Clouded Soul Chapter 1-3

It was brought to my attention I forgot to make the file public. My mistake.

Here’s to the beginning of a new saga. Let’s all hope that this is the one.

——

"Some men are born to crawl along the path to godhood. Others, to boldly run. The very best are born to gallop. All men are not created equal, but a universal truth unites them no matter their speed. All can be tripped." - Wa Fan, The Path of the Unparalleled Judge

Fangzhi Jun knew better than to perform his martial arts training on the beaches of Glimmering Bay, but he did it anyway. The springtime sea breeze carried the scent of salt heavy on the air as the six-year-old boy thrust his fist forward and followed up with a rising high kick. In the distance, the titanic glass pillars surrounding the island of Little Haven could be seen glistening and reflecting the light of the afternoon sun.

The pillars stood off the coastline for as long as Jun can remember, and local legend claimed they'd been there for hundreds of years before he was born. They encircled the entire isle, making any voyage in or out hazardous to all but the most experienced seafarer. Sharp pieces of glass eroded by the harsh passage of time eventually washed up on the beach constantly, giving the bay another ironic layer to its overly literal name.

As Jun worked through the routines his tutor had taught him, he had to be careful he didn't step on any of the shards with his bare feet. They were hidden all over the sand, but to Jun, this was just another element of his training. His spirits were high, and the boy wore a smile on his face.

With every movement, Jun watched his positioning while evading imaginary enemies. A sudden dodge to the left followed by a retaliatory throat chop, a feint to the right, and a blow to the enemy's solar plexus- Jun had memorized many combinations with great zeal in the three months since his father first hired his martial arts tutor.

The quicker he mastered these basic moves and established strong, unyielding control over his physical body, the quicker Jun could start upon the true path of Heavenly Soul Refinement.

The boy was talented… but not enough to avoid slamming the bottom of his foot down on a big, jagged glass slab. He sucked in air through his teeth as searing pain overtook his senses. Jun stopped his foot before it dug in too deep, but he scraped the back of his heel on a smaller shard while retreating.

It was difficult and painful, but Jun knew that the key to solid improvement was taking risks and pushing forward. He believed avoiding the glass on the beach would sharpen his instincts and spatial awareness. While there was some merit to that, most of what Jun was actually accomplishing at this basic stage of Soul Refinement was cutting up his feet like a foolish child.

The sudden pain did give Jun an excuse to work on his pain mitigation and breathing technique, though, which would be helpful as soon as he moved on to chi training and developing his Core. Good a reason as any to continue, he thought.

Jun paused long enough to clean his cuts and bandage himself up, but he was straight back to work after that, and he trained for two hours until his white robes were drenched with sweat, and his feet looked like a particularly irritable cat had declared them their mortal nemesis. His sister wouldn't be happy about this, but in Jun's defense, his crazy training idea worked to an extent. He certainly stepped on less glass the more he practiced, at any rate.

It was time to head home for now. Jun was getting hungry, and he couldn't avoid his studies forever. He left the beach after slipping on his shoes and wandered onto the streets of Glimmering Bay.

The bay was the biggest and most prosperous city in all of Little Haven, as the gaps in the pillars off the shore were wide enough to warrant a port, but that didn't mean much to a child who'd lived there his entire life. Big or small, Glimmering Bay was all he knew, and Jun liked it well enough. Ships came sailing in from across the other Southern Isles and even the Threefold Kingdom at all hours of the day, guided by the towering lighthouse overlooking the shore from a nearby peak.

Jun liked to walk the streets of his hometown, even if he had to sneak out to do it. Most of the townspeople were friendly enough, and those who recognized the young lad often gave him a courteous greeting as he passed them by.

"Training at the beach again?" An older woman asked as she leaned across her produce stall, her expression that of bemusement. "Huifang's gonna love this."

"She won't stay mad at me forever, honored elder." Jun politely bowed and then continued on his way.

A smiling man waved at him a minute later. This fellow was bald, wore orange robes tied with a red sash across his waist, and Jun recognized him as a client of his father's shop. A Soul Refiner by the name of Gong Shi.

"Hey, hey, little brother! Be a good boy and pass along my thanks to Ping. That Seven Steeped Lotus Bud he sold me a few weeks ago? Cleared up my bottleneck like nobody's business. Might even reach Clouded Adept any day now, heavens permit!"

"I'll let Father know, and I wish you good luck!" Jun smiled, finding humor in knowing that Shi had been going on about his imminent advancement to Adept for two years. It had to happen one of these days, right? Anyone could advance, provided they work hard enough... in theory, anyway.

Money helped, too. Often more than hard work and effort, and Jun's father catered to those who had it.

Another group of Soul Refiners flagged Jun down and asked him about his training. More of his father's customers were eager to get in a good word by treating the wealthy merchant's son respectfully. Their sleeveless umber robes, long, braided hair, and the spears fastened to their backs indicated they were outer disciples of the Sect of the Unceasing Spear. They, too, were fresh from their own practice and enjoying a round at one of Glimmering Bay's many elegant teashops.

Jun was a curious child and all too eager to soak up the knowledge of his betters, but there wasn't much to gain here. Each disciple had conflicting advice, proving what Jun had already heard his father tell customers a thousand times over. Every man's path toward Heavenly Soul Refinement is their own, and you had to find what worked best for you. Even if none of the tips and tricks they shared with the boy seemed particularly helpful, Jun was thankful for their time before continuing on his way.

His route had him passing by a curious sight that seemed at odds with the rest of Glimmering Bay, a walled-off compound belonging to the Sasei clan. Billowing, dark green banners depicting a yellow serpent on the verge of striking were placed along the wall's length, leading to two larger ones hanging from both sides of the front gate.

Two lithe, intimidating men in green robes glared at Jun as he passed them. They said nothing, and neither did Jun.

His eyes were briefly drawn to the black pagoda that loomed past the gate, but he knew better than to stare for too long. Jun didn't want to give those scary men a reason to call out to him if he could help it. It's just that the structure was so impressive, and the child's imagination went wild imagining what else lay hidden behind that big gate. Their compound was big. Big enough for an entire sect to live back there, Jun figured.

Maybe one did?

Jun was okay with not knowing if it meant keeping his head. Not all Soul Refiners were as friendly as the ones he knew from his father's shop, and Jun was careful to avoid ever stepping on anyone's toes. Only bad things came of irritating those above you, as another man's honor was a flimsy shield to hide yourself behind. Jun didn't fully understand the weight of those words, but he trusted his father who'd said them, so he kept his head low around anyone who gave him a bad feeling.

It wouldn't be long until he reached his home in the bay's upper class district, but Jun couldn't do so without a quick visit to the closest shrine. As the only confirmed person from Little Haven to have ever broken through both the Mortal and Immortal Realms of Soul Refinement and reached divinity, Wo Manlai was the most widely worshiped deity of his homeland. Jun clasped his palms together and bowed at a statue of the monkey-eared, wide-smiling man. He thanked the clever god and prayed for his continued guidance.

The moment his prayer was over, Jun noticed a sinister presence lurking over his shoulder. A lump caught in his throat at the poor timing, and Jun dreaded turning around. He knew he'd be caught when one of the servants ratted him out, but to think she'd catch him in the act.

"Big Sister," Jun said, still gazing ahead at the visage of Wo Manlai as he suddenly prayed for a different sort of guidance.

"Little Brother," an irritated voice replied with a drawn-out sigh. "Are you going to bother with an excuse this time, or-"

"No, I can't say I see the point in that..."

"Smart. What would've been even smarter is if you'd stayed home and done your lessons like you were supposed to, though. Gods, Jun. It feels like I'll reach Clouded Master before you agree to sit in front of an opened book."

Jun finally turned around after putting on his poutiest smile, hoping it would mitigate the damage. It didn't. His sister, eighteen-year-old Fangzhi Huifang, was as beautiful as she was disappointed in him. She wore the finest purple silks their father could buy, had long black hair tied in two buns, and her pale grey eyes looked at Jun expectantly as she folded her arms over her chest.

"Books won't help me get stronger!" Jun said as if this would be the time it would finally convince her.

"Your brain is a muscle, too. One that you've neglected to train even once this week, the poor thing... I can't imagine how shriveled up it must be by now."

"My brain isn't shriveled up..." the child grumbled. "Why are you heading home so early, anyway? Shouldn't you still be busy with your lessons?"

"Master Huan had urgent business crop up while he was teaching us the ins and outs of negotiation, giving me the rest of the day off. I thought I might come home early and make my beloved little brother some of his favorite pork dumplings to reward him for taking his studies seriously, yet..."

"W-Wait, big sister! Let's not be so hasty!" Jun's mouth was already watering. None of the family servants made dumplings as good as his sister did, and it was a rare treat for Huifang to have the time to make any these days. "I can still finish my studies before nightfall!"

Huifang smiled cruelly. "Do you really deserve any dumplings at this point, though? Tell me, Jun. Where did you sneak off to do your training, hm?"

"...The empty lot behind the Verdant Pastures Alehouse. It's nice and quiet back there at this time of day, and there's plenty of room to work on my moves without anyone getting in the way." Jun began sweating, though Huifang had to admit his bluff sounded marginally convincing. Must've gotten that from his father, same as herself.

"Hm, I see. I don't suppose you'd mind taking your shoes off and showing me the bottom of your feet, then?"

Jun shrugged. It was worth a shot. "Fine, you got me. I was at the beach."

"You fool," Huifang mumbled under her breath as she shook her head. "Explain to me again how cutting up your feet will make you a more powerful Soul Refiner?"

"You can't advance if you don't push yourself to your limits!" Jun pumped his fists. He was truthfully years and years away from advancing past the level of Clouded Initiate, but it was in the nature of children to get ahead of themselves. "Every wrong move of mine sharpened my senses, every little mistake taught me to watch my step, and every-" his sister flicked him in the middle of his forehead hard enough to sting. "Gah! What was that for, Huifang?"

"Just seeing these sharpened senses of yours for myself," Huifang grinned. "Looks like you didn't step on enough glass."

Jun tried to say something clever in response, but it didn't go very well.

Seeing the frazzled look on her little brother's face softened Huifang, who then let out a sigh and pulled the boy into a hug. "Tell you what, Jun. If you can finish your lessons before dark, I'll make you those dumplings-" Jun's eyes became starry, but Huifang wasn't done. "But first, we're stopping by the shop so I can clean up those wounds, and while we're there, you're going to tell Father what you did. Is that understood?"

Reinvigorated by the promise of dumplings and the laughable notion that their father would admonish Jun in any way, shape, or form, the boy hugged his older sister tightly and smiled. "Yes, Huifang."

Huifang knew full well that their father would go easy on Jun, which was partly why she was always so stern with him. Someone had to be. But Huifang couldn't control her little brother no matter how much she tried. That was ultimately fine. Boys would be boys and all that. The important part was that she made an effort.

"Good. Now come along, you little cretin..." Huifang extended her hand to Jun in defeat, and together, they set out for their father's shop.

***

Spiritual Solutions was a large store located in Glimmering Bay's wealthiest Soul Refinement marketplace. Situated between an armory dealing in magical protective gear and a butcher's shop that sold meat sourced from exotic beasts, the building was more prominent than both its neighbors by an entire story and possessed a stunning crimson-tiled roof that brought a look of auspicious splendor to the place. That this store stood as tall and proud as it did was a testament to the hard work and dedication of its owner, Fangzhi Ping.

Having started as an orphaned peddler on the streets, Ping scraped his way up from the bottom of society. He clutched onto every golden jian that came his way while making strategic connections with anyone and everyone, be it his fellow merchants or the sailors coming and going from the port. Having so many friends opened certain doors for Ping, and after making many smart calls throughout the years, Ping gained enough resources to open a shop centered around the most lucrative field of all- Soul Refinement elixirs, pills, and advancement materials.

Ping's shop wasn't the greatest in all of Little Haven, but it was certainly up there. On top of that, it was one of the few stores of any variety on the island that could say they routinely did business with the Threefold Kingdom. Minor business, but still. Ping built a wonderful life for himself, earning the affection of a beautiful seller of mystic herbs who would at first enter into a business arrangement with him before making their partnership a little more intimate. They merged their shops after marriage, and his lovely wife would bear Ping two children before her untimely passing.

Even at the worst of times, Spiritual Solutions was always a source of pride for Jun's father. The boy himself thought it smelled stinky, but at least it was full of exciting things to look at.

The smell of bitter medicine hit Jun hard as he and Huifang stepped inside. The first floor was stocked with common goods, things any Soul Refiner might be able to afford after a month or two of saving their jian. You had your basic alchemical tinctures that increased the chi reservoir of anyone who drank it, special herbal powders that, when inhaled through the nose, would induct the user into a powerful meditative trance, pungent spiritual ink bottles for use with the calligraphic arts and blank talisman sheets to go along with them, and plenty more miraculous products lining the shelves in every direction.

Fangzhi Ping looked precisely as one might imagine a wealthy merchant. He was slightly rotund of physique, adorned himself in expensive patterned silks of bright colors, and possessed a kindly face whose deep-set smile lines were accented by his long, well groomed mustache that ran all the way past his double chins. He was in the midst of checking some inventory and rearranging a display of muscle stimulant pills when his children arrived, and as usual, he dropped everything to dote on them.

"Huifang! Jun!" He called out in a jovial tone, rushing to their side. "What brings the two of you in today, hm? Came to pitch in around here instead of seeing to your studies?"

"Afraid not, Father. My class ended early today, whereas Jun snuck away from his tutor to practice martial arts." Huifang crossed her arms and glared at her brother, and even though most of her frustration had faded during their walk, she managed to give him a half-hearted frown.

"Is that so?" Ping stroked his chin, unable to hold back a grin. "How did it go, boy? Any progress?"

"Father-"

"Lots!" Jun declared. He started performing a series of practice moves to demonstrate his point. "I was at the beach again, and I worked really, really hard! See?"

Ping was a man in his late forties who had only ever reached the level of Clouded Apprentice, showing no talent for Soul Refinement himself beyond the most basic principles. He didn't know enough to thoroughly teach Jun himself, but he knew improvement when he saw it, and his young son's progress let him live vicariously on top of bringing him great pride.

"Ah ha ha! That's wonderful, Jun! There's nothing better a man can make of himself than becoming a hard worker. I'll give you that one for free! It does my heart good to see you-"

"Father-" Huifang repeated. Unlike with Jun, her disappointment at her old man was real. Jun was a kid. Ping should know better.

Ping coughed and averted his gaze. "Er, that is to say... it's important to sharpen your mind as well as your body, Jun. Your brain is-"

"A muscle," Jun grumbled. He was getting sick of hearing that one. "I know, I know!"

"Hm," Ping nodded in approval. "It seems the boy has learned his lesson. Now tell me more about your training!"

Huifang sighed as Jun launched into a tirade, explaining to his father how it was brilliant of him to practice getting his feet cut up by glass. By the sound of things, Jun was making solid progress in learning the basics of martial arts, and it wouldn't be long until Ping had to find a more advanced tutor to start working on developing his core and control over his body's chi.

Huifang didn't get it. She was like their father, untalented in the art of Soul Refinement, and was only studying them for the bonus effect her chosen Mantra would have on her conversational skills. Despite the resources her father had put into her development, she was still at the lowest rank, Clouded Initiate. Unlike Jun, Huifang preferred to study and was actively learning the arts of business and deal-making so that she could one day take over Spiritual Solutions with her father's blessing.

Training didn't suit her- chatting up customers and using her charms to talk others into loosening their grip on their hard-earned jian was more her speed.

Though she would never admit to it, Huifang occasionally found herself thinking she could learn something from her little brother and his passion for development. She might've advanced years ago if she had even an inch of his drive. However, there was also the fact that she'd been watching over Jun since he was a baby on top of balancing her studies to consider as well. The young girl didn't want to leave Jun's nursing entirely to their family servants and insisted on helping as much as possible.

Such was Huifang's love for her brother.

When Jun was done with his story and Ping finished blindly praising him, the merchant turned his attention to his daughter and smiled thinly. "Why don't you take Jun into the backroom and apply some medicinal salve to his feet, Huifang? Feel free to break into the good stuff so they'll heal up even stronger than they were before."

Huifang complied, but seeing the way the two of them bonded over Jun's talent made Huifang feel a little remorseful over her approach. Jun sat down on a small bench and removed his shoes and bandages as she came back to him with a tangy-smelling green cream that she began massaging into his cuts. He grunted as the medicine sunk in, the pain caused by it rivaling the glass that wounded him in the first place. He was expecting Huifang to chastise him any moment now with a sarcastic comment about how he'd earned this. That was usually how this went, but Huifang frowned and looked him in the eyes instead.

Jun's first thought was that he had somehow deeply upset his sister. Despite all the trouble he caused Huifang, that was something he never wanted to happen. He swallowed guiltily and opened his mouth to apologize, but nothing came out.

"I know it might not seem like it at times, but I hope you know I'm proud of you, too, Jun..." Huifang broke the silence.

Jun did not know that. He had reason to believe quite the opposite, so the look on his face was quite bewildered. "You are?"

"Most of the time," Huifang gave him a soft chuckle. "I just wish your training didn't involve doing stupid things, thinking it will toughen you up."

"That's not what it's about. The more I do it, the less I'll-"

"Jun... you can say that all you like, but it doesn't change how it looks from my perspective..." Huifang's expression became distant as her thoughts trailed off, and she laughed softly. "I just... gods, Jun. It was only a few years ago that I was changing your diapers..."

Jun blushed at the thought, as any child would. "Sister, I'm not a kid anymore."

"Yes. That's where I'm going with this. You're growing up, and... I guess I'm not ready for that. It's cute to see you working hard while you're still young, but before I know it, you'll be leaving home to join some mysterious sect, pledging your services to a clan, or even setting off to wander the world and seek adventures..."

Jun stared into his sister's eyes. He didn't know where any of this was coming from, but it did help him understand Huifang a little bit better. Finally, he realized that none of her nagging was about his studies. Not really. She didn't care about that, at least not as much as he assumed. What Huifang cared about was him and his safety.

It was too much for a six-year-old to process, but he felt bad and did his best to comfort her. "That won't be for a long time, and, um... and I'll still come back home and visit all the time when I'm older! Not just when I need new Refinement junk, but all the time! Really!"

Huifang wiped a solitary tear from her eye and shook her head. "I hope you do, though I still have to face reality. You're only to keep growing up from here, no matter how hard I wish you wouldn't. I'm sorry if I can be a little overbearing sometimes, Jun."

Not knowing what else to do, Jun hugged his sister tightly and didn't let go. He never knew his mother. Huifang was the closest thing he had, and he couldn't live with himself knowing he'd caused her so much pain. "No, I'm sorry, Sister... I promise I won't train on the beach anymore if you really don't want me to..."

Surprised at his sudden reaction, Huifang quickly embraced the gesture and returned it. She leaned into Jun and pulled him into her chest. Her heart eased with tremendous relief. Running her fingers through his short black hair, Huifang said, "That would make me more than happy, Jun."

Having the sense that he'd learned his lesson and being her father's daughter, Huifang embraced the temptation to spoil her beloved brother. "Now, what do you say we head home, and I'll prepare those dumplings ahead of time, hm? That way, I can have them fresh and ready to go as soon as you're finished."

"Okay!" Jun was an easy-to-please child, and Huifang's offer motivated him enough to look forward to his reward. Thanks to its magical properties, the medicine had worked fast, and his feet were feeling better than ever, so Jun slipped on his shoes and jumped back up, raring to go.

***

Huifang and Jun bid goodbye to their father, who was happy to see they'd made up, but they barely made it past the front counter before a sharp chill overtook the whole of Spiritual Solutions. This sensation only lasted briefly, but it was long enough for Ping to gesture for his children to return to the backroom.

As a shop specializing in products catered to Soul Refiners, Ping was used to occasionally dealing with dangerous clientele. He'd been threatened on multiple occasions, nearly stabbed several times, and even had a fireball launched from someone's fist shot at him once. Even still, there was no one he couldn't talk down. Reaching the level of Clouded Apprentice and engraving Charisma Mantra onto his Core paid off in dividends. He was sure that this customer would be no exception, as while they might be full of bark, Soul Refiners rarely bit the hand that fed them.

Of course, being a member of the highly-regarded Little Haven Trading Union was Ping's most outstanding defense. Few on the island dared mess with any merchants under their umbrella, not with the many powerful Soul Refiners they kept on their payroll who were ready and waiting to teach a lesson to anyone foolish enough to believe they were above the heavenly laws of the free market.

A man walked through the front door before Jun and Huifang could retreat to the back.

Jun looked at the intruder and feared what he saw. Dark green martial arts robes with black cuffs patterned with golden snakes hung loosely from a tall, well-built man who appeared to be in his late thirties. The man had sharp features, most notably his piercing yellow eyes, but his thin mustache and pointed goatee also left quite an impression. His slick, black hair was pulled into a ponytail that slithered behind him as he walked closer. Hanging from both sides of his sash were a pair of coiled silver chain whips, and Jun couldn't imagine the kind of damage those things could do in the hands of someone who knew how to use them.

Following the man was a nervous boy several years older than Jun. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else in the world right now. The boy wore matching robes to his father, and even at a young age, it was evident he'd look quite similar to his old man once he grew up. They shared similar traits, like piercing yellow eyes and sharp brows, though the boy's hair was cropped even shorter than Jun's. He, too, carried a pair of whips at his side, though his whips were leather and a lot less scary. Impossible to miss was the vivid green snake with black and white flecked scales, a flat head, and a narrow nose that coiled around the boy's neck, its tail drooping down his chest.

Jun had never met these two, but his primal instinct had already clued him in. Members of the Sasei clan. Important ones. He and his sister froze as the man looked coldly at their father.

Ping was less affected by the chilling pressure their guest exuded and was already prepared to spin this as best he could. "Sasei Li, my honored friend! Ah, and is that little Shan as well? How blessed by the heavens I am to see you both again! Do excuse my children. They were just on their way home, and I'd hate for them to be a bother."

The man- Sasei Li- regarded Jun and his sister for the first time since his arrival. Jun wished he hadn't. The man's gaze was as terrifying as it was hypnotic. No matter how fearful he was of his father's 'honored friend', Jun couldn't bring himself to look away. Huifang's resistance fared marginally better. She placed a hand on both of Jun's shoulders and stepped backward.

"Stay," Li raised a hand and spoke in a hushed yet emphatic tone that carried throughout the store. "We have business to discuss regarding family, so it's only fitting that yours be present. Worry not. I don't intend on lingering overlong."

Huifang glanced quickly at her father, who was starting to break out in a cold sweat. She'd never seen him look so stressed, but Ping didn't let Sasei Li's intimidating words shake his confidence.

"Very well. Give your father a moment, Jun, Huifang. I'll wrap this up as soon as I can." Ping smiled at his son to reassure him, then focused on the potential threat. "What business must we discuss, Branch Clan Head Li? I must admit I'm sensing some hostility here, and I don't know what I've done to offend you. If there are any problems at all, please let me know so that we may-"

Li's brow furrowed for a split second, irritation rising. "The problem, merchant, regards my most recent purchase."

"The Divine Core Amplification Elixir?" Ping blinked. "What of it?" He looked over to the Branch Clan Head's son out of concern, though he found the boy healthy as ever.

"So you remember," Li allowed himself a soft chuckle, though it was as cold and callous as the rest of him.

"Well, yes. It's not every day one such as myself has the honor of doing business with the Branch Clan Head of Little Haven's offshoot of the glorious Sasei clan."

Jun swallowed as it sunk in how powerful this Sasei Li must be. To be the Branch Clan Head of a clan that big, the boy figured he'd have to be a Clouded Master at the very least. Maybe even beyond that.

The spiritual pressure was almost suffocating as Li's mood continued souring, the Branch Clan Head evidently not appreciating Ping's phrasing. "Then surely you remember the promises you made? You guaranteed that the elixir would speed my son's development to Clouded Apprentice and increase his chi reserves twofold. Instead, it blocked his channels completely and severely. Allow me to make it very clear to you, merchant. Your honeyed words nearly killed my son."

"Father-" Shan tried to speak, and the snake around his neck flicked its tongue, but Li raised his palm and silenced him without a word.

Jun could sense the situation rapidly intensifying with every passing second. This wasn't good. Even a child like himself knew how severe a chi blockage could be. The system of spiritual veins running through a person's body was intricate and complex, and any sort of injury to it could lead to unforeseen disaster.

But Jun knew his father. There was no way he would sell someone a product that dangerous without proper warning.

And sure enough...

"My words were honeyed, yes, but such is my profession," Ping's expression changed from jovial and placative to more serious. He also ceased using his friendly tone of voice, no longer drawing power from his Charisma Mantra. It clearly wasn't affecting the more powerful Refiner, anyway. "As is ensuring that each of my customers leaves with explicit instructions on every last one of their purchases. I vividly remember running through all the precautions with you as I wrote them down and handed them off, Branch Clan Head Li. In addition, I warned you this wasn't the safest elixir for children. Gifted though he may be, a single misstep would be enough to-"

"You sold me a defective elixir." Li spat.

"Heavens forbid. No. Not a single product on my shelves is defective."

"Then you are accusing me of being a negligent father. Ask yourself, merchant. Truly ask. Which of these two possibilities is most likely?"

In all his years of doing business with Soul Refiners, Ping couldn't remember ever being posed such a threatening question. To imply such a thing to the Branch Clan Head of the Little Haven Sasei would be suicidal, but he couldn't just roll over and admit he'd sold a faulty product when he hadn't. There was no way out, no way to save face, but he had to try.

"Listen, Li. You have my deepest apologies over your son's recent misfortune, truly, but let it be known I wish for no trouble from you or your clan. Not only am I willing to offer a full refund for the elixir, but I'd be more than happy to throw as many additional products at you as you'd like to make this problem go away. Anything in the store at all, my friend, name it, and it's yours. Ah! I know! The other day, I scored a deal on something especially rare- a small packet of ten Beast Ascension Pellets alchemized by the Azure Dominion's very own Sect of the Wizened Brewmasters! They aren't potent enough to get the job done, but they'll put your boy's slithering friend there on the path to becoming a fully awakened Sacred Beast. Surely you see the value in that, yes?"

Jun noticed this was the first time Shan looked anything other than depressed. The older boy momentarily perked up at the thought of his pet snake blossoming into the next stage of existence, but he went right back to disappointment as soon as his father continued speaking.

"You will give me those pellets, my jian, and anything else I damn well please from this sad excuse for a shop, and it still won't begin to make up for the damage you've caused. Shan is a prodigy- an unrivaled shining star fallen from the heavens themselves. You nearly robbed him of his destiny, nearly clipped his wings before he learned how to fly-"

"Father, please..." Shan whimpered as tears began to drip down the sides of his face. His hands lightly clutched his snake, the scaly texture of his companion comforting the boy. "Can't we just take the pellets for Yanmei and go home? Mother... Mother wouldn't have wanted you to-"

"Do not speak to me of your mother!" Li hissed, turning to face his now fearful son. "She made you soft, Shan, and now I must begin unraveling the weaknesses she left in your heart. This lowly merchant, this worm of a man has wronged us. Wronged you. It is not enough that we get even. We must always strike back harder to ensure our enemies dare not make the same mistake twice. Observe."

Sasei Li advanced toward Huifang and Jun. Jun couldn't breathe as he gazed up into those menacing yellow eyes. Huifang knelt down to shield Jun, and the boy soon heard his father scrambling out from behind the counter, raising his voice.

"Don't you dare take another step towards my children, or the Little Haven Trading Union will hear about this! If you don't think I can't make life harder for you and your kin, you have another thing-"

A silver chain coiled around Ping's neck. No one saw Li draw his weapon, but he wielded it with mystical finesse, and it behaved according to his whims like a living serpent. The whip ended in an ornamental snakehead, which magically opened its jaws as if it were alive to hiss at Ping before wrenching him off his feet and slamming his face into the counter.

Huifang screamed, and Jun panicked as the whip receded, leaving Ping to recover from the sudden attack. Li looked at the merchant's daughter for only a moment before his eyes flashed with brilliant light, synchronized in perfect timing with the uttering of a single word.

"Move."

Huifang let go of Jun entirely against her will, the light leaving her petrified and unable to raise her voice again.

Jun still couldn't move. The Sasei Branch Clan Head's gaze had him trapped, and the boy felt his very soul being assessed by Li's spiritual senses. It was like standing before the maw of a wicked Yiansha, one who was ready to drag him down to the Shaded Lands at a moment's notice.

"How old are you, boy?" Li asked.

"I'm, um... I'm six years old?" Jun didn't know why he answered. He felt compelled to do so, though he wanted nothing more than to run for his life like a coward.

"Hm. You have a decent amount of chi for your age. A shame. You would've made a halfway decent Soul Refiner with your father's resources and some luck."

Li continued to stare down at Jun, and before he could even understand what was about to happen to him, the Branch Clan Head's whip slithered around Jun's torso and lifted the boy into the air. Jun, at last, found it in him to struggle. He tried wiggling around and flailing, but the chains were too tight. His heart raced, and his face went pale.

"No...!" Jun cried. "No, please! Let me go...!"

"Do not look away, Shan."

Sasei Li raised his right hand, curling his index and middle fingers to mimic the fangs of a vicious snake. A bright, wispy green aura echoed out from them as he drew his arm back and lunged forward. Li struck Jun straight in his heart with one dramatic motion, stabbing the child's left pectoral with his two fingers.

He'd hit him with sickening force, but the blow stopped short of piercing Jun's skin. Instead, the aura shot out from his fingers at the moment of impact. Li's energy injected into the child's body, surging through him like venom as it penetrated his heart and aimed for its true destination lying within- Jun's Core.

Agonizing pain shook Jun as violent seizures ravaged his body. His heart quickened, his soul itself splintering under the spiritual force of Li's attack. Yellow, piercing eyes regarded the boy with mild disinterest as every fiber of his body gave out all at once.

The chains unraveled. Jun crashed limp to the ground, where he lay immobile and unmoving. He was barely breathing, and his consciousness faded to black in only a matter of seconds.

Huifang regained control over herself and screamed at the top of her lungs, crawling towards her little brother and cradling him in her arms like she did when he was a newborn. "Jun?! No... no, this can't be... Jun?!"

Ping quickly joined his daughter's side, now having recovered from the sudden attack. Tears of anger and misery burst out of the distraught father between miserable sobs. Ping took his son's hand, and after finding a faint pulse, he looked up at Sasei Li with absolute scorn, displaying such fury as he never had before.

"What have you done to him?" Ping wailed, his voice cracking from his suffering. "What have you done to my son, you treacherous monster?!"

"Were you not listening?" Li scoffed at the grieving father. "Shan, tell the man what we do to those who have wronged the Sasei."

Shan stood there holding back tears and hugging his snake close to his heart as he focused on a calming breathing technique to steady his nerves. The boy bit his lip but eventually forced out the words his father expected. "The Sasei do not get even. We always strike back harder. Don't make this same mistake twice."

"Hm," Li sported a thin grin as he stroked his goatee. "Very good. I will send one of my men by your shop tomorrow for restitution, merchant. Have the refund, the ascension pellets, and a wide selection of your finest elixirs ready for pickup by the time he arrives. For now, I will leave you to your grief... ah, and ensure that your instructions are more thorough this time, yes?"

"How dare you..." Huifang spoke up, looking from her injured brother back up at the man responsible. Sasei Li terrified her, but her own fear no longer mattered at that point. She couldn't remain silent. "Attacking a poor, innocent child with his whole life ahead of him, and for what? To preserve your petty pride? Are all the Sasei cowards without a shred of honor between them, or is it just their Branch Clan Head?"

"Huifang, don't..." Ping swallowed his shame. His daughter said everything he wanted to but was too fearful to express. He'd already lost his wife six years prior, and now the fate of his son remained uncertain. Ping would be reduced to a shambling husk wearing a man's skin if something were to happen to his daughter. It wasn't worth it.

"Please, Branch Clan Head Li. Forgive my daughter of her foolishness."

"Our score has been settled, and your debt repaid," Li stated. "I have no intention to take further action against your family and will overlook the girl's comments, knowing they come from a place of pain. I will, however, say this. The boy would be dead were I truly without honor." His venomous words hung in the air, the threat so real it could physically be felt. "I will not extend this mercy a second time. Come, Shan. We're leaving."

The Sasei Branch Clan Head casually strolled out the front door like he was departing from a pleasant afternoon's lunch. It was as if Li was blissfully unaware that he was leaving behind a host of ruined lives in his wake.

His son followed after him, but Shan stood at the doorway for a few seconds as he looked back at the broken family and their shattered dreams. He couldn't bring himself to say what was in his heart, so the poor boy lowered his head respectfully before leaving in shame.

Fangzhi Ping was not the sort of man who would roll over and allow Sasei Li to trample all over the lives of his children. There would be severe repercussions for the Sasei, but for now, all that mattered was saving his only son and undoing whatever damage that wicked man had wrought. Time was of the essence, and there was no amount of jian he wouldn't pay to make things right again.

If only things were so simple.