The morning sun filtered softly over Ying Town, casting a warm light across the streets. It was the height of summer, and the heat was overwhelming — even breathing carried the warmth.
Rui approached Yuan Yu with a careful expression.
"May I go outside? I've been here two weeks now, and I want to take care of some matters," he said.
Yuan Yu studied him for a moment, then nodded.
"You know the town. Be careful."
Rui stepped into the streets.
A spy fell into step behind him before he had walked half a block. Rui was aware of this immediately.
The town was alive with the full heat of summer. Voices rose between stalls, the scent of fresh bread, incense, meat, and fish wafted through the air, while children ran between the stalls. Everything seemed ordinary and peaceful on the surface.
Rui stopped in front of a small herbal shop. The elderly shopkeeper looked up and smiled.
"Good morning, young master! Are you looking for spices, or just passing through?"
Rui nodded politely.
"Just passing through — perhaps some tea," he said. "Thank you. How are things today?"
The shopkeeper chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling.
"As always, young master. The town keeps moving."
The old man continued, leaning slightly forward.
"Have you come from distant lands? I haven't seen you before."
Rui smiled.
"Yes, from far away," he said. "But the time has come."
The old man gave a small nod — unhurried, deliberate, as though he understood more than he showed. Rui held his gaze for a moment, then finished his tea and left the shop.
Was that simply a friendly old man? he thought. Or something else?
The spy had watched the exchange without expression, understanding nothing. Rui spoke politely. Everything appeared ordinary. Yet each glance Rui exchanged carried a quiet weight — measuring, remembering, preparing.
Further along, he found a fabric stall and purchased a length of blue silk threaded with silver.
The same colors that once flew above the Mooncloud Sect.
The spy assumed he was having clothes made for himself.
As he left the street behind, Rui glanced once toward the eastern road.
The road that led to the Tiger Sect.
So the Jewel Sect is keeping an eye on me, he thought, with a faint smile. Good. Let them watch.
He completed his errands and headed back to the sect without hurrying. The spy followed behind him all the way to the gate.
Back at the sect, Rui put his items away and went to find Yuan Yu.
He found him in the records room with his uncle, reviewing documents. Rui greeted them both and took his place near the door.
It was Yuan Yu's wrist that caught his eye.
A bracelet rested on his wrist, made of polished white beads and pale jade stones. Where the jade met, a pair of White Dragons had been carved facing one another, their eyes closed and noses touching in quiet harmony. The craftsmanship was so delicate that even Yuan Yu's uncle had glanced at it more than once.
That's not the Jewel Sect's emblem, Rui noted. Their banners carry a black background with a golden sun. The Tiger Sect uses a tiger on silver. I know several sect motifs — but this one is new.
Yuan Yu seemed to sense the attention. He looked up.
"I bought it in the market," he said simply. "I liked it."
Yuan Yu's uncle said nothing aloud. But a slight crease had formed between his brows.
Why would this appear in a market stall? the uncle thought. Was it placed there deliberately? Could this be Simon's doing?
His uncle did not comment. But the question did not leave his eyes.
That evening, they dined together.
Yuan Yu barely touched his food. Rui refilled his tea without being asked.
"Master, isn't there medicine for your stomach?" Rui asked.
"No," Yuan Yu replied. "Whenever the Tiger Sect is mentioned, my stomach aches for a while. It'll pass."
Rui did not ask why.
Yuan Yu set down his cup.
"Tomorrow, my scholar friend Wang Bo arrives. He'll travel with us to the Tiger Sect. His father and mine have been friends since childhood, and Wang Bo and I grew up together. Some friendships last longer than a single generation. I trust him completely."
Rui smiled faintly.
"Then perhaps the next generation will continue that friendship."
Yuan Yu drained the rest of his tea and stood.
"Bring your sword to the garden."
The garden was deep and still, the trees dense enough to swallow sound.
They began slowly — a controlled exchange, feeling out distance and tempo. Yuan Yu was precise and economical, his movements carrying the careful discipline of someone trained to read everything. Defense first. Always defense. But defense that watched.
Then Yuan Yu stepped backward into shadow and disappeared.
Rui stilled. He scanned the tree line. Nothing moved.
Then the blade appeared at his throat from behind.
Rui turned and deflected in a single motion — faster than thought, purely instinct. Their eyes met at close range, and in that fraction of a second, something happened.
The silver returned.
It flickered through Rui's eyes like light caught on water — there, then gone. Yuan Yu felt it before he saw it: a sudden cold pulse that traveled from the air directly into the bracelet at his wrist.
The bracelet trembled.
Yuan Yu took two steps back, his expression giving nothing away.
Again, he thought. Was that normal for him — or am I the only one who sees this?
Rui resumed his stance as if nothing had occurred. His eyes were black again.
The duel continued — faster now. They moved through the trees, blades catching moonlight, neither gaining ground for long. Rui leapt onto a branch and came down from above. Yuan Yu sidestepped. Rui pressed forward, and in the final scramble of those last steps — neither of them planned what came next.
Rui caught Yuan Yu's arm to stop him from falling. The momentum carried them together, and for a moment they stood chest to chest, blades lowered, both breathing hard.
Neither moved immediately.
Their eyes met.
Rui stepped back first.
Heat climbed unexpectedly to the tips of his ears.
What was that? he thought, avoiding Yuan Yu's gaze.
Yuan Yu brushed the dust from his sleeve.
"I think you won," he said.
Rui gave a short bow.
"Let's go," Yuan Yu said. "That was a good training session. In two days, we depart."
The following morning, Wang Bo arrived carrying three books and already complaining about the heat before he had even crossed the gate. He greeted Yuan Yu with the ease of someone who had known him long enough not to need formality.
Rui watched him carefully. Assessed him in silence. Filed away what he found.
The rest of the day moved with the focused energy of departure. Weapons were inspected. Supplies were loaded and checked again. Maps were reviewed, routes confirmed, every possible threat considered.
By evening, everything was ready.
Yuan Yu stood in the courtyard and looked toward the road beyond the gate.
"Tomorrow," he said quietly, "we depart for the Tiger Sect. Be ready."
Rui nodded.
Tomorrow, the past would begin to show its true face.