The courtyard was quiet as dusk settled over the Jade Wind Pavilion. Shadows of rustling bamboo leaves danced along the walls of Shadow's new residence, carried by the breeze of a world too vast and alive to wait for anyone.
Shadow sat cross-legged in the meditation chamber, the scroll of **Thunderroot Vortex** unfurled before him.
Lines of intricate calligraphy traced patterns across the parchment, each curve a reflection of force, balance, and explosive release. He had spent the past two days studying it—observing, memorizing, and theorizing its structure. He could see the logic. He could feel its rhythm.
And yet—
Nothing happened.
He extended his hand. Focused. Willed his Qi to coil, then spiral outward.
A spark crackled at his fingertips—faint, weak.
Then it died.
Shadow exhaled slowly. His face turned grim.
"I should've asked for more spirit stones instead," he muttered, shaking his head. "What use is a high-grade technique if I can't even use it?"
His mood soured further as he looked at the scroll.
He could **comprehend** it.
He could **understand** the flow.
But cultivate it?
That was still beyond him.
"Just pushing Qi outside my body is this difficult…?" he whispered.
It was as though his cultivation system—**born from stealing heaven's power**—had no natural path to outward manifestation. His dantian could **devour** energy. His soul could **comprehend** it.
But his body still needed time to **command** it.
He closed the scroll, eyes calm despite the storm brooding beneath his expression.
"If thunder doesn't flow, I'll carve a path through the silence."
A knock echoed across the courtyard gates.
Shadow stood and walked to the door.
When he opened it, the setting sun revealed a tall man in black inner sect robes embroidered in silver lightning.
Sharp jawline. Cold gaze. Hair tied in a high knot. Behind him stood a graceful woman in flowing blue robes, her spiritual aura delicate yet profound—gentle as mist, but vast as oceans.
"Still sitting around sulking, Shadow?" the man said with a smirk.
Shadow blinked.
Then his eyes widened.
"Jian Wu?"
The cold man grinned. "Took you long enough. You were always slow—mentally, I mean."
Shadow stared at him for a beat. "And yet I recall you once tried to court your own cousin because she wore a veil."
Jian Wu coughed violently. "It was a misunderstanding! It was dark, and she changed her voice!"
The woman beside him chuckled softly.
Jian Wu gestured to her. "This is Lian Yue. My wife. Stronger than me and terrifying before breakfast. Bow or she'll take it personally."
Lian Yue smiled. "We've heard quite a bit about you, Shadow. Jian speaks of you fondly."
"I hope he didn't tell you about the time he got stuck upside-down in a spiritual vine trap for three hours."
Jian Wu groaned. "You swore never to mention that again!"
"You made me swear *while still upside-down!*"
They shared a laugh as Shadow welcomed them inside.
---
Tea was poured. Moonlight spilled across the courtyard. The three sat beneath the peach tree, conversation blooming with warmth.
Jian Wu drank from a gourd of wine. Shadow nursed a porcelain cup of tea.
"You still drink that leaf juice?" Jian Wu scoffed.
"Better than letting wine rob me of what little sense I have left."
Lian Yue smiled. "He's always been this serious?"
"Serious?" Jian Wu leaned in. "He once scolded a frog for croaking too loudly while meditating. And then, get this, he relocated the frog—to a different pond—using Qi threading!"
Shadow sipped calmly. "It was interrupting my enlightenment. And it croaked in triplets."
Lian Yue covered her mouth, laughing. "Triplets?"
"He named them!" Jian Wu added. "Feng, Fang, and—what was the third one?"
"Ribbit," Shadow said solemnly.
The laughter turned into wheezing.
"Do you remember the time you made a homemade talisman for flight?" Shadow asked, suddenly grinning.
Jian Wu went pale. "Don't you dare—"
"It launched you into a beehive."
Lian Yue blinked. "You were stung by bees?"
"He was stung *by bees, a wasp, and somehow a passing spiritual hornet.* It was an achievement."
"You think that's bad?" Jian Wu countered. "This guy tried to teach a squirrel to meditate. For *weeks.* He even built it a little cushion."
Shadow shrugged. "It had potential."
"You cried when it ran away."
"I did not."
"He offered it three spirit stones to come back."
Lian Yue wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. "You two… are ridiculous."
---
Eventually, the tone shifted.
"You've changed," Jian Wu said, voice quieter. "Your aura… it's heavier. Wiser. But also unstable."
Shadow didn't deny it. "I'm still adjusting. My body struggles to release Qi. My cultivation isn't like yours."
Lian Yue nodded. "You built your own system. That kind of path… demands everything."
"Was it worth it?" Jian Wu asked.
Shadow looked toward the moon, his smile faint.
"I'm still deciding."
Jian Wu sighed. "Then you'd better hurry. The **four Sect War Exchange** is in six months."
Shadow's brows furrowed. "Already?"
"Verdant Moon. Green spear sect . Crimson fog Sect, white stone sect" Lian Yue said. "The best of each gathering for glory… and blood."
Jian Wu leaned back. "Everyone will come to test the so-called 'heaven-defying Shadow.' You'll need more than a dramatic entrance this time."
Shadow chuckled bitterly. "Maybe I can dazzle them by setting myself on fire again."
Jian Wu grinned. "Or… get married. That might shock them more."
Shadow nearly dropped his cup. "Excuse me?"
"You heard me. You're famous now. Time to find a nice violent woman to stab you awake each morning. Builds character."
"I'll pass."
Lian Yue said softly, "Power without connection becomes cold. Consider his words."
"I'll consider not letting him suggest anything again."
"Hey!"
More laughter followed.
As night deepened, Jian Wu stood. "We've taken enough of your time. Missions call. And my wife won't let me skip them anymore."
"She's a good influence," Shadow said sincerely.
"She terrifies me in all the best ways," Jian Wu whispered loudly.
Lian Yue elbowed him playfully. "Behave."
Shadow walked them to the gate.
"Thanks for the visit."
Jian Wu clapped him on the shoulder. "Six months. Get stronger. Don't end up using Thunder Slash to cook rice."
Shadow smirked. "It'd still be more useful than your lightning formation that blew up a latrine."
"ONE TIME!"
With laughter fading into the night, Shadow returned to his chamber.
He looked at the Thunder Vortex scroll.
He didn't sigh.
He didn't curse.
He sat, quietly.
And said: maybe we are not fated
he hid the scroll away with a sigh
"
---