The mountain path led to a graveyard with elaborate inscriptions and jade statues on display. Despite the chill in the air, the grass was green, vibrant, and spongy beneath Jie's feet.

  She followed those ahead of her to a beautiful tablet inscribed with Pan Tian's name in exquisite calligraphy with an empty grave before it and a mound of dirt and rocks to one side.

  People of all kinds from satyrs to rockmen, humans, and arak talked around her and mingled.

  She didn't know them and had no desire to talk to them... so she shuffled to one side and waited... feeling incredibly out of place.

  Jie had hoped that Ithilix might be here, but she saw no sign of her. She wondered if she'd even been invited... maybe she should've taken her as a guest? She hadn't been thinking though... and perhaps it would be safer for Ithilix to remain in the academy...

  Xue brushed against Jie's legs and she absently stroked his fur. Glad to have something to do that didn't include fidgeting or pacing. This was the last place in the world she wanted to be. Surrounded by strangers as they buried her dead friend. With strange customs and the overwhelming feeling that she was doing something wrong just by standing where she was.

  More than a few of the guests gave her dirty looks. Maybe because of Xue... Elder Shi had said that magical beasts weren't normally acceptable at funerals... but it'd sounded like enough of a gray area that Jie had thought it worth the risk.

  Pan Tian was Xue's friend too, after all.

  She looked around again for Ithilix but saw no sign of her... she saw no sign of anyone from the Hive. She frowned.

  They must not have invited her... she would be here otherwise... Jie thought.

  Though... she still didn't see any sign of Pan Zhanshi, so she wasn't sure...

  Normally, when she didn't know what to do and she needed to wait for something... she would just cultivate. But Elder Shi had repeated that she shouldn't do so here more times than Jie could count. Jie had found it a bit insulting.

  I'm not that socially inept... am I? She thought.

  Thankfully, Xue helped to distract and calm her. For which she was grateful.

  Robed monks performed an elaborate ritual involving incense and candles over the grave while members of the Pan family Jie didn't recognize played a beautiful, sad melody on pan flutes and lyres. They were all doing something with their qi and spiritual energy... but Jie wasn't sure what. She'd been too focused on learning what she should do to spare the time to learn what anyone else's roles were.

  It's beautiful here...

  The thought seemed strange to Jie, but it was true.

  With ponds, flowers, and elegant trees upon the mountain. Not to mention all the elaborate decorations and inscriptions. She'd thought a graveyard would be... creepier somehow. But it felt peaceful... calm...

  Jie looked upward.

  It was a bright, clear day. That seemed... wrong.

  She felt like there should be dark, black clouds and driving rain. Somehow, the fact it was so bright upset her more than if it'd been miserable. Someone amazing was gone... and it was like the world didn't even notice or care.

  Xue pressed his head into her hand and she scratched him behind his ears.

  You're right, Xue. We care... even if the world doesn't, Jie thought.

  The music shifted to heartwrenching tones of farewell and loss as people walked toward the grave, bearing a polished coffin. Pan Zhanshi was one of the bearers. His face looked blank. His eyes empty and his sarcastic smile gone.

  He looked thinner too. Even though it hadn't been long.

  Jie wanted a chance to talk to him, but even she knew this wasn't the time. No matter how inept Elder Shi might think she was...

  The ceremony proceeded. People made speeches. Pan Zhanshi stood on the opposite side of Pan Tian's grave as Jie did. Once again, she felt like he was avoiding her. She didn't blame him... but it still hurt.

  People spoke of Pan Tian. Things they'd done with her. Things they loved about her. Things she did that drove them nuts. Jie felt glad to hear about her friend.

  Though she felt guilty she didn't already know all their stories... or who these people were. She felt like she'd been a bad friend to Pan Tian by not knowing... and yet also angry at herself for not somehow training even more than she had to keep her safe.

  The ceremony went on for a while before it wound down and people started to break apart and move their own way.

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  Pan Zhanshi walked off and Jie tried to intercept him... it was stupid... he surely hated her, but she still wanted a chance to just... apologize... to say... something.

  But, instead, Pan Keai cut her off. "I'm glad to see you came," said the older woman.

  Jie wanted to brush her off as she often would. Or to simply ignore her as she often did with people... but the thought made her feel oddly guilty right now.

  "She was my friend," Jie said.

  She thought that would be all that was needed, but Pan Keai showed no sign of leaving. Pan Zhanshi slipped away, blocked out of sight by the crowd as he moved further and further away from Jie and her ability to sense him with her spirit sense.

  "There's someone who wants to speak with you. You are, after all, an esteemed guest, and our family knows what you did. It's a debt we will not forget," Pan Keai said.

  Pan Keai started walking in the opposite direction to the one Pan Zhanshi was heading in and Jie hesitated. She wanted to rush over to Pan Zhanshi even though she had no idea what to say... but she knew it would be rude and likely cause a scene... normally she didn't care. But here...

  She suppressed a sigh and followed Pan Keai, feeling more than a little resentful as Pan Zhanshi slipped out of range of her ability to sense him.

  Strangely, Pan Keai led Jie away from everyone else and into a forested section of the graveyard. The air felt otherworldly, and sounds seemed muffled... all noise quickly fading away except for Pan Keai and Jie's movements. Even Jie's spirit sense felt strangely suppressed here.

  Oh, great. Now they're going to try and kill me, Jie thought.

  Pan Keai led Jie to a small clearing around a stream. A broad-shouldered satyr man stood with regal posture, facing them as they entered.

  He held a resplendent white lotus in his hand with a black trim along the edges. It seemed to draw in Essence and... something else that she couldn't quite discern.

  She'd seen him at the funeral and heard his speech. He was Pan Tian's dad... at least... she was fairly sure that he was. His speech had been formal and distant, leaving her somewhat uncertain.

  She hadn't noticed him leave the funeral, and yet he seemed like he'd been waiting patiently like this for an eternity.

  "Thank you, Pan Keai," he said without taking his olive green eyes off Jie, "you may leave us. Ensure that my time with our esteemed guest is not interrupted."

  Pan Keai bowed. "Of course, my lord," she said. She turned on her heel and walked away with a swift, purposeful stride.

  "Our family is most pleased that your noble personage could grace us with your presence on this day. Please allow me to express my most sincere gratitude for all that you've done," he intoned with polite formality, "for avenging my daughter and for gifting us her share of treasure from the Crimson Valley.

  "I've been informed that you included the crimson shard armor plans in her share. Our craftsmen will no doubt make fine use of them, and they shall benefit us for many years to come. May the Pan family and the honorable Liu family..."

  He paused and craned his neck, looking in the direction Pan Keai had gone.

  Then, he seemed to deflate as he sat heavily on a smooth stone by the stream with a deep sigh. "Good. Finally, everyone's out of earshot," he said. His voice suddenly sounded incredibly tired and lacked the stiff formality it'd carried earlier.

  Jie blinked, unsure how to respond. She'd been half-expecting them to try and murder her here. This... wasn't in Elder Shi's notes.

  He looked at her and a wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "You look surprised and confused," he said, "She said you didn't know our ways... that you're from somewhere far away?"

  "I am," Jie said, "how do you know this? Pan Tian told me you weren't close. That you couldn't show any favoritism as family head and that you hardly ever even spoke. You are her father, right?" Jie asked.

  "I am," he said, "though, not the one I wish I could've been... and no... I can't show favoritism. But she and I were closer than she led you to believe. Don't think ill of her for doing so... she and I spoke often with memory stones and letters.

  "But, between family politics and the dangers that could befall my children if anyone knew how much I value them... well... it's best to keep such things hidden. Since the day you two met, she's spoken of you often. That's how I know I don't have to put on an act with you. I also saw what you did at the tournament... and I know you did everything in your power to save my little girl... and then to avenge her."

  "So, you trust me? Just like that?" Jie asked. She still felt confused. It didn't help that he sounded like he was working toward asking her for something. She didn't know him. Didn't trust him. No matter what he might say.

  But, if he noticed her hesitance, he didn't seem to care.

  He nodded. "Pan Tian was always a good judge of character," he said, "She would've made a fine family head. Especially with her brother to help her... I expect you're wondering why I'm telling you all this?"

  Jie nodded.

  "Who else would I speak to, Jie of the Liu family?" he said, "I'm the family head. And I'm expected to be that always. With not a moment to rest. Not even to grieve the loss of my child.

  "Politics, gossip, rumors, spies, territory, and war... the great game never ends. Who could I speak to when even those within my own family jockey for position and power? Half of them would stab me in the back this very moment if they thought they could gain something from it.

  "But you? You're a piece on the board that operates by your own rules. And, though this is the first time we've truly met... I know I can trust you more than almost anyone."

  "But they're your family," Jie said.

  He scoffed. "That you say that... you must be from somewhere truly far away..." he said, "No, Jie. I cannot show the slightest weakness to anyone. Perhaps Pan Zhanshi... but he does not need to be burdened so.

  "My daughter trusted you... and I do too. So, if you would indulge this old man... stay here a while and tell me of my daughter. Would you gift me this chance to grieve while others believe me to be sucking up to you?"

  "I... why do they think you're sucking up to me?" Jie asked.

  He chuckled softly and the skin around his eyes crinkled with the fine lines of genuine, warm amusement.

  "You're the youngest to break through into the middle dantian that any of us have ever met. You defeated an elder of the Crimson Academy and slew the brightest of the Chen family. All of whom were older than you, I might add," he said, "And, who's to say what the strength of your noble family is?

  "You're a legendary figure. Parents tell their children about you to encourage them to cultivate. Wild tales abound about you, and I'm sure this is only the beginning. The only reason I even have this small moment to speak with you is because others believe I'm using this moment to forge closer ties with you," he said.

  "I hadn't really thought about it like that," Jie said, "I... I don't know how to comfort anyone... but I suppose I can try... what would you like me to tell you about her?"

  "Start at the beginning," he said, "I heard you two had a bit of a rocky start?"

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