Many similar feelings passed through her mind as she played, wearing away at her resistance toward the Icy Heart Pavilion with music. Today, they would be going on a diplomatic mission in enemy territory.
No, not an enemy territory, Hong Xin thought. You’re doing it again. She played more furiously, working through her emotions with every note she hit true. She spent a quarter hour easing her raw nerves. A knock on the door came just as she finished.
“Come in,” Hong Xin said, flicking a rune beside the door with her resplendent force. The rune turned from green to red, red meaning the room was available. The door opened, allowing Bai Ling to enter.
“Are you ready?” Bai Ling asked. “Our appointment is in a quarter hour.”
“And since when has anyone in Gold Leaf City ever been punctual?” Hong Xin asked as she put away her flute. She cleaned it by first extracting the moisture, then heating the entire instrument to evaporate any remainder. There was no wood on the instrument, so the lack of humidity wouldn’t hurt it. Corrosion was the main concern.
“In casual or friendly circles, within a quarter hour of the appointed time is fine,” Bai Ling said. “But in business circles, within five is preferable. Showing up earlier shows deference. Showing up later signals superiority.”
“Then we’ll show up precisely on time,” Hong Xin said. She summoned a mirror and briefly adjusted the gold jewelry on her hair. “Let’s go.”
Bai Ling nodded and led her out of the chamber and down the hallway to where Ji Bingxue and Mistress Huang were waiting. They fell in line behind the two as a few dozen core-formation guards formed ranks around them. The guards, while excessive, were necessary to show off their status. It was also indicative of their group’s capabilities.
The procession walked out of the Red Dust Pavilion and headed toward the east exit of Gold Leaf Square. Mortals and cultivators alike gawked at them. Though it was only early afternoon, many parents and grandparents accompanied children, while other people were busy running around for some reason or another, like bees out gathering pollen for the central hive. They traveled for twelve minutes, so by the time the Icy Heart Pavilion was in their sights, only two minutes remained before the appointed time. Bai Ling sped up their pace slightly. They arrived at exactly three o’clock in the afternoon.
Concurrent with their procession’s arrival, members of the Icy Heart Pavilion filed out to welcome them. Like them, they’d decided not to wait outside but come out at precisely the same time.
At least we’re thinking the same way, Hong Xin thought. Whether it was out of respect for their feelings or arrogance was yet to be seen. The Icy Heart Pavilion was inferior to the Red Dust Pavilion in both membership and finance.
The last member to exit the building was a peak-core-formation cultivator, just like they were. She bowed lightly and gestured toward the open door. “Right this way, Red Dust Mistress,” the woman said. “I am one of the three vice heads of the Icy Heart Pavilion, Vice Head Li. You may call me Ling Fei if you wish.”
Hong Xin nodded and followed along. “Many thanks for welcoming us to your pavilion, Vice Head Li. We would have to come to see you earlier, but you’d just established yourselves and were expanding at a frightening pace. We were afraid we’d get trampled if we visited earlier.”
“Many thanks for your kind words,” Ling Fei said. “Though it might seem like we were expanding, we were only securing contracts with existing or past clients. Things are much less busy now that we’ve stabilized our core relationships.”
They walked down a long hallway filled with paintings. While the Red Dust Pavilion featured art filled with life and energy, the Icy Heart Pavilion’s paintings featured simplicity and frigid snow. They walked halfway down the corridor before stopping before a black door where a guard stood. “Song Dai, did you have the cooks prepare a meal and wine for the Red Dust Pavilion’s honor guard as instructed?”
The guard put his clenched fist to his heart and bowed lightly. “Of course, Vice Head. Everything is ready. I see they’ve brought a twelve-member guard. Our twelve highest-ranking guards will accompany them shortly.”
Hong Xin looked to the head of their own honor guard, a middle-aged middle-core-formation cultivator called Lu Dongjian, who nodded.
“We’ll be glad to accept food, but wine might be too strong a drink for us to share so early in the day,” Lu Dongjian said.
“I was thinking the same,” Song Dai said, ushering him and the other guards into a room filled with tables. “Which is why the wine we prepared isn’t the slightest bit intoxicating. We only drink for flavor—after all, we’re on duty.”
“Then who am I to reject?” Lu Dongjian said. The rest of the guards walked in, and the door closed behind them. There would be no need to bother them, assuming everything went well. If there was a problem, however, he and Hong Xin had already exchanged imprints on their core-transmission jades.
Their procession continued. At the end of the hallway stood a large door made of carved wood. Upon reaching it, Ling Fei walked ahead and grasped a small bronze-colored door knocker. She used it to deliver three soft knocks to the other side. Shortly after, the doors opened, revealing three additional women, matching them member for member.
Unlike the Red Dust Pavilion, the mistresses of the Icy Heart Pavilion wore white and blue. They didn’t smile like Hong Xin and her entourage did, preferring to keep a relaxed yet soothing expression. It was impossible to tell their true emotions at a glance, as they were covered in an icy veil that was difficult to penetrate.
That, Hong Xin thought, or their emotions are completely nonexistent. In her experience, lack of empathy and shallow feelings came hand in hand with their cultivation method. It wouldn’t surprise her if it had been months since any of the four women laughed.
But who is their leader? she wondered as she looked over the four. They were all dressed identically in white-and-blue robes decorated with silver runes. They each wore the same silver jewelry, including a foot-long silver bracelet they wore on their right wrists. Their makeup was pale, and their hairstyles identical. Each of them wore a blue hairpin not unlike the ones Hong Xin and the others wore. Perhaps this was some sort of test?
Hong Xin discarded personal appearance, as it clearly wasn’t useful in this situation. It seemed the Icy Heart Pavilion valued appearance much less than they did. So, she looked over each of their expressions. She ignored Ling Fei, for while deceiving Hong Xin might be a biting move, abasing herself and calling herself vice head while also welcoming them personally would be too degrading. Therefore, one of the remaining three would have to be in charge.
The one on the left, while seeming calm as a glacier, had a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. Hong Xin looked over to the next in line, the one in the middle—her eyes seemed lifeless as a puppet’s. So she rested her eyes on the woman on the right. Her eyes were bright blue, and when she investigated further, Hong Xin felt a chill run through her body. It was like she’d been plunged into an icy lake. The courage she’d mustered instantly vanished, leaving her heart open to the invasion of countless doubts.
Seeing she’d just been affected by a powerful dousing force, Hong Xin activated her kindling cultivation and melted the frigid anxiety that permeated her. She countered with the sweltering heat of a day in the desert. It invaded her opponent’s mind and body, but to Hong Xin’s surprise, the woman showed no outward signs of feeling anything. She simply wore the same impassive expression despite the sweat forming on her forehead. Heated emotions of anger, love, and caring burned inside the woman unnoticed.
“You may call me Headmistress Hong,” Hong Xin said to the woman. “Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”
“You may call me Headmistress Lan,” Headmistress Lan said with the same flat expression. “I told you she wouldn’t fooled or affected, Ling Fei. You should stop wasting our time with such foolish games.” The headmistress walked away from the two others, and the illusion that had been covering her dis
appeared. Her clothes were just as ornate as Hong Xin’s. She wore much more silver-colored jewelry on her hair than the others, and the silver embroidery on her robes was more intricate. “Introduce yourselves.”
“I am Vice Head Xi,” the woman with the uncertain expression said.
“I am Vice Head Dong,” the puppetlike woman said in a deadpan voice.
“You may call me Bai Ling,” Bai Ling said. Ji Bingxue and Mistress Huang introduced themselves as well. Unlike the Icy Heart Pavilion, the Red Dust Pavilion didn’t care much for authority titles. Instead, the pecking order was well known, with these three women occupying top positions in Hong Xin’s confidence.
Their introductions complete, Headmistress Lan led them to a long tea table where two young girls began serving tea. It was a flower tea made from cherry blossom buds. Though it contained no stimulating agents, it tasted like the freshness of spring.
Are they servants or trainees? Hong Xin wondered as she savored the tea. Their movements were precise, and their expressions, though unpracticed, were just as emotionless as the four other women.
“They’re talented, yes?” Headmistress Lan said, catching Hong Xin’s glance. “We found these two three years ago. They’ve gotten the very best training and will soon graduate in the first new batch of full members at the Icy Heart Pavilion.”
“I see,” Hong Xin said. She took a sip of her tea. “Then you’re serious about continuing the Icy Heart tradition in Gold Leaf City.” Though she tried her best, it was difficult to hide her displeasure at the notion.
“Of course,” Headmistress Lan said, raising an eyebrow. “From what I gather, you’re also promoting the same training, along with your new kindling training regimen.”
“Hand in hand,” Hong Xin said. “And well controlled. Our students don’t have to give up their feelings in exchange for power.”
“Give up?” Headmistress Lan asked flatly. “I see. So you view getting rid of a weakness as giving it up. Interesting.”
“I view washing the color out of a woman’s life as heavy-handed, yes,” Hong Xin said. “Everyone has hopes and dreams. Would you have your students squash them?”
“Dreams are worthless, and ambition transcends emotion,” Headmistress Lan said. “All of our members agree. If they don’t, they’re free to leave. I won’t waste my time on students that have such childish notions on cultivation.”
“Childish?” Hong Xin said, her temper rising. She noticed, then calmed herself when she realized she’d spoken a little too loudly. “Excuse my outburst, but I hardly call hopes and dreams childish. The highest achieving cultivators have both of these things.”
“My experience has been vastly different,” Headmistress Lan said. “And don’t worry about your outburst. It’s what we expect from the new Red Dust Pavilion, and we aren’t so thin-skinned as to take offense.”
Hong Xin moved to retort, but Bai Ling cut her off. “I think this conversation might be counterproductive. We’ve come here to get to know each other better and form a basis for cooperation, isn’t that right?”
“Agreed,” Ling Fei said, joining Bai Ling in defusing the situation. “While our core philosophies might be different, they are also complementary. After all, most cultivators have these hopes and dreams, and the most efficient way to encourage them is to stoke those same emotions.
“But without tempering these with calmness, they will sprout heart demons that hinder their advancement,” Bai Ling said. “Professionals and businesspeople are also better off with calmness as a base. Everything is connected.”
“Everything is connected,” Ling Fei echoed.
The two women quieted down and waited while Hong Xin and Headmistress Lan simmered on this. They enjoyed their tea along with small snacks that the two ladies served. They weren’t overly sweet, but neither were they bland. Nor were they too spongy or too dense. These moon cakes were perfectly balanced creations, much like the relationship they sought.
Though Hong Xin wanted nothing more than to tell them of her grand plans for unification, she held her tongue. Much like a newly lit fire couldn’t be used to cook delicious food, relationships needed much nurturing before making significant headway.
“If our discussion thus far has indicated anything,” Hong Xin said. “It is the need for further understanding. Perhaps later, we could supervise each other’s training. I would be very interested in seeing how the Icy Heart Pavilion raises new members. Seeing these two young ladies serve us tea so calmly, I can’t help but think that your training program has diverged from the older, crueler way.”
“Likewise,” Headmistress Lan said. “I’ve heard that your new members aren’t any slower. This whole business of fostering hopes and dreams might seem like nonsense to me, but yin and yang are complementary parts, after all. Maybe seeing one extreme will help us find parallels or flaws in our own methods.”
“How about next week?” Hong Xin asked.
Headmistress Lan paused for a moment, then nodded. “Let’s make it an all-day affair. We’ll first visit the Red Dust Pavilion during the morning when the sun is rising, then you can visit our Icy Heart Pavilion when the sun is setting.”
Both these times coincided with the optimal training times for their disciples.
“Then it’s settled,” Hong Xin said. Though she had her doubts about the other party’s methods, it was important to do as Bai Ling said and keep an open mind. This would not only serve the Red Dust Pavilion better, it would also put her own mind at ease. The deep scars she bore had been left alone for a long time. Only by confronting past experiences could they be healed.
The sun had already set by the time they returned. Though they disagreed heavily on philosophy, the Icy Heart Pavilion and Red Dust Pavilion shared many commonalities, both in cultivation methods and their reverence for the arts. Their tea had eventually turned into an exchange of talents, a light spar, which led straight into dinner. Their guards hadn’t minded, as they’d been properly entertained by the Icy Heart mistresses and the other guards as they’d waited. On the whole, it had been a splendid afternoon.
Hong Xin sighed in relief as she entered her bedchambers but yelped when she saw Wang Jun lying on the lone couch. Fortunately, he didn’t seem to notice her reaction and simply lay there, staring at the ceiling.
Since she was back in her private chambers, Hong Xin moved to her vanity mirror and dabbed a white cloth in a pungent-smelling solution. She wiped her face, removing spent runic ink and powders. Within seconds, her appearance was back to normal. She removed a few excess hair ornaments and walked over to the sofa. To her surprise, Wang Jun wasn’t staring at the ceiling—he was sleeping.
Sighing, Hong Xin sat beside him and dug into his shoulders with her hands, releasing some of the tension that had built up in his body. His eyes slowly opened, and he smiled when he saw her.
“Silly man, falling asleep while you wait,” Hong Xin said. “What if it wasn’t me but an enemy that found you?”
“Impossible,” Wang Jun said. “Anyone else wouldn’t have seen me lying here. Only someone close, like you or my master, would be able to find me.”
Hong Xin raised an eyebrow at that. He was good at hiding, but when had he become that good?
Wang Jun sat up, and she took another look at him. Though he was still smiling, she could see exhaustion clinging to his face like dampness on a wet shirt.
“What happened?” Hong Xin asked. It wasn’t like him to be so tired. Cultivators didn’t need sleep. What’s more, it had only been two weeks since they’d last seen each other.
“Nothing major,” Wang Jun said. “I’ve been… learning from my master. His teachings are difficult to understand sometimes. They’re especially taxing.”
She noticed the telltale signs of a lie when he spoke. The slight trembling of his throat, a slight aversion of his eyes. At the same time, she saw the telltale signs of truth. A lack of hesitation and a straightforwardness that was difficult to ignore. It wasn’t a lie, but
neither was it the complete truth.
“You know that you can tell me anything, don’t you?” Hong Xin asked. “I won’t share what you say with anyone. Not a soul.”
Wang Jun nodded. “I know. How did your meeting go?”
“I don’t remember having told you about it,” Hong Xin said.
“You remember correctly, but I know many things,” Wang Jung said. Though he was weary, she saw pleading in his eyes. He didn’t want to focus on his own worries, so he’d shifted to hers.
“It went all right,” Hong Xin said. “It was a good start.”
“But?” Wang Jun asked.
She took in a deep breath before continuing and let it all out. Wang Jun was usually the reasonable type, and he could probably see her through this logically. “We just have so many differences,” Hong Xin said. “They’re cautious, and with good reason. They know I have the Frozen Heart Oath Stone, so they’re being extra careful. But none of them have done anything overtly wrong, as far as I can tell, so it’s not like I’d try to enslave them like I did Mistress Shan and the others.”
“I see,” Wang Jun said, nodding his head and looking down at his fingers as he pressed them together. “It sounds like you need a good excuse to do what needs to be done.”
“Wait, what?” Hong Xin asked, concerned by the sudden turn in the conversation.
“You know what you want to do—you want to control them with the Frozen Heart Oath Stone in case they cause trouble, just like you did the other mistresses,” Wang Jun continued. “But you would feel guilty if you did so without them deserving such a fate. I can empathize—I’d feel guilty too.”
“It’s the other way around, Wang Jun,” Hong Xin said, a hint of worry in her voice. “I have the Oath Stone, and I won’t use it unless I have to.”
“A convenient play on words,” Wang Jun said. “One I’m used to. Still, they both mean the same. You haven’t considered using the Oath Stone because you don’t have a reason, right?”
“I suppose,” Hong Xin said, her frown relaxing.
Shattered Lands: Book 8 of Painting the Mists Page 11