The first snowfall of the season bhe Silver Lotus grounds, coating the training fields in 2 inches of snow. The m air was sharp, each breath curling in the cold like smoke. Despite the unfiving chill, the sound of sparring echoed across the courtyard.

  Lay sat oemple steps, staring at the frost-covered trees. The st few days had been… difficult. Ever sihe nightmare, ever si whispered to her, she had been f herself to move forward. She debated telling the truth—telling them she wasn't really Meilin. But every time the words crept to her lips, she swallowed them back down.

  She wasn't ready.

  Yuxe Wuye sat gracefully with a cup of steaming tea resting on her p, her gaze settling on Lay as she took a quiet sip. The room was warm, the st of herbal tea lingering in the air, a stark trast to the icy wind outside.

  "How are you feeling?" Yuxe finally asked, her voice calm but knowing.

  Lay hesitated, fingers grazing the edge of the low wooden table between them.

  "I'm fine."

  Her mave her a ed look.

  Lay exhaled. "My neck is healing."

  She reached up unsciously, fingers brushing over the faint scratches. "I... I'm sorry. For the past few days. I know I haven't been speaking much. Or leaving my room. That's not very fitting for a sect leader, is it?"

  Yuxe set her teacup down with a gentle k. "A title means nothing if the person carrying it is barely standing. Taking time to recover isn't weakness, Meilin."

  Lay lowered her gaze, swallowing back the tightness ihroat. "It just feels like everything keeps moving forward, and I 't catch up."

  Yuxe's expression softened. "The yourself breathe. Just for a little while. The sect will still be here when you're ready."

  Before Lay could respond, a weight suddenly dropped onto her head.

  With all the casual arrogance of an older sister, Meyu rested her chest atop Lay's head, using her as an armrest.

  "Aww, look at this. Bonding time. Should I go fetch a b? Maybe some hairpins?"

  Lay groaned. "Meyu, get off me."

  "Nah, I think I like this." Meyu smirked, tilting her head toward Yuxe.

  "So, what are we talking about? The fact that she somehow looks even more muscur despite being depressed?

  Lay shot her a gre, but Yuxe only chuckled. "I was simply remindihat she doesn't have to bear everything alone."

  Meyu hummed. "Good advice. But knowing her, she's going to ig until she colpses dramatically in a training field somewhere."

  Lay sighed, shaking her head. "Why do I even talk to you two?"

  "Because you love us" Meyu answered instantly, fshing a smile.

  Yuxe smiled into her tea. "And because deep down, you know we're right."

  Lay's expression faltered for just a fra of a sed. The warmth of the room, the ughter, the affe in their voices—it should have been f. But instead, it twisted inside her, a quiet remihat she was not Meilin.

  That this love, this family, this acceptance, was never meant for her.

  She lowered her gaze, gripping the edge of her sleeve as guilt curled in her chest.

  How much of a fraud was she? How long could she keep pretending?

  Meyu, still draped zily over her, didn't seem to notiaybe she did and chose not to say anything. Instead, she just shifted, resting her atop Lay's head now.

  "Hmm? You went quiet all of a sudden. Don't tell me yettiional."

  Lay forced a smirk. "I'm emotional about the fact that you're crushing my skull."

  Meyu grinned. "Good. That means you're still alive."

  Before Lay could respond, a knock sou the door. Jiang's voice followed.

  "Meilin, if you're feelier, your father and I would like you to e down and train."

  Lay stiffened slightly at the the ease with which it left his lips. She hesitated, but Yuxe set dowea and looked at her thoughtfully. "Are you ready?"

  Lay took a slow breath. ation. She had once walked into war, stood before crowds that feared and revered her. The past and present collided in her mind, but she pushed it down. Whatever she felt now, she had to move forward. Just like before.

  Yuxe watched her daughter closely, the way her shoulders squared, the way she forced herself to appear steady. She had seen that same posture before—on war generals, on rulers, on people who had learo wear strength like armour.

  "Are you ready, Meilin?" she asked, her voice softer now.

  Lay hesitated only for a moment before nodding. "Yes. I rested long enough."

  Meyu, lounging nearby, let out a low hum.

  "She says that now, but give it an hour, and we'll find her face-first in the snow."

  Yuxe smiled faintly but didn't look away from Lay. "You've been distant tely.." she murmured. "More than usual."

  Lay stiffened slightly. "I just… ime."

  Yuxe took a slow sip of her tea. "And now?"

  Lay exhaled, fingers curling at her sides. "Now, I o move forward."

  Meyu straightened, resting her elbow on Lay's shoulder.

  "That's a fancy way of saying you don't want to talk about it."

  Lay shot her a ft look. "And?"

  Meyu smirked. "And that's fine. As long as you know we're here when you do." She tapped Lay's forehead lightly before pulling away. "Now, go. Show them you're still alive and kig."

  Yuxe nodded approvingly, watg as Lay turoward the door, shoulders squared once more. "Stay warm, Meilin."

  Lay hesitated just briefly before stepping out, letting the cold air hit her full force. It was time to move forward, no matter how much her heart resisted.

  --

  The training ground was filled with the rhythmic csh of wooden ons, the cold air carrying each sharp impact as Lay squared off against Lin Wuye. Her breath curled in the air like smoke, her muscles tense, her stance grouhis wasn't like before. Something has ged.

  Lin Wuye moved first, his strikes fluid aless. Lay tered, her movements sharper than they had ever been. She wasn't just using her footwork—she was instinctively weaving the first step of the Gale teiques--Whispering Breeze, her speed heightened, her strikes carrying precision.

  Then it happened.

  As their ons ected, a faint distortion rippled through the air. Lin Wuye's brows furrowed as he felt a strange force push back against him, something more than just the Gale's movement. He stepped away, assessing the subtle dark etgs left along his on's surface.

  Lay's chest rose and fell sharply. She could feel it too—the tingling, the pull, the underlying presence of Qi Rot swirling withieiques. Her body had suppressed it for so long albeit passively, a, here it was.

  "Again!" Lin Wuye anded.

  Lay hesitated but hey cshed once more, and this time, the effect was clearer. With every strike, the wind carried something unnatural—not decay iraditional sense, but a fleetiing force, like a corrosive burst that dissipated too quickly to spread.

  Jiang and Bao, previously engaged in their own sparring, had stopped to watch.

  Bao squinted. "Uh… is her Qi supposed to do that?"

  Jiang folded his arms. "I don't think so."

  Lin Wuye lowered his on and studied her carefully. "Your Qi... it's ging or rather, adapting."

  Lay swallowed with fear and ption but seeing it now—seeing it reflected in her father's expression—made it real.

  "The Rot and Gale are merging is what I think." Lin Wuye tinued, his tohoughtful rather than ed.

  "But unlike before, the decay doesn't settle. It bursts on impact, then vanishes. It's forced banot natural equilibrium."

  Jiang blinked. "So… she has explodih wind now?"

  Bao raised a brow. "Kinda unfair, don't you think?"

  Lin Wuye ighem, still watg Lay. "How long have you been suppressing this?"

  Lay's grip on her on tightened. "I don't know but it's probably sihe nightmare."

  Lin Wuye's eyes sharpened. "I see. We will o study this further. You'll be training under me more directly from now on. No more holding back. I will o know how your body adapts to this"

  Lay exhaled, nodding. Whatever was happening to her Qi, it wasn't going away. She could either fear it—or learn to trol it..

  --

  With the cold biting at their skin, Jiang and Bao resumed their sparring. Their wooden ons cshed, sending sharp echoes through the frozen air. Each strike was heavier tha, the tensioween them building. Bao had been improving steadily, his power increasing with each session, but Jiang had always remained oep ahead.

  Until now.

  With a sharp inhale, Bao shifted his stance, pnting his feet firmly against the icy ground. He felt his Qi surge through his limbs, a new force bubbling within him. His strike was different—he moved faster, struck harder, and for the first time ever, Jiang ushed back.

  Jiang's feet slid slightly against the frost-covered dirt. His eyes narrowed.

  Bao didn't hesitate. He pressed forward, something surging within him—his Qi burned hotter, filling his limbs, expanding, demanding release. The moment his foot smmed into the frost-cround, the air around him shifted.

  Then, it happened.

  A deep, howling wied from his body, rippling through the training grounds like the first signs of a ing storm. The frost beh his feet fractured, thin cracks spiderwebbing outward as the pressure of his movements ed the air itself. His strikes, once powerful, now carried something far greater—something unshackled.

  Lin Wuye's voice carried over the r wind, his tone sharp. "R Tempest."

  Bao had unlocked the Fourth Step.

  His muscles tensed, Qi surging through every fiber of his being. The moment his strike nded, it was no longer just a csh of ons—it was an impact that sent a shockwave bursting outward, kig up a spray of loose id dirt. Jiang, for the first time, felt himself forced backward.

  The winter air, oill, ned around them. Snow and dust spiralled wildly, carried by the sheer force of Bao's movements. Each swing of his bde felt like a storm desding, pressure folding in on itself before exploding outward. This was no longer just raw strength—it iven form.

  And for the first time, Jiang had to truly meet him head-on. Each impact forced Jiang to adjust, forced him to meet Bao's strength head-on. But Jiang was not oo be overwhelmed.

  Something shifted in him as well.

  Jiang adjusted his footing instinctively, his body moving without thought. The biting wind howled around them, but Jiang's strikes became sharper, denser, heavier. The moment Bao forced him to retreat, Jiang's Gale teiques ged.

  It wasn't just precision anymore—it was force, pure aating. The Gale was no longer just about fluidity; it had bee a storm tained within each step.

  Lin Wuye's sharp eyes caught it instantly. "Jiang isn't just using the Gale anymore. He's reshaping it!?''

  Bao didn't reize what was happening—until their o again, and he felt the impact tear through his stance.

  Jiang's bde struck like a winter gale—sharp, unstoppable, and utterly destructive. The force of the csh shattered the frozen yer of earth beh them, cracks spiderwebbing outward in jagged lihe very air around him twisted with pressure, f violent gusts that carried raw force rather than just speed.

  Bao stumbled back, his arms trembling. "What... the hell was that?"

  Jiang rolled his shoulders, exhaling steadily. "I think I just figured something out."

  Lin Wuye stepped forward, his gaze filled with amazement. "Yale isn't just movement anymore—it's weighted. densed power. If before, your Step 1- Whispering Breeze was just step 1 but now the same step is equivalent to the Step 3-Gale's Kiss, if we follow by this uanding what you could do with the Step 3—"

  Jiang gripped his practice sword, testing its weight. "Would hit like Step 6- Tornado's Edge."

  The realization hit Bao like a brick. "That's basically cheating."

  Jiang smirked. "No, that's adaptation."

  Lin Wuye nodded, impressed. "This is airely new path within the Gale. Your strikes aren't just fast anymore—they nd with enough force to break the grouh you. If this tio develop…" His gaze flickered with intrigue.

  "It may bee something eveer than the inal teique."

  Bao, catg his breath, pointed his sword at Jiang. "Alright, alright. But just because I pushed you bace doesn't mean I'm done!" He steadied his stance, Qi flowing through his limbs.

  "I just unlocked Gale's Kiss. Let's see if I do it again."

  Jiang grinned. "The's find out."

  -- 3 days has passed since --

  If the previous week had been cold, then today was merciless. The wind cut through the courtyard like a bde, and the frost beh their feet had hardened into a near-solid sheet of ice. The cold didn't just bite—it seeped into their bones, slowing their movements and making even the simplest as feel strained.

  Qi flowed like water, but in ditions like these, that water turned sluggish, unresponsive. If left unchecked, the disruption in flow could be dangerous—Qi blockages could weaken the body, lead to severe exhaustion, or even cause internal damage if forced too recklessly.

  Lin Wuye stood at the ter of the training ground, his arms crossed as his students trembled in the freezing air.

  "This is reality." he stated firmly.

  "The battlefield is not ft, nracious. You will not always fight in perfect ditions. If you ot adapt, you will fall."

  Bao exhaled, his breath curling in the air. "So what do we do?"

  Lin Wuye k, running his fingers lightly over the frost-cround. "First, you learn to breathe properly."

  He then demonstrated a new breathing teique, Lotus Veil Breathing, ohat slowed the exhale and distributed warmth through the meridians, preventing Qi stagnation. "trol the breath, and your Qi will follow."

  Bao picked it up instantly, his body adjusting to the flow naturally. He stretched, rolling his shoulders. "Oh yeah, this feels nice. Meilin, you getting this?"

  Lay, however, was not getting it.

  "I am breathing from my core!'' she wheezed, her Qi still sluggish despite her best efforts.

  Jiang, surprisingly, was struggling too. "It's like trying to push through mud." he muttered.

  A small voice cut through their pints. "I-I think I'm doing it!"

  All eyes turo Zhu Fen, the you disciple, who was visibly shaking from the cold but still maintaining the breathing rhythm. His face was red, and his hands trembled, but his Qi flow remaiable.

  Jiang blinked. "Wait, how—"

  "I'm just… following what you did, Senior Jiang." Zhu Fen admitted.

  "But slower. And… I tried imagining warmth instead of f it."

  Lin Wuye nodded approvingly. "A good method. Perhaps you should take notes, Jiang."

  Jiang groaned. "I just got lectured by an eleven-year-old."

  Bao ughed. "Nah, you got outperformed by an eleven-year-old."

  Lay sighed, watg Zhu Fen tinue his breathing. "Alright, fine. Let's try this again."

  With their Qi cirproving, Lin Wuye moved onto the phase of training.

  Adapting to the Terrain

  "The battlefield is ill," he remihem. "Ice, mud, rain, unstable ground—your movements must adapt to whatever is beh you. Otherwise, your enemy won't o defeat you. The terrain will do it for them."

  They started with footwork drills on the icy surface, and within minutes, it became very clear who was struggling.

  Jiang adapted instantly, his low stances and precise weight distribution keeping him banced.

  Bao, oher hand, fidently rushed forward—

  And immediately skidded into a tree.

  Meyu winced. "Oof."

  Bao groaned from the snow. "I hate this training."

  Zhu Fen, meanwhile, was taking slow, careful steps, copying Jiang's movements with unwavering focus.

  Lay, despite herself, was impressed.

  The kid was stubborn.

  Lin Wuye tinued pushing them, f them to adjust their staheir weight distribution, their footing. By the time they were done, even Bao could admit the lesson was necessary.

  "Fine." he grumbled. "I see the value in not falling on my ass."

  Jiang patted his shoulder. "Yrowing. I'm so proud of you."

  Bao shoved him. "Shut up."

  The freezing temperatures weakened metal, making their ons brittle. The issue became gringly obvious when Meyu, who had been assisting with supplies, called out in frustration, holding up a snapped sword. "

  We keep losing ons to this damn cold!"

  Hearing the otion, Lay, Jiang, and Lin Wuye approached the gathered workers, all of whom were frowning at a pile of cracked and chipped bdes. Lay's expression mirrored theirs—this was a major problem. Swords that couldn't hold an edge, staffs that risked splintering in mid-strike—in real bat, this could meah.

  Jiang crossed his arms. "We 't just coat everything in Qi nonstop. That'll drain aoo fast."

  Lay thought for a moment. "Maybe there's a way to reinforce the ons? Like a protective yer—something to keep the metal from being too brittle."

  The workers exged looks, clearly sidering it.

  "Or..." Meyu suddenly cut ione far too nont. "We could just heat the ons before use and store them properly. You know. Like normal people."

  Lay blinked. "...What?"

  One of the workers sighed. "Yeah, we already figured that out, Sect Leader. We built ie racks ahem he fe. We just called you guys over 'cause it was funny watg you frown so hard."

  Lay stared at them. Jiang exhaled sharply, rubbing his forehead. Lin Wuye, ever the posed master, simply nodded in approval. "A simple yet effective solution."

  Meyu spped Lay's back with a grin. "Look at that. You overplicated things again."

  Lay groaned, muttering, "I'm never living this down, am I?"

  Meyu smirked. "Nope."

  Before Lay could pin further, she turo her father. "How long until this brutal cold settles down?"

  Lin Wuye, arms crossed, eyed the frost-covered courtyard. "A few more weeks at most. This is the harshest part of the season. After that, the worst should pass."

  Lay exhaled, watg her breath curl into the air. "We're lucky to have Master Daokan and Ats make that deal for the sect. And Meyu, with her ht." She g her friend.

  "What's the step, then?"

  Meyu's grin widened in an all-too-familiar way. "Oh, I'm gd you asked!" She dramatically pulled out the tract, flipping through the part before smming a finger onto a tiny cuse at the bottom. "We're going to turn the Silver Lotus Seto an attra spot and ercialize our martial arts style!"

  Lay, Jiang, and Lin Wuye visibly recoiled.

  "Absolutely not!" Lin Wuye said ftly.

  "Over my dead body." Jiang added.

  "I refuse to turn the seto some tourist gimmick!" Lay snapped.

  Meyu, uapped the tract again. "Ah, but behold! This tiny little cuse here says the Ryl Trading pany reserves the right to moize the sect if needed for survivability."

  Jiang squinted. "That's barely readable. How small is that writing?"

  Meyu grinned, holding up her fingers. "Size 4 script. Just enough to be legal!"

  Lay groaned. "Meyu, I swear—"

  Meyu cpped her hands together. "Don't worry! It's just a minor adjustment. A little training hall here, a demonstration there—maybe a few guided tours! Just imagine: 'e withe legendary Silver Lotus Sect! Live battles! Exclusive lessons! And a ce to dih the sect leader!'"

  Lay buried her fa her hands. "This is a nightmare."

  Lin Wuye's expression darkened. "We ot simply give away the sect's teiques. They have been passed down feions."

  Jiang nodded firmly. "Yeah, this is acy. We're not selling it."

  Meyu gasped dramatically, pg a hand over her heart as if personally offended. "Do I look like some money-hungry fraud to you?" She then blinked.

  "Wait—don't ahat."

  Lay, arms crossed, eyed her warily. "Then what exactly are you suggesting?"

  Meyu's grin stretched wider. "We don't give away the teiques. We just… train people with our martial arts."

  Jiang frowned. "Isn't that the same thing?"

  Meyu clicked her tongue. "Of course not. Think about it! We make them pay for exclusive training sessions—but, and here's the genius part, we only teach them the basics. Just enough for them to want more but not enough to actually learn the full teiques."

  Lin Wuye rubbed his forehead. "This is ridiculous. It's basically a scam but legal"

  Jiang sighed. "I don't like this."

  Meyu, pletely ign them, unfurled the tract dramatically, pointing to a specific se in exaggerated fashion. "Behold! The tiny cuse that says, and I quote, 'Ryl Trading reserves the right to ehe sect survivability by any means'''

  Lay squinted. "That's… really tiny."

  Jiang leaned in. "That's basically microscopic."

  Meyu wagged her finger. "Legally binding microscopic."

  Lin Wuye exhaled. "This is foolishness."

  Lay sighed. "You're just like Ats."

  Meyu threw an arm around Lay, grinning. "Ah, you uand me so well. So, we all agree, right?"

  The three of them exged gnces before collectively groaning.

  "Fine." Lay muttered. "But if this turns into a disaster—"

  "It won't!" Meyu interrupted cheerfully, g her hands. "Now, let's talk prig!"