized that not all was as it seemed when everything flowed together so easily and well… not a single delay on the paperwork at all!”

“Because we had no idea how precious the Water core we had traded truly was,” Reny admitted with an embarrassed shrug. “So of course everyone involved went out of their way to facilitate a smooth transition. It secured them a fortune beyond what even we were aware of.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

Yet to that, Alex couldn’t help but chuckle, patting the tome now before him. “And I’d still say you made out like bandits with the trade, were it not for the situation here in the caldera. Still, as far as your own fortunes go...” He gazed with renewed wonder at the tome before him. “Tell me this tome alone isn’t as precious as almost anything else you’ll find in the library.”

Surprisingly, Qing Wu snorted at that. “There are indeed treasures in the secured vaults of the library that some would consider its equal. But those are few and far between, carefully secured so that only the most favored disciples will ever have access to them.” He nodded with pride at the ancient tome in Alex’s hands. This is a true treasure regardless, and one tied to our bloodlines. So it works far better for those with my clan’s blood in their veins than anyone else.” He then turned, peering at Alex thoughtfully. “The only question that remains is how well it might or might not work for you?”

Alex blinked at that, genuinely touched by the trust he had been shown just in presenting him with this prize.

He swallowed the lump in his throat, bowing from the waist. “I will treasure the opportunity to learn from it, and I am truly honored to have the privilege to do so.”

“But don’t fret, even if it does you little good,” Reny urged with a reassuring pat of his hand. “In truth, the I find the tome as hard to understand as my husband after too much rice wine. It’s possible that such is the case for anyone not of his blood.” She snorted at his expression with those words as Ya Ling erupted with silvery peels of laughter. “So true, grandmother!”

Ya Ling’s gaze then grew intent. Hungry with a need Alex could scarce fathom, as she clutched his hand with her good one, before bowing to Linnea. “If this one might borrow your fiance...” She turned to gaze at Alex with her soft brown eyes. “Before anything else… tell me, how did you enjoy our practice today?”

Alex grinned. “Very much. I needed a good workout like that.”

Ya Ling seemed to melt into her self with relief. She closed her eyes before nodding to herself. “It will be midday in just a glass. Alex?” She bit her lip worriedly. “Would you mind sparring with me again? Only… not here.”

Alex blinked, curiosity piqued. “Of course. Where did you want to spar?”

She gazed at him for long moments. “How about the desert sands?”

Alex smiled. “Alright, I’m in.”

Her eyes widened with surprise. “Just like that?”

“Just like that. I can tell this is important to you. I’m guessing you’re looking to synergize Wind and Sand? And where better than the desert at high noon, am I right?”

Alex was surprised to see the ears in the corner of her eyes. “Alex I… thank you. You don’t know what this means to me.”

Linnea bit her lip, before bowing her head. “Alex? I need to check on my uncle and cousin.”

Alex blinked. “Really?”

She winced. “It’s been almost five days… and I know they’re worried. And honestly, despite my row with Lieberman, I’m worried to. We both know that things are no longer as simple as they were a week ago… so I want to make sure that they know the score.” Her brow furrowed. “And know that maybe these rifts aren’t really safe for us to delve at all. Not with Shadow beast infestations and a clan actively planning our downfall.”

Alex winced, then bowed his head. “I hate to say it, but you’re probably right.”

She sighed. “I know I am. I guess I’ll meet you back at our apartments at nightfall?”

“You are always welcome to make yourself at home here as well, Linnea,” Reny gently remonstrated. Her eyes twinkled with unmistakable warmth. “In fact we’re going to be having some wonderfully spicy lamb curry tonight.”

Linnea’s eyes lit with unmistakable pleasure. “I absolutely love lamb curry!”

“Then by all means, join us. Your relatives are welcome as well.”

Linnea gave Reny an impulsive hug, before darting back to kiss Alex on the cheek, then darted out the door with a farewell wave.

Alex gazed at her for long moments, cheeks flushing with the bemused looks his friends were giving him.

“Alex...”

Alex flashed Ya Ling his gentlest smile. “Let’s get going, shall we?”

His first real friend since waking up in this time and place gave him a hesitant nod, and together they left without another word.

For all that Alex felt an unexpected weight between them, it faded rapidly with his first snarky comment about the prudish looks on half the young self-important cultivator’s faces that they passed by, her silvery peels of laughter brightening Alex’s day almost as much as the brilliant sun overhead caressing them with its warmth as they left the campus and made their way along the streets filled with palm trees, market stalls and a busy populace. The cheerful smiles and warm looks they received from both date vendor and casual passersby by further served to lighten Alex’s mood and make it clear that the average citizen had no idea how precarious their lives might soon become… if fresh Water cores weren’t found soon.

Ya Ling squeezed his hand, as if sensing brooding thoughts. “Don’t worry,” she said between handfuls of salted nuts and dates, “everything will work itself out.”

Alex smiled. “I certainly hope so,” he said as they approached the eastern gate, new to Alex but clearly not to Ya Ling who traded a few quips with the guards dressed in lamellar armor along with white tabards which were all but a necessity under the midday desert sun, in addition to the shade provided by trees alongside the portcullises.

The closest guard offered them a respectful nod. “Your camels are waiting for you, Lady Wu.”

Ya Ling grinned. “Thank you, San. And here’s something for you both to help with the desert sun,” she said, passing a flask Alex just knew was filled with rice wine.

San pocketed the flask with a finesse that would have done any Bronze speedster proud, even if he was still in the first steps of basic cultivation himself. “Enjoy your meditation,” the guard said with a knowing nod Alex’s way, earning a polite chuckle from Ya Ling. Far different from the offense Alex might have expected.

With a farewell wave, Alex and Ya Ling were soon riding a pair of surprisingly sedate camels, and Alex totally knew things would be much more challenging if the beast he was on wasn’t content to follow its partner, because certainly it was paying no attention to Alex’s reins… so Alex wisely didn’t try to lead it at all. He did note that the pair of them weren’t continuing in a straight line but curving around the caldera, soon out of sight of the guards with nothing to see but scrub bush, sand, and the steep cliff face of the caldera itself, the city they now called home hundreds of feet above the sands they now strode upon.

Ya Ling took a deep breath of the hot desert air, eyes twinkling with life and mirth. Wordlessly, they leaped off their camels and began walking up the nearest dune. He looked at the mounts with some concern.

“Don’t worry. They’ll be fine for days, even with no water at all. Besides, they know the way back to the eastern entrance, should worst come to worst.”

Alex nodded. “Good.” He then spun around at the sound of leather against steel, as a grinning Ya Ling unsheathed her new jian, held in a hanging one handed grip, and Alex couldn’t help but gaze upon her form with wide-eyed awe as twirling streamers of sand and wind wrapped about body and blade both. “You’ve managed to synergize the flow of both arts in just a couple of days?”

Ya Ling’s laughter echoed through the desert. “Days? It felt like months that I was one with that tome, it’s nature calling out to my blood.” The whirling sands eased slightly, revealing her brilliant smile, the tears flowing down her cheeks. “I can only tell you now how crushingly awful it felt, to have lost my hand and come so close to dying.” Her eyes grew haunted. “How close we all came to dying, if it hadn’t been for you and your… fiance.”

“Ya Ling...”

“The point is, we came so close to losing absolutely everything. Only the swirling winds within my meridians gave me solace, even when Reny made it clear that my foundation couldn’t endure any sort of flash healing. That it would have to be slow and careful and would take months. Months! If I wanted my peripheral meridian channels to grow along with my flesh… if I wanted to be able to feel the flow of Wind through my blade… or commune with sand as I used to, ever again.”

Alex winced. “Months, huh?”

She winked. “It was only then, at my lowest moment, my missing hand throbbing with agony as if it weren’t just there but was on fire, that grandfather revealed to me the prize kept just where he had hidden it when we were forced to leave our family home here, over twenty years ago.” She flashed a wicked smile. “The terms of the agreement meant that grandfather had to surrender all his prizes, as our enemies had conspired. They did not, however, demand our revealing where exactly they were hidden. So for all that a dozen lesser tomes are now no doubt in the vaults of that scheming clan, our greatest prizes remained intact still.”

Alex bowed his head. “Very smart. I’m glad your family tome is intact and in one piece.”

Ya Ling snorted. “Not like it would have done them any good, anyway. Their affinities match grandmother's. And as much as I love her with all my heart, even touching the tome just gives her a headache. If my affinities had been for Wood, Fire, or Metal, I’d probably feel just as she does.”

“But those aren’t your affinities,” Alex noted with a smile. “You’re a true queen of the desert, as the winds and sand swirling around you even now show us all.”

Ya Ling nodded and arched her head back.

Alex’s heart pounded in his chest as the entire dune began to tremble. The desert air grew heavy with grains of sand, Alex instinctively stepping back as the mournful howl revealed a storm of wind and sand forming in the dunes right behind them.

Alex gazed slack-jawed at the sight of his friend raising slender arms to summon forth a massive twister, shrieking and howling with sand-filled winds that could have sucked down an entire city block.