Two women clad in black sat cross-legged by the edge of a tranquil little lake, the radiant disk of the afternoon sun reflected upon its clear surface. Shao Luli's eyes were closed in concentration, her master's palm resting on her back.

  They were practicing in accordance with their new master's teachings. For a time, because of the volatile nature of the exercise, the Golden Witch was forced to oversee their training in person. But within the span of a month she had decided that Liao Lan, in no small part due to her remarkable knowledge of pressure points, had reached the proficiency required to guide the young woman's cultivation without her constant presence.

  Though Liao Lan lacked the gift to perceive internal energy like her golden haired master, by taking careful measure of Shao Luli's breathing and heartbeat she could intuit the flow of her energy and tell when her qi had deviated from the ordained paths.

  "You're slipping." Liao Lan whispered. "Pull it back, steady your breathing. Careful."

  Sweat ran down the younger woman's brow. The consequence for failure was severe. Improperly controlled energies could wreak irreversible havoc on the body. And the emergency measure - the sealing of one's meridians before any damage could be done - was deeply unpleasant and likewise prone to errors and unexpected mishaps.

  Shao Luli had done as her master had said and retraced her steps. Before long, the danger had passed. The young disciple sighed in relief, relaxing her tense shoulders.

  "Let's call it a day." Liao Lan's voice sounded behind her. "You're making quicker work of this than I, little Lu."

  "There's no way that's true." Shao Luli meekly protested. "And even if it were, it would only be because you're burdening yourself with my training, master."

  "No, that's not why..." Liao Lan shook her head. "I'm held back by my past choices."

  "What do you mean, master?" Shao Luli turned her head towards her.

  With a sigh and a wistful smile, Liao Lan began to explain. "During my life in the jianghu, I had to make do with what I could. What guided my cultivation was just about any loose word of advice, any scrap from a manual, or even nothing more than my own intuition. Inevitably, my foundation turned out rather flawed. The internal energy I've developed up to this point was enough to keep me safe this whole time, but now it's proving to be an obstacle for further growth... It might not even be possible for me anymore to make full use of master's teachings."

  "Please don't try to sell yourself short." Shao Luli smiled. "I'm sure you can overcome this."

  "Master thinks so too." Liao Lan absent-mindedly muttered, her smile suddenly gleaming with delight.

  Shao Luli's nose twitched and she turned away. She still couldn't stand to hear her master address that golden haired woman with such respect. The girl separated from her mentor and stood up.

  "You know, master," Shao Luli began, "I must ask, why are we still following that woman? Now that we've reached the point where we can progress without her help, what use is there in staying with her? Why don't we just go back to living our life together like before? Don't you miss the freedom we used to have, master?"

  "What's this talk?" Liao Lan rose to her feet, her voice suddenly stern. "We have an obligation to her. And she's the only one who can release us from this duty. And heavens forbid that would happen!"

  Instantly, the young woman's temper flared.

  "After everything she put us through, we've already paid our debts to her many times over!" Shao Luli exclaimed, stomping her foot. "I'm sure if you would just bring this up to her, she would find it hard to argue and be forced to let us go!"

  "And how do you think that's going to make me look?" Liao Lan asked. "Disloyal, unfilial!"

  "Then let's make up an excuse to part ways with her!"

  "Even if we come up with a believable lie, there's no telling how she might respond. Her other disciple left for one reason or another and any time the matter is brought up her mood is always ruined. We can't take that risk. We should just continue using this opportunity to its full extent, learn everything we can from her. Saying that we've already learned enough is more than a little presumptuous on your part!"

  Shao Luli snorted.

  Liao Lan added, "And besides, it's not like she's been treating us poorly! Ever since the events at the Fairy Spring Valley, our relationship has been very cordial."

  "That incident showed just how little she thinks of you!"

  Liao Lan sputtered for a moment, but parried with little delay. "That has changed! I would not even shy away from referring to the two of us as friends!"

  "Nothing's changed! She still uses us only for her own amusement!" Shao Luli turned away. "But instead of making you fight to the death, she has you in charge of organizing her leisure like some petty servant!"

  "Enough of this! You're acting like such a brat!" Liao Lan exclaimed, color flushing to her cheeks. "You've always been like this about her, and it's a miracle she hasn't seen through your attitude yet. I think if you gave her a proper chance, you would find your animosity misplaced!"

  "It wouldn't even matter if that were true, master! Even if I looked as kindly upon her as you, I would still be telling you the same thing."

  "What are you trying to say?" Liao Lan asked, incredulous.

  "Everything that woman says, everything she does, the way she carries herself..." Shao Luli waved her fists in irritation. "There's just this provocative air about her! I can't stand it. You just want to take her down a notch the moment you see her. You know what I'm talking about, right, master? Of course you do, we both fell victim to it the moment we laid eyes upon her. I don't know if she does this on purpose, but no matter where she goes, trouble will always find her like flies will find honey. And she welcomes it! As long as we stay with her, we'll always be in danger!"

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  Liao Lan pursed her lips in annoyance, but a reply wasn't coming to her as quickly as she would have liked.

  "Be that as it may," She was forced to concede, "This risk carries a much bigger reward than anything we could hope to achieve on our own."

  "Master...!" Shao Luli's frustration was beginning to boil over. "You promised we would leave if I asked! Well, I'm asking you now!"

  Liao Lan shook her head. "That was before I realized just how vast the difference between her and I was. Her training made me understand - the gulf is just unimaginable. You're still young and inexperienced, so it might not be obvious to you how high the heavens truly are. To claim that we've 'learned enough' is just ludicrous. As long as we live, we might never get to say that."

  Her master's words had finally stumped Shao Luli into a seething silence. Though there was not a trace of contentment to be found on her, she could not muster another word.

  Tension lingered in the air. Liao Lan drew near, her expression softening. She gently hugged Shao Luli's arm.

  "Little Lu, stop worrying so much." Liao Lan cooed. "No matter what, you're my precious little disciple. I'd never let you come to harm."

  Shao Luli's face soured even more. But a moment later, she hissed out, "Fine."

  After giving the girl a little time to calm down, Liao Lan suggested, "Let's head back to town. We can rest."

  She pulled Shao Luli by the arm, and the girl relented. When they separated, they broke out into a swift dash, covering vast ground in no time at all. Soon they were upon a road that brought them to a bustling settlement.

  When they were about to return to their inn, they found the Witch's other companion coming up to the same destination from the other end of the street. The cinders of their earlier argument had cooled instantly so that the two women could present a united front of subtle disdain.

  At their walking pace, they would inevitably meet at the door. Liao Lan hastened her gait, her disciple following along. But Tao Geming noticed their intentions, scowled, and matched their speed.

  There wasn't enough space for all three of them to enter at once, and so they stopped by the doorway.

  "Where do you two cows think you're going?" Tao Geming barked. "Get lost. I need to talk with her."

  "We're staying at this place." Liao Lan coldly replied, covering her mouth with her black sleeve. "Master and I have plans for the evening. Why don't you come back tomorrow?"

  Tao Geming paused, his eyes flashing with something resembling astonishment. His face slowly contorted into a strained grin. "Just where do you find the gall to speak to your king this way when your precious master isn't around to keep your safe?"

  Liao Lan's eyebrows shot up in mock surprise. "Your highness doesn't dare acknowledge me at all whenever she's present. This is a rare opportunity for us to speak candidly, wouldn't you say? Why hold anything back?"

  A polite glare met a furious one. Tao Geming's fingers flexed in irritation. But suddenly, with a smug snort, he relented.

  "Fine, then. Forget it." He declared. "When you're done making merry, tell her that I have news of Guo Xiu."

  "Guo Xiu?" Behind her master, Shao Luli asked. "That famous merchant and actor who plays the Gallant Glaive? Why would grandmaster wish to know about him?"

  "Because he's a martial artist, you fool. One of the best in the world. Far better than your master here."

  "Really?" Though it was Shao Luli that voiced the questions, Liao Lan shared her disciple's confusion. "I thought that was just part of his plays..."

  Tao Geming scoffed. "He helps fuel those rumors himself, eccentric idiot that he is. But he's one of the richest men in the world. No trade deal past a certain value that isn't backed by a major sect can be conducted without his say so. You think he got that kind of wealth and influence with theater alone?"

  He then dismissively waved his hand. "Anyway, you'll tell her, right? Your boondoggling comes first."

  Behind her sleeve, Liao Lan's lips curled into a frown. Her master sought out duels against the world's strongest with extreme fervor. It could be said that Liao Lan was drafted into the role of her disciple specifically for that purpose, to lead her to the domain of her old sect master. While at one point the golden haired woman seemed susceptible to the many distractions that Liao Lan could offer, that weakness of character ceased to exist shortly after their expedition to Fairy Spring Valley.

  But even that left them with some room for leisure, because Tao Geming would occasionally find himself stumped on the trail of another expert. But even during those times, he would often find time to complain to them about one thing or another, and Liao Lan had thought this to be another one of those times.

  Naturally, being responsible for the delay for one of those "tests of skill", as the Golden Witch referred to them, would be an unpardonable offense.

  "His highness should have just begun with that..." Liao Lan lowered her head and stepped back, clearing the doorway. "This disciple wouldn't dare get in the way of her master's goals."

  Much to her chagrin, Tao Geming stood stock still as if he had the matter under heavy consideration. It left her apology hanging in the air, giving Liao Lan ample time to stew in the shame of her concession.

  Finally, Tao Geming deigned to slowly pass her by.

  "And don't you dare try to play these games with me again." He spat on his way in. "Remember your place."

  Liao Lan stared daggers into his back. When the man disappeared upstairs, she followed after him to her master's room.