emptycourtyard

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> “How?” A simple statement without adornments on a neutral face only highlighted its meaningfulness. Danlu thinned his lips. He had wanted to at least hide it until the day was over. “The pair was one of the headquarters’ drivers. A job came in for them to transport a man to Shangsuo Province and back, but both were later found dead and reported to the local magistrate. The coroner at the Shangsuo Prefectural Government Office identified blood loss from damaged throats.” His voice sank with his heart as he spoke. “The customer?” […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> The candles of the room were unlit. Books stacked to form a maze. Not just the texts from the old study, but materials he had Danlu bring over from the carriage service were also scattered about. In the middle of the darkroom, Xiyun absently stared at the closed door. His hand held nothing, unlike usual where a book was always found. He gazed down to an open palm. Closing it. Tightening it. Opening it. Finally, he sighed. The boy stood up and slid open the door to enter the courtyard. Danlu’s stepped […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> A small path weaved through the valley of bamboo. Within the clear green forest was a white stone tower, empty of people. Outside, Leung Lakse slouched against the building with a sword at his lap, absently gazing at nothing. The man’s brown hair pulled back in a knot, further sharpening his features. His eyes narrowed before he stood up and stepped forward, blocking the mountain path. “This is the final point of our sect’s mountain gate and you are not accompanied by a disciple-” Lakse began. Appearing from behind the foliage, […]

<< Previous Chapter Table of Contents Next Chapter >> By morning, Principal Yao still remained at the site of the incident. The cat had slept on the rooftop, growling any time the Mayor’s Office or City Guards attempted to interfere with the Imperial Observatory’s investigation. As it pertained to the safety of a student, the role of overseer had fallen to her. They had completed most of the interviews and interrogations. The information offered by the suspected catalyst, the Black Fan Society, was particularly enlightening. The fact that a group of students considered becoming involved with gang conflicts as playing […]

<< 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 […]