With the test of the Emotion Severing Slash done and his Soul Qi running a bit low, Han Yu settled back down on the bamboo steps of his courtyard, arms resting over his knees as he let his mind drift.
He wasn't just recovering.
He was thinking.
The tranquil ripples of the pond nearby were a far cry from the noisy chaos that used to define his every day—back when he had to dodge accusations, duck flying soup bowls in the servant quarters, and mask his schemes behind an innocent smile.
Now? He had Soul Skills, a growing understanding of cultivation, and more importantly… he had influence.
He cast his gaze toward the distant Twin Leaf Peak.
The Eight Emotions energy that had once erupted from the various peaks of the sect had dwindled. Where once there had been waves upon waves flooding the ambient qi with emotional resonance, now there were only faint flickers—one or two every hour, no more.
But those few lingering sparks…
Han Yu's lips curled up slightly.
