He Shan walked in.

  The maybe protagonist. The future calamity. The poor bastard who was destined to drag half the sect into chaos.

  A wry internal smile touched Zhen's thoughts. And potentially, my ticket to handling Xu Mian without getting into another fight.

  Trailing He Shan like a watchful hawk was a middle-aged man draped in the formal, light-blue robes of an Outer Sect Elder. His long black hair was tied loosely at the nape of his neck, and his eyes held a glint of casual arrogance — the kind you only got from surviving long enough in the sect to see generations rise and fall beneath you.

  Movement flickered in Zhen's peripheral vision. Smooth as flowing water, Xu Mian rose from his seat. With a murmured, "Thanks for the direction," audible only to us, he slid into a chair at the adjacent table, his back now angled away from the newcomers but still affording him a view of the room.

  Direction? What direction? Zhen blinked, then understanding dawned. Is he running away? Already? Damn, that Xu Mian was always this slippery.

  Just as Zhen had clocked Xu Mian's shift, He Shan’s gaze swept the room. It passed over Xu Mian’s new position – a barely perceptible pause, a flicker of acknowledgment perhaps – before continuing its arc and landing squarely on Zhen. Their eyes met.

  They must have known each other. Zhen's internal sigh was heavy. He Shan, a walking destiny magnet, an Elder who looks like he eats disciples for breakfast, and Xu Mian skulking in the corner.

  He Shan’s mouth curled into a smile as he walked over. "Senior Brother Zhen!" He crossed the room in a few strides and stopped in front of Zhen’s table.

  Why is he here? Why is he smiling like that? Why is he smiling like that at me?

  The Elder followed behind He Shan, his hands clasped behind his back. His gaze swept over Zhen with a calculating glint. "Ah, so this is little Zhen I’ve heard about."

  Little? I may be inhabiting a teenager's body, but mentally, I'm pushing middle age, thank you very much. Zhen felt a flicker of affront, quickly swallowed by surprise. He’s heard of me? Must be He Shan’s doing. Are they close? This Elder… he doesn't look ancient, but cultivation messes with appearances. Impossible to tell his true age or power just by looking. Zhen inclined his head respectfully.

  "Elder Shu," He Shan smiled, "This is Senior Brother Li Zhen. He saved me once. Senior Brother this is Elder Shu from Jadecrest Peak."

  Zhen immediately rose slightly from his seat, performing a respectful junior's salute. "Disciple Li Zhen greets Elder Shu."

  Seeing his formal greeting, Ning Xue also stood, though perhaps a fraction of a second slower. She mirrored the salute, with a soft, clear voice. "Ning Xue greets Elder Shu."

  Elder Shu acknowledged their greetings with a brief, almost imperceptible nod. "Saved you? From what?"

  Zhen offered a faint, self-deprecating smile. "A misunderstanding with Wang Bo. Nothing noteworthy."

  Elder Shu gave a low hum. His gaze lingered on him, and for a moment, Zhen could have sworn the man’s eyes flashed with amusement.

  Is this He Shan's master? Zhen’s mind leaped. But He Shan wasn't supposed to have a public master yet… An Outer Sect Elder, though? Plausible, but still unexpected.

  "Why don't we all sit?" Zhen offered smoothly, already signaling a nearby server for two more plates of breakfast buns and congee. With easy movements, he reached over to the unoccupied neighboring table, pulling one more sturdy wooden chair over to join his own. I wonder if they looked at Xu Mian properly, Zhen mused inwardly. They must have. The way they're both studiously ignoring his corner is almost louder than an acknowledgment.

  He Shan took a seat immediately, his eyes bright with undisguised curiosity. "What brings Senior Brother Zhen here?" Elder Shu settled more deliberately, adjusting his robes with a subtle air.

  Zhen inclined his head toward Ning Xue. "A friend asked me to introduce her to the sect."

  He Shan nodded understandingly, accepting the plausible explanation. Elder Shu, however, had been observing Ning Xue with a detached, analytical gaze since sitting down.

  His mind, however, was racing far beyond simple introductions. He Shan. Xu Mian. Elder Shu. Ning Xue. All converging here. This isn’t a coincidence. This is a powder keg waiting to go off.

  "It's a long road ahead for any newcomer hoping to join the Sect," Elder Shu remarked thoughtfully, his voice calm. He looked directly at Zhen now. "You seem quite invested in helping her start, Li Zhen."

  Zhen's gaze flicked toward Ning Xue. She was sitting quietly, her expression unreadable — but he could see the tension in her shoulders, the faint tremble of her hand. And her straight posture, which should not be so refined. "It should not be a problem, especially with her promising potential."

  He Shan’s eyes widened slightly, his gaze snapping back to Ning Xue with a new level of assessment. Elder Shu’s surprise was visible – a quick lift of his eyebrows, a momentary stilling of his posture. Then, a considering look entered his eyes. "Promising, you say?" His gaze swept over Ning Xue again. "Jadecrest Peak could always use more talent..." he mused, almost to himself, yet loud enough to be heard.

  Stolen story; please report.

  Hmm, just 'welcome'? Zhen noted internally. Old man isn't you trying to directly poaching her. Good for you, I'm also trying to have her leave. But Jadecrest Peak alone would not be enough for her protection.

  Zhen decided to push, adopting a tone of respectful inquiry. "Elder Shu, might you be considering accepting a new disciple anytime soon?"

  Ning Xue’s head whipped towards him, her dark eyes wide. For a heartbeat, her usual guarded expression fractured, revealing a raw, vulnerable hurt. She thinks I'm trying to pawn her off, to abandon her.

  Even across the room, Zhen saw Xu Mian flinch, a minute tightening of his shoulder muscles the only betrayal of his otherwise unreadable mask. Definitely hit a nerve.

  He saw the refusal already forming on Elder Shu’s face – the slight tightening around his mouth, the subtle way his eyes seemed to withdraw — but it changed the moment Xu Mian reacted. Elder Shu’s brow lifted, a new thread of interest slipping into his gaze. "Do you recommend her, Li Zhen?"

  Zhen met the Elder's gaze steadily, then shifted his glance pointedly towards He Shan. "I think you’d find Ning Xue having acceptable qualifications." The implication hung heavy in the air: She could be just as valuable, just as troublesome, just as much of a prize.

  Elder Shu studied Ning Xue thoughtfully, tapping a long finger against the tabletop. "And why should I accept her?" His eyes narrowed again, challenging. "She doesn't strike me as particularly remarkable at first glance."

  Damn old fox. Zhen mentally gritted his teeth. He wants the details. He wants to know her secret. Revealing Ning Xue's specifics felt like a betrayal, but the predatory stillness emanating from Xu Mian’s corner was a potent motivator. He turned to Ning Xue, a silent question in his eyes.

  They both knew there weren’t many ways to hide her. If Xu Mian was circling like a hawk, then Ning Xue needed protection — and fast. And an Elder’s protection was the surest shield for now.

  After a long, searching moment where her gaze seemed to weigh his intentions, Ning Xue gave a tiny, almost imperceptible nod.

  Zhen let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding. Dipping a fingertip in a glass of water, he carefully traced characters onto the dark wood of the table.

  High-Grade Water Spiritual Roots.

  The letters were a little crooked — his hand wasn’t practiced enough to make them neat — but the meaning was unmistakable.

  I changed it from Innate to High Grade. Better to downplay it. He didn’t trust Elder Shu — not fully — and a disciple with Innate Water Spirit Roots would only stir up greed.

  But the reaction he was expecting didn’t come.

  Instead of pleased surprise, Elder Shu’s expression smoothed over, becoming opaque, but Zhen caught the faintest downward curl of his lips. Not quite dissatisfaction, but bordering on... distaste?

  Zhen frowned internally. Why? That makes no sense.

  He Shan’s eyes widened briefly in surprise, but something else shadowed his features – a flicker of remembered pain, of complication. His mouth tightened into a thin line.

  Zhen's mind raced, pieces clicking into place like tumblers in a lock. High-grade water roots were rare, and valuable. Elder Shu should be interested. But he's not and it should be something related to He Shan…

  Elder Shu’s lips curled, a smile devoid of any warmth. "Another high-grade spirit root?"

  Another? The realization slid into place like a blade. He Shan had been betrayed before — that Senior Sister Su might also have high-grade spiritual roots. Is his master also angry because of it?

  Elder Shu should still be bitter over that Senior Sister Su incident — and the involvement of Velvetbliss.

  "Of course. Wouldn't it be better to snatch a nice seedling who would have been an…" Zhen’s voice turned pointed. "Excellent disciple for the Peak? Snatching her from them would make them grind their teeth in anger."

  Elder Shu’s expression darkened, but there was a flicker of consideration beneath it. "And how long would that last? Jadecrest Peak doesn’t specialize in water roots. If she’s truly that talented, she’ll eventually leave."

  Hooked him. Zhen hid a triumphant smile. "Oh, you don’t have to worry about that. She already has techniques and refinement methods."

  He hoped that was true. Clearly, Ning Xue was from a prestigious clan — there should be no problem. Right?

  Zhen glanced toward Ning Xue. She met his gaze, and gave another small nod.

  Relief washed over Zhen. Good.

  Elder Shu’s gaze sharpened. His brow arched faintly — not in surprise, but in thinly veiled skepticism. "Techniques? From where?"

  Zhen’s expression remained carefully neutral. "From some fortuitous encounter."

  He Shan’s gaze shifted toward his master. a flicker of unspoken tension passed between them.

  Elder Shu’s fingers tapped against the table. Once. Twice. Then he sighed. "Fine." His voice was sharp, cutting.

  Zhen’s breath slid out of him. Got him.

  His fingers flicked subtly against the back of Ning Xue's wrist — a small, sharp movement.

  Her eyes widened slightly. Then she understood. She stood up, hands pressing together in a formal bow. "Disciple Ning Xue greets Master."

  Elder Shu’s gaze lingered on her for a long, measuring moment. Then his hand dipped into his sleeve and pulled out a thin, rectangular badge. "Take this." He held out the badge. "We will perform the ceremony in the sect tomorrow."

  Zhen’s gaze flickered as he caught sight of the badge. It was jade, dark green with silver etching — the standard design of a disciple token.

  Zhen’s mind turned over the detail. Elder Shu already had a badge ready. Does he keep a few on hand to scoop up any good seedlings?

  Ning Xue’s eyes flicked toward Zhen before she accepted it with both hands. "Thank you, Master." She carefully tucked the badge into her sleeve and sat down.

  Xu Mian’s chair scraped back suddenly. He stood, his expression dark. His eyes swept over Ning Xue and Zhen before he turned toward the door.

  The door closed behind him with a sharp clack.

  Elder Shu’s gaze lingered on the door for a moment before returning to Zhen. "Was Xu Mian also interested in her?"

  He was not surprised that Elder Shu has already some conceptions about it.

  "Interested might be an understatement," Zhen said while recounting an abridged version of the story.