Forge of Destiny Smelting 3

Ling Qi found the shimmering red stones captivating; each one, about the size of her thumb, radiated a comforting warmth. She quickly put them away, feeling uneasy with such valuable gems on her person. If only the provided gown had secret pockets! Fortunately, the Elder's decree of no violence for the next three months offered a measure of reassurance, a rule she sensed would actually be upheld this time around.

As their group filed out, disciples from the other two lecture halls joined them. They proceeded towards two mountain paths behind the main hall, each marked by large stone pillars. These pillars were etched with numerous symbols, all revolving around a single prominent character. The right path bore the character for 'man,' while the left displayed the character for 'woman.' The implication was clear, and today, at least, no one seemed inclined to defy the elders' pronouncements.

Passing between the pillars, Ling Qi felt a peculiar tingling sensation, raising the hairs on her neck. It was an unsettling feeling, akin to being observed, but thankfully it subsided as they moved away. She walked in silence, nestled within the middle of the chattering female disciples, her hand clutching her satchel strap. Feeling quite out of place, she noted there were over a hundred individuals in their group, meaning considerable competition if Elder Jiao's implications held true.

She recognized a few faces from her own lecture hall, including the two girls she had considered joining earlier. The red-haired girl ambled ahead, hands behind her head, appearing to lead the procession though merely walking in the same direction. The white-haired girl stood out due to the 'bubble' of clear space surrounding her as she walked with her head down towards the rear. Many of the other girls had already formed small, gossiping clusters.

Upon reaching the hilltop's crest, Ling Qi saw the residences for the first time. Situated at the bottom of a small mountain ravine, the homes were arranged in an orderly grid, separated by wide, clean streets. At the farthest end stood a veritable mansion, reminiscent of estates glimpsed over the wall dividing the inner and outer city back home. Next were the smaller, yet still palatial homes with flourishing gardens, followed by stone houses lacking gardens but suggesting the dwelling of a prosperous artisan. Beyond these were tiny, round huts with thatched roofs, hardly large enough for two people.

Ling Qi surveyed the residences with a determined gaze. Honestly, merely possessing a home was a luxury she couldn't afford, so the dwelling's quality wasn't her primary concern. However, given Elder Jiao's statement about probable shared housing, the scarcity of available homes was evident.

Taking a steadying breath, Ling Qi began descending the steep path leading to the residences. She understood that danger would be present once the period of enforced non-violence concluded. Proactive measures to ensure her safety were necessary.

One approach was to enhance her own strength, a novel concept as it had never been a viable option before. A second method, advised by her driver, Han Jian, was to find 'someone to watch her back.' While she hoped for his sincerity, even if he was merely pitying her, he couldn't offer assistance on the women's side.

She admittedly struggled with such social maneuvering. Back home, she had never joined street gangs, understanding her likely diminished role in any such group. If that was her path, she might as well have remained with her mother and found a livelihood there.

At present, however, she possessed little to offer. Casting a discreet glance at the other girls, she doubted she could integrate into any existing cliques. A few appeared to come from less affluent backgrounds, including one peculiar girl with smudges on her face and an unusual fluffy fur belt around her waist. Yet, these girls were in the same predicament, lacking anything substantial to contribute, and thus unlikely to provide protection.

Her attention then shifted back to the two girls from her lecture hall. The white-haired girl seemed the more approachable first choice. Observing the others, she noted the white-haired girl was somehow ostracized, while the distance maintained around the red-haired girl seemed more a sign of... respect? Perhaps 'fear' was a more accurate descriptor.

A second look at the white-haired girl reinforced her determination to make contact. Lacking any real standing, any approach was essentially a gamble. It seemed logical to target someone who held apparent power but might also be without other options.

... And truthfully, she felt a pang of sympathy watching the girl trudge along, head bowed. She recognized the guarded posture in her shoulders.

Ling Qi began to edge closer, weaving through the sparse crowd until she reached the perimeter of the other girl's personal space. As she seemingly 'penetrated' this bubble, she observed several nearby girls fall silent, with a couple casting glances her way.

Suppressing the nervousness churning in her stomach, she continued until the girl she was approaching acknowledged her presence and looked up. At that moment, Ling Qi got a clearer view of the other girl’s face.

She was remarkably pale, possessing the delicate features of a porcelain doll. This was offset by silky white hair cascading down her back to roughly her mid-point. However, her fine lips were devoid of color and bloodless, barely contrasting against her skin, nor did she appear to be wearing any makeup.

It was primarily her eyes that captured Ling Qi's attention. The narrow, slit pupils and expansive golden irises were unsettling, yet despite the surge of fear when their gazes met, Ling Qi didn't avert her eyes or retreat as her instincts screamed. It was somewhat advantageous that the top of the girl’s head barely reached Ling Qi’s shoulder. Instead, Ling Qi offered a slight nod to the other girl and fell into step beside her, maintaining a respectful distance.

“Hello, I am Ling Qi.” Her voice came out more strained than she would have preferred. Several moments of palpable silence followed as the white-haired girl regarded her expressionlessly, her gaze unblinking. It was quite unnerving.

When the girl offered no reply, Ling Qi inquired, “May I know your name?”

This seemed to prompt the other girl to finally blink, though her expression remained unchanged. Reading her was difficult, but Ling Qi didn't sense wariness so much as a profound... disorientation at her approach.

“Bai Meizhen of the Thousand Lakes province,” the girl replied robotically. “Why did you not complete your introduction?”

Ling Qi glanced aside, conscious that she and the other girl were subjects of discreet observation. “I did,” she responded awkwardly. “I mean, I suppose I hail from the Emerald Seas province,” she added quickly.

It appeared that maintaining formal speech was proving futile. Ling Qi doubted she could maintain any pretense for long, given her ignorance regarding noble lineage. Did a noble Ling clan even exist?

Her response dissolved into another excruciating silence, and Ling Qi fidgeted as the other girl continued to gaze at her. She truly wished the girl would blink more frequently.

Finally, Bai Meizhen spoke again, a subtle note of bewilderment coloring her largely monotone voice. “I... see. What is it you require? I am afraid I have not been permitted to hire a maidservant.”

Ling Qi couldn't help but clench her teeth at the dismissal and the faint giggle she caught from a girl nearby... but she managed to regain her composure. She had faced insults before, and beyond the initial sting of irritation, she perceived no genuine malice in the other girl's words. It was more akin to complete incomprehension as to why Ling Qi would even be speaking to her. Thus, she suppressed her rising anger and offered a smile. Directness seemed the only path forward.

“I was actually thinking we could be friends. We are both cultivators, correct?” Cultivation was meant to transcend bloodlines and status, even if its practical application seemed less clear. “You appear to be in need of a friend, and we must pair up for housing regardless.”

The peculiar girl tilted her head slightly, her steps faltering as she observed Ling Qi with an unusual intensity. Then her gaze shifted sideways, her brow furrowing as she pursed her lips, as if listening to something. To Ling Qi's perception, no one was speaking to them.

“I suppose that is acceptable,” Bai Meizhen responded after a brief pause. She displayed neither particular pleasure nor displeasure at Ling Qi's declaration of friendship, though this might have been attributable to the disconcerting absence of emotional cues.

“I will, however, issue a warning. Do not approach me whilst I am asleep. It is highly probable that you would perish.” The white-haired girl delivered this statement in the same icily level tone as the rest of her speech.

Ling Qi stared at Bai Meizhen, attempting to decipher if this was intended as a threat, a caution, both, or something else entirely. After a moment's deliberation, she compelled herself to laugh. “I shall certainly keep that in mind. That would indeed be quite unfortunate, wouldn't it?”

The other girl merely inclined her head almost imperceptibly in acknowledgement. “It would be unpleasant to lose my first friend due to something so avoidable,” she replied agreeably.

Ling Qi narrowed her eyes at the other girl, attempting to discern if she was being mocked, but quickly abandoned the effort. Shifting her gaze forward as their walk recommenced, she observed they were now a little over halfway down the path.

“I was considering we might convince someone else to join us. There's strength in numbers, you understand? Would you have an issue with that?”

Bai Meizhen appeared to ponder this before briefly looking down at her left arm. “It would probably be quite challenging to persuade another person to share accommodations with me. I don’t object in principle, however. Did you have someone specific in mind?”

Ling Qi furtively glanced at the girls nearby, noting with a rather heavy heart the disdainful looks she received in return. Aligning herself with Bai Meizhen had unfortunately garnered some residual dislike. Keeping her voice low to avoid being overheard, she gestured towards the front of their group. “That girl up there, the one with the red hair. She’s also alone.”

For the first time, Ling Qi witnessed something akin to genuine emotion surface on Bai Meizhen’s composed features as her perfectly sculpted eyebrows drew together in a look of utter bewilderment. “You… wish to share quarters with her?” she inquired, her tone laced with incredulity.

Bai Meizhen’s gaze flickered between Ling Qi and the redhead before something seemed to dawn on her, causing her consternation to vanish. “That is the eldest great-granddaughter of Sun Shao, Sun Liling,” she explained with a touch of patience, as if addressing a child.

Ling Qi felt a prickle of indignation at the perceived condescension, yet she was quite certain Bai Meizhen intended no real harm. Altering her approach now would jeopardize her progress here.

“…Who?” she asked, maintaining as polite a tone as she could manage.

The other girl frowned, irritation flashing in her eyes. “The Butcher of the West.” Her frown only deepened at Ling Qi’s apparent lack of recognition. “The Scarlet General. King of the Western Territories.”

Well, that certainly didn’t sound ominous at all. She was, at least, aware of the Western Territories. It was a vast tract of land situated on the western frontier of the Celestial Empire, conquered during the preceding Emperor’s reign. As far as she understood, it was a barely civilized region, perpetually under siege by barbarian hordes.

“What is someone like that doing here?” Ling Qi inquired cautiously. Han Jian hailed from a distant province too, but he wasn’t a direct descendant of the province’s ruler.

…He wasn’t, was he? Perhaps she needed to start paying more attention to these sorts of connections.

“I have no idea. Her presence here is most peculiar,” Meizhen replied simply.

Ling Qi felt a strange sense of validation, realizing her initial misgivings weren’t entirely unfounded. “Still, is there any particular reason why I shouldn’t approach her?” If she were to make an approach, she would need to act swiftly, as the group was nearing the entrance to the residential sector.

Bai Meizhen gave a slight shake of her head. “Yes,” she answered flatly. “However, I will not prevent you if you choose to approach her.” The pale girl gave Ling Qi a discerning look, and for a fleeting moment, something unreadable flickered through Bai Meizhen’s eyes. “You might actually have a chance, I suppose,” Bai Meizhen added impassively, her attention returning to the path ahead.

“Well, I’m certainly going to try and talk her into it,” Ling Qi declared with determination. She risked another glance at her companion, but the girl merely nodded, her expression once again devoid of discernible emotion. Ling Qi dipped her head in acknowledgement to the other girl and strode forward, quickening her pace to navigate through the throng.

The going was somewhat more difficult than before, as she found herself obstructed by seemingly oblivious girls, even experiencing an 'accidental' jostle once or twice. For the moment, she refused to take the bait. More unsettling, however, was the palpable sensation of Bai Meizhen’s unswerving gaze fixed upon her back. Still, their progress wasn’t particularly swift, so even with these distractions, it took barely a minute to reach the front of the gathering. She soon broke free from the dense crowd and, after a brief pause, continued onward towards the red-haired girl.

“You can stop right there.” Sun Liling’s voice cut through the air, halting Ling Qi several steps away. The tanned girl possessed a distinct, rough accent, although thankfully, it didn’t render her words unintelligible.

“Whaddaya want?” The other girl hadn't even bothered to look at her yet.

Up close, Ling Qi could clearly see the corded muscles in the other girl’s bare arms and the torn fabric where the redhead had ripped off the sleeves of her uniform. The girl stood taller than most, only a few centimeters shorter than Ling Qi herself.

More significantly, Ling Qi gained a better appreciation for the way the girl moved, an agility that reminded her of the most dangerous individuals on the streets back home—the murderers and gang enforcers. Sun Liling possessed a degree of grace, however, that even they lacked.

“I was going to inquire if you’ve decided who you’ll be pairing up with for housing,” Ling Qi responded tentatively.

Finally, Sun Liling deigned to turn her head slightly, her arms remaining held behind her head. This pose made it difficult to overlook the fabric strained to its limit across her chest. Ling Qi managed to do so, with only a minor surge of irritation, redirecting her attention back to the other girl’s face.

It was unsettling to observe that the other girl’s eyes possessed the color of freshly spilled blood. The most striking feature was the trio of slender white lines that traced down across her nose and lips, appearing as if something had raked its claws down her face.

“Did the snake blow you off then?” she asked abruptly.

The other girl made no attempt to lower her voice, and Ling Qi barely suppressed a squirm at the ensuing silence from the girls nearest to them.

“I… no.” She still stumbled over the words. “How did you…”

“I wanted to see what had the geese back there cackling,” Sun Liling drawled lazily. “I suppose I’ll give you credit for ambition, if nothing else.” Ling Qi felt a prickle of discomfort under the other girl’s intent gaze.

“You don’t look entirely without potential. You might be worth something if you apply yourself.”

Indignant, Ling Qi’s next words escaped before she could censor them. “Don’t say that as if it’s praise,” she retorted.

“I was…” Ling Qi’s eyes widened dramatically as a scarred fist stopped a hair’s breadth from her nose. The displaced air caused Ling Qi’s stray wisps of hair to flutter away from her face. The others behind them froze in their tracks as well. She hadn’t even seen Sun Liling move into position. Sun Liling’s crimson eyes were sharp and cold.

Then, Sun Liling withdrew her fist and let out a chuckle. “Made ya flinch,” she declared, her voice laced with amusement. “But seriously, if you manage to survive the inevitable backstab from the snake, I’ll still be around.”

As the girl turned away and continued walking, Ling Qi glared at her retreating back, despising the flush of embarrassment that she knew was spreading across her face. This time, she managed to maintain her composure. Her heart continued to pound in her ears from the fear she had experienced in that fleeting second when she believed the other girl was about to strike her. She was not a seasoned fighter, but… she was quite certain she would be in no state to walk anywhere if the girl had followed through.

Ling Qi retreated back through the crowd, ignoring the curious glances she received, and returned to Bai Meizhen’s side. A trace of… concern, perhaps, flickered on the pale girl’s face before vanishing.

“Are you well?” the other girl inquired evenly.

“Fine,” Ling Qi responded curtly. With considerable effort, she suppressed the indignation and anger churning within her and released a long, slow breath. There was no point dwelling on it now.

“So,” she began with feigned cheerfulness, “what sort of residence do you wish to take?”

Bai Meizhen stared at her, unblinking, before inclining her head slightly, seemingly acknowledging Ling Qi’s desire to avoid the topic.

“I do not feel the need to engage in conflict over the more luxurious housing options. However, the outer hovels are unacceptable.”

At least that was one less thing to fret about. Ling Qi would have been content to accept one of the smaller dwellings if she were alone, but given the other girl’s remarks regarding the consequences of disturbing her rest, Ling Qi certainly did not want to risk being in such close proximity while sleeping.

“Somewhere in the second block then? That would be more than sufficient for me,” she replied, maintaining a cheerful tone.

Ling Qi had endured far worse than a threatened fist, and she had been foolish to let her emotions get the better of her. She could not afford to forget the caution that had kept her alive for the past four years, regardless of her current location.