The Broken Paths

The road back to the main city was silent, save for the steady clopping of hooves against the dirt path. Layla and the others from the Silver Lotus Sect moved with purpose, their thoughts already focused on survival. The winter was coming, and despite everything that had happened, the world did not wait for tragedy to settle before demanding its due.

Meyu, however, lingered at the gates, her gaze locked onto the distant form of Atlas, now left behind in the care of Master Daokan. She had made her decision. As much as she wanted to stay, to be there when he woke, she knew what he would have chosen. Someone had to keep his business running, and that responsibility fell to her. It was not just out of obligation—it was out of respect.

Yuxe Wuye stood beside her, her presence a steadying force. "You made the logical choice," she said, her tone as measured as ever. "Atlas would have done the same."

Meyu exhaled slowly, nodding. "I know. But that doesn't mean it feels right."

Yuxe gave her a knowing glance. "Logic rarely does. But this is how you honor him—not by waiting at his bedside, but by ensuring he has something to wake up to."

The two stood in quiet understanding before turning to follow the rest of the group into the distance. The further they walked, the quieter the air became, until finally, they disappeared from sight.

From the high walls of the sect, Master Daokan watched their departure, his expression unreadable. Beside him, Yan Shuren and Shen Xue stood in silence.

"Our obligation now is clear," Master Daokan murmured.

"Atlas."

Shen Xue tensed slightly, knowing what was coming. Master Daokan turned his gaze toward her, his voice firm. "You will receive punishment befitting your strength. You are to train under my watch until you can ensure such a disaster does not happen again. You lost control of the match, and that is unacceptable."

Shen Xue bowed her head in acknowledgment, but the weight of his words pressed against her pride. "Understood, father."

Yan Shuren exhaled. "That technique he used… It shouldn't exist."

Master Daokan's brow furrowed. "And yet it does." He looked toward the unconscious Atlas, lying still in the sect's infirmary. "I am more concerned than I have been in years."

He turned back to them, his voice carrying a rare edge of unease. "That technique. Absorption of qi. It is nearly identical to the forbidden techniques of Mo Cheng the Devourer."

Shen Xue's expression darkened. "The man who stole rather than cultivated."

Master Daokan nodded. "He did not cultivate Qi—he stole it. His techniques drained others, siphoning years of hard work in an instant. He fed upon the meridians of weaker cultivators, draining them to fuel his own power. He was a plague upon the martial world, and in the end, he was killed by my master. That technique should have died with him. And yet, here it is, manifesting in someone who has never trained a day in his life."

His fists clenched. "How?"

Yan Shuren, ever the rational one, offered a measured explanation. "There are only three ways such a technique could resurface. One—his bloodline carries remnants of it, intentionally or not. Two—someone else, somewhere, has been practicing it, and Atlas is reacting to an external force. Three—this is not the same technique, but something even worse."

Master Daokan's eyes darkened. "Worse?"

Yan hesitated before speaking. "You asked me to investigate Meilin's Qi rot. The information I uncovered was… disturbing. The nature of her affliction aligns with a forgotten path of cultivation. A technique that should have been wiped from history."

Shen Xue frowned. "What technique?"

Yan's voice was grim. "The Dao of Decay. The path followed by the Black Sage, Xu Mo."

A heavy silence fell over them. Master Daokan inhaled sharply. "Xu Mo… I should have remembered sooner."

Yan continued, "The Black Sage did not fight wars—he simply touched cities, and they crumbled. He whispered words, and entire bloodlines withered. Even now, the ruins of his passage are places where no life dares to grow. The very concept of qi rot… it is his legacy."

Master Daokan's jaw tightened. "If this is truly related, then I have failed in my duty to remember history's lessons."

His mind drifted back, decades into the past, to the battle that ended Xu Mo's reign. The battlefield was ruined, the air thick with death. He had barely been standing, his own body ravaged by the withering touch of the Black Sage's techniques. Before him, Xu Mo lay in a broken heap, a gaping wound in his chest where Daokan's final strike had landed.

The Black Sage had smiled through bloodied teeth, his voice a whisper of malice. "You may have killed me, Daokan, but decay does not die. It lingers. It waits. And one day, it will return."

Master Daokan clenched his fists. He had ignored those words for years, dismissing them as the final delusions of a dying man. But now, as he looked upon Atlas's unconscious form, he feared Xu Mo had spoken the truth.

Yan Shuren broke the silence first, his voice heavy with the weight of realization. "Two forbidden, forgotten techniques—one in Atlas and one in Meilin. And we are the ones who must guide them. How do we cultivate something that was never meant to be cultivated?"

Master Daokan's expression remained impassive, but his mind turned sharply over the dilemma. "Meilin's Qi rot—I noticed it long before she ever arrived at the sect. I should have investigated further. Now, we face an unknown path."

Shen Xue frowned. "You never spoke of it before. Why?"

Master Daokan exhaled. "Because at the time, it was only a theory. Now, it is a reality. If Xu Mo's legacy lives within her, then the method to train her must be rewritten entirely. The Dao of Decay was never meant for cultivation—it was a force of destruction. If we do not find a way to stabilize it, it will consume her just as surely as Atlas's power will consume him."

Yan crossed his arms. "Then the answer is clear. We do not train them in the ways of traditional cultivation. We train them in how to survive their own power."

Master Daokan took a slow breath, steadying himself. "Then we start now. But this will not be a simple path. It is not just their survival we must consider, but the consequences of what they become."

Before anyone could respond, a small voice interrupted them.

"What's wrong with him?"

They turned to see the child Atlas had bought, now awake and standing beside Physician Ming. The girl's eyes, still heavy with sleep, were locked onto Atlas's unconscious form, her expression unreadable.

"He looks… empty."

Physician Ming placed a reassuring hand on the child's shoulder. "He needs time to heal."

The girl did not look away. "But will he wake up the same?"

Yan Shuren knelt slightly, offering her a gentle smile. "He will be fine. You don't need to worry."

Master Daokan nodded, his voice calm but firm. "Atlas is strong. He will wake up."

The girl, with her empty eyes unwavering. "You're both lying."

The air grew still.

"People who get hurt like this… they don't wake up the same. If they wake up at all," she continued, her voice quiet yet sharp, carrying the weight of a child who had seen too much.

"Why do adults always say things like that?"

Master Daokan stiffened. The realization hit him harder than he expected. He had seen countless warriors break, seen men far stronger than Atlas and Meilin reduced to husks of themselves, but looking into the girl's empty eyes, he knew better than to lie again.

Instead, he asked, "How did you wake up?"

The girl tilted her head, an eerie calm settling over her face before she spoke.

"I didn't. They woke me up." A ghost of something—too twisted to be called a smile—crossed her lips. "And I screamed until my voice gave out."

A cold chill ran through the room. Shen Xue clenched her fists. Yan Shuren swallowed, a rare unease flickering across his usually composed features.

Master Daokan, however, remained steady. "You were experimented on. Forced to endure something you should never have gone through. And yet, you are here. Why?"

The girl blinked, and for a moment, the indifference in her gaze made everyone feel sick. "Because they wanted to see what would happen."

Physician Ming visibly paled, a tremor running through his hands as he instinctively took a step back. Xian Yue, the beautiful servant who had remained composed through many horrors, covered her mouth, turning away as though she might be sick. Even Shen Xue, hardened as she was, tightened her jaw, her usual sharp confidence wavering.

Master Daokan, however, looked the most furious of all. His expression remained still, but beneath the surface, his Qi trembled—a rare sign of his barely contained rage. His fingers curled into a tight fist at his side, his breathing slow and controlled. "Who did this to you?"

The girl hesitated for only a moment before speaking, her voice eerily detached. "My parents sold me. They called me useless. A burden. They fought over who would get the coin, and in the end, they sold me to a trader who didn't even count me as a person—just weight on his cart."

She lifted her gaze, staring at nothing in particular. "They trained us to be obedient. If we weren't, we were punished. Some were broken fast, some held on longer. It didn't matter. Eventually, we all broke."

A sudden gagging sound broke the heavy silence.

Ren, who had been walking nearby and overheard everything, stumbled to the side and vomited, his body rejecting the sheer horror of what he had just heard. He braced himself against a pillar, his breath ragged, his heart torn between disgust and overwhelming pity. His fists clenched as he tried to steady himself, but the fury bubbling inside him made it impossible to stay still.

He wiped his mouth, his voice shaking. "How… how could anyone do that to a child?"

Her voice was hollow as she continued. "There was a Qi master there. I never knew his name, but I remember his face. He was different from the slavers—calm, collected. He didn't hit us or shout. He didn't need to."

Master Daokan's expression darkened. "Describe him."

The girl's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Tall. Silver hair, even though he wasn't old. His hands never stopped moving, like he was always testing something. He had a mark on his wrist—some kind of seal. He smiled when the others screamed."

Yan Shuren inhaled sharply. "That sounds like a descendant of Wu Xun."

Shen Xue tensed. "The Thousand Hands Executioner?"

Master Daokan's fingers tightened. "Wu Xun was said to have mastered every form of hand-to-hand combat, his strikes so fast that he could tear through armor like paper. But instead of becoming a protector of the weak, he became a butcher. He sold his skills to the highest bidder, wiping out entire clans in a single night."

He exhaled sharply, his mind racing. "But Wu Xun has been dead for decades. If what you say is true, then this man must be his descendant. And if his bloodline still carries those techniques, then he is a threat that must be identified immediately."

Without hesitation, Master Daokan turned on his heel, motioning to one of his hidden disciples lurking in the shadows. "Send word to my informants. I want everything on the remnants of Wu Xun's lineage. If there is an heir to his craft operating in the underworld, I want to know who they are, where they are, and what they are planning."

The disciple bowed and vanished, the air shifting slightly in his wake.

Yan Shuren watched, arms crossed. "This is dangerous. If Wu Xun's techniques have truly survived, we may be dealing with something far worse than just a rogue assassin."

The silence that followed was broken by the girl's voice, as if she were asking something as routine as the weather. "So, what will you do to me? Make me lay down and do those things again?"

The weight of her words struck like a hammer.

Xian Yue, the ever-poised servant, turned pale, her hands trembling as she clutched at her robes. Several of the female attendants had to look away, their stomachs churning at the realization of just how much horror this child had endured. Physician Ming visibly recoiled, looking as though he might be sick.

Master Daokan's fury deepened, his qi pulsing with restrained rage. Shen Xue's fists clenched so tightly her knuckles turned white. Even Yan Shuren, the ever-composed warrior had to take a slow breath to contain himself.

But no one—no one—hesitated in their answer.

"No," Master Daokan said, his voice carrying an unshakable finality. "You will never endure that again."

Yan Shuren nodded. "From this moment forward, you are under our protection."

Shen Xue took a step forward, her gaze unwavering. "Whatever was done to you, it ends here."

The room, once filled with calculation and tension, now held a singular resolution. They had come here for Atlas. But now, they had two to protect.

"Then I'll show her something else instead."

Ren stood in the doorway, his expression a mixture of anger and determination. He had overheard everything, and though his heart ached with pity, he knew there was something more important than just feeling sorry for her.

"I'll show her fun things to do around here," he continued, his voice filled with an unshaken resolve. "She doesn't need to keep remembering all of that. She needs to know what it's like to just... be a kid."

Master Daokan, a man who rarely tolerated interruptions, said nothing for a moment. Then, something in his expression softened.

"Go ahead," he said. "Who wouldn't allow that?"

The journey back to the main city was a silent one.

Layla rode alongside the others, the distant echoes of battle still haunting the land around them. The dirt road was uneven, marred with patches of dried blood from animals caught in the blast and the occasional crater—a brutal reminder of Atlas' fight. Despite the cold wind that swept through the plains, the very air still felt charged, as if the remnants of his absorbed Qi had yet to fully dissipate. The land itself bore the scars of the explosion, where the ground had been scorched in some places and cracked in others. Broken trees lined the path, some snapped cleanly in half, others twisted unnaturally, as though something had torn at them from within.

Layla exhaled, watching as her breath curled into the cold air. Winter was arriving fast. The once-fertile earth was hardening, and the trees had long since begun shedding their leaves. Even the wind carried an icy bite, seeping through her robes. She didn't react to it at first—cold was something she had endured many times before—but Bao, always perceptive, noticed the slight tremor in her shoulders.

Without a word, he reached into his pack and pulled out a thick woolen shawl. With a single motion, he draped it over her shoulders.

"You're shivering," he said simply.

Layla blinked, glancing at him from the corner of her eye. "I can handle it."

Bao snorted. "I know you can. But why should you?"

She opened her mouth to retort but found no argument. Instead, she pulled the shawl closer, letting its warmth settle over her. Bao said nothing more, returning his focus to the road ahead. Layla simply sighed, choosing not to fight the simple kindness.

By the time they reached the city, it was clear that Master Daokan had kept his word.

Unlike their last visit, where suspicion and disdain had followed them like a shadow, the city guards barely hesitated before letting them pass. The market streets, usually filled with prying eyes and whispered judgments, instead met them with respectful nods. It was subtle but unmistakable—an unspoken acknowledgment of the Shrouded Peaks Sect's endorsement. Master Daokan's influence had paved their way, and it showed in the way merchants and officials treated them.

Meyu took the lead, her mind already working through what needed to be done. She had taken responsibility for Atlas' business, which meant she carried his coin pouch as well. The weight of it was a constant reminder of just how absurdly well-off he was, a fact that, much to Layla's frustration, Layla couldn't deny.

"Alright," Meyu said, stopping in the middle of the bustling market. "We have supplies to get before heading back. Listen up, because I'm only explaining this once."

She gestured toward the numerous stalls lining the streets. "The city's economy runs on a three-tiered currency system. Copper coins for daily purchases, silver for bulk goods or higher-end items, and gold… well, gold is what nobles and the wealthy use. One gold coin is roughly a year's wage for a normal worker. Farmers, laborers, small-time merchants—all of them rarely see more than a few gold coins in their lifetime. For most, silver is king. Oh, and there's also the barter system. If you have no money, you can trade something of equal or greater value. Unless you're Atlas. Then you just talk until they give up."

Layla snorted but didn't comment.

Lin Wuye, standing quietly nearby, slowly reached into his pouch and opened it. A single silver coin and three copper coins sat inside.

Silence.

Lin Wuye blinked.

Layla stared. "That's… all of it?"

Lin Wuye coughed. "It would appear so."

Bao leaned over. "Wait, isn't that the sect's finance too?"

Lin Wuye's expression didn't change. "...Yes."

Layla massaged her temples. "Great. Fantastic."

Meyu, however, simply rolled her shoulders. "Don't worry. This is already covered under the contract."

Layla shot her a look. "Seriously?"

Meyu pulled out the neatly folded document and began reading dramatically, mimicking Atlas' flair: "As per the legally binding agreement between Atlas and Master Daokan, all business dealings, expenses, and financial obligations pertaining to the acquisition of goods, resources, and trade contracts of the Silver Lotus Sect shall henceforth be managed by Ryl Trading, in accordance with the mutually beneficial terms outlined herein.'"

Jiang raised an eyebrow. "So, in simple terms?"

Meyu said. "Atlas made sure to handle everything but since he's in a coma.." Meyu had a visible sad face but masked it over a cheery one, "Ah but don't worry, the terms are actually equal and beneficial to the sect. Mostly because he didn't negotiate thanks to Master Daokan. You can check the terms back when we reach the sect if you wish."

Layla sighed. "That explains a lot and yes I will be checking it later with father."

Bao crossed his arms. "Are you sure you can handle it?"

Meyu's grin widened, and for a moment, her entire presence shifted. The air around her seemed to carry the faint aura of Atlas Ryland's ridiculous confidence, as if she had absorbed too much of Atlas' antics over the years.

She straightened her back, adjusted her sleeves, and smirked. "Oh, please. I've spent years watching Atlas work. I can handle a few merchants and you're with Ryl Trading, which means we don't need to make deals. We are the deal. And going to what the contract state, we will provide food supplies in bulk—grains, dried vegetables, jujubes, apricots, wheat, and meat. We will provide bulk cloth for the winter, and spices as well."

She cracked her knuckles. "Now, let's get ourselves a deal so good they'll cry about it later."

Layla crossed her arms. "And if they don't want to negotiate?"

Meyu's smirk widened. "Then I'll just do what Atlas does."

Bao muttered, "Sweet talk them?"

"No. Worse." 

What followed next could only be described as a spectacle of absurd proportions.

The First Deal – Bulk Grains

Meyu approached the grain merchant with measured steps, her posture relaxed yet deliberate, her silk robe draping effortlessly over her figure. Her eyes, warm and inviting, locked onto the merchant's, and she gave him a smile that was both playful and knowing.

"Ah, Miss Meyu! A pleasure as always! What brings Ryland Trading to my humble stall?" the merchant greeted, already eager.

Meyu tilted her head slightly, her fingers lightly brushing the wooden counter, just enough to command his full attention. "Oh, just a little business, my dear friend. You see, I need a bulk order of grains, and I'm willing to pay… let's say, one gold for the whole lot."

The merchant's expression tensed. "One gold? Miss Meyu, I respect you, but that's—"

Meyu leaned forward, resting her chin on her delicate fingers, her voice dipping into something honeyed yet firm. "Hmm? You wouldn't be suggesting that you'd rather have your grains sit here, untouched, while my lovely, wealthy, powerful trade empire takes its business elsewhere, would you?"

The merchant swallowed, suddenly aware of how close she was. "I—Well, no, but—"

Meyu gave a small sigh, tucking a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her tone shifting into a playful chide. "You're such a smart businessman! I knew you'd see reason! One gold, and I promise that next season, I'll consider buying from you first before checking your competitors."

The merchant opened his mouth, then closed it. His resolve crumbled instantly. "I… I suppose that's fair…"

Jiang (whispering): "That was terrifying."

Bao (stunned): "Did she just... seduce the price down?"

The Second Deal – Winter Cloth

The fabric merchant's eyes widened slightly as Meyu approached, her lips curling into a subtle smile.

"Miss Meyu, fine fabrics such as these don't come cheap. Two gold at least."

Meyu sighed theatrically, placing a delicate hand on her hip, shifting slightly so that the movement drew attention to the perfectly fitted silk of her attire. "Oh, you're right! But… that's assuming other buyers will come in this season, yes? With the winter closing in?"

The merchant hesitated. "Of course, people always—"

Meyu took a single step closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Buyers who aren't already contracted? Buyers who haven't already spent their gold on food and survival? Buyers who aren't my friends?"

A bead of sweat rolled down the merchant's forehead. "..."

Meyu gave him a knowing wink. "How about half a gold and a little favour? I'll make sure your name is whispered in the right places."

Merchant: sweating "...Fine."

Lin Wuye (rubbing his temples): "I don't know whether to be relieved or terrified."

Layla (muttering): "She's Atlas in disguise."

The Third Deal – Spices

The spice vendor tried to steel himself, but as soon as Meyu tilted her head, her fingers grazing the spice jars, his defenses were already cracking.

"These spices are rare imports, Miss Meyu. I can't just—"

Meyu gently tapped a jar, letting her clothe just enough to reveal her cleavage, her voice lilting with mock curiosity. "Oh, of course. Rare. Exotic. Highly sought after. And completely overpriced when you realize I can buy them cheaper at the docks."

The vendor's confidence faltered. "You wouldn't—"

Meyu sighed, feigning disappointment, her gaze locking onto his with a slow, deliberate blink. "But I won't. Because I like you. And because you're about to give me an offer so good that I'll have no choice but to praise you to everyone I meet. Aren't you?"

The merchant let out a shaky breath, utterly defeated. "I… I…"

Meyu: "Say it with me. 'Yes, Miss Meyu. Half a gold for everything.'"

Merchant: "Yes, Miss Meyu. Half a gold for everything…"

Bao: "No. NO. That should NOT have worked."

Jiang: "Oh gods, she's literally Atlas but hot."

Layla stood beside Yuxe Wuye and Lin Wuye, watching as Meyu worked through the market with frightening efficiency. What started as mild amusement quickly turned into something else entirely.

"This is scary," Layla whispered, turning to Yuxe Wuye. "I think she's infected."

Yuxe raised an eyebrow. "Infected?"

Layla nodded toward Meyu, who was currently smiling sweetly at a merchant while completely dismantling his will to resist. "With the Atlas disease. She's negotiating like him. Moving like him. That face—that's the devil's face. I swear it's the exact same as Atlas when he pulls his stunts."

Lin Wuye, standing nearby, let out a long sigh.

"If this continues, I fear for the economy of Jin."

"Forget the economy. I fear for humanity." Layla watched in disbelief as another merchant literally thanked Meyu for taking his goods for half the price. "Are we sure no one else is infected? Should we be concerned? Should we check Bao? Jiang? Gods, is it contagious?"

Bao, overhearing this, looked at her incredulously. "What? No! Don't lump me in with… that!"

Layla arched an eyebrow at Bao, unimpressed. "Oh really? Because I distinctly remember you carrying Atlas on a chair, parading him around like a king in Master Daokan's own grand hall—and dropping a lifetime's worth of wealth just because he convinced you it was a worthy investment.

Bao unable to fight back, just sighed in defeat.

But the truth was undeniable. Meyu was, in fact, Atlas—but hot.

Meyu walked through the streets humming cheerfully, swinging the ridiculously loud coin pouch at her side as if she hadn't just committed daylight robbery with a smile. She bought a year's worth of grains, spices and cloth for only 3 gold and 20 silvers.

The rest of the group? Dumbfounded.

Jiang finally spoke up, "Meyu… do you even realize what you just did?"

Meyu with an oblivious smile, "Yes, I did what Atlas would do."

A long silence followed.

Lin Wuye exhaled. "I cannot tell if this is a good thing… or terrifying."

Layla groaned, rubbing her forehead. "I think it's both. It's definitely both."

With their negotiations complete, they made their way toward Ryl Trading's main shop. Upon arrival, Meyu didn't even hesitate. She clapped her hands twice, and within moments, a handful of Atlas' workers rushed forward.

"Alright, I need winter necessities. Bring out the wood, weapons, extra food, and all essential supplies for Silver Lotus Sect. Get it all packed and ready for transport."

One of the workers hesitated. "Miss Meyu, that's a large order. The cost—"

Lin Wuye immediately stepped forward. "Yes! The cost! We can't pay for this right now."

Meyu casually pulled out the contract and held it up. "Oh, no worries! That's already been handled. As per the agreement between Atlas and Master Daokan, Silver Lotus doesn't have to pay a single coin until winter is over. It was one of the terms Master Daokan himself set."

Layla froze. "Wait. Atlas didn't negotiate this?"

Meyu shrugged. "Nope. He just accepted the terms outright."

Lin Wuye frowned. "That… doesn't sound like Atlas."

Layla crossed her arms. "He would never just accepts deals knowing what kind of a man he is. He is probably the type to deal that squeezes the life out of them. Why didn't he negotiate?"

Meyu tilted her head, thinking. "Well, there could be a few reasons…"

She held up three fingers.

"One, he was secretly planning something even bigger and just went along with it to avoid suspicion."

Layla and Lin Wuye nodded. That made sense.

She put a second finger down. "Two, he was testing Master Daokan to see how far he could push the sect before they realized they were being exploited."

Bao muttered, "That sounds like him."

Finally, she lowered the last finger, "Or three… he was just really, really lazy that day and didn't feel like arguing."

Silence.

Jiang squinted. "That...is the most unlikely."

Layla groaned. "Why is that somehow even worse?"

Meyu just laughed, clapping her hands together. "Well, whatever the reason, the deal's done! So, let's get moving before someone realizes I just took half of the emperor's economy and put it in our pockets!"

Jiang sighing and making a facepalm, "We are going to be banned from this city one day."

Layla looked at him, then at Meyu, then back at him. "One day? I give it a month at most."

And with that, they left Ryland Trading, fully stocked, not a single coin more spent.

With their negotiations complete, Meyu led them toward a row of sleek, well-maintained carriages, each one attached to muscular, well-bred horses. They were nothing like the battered transports they had arrived in.

Layla raised an eyebrow, running a hand along the fine craftsmanship of the nearest carriage. "This… is a lot fancier than I expected. How in the world did Atlas even acquire something like this?"

Meyu, completely nonchalant, shrugged. "Oh, a noble gave it to him."

Layla blinked. "A noble... just gave him this?"

Meyu nodded, her expression unbothered. "Mhm. Well, technically, it was the Emperor's own relative."

Jiang, who had been sipping from his waterskin, promptly choked. "The Emperor's relative?"

Lin Wuye coughed. "Excuse me, what?!"

Meyu waved a hand. "Oh, don't look so surprised. You should know by now that Atlas has a... way of making things happen."

Yuxe Wuye narrowed her eyes. "No. No, no, no. You don't get to just drop that and walk away from it. How?"

Meyu tapped a finger against her chin, as if recalling an old memory. "Oh, well, you see, there was this 'tiny misunderstanding' involving a tax audit, an 'accidental' forged document, and something about the noble's prized racehorses mysteriously ending up at the wrong estate. Twice."

Lin Wuye pinched the bridge of his nose. "Please tell me he didn't blackmail an imperial noble."

"Blackmail? Gods, no!" Meyu gasped in mock offense. "It was an enlightened trade. Atlas simply pointed out that should certain 'oversights' come to light, it would be a tragedy for the noble's reputation. In return, he generously offered to resolve the issue by taking these carriages off his hands—purely out of kindness, of course."

Jiang's eye twitched. "He extorted an imperial noble and called it a trade."

Meyu nonchalantly. "Something like that"

Layla just stared at her. "Atlas is a menace."

Yuxe Wuye observed the sturdy horses and nodded. "With this setup, we should arrive back in less than a week."

Meyu, however, smirked. "Less than a week? I think you're underestimating us. I say Three to four days, max."

Jiang blinked. "That's impossible."

Bao shook his head. "Absolutely not happening."

The carriages sped through the vast plains at an absurd pace. The horses galloped at full tilt, their hooves kicking up dust as the wheels thundered across the path. Trees and landmarks blurred past them, the world a streak of motion.

Inside, Lin Wuye maintained some sense of dignity, but the interior of the carriage was a warzone. The finely crafted wooden panels creaked under the strain of their unnatural speed. Cushions that were meant to offer comfort were instead being used as desperate stabilizers, grabbed at by everyone except Meyu.

Yuxe Wuye, however, her hair, once neatly tied, had fully come undone, strands whipping wildly in every direction like a possessed spirit in the wind. Her usually serene beauty had taken on a slightly unhinged edge, her eyes squinting through the strands as if stubbornly refusing to acknowledge the chaos.

Lin Wuye cast her a glance, then looked at himself—perfectly balanced, sitting with practiced ease, his posture unshaken despite the turbulence. Then, he looked back at his wife. He adored Yuxe Wuye, but right now, with her hair flailing like a storm-wrecked banner, eyes twitching from strands whipping against her face, she looked less like a composed scholar and more like a woman personally offended by physics itself.

Still, he loved her. Even like this. Maybe especially like this.

He sighed. "Darling, you look… radiant."

Yuxe Wuye, her composure cracking ever so slightly as another violent gust nearly blinded her, responded without looking up. "Shut up, darling."

Inside one of the carriages, Layla clung to the edge of her seat, her knuckles white as she tried to stay upright.

"This is madness!"

Across from her, Meyu sat perfectly still, her hands neatly folded in her lap. Her hair flowed freely in the wind, yet she remained unshaken, perfectly at ease in the chaos.

Jiang bounced unceremoniously against the side of the carriage, gritting his teeth as he tried to stabilize himself. "Meyu, why are these horses so fast?! What are they?!"

Meyu, lounging comfortably, reached into a pouch and pulled out a piece of dried fruit, taking a leisurely bite before responding. "Oh, they're the Emperor's relative's prized racehorses. The fastest ones. The ones that always won."

Layla, barely holding onto her seat, gawked at her. "AND YOU DIDN'T THINK TO MENTION THAT EARLIER?!"

Meyu simply smiled. "Relax! We'll be home in no time!"

The journey did take only 3 days. She was right and by dawn as well.

At the gates of the Silver Lotus Sect, three figures watched the carriages arrive at unnatural speed, kicking up dust and rattling the worn wooden doors of the entrance.

First was Zhu Fen, the youngest disciple of the sect, barely twelve years old. His oversized robes, patched in places, fluttered as he squinted at the incoming vehicles. "Are we under attack?" he asked nervously, gripping the small wooden training sword at his side.

Beside him, Elder Jian Bo, the oldest active sect member at sixty, stroked his thin white beard. His robes, faded with years of wear, barely hung onto his wiry frame, but his back remained straight. "No noble arrives at this speed unless they are here to extort us. Prepare to greet them as befits this sect."

The third figure, Zhao Lihua, the only female elder besides Yuxe Wuye, crossed her arms. At twenty-eight, she was relatively young for an elder, but her sharp gaze carried experience well beyond her years. Clad in simple, well-maintained robes, she assessed the scene with a skeptical frown. "Or," she said dryly, "someone deeply unhinged is at the reins."

As the sect's remaining disciples hurried to gather, Zhu Fen looked up at the two elders. "So... do we fight them or bow?"

Jian Bo sighed. "We'll see. If they demand money, we have nothing left to give anyway."

The carriages screeched to a halt at the entrance of the Silver Lotus Sect, dust swirling in the air as the exhausted yet deeply traumatized the ones in the carriage.

Jiang stepped out with trembling legs, his face pale. "I will never doubt Meyu again... but I will also never get into a carriage with her in charge ever again."

Bao groaned, his back popping audibly. "I think my soul left my body at least twice."

Layla, meanwhile, was still gripping the carriage door, as if uncertain the world had truly stopped moving. "That... wasn't a journey. That was a war."

Yuxe Wuye, now fully composed but with hair that still looked vaguely haunted, exhaled slowly. "At least we made it."

Lin Wuye, completely unaffected, patted his robes free of dust and turned to Meyu. "Tell me, did Atlas ever use this method of travel himself?"

Meyu, stretching casually as if the past three days had been nothing more than a leisurely stroll, smirked. "Oh, no. He absolutely refused. He said, and I quote, 'I enjoy living.'

More elders and disciples had gathered, drawn by the commotion of the speeding and wealthy carriages and the spectacle of the exhausted Sect new leader, Meilin Wuye and Lin Wuye, the advisor. A handful of nervous junior disciples whispered among themselves, while the more seasoned members stood at attention, ready to intervene if necessary.

Among them, Zhu Fen, the youngest disciple, peeked out from behind Elder Jian Bo, his small hands gripping his tattered robes. His voice wavered as he spoke. "Elder Jian Bo... w-what's going on? Who are they?"

Lin Wuye, stepped forward alongside Layla. "Calm yourself, Zhu Fen. No one's here to harm the sect. In fact..." He shot a quick glance at Meyu, who was dusting herself off with an entirely too-smug expression.

"You could say we've acquired something far more valuable."

Layla smirked, placing a hand on her hip. "The sect now has its own personal merchant."

A silence settled over the gathered members before Elder Jian Bo let out a deep, incredulous sigh, his already worn features twisting into a deep frown of disbelief. "A what? Lady Meilin, you do realize the sect has no money, yes? We can barely afford to feed our disciples, let alone hire someone!"

Zhao Lihua crossed her arms, watching the exchange with thinly veiled amusement. "I have to agree with Elder Jian Bo. How exactly do you plan to pay this so-called 'personal merchant'? With goodwill?"

A few disciples murmured in agreement, concern growing as they considered their already struggling finances. The sect had barely managed to get by over the years, and now they were taking on a merchant?

Meyu took a step forward, clasping her hands behind her back with a slow, deliberate movement that somehow made the gathered elders even more wary. Her smirk widened, that dangerously persuasive glint in her eye sharpening.

"Ah, I see," she said lightly. "You're all assuming this is an expense. That's adorable."

Elder Jian Bo's frown deepened, the lines on his face tightening. "That is typically how merchants work. They expect payment. Unless, of course, you're planning to enlighten us on how this 'arrangement' isn't a drain on resources we don't have."

Meyu rocked slightly on her sandals, looking for all the world as if she had just been asked whether the sky was blue. "Oh, come now. Do you think a respectable merchant, like Master Atlas, would ever invest in something that didn't benefit him and everyone else? Give him a little more credit."

Zhao Lihua raised a skeptical eyebrow. "And yet, you're the one standing here instead of him."

Meyu's smirk didn't falter. "That's because someone has to keep his empire running while he takes a very dramatic and long nap. But don't worry—he left me with very clear instructions."

Jian Bo crossed his arms. "Which were?"

Meyu exhaled dramatically. "Well, first, I was supposed to ensure the Silver Lotus Sect didn't starve to death during the winter. Which, you know, is important. Second, I was to make sure no one tried to weasel out of a perfectly good deal just because they don't know how to read a contract. And third, I was to be patient while a bunch of skeptical elders questioned a brilliant business decision. And look at that, I'm already succeeding at number three!"

Zhao Lihua pinched her forehead. "Get to the point."

Meyu grinned. "Gladly. The sect isn't paying us."

A pause. Several confused blinks.

"...Excuse me?" Elder Jian Bo said slowly

Meyu pulled out a copy of the contract, tapping a perfectly manicured finger against one of the clauses. "Silver Lotus Sect owes nothing until winter is over. That was part of the terms Master Daokan himself agreed to. Atlas didn't even negotiate. He just gave him that."

Layla, catching on immediately, nodded sagely. "Ah, of course. That makes sense." Then, with a perfectly executed thoughtful expression, she turned to Lin Wuye.

"Doesn't it?"

Lin Wuye, sharp enough to follow her lead, rubbed his chin as if he had known this all along. "Absolutely. In fact, I would've been concerned if Atlas had negotiated. This level of generosity was clearly part of a grander scheme."

Meyu waved a dismissive hand. "I know, right? It's a mystery. But, if I had to guess, I'd say it's one of three reasons." She lifted a finger. "One: He saw a greater long-term benefit to the sect thriving rather than struggling, which meant it was an investment rather than a favor." Another finger. "Two: He was planning something that required Master Daokan's goodwill, and this was just the setup." And finally, a third. "Or three: He was feeling particularly generous that day and wanted to see how much power he could get away with giving away before someone finally called him out on it."

Jian Bo, however, still looked unimpressed. "That still doesn't explain what you're getting out of this. You don't work for free."

Meyu sighed. "Of course not. I get a portion of future earnings from trade facilitated between the sect and the city merchants, using goods provided by Ryl Trading." Her smile widened.

"Everyone wins. The sect gets food, winter supplies, and materials. I get to expand Atlas's trade network. And all of you get to sleep soundly knowing you're not going to have to scrape by on rice gruel and prayer until spring."

A silence stretched among the elders and disciples. Some of the younger ones actually looked hopeful, but the senior members were still processing just how easily they'd been maneuvered into accepting the arrangement.

Zhao Lihua exhaled slowly, rubbing her temples. "So you mean to tell me that while we were struggling, begging local traders for fair prices, Atlas had already set up a deal where we wouldn't have to pay a single copper until spring?"

Meyu nodded, completely unbothered. "Yup. And you're welcome."

Jian Bo muttered under his breath before finally conceding with a heavy sigh. "Fine. But if this turns out to be a mistake—"

Meyu cut in smoothly, already turning on her heel. "Oh, don't worry. It won't." She flashed a dazzling grin over her shoulder.

"Because I'm very, very good at what I do."

She took two steps before pausing, tilting her head as if she had just remembered something trivial. "Oh, right. One more thing." She turned back to face them, smile widening into something that was both playful and devastating. "Since Ryl Trading is covering everything for the winter... you're all working for us."

Jian Bo blinked. "Excuse me?"

"You heard me!" Meyu clasped her hands together cheerfully. "For the entire winter, the Silver Lotus Sect will be handling some very basic trade work in return for not starving. Simple, really."

Layla scowled. "Wait a minute—"

Meyu whirled on her, eyes gleaming. "Ah-ah, dear Meilin. You don't want to sound ungrateful, do you? After all, we did sponsor everything. The food? The supplies? The warm, cozy winter instead of freezing in the mountains? That was us." Her voice dropped into something dangerously sweet. "And let's not forget... you'll be learning valuable business skills! Think of it as education. Literacy training. A favor, really."

Lin Wuye looked between them, then let out a long sigh. "We've been scammed, haven't we?"

Meyu beamed. "No, no! Scamming implies you got nothing in return. This? This is an opportunity." She turned on her sandals, humming to herself as she walked away, already thinking of the most efficient way to put them all to work.

Jiang, watching all of this unfold, muttered to Bao. "I hate how effective this is."

Bao sighed. "I hate how much she reminds me of him."

Before Jiang could agree, the sound of multiple heavy boots hitting the ground made them both turn. Meyu looked back at them with a knowing smirk. "Oh, did I forget to mention? The workers from Ryl Trading will be assisting with the rebuild. It's only fair that the sect does some work in return."

The carriage doors swung open, and out stepped the workers from Ryl Trading.

They weren't just ordinary merchants or traders—no, these were laborers, haulers, and craftsmen, all built like warriors. Muscles rippled beneath their clothes, their arms thick from years of carrying heavy goods and working manual labour. A few of the women among them looked just as strong—if not stronger—than some of the sect's own disciples.

Jiang, who prided himself on his own physical prowess, felt insecure.

He leaned toward Bao. "Uh. Am I imagining things, or do some of those women look more ripped than me?"

Bao clapped a hand on his shoulder solemnly. "No, brother. They absolutely do."

Layla, Lin Wuye, and Yuxe Wuye all looked absolutely dumbfounded, their expressions frozen in disbelief, eyes wide like characters straight out of an exaggerated drama.

Layla turned to her father, still processing what she was seeing. "I thought women in this place weren't allowed to be laborers or work hard jobs?"

Somehow, despite the distance, Meyu's ears perked up. She casually waved a hand.

"Atlas doesn't care about gender, status or whatever you are. If you can work, you get paid. Simple as that."

Layla blinked, then slowly nodded, a thought settling into her mind. As a former queen, she had fought against outdated status quos, pushing for women's rights in a world that resisted. Even in her previous life, she had defied expectations, abolishing archaic traditions despite being surrounded by those who sought to maintain them. The logic was sound. She couldn't even argue against it. 

Layla blinked again but now in confusion, "That still doesn't explain why some of the woman are so strong."

Lin Wuye, his face one of smiling defeat, a tear falling down from his right cheek, simply patted her on the shoulder. "Meilin, my daughter, just let it be."