Yuming returned to Far Lantern Peak as the sun dipped behind the far side of Mount Zhenyuan. He hadn't told anyone he was attempting the Ren Meridian breakthrough today, but success in cultivation was only private until it wasn't.
Almost all Meridian Unblocking techniques specified opening the twelve meridians first, using those as a means to open the more difficult Ren and Du, so Yuming was somewhat of a novelty—a boy of exceptional talent, cultivating a difficult Dao Imprint technique. Who wouldn't pay some attention?
So, by the time he reached the courtyard, word had already spread.
"Is it true?" Liu Yiling appeared from behind a stone pillar, eyes wide. "You opened your Ren Meridian?"
Yuming barely had time to nod before she grabbed his sleeve. "That's—that's incredible! Do you know how few people our age have even started on their extraordinary meridians?"
Liu Yuren approached more slowly, hands tucked into his sleeves, but his usual lazy smile had twisted into something genuine. "Congratulations, Yuming!" He glanced at Yiling.
"Though I suppose now she'll be even more insufferable about catching up."
"I'm already ahead of you," Yiling shot back.
The next day, a small celebration appeared—nothing formal, just a few direct descendants and some of the faster-advancing branch disciples gathering in one of the common halls. Someone had brought spirit rice juice—it lacked alcohol, of course, they were too young to be drinking spirit wine. Yuming was at the center of the room, receiving compliments. Yuming knew that most people just wanted to get close to him for his potential, and didn't love being the center of attention. He was excited for the party to end.
Liu Yufeng, who had already opened a number of his twelve meridians, was in attendance. He didn't say it, but he viewed Liu Yuming as one of his major rivals along with Liu Yiyi. I have to work harder! He thought to himself.
Liu Yitong, quieter than the others, handed Yuming a small bundle of candied fruit. "My mother sent these for my cultivation, but... you've earned them more than me," she said with a shy smile. Yuming accepted with both hands, feeling the uncomfortable warmth of their acknowledgment settle on his shoulders, feeling slightly uncomfortable.
Then the door opened, and Liu Tianrui strode in, grinning wide. Liu Tianrui was the one who had picked up Yuming from Willowbank, the one who had taken him to his sister's funeral, and was the elder that he was closest with. It wasn't surprising that he'd found out.
As a Qi Condensation cultivator, his presence naturally carried more weight than any of the children mingling at the party. Even the instructors on Far Lantern Peak—who were mostly at the Dantian Awakening stage—couldn't compare to Liu Tianrui. Some children immediately broke out into sweat, and all of the guests made way for him.
"Ming'er!" he called out, loud enough that the whole room turned. "I heard the good news and couldn't stay away!" He crossed the room in a few long strides, pulling a small vial from his sleeve. "Meridian-Soothing Dew. You'll need it when you start working on the Du Meridian."
Liu Tianrui knew that the higher-ups of the Family had reached an agreement not to recruit Yuming—and he was on probation—so explicitly giving gifts to him was slightly frowned upon. However, he'd been on probation for three years now and the punishment wasn't as strict. Furthermore, everyone knew that he and Yuming had been close for some time, so it wasn't too big of a deal to give a gift.
He pressed it into Yuming's hand before Yuming could even think to refuse.
"Uncle Rui, I—"
Liu Tianrui's lips curved into a playful smile, and he gave Yuming a serious look. "Debt flows down, gratitude flows up, karma remembers!"
Liu Tianrui, although he was a Qi Condensation cultivator, didn't have too much status in the Liu Family and thoroughly enjoyed acting elderly, using fancy phrases he'd heard around Yuming. The first time he'd met Yuming, he declared "The Great Dao has fifty, Heaven takes forty-nine!" He still didn't really understand what that meant.
But Yuming always spent time contemplating the deep wisdom of his unfathomable Uncle Rui, so he immediately fell into thought. Karma remembers… karma remembers gifts? I owe debt? As he tried to process the words, he counted on his fingers. How many gifts had he received until now?
Unfortunately, Liu Tianrui left soon after he arrived, so Yuming never had the chance to question him. Yuming tried to enjoy the rest of the party, but soon went back to his room, lost in thought.
Yuming sat by the edge of his bed, the vial of Meridian-Soothing Dew still clutched in his hand. The celebration sounds from the courtyard had faded to nothing. He was alone.
Debt flows down, gratitude flows up… karma remembers.
He repeated the words under his breath. Flows downward. Debt goes to those below. To those who can't push it back up. The gratitude flows up, to the strong. Yuming's frown deepened.
It's extraction.
He set the vial down on the small wooden table beside him, watching how the liquid inside caught the flicker of the lantern light, shimmering faintly.
And karma is the ledger. It wasn't just a metaphor—karma recorded, what you owed could be collected on. His thoughts drifted—unwillingly at first—back to the demon hunt, to the shack in the forest. He saw Yujin's body being dragged toward that door, limp and helpless in the demonic cultivator's grip.
Yuming had been there. He was hidden, armed, and resolute. He could have saved Yujin.
And then Tianjue descended from the sky like a burning comet, flames spiraling, the siblings melting before they could even scream.
"I didn't want you to get your hands dirty," Tianjue had said.
Yuming's jaw tightened. Didn't want me to get my hands dirty.
He stood abruptly, pacing to the narrow window. Outside, the mountain peaks loomed dark against the starlit sky. Somewhere out there cultivators flew on swords, shooting through the night like shooting stars. And somewhere out there, the Family was always watching.
He knew where we were the whole time.
That much was obvious. The Liu Renshu incident had already taught him that the Family always watched. But if Tianjue was watching... why didn't he save them earlier?
Yuming pressed his palm against the cool stone of the window frame. Why wait until the last possible moment? Tianjue and Yujin are close. Both core descendants of the Zhan Branch.
Maybe he wanted to stop Yujin from owing me karma?
Yuming's breath caught.
If Yujin had owed him—if Yuming had saved Yujin's life—then a Zhan Branch asset would be indebted to someone outside their control. That's... that's a reason. But the timing still felt wrong. His fingers curled into a fist.
Think. When did I first meet Tianjue?
The memory surfaced easily: the Merit Archive Pavilion, Overseer He offering one spirit stone, and then Tianjue appearing out of nowhere with five.
Yuming's stomach twisted.
Five spirit stones. For a technique so niche only Yuming benefited from it. Yuming thought Overseer He's offer was generous. At the time, he'd thought Tianjue was just being generous. Trying to win favor. But now...
Does he want me to owe him karmic debt?
Yuming sank back onto the bed. But why? What do they gain from—
He froze, lifting his head slowly. Yujin. Tianjue. The Merit Archive. The Merit Hall.
The pieces began clicking into place, one after another, each one colder than the last. Zhan Branch runs the Merit Hall. Zhan Branch runs the Merit Archive. His voice came out as a whisper. "I've been getting paid by them alone for three years."
After the probation, all of the jobs he could find had been through the Zhan Branch's network. Without the Zhan Branch, his path would have slowed dramatically. They've been my lifeline for three years!
Yuming stood again, unable to sit still. His hands were shaking slightly.
I owe them. I owe them everything I've earned. They were my only option, if they weren't there, I'd be without options. I'm on probation, so I don't get allowance from the Family, I just get paid by the Zhan Branch!
And the interview—Liu Wanyue. "She'd never done the interview before," Yuming muttered aloud. "Overseer He said that. She did it just that one time." She's Zhan Branch too.
Were they going to give me the job even if I didn't pass? Did I really pass?
Sweat beaded on his forehead. He wiped it away with the back of his hand, but his palm came away damp.
And my probation. Four years. It had always been absurd. Even the lower-level administrators had been confused. "The order came from above."
The Zhan Branch must have pushed for it. They'd isolated him, made him desperate, made sure the only hand that could lift him was theirs. I've been completely reliant on them all this time.
He turned sharply, staring at the vial on the table. The fourth gift. Or was it the fifth? He'd lost count.
If I assume the Zhan Branch wants me to owe them karma... does Tianjue's behavior make sense?
He forced himself to think it through step by step. I understand why Tianjue wouldn't want me to save Yujin.
That part was clear now. Yujin owing him would disrupt their control. But why not intervene earlier?
Yuming closed his eyes, and the image of the shack returned. He pictured Yujin being dragged, and the demonic cultivators closing in. And then—I convinced Yujin to stay.
The realization hit him like cold water.
I came up with the plan. I led him into danger. His throat tightened. If Yujin had been seriously injured... or died...
The guilt would have crushed him. A Zhan Branch junior, dead because of his plan. I would have owed them for his death.
Yuming sat down heavily on the bed. Tianjue waited until the danger was real, real enough that I'd be grateful, and if Yujin had died...
But what does the Zhan Branch actually want?
That was the question he couldn't answer.
To draw me closer? No. The Immortal Master said the branches wouldn't fight over me. If I can figure this out, the Xu Branch can too. They'd never allow it unless…
Unless it served them somehow. Unless the manipulation was deeper than simple recruitment.
And if Tianjue was willing to risk Yujin's life for it? Yuming's jaw set. Then it can't be something small.
Yuming looked down at the vial again.
I don't know what they're planning. But it can't be anything good.