Sugar Paintings and Sword Shadows

Early the next morning, Yun Zhiyu left Sea God's Pavilion before dawn.

Shrek City's morning market was in the east of the city, some distance from the Inner Court. She hurried through the morning light, her silver hair streaming behind her in the breeze like a swimming fish. The street stalls had only just opened. Steaming Soul Beast meat buns, crystal-clear candied hawthorns, and tinkling wind chimes gradually lit up through the thin mist.

She stopped before a sugar-painting stall. The vendor was a white-haired old man whose copper spoon danced over a slate board, tracing dragons, phoenixes, flowers, and birds in golden syrup. Once hardened, they became translucent and gleaming, drawing a circle of children around him.

"Four," Yun Zhiyu said, taking out Federation Credits. "A dragon, a phoenix, a sword, and a star."

The old man glanced up at her, surprise flickering through his cloudy eyes—a child so young, all alone, with silver hair and violet eyes, yet carrying herself with the calm of a little adult. Still, he asked no questions. His copper spoon rose and fell, and four sugar paintings quickly took shape: a coiled dragon and crouching tiger, a phoenix dancing through the nine heavens, a sword piercing the sky, and stars hanging over the plains.

Yun Zhiyu then turned into a pastry shop and bought Yun Zhishu's favorite osmanthus cakes, meat floss pastries Xu Lizhi would surely enjoy, mild lotus paste pastries Yuan En might accept, and—thinking of that girl's thin shoulders—an extra serving of red date cakes to replenish Ye Xinglan's blood and energy.

On her way back, the rising sun climbed over Sea God Lake, dyeing its waters molten gold. Though her hands were laden with bags, her steps were light as she planned the day ahead: sword practice, meditation, forging, and... spending time with her friends.

Friends. The word rolled over her tongue, carrying a strange sweetness.

In Sea God's Pavilion's sitting room, Ya Li had been busy since early morning.

She had personally wiped down the tables and chairs, arranged fresh Soul Beast flowers on the windowsill, and instructed the kitchen to prepare a feast—steamed silver cod, Soul Beast meat stewed with spirit mushrooms, jade vegetable soup, and Yun Zhishu's favorite milk-scented pumpkin mash. As she laid out the dishes, her lips kept curling into a smile.

Zhiyu had friends.

The thought made her eyes sting. For seven years, her eldest daughter had been mature beyond her age. She practiced swordsmanship in the morning, read before noon, forged in the afternoon, and meditated at night. She never caused anyone worry, yet she never allowed anyone too close, either. Countless times, Ya Li had woken in the middle of the night to see the forge still lit. Her heart ached so badly that she wanted to rush inside and drag her daughter back to bed, but she knew that child had her own path to walk.

And now, she had actually brought friends home on her own initiative.

"Aunt Ya Li," Yuan En's voice came from the doorway, carrying a trace of restraint. "We... we're here."

Ya Li turned and saw three small figures standing in the morning light. Yuan En held a bag of dried meat from the Outer Court cafeteria—she truly had not known what gift to bring. Ye Xinglan wore a training uniform washed so often it had faded white, clutching a slender sword with pale knuckles. Xu Lizhi hid behind Ye Xinglan, his chubby face wearing an honest smile as he peeked inside.

"Come in, quickly," Ya Li said warmly. "Zhiyu went to the morning market and will be back soon. Sit down first and try some of Auntie's pastries."

She brought out the Soul Beast milk cakes she had prepared early that morning and poured warm spirit tea. Yuan En sat on the edge of her chair with her back straight, as if ready to stand at any moment. Ye Xinglan swept her gaze across the room before it landed on the calligraphy hanging on the wall. It bore Yun Ming's personal inscription: "The sea embraces all rivers." Xu Lizhi, meanwhile, stared at the milk cakes and swallowed, but did not dare reach for one.

"Go on, eat," Ya Li said, nudging the plate toward him. "Don't be shy. Treat this place like your own home."

Xu Lizhi looked at Ye Xinglan. Only after she gave a slight nod did he carefully pick up a piece. He chewed in small bites, and his eyes immediately lit up. "So... so delicious!"

Ya Li laughed, just about to say something when Yun Zhiyu's voice came from the entrance. "I'm back."

The silver-haired, violet-eyed girl stepped through the door, her hands full of bags and a fine sheen of sweat at her temples. Yet her eyes curved into a bright smile as she handed out the sugar paintings—dragon for Yun Zhishu, phoenix for Yuan En, sword for Ye Xinglan, and star for Xu Lizhi.

"Big Sister! It's a dragon!" Yun Zhishu cheered as she accepted it, her amber-gold eyes widening round. "It looks so mighty!"

Yuan En looked at the phoenix in her hand. Its wings, formed from hardened sugar, were exquisitely detailed and glowed amber beneath the light. She had never received such a gift before. Her family rules were strict; snacks and sweets were considered things for "children." She opened her mouth, wanting to say thank you, but something seemed lodged in her throat.

"Thank you," Ye Xinglan said from beside her. Looking at the sword-shaped sugar painting in her hand, a hint of softness flashed through her dark eyes. "It's beautiful."

"A star! I'm a star!" Xu Lizhi held up his sugar painting, his chubby face breaking into a delighted grin.

Yun Zhiyu spread the pastries across the table, then took out the red date cake and handed it to Ye Xinglan. "You're too thin. Eat more."

Ye Xinglan froze for a moment. The tips of her ears reddened, but she obediently accepted it.

Warmth surged through Ya Li's heart as she watched. Quietly retreating to the kitchen, she packed the prepared dishes into a food box, then said gently, "Zhiyu, I've put the food in your room. You can eat together. Mom is going to the library for a while, so I won't disturb you."

"Thank you, Mom."

Ya Li waved her hand. As she turned away, her eyes grew warm again. She remembered the day Zhiyu awakened her martial soul—silver hair, violet eyes, still as a deep pool, like a little adult who did not belong to this world. Yet now, she was sitting with friends, sharing sugar paintings, her laughter bright and clear—this was what a child was supposed to be like.

Yun Zhiyu's room was not large, but it had been arranged with great care.

A desk stood by the window, piled with ancient books and blueprints. Against the wall was a weapon rack, with the Star Hammer resting quietly on the top tier. Yun Zhishu's easel stood in the corner, holding an unfinished Battle Armor design. Its lines were crooked and uneven, yet brimming with spirit. Everyone sat cross-legged on the carpet, and once the food box was opened, its fragrance filled the room.

"This is good!" Xu Lizhi said through a mouthful of meat floss pastry.

"Slow down. No one's going to steal it from you." Ye Xinglan frowned, but broke her red date cake in half and handed one piece to him.

Yuan En took small bites of her lotus paste pastry, a faintly awkward ease appearing on her pale gray face. She secretly glanced at Yun Zhiyu, who was breaking osmanthus cake into small pieces and feeding them to Yun Zhishu, who lay against her lap. Her movements were practiced and gentle.

"Big Sister Yuan En," little Zhishu suddenly said, turning around with crumbs still clinging to the corner of her mouth. "Have you eaten your sugar painting?"

"...Not yet."

"You need to eat it soon," Yun Zhishu said seriously. "It won't look nice once the sugar melts!"

Yuan En lowered her head to look at the phoenix in her hand. Amber sugar shimmered in the light like a frozen flame. She gently bit off one corner. Sweetness melted across her tongue, carrying the rich fragrance of malt, and strangely, it made her eyes sting.

"Is it sweet?" Yun Zhiyu asked.

"...Sweet."

After the meal, Yun Zhishu pestered Yuan En to hold up the drawing board so she could paint a "Phoenix Spreading Its Wings." Xu Lizhi sprawled in a corner, studying Yun Zhiyu's forging blueprints. He could not understand them, but he was engrossed nonetheless. Yun Zhiyu and Ye Xinglan exchanged a look, rose at the same time, and headed for the open space outside.

"A match?" Ye Xinglan asked, tightening her grip on her slender sword. Sharpness blazed in her dark eyes.

"Gladly."

The clearing was small, roughly ten zhang across, with smooth slate paving the ground and several parasol trees planted around the edges. The autumn sun was just right, and fallen leaves gleamed like scattered gold under its light, spinning in the wind between the two girls.

Yun Zhiyu did not release her martial soul. She merely formed a sword gesture with two fingers, gathering violet-gold Soul Power at her fingertips into the phantom of a tiny sword. Ye Xinglan held her slender sword across her chest. Her Stargod Sword martial soul had not yet fully awakened, but faint specks of star patterns could already be seen along its blade.

"I'll attack?" Ye Xinglan asked.

"Please."

Before the words had even faded, Ye Xinglan moved. Her sword was swift and fierce, like a meteor streaking across the sky as it drove straight for Yun Zhiyu's throat. This was no probe—it was everything she had. She wanted to know just how strong this silver-haired girl truly was.

Yun Zhiyu shifted aside, gently flicking the little sword at her fingertips to guide the slender blade away. Ye Xinglan changed her move swiftly, turning her edge into a horizontal slash at Yun Zhiyu's waist. Yun Zhiyu stepped back half a pace and pressed down with her little sword. With a crisp clang, the two streams of sword qi collided, stirring up a faint ring of air.

"So fast," Ye Xinglan murmured, but an even brighter light ignited in her eyes.

Her sword form became increasingly fierce, and the Stargod Sword's qualities gradually emerged—every strike carried a particular rhythm, like the paths of stars in motion. It seemed chaotic, yet it contained a hidden order. Yun Zhiyu had initially handled it with ease, but fine sweat gradually appeared at her temples as well.

"Your sword," she said while blocking, "has the feeling of stars."

"What?"

"The landing point of every strike." Yun Zhiyu narrowed her violet eyes. "It's as if you're drawing a star chart. Is that the Stargod Sword's instinct, or are you doing it deliberately?"

Ye Xinglan froze for an instant, and her sword form faltered. Yun Zhiyu seized the chance. The little sword at her fingertips slipped through Ye Xinglan's defense and lightly tapped her shoulder before withdrawing.

"Losing focus," she said with a smile, "is a grave taboo."

Ye Xinglan lowered her head to look at the faint violet mark on her shoulder. Rather than being annoyed, she revealed a rare smile. "Again."

This time, she no longer rushed for victory. Instead, she slowed her sword form. Every strike was like a star moving slowly through the night sky, bearing an ancient rhythm. Yun Zhiyu's expression changed, from calm to focused, from focused to entranced.

She "saw" it—the star chart contained in that sword form. The Northern Dipper, the Southern Dipper, the Twenty-Eight Mansions, all slowly turning beneath Ye Xinglan's sword. It was not a Soul Skill or a secret art. It was the instinctive understanding of the sword held by a six-year-old girl, the earliest form of resonance between the Stargod Sword martial soul and her soul.

So that's how it is... she murmured inwardly.

Her Torch Dragon Bloodline stirred faintly, and the phantom of the Xuanyuan Sword trembled within her sea of consciousness, as if responding to some distant call. She suddenly understood why the system had made the Xuanyuan Sword her martial soul—the sword of the Human Emperor, the sacred weapon of the righteous path, was itself the guardian of the stars and the creator of order. Ye Xinglan's Stargod Sword, meanwhile, was the incarnation of the stars and the flow of order.

The two swords shared the same origin but followed different streams, taking different paths toward the same destination.

"I understand now." She suddenly withdrew her sword and leaped back. "We'll stop here for today."

Ye Xinglan could not halt her momentum in time. Her slender sword stabbed into empty air, sending several fallen leaves flying. She frowned at Yun Zhiyu, her dark eyes tinged with unwillingness. "Why? I haven't lost yet."

"And I haven't won." Yun Zhiyu shook her head, smiling with her violet eyes. "Your Star-Chart Sword Form made me think of something. I need to calm down and process it."

Ye Xinglan fell silent for a moment before finally sheathing her sword. She walked over to Yun Zhiyu and sat beside her on the slate. The autumn sun stretched their shadows long, overlapping them like two swords leaning against one another.

"You're very strong," she suddenly said. "Stronger than the swordmasters in my family."

"You're very strong too." Yun Zhiyu turned to look at her. "Given time, you'll become stronger than me."

"Why?"

"Because you are a pure sword," Yun Zhiyu said softly. "And I... the sword is only a means, not everything. I have forging, I have my sister, and I have many people I want to protect. Those things divide my attention, but they also give me strength. But you have only the sword in your heart. That is your advantage, and also your..."

She paused and did not continue.

"And also my what?"

"Nothing." Yun Zhiyu smiled. "You'll understand someday."

The two sat quietly for a while. The autumn wind swept past, carrying the damp scent unique to Sea God Lake. Yun Zhishu's laughter drifted over from afar, along with Yuan En's helpless sigh and Xu Lizhi's honest agreement—the three little ones were probably making a fuss over some trivial matter again.

"Let's meditate," Yun Zhiyu suddenly said. "Together."

Ye Xinglan nodded and sat cross-legged, placing her slender sword across her knees. Yun Zhiyu closed her eyes and formed a hand seal. Her Torch Dragon Bloodline slowly circulated through her meridians as her spiritual power sank into her sea of consciousness.

The phantom of the Xuanyuan Sword floated in her sea of consciousness. The Winged Dragon at its hilt slowly opened its eyes, its violet-gold dragon pupils resonating with her awareness.

She "saw" Ye Xinglan's spiritual fluctuations—a mass of silver-white light, like a star not yet fully lit, quietly burning in the darkness. Yun Zhiyu extended her spiritual power and gently touched it. It was like the tips of two swords meeting, producing a silent hum.

Ye Xinglan's entire body shuddered, but she did not resist. She felt a warm and majestic power enveloping her, as though she were protected beneath the wings of some ancient beast, and as though she had sunk into a bottomless lake—peaceful and still.

Their spiritual powers intertwined and entwined, eventually forming a strange resonance. Yun Zhiyu's Xuanyuan Sword Intent and Ye Xinglan's Stargod Sword Form collided and merged in the void, becoming countless tiny starbursts that scattered across both their seas of consciousness.

This is... Ye Xinglan cried out inwardly.

Swordheart Clarity, Yun Zhiyu's voice rang directly within her mind. The resonance of two swords. Such an opportunity is rare beyond measure. Calm your heart and feel it.

Ye Xinglan obediently closed her eyes and allowed that resonance to guide her spiritual power. She "saw" more—Yun Zhiyu's vast sea of consciousness, the gigantic sword spanning heaven and earth, the colossal dragon coiled around it, and something even deeper, an ancient presence she had yet to touch.

And Yun Zhiyu also "saw" the depths of Ye Xinglan's heart—that lonely star, that empty night sky, desolate and without company.

The spiritual resonance deepened further. Their Soul Power began circulating slowly without their notice, forming a perfect cycle. Yun Zhiyu's Torch Dragon Bloodline brought surging vitality, while Ye Xinglan's Stargod Sword Form brought razor-sharp force. As the two fused, both of their cultivation levels rose slightly.

Time lost all meaning in that moment.

The autumn sun gradually slanted westward, dyeing the clearing a warm gold. Parasol leaves rustled in the wind like some ancient accompaniment. In the distance, Yun Zhishu's voice drew closer, carrying a trace of displeasure. "Big Sister! Big Sister Xinglan! You've been meditating forever!"

Yuan En's voice followed closely behind. "Zhishu, don't disturb them..."

"But the sugar paintings are going to melt!"

Xu Lizhi's honest laughter rang out. "Sister Xinglan won't eat melted sugar paintings. She's so picky..."

Yun Zhiyu's eyelashes trembled, but she did not open her eyes. She could still feel Ye Xinglan's spiritual power resonating with hers. That state of Swordheart Clarity had not yet ended, as though two swords were still clashing in the void, still merging, still searching for a higher level of harmony.

Wait a little longer, she told Ye Xinglan inwardly. Wait a little longer. It isn't over yet.

Mm, Ye Xinglan replied, her voice carrying an unprecedented peace. I'll wait.

Within their seas of consciousness, the phantoms of the Xuanyuan Sword and the Stargod Sword slowly revolved. Violet-gold dragon eyes and silver-white starlight reflected one another, like an ancient prophecy, or fate's gentlest gift.