The scent of sweet and tangy Lemonbells woke Pia. Sitting up, she pressed a hand to her forehead. Her head felt heavy, her spirit groggy. The night had brought further strange and terrifying dreams. None had been as vivid as the first, but it'd made rest challenging.

Rising, she opened the window, allowing the cool dawn air in, filling the room with a spring chill. The sun had not fully risen, but its deep red light broke the darkness of the night sky. On the breeze, the Lemonbells wafted in more readily. It was refreshing and served to wake her more fully.

After preparing herself for the day, Pia grabbed her sword and went to practice. A day of riding waited and her skin felt prickly with restless energy. Tudou and Shuai wandered in the yard, grazing on the grasses around the yard. Smoke rose from the kitchen, tangling with the Lemonbells, and she guessed someone was awake and brewing a morning tea.

Going to the far side of the yard, she stretched and unsheathed her sword. It had no light that shone from within, but it was her pride. Master Ruwe had it forged just for her. The grip held extra weight, leaving the blade light and fast. The steel was a gritty grey, the blade angle steep, and the grip bound in dark leather. The sheath matched her dagger's—polished black stone adorned with shimmering white cranes.

Thinking of it, she plucked the dagger from her belt, unsheathing that too. Holding the dagger in her left hand, she began to practice. Parrying with her sword, slashing with her dagger, ducking, weaving, sliding away from invisible enemies.

The moves were cathartic; despite her tiredness, energy began returning to her as she forced her body into a rigorous workout. The blood in her veins sparked to life, surging through her body, warming every pathway until sweat rose to her brow.

Pia practiced a backstab, her sword rising in a sweep over her head, her leg extending forward as her right leg sank deep in a squat. She brought up her dagger defensively and was shocked when it met with steel. The unexpected resistance threatened to overbalance her, and her right leg quivered in the strain.

Quickly, she pushed herself further backward, dipping the tip of her sword into the ground and pushing off, giving her dagger hand more weight to push against. It worked, and the blade slid away, allowing her to pivot back onto her feet.

Before her, Lan Tiao held a sword out to the side. He inclined his head, the only moment she had to prepare, and then he attacked.

If she'd thought practicing with Master Ruwe had been brutal…Lan Tiao was remarkably formidable.

She barely managed to deflect his attacks, bringing her sword up almost a second too late, and her sword slid against Lan Tiao's with a screech. Not giving her any reprieve, he pushed against their locked blades, shoving her back with a thrust.

Her feet skidded backward, coming to a sliding stop a few paces away.

"Again," he said, flicking his blade down and waving his fingers at her, telling her to attack him.

He attacked with precision and power, entirely out of her league. Still…her eyes narrowed as determination flooded her.

She flipped her sword around in her hand, angling the blade up, and then attacked. Rather than slashing, she went straight for a pierce. Lan Tiao's brow cocked as he brought his sword up, ready to parry that apparent attack. Sliding her finger along the backside of her blade, Pia activated the wind talisman.

Wind grabbed and flipped her sword upwards, releasing her hand from the grip. It somersaulted through the air. Not waiting, Pia tossed her dagger to her right hand and spun, curling away from his front, putting her own back to him. Lan Tiao reacted, twisting his body to block her dagger, already aiming at his back. Anticipating his block, Pia spun around his side again and reached for her sword, pulling it with wind yi. Taking her chance, she spun the handle in her hand, holding it with the blade facing behind her, and jabbed it toward Lan Tiao, who was still turning to follow.

It flew toward him, and for a moment, she had a spark of hope she'd caught him off guard. Then, the tip of his blade caught the tip of hers, sending it flying so hard she had to spin with the momentum, lest she lose control over it.

"Excellent trick. It'd work nicely against most opponents," Lan Tiao commended, lowering his sword as she caught her breath a few feet away.

It hadn't worked against him, but she'd known it was a prayer of a chance that it would. He was just so quick!

"Thank you for the fight," she said, bowing respectfully over the hilts of her weapons. The level of control and precision he displayed was something she could only dream of.

"You do your Master honor in your skill. I can see you've practiced diligently," he praised, causing her cheeks to flush. "May I see your weapons?"

He sheathed his black sword while she crossed to him, holding out the dagger and a sword, hilt first. The dagger was taken first, and he hummed in appreciation.

"This is made of Tears of the Sky. A gift from your Master?" he guessed, twisting the grey-blue blade as he inspected it. Much as she first had, he pricked the tip of his finger with the blade, allowing one bead of blood to rise.

"Yes, he gave it to me as a Solstice gift when I was his apprentice."

He returned it to her, saying, "A splendid tool."

As she sheathed the dagger, tucking it back into her belt, Lan Tiao inspected her blade.

"Interesting," he murmured, giving it a few practice swings. "Did you request the weighted grip?"

"Yes. I got used to the imbalance of weighted staffs and practice weapons. When I moved to the sword, I struggled with the balanced weight and asked for one that placed more weight in the hilt," Pia explained.

Lan Tiao spun the blade in his palm, then swept it upright.

"The tip is very swift," he acknowledged. Then he crushed her spirit slightly, adding, "I can't help but wonder if it doesn't match your fighting style, though."

He spared her a glance and added, "You're speedy on your feet, but your style is adaptive more than rapid-paced. It'll be curious to see how the sword evolves when you find its heart."

The words softened the blow he'd given with his casual words. He was right. Master Ruwe had often remarked that her ability to adapt was a strength, but if she didn't increase her speed, she'd give an enemy an opening. She couldn't help but wonder if she'd made a mistake by asking for a weighted hilt now.

Running two fingers down the spine of the sword, his brows rose.

"Did you put these here?" he asked, fingers tracing the long line of talismans running the length of the backside of the blade.

"I tried runes first," Pia admitted, crossing her arms defensively as he inspected them. "I've always been better with talismans than runes. Tying multiple runes into such a small area was a bit too challenging for me."

He hummed low in his throat once more as he thoughtfully traced the talismans.

"You have a curious manner in using talismans. Instinctual rather than traditional. Indeed, it'll be fascinating to see how the spirit of your sword shapes up."

He gave an approving nod after a flick of his finger against the steel gave a clear chime.

"Ruwe certainly went above and beyond here. You've a beautiful sword, Pia. I hope it serves you well," he said, handing it back to her.

"Thank you. I hope we live up to the honor you've given us," she said respectfully.

He nodded and then departed as suddenly as he'd appeared. Pia watched him go, curious about the interaction. It'd felt like she'd been inspected and tested. Had she passed? she wondered. The brief interaction had been more confusing than anything. His praise had surprised her. There was an aura around the man that intimidated her. Despite how kind he'd been, every time she saw him that niggling sensation of familiarity drove her crazy. Where in the realms would she have ever crossed paths with a man like him? Surely if she had it would've been memorable.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Sighing, she sheathed her sword. She placed it on the ground and ran through a series of strength exercises, finishing with stretches just as the morning sun fully bloomed across the yard.

The scent of steaming buns on the breeze had her stomach growling, but she was slightly hesitant to wander into the lodging house. Instead, she wandered over to the stable, checking the horses' feed and water. Perhaps the stalls needed to be cleaned, which would give her an excuse for a delay. As she walked over, her mind turned to the previous night.

The dinner the night before had been quiet, with only little chit-chat between Pia and the three men. Zhe Mian had held his tongue, though his face expressed his feelings more often than not. A simple conversation about her training, life in Cangzhi, Lei, and Chasu, and even the books she'd studied had apparently been safe ground for them to discuss.

Buzhi had tried to pester Zhe Mian, but after a few harsh looks from Lan Tiao, he'd finally ceased, though he pouted in protest. Lan Tiao's cooking had been excellent. Spicy and sweet noodles, rice cakes, and sweet bread paired well together. Even with awkwardness, Pia savored every bite.

Entering the stable, she saw that the stalls had already been cleaned and prepped. Her eyes scanned the long row of stalls, wondering where Zhe Mian's and Lan Tiao's horses were. In the yard, only Tudou and Shuai wandered as they grazed. It was odd that there were no other horses. How did they travel if they had no horses? A loud, grumbling protest from her stomach finally convinced her to seek out food.

Once more, she tried the kitchen first. The smell of lemonbells lingered in the air, still refreshing and invigorating. Zhe Mian was sitting on a counter eating a bun. She hesitated in the doorway. It was the first time she'd been alone with him. While he lacked the intimidating aura of Lan Tiao, his grumpiness made her wary.

His light brown eyes glanced at her, then slid to a bamboo steamer on the counter. Steam still poured from the top as the cool morning air slid over it.

"Help yourself," he said, eyes still following her as she went to do so.

They were soft and round, spongy beneath her fingers. Biting into one, she hissed as the heat hit her tongue. Fanning her mouth to cool it, she made the mistake of glancing at Zhe Mian.

"You're not too bad with that," he said.

She followed his pointing finger to her sword, propped against the counter where she'd placed it. Looking back at him, she wondered what to say. Thank you? It felt like a 'but' was coming no matter what she said.

"I try to improve daily," she said, playing it safe.

"Did you learn from Yijun and Haojie?" he asked bluntly.

The words sent a lancing pang through her chest. The bite of bun she'd taken seemed to swell within her mouth, clogging her throat. It'd been so long since she'd thought of them. Missing them had never gone away; it'd just been buried deep down within.

She nodded, avoiding his gaze. Her fingers picked at the bun as her hunger evaporated.

"I thought so. I can see Yijun in your sword movements and Haojie in your turns. You followed their instruction well," Zhe Mian said, eyes never leaving her face. He stuffed the rest of his bun in his mouth and jumped down from the counter.

"Judging by your expression, I'd say that's a sensitive topic."

She didn't reply, feeling unsettled by his calm yet probing mannerisms.

He leaned against the counter across from her, resting his weight on his elbows.

"Have some tea," he said, gesturing with his chin to the pot sitting beside the steamer.

The smell of lemonbells was enticing, and it gave her the opportunity to busy herself. A row of teacups sat further down the counter. Grabbing one, she poured the tea. Her brow furrowed as the smell hit her nose. Up close to it she detected something off. Behind the tangy scent of lemonbells was a hint of something sweet and chilly. It was almost minty?

Holding it up to her nose to smell it more clearly, Pia's nose scrunched up as the smell hit her. Pia's eyes shot to Zhe Mian. His face was placid and calm, making her certain that she was right. He was too innocent-looking.

Pulling a thread of fire from the firepit, Pia hovered it over the cup. As the fire hit the liquid, it turned from a light yellow to a dark orange. She placed the cup down and crossed the kitchen to the canisters along the counter.

Opening them, she searched for aconite roots and ephedra buds. Knowing what was in the tea led her to believe they'd be there. It took going through multiple canisters and jars, but finally, she found both. She returned to the tea with a pinch of aconite root and two pinches of ephedra. She poured the tea back into the pot and dropped the herbs in. Seeing a cup of spoons, Pia grabbed one, pulled a bit of fire from the firepit again, and then stirred the tea thoroughly. As the fire warmed the liquid, the herbs rehydrated, turning the tea a light red color.

Bending low over it, she sniffed it. Looking up, she spotted fresh Lemonbells hanging to dry. She reached up and took down a sprig, adding it to the tea. The color lightened to a pinkish tint, and the scent of Lemonbells strengthened. She removed the spoon and poured herself a cup.

It was slightly more bitter than Lemonbell tea often was, but it was completely neutralized.

Sipping her tea, she looked back at Zhe Mian, cocking a brow at him.

"Echoes of Silence?" she asked.

He grinned at her unashamedly.

"Just wanted to see how your knowledge of poisons was," he admitted.

"What if I missed it?" she asked, curious to hear what he'd say.

"I have the antidote. I'd have given it to you probably."

'Probably' wasn't reassuring, but her lips curled upward. Though they looked nothing alike, she realized Zhe Mian was actually a little like Chasu.

"I didn't realize trying to poison each other was acceptable here," she said dryly, thinking of her own prepared poisons. Not to mention, she thought as her eyes slid around the kitchen, all that she could make.

"How about we keep that one to ourselves?" Zhe Mian asked, a bit of sheepishness in his voice.

"I don't know…Echoes of Silence is a pretty strong lead. I'd be letting Yijun down if I didn't retaliate." It surprised her that mentioning his name brought her a smidgen of joy rather than sadness. She missed the man, but the things he'd taught her made her proud to have had him as an instructor.

He laughed at that and pushed off the counter.

"A challenge! I'll accept the consequences if you should manage to poison me before you leave," he said, giving her a smirk. "You don't have much time though."

Reaching over the counter, he snagged two buns and sauntered out of the kitchen into the yard. Moments later, Buzhi entered from the back door, yawning as he came.

"Was that Zhe Mian?" he asked. "He didn't give you trouble, did he?"

She shook her head and watched as he poured a cup of tea for himself. Her lips twitched, and she looked out into the yard, wondering if perhaps the tea hadn't been for her.

"Are we leaving soon?" she asked as he reached to grab himself a bun.

Without knowing it, Buzhi imitated Zhe Mian, sitting on the counter while he ate his bun and drank his tea.

He swallowed the bite he'd taken before answering her.

"Mhmm. After we eat. Take advantage of the glorious weather. We should enjoy it. The nearer we get to Siji, the more rain we're likely to hit."

Nodding, Pia grabbed another bun, forcing herself to eat it though her appetite hadn't returned. Her thoughts turned to Chasu and Lei, wondering how they were. It was easier to think of them than it was to delve into Haojie and Yijun's disappearance. It hurt too much, and if she thought of them, she thought of... She shook her head firmly. No thinking of that.

While gathering her few items from her room, Pia noticed that the bed had been stripped and cleaned. The drying robe she'd used was gone, too. It was as if she'd never been there. Had it been Zhe Mian or Lan Tiao? Whomever it was had spared no time. She closed the door behind her and went to prepare the horses.

Shuai munched on grass as she groomed and tacked Tudou. Buzhi was taking his sweet time in coming, and by the time Pia finished with Tudou, he still hadn't appeared. With a sigh, she prepared Shuai too, convinced he was waiting for her to do so. The suspicion was confirmed as just as she smoothed down his stirrups, Buzhi came out of the lodging house with a broad grin.

"Oh, how gracious of you. I was just about to do that myself," he told her as he neared.

He took Shuai's bridle from her and put it on himself, patting the black horse's neck fondly.

As she tossed Tudou's reins over his neck, Lan Tiao and Zhe Mian joined them in the yard. Her eyes fell on the bag Lan Tiao carried. He presented it to her when he reached them.

"Some provisions for your travels," he said.

Taking it, she secured it to the back of her saddle, tying it tightly with the leather strips.

"Thank you," Pia said, genuinely grateful. She had a feeling that Buzhi would make her do most of the cooking, foraging, and hunting on their trip.

Buzhi mounted Shuai, and Pia followed suit, stepping into the stirrup and settling across Tudou's back. Looking down, she was surprised to see Zhe Mian standing at her right knee.

"Here," he muttered, holding up a leather pouch.

Pia rubbed her fingers against a ball on her talisman tassel, then reached out and took the pouch. In the transfer, her finger accidentally scraped his thumb.

"Sorry," she said apologetically, seeing the slight red mark she left.

He waved it away, and she looked inside the pouch. A collection of dried herbs and flowers greeted her. A decent supply of tea for their trip. She grinned, accepting the apology he offered.

She thanked him, then turned Tudou around, riding to the entrance gate. Behind her, Buzhi said, "Thank you, my dearest friends. Your hospitality was most appreciated. Hopefully, our paths will cross again in the very near future!"

"Not too near," Zhe Mian muttered, loud enough for even Pia to hear.

"Be safe," Lan Tiao said, and the gravity in his voice had her looking over her shoulder.

Lan Tiao and Buzhi were staring at one another long enough that it seemed evident that there was intent behind his words.

For once, Buzhi's voice was solemn as he replied, "I will let no harm come to us."

Hearing that, Lan Tiao stepped back and turned his gaze to Pia. He gave her a nod, then turned away and walked back to Quiet Hearth.

"Let's go," Buzhi said, riding towards Pia and out of the gate.

Her eyes scanned the lodging house, trying to memorize the cozy building, and finally, her eyes settled on Zhe Mian. A little mirth rose, and she grinned widely and waved before turning and riding away.

Out on the path, her smile lingered for a long time. Buzhi kept looking at her with curious eyes. After they were well away from Quiet Hearth, he finally couldn't take it anymore.

"Okay, spill. What's so funny?"

Pia told him about the encounter in the kitchen.

"That sneak," he muttered in mock irritation. Cocking his head quizzically he asked, "But, what about it is so funny to you?"

"When he handed me the pouch and I lightly scratched his skin," she paused, letting the tension build a little. Then added, "I might've had a bit of Saltpox on my fingers."

A startled laugh slipped from him.

"I take back my words. You're not nearly as rigid as I feared," Buzhi said, chuckling.

She admitted her guilt, though she couldn't keep humor from infusing her voice.

"I felt bad, especially at his peace offering. But Saltpox doesn't last long. It'll only make him very itchy for a few hours."

"Of course, that skims over the fact there's no cure or relief for Saltpox," he teased.

She laughed at that and shrugged innocently. As they rode east, she wished she could have seen Zhe Mian's face when the itching started.