When Ishin returned to the antechamber, he found an Adept Realm healer from the Righteous Mantle Sect kneeling beside Rhee, tending to her wound. Rhee placed a hand on the healer’s shoulder, pausing his treatment, and pulled herself to her feet.

  “Well done, Ishin.”

  “Yes,” Grand Master Yusheng agreed. “You did very well and have made the Eight Oaths Resolve School proud.”

  Ishin bowed toward the Grand Master. “I am glad to have lived up to your expectations.”

  And now you owe me some answers.

  “More than lived up to them,” Rhee added as she stepped toward him. He noticed a slight wince as she moved. Once she reached his side, she told her grandfather, “I told you he was going to be an asset during the tournament.”

  “You did.” But the Grand Master’s eyes remained on Ishin. “I’ve heard of your blue and white lightning technique—from both my granddaughter and Master Guoqiang. Their descriptions didn’t do it justice. Tell me, Disciple Ro Ishin, what is the name of that technique?”

  Ishin paused. He weighed the cost of sharing the name. He had no true loyalty to the Eight Oaths Resolve School, and given his tournament success, he was sure other sects would soon attempt to recruit him—possibly ending his association with this one altogether. Still, if he wanted answers from the Grand Master, offering a harmless detail now would help.

  “It’s called the Pale Azure Lightning Force Strike, Grand Master.”

  Grand Master Yusheng arched a brow. “Quite the name. And where did you learn it?”

  “From my clan.”

  “I see. They reside in the Nine Striped Hills, correct?”

  “Yes,” Ishin lied. “I hail from the Daihu Tribe within the Nine Striped Hills.”

  “I’ve heard of the Daihu Tribe,” the Grand Master mused. “But I confess I’m not familiar with any of the clans within it.” He looked off into the distance before turning back. “Would you allow the school to study your technique so we might add it to our repository?”

  “Grandfather,” Rhee said, frowning.

  Grand Master Yusheng raised a hand. “Silence, Disciple Rhee. What say you, Disciple Ro Ishin?”

  He expects me to just hand over my clan’s technique?

  The Pale Azure Lightning Force Strike was all he had left of his clan. It felt wrong to give it to someone who saw him only as a tool.

  Ishin offered a deep bow. “Respectfully, Grand Master, the technique is not mine to give. It belongs to my clan, and without their consent, it is not my place to share it with outsiders.”

  The Grand Master didn’t respond right away. “We will speak more on the matter later tonight. We still need to discuss the favor you are owed. For now, let us return to the school. There are many who wish to celebrate both of your victories.”

  Rhee looked uneasy but said only, “Yes, Grand Master.” Her eyes met Ishin’s, and he could tell that her grandfather’s request still troubled her.

  Two hours later, Ishin and Rhee stood in the middle of a grand celebration held in the banquet hall of the Eight Oaths Resolve School. It seemed the entire school had turned out, and no expense had been spared.

  Bottles of century-aged plum wine lined the tables, while more than fifty unique dishes created an extravagant feast. An ensemble of two dozen musicians played vibrant melodies, enhancing the celebratory atmosphere.

  Numerous disciples and masters approached to offer their congratulations—many of whom Ishin didn’t recognize. It was a welcome surprise when Ouyang Xue reached the front of the reception line. She looked fully recovered now, her hair tied back into two cute braids.

  “Congratulations on your victory, Ishin. Though, I can’t say I’m surprised,” she said with a coy smile. “I knew you’d make it to the end.”

  Ishin matched her smile. “Someone told me I better win. I wouldn’t be able to hold my head high if I didn’t even make it to the finals.”

  Xue’s cheeks colored faintly. “Spoken like someone who thinks they’ve already won.” She glanced toward Rhee, who stood nearby in conversation with one of the school’s masters. “But you still have to defeat your captain. Think you can?”

  Ishin watched Rhee for a moment. She wore a resplendent gown in the school’s blue and orange, more tailored to accentuate her elegance than for combat. It matched the formal, three-layered robes the school had forced onto him after their return. But it wasn’t the outfit that caught his eye. It was the smile she gave her well-wishers—the quiet pride in her expression, even as she remained outwardly humble.

  Xue cleared her throat, pulling Ishin’s attention back.

  “Ah, yes,” he said, recovering. “I think I’ll find a way to win.” He gave her a confident grin. “Like I said, someone told me I needed to—after beating her.”

  To his surprise, Xue’s playfulness faded. “Well, if you do... we could speak again.” She offered a familiar bow. “I’ll let you greet the rest of your congratulators.”

  Ishin watched her leave, uncertain what had shifted in her tone, then moved on to the next in line.

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  Twenty minutes later, Grand Master Yusheng called the crowd to attention and ushered everyone to their seats. Ishin and Rhee were seated at the central dais alongside Bo and Lei—symbols of the school’s victorious tournament team.

  The Grand Master launched into a speech filled with praise for their talent and discipline. It quickly became clear this was a victory speech—for the school as much as for the team. Regardless of who won tomorrow, the Eight Oaths Resolve School had already claimed the title.

  When the speech finally ended, the feast truly began. But Ishin was more interested in reconnecting with his friends.

  “I can’t believe you caught his spear right before it hit you!” Lei said to Rhee, his voice animated. “I thought for sure you were done for—but then he paused, and there were shadows around his spear and then—” Lei mimed the motions, excitement spilling from him.

  “It was a gamble,” Rhee replied between bites of bok choy. “I wasn’t sure I’d be fast enough.”

  “But you were!” Lei threw his head back in amazement. “What a victory!”

  “Thank you, Brother Lei,” Rhee said with a sheepish smile.

  “It was an impressive victory,” Bo added, as reserved as ever. He wore loose-fitting robes, but Ishin knew that beneath them, his body was still wrapped in herb-soaked bandages. “Yours too,” he said to Ishin. “You made up for my failure. For that, I thank you.”

  Ishin opened his mouth to respond, but Lei lifted his wine cup before he could speak.

  “A toast to the finalists! The two greatest martials in the city!”

  Always so eager, Ishin thought, amused. He raised his cup in return.

  It wouldn’t be the last toast of the night.

  Three hours later, as the hall began to empty, a school attendant approached their table. He crouched beside Ishin, whose cheeks were flushed with wine.

  “The Grand Master wishes to speak with you in his office, Disciple Ro Ishin.”

  Ugh. Now?

  Ishin downed the rest of his cup. “Looks like I’m meeting the Grand Master.” He stood, swaying slightly.

  “Popular now that he’s in the finals,” Lei teased.

  “Now?” Rhee frowned, turning to the attendant. “Did he say why?”

  “He said it was to fulfill his obligation to Disciple Ro Ishin.”

  That caught Ishin’s attention. The haze of wine cleared in an instant. Answers.

  “Lead the way,” he said.

  As the attendant turned to go, Rhee caught his sleeve.

  “Don’t give away your technique.”

  Ishin glanced down at her hand, then met her eyes. She quickly withdrew her touch.

  “I won’t. But thank you.”

  Rhee returned to her food, voice low. “As long as you know.”

  Soon after, Ishin was led into the Grand Master’s office.

  “Disciple Ro Ishin. Thank you for coming at this hour.” Grand Master Yusheng sat behind a wide desk, a steaming cup of tea before him.

  Ishin bowed, doing his best to remain steady. “Grand Master.”

  Yusheng gestured to the chair across from him. “Sit.”

  Gratefully, Ishin obeyed.

  “You may leave us,” Yusheng said to the attendant, who bowed and exited. Once alone, the Grand Master wasted no time.

  “I made a deal with you. You upheld your end. I will now honor mine—to settle the karma between us.”

  Ishin leaned back slightly. His mind was still a little fuzzy, but he understood the weight of this moment.

  “Tell me, Disciple Ro Ishin, what favor may I bestow upon you?”

  Ishin answered without hesitation. “Grand Master, I would like you to tell me what you know about a group called the Hidden Ring—if you’ve heard of them at all.”

  He held his breath, dreading that the Grand Master might say he didn’t know. If that happened, Ishin would have to think of another favor entirely.

  “That was not the favor I expected you to ask for,” the Grand Master replied. He sipped his tea.

  What did you expect me to ask for?

  He set the cup down. “Before I answer, may I ask how you came to know that name?”

  My mother said it before they killed her.

  Ishin fought to keep his composure. The wine didn’t help. He offered a partial truth. “I encountered them in the Nine Striped Hills. They… harmed a member of my family.”

  The Grand Master’s brows rose. “You saw them in the Nine Striped Hills?”

  “Yes. I want to find them. To get answers.”

  Yusheng fell silent, deep in thought.

  He’s going to hide behind excuses, Ishin feared. He’s going to say he can’t tell me anything.

  Finally, the Grand Master spoke. “The Hidden Ring is a secret faction within the Void Wraith Sect. Do you know who they are?”

  Relief swept through Ishin. A name. A sect.

  The name was familiar, but he couldn’t place it.

  The Grand Master seemed to notice. “They’re one of the Five Notable Sects in this province. Their specialty is covert operations—espionage, infiltration, assassination.” He gave Ishin a pointed look. “What most people don’t know is that they have a hidden division: the Hidden Ring. They’re made up of the sect’s elite, sent only on missions too dangerous—or too secret—for the sect to be associated with.”

  The Void Wraith Sect.

  It made sense. With a name like that, dark work came naturally. And the Hidden Ring carried out the worst of it.

  But why my mother? Why our village?

  “If they’re a Notable Sect, did they come to watch the tournament?”

  “No,” Yusheng said, shaking his head. “They’re the only Notable Sect that never attends. It’s rumored they have their own methods for recruiting.”

  His tone softened. “Listen to me, Disciple Ro Ishin. I’m telling you this only because of the debt I owe you. The Hidden Ring is dangerous. Their existence is secret—barely a dozen people in this city know they exist. If I weren’t friends with the Sect Master of the Righteous Mantle Sect, I wouldn’t know either. I can only assume you seek vengeance. But you mustn’t pursue them. They’d kill you for even searching.”

  Ishin didn’t know what to say. The Grand Master was right. The Hidden Ring was far beyond him now.

  But it was still hard to accept.

  “Thank you for your guidance, Grand Master. If I might be so bold… would you tell me where the Void Wraith Sect is located?”

  Yusheng gave him a knowing look. “If I do, you’re going to go looking for them, aren’t you?”

  “No,” Ishin answered truthfully. “I know how foolish that would be. I just want to know where they are.”

  “And you won’t go?” the Grand Master asked, his eyes narrowing.

  “I swear to the Heavens I won’t pursue them—not yet.”

  Their eyes met. The Grand Master clearly noticed the phrasing.

  “The only reason I’ll share this,” Yusheng said at last, “is because the location is common knowledge. If I don’t tell you, you’ll find it elsewhere.”

  Ishin leaned forward, heart pounding.

  “The Void Wraith Sect resides in a city called Spear Shore.”