emptycourtyard

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Burlap hangings shaded the dusty side street. Shibara kept a slim smile on her face as she walked. Neither she nor Israk wore their uniforms, but two traditional wool coats. Resting against door frames, playing chess, or drinking, several people eyed the two as they passed. Israk scowled back anytime one of them glanced over. “And to think you almost didn’t tell me what you two were doing. What is her plan supposed to be anyway?” She adjusted an earring that she wore. “Plan? We are causing trouble. Nothing you need […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Ruidie placed down and a piece of paper and picked up another, humming as she read the information. “The Nine Dragons Gang has nine heads… The first and second heads are unknown, so it is the third head who currently runs the gang…” Xiaosi, the other person who sat across her room, opened his eyes. “I can’t get it to work.” She looked up with shifted brows. With the limited lengths of time she spent reciting Memory Palace and speaking about what she knew, the rate that Xiaosi learned was even faster than […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Ruidie sat crossed-legged on her bed. The instructions which Fundamental Orthodox Study outlined were not only the timing and depth of breaths but also tensing of muscles, pulling of tendons, and changing of blood pressure. There were few indicators of whether she was doing it correctly, with her heart rate being one of them. What the cultivation initially described as a new sense of the body, did not feel like a sense at all. To her, it was like having an odd form of intuition which confirmed true or false questions such as […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Ran Qiang leaned against the stairwell of the library’s first floor as the distant bell rang. Her eyes closed and her lips pressed together. She couldn’t wait any longer, there were matters of importance in the city. Yet just as she was leaving, she spotted and stopped in front of the person she was waiting for. “Follow me.” She began walking down the shelves without waiting for a reply from a surprised Ruidie. Footsteps told her that the girl followed. “What is it?” Ruidie said. Ran Qiang quickened her pace towards […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Ruidie picked up Memory Palace. Before, she wasn’t going to take the book with her, but now, she felt that it was important. She had to make a copy and knew who to look for. The southern building was nearby, so it was quick to get to. From the hallway, she stepped into the largest entrance and found herself in a long room of tables and wooden contraptions. There were several Thousand Thought students sitting at tables and moving around. One held up a flat piece of wood the size of a […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Ruidie slouched at her desk and spun a brush between her fingers. “Instructor Lei, another question.” “Another one? How many more are there?” Lei Shiwen kept his gaze on at his table and was writing something like always. The class already ended and she once again remained at her seat. “About the next essay. If I wrote on the differences between Northern Xue’s accounts and Southern Shen’s accounts of the Five Pivotal Battles, how well do you think I would do.” The man sighed. “For the last time, I am not […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Between the patches of dry grass and sandy dunes stood a small town protected by three layers of short earthen walls. Its flat buildings were built from various grey and yellow stones. Its name was Sucheng. Drunk soldiers slouched against the sides of the main street. When they saw a young soldier walk alone towards the open plaza, many cheered. “His squad finally deserted him! I finally won a pool!” a man shouted. Liquor fell from his jug. “Oh please, the odds were stacked in the first place. Who can stand […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Danlu picked a nearby stool and placed it by the wall to sit on. When he saw Qiyang’s bewildered posture on what to do, he brought him a stool as well, before his attention fixated on the meeting again. Manager Chen slammed the table. “I don’t care if they leave, but they’re making a mess as they’re doing so.” “More than a mess.” Chu Su was reading the ledger the First Head Accountant handed to him. “Most of the damage has been prevented and the branches remain relatively stable. It is […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> A still sleepy Danlu woke up and dragged his feet to the kitchen. In his mind, he went through everything he was going to do today. The first aspect of his plan was already ruined when he opened the kitchen door. Someone was already there. Xiyun stood before the heating iron pot on top of the kitchen stove, waiting while holding a large bowl of cut pork on one hand and a large bowl of cut mutton on the other. After a moment passed, he dumped both into the broth. “Xiyun? […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> Six individuals sat surrounding the courtyard’s circular table. Yeon glanced across the stone surface. “Why are you here?” “Not voluntarily, that’s for sure.” Gaokang picked up a cup of tea that Chu Su had prepared and placed it by his lips. His eyes swept a glance at Xiyun who sat beside Yeon. “You are impartial, right?” Xiyun said. “Like my father, I can act as an intermediary between the masters themselves and the Back Manor. I will only answer questions that are within my functions.” Xiyun nodded “That’s fine, I have […]