“Su’er,” Chaoxiang said, in a warm tone.

“Yes, M-M-Master,” Susu said bowing, unsure if to call him master.

“Humph, Master?” He said incredulously, “You severed our Master-Disciple relation, did you not?!

“Words said in a fit of anger, I apologise for offending you, Master.”

Chaoxiang’s lips curled into a bitter smile as he shook his head. “Your anger has always been your problem Su’er. Do you expect to raise a child and let your emotion rule you? Hmm?”

As Susu stood there, her dipped her head in shame and eyed the stone floor. Susu was usually prideful, but when it came to Master Chaoxiang, that pride dissipated instantly.

“Ban Susu,” Master Chaoxiang said sternly. “It was a question, are you not going to answer me?”

“I can’t answer Master. My answer won’t be satisfactory to your ears.”

He harrumphed, pursing his lips and shook his head. “Still the spoiled child your brothers believe you to be.” He said coldly. “At least, you know not haggle your foolishness with me. However, I must still hear your answer regardless. Why are you so angry?”

“I’m not angry all the time Master.”

“I never said you were Su’er. But answer me truthfully. Are you still hurt from Shi Qiu’s ending your engagement?”

Susu’s heart jumped the moment she heard Shi Qiu’s name. She clasped her hands behind her back, trying her best to hide her annoyance.

She looked up at her Master’s face and realised half of it was hidden due to shadows within the room.

To Susu, he seemed to smiling. However, when she looked into his eyes, they seemed to be scowling at her, as if she had made the same mistake she’d repeated five hundred times. “Have a seat.”

“I’m f--”

“Have a seat Ban Susu.” He said firmly.

Susu silenced herself, approached the bed, flapped her hanfu forward and sat down in the lotus position.

“I’m over Shi Qiu, Master.” She said firmly, squeezing her knees as she looked up at him. Trying to show strength.

“I don’t believe you.”

Susu inhaled deeply, allowing her mind to reach a state of calmness, then smiled. She swallowed deeply and coughed, clearing her throat. “I am over him, whether you believe me or not.”

“I see, has it been three years since you last saw him?”

“Yes, Master.”

“Then I think it’s time you know why your engagement was broken off.”

What? Susu thought, looking at her Master puzzled. “What do you mean Master?”

Chaoxiang released a long sigh, slapping his knee. He pulled the white stubble of a goatee he had and shook his head. “Four years ago, Shi Qiu sought me out, requesting your hand in marriage.”

“He visited you?”

“Yes,”

“He never said anything.”

“He didn’t say anything because as a member of the Emerald Sky Palace, he didn’t want you to worry about things that would make you doubt the engagement could proceed.”

“What? What are you talking about?”

Chaoxiang sighed, then eyed Susu sternly. “Shi Qiu visited me because an engagement isn’t official until parents of both parties acknowledge it unless you elope.” Chaoxiang ended with a laugh.

“You accepted?”

“Of course. I know, I’m not your father, but you’re like a daughter to me. And the lad genuinely loves you. However, I know the machinations that go on within a highly esteem Sect such as the Emerald Star Palace.”

“What happened then Master. I don’t understand?”

“I made the lad swear that he’d get Matriarch Enxi Hao to agree to the match.”

“He failed didn’t he?” Susu growled.

Chaoxiang shook his head, watching as Susu’s pride receive an irreconcilable dent.

“It’s not what you think Su’er.”

“I don’t understand.”

“Matriarch Hao paid me a visit with Shi Qiu.”

“What?” Susu hissed, “Did she disrespect you, Master?”

Chaoxiang sighed, straightened his back and folded his arms in front of his chest. He looked down at Susu and drew his lips into a line, showing his disappointment. “Nothing of the sort happened Su’er. I’m getting old girl, stop making me repeat myself. It is not what you think,” He said firmly. “The Matriarch wasn’t against the union. It was the Elders of the Emerald Star Palace…He’d been selected to be as the Matriarch’s successor.”

“...tha--”

“Impossible? I assure you, it isn’t. The Matriarch came to apologise to me.”

“Apologise?”

“Yes, She wanted to apologise for having to break the engagement. She wanted to do it herself, but Shi Qiu insisting on breaking it on his own. The Matriarch wanted you to know the reason but Shi Qiu didn’t, he didn’t want you to know that he was touted to be the heir of the Emerald Star Palace.”

“That Coward!” Susu hissed.

“Yes, Shi Qiu’s a coward, but you loved him, yes?”

Susu didn’t answer him immediately, but she remembered all the times he smiled at her whilst they fought alongside each other.

On occasion, he would save her, when she least expected it. He would accompany her when she didn’t need him. “A woman like yourself shouldn’t be travelling alone,” He told her the first time they met.

“I can say the same for you, you dress like a flower.” She told him.

“But I fight like a beast.” He answered firmly, which made her smile.

That wasn’t the only thing he did like a beast, She thought blushing, but then her thoughts floated back to when he broke the engagement.

“I can’t go forward with the engagement,” Shi Qiu said. “I am not fit to love you.”

“Coward! It’s because I am from Parson! I know you’d do this. You promised me you wouldn’t leave even if the heavens opened up and strike you down. Now you’re not fit to love me...I hate you.

A tear began to form in Susu’s eye, those words were as vivid as they were three years ago, but most of all, they stung even more, because the last three words she spat at him...was far from how she felt.

Susu wiped the tear away, straightening her back and looking up at her Master Chaoxiang. She swallowed deeply and took a deep breath. She calmed herself, inhaling deeply and allowed Qi to swirl within her Mind Dantian. “It’s all in the past Master. If I were to see Patriarch Qiu in the future, I will show him the same respect anyone of my stature should.”

Chaoxiang curled his lips into a smile and rested his hands on his knees. He leaned forward and nodded up and down. “Or, you can make a breakthrough to the Qi Perception Realm and have him revere you.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“Master...I can’t get past the Divination Realm bottleneck. I’ve tried cultivating but I don’t what to do.”

“You’re too anxious, your actions speak volumes about you Susu, have not realised by now. The anger within you is why you haven’t made a breakthrough? You need to let go of this anger you have for Shi Qiu.”

“I don’t know how…” She whispered.

“Child.” Chaoxiang said softly. have you forgotten I spent twenty years roaming the Jianghu at the Core Awakening Realm?”

“No Master I haven’t forgotten.”

“It seems you have. You’re still at the Divination Realm. As outstanding as you may be Su’er. Yyou need to stop putting so much pressure on yourself and enjoy life for what it is.”

“I do enjoy life!”

“If you do, then why are you still so angry?”

“Because he said he would never leave me!”

Tears began to flow down Susu’s cheek, her heart sank within her stomach and a ball of pain knotted in her throat stopping her from speaking, but wailing meekly.

It hurt to be rejected like this, it stung more than the multiple kicks and punches her master dished out to her when she learnt the Guided Fist.

Chaoxiang knelt, tapping her on the shoulder and before he could pull away, Susu slung her arms around his waist burying her face into her head into her stomach, hiding her sobs as her body withered from acknowledging the pain she held in her heart.

Pain, she held with such anger within her heart and pain she wanted to lose...so she could live, and enjoy life as best as she could.

“Su’er, Life is full of loss and love, life can give you many things, It is how you accept them that makes the difference. You’ve taken to anger at this rejection.”

Susu bit her lip, feeling as though all those years she’d spent being angry at Shi Qiu was for naught, in her mind. It wasn’t like she didn’t try to forget him, but now and again, she would remember how he made her feel, and that was something she simply couldn’t forget.

“Help me, Master...I don’t know what to do.”

“Hoo...you want my help?”

“Yes.”

“Su’er, as much as I want to help you through this pain, I feel it is too late.”

“Too late,? What are you talking about Master?” Susu asked, looking up at Chaoxiang with worry written across her face.

“Su’er...I’m dying.”

What? Susu asked herself. She looked up at Master Chaoxiang and saw him smiling as he patted her on the head. Susu clutched her hand around his waist, scared to let go because this wasn’t what she was expecting.

She knew he’d spoken to Ying and Xing before, which meant that her lecture would be the hardest for him, but never did she expect to hear such words come from his lips. “You’re still the little girl that found me in the forest that day. You still make me weak, but still, I cared for you as best as I could.”

“Master,” Susu whispered, burying her tears in his clothes.

“Su’er, I cannot help you anymore, but If you desire it. I can give you some instructions that would allow you to flourish.”

Susu grabbed her Master’s wrist, checking his pulse. Choaxiang flicked his hand free and grabbed her by the shoulders. “You shouldn’t have done that.”

“How could you?” Susu wailed.

“Why did you waste your Qi provoking us into fighting you!”

“Because I had to make sure you truly wanted to protect the child.”

“I don’t understand,” Susu said, feeling the tears drop down her cheek.

“If you could attack your own Master to protect a child you found, then you will do anything to protect her. I was testing you.”

“Why Master?!”

“She’s an Axsumite,” Chaoxiang said softly, but a coldness resonated in his eyes. “The child’s life will be harder than anything you had to face Su’er. If you couldn’t handle defeat at my hand. How do you expect to protect her?”

“I can protect her!”

“You can’t even protect yourself girl. You are too Weak!”

“Master!” She pleaded.

“Su’er, you said you needed my help do you want it?”

“Yes.”

“Then listen carefully, If you do not abide by my words then you will not be able to protect her...do you understand me?”

“Yes Master,” Susu said biting her lips and bowing.

“Good. You are not ready to take care of the child, Ban Susu.”

Those words stung, stung her from her back up to her shoulder, she held the child in her arms tighter, but not enough to disturb her sleep.

Susu began to shake as the words repeated in her mind, infuriating her even more. I may not have given birth to her…but she is mine Susu thought, mine to care for!

“That’s not true,” Susu whispered.

“Su’er your Martial skills are above average at best. I don’t say these words to wound you, but being Parsonian is something completely different to being an Axsumite in Huaxia.” Chaoxiang said firmly.

“What does that have to do with anything” Susu scoffed.

“Everything,” Chaoxiang answered, dabbing a bead of sweat from his eyebrows. “I know you’ve lived a hard life Su’er. You did everything to prove you had no ill intentions but her life will be ten times harder…no one hundred times harder. Being an Axsumite in Huaxia is a death sentence. Are you willing to part with her, return her to Axsum, a land that’s been rumored to be in a permanent state of war? Or Do you plan to migrate to Axsum with her and raise her?”

“If I have to” Susu whispered.

“…and what about the people there, do you know of the power they possess, would you be able to fight off bandits…villains? Xing’er told me about the amazing power the child’s father wielded as he created a tsunami before shooting himself halfway across the lake.”

“I saw it!”

“but did you feel it? Xing’er was scared when he saw the man dispatched those villains like twigs on a leaf. And Xing’er is of the Accentuation Realm, do you know how powerful he would have to be to frighten Xing’er?”

“He never mentioned about being scared Master.”

“You know Xing’er’s pride Su’er, he wouldn’t even tell you he’s in pain unless you seem bleeding out!

Susu shook her head, then nodded as she knew that Xing was. “Xing’er will be taking care of the child until you are fit to raise her,” Chaoxiang said coldly.

“Brother Xing couldn’t take care of a fly if it rested on his nose!” Susu snapped.

“Yet, he swore and bowed for twenty minutes that he would take care of her. Your words don’t match his actions.” Chaoxiang countered.

“Place wine in front of him and see who he picks!” Susu snapped. “If he weren’t so busy drinking wine at the Anqing Wine Festival we would’ve been here days ago.”

“You also would’ve never met the child. Your argument doesn’t have much weight, Su’er.”

“It does, he’ll probably leave her with some stranger or drop her.”

“Has he done anything like that whilst travelling, or has he been as keen as you…answer me truthfully?”

“He has not Master, he has been a filial, father-like and quite attentive. Things I didn’t know, he knew and advised me on, allowing me to nurture a better relationship with the baby.”

Chaoxiang harrumphed, eyeing Susu sternly “I see, so he is fit to raise her. Then it’s decided!”

“Master...”

“It has been decided Su’er. Not another Word!”

“Master!”

“You say I’m your Master, yet you haven’t bowed, showing your respect. Yet, you remember the words I told you all those years ago, do you still hold resentment despite me making myself clear?” Chaoxiang asked.

Susu bowed reverently, heading thudding against the boards like a knock on the door. She did so, thirty times then finished at fifty times. “I apologise for my insufferable rudeness Master, can you forgive me this one time?”

“There’s nothing to forgive Su’er, I am dying, so all transgressions are but a thought in the wind.”

Susu smiled and looked up at her master through misted eyes. “Have you ever thought of writing a poetry book Master?” Susu asked.

“Of course…and I have. It is called the Guided Star Fist.” He said wryly, pulling the book from behind his back. He tossed that book at the Susu, watching as it smacked on the ground slid towards her.

The characters in the blue book, are written on white paper. ‘The Guided Star Fist Manual.’

“Guided Star Fist…?” Susu asked.

“I’ve corrected the faults within the original manual. This should be able to provide a better foundation for your Dance of the Scorpion Queen.

“Mas--”

“I don’t want to hear it,” Chaoxiang said firmly. “I always knew of the faults within the Guided Fist. I trusted you four to conquer them on your own. What I didn’t expect was the four of you would’ve created your own distinctive fighting styles, which, is far more than I would’ve ever hoped for. However, I know you’ve realised some faults within the Dance of the Scorpion Maiden. The Guided Star Fist should help with that, but you won’t be able to do it unless you attain the Qi Perception Realm. Do you understand me?”

Wind trickled into the room, tilting the candles that lay throughout the room, providing some form of luminescence.

The atmosphere was lighter making Susu’s chest feel lighter, compared to earlier when her Master’s Aura stifled the room with his authority.

She took a deep breath, feeling the weight of her chest become heavy once more, then picked up The Guided Star Fist manual.

Susu’s mind wandered, wandered about the possibilities of what she’d have to do to reach the Qi Perception Realm. But those thoughts were but a smidgen of what she thought about caring for the child.

Was she ready to take of a baby so young in a world that hated Axsumites?

Is she capable of such a thing?

Ban Susu knew the answer. I’m not ready She thought, tears flowing down her cheeks hitting The Guided Star Fist manual with whimpered thuds. But I need to be…

She whipped those tears away and surrounded her, filling her Dantians with resolve and steel. I know what must be done.

Susu eyed her master in return, eyes glassing from her tears. “What do I need to do?” She asked him.

“Train. Breakthrough to the Qi Perception Realm, then reclaim the child from Xing’er.” Chaoxiang said, trying to read her expressions. Her eyes were in thought for a moment, then she nodded as if realising something. “What is it Su’er?” Chaoxiang asked.

“If the child can’t be with me, I must learn of Axsum and this strange power they wield.”

“Are you sure you want to leave for Axsum?”

“No Master, I don’t even want to leave the child with Brother Xing!”

“I think leaving to learn about Axsum is a good idea, that way the child would know what to expect when she returns home if she decides to leave for Huaxia. However, you must not leave for Axsum until you’ve broken through to the Qi Perception Realm, understood?”

“I understand Master. I will leave once I've ascended to the Qi Perception Realm.”

“Good. If everything is alright in Axsum, will you leave her there?”

“I will not!” Susu said firmly.

“Swear it.”

Susu swallowed deeply and looked up at Chaoxiang. She clenched her fist into balls and inhaled deeply swirling the Qi within her Soul, Core and Mind Dantian. I swear it, She thought. “I, Ban Susu swear it…in this life and the next.”

Chaoxiang tapped Susu on the shoulder, and then gently slapped her cheek removing the tears that flowed from her eyes. “Go and be with the girl, we can discuss more later. Alright?” He said with a smile.

Susu smiled, holding her knees and bowed. She pushed herself up from the ground, tears flowing like hot wax trickling down a candle.

She pushed the door open, feeling as her body raged with fatigue. The urge to run to find the child was there, but instead, she kept her mind solely on what she would do next.

The essence of the moon’s light was rising to the east, making, Susu dabbed her tears away, as she passed the librarians, scholars and scribes alike.

But one thing sat within her mind with each step she made. I will get stronger…I swear it! I swear it to the heavens and earth!