I stop a few paces away and bow. “Your music is beautiful.”

The young man bows his head in response to the compliment. “Thank you, I am only a student to the craft.” he plucks a few strings, the notes ringing out softly. “Are you a musician yourself?”

“I am.” I pull out my flute, showing it to him.

“I sensed the spirit of music on you.” He laughs. His laughter is light and musical, sounding like little bells. “The notes follow you like ducklings to their mother.” He hums softly, plucking a few more strings. “Would you play with me, Lady of Music and Death?”

My body stills at the name Ai had called me. He closes his eyes, leaning into the music and missing my reaction.

I look around the tavern, with its many patrons drinking and talking softly. Can I allow myself the distraction, when the sect could be in danger, and I am so lost? It feels like… “I don’t know if I should.”

“I just ask for one song.” He says, opening his eyes. “Can you not see the song? It asks to be played.” His eyes turn into gentle blue waves, moving with the soft plucking of his instrument.

For the first time, I notice the spirit around him. It plays a soft melody in my ear, one of hope and life. It’s the first time I’ve heard spirit in such a way, but it is familiar in a way that I can’t quite describe.

I slowly nod my head, then sit next to him.

“Lead the way, Lady Death.” He calls softly.

I shift my mask up, and place my flute to my lips.

The crowd of the tavern quiets, turning to us as they sense the air of the tavern still. Qi and spirit wrap around the young man’s instrument as he stops plucking it and puts his bow against the strings.

A hush follows.

I breathe in, qi gathering to my breath, then I play.

My music swirls through the room, a haunting melody that calls for the patron’s gazes.

The melody shifts with sadness, a reminder of all that has been lost.

His bow travels across his strings, and a lighter tone joins mine.

A contrasting lightness that tells of the beauty to be found even in the darkest of tunes. It speaks of light through the canopy, piercing the darkness.

Our music mixes as I continue my haunting melody, only for his light to promise something more.

I open my eyes. I hadn’t even realized I closed them. In the room, a figure of light dances with a figure of darkness. They chase each other across the room, until even the darkness enjoys the fun of the game.

They shift with the music, a constant entanglement of duality.

The music slows, and the two figures slow their chase. They dance together in the center of the room, slowly merging as our music joins together in melody.

They hold each other, becoming a mix of light and shadow until one is indistinguishable from the other.

Our music quiets as the dance comes to an end, the two figures slowly fading in each other’s arms.

The young man breaks out into laughter, musical and filled with joy. Conversation slowly returns to the tavern. “That was great! Better than I’d hoped. Are you a student of the Wordsmiths too? No, you can’t be, they don’t allow you to be in a sect while learning the arts.”

I pause, “Do you mean the Lanxing Wordsmiths?”

“I guess not then? Best to keep that quiet.” He plucks a few strings, sending a small breeze through the room with the music. “The Wordsmiths are quite protective of the secrets of the dao of music.” He looks up and gives me a wink. “Good thing you’re all mysterious with that mask of yours. Oh, that reminds me, are you following those other girls with the fox masks?”

I perk up at his words, “Other girls?”

He pauses, “Oh. You don’t know. I’d assumed that the Fourth Sect had contacted your sect and you were sent to retrieve them.” He frowns, his hand strumming his instrument lightly as he thinks. He looks up at me curiously, “It seems that fate- or perhaps an immortal- is on your side, seeing as you met me. Follow me.”

He stands up and moves to a large case shaped for his instrument.

The people in the tavern cry out, asking for more music, but he just shakes his head and smiles. “Sorry, I’ll be back again soon.” He calls out, strapping his instrument into its case.

A serving girl walks over to him, handing him a purse. He speaks with her for a second, handing her something discreetly. He turns to me and waves for me to follow him.

I hesitate for a split second, wondering if I should so easily trust the young man. But his spirit was kind.

I follow him up a set of stairs and away from the drinking crowd. We go past several rooms, then stop at a door. He knocks, then calls out “It’s me.”

Shia stirs in my robes as several bolts are undone on the door and it’s partially opened. A young girl stares out at us, her mouth opening slightly in an unreadable expression as her eyes meet mine.

She fully opens the door, letting us into a messy room.

The musician walks in and I follow.

“Xiaolang, this is-” He pauses, “I actually don’t know your name.”

I hesitate, then bow lightly, “Disciple Lin Jia of the Flowing River Sect.” I doubt that the sect is very happy with me at the moment, but if I’m across the portals, then it’s unlikely they’ll hear of me using their name.

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“I am Xiaolang.” The young girl closes the door and bows to me, giving me my first full look at her. She looks to be thirteen or fourteen. Down her back flows beautiful white hair, and her eyes are a haunting silver.

“She is a spirit beast.” Shia whispers to me. “A white wolf. I don’t know what she’s doing without her pack.”

Now that she mentions it, I can sense the wild spirit that surrounds the girl, reminding me of the forest and long nights chasing the moon.

“And I am Li Mingze, disciple of the Wordsmiths.” The musician finally introduces himself. “Xiaolang, if you could tell Disciple Lin what happened to her fellow disciples.”

The girl nods, then hesitates, wringing her hands. She looks at Li Mingze before turning back to me. “A few days ago, I was being hunted by the Fourth Sect through the city. They would’ve killed me if it weren’t for-” She motions towards me.

“Your fellow disciples.” Li Mingze adds.

The girl nods. “They stepped in, and helped me escape. But… the sect wasn’t happy with them. The Fourth Sect has them now.”

“This was a few days ago?” I ask, my hand tapping against my flute to calm my heart.

The girl nods.

“And they were wearing masks like me?” I ask.

She nods again.

To me, I was with the girls just a few hours ago, but what if the technique that the Murderess had used wasn’t as instantaneous as I thought? I don’t know how techniques like that work, but it’s scary to think that I’d lost several days of time.

“Did one of the girls use ice techniques?” I ask, just to be sure.

“Yes.”

“What does the Fourth Sect having them mean?” I ask Li Mingze.

“I’m not sure.” He answers, his fingers tapping against his side. “I try to stay out of the way of the twelve sects. They are often blinded by their hatred of demons.” He glances at Xiaolang, then back to me. “They won’t anger an unknown sect, so the two girls are safe, probably.” He shrugs, “If I were you, I’d convince your sect to negotiate their return.”

I nod, then turn towards the door. I don’t want to leave my sisters in the hands of an unknown sect, and there’s no way I could convince a representative of our sect to come out now. That means I’ll have to take things into my own hands.

“When you’re done, come find me here.” Li Mingze calls, stopping me in front of the door. “I have a feeling that my master would be interested in seeing you and if the Fourth Sect doesn’t take kindly to you… well, they would think twice before following you into this tavern.”

I turn to him and bow my head, “Thank you for helping me find my fellow disciples. I will keep your words in mind and I would enjoy playing another duet soon.”

“It would be my joy to have the chance.” Li Mingze bows his head.

I leave the room, and head down the stairs.

“What is your plan, little one?” Shia asks.

I take a deep breath, then lift my head and stand tall. I am a daughter of the Lin Family and a Core Disciple of the Flowing River Sect. If there’s any time that calls for my inner strength, it would be now. “Hide yourself well, Shia.”

Shia hisses. “I do like this side of you.”

I step outside of the tavern and walk into the street.

I pull qi into my breath, calling it to my voice. “Core Disciple Lin Jia is here on behalf of the Flowing River Sect.”

My words reverberate with the qi, moving through the streets so that my voice can be heard for blocks around.

A few moments later, a cultivator in Core Formation flies down from the sky, a sword under her feet. She jumps down in front of me, the sword shrinking to a small dagger she sheets at her waist. She rests her hand on the dagger as she examines me. Her robes are the same red as the ones of the disciples that had been looking for me earlier, except more ornate, with golden trim.

I bow my head, keeping the air of a proper lady of the imperial court. “I am here to speak with the Fourth Sect about the release of my fellow disciples.”

The woman stays quiet for a long moment, before bowing her head in acknowledgment. “I am Inquisitor Lao of the Fourth Sect. Is your master with you?”

I look at her, my gaze unwavering. “My master has other matters to deal with, I have been given full authority to negotiate the release of my fellow disciples.”

The woman tilts her head, as if listening to something, then nods. “Very well, you will accompany me to see High Inquisitor Xiang.”

She draws her dagger, and it expands into a sword large enough to hold both of us. It floats there for her as she steps on and she extends her hand for me to join her.

I take the hand and step onto the sword. I sense she sends a faint line of qi into me, searching for something, and I pull my hand back as if stung.

The woman doesn’t explain anything, instead turning to look into the distance. The sword leaves the ground and we shoot off towards a large building in the center of the town. The wind and force of the flight doesn’t affect me, giving me plenty of time to study the building we approach. It’s made out of twelve spires, with a center dome inlaid with several inscriptions and formations that I’m not familiar with. I sense powerful waves of qi traveling through the building and its spires.

We travel through two of the spires, and I feel qi wash over me, searching for something. Shia is as still as a statue as the qi brushes over her, but the cultivator with us shows no visible reaction.

My best guess is that the spires themselves are some kind of formation, meant for detecting something. Spirit beasts and demons no doubt. My hand hovers over where I know Shia to be, her presence completely gone from my senses.

We fly closer to the dome and lower out of the sky, eventually landing in a well maintained courtyard.

An older woman kneels on the ground, pulling out small weeds next to a large leafy plant.

Inquisitor Lao steps off of the sword and bows to the woman. The woman pulls out another small plant, setting it in a pile, then climbs to her feet and turns to us.

I freeze as her gaze lands on me, carrying with it the weight of someone beyond the Matriarch. It’s hard to tell her exact realm with the difference in power, but I would guess her to be a single realm beyond her in Dao Refining. Far beyond my current strength.

I bow low and clasp my fist in my palm, “I am Core Disciple Lin Jia of the Flowing River Sect. I have been sent to negotiate for the release of my fellow disciples.”

“I am High Inquisitor Xiang. It is a grave sign of disrespect for your sect to send a disciple only-” She pauses, her gaze on a spot in my robes. For a second, I’m worried that she might’ve detected Shia, but her gaze isn’t right for that. No, instead, she looks at my flute. “Forgive me, I hadn’t realized that you represented the Lady Of Flowers.” Her demeanor changes as she looks at me more intently, her gaze searching for something.

I keep my expression neutral, meeting her eyes. Despite the difference in cultivation, I am meant to represent the power of my sect, which means that I cannot be too subservient. The mention of my mother makes me want to hear more, but I don’t want to show that curiosity. Not in this kind of situation.

“Walk with me, Disciple Lin. We will discuss your fellow disciples and their crimes.” She turns and starts walking into the large dome.

I take a breath now that her gaze is off of me. I hadn’t even realized that I’d been holding my breath.

I hurry to follow the powerful woman, squashing the worry I feel at the tone she spoke of my sister disciples with.