“I’m not wearing that!” Yu declared forcefully.

“Why not, dear? It’s the height of current fashion,” the seamstress said as she stood next to Yu’s master. The middle-aged mortal woman had her hands on her wide hips, looking insulted.

“Why? Because there’s not enough cloth! How is that not obvious?” Yu answered while jabbing her hand at the “dress” she was supposed to be wearing to the ball in a few hours time.

It wasn’t like the offending garment was ugly. Quite the opposite. It was beautiful. The silver cloth sparkled and glistened in the light of the ether lamps generously spread around the room, and the white dragons swimming across the chest and waist would accentuate her figure.

However, it was basically half of a qipao. The other half was simply missing. The top covered her torso from neck to mid just below the hip, but her shoulders and arms were fully exposed, there was a slit from her neck to the shoulder, showing her collar bones.

And as bad as that was, it was nothing compared to the bottom half, which was what had set her off. The legs were completely exposed, with only flowing loose cloth in the front that went from mid-thigh to mid-thigh in width. It was wider in the back, covering her completely, but the front and back cloth did not connect. They both flowed freely, showing her legs to everyone and anyone looking.

“It will be a close match to what the other noble young cultivators will be wearing,” the infuriating woman said. “If you were to show yourself in front of the imperial nobles wearing old fashioned out of trend clothing, it will reflect poorly on yourself, your clans, your master, and your sect.”

“Why do you even care?” Yu asked her master, exasperated. “You never care what others think.”

“Oh, I do not care in the least what these puffed-up peacocks think of me. Speaking of peacocks, Poki will be joining us.” Yu facepalmed. “But back on topic, while I do not care, it is widely known that you are a Long now, have been staying in the Long estate, using Long resources, sitting in the Long booth in the arena. While you are permitted to ignore convention as my disciple, you are not as a member of a peerless, powerful, and prestigious clan.”

Reaching for anything that could get out of this, she said, “I thought I was just going as your disciple.”

“Tonight you are attending as both.”

“How is this not going to make me look like the tramp the Bao accused me of?” Yu whined.

“What did they say?!” the seamstress screeched. “Why that is the most horrid thing to say to young lady I think I have ever heard. Just awful. Crude and uncouth, they are. What an insult. Saying that a lady of the Long clan is a… Why that makes me so angry. I am going to turn you into the most beautiful creature they have ever seen!”

“You have an unlimited accessory budget,” he told the woman. And then back to Yu, “And with that, this discussion is over. If the seamstress says this is what you wear, you will wear it.”

Yu wilted, “But… But it’s so…”

“Perfect, dear. The word you are looking for is perfect.”

That was most certainly not the word she had been looking for.

***

“Long Fengdu, capital representative of the Long Clan,” sounded loudly just ahead of Yu.

She watched as her cousin walked up the last steps, dressed quite formally in a gray and white hanfu. There were occasionally chimes as the numerous jade amulets dangling at his waist hit each other. Strangely, the sounds were more musical than the clacking normal jade would make.

His silver hair was up in a topknot, held in place by a white jade guan shaped like a crown, which also had a single jade amulet dangling from it.

Once Fengdu reached five steps in, the man making the introductions turned to look at who was next. Unfortunately for the poor fellow, it was her master. And Poki.

Yu’s face stayed neutral, but rather than focus on the attendant and fight the desire to either laugh at the absurdity or weep in embarrassment, she scanned her surroundings. The ballroom was in a building in a different area of the palace grounds than her prior visit. The first thing she noticed was that saying it was a single ballroom was incorrect. It was more like three separate but connected rooms, with a fourth being the main entranceway she was in.

Gold, silver, bronze, and jade were everywhere. In the walls, the lights, the ceiling, even the floor, wealth was exhibited. Music which sounded like a number of zithers playing together, was echoing throughout, but she could not find its source.

Yu had been forced to reduce her senses to just above normal the moment she entered the building due to the horrid stench of all the mixed perfumes, soaps, flowers, and other odors permeated the air. She hated doing that as it made her feel vulnerable, but she did not have a choice. The place reeked.

As Yu stepped forward, the reason for the plethora of smells became quickly obvious. There were hundreds of people present. Yu let out a relieved breath as she saw most of the young women were dressed similarly to her, with a substantial amount of exposed skin. In fact, upon closer inspection, every single female youth that was anywhere near her age looked to be attempting to show plenty of themselves. Some more and some less, about a quarter with either real or painted-on tattoos, but all were exposed like her. Yu figured, based on her initial glance, that she was probably in the middle for exposure.

Sparsely interspersed throughout the room, were what Yu assumed were Imperial Guards. They were mostly standing still along the walls or blocking corridors. They wore glistening gold, green, and white armor, with full masked helmets covering their heads and faces. They also all stiffly held spears in one hand to their sides, somehow managing to appear both as decorative statues and also deadly threats at the same time.

“Ahem.” The announcer cleared his throat, but it was a bit higher pitch than his voice dictated. “Long Bingwen, Sect Master of the Black Dragon Sect, accompanied by his apprentice, Fenghuang Yu and… and his peacock, Poki.” His voice squeaked a bit at the end.

Here we go.

Her master stepped up and walked forward, his face showing awe and excitement. “What a lovely home!” He walked forced with a bit of a bounce in his step, which made Poki’s head bob up and down and the feather scarf he was wearing flutter.

He looked absolutely ridiculous with his gold sect robes, multicolored feathered scarf wrapped around his neck a few times, and Poki on his head with its tail sweeping behind his back.

“Master, I am going to go… find someone… somewhere,” Yu said haltingly.

Anywhere not near you.

He waved his hand. “Yes, yes. Enjoy yourself, whoever you are.”

Yu let out a relieved breath and wandered to the left where there seemed to be a long table with small foods spread liberally along it. It did not miss Yu’s notice that she got numerous different looks the moment she separated from her master. They varied from everything between disgust to interest. There were even one or two that showed sympathy, but most were not positive.

A number of them, mostly the men, seemed to be eyeing her up and down, but Yu would have been a fool not to expect that. The seamstress and her helpers had not allowed Yu to see herself until just before she and her master had been about to leave, but when she did…

She hated to use the word, but Yu had never really seen herself as sexy. Zihao, and many of the young men in the sect, had made her feel attractive, even beautiful. She was a cultivator though; almost all of them were beautiful. Sure, she had made it onto that ridiculous list at the sect. She knew she was attractive. But it had never occurred to her to think of herself as provocative. She was too muscular for that, surely.

However, between the seamstress and the various maids, hairdressers, makeup painters, jewelers, and who knew what more… well, what Yu had seen in the mirror before they departed had taken her breath away. Her skin was naturally pale and smooth, so little was needed to enhance that, but to her eyes had been added an outline of fading dark makeup that drew focus to her liquid silver irises. Her mouth was given a strong red color which made her lips glisten smoothly, enhancing the very slight color added to her cheeks.

Yu’s long silver hair was up in a braided knot behind her head and then fell down her back loosely. The knot was held in place by a very small black jade tiara-like headdress. On each side of Yu’s head, above her ears, were combs showing black and white apple blossoms with white jade chains dangling from each behind her ears.

Just above the neckline of the Qipao, she wore a choker, silver with apple blossoms that matched her hair wrapped around her throat. At Yu’s wrists were silver bands that had five chains coming off of them, leading to attached rings on all her fingers and thumb.

Under the Qipao she had lost the battle against, her legs, painted with a line of apple blossoms spiraling up her leg, swished gently as she moved, enhancing the occasional jingles coming from the chains at her hands. A light clicking came from the heels of her shoes, their silver and white matching the dress perfectly, and each showing a single apple blossom near ankle.

For the first time in her life, Yu had felt sexy. Seductive. It was foreign and a bit intimidating. Yet, at the same time, it made her feel a bit…

Why is he always right? she had asked herself at the time. She was awed by what she saw and by what she felt. Her master had been right. It made her feel powerful. Confident. In control. Like being sexy could be a weapon.

And right now, as she watched the looks almost all the men (and some women), young and old, were giving her, she thought, Damnit, why is that man always right?

So, Yu walked slowly to the table with the food. Thinking about it, she changed her mind in regards to actually eating, not wanting to risk messing up her outfit. So instead, she just walked next to the table, examining the various foods. Thankfully, at the end of one table, started another, this one with glasses holding various drinks, as well as person behind the table to meet specific requests.

Glancing around, she saw most of those present held some sort of drink, so Yu felt comfortable following along. The problem was, she had no clue what was what. She knew nothing about fancy drinks, or even non-fancy drinks. She usually just had tea or water.

“Can I get you a drink?” said a deep voice behind Yu.

She almost jumped, not being used to getting snuck up on. But again, her senses were toned down and she was not pleased about that.

She turned, placing a false smile on her face, to see a young man looking to be in his thirties. He had black hair, purple eyes, and a short well-groomed beard at this chin but not cheeks. His sideburns were a bit longer than normal convention. His tall muscular form told her he was likely a warrior, and with the eyes, a Lightning Warrior. He looked slightly familiar, but only just, so Yu could not pinpoint why, and she did not want to flip through her memory while staring up at him.

He looked down at Yu, his head tilted slightly to the side. “What would you like?” he asked, glancing behind her to the table with drinks.

Right. He asked if I wanted a drink.

“I don’t know what I want yet. What are you getting?”

Yu knew she sounded awkward, but she wasn’t exactly practiced at this kind of thing.

His smile was bright, but his eyes had a gleam of something Yu wasn’t sure she liked as they ran down and then back up her body. But they returned to neutrality shortly.

What should I expect, dressed like this. Stop letting it get to you.

“Fenghuang Yu, right? I’m Fan Guan, twelfth in line of the Fan clan and second of this generation.” He gave a polite short bow.

Oh, that’s how I know you.

“Ah. Fan Ran’s brother, right?”

Anger flashed as his eyes glowed purple and his jaw clenched, but it all faded almost immediately back to polite interest.

“Yes. He has mentioned you on occasion in his missives, so I wanted to introduce myself.”

“Well, I’m glad to meet you.” She did not quite lie, but it was close. She did not like the reality she saw behind his mask, but it was also good to get the evening started with someone who was not terribly difficult to read. Lust and anger were two different emotions. She was used to both by now, but the former had an easy to figure out source, while the latter was harder to determine and easily masked.

Everyone wore masks. It was a part of life, especially in the political circles of nobility. This Fan Guan was just not very adept at hiding what was beneath his. He liked how she looked and he disliked his brother. That transparency was interesting, because the impression she had from Ran was that her family were career politicians with their focus being on foreign relations. Then again, this brother of Ran’s was young and could just be unpracticed in their family’s profession.

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“So, can I get you a drink?” Guan asked again.

Yu turned to the side so she was not looking away from him, but still she could see the table of drink. “I suppose. Any recommendations?”

The grin that showed was polite and he looked around the table as if thinking hard to give a quality recommendation. That, however, did not at all hide the glint of something dark once again showing in his eyes.

Yeah, definitely don’t want to be alone with this one.

“I think I can recommend something,” another voice said before Guan spoke again.

Yu turned her head to find two people approaching, both familiar and visually similar enough that their familial relations were obvious. Fan Ran advanced toward Yu and Guan with his sister, Fan Qinxue, on his arm. She was the one who had spoken, her smile not at all hiding her disdain for the brother who had offered to “help” Yu.

“Yu,” Ran said with a nod. “I don’t believe you have met my twin sister before. May I introduce Fan Qinxue.”

Smiling widely, the girl, taller than Yu by about half a head with hair the color of a darkening sky and eyes that flashed a mischievous indigo, bowed her head to Yu. When her head rose, Yu did not miss a subtle wink that turned into a grin aimed at her older brother.

“Guan, I have been so excited to meet Fenghuang Yu ever since Ran couldn’t stop talking about her. Why don’t you run along and see if you can find father.” Her voice deadpanned a bit when she added, “I’m sure he has something for you do.”

The muscles of Guan’s jaw stood out as it clenched and unclenched repeatedly. He clearly had an unpleasant response ready to go, but the moment he opened his mouth, Qinxue turned away from him and toward Yu, her excitement fully returned.

“It is a pleasure to finally meet you. Why don’t I help you pick out a drink while the boys wander off do manly things… like lifting large rocks or hitting heavy objects with their heads.”

Yu couldn’t help herself and laughed. There was something joyful and charismatic about the girl that released some of the tension caused by her large brother. Qinxue extricated herself from Ran’s arm and took Yu’s instead, who did not object to being gently guided away from “the boys” as she called them.

“I can suggest any number of quality drinks. The fact that you are looking at all of these glasses like they might bite, I assume you don’t know?”

Yu felt herself blush, but she nodded. “I’d appreciate any advice. Nothing too strong, though.”

Qinxue nodded. “Wise. Keeping focus at an event like this is an absolute necessity. Well, for most anyway. How about a little wine then? A red, not too dry?”

Yu shrugged, not having a clue. “I probably will just hold it and not drink much.”

“Many do that. Allows for you to keep your hands busy while also fitting in.”

Qinxue asked for something from the mortal behind the table and he made a show of pouring the wine from a clay container. Yu did not understand why it was such a production, but she ignored it, accepting the glass.

“Let’s walk around.” Then Qinxue lightly tightened her hold on Yu’s non-wine holding arm and guided her away from Ran and Guan, who Yu noticed looked unhappy with one another, but Ran did smile widely at her as she passed.

“You look absolutely ravishing tonight, by the way. I’m envious of your beauty. I knew you were beautiful after Ran spoke of you, plus the open arena booths, but the reality is something else.”

Flushing at the compliment, Yu ducked her head a little. “Thank you. This is actually the first time I’ve been this dressed up. You’re stunning too. I really like your hair.”

It was in no way an exaggeration. Qinxue was gorgeous in an all-black dress that shimmered in the light. It showed off a similar amount of smooth but tanned skin. Her hair was a deep purple, just above black, that framed her beautiful face in subtle curls that bounced and swayed as she walked.

But Qinxue waved it off. “All the cultivators here are beautiful. They’re elite cultivators. You, however, are more than just beautiful. Attention gravitates to you. It’s remarkable.”

Yu was about to shake her head in denial, but Qinxue kept speaking. “You were drawing quite a bit of attention, you know. It was actually why Ran and I came over. We were wondering what everyone was staring at. Of course, my brother nearly tripped over himself when he saw you, but then again he wasn’t the only one.”

Yu smiled awkwardly. “Thank you. Like I said, I’ve never done this before. This is actually my first ball too.”

She giggled. “I figured. You do not seem all that comfortable.”

Wincing, Yu looked out of the side of her eye at her. “That obvious?”

“Yes. But don’t worry about it. You’re basically sex on legs tonight, nobody is going to care.”

“Oh, gods,” Yu groaned.

That is so much farther than I hoped to go.

“I get that, but it’s a good thing. Why do you think my brothers can’t take their eyes off you. Nor can pretty much anyone else. You have to sense the stares.”

“I noticed,” she said grumpily. “I mean I guess it’s nice to feel attractive, but it’s also foreign to me. And I told my master it was too much. But I didn’t really get a say.”

She laughed. “Do you ever with him?”

“Not really,” Yu said with a chuckle.

“He did you a favor anyway. Your looks take away from your awkwardness. It’s a rule of the world, the more attractive you are, the less people care about what else you’re doing. Which, by the way, women everywhere use to deal with men. It’s a time-honored tradition. A woman uses sex to distract his man and then gets what she wants. I certainly do.”

“Well, I’ve never done that.” And it was true. She had never used intimacy to accomplish anything with Zihao except enjoy it.

“Right,” Qinxue said with a low chuckle. Yu’s express did not change though. “Wait, you’re serious?”

Yu nodded.

“Even with the prince? You’re telling me you never got anything out of an imperial prince using your body?”

Yu shrugged. “I never had to.”

“Oh, my. You have him wrapped around your little finger, don’t you?” Oddly, Qinxue seemed proud of Yu at this realization. “Well done! I heard it was one-sided as he pursued you, but I didn’t believe it. You haven’t…?”

Yu was struggling to figure out what to say here. The whole marriage thing was fake, but she had to find a way to not deny their connection, while also not to making her look like a user. A tramp, so to speak. Then again, publicly, Zihao was pursuing her, and she supposedly did not reciprocate. However, their families were still in talks. Everything had become so…

“It’s complicated,” was all she could come up with.

Qinxue laughed again. “Well, well, well, maybe my brother does have a shot then.”

“What?” Yu asked, confused. “We don’t see each other that way. We’re just friends.”

“Of course you are,” she said. Then her face fell. “Speaking of brothers, I hope your friend, Jao Li, is healing. And how is your brother? Ran tells me they’re close.”

Yu sighed. “Last I heard, she was healing slowly, but well. She is still in a coma, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes the brain heals best that way. As for Lei…” Yu shook her head. “He’s devastated. Ran was right, they’re very close.”

“I’m sorry,” she said sadly.

“I wish I could be there for them, but,” and Yu waved her wine glass-holding hand around the room.

“Yes. I understand responsibility over personal preference well.”

Yu thought she saw some sadness in the young woman’s indigo eyes then, but they returned to playful quickly. “I hope we can spend some time together in the spirit realm. I understand Ran will be with you?”

“If possible,” Yu nodded. “He and my bond and possibly one or two others will try to make a small team. But my master is a bit cagey on whether that’s likely, or even possible.”

Qinxue nodded knowingly. “If he was my master and he was acting suspicious, I would be nervous at best and terrified at worst.”

“Yup. But what can I do?”

Just as Qinxue opened her mouth to respond, they both froze as a voice called over, “Qinxue, please join us.”

They both looked over and saw, about half way across the room, her father, standing tall and imposing. He was surrounded by a number of young adults and a few who appeared like clan elders based on their visual age and dress.

“Well, that is my whip being yanked.” Then she bowed her head quickly. “Thank you for a pleasant conversation, Fenghuang Yu. I hope we can speak again soon.”

Yu bowed her head back. “Thank you as well, Fan Qinxue. I also hope that.”

With that, the young woman walked away, and after a breath or two of scanning where she was heading for Ran, who smiled at her, and saw every other eye in their group looking her way, Yu turned and walked to where she hoped she could take a break from… well… everything, but mostly people.

Qinxue had been lovely, and thankfully, not a complete stranger, but still, Yu needed a breather. She found a hallway without royal guards and walked until she smelled a hint of fresh air and saw some curtains wave in a light breeze.

“Oh, thank heavens,” Yu whispered to herself. “A balcony maybe? Even a window would be nice.”

Clicking from Yu’s shoes echoed in the empty corridor as she sped her walk, anxious to see the sky and breathe in some air unpolluted by hundreds of people. However, as she advanced, she heard a slight thump sound and some quiet talking.

Slowing to not intrude, Yu took the opportunity of the reduced smells to enhance her senses again.

“…can’t believe you even got past the first round, never mind got a slot.” The voice was unfamiliar to Yu, but both the words and tone were not pleasant. “You got lucky with your opponents. Did you bribe the judges?” There was another thump then. “You did, didn’t you? That’s how you got such favorable matchups. You used clan resources and bought your way in.” Another thump followed, this one louder. “It’s the only way you could win. After all, you lost to a little girl and got yourself crippled.”

Yu blinked, suddenly nervous that she might know what was going on. Slowly she advanced, but after just one step she froze, the sounds of her heels on the polished floor unwelcome. Thinking quickly, Yu slipped her feet out of her shoes, leaned down to pick them up, and padded forward slowly on bare feet.

“What, nothing to say?” followed by a nasty laugh reached Yu just when she stopped at an intersection of two hallways. She could tell what was happening was around the corner and down the hallway a little, so she lightly walked to the edge and peeked her head around the corner so just one eye could see the events playing out.

“Of course you don’t. You can’t speak. Because you’re weak and pathetic. Even if you could, nobody would hear you. I’ve had this whole corridor area emptied by our assets in the guard.”

Although the insight into Bao assets in the Gui palace was interesting, the situation itself was as she had expected. Bao Qing was there with a member of his family Yu did not recognize. The unknown boy was of a similar age as Qing and wore the signature blue hair up in a knot on his head. He wore a formal blue hanfu with white waves embroidered all over it. The sleeve of one arm was dangling slightly as he was reaching forward, holding Qing against the wall and his hand wrapped around Qing’s neck.

Qing himself was dressed in his black and white sect robes, which was telling. He was not claiming membership of any clan or party, simply being a disciple of one of the best sects in the empire. His face was resigned, as if being held like that was expected.

“How anyone ever thought you’d make a good leader is beyond me. Well, your grandfather did, but he got himself killed, so that shows something in and of itself.”

At those words, Yu saw Qing’s face turn furious and his fists clench at his sides. But then he let out a quiet breath and released his anger, relaxing his body.

Why don’t you defend yourself? I’ve fought you enough to know you can. So why just take it?

“Oh, hit a soft spot did I, loser? You’re so pathetic. I hear you’ve been practicing and trying to strengthen yourself. Hoping to earn back your place maybe? Don’t bother. The clan knows you’ve attached yourself to the seventh prince’s silver bitch.”

Qing’s eyes flashed as his expression turned into a glare, but the other boy slammed him into the wall again before he could do or say anything.

“What?” he snarled viciously. “Did you sell yourself to her so she can save you? Are you her plaything? Or are you a Gui now? I’d say it’s unbelievable, but I can totally believe it. You disgust me.” Then he slammed Qing against the wall again, this time Yu felt it through the wall she was leaning against.

“You’re a disgrace. The clan wouldn’t take you back even if you were the last living heir. That’s the message I was ordered to deliver, by the way. Otherwise I wouldn’t lower myself to even be near you. You’re such a disappointment to the clan that a majority of the elders voted to strike you from the records.”

Qing’s eyes widened and Yu nearly gasped. That was a horrible thing to do to any cultivator. It meant that Qing was officially clanless. He had no resources, no family, not even a home. He had nothing. Qing was officially a rogue cultivator, and a destitute one at that.

“That’s right,” the boy holding him against the wall sneered. “It’s like you were never born. You may no longer claim yourself as one of the clan. You are officially just Qing now.”

“They-they wouldn’t do that,” A raspy voice Yu could barely make out said.

Qing’s no-longer family member laughed in his face. “Oh, they did. That means you’re done.” Then he leaned close and glared into Qing’s face. Then he whispered, “And as a rogue, you have no protection.”

Then he started squeezing the hand he had been holding around Qing’s neck.

Yeah, not going to sit here and do nothing.

Yu put down her shoes and undrunk glass of wine, and stepped out from behind the corner wall.

“Well, what do we have going on here then?” Yu asked. Both young men whipped their heads towards her. “Wasn’t this ball supposed to be about building relationships?”

“What the fuck are you doing here, bitch?” the used-to-be-family guy said.

“That was a bit rude. I’m hurt,” Yu said sarcastically, holding her hand to her heart. “But I suppose I shouldn’t expect better from a Bao.”

The infuriated young man released Qing, who stumbled a step away. The antagonistic boy then turned to fully face Yu, his posture very aggressive with bent knees and arms, leaning forward slightly, and with fists clenching and unclenching.

“You dare insult the Bao clan? Haven’t you learned anything in the last three years?”

“Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I dare, and, yes, I’ve learned plenty in the last three years. Especially that all the Bao I know in the sect are cowards. So why wouldn’t I insult you?” Then she completely ignored him. “You okay Qing?”

He was rubbing his throat, looking at her with an expression that struggled to stay with a single emotion. She saw it flit between relief, anger, sadness, hope, and a few others she could not work out.

“You think because you’re the sect master’s little dog you can do whatever you want?” spat the furious your man. “Well, he can’t protect you in the spirit realm, bitch. You’ll get what’s—glerk!”

He let out a choked sound as Yu appeared before him in a flash of silver fire and had her hand around his neck. She then proceeded to lift him off the ground and slam him against the wall in the exact same spot Qing had been just moments before.

“Don’t try to speak,” Yu hissed at him. “I don’t care what you have to say. It’s all Bao clan beast shit to me. Instead, you’re going to listen. You said you came here to deliver a message? Well, I have one too. Here’s my message to you and those of your clan going into the spirit realm.” She leaned closer, just like he had done before. “I’m coming for you. All of you. You’ve been spineless cowards up to now, hiding behind others. But that ends once we’re in the spirit realm. If I were you, I’d hole up somewhere. Find a place really really deep and really really dark, and far away from me. Because I’m coming to show you just how much I’ve learned over the last three years, and you…” She slammed him into the wall again. “Won’t” Slam! “Like it” Slam! “One” Slam! “Bit!” Slam!

Then she squeezed her hand and he scrambled against her grip. His fingers pulling, pushing, and clawing at her bare arm did nothing to stop her.

“See you soon,” she said with a malicious smile just before he passed out from lack of air.

She held him there for ten more breaths, then released her hand and he collapsed onto the floor in a heap. Looking down, she stepped on his face covering his eyes with her bare left foot, shimmering silver nail paint reflecting the hallway’s light.

Letting out a breath, she turned to Qing and her smile turned genuine but sad. “I heard what your old clan did to you. I’m sorry.”

Qing looked at her with wide shaking eyes.

“It’s okay. We can talk later, if you still want to. I know you well enough by now to understand, and you’ve just heard some pretty shocking news. You probably need to be alone and to think. I get that.”

He stood, frozen, just watching her with that shocked expression.

She changed her smile to kind, gripped his shoulder, and gently but firmly guided him away. “Come on. I left my shoes over there and we should get back to the ball, which I admit became a little more exciting than I was expecting.”

His eyes seemed to focus for a moment at her words and he looked down. Seeing her bare feet and then his unconscious young tormenter, he let out a laugh. Then his shoulders shook as his laugh turned into a sob.

He turned away from her to hide whatever shame he was feeling. He covered his face with his hands, his shoulders shaking the whole time. Yu patted and rubbed his back, not saying a word.

After a short while, he wiped at his face with a cloth from his ring, and turned around. Yu reached up and touched his cheek, sending Water Qi into him as healing energy. A few breaths later, his red swollen eyes were mostly back to normal, and she put her hand on his shoulder again.

“C’mon. Along with my shoes is some wine I haven’t touched. You look like you need a drink.”