To look where sun breaks through rain, here it is written.

  That red is lowest, orange chases yellow, so on, and ascends until the purity of orchid. A thing scarcely seen- blind to most and the undeserving.

  Some know.

  This aging woman does, did.

  Pride is reserved for [Spring], for what else is worthy of it? But when hairs grey, so does the world change in hue.

  The youths of my Repository mask their intentions behind prudence.

  Never, “Why”.

  “How.”

  Or a betrayal of “Must it be so?”

  Red is lowest, orange chases yellow, so on.

  Yet… I am old. Three hundred moons and my purpose ends. If diligence blocks these questions, then I will merely speak them aloud that none might suffer for voicing them.

  Yes.

  My mind is clear.

  It is a better way to die, no?

  “Other musings,” - Diary, author unknown.

  The tome before him was an empty shell, for each of the intricate diagrams- motions and charts of Aarushi’s ‘anatomy’ were arrayed across a series of central tables. There the [Imperial Axe Superiorities, Green] were set, compared against a lesser counterpart. That of the [Imperial Axe Superiorities, Yellow].

  Then words flew that Fu might only nod at, first transting through his [Intermediary Wisdom].

  “Young Gao Fu is most intimate with arteries, no? A capilry, this should pose no trouble to recall.”

  Aid from the Old One granted a foundational knowledge of the body’s workings, and what else could not be immediately learned was simply stored for ter perusal. With a secondary memory- a fwless memory, as afforded by his catfish, these terms would be learned.

  But beyond this, the effects of Qi added complexity.

  Rivaan moved boldly in this medical arena. Indeed, since his arrival he now moved boldly through most. “It is here, senior Aarushi. That is my belief. See where the [Lung Meridian] is not shown to be as swollen with Qi, where the [Imperial Axe Superiorities, Green] have little discrepancy with any until the final [Meridian]. If one might correct for [Spirituality].”

  Between he and his [Spirit Leech], three pages were highlighted.

  “Consider how meticulously the Empire of Abundant [Spring] exerts their control,” countered Aarushi. “With the suppressing nature of each March: where environment, [Spiritual Herbs] and ambient Qi density are factors. No, this sixty-first rate disciple would think total [Meridian] count is not left to chance.”

  This conversation is one I might follow.

  As not to appear keen, Fu first puffed his pipe. “The upper reaches of a Yellow Caste cultivator are middle to te [Core Formation Realm]. Disciple Aarushi, do you mean to say that there exists a hard limit for their progress? Not all things beneath the Heavens can be so certain.”

  A third and fourth scroll was gestured to, and while Aarushi made strides to retrieve them from a far wall, Fu stopped her. He needed no proof where his Medicinal Head was concerned. “The [Imperial Spear Arts, Yellow] and the [Imperial Resilience Sutra, Yellow] possess an equal number of [Meridians] in their diagrams. We possess a single, other technique of the Green Marches, though it refines [Mind] and not [Body], deeming them incomparable.”

  “Name this as conjecture. Guesswork is no method of discovery.”

  Fu repeated as such, and it drew the pair into apologetic bows.

  “Please disciples, rise, to show respect each time a point is made will only slow you. A fisherman would not judge the health of his full net on three fish.”

  Aarushi’s sleeve fred before her face. “As you say, senior. Then, to challenge, this sixty-first rate disciple would mention how the Empire of Abundant [Spring] standardizes these techniques across the [True Orchid Path]. From each Repository pilged and the Three Intricacies vault. If the [Imperial Arts] are so widespread then guesswork becomes an educated theory.”

  The Old One warmed.

  “Perhaps,” Fu repeated, ill-able to hide the smile. Then he began to trace the movements of Qi throughout the technique of Green.

  To continue with the standardization of the [Spring] Empire, [Life Q was used here. Amorphous, malleable, and ever able to touch upon the [Qi Affinities] of others without issue. Whether [Sixth Under Heaven] held a preference for this, or expected his Imperials to adapt using their own remained to be seen.

  But with such a bnk canvas…

  “Aarushi, if you would,” began Fu, and a fire sprouted behind the eyes of both disciples.

  A fresh sheet was drawn, styled already with an emptiness of silhouettes. No Qi paths detailed nor motions to be seen. The Medicinal Head’s brush touched down, ink-touched and expectant.

  Wise master. With the True Serendipity Association and their alchemists soon to undergo inauguration, [Force Q would be an advantageous addition. Pinxui and others would benefit.

  As it was once stated, the Old One possessed few Heaven-breaking techniques. And yet, a good [Body Refinement] tome was better than rote [Meridian] filling with no additional benefits.

  A foundation of stone when steel was not in abundance.

  “Commence,” came the order.

  Words followed.

  “[Mantra of One Hundred Dusts],” it started, and Fu was emptied of all that came after.

  Where his finger moved to detail movement upon the [Imperial Axe Superiorities, Green], a change would come- might come, potentially, for the motions were not dissimir.

  Aarushi stroked.

  Rivaan detailed, amending fresh papyrus to copy verbatim each physical move he made.

  Positions.

  Stances.

  How a Bond might move aside them.

  The ebb and flow of [Force Q as described at each intersection of expression and rotation.

  Increases to Fu’s [Insight] made the process vastly more tolerable, and this allowed for more stages to be inked before his drained mental energy might have him colpse from exhaustion. So the time passed, measured in the span of two charred incense sticks.

  There, he blew a mistless breath. “I believe this is sufficient for now.”

  A tapestry of completed pages covered the nearby desks. Far more than his expectation, leading him to query his internal sage.

  “Seven pages remain. The [Mantra of One Hundred Dusts] is no profound tome. Alchemists. Those of [Arrays]. To walk the Path, truly, they would do well to seek better.”

  Fu shared an internal bow, mirrored by Shuidi’s physical one.

  “[Force Q. Suitable for those upon this Path, and those that are soon to merge with our Wayward Winds,” he said.

  Rivaan was rarely privy to the process, and gaped whereas Aarushi smiled behind a sleeve. “This sixty-first rate disciple agrees with the senior’s foresight. When the Alchemists begin their Path of [Body], the course will already be solidified.”

  The ink was not forcefully dried, but monitored instead by Rivaan’s leech. Able to draw moisture from any chaotic spilge that might occur. It was a suitable measure, maintained as the disciples shared small exchanges with their senior.

  Notes, crification and other matters. Pleasant, he knew, and no luxury the Wayward Wind’s senior could afford.

  “Senior Gao Fu!” came the reasoning for such a line of thought, a voice erupting from the screen behind. “I bear news!”

  Udvah has not returned, else this would be joyous. A day te too.

  Fu met the fresh disciple with a hand. “What news, disciple?”

  “Yellow Moon Hall moves once more.”

  ?

  The Wayward Winds had accrued three [Cords of Red Meeting] over the course of several days. Fitting trials for fledgling ghosts, for their senior had ordained that only the least secure should be recovered.

  All else were surely within the various factions’ vaults. So the unread report upon his table would say.

  It was to Fu’s concealed surprise that no golden, [Karmic] tree yet sprouted the [Mystic Realm]. To the contrary, they were not sought nor traced. The tactics employed against them were of a more direct nature.

  “A moon,” noted Anfang, for indeed a low moon did hang in the sunlit horizon.

  Each Head was assembled along the Warship’s balustrade, less willing to share such btant observations. Aarushi offered no counsel, nor did Pinxui’s words spout as was usual. Few expressions came from their [Spirit Beasts] either.

  “We’ve few martial experts,” grunted Su Sai.

  Fu firmed at the reminder. “Udvah holds the [Dao of Collections] pendant to aide travel during his seclusion.”

  “It’s a moon,” repeated Anfang, this, a question. “What significance does it hold beyond being an Imperial construct?”

  “Sister, you’ve eyes, but fail to see. We’ll have to rectify the expansion of your [Senses]. Sisters Aarushi, Pinxui, this oversight is mine if you are both to cim the same,” and so saying, Sai coloured the Qi within his eyes.

  When all saw the disturbance the mood grew grim.

  Figures beat beneath this distant moon, holding great fgs of inscribed fabric. For each step, though far, Fu spied the thrashing their arms concocted to assumedly no small ruckus. Said, as before them moved a great lifting of wings.

  Shuidi gleaned more.

  Cws perhaps, or hooves of ground-based [Spirit Beasts], but the draw here was to all that soon polluted the air with their shadows.

  Some thousands of [Spirit Birds].

  How might we hide a Warship? Are we to ever be challenged by direct threats?

  Dawn flourished to their south, warring with this northern moon. But it told of the [Far Whisper’s] distance and how this could not be employed against their foes.

  “Senior-”

  He cut all protests off shortly. “Gather the initiates of the True Serendipity Association and have them lend efforts to the [Defensive Arrays]. Head Pinxui, there is one in particur that must be activated. Untested, but ripe.”

  “Sister Aarushi is required for this,” Pinxui shared.

  “Then we are in your care,” he returned. “Martial Heads, prepare what disciples remain and all worthy initiates for combat. The treasury’s armaments are open to you should it be needed. But I urge you, do not emerge unless called, is this clear?”

  Four affirmations came from shallow bows, and all rushed to their duties.

  In moments Fu was at the helm, calling out to both Sonali and Xiong as they tended to the Warship’s great [Core].

  “Xiong you fool, our senior arrives,” she cried, and her [Spirit Crane] swatted their [Array] partners to kneel with one wing.

  “Senior,” whispered Xiong.

  “Bring our vessel as high as it might go and station us over that moon. I would task only one of you with this, for that [Array] needs tending and matters concerning our Warship are your expertise. Do so swiftly.”

  [Dao of Wayward Breezes].

  One breath.

  One profound breath.

  Shuidi warned that he had moments before the artificial [Beast Tide] struck. But for some few moments Fu merely touched the passing clouds. Moisture clung to his fingertips as they ascended, bringing a blinding fugue of dawn’s orange light to engulf the entirety of his vessel.

  Shadows moved throughout.

  Closing.

  His [Senses] detected a subtle thrum. Rearward, and allied to his interests. It was then that the deck manifested its gold.

  The Wayward Wind’s senior positioned himself in the lotus, central to all that now shone. Myriad circuits and myriad lines of [Profundity], yet pulsing through the miasma of cloud. A thought pushed his will throughout the Warship, such was the connection of those that were bound.

  A second breath.

  A second profound breath.

  Hushi and Shuidi entered his p, bridging their will- entering the simple [Qi Conversion Array] with a thought.

  Avian cries shrieked by his head. The deck. Walls. Impacts sounded. The scratching of talons upon his wood. Break embedding. [Intent] fred from some: those furthest in their cultivation and those fleetest of wing to have reached their target first.

  To dwell on the intricacies of this [Array] now… a mortal man might guess its effect from the title.

  A sagely catfish might do more.

  And did.

  Some immensity of Qi erupted through the lens of Fu. Transformations, focused. Drawn from the Warship’s very [Core]. The [Life Q, [Air Q, composites and more were refined through his [Hundred Immunities Fruit], commanded through his [Intermediary Wisdom], and redistributed into all spaces about him.

  The flock yet surged.

  Talons scored against his immovable shoulder in a dive. His motions remained slight. One weave of his neck, stationary, or one bow to have things soar overhead. Ever shrieking, ever adding their wingbeat to the myriad drumstrikes of their fellows.

  [Hundred Poisons Synthesis: Pure Yang Lotus Drops]

  Dawn’s orange changed then, and the luster of the surrounding clouds were corrupted by his Qi. Bolstered by all the strength his Warship could muster, Fu seized control of the skies.

  [Poison Q drenched the clouds. Propagating. Breeding as if [Demons] had finally id their cim upon the Heavens.

  What number fell was uncountable, and so he chose a single victim to spectate.

  The Pure Yang Lotus Drops.

  To reflect now is a fool’s errand. They fall, no more must be known for now.

  Corpses began to mount. Erupted things, for inner explosions had rendered their [Dantians] or [Spirit Cores] unstable. Overwhelmed.

  But he maintained.

  To pse even once was to have his Wayward Winds suffer, and he had wrought enough damage on those that duty pced in his care. For minutes he wove his poison, and [Senses] spoke of the many li that he touched. A range of dozens, which doubled, and doubled once more.

  When finally he rose it was to twin sensations. Fu wheezed to the helm with the tang of blood upon his tongue, and a volcanic heat of [Ink] upon his flesh.

  His [Array] had taken the dragon’s share, but the connection- this technique was novel, pcing great strain upon his body and [Channels].

  [Spectral Q had him greet Xiong, for he was unwilling to open exterior screens lest the [Poison Q cim his own. “We need linger here no more, disciple. Our task-” Fu’s words vanished to feel a fresh sensation of Qi.

  Myriad.

  Then his Warship skewed, for he bore witness to a great and terrible [Spirit Hawk] tearing into his bow. The wings it fred were of a length with buildings, dancing with a mady of green feathers that greedily drank all his clouds had wrought.

  Its screech came, more roar than avian, and the beast’s beak plunged through the central deck in a single motion.

  Fledglings followed.

  [Heritage] clear, for their resembnce was that of this awesome mother’s, if a size of horses and no monstrous building as their sire.

  One [Pull] reduced the malignancy within Fu’s clouds, and Shuidi warned of many, many more troubles arising beyond.

  The swelling moon behind. A barrage of Qi below. How their Warship lurched, descending as the [Spirit Hawk] absorbed all the energy contained within its [Core].

  Fu muttered a curse beneath his breath. “Xiong, do what you must to steer us. Bring us to the [Paifang]. Our welcome is overstayed.”

  His Warship [Array] specialist grew red-faced in moments, but was put the rear.

  [Half Cloud Step].

  “Beast, I have no quarrel with you. The disciples of Yellow Moon Hall have pit us against one another. Cease, and we shall do the same,” he called.

  Middle [Core Formation]. A beast of [Might] if it might puncture our vessel.

  Ribbons cascaded from the [Spirit Hawk’s] crown, and drifted as it turned an eye to who had addressed it. It possessed less [Spirituality] than required to speak, but Hushi impressed to Fu each intention.

  Warning. Threat. Challenge. Territory. Feast.

  Intelligence raged behind its pupils, and Fu knew his own words were understood. And so his chain fell, and [Killing Intent] poured from his [Spirit]. “Withdraw, venerable beast. The only gains here are pyrrhic, and the Heavens hold innumerable treasures elsewhere.”

  Only the fledgling [Spirit Hawks] baulked at the weight of his soul. Their matriarch simply expanded her own.

  Some turgid ooze of lime met Fu’s crimson wave, cshing atop the deck.

  The [Spirit Hawk] shrieked and took to the air, drawing its flock with it.

  Fu remained taught, never repealing his [Intent].

  He-

  Detonation.

  ?

  [Core Formation], [Resilience], [Control] or chance. These factors pit Fu against the seismic wave that engulfed his vessel and had him emerge victorious. But to say it as this was to remove legs from a dragon and name it a snake.

  Indeed his vision had darkened. No unconsciousness, but a deadly current that had swept much from the deck of his Warship. He was thrust unceremoniously at the impact- a great collision of vessel and ke, erupting unfathomable waves from the site that further carried him wayward.

  Swept in this fashion Fu’s vision was grainy, filtered as these waters smashed him into the closest balustrade.

  Then he rose, bleary.

  Time has epsed. This scene is much different than it might be in a mere passing of moments.

  Blood saturated the shoulder of his hanfu, near indistinguishable from the sodden affair of kewater. Spilled from a cut at his temple.

  Hushi. Shuidi.

  His Bonds were about him, impressing that he had indeed lost consciousness.

  Above, a shriek descended. The [Spirit Hawk] and its flock. Each bore a malignancy of [Poison Q about their talons, fouling what tailwind carried them hence. To those cultivators aboard his deck.

  Yellow, and no Wayward Wind.

  A poor day this.

  Something thudded a pace to his east. A meteoric hammer’s head. “Senior Gao,” grunted Sai. “Pinxui urges that we remove this [Spirit Hawk]. Our troubles won’t cease until its ability to drain the Warship’s [Core] is ended.”

  “The disciples?”

  “None are ready, but poise in our hallways should those fools from Yellow Moon Hall dare to enter. All efforts go towards repair as I’m assured that together we might end this threat.”

  Fu cycled his [Inner Q. Joyous to find it bloated from the ambient [Poison Q that yet lingered from his clouds.

  Then, as a fool might.

  [Ink].

  [Hollow Ivory Splinter]

  Your [Dantian] is yet ravening.

  [Pull] +114

  These changes settled into his cultivation, reaching equilibrium, and indeed… he was ravening.

  One hundred and fourteen. Truly, this single opportunity had bolstered his [Pull] more than a completed Path of [Harmony] in a single stroke.

  To ascend the Heavens in a single leap. Is this not said?

  A compcent mind would be instilled with confidence beyond their ability. He knew this, and swore that it changed nothing. “Disciple Pinxui believes me can repair this damage?”

  “Superficial is the term she used. One of a score,” Sai nodded, and his [Spirit Serpent] hissed to accentuate this point. “Now, I would have these Imperials know fear. What do you ask of me?”

  Fu put eyes to the emerging Imperials, and those at war with the [Spirit Hawk’s] kin. An advance stalled for danger of encircling, diving wings. “Draw their eyes, that I might bleed their fnks. But the trouble of this bird must be ended first,” he shared, firming his grip. “Do not allow them to overwhelm you.”

  The space was emptied.

  [Half Cloud Step] blurred Fu forward, and a searing corona of [Rage Q arrived Su Sai some twenty strides from the mass. The Martial Head postured as this bze thickened about him, exciming a few, simple words. If unmistakably [Profound]. “Have knuckles whiten and blood boil, knowing only that it is never enough. Face your impotence.”

  Sai’s [Dao Principle] drew a shadow opposite his own, casting all the gloom of a giant. Yellow Moon Hall hesitated, ill-daring to tread in its domain.

  Now.

  No base beast, the [Spirit Hawk] curled from Fu’s approach. Within the air, within its territory of sky, he held much disadvantage.

  It soared. He chased. A dive, a narrow miss. Indeed the air wailed with each passing strike. First some small dozen exchanges wherein Fu would unch, slicing naught but feather-tips before a foe-rich nding.

  Cries sounded for his head, but no Imperial thought so little of their lives as to enter the path of this cshing pair.

  And so he wove in the [Wind Phantom Strides], demanding his [Might] drive him ever swifter.

  A worthy foe. Much like us, brother. Poison and fleet strikes, hard to be touched. So, let us not.

  Here Fu paused, and Hushi cascaded to the deck. Vigint, yet still, intent on visions of poison-riddled plums.

  Eight arms and one extended. The [Spirit Hawk] dove. Mere heartbeats had it close, talons primed as [Spectral Q suffused the spectres. Possessing of such a girth, their foe’s body emptied painful amounts of [Inner Q as it phased through their immaterial forms.

  But it was a blink that had them reappear, anchoring their bde into the beast’s underside.

  [Pull].

  Fu’s tethering smashed him through the Warship’s balustrade, bursting air from his lungs as he weathered the crash. Then on, to open air. His foe thrashed in ascension, snapping, raking, wheeling and more to dissuade those bloodily attached to its fnk.

  [Pull].

  The distance to the Warship only grew as Fu was wrenched thousands of paces into the air, ever up, ever turning, until- [Half Cloud Step]. Cloud blustered beneath his foot, and here he sprung, plunging his solitary arm into the breast feathers of his foe.

  [Pull].

  A screech nigh burst his eardrums, and all thoughts of flight were abandoned. The [Spirit Hawk] thrashed, contorting to bury its beak into his back, scoring flesh along the length.

  Yet this slowed.

  Stuttered as Fu and Hushi reaped all the [Poison Q from this beast’s [Core], draining will and vitality, morphing this profound beast’s strength to no more than a mundane gull’s.

  [Dao of Wayward Breezes].

  He nded below, reinvigorated, freeing blood from his bde as the desiccated husk impacted the deck to his rear.

  “Take heart, brothers of Yellow. Forestall your thoughts. We walk together!”

  Threats begot threats. Such was their position. Perils born of mistake.

  The prior voice held a presence of its own, rallying the uncertain stances of what Yellow cultivators and [Spirit Beasts] were now freed from their csh with the flock.

  Another son of Patriarch Asik. A handsome family.

  The third of six encountered, and a match for his imposing father in all regards. Stern, and undoubtedly righteous. Four tails paced aside him, brushes from his silver [Spirit Fox]. “Five Silences City must be rid of your corruption, false Imperials. The citizens suffer for these self-centered designs. Have you no hearts?”

  Sai’s shadow had swollen, and many pulverized corpses were littered within. Dozens within the span of the [Spirit Hawk’s] death. And more, cshing. Yet what Fu saw might confound one less composed, for he saw the connection of multiple bdes.

  Of fists upon skin.

  Feeble until Sai swatted them aside, returning Yellow Moon Hall’s call. “If hearts are your concern, come, and I shall expose yours. Or will the righteous Patriarch send more fools to die ‘fore he dares endanger his own kin?”

  Fu caught a glint in the son’s eye. Crimson to mark his rage, and another sign. That of a double-edged bde, for that is what Sai’s cultivation wrought as the son stormed.

  As [Moon Q suffused his [Might], shattering one head of the meteoric hammer as it was swung against him.

  The second.

  Ribs, unmistakably, heard across the stampede of Yellow Imperials that held Fu occupied in the spare seconds these blows took to be delivered.