Lotus Heart and Spear

The day Na'er arrived, Shrek City saw its first snow of the winter.

She stood in the Sea God's Pavilion's sitting room, silver hair falling to her waist and clear silver eyes making her look like a little figure carved from ice and snow. She appeared seven or eight years old, half a head shorter than Yun Zhiyu, yet she possessed a strange tranquility beyond her years—not maturity, but a detachment as though a thin veil separated her from the world. It was as if she watched this world, yet had never truly belonged to it.

"Pavilion Master Yun Ming," the elderly man who had brought her bowed respectfully, though his tone carried a hint of relief. "This child... we leave her to Shrek. Her family saw that she was exceptionally gifted and heard that you were kind and valued talent, so they came especially to ask that you take her as a disciple."

Yun Ming's gaze settled on Na'er. He sensed an ancient, majestic aura faintly seeping from that tiny body, like some beast beneath the deep sea turning over now and then, stirring invisible ripples.

That aura bore some resemblance to Yun Zhiyu's Torch Dragon Bloodline, yet it was colder, more... lonely.

"What is your name?" he asked in a deep voice.

"Na'er," the girl answered, her voice as light as snowflakes touching the ground. "I have no surname."

"Why not?"

"I don't remember."

Yun Ming and Yali exchanged a glance. Yali stepped forward and draped a warm fur cloak over Na'er's shoulders, her movements gentle. "Child, are you cold?"

Na'er looked up at her. A trace of confusion flashed through her silver eyes, as though she were trying hard to understand the meaning of the word "cold." After a long moment, she gently shook her head. "I'm not cold, but... thank you."

Yun Zhiyu stood at the staircase, taking in the entire scene. Looking at Na'er's silver hair, silver eyes, and that detached air, complicated emotions rose in her heart—within the original story, Na'er was the secondary personality of Gu Yue, the Silver Dragon King, the soul beast sovereign's curiosity and test of the human world. In the end, she fell in love with Tang Wulin and disappeared when she merged with Gu Yue, becoming a regret held by countless readers.

Yet now, that "regret" stood in her family's sitting room, wrapped in her mother's warm cloak, with emotions belonging to a "human" still dormant in her silver eyes.

"Zhiyu," Yun Ming suddenly said, "come here."

She slowly descended the stairs. Na'er's gaze followed her, and the instant her silver eyes fell upon Yun Zhiyu, they froze slightly. Yun Zhiyu felt a strange pull—the Torch Dragon Bloodline trembled faintly within her meridians. It was not vigilance, but some kind of... resonance? Like two rivers separated for years, gazing at each other from afar where they met the sea.

Na'er felt it too. She instinctively took a step toward Yun Zhiyu, then stopped. Rare confusion and... longing surfaced in her silver eyes.

"You two..." Yali looked at the children in surprise.

"The Torch Dragon Bloodline," Long Yeyue's aged, distant voice came from the corner. "An ancient dragon clan bloodline. For it to resonate with hers, this child... is fated with Zhiyu."

Yun Ming pondered for a moment before making his decision. "Na'er, from this day onward, you will enter my tutelage. You will be of the same generation as Zhiyu and Zhishu. Zhiyu is the eldest, so take good care of her from now on."

"Yes, Father." Yun Zhiyu bowed, then turned to Na'er and extended her hand. "Little Junior Sister, welcome to the Sea God's Pavilion."

Na'er looked at that hand, hesitating for a long time before finally taking it gently.

Yun Zhiyu's palm was warm, carrying the distinctive lingering heat of the forging room's metal. Strangely, it made her feel... safe. That sense of being separated from the world by a thin veil seemed to melt away at one corner beneath the warmth of that hand.

"Senior Sister," she said softly. Her voice was awkward, yet held a nearly imperceptible softness.

Na'er's arrival was like a pebble tossed into a placid lake, sending ripples spreading layer after layer.

She lived in the room beside Yun Zhiyu's. Every morning, she meditated with Yun Zhiyu, and the resonance between the Silver Dragon Bloodline and the Torch Dragon Bloodline made the circulation of their soul power twice as effective with half the effort.

When Yun Zhiyu practiced swordsmanship in the mornings, Na'er stood quietly to one side and watched, sword light reflected in her silver eyes. Every now and then, she made a few gestures herself, displaying a natural hint of sword intent. In the afternoons, when Yun Zhiyu forged, Na'er sat in the corner with her knees hugged to her chest, watching all day without a word, like a quiet shadow.

At first, Yun Zhishu was merely curious.

"Big Sister, the new little sister is so pretty!" She lay sprawled across Yun Zhiyu's back, her amber-gold eyes examining Na'er. "Her hair is silver too, just like yours. It's like the moon!"

"Mm." Yun Zhiyu smiled and rubbed her hair. "Junior Sister Na'er is two months younger than you. You have to be accommodating toward her."

"Got it!"

But gradually, Yun Zhishu realized something was wrong.

When Big Sister meditated in the mornings, the spot beside her changed from "Zhishu's exclusive spot" to "Na'er's exclusive spot." When Big Sister practiced swordsmanship, the person handing her a towel to wipe her sweat changed from "Zhishu" to "Na'er." When Big Sister forged, the quiet companion sitting in the corner changed from "Zhishu drawing designs" to "Na'er hugging her knees and staring blankly."

What hurt her even more was that Na'er seemed naturally able to understand Big Sister's words.

When Big Sister said, "The bloodline and soul power need to circulate more slowly," Na'er immediately adjusted her breathing. When Big Sister said, "This sword's curve needs to bend another three tenths," Na'er could immediately gesture out the correct angle. Yet Yun Zhishu herself always needed Big Sister to repeat it two or three times before she nodded with only a vague understanding.

"Big Sister..." One night, Yun Zhishu stood at Yun Zhiyu's doorway clutching a pillow, her voice muffled. "You didn't tell me a story today."

Yun Zhiyu opened her eyes from meditation and paused. "I'm sorry, Zhishu. Junior Sister Na'er just arrived, and I need to..."

"You need her, but not me anymore?" Yun Zhishu's eyes reddened, though she bit her lip and refused to let her tears fall. "I understand. Big Sister has a new little sister now."

She turned and ran away. Her pillow fell to the floor like an abandoned cloud.

Yun Zhiyu rose to chase after her, but Na'er gently caught her sleeve. The silver-haired girl's silver eyes were clear, her voice light as snow. "Senior Sister, would it... be better if I left?"

"No." Yun Zhiyu shook her head. "You rest. I'll go find her."

But she could not find her. Yun Zhishu had hidden in Yuan En's room and would not open the door no matter who knocked.

The conflict erupted on the afternoon three days later.

That day, Yun Zhiyu had been summoned by Yun Ming to discuss matters concerning a trip to the Tang Sect. Na'er was practicing swordsmanship alone in the open space—the Silver Dragon Bloodline granted her a natural feel for the sword. Though she had no formal martial soul, she could condense silver-white sword aura with her soul power, making it exceptionally sharp.

Yun Zhishu appeared from nowhere, the Sky-Pillaring Sacred Lotus Spear held before her. A golden lotus bloomed at the spear tip, and rare fury burned in her amber-gold eyes.

"Na'er!" Her voice was crisp but trembling. "I challenge you!"

Na'er lowered her sword, confusion in her silver eyes. "Why?"

"Because Big Sister is mine!" Yun Zhishu's little face flushed bright red, and the golden lotus at her spear tip spun violently with her emotional fluctuations. "You stole my Big Sister! I'm going to beat you away!"

Na'er frowned. She did not understand this emotion. She did not understand what "stealing" meant, much less why the girl who had always smiled at her was now like a cat with its fur standing on end. But she sensed danger—the dual healing and suppressive properties contained within the golden lotus were locking onto her body in a strange manner.

"Zhishu," she tried to explain, "Senior Sister didn't..."

"She did!" Yun Zhishu shrieked, cutting her off. With a flick of her spear, the golden lotus became a streak of golden light that shot forward. "Sacred Lotus Evil-Breaking Thrust!"

The strike came without warning. Na'er hastily dodged, but the golden light still grazed her shoulder. A bloody mark immediately appeared across her silver-white clothes. She staggered back, and at last, ripples emerged in her silver eyes—not anger, but a grievance that had been stirred, something belonging to a "human."

"You... hit me?" Her voice was full of disbelief.

"So what if I hit you?" Tears streamed down Yun Zhishu's face, yet she stubbornly refused to stop. Her spear attacks grew increasingly fierce. "I want you to leave Big Sister! Leave the Sea God's Pavilion!"

By the time Yuan En and Ye Xinglan rushed over after hearing the commotion, the situation was already on the verge of spiraling out of control.

Yun Zhishu's spear technique was immature, but it carried a ruthless desperation. Golden lotuses and silver spear light intertwined, each strike thrown out with all her strength. Na'er's Silver Dragon Bloodline had been stirred awake, silver-white sword aura surging from her fingertips.

At first, she only defended. Gradually, though, some ancient instinct began to awaken—that was the Silver Dragon King's response to a threat, the inviolable majesty of the soul beast sovereign.

"Stop!" Yuan En charged forward, activating the power of the Titan Giant Ape and attempting to separate them with her physical body.

But Yun Zhishu's spear tip had already transformed into the Flowing-Light Spinning Spear, the golden lotus sweeping out like a whirlwind. At the same time, Na'er's silver-white sword aura erupted. The two lights collided in midair—

"Boom!"

The shockwave overturned the stone benches in the open space. Yuan En was forced back several steps, shock appearing on her pale gray face. Ye Xinglan's slender sword left its sheath, and the scabbard of Moonlit Gold let out a clear dragon cry. She attempted to suppress them with sword intent, only to find herself unable to enter that chaotic field of soul power.

"Zhishu! Na'er! Stop!" she shouted sternly.

Neither heard her. Yun Zhishu's golden lotus became even more brilliant, and a faint blood-red glow emerged from the golden light at her spear tip—a sign of overdrawing her soul power. Na'er's silver eyes changed completely, shifting from clear to icy cold, as though some ancient existence were opening its eyes. A faint purple-black hue seeped from her silver-white sword aura—the dormant power of destruction within the Silver Dragon King's bloodline.

"This is bad..." Yuan En's face turned deathly pale. "They'll both be seriously hurt!"

"I'll get Sister Yun!" Xu Lizhi's chubby figure rushed from the corner, sprinting toward the library without looking back. "Hold them off!"

Ye Xinglan gritted her teeth and released the Star God Sword Intent with all her strength. Silver-white starlight attempted to cut into the battlefield, only to be thrown back by the intertwined soul powers, numbing her palms. Yuan En stepped forward again, the Titan Giant Ape's fists smashing into the ground as she attempted to use the shockwave to break their buildup of power—

"Bang!"

The ground cracked, yet it could not stop the two increasingly violent lights.

Yun Zhishu and Na'er had both lost their reason. One was blinded by grievance and jealousy, while the other was driven to retaliate by ancient instinct. Golden lotuses and silver light intertwined in the air, forming an unstable vortex of energy that could explode at any moment.

"Zhishu—!"

A streak of violet-gold lightning tore through the sky.

Yun Zhiyu appeared in the very center of the energy vortex. The Xuanyuan Sword Intent erupted at full force, while the phantom of a Winged Dragon emerged behind her. Its violet-gold dragon eyes opened, and it released a deafening dragon roar. Her hands formed seals as the Torch Dragon Bloodline and Silver Dragon Bloodline resonated at once, forcibly tearing the vortex apart, suppressing it, and dispersing it.

"Boom—"

Once the aftershock faded, a pit over ten feet deep remained in the open space. Yun Zhiyu knelt on one knee, a trace of blood spilling from the corner of her lips. Clearly, forcefully interrupting their attacks had caused internal injuries, but she ignored herself and looked toward both sides at once—

Yun Zhishu sat collapsed on the ground, the Sky-Pillaring Sacred Lotus Spear fallen from her grasp. Her small face was deathly pale, and she had overdrawn her soul power so badly that she could not even lift a finger. Yet her tears continued to fall, large drops splashing against her clothes.

Na'er leaned against a broken stone bench. The coldness in her silver eyes gradually faded, returning to clarity, though they now held the dazed confusion of one who had survived a disaster. The wound across her shoulder had already clotted. Her silver-white clothes were stained pale red, like several plum blossoms fallen across snow.

"You two... were absolutely ridiculous." Yun Zhiyu's voice trembled with angry fear. "Do you have any idea what you were doing?"

She rose and walked first toward Na'er, taking medicine from her robes and gently applying it to the wound on her shoulder. Na'er's entire body stiffened, complicated emotions surfacing in her silver eyes—grievance, confusion, and a softness that had been touched.

"Senior Sister..." she called softly.

"Don't speak." Yun Zhiyu's voice was weary. "Wait for me."

She turned and walked toward Yun Zhishu.

As Yun Zhishu watched her approach, her tears fell even more fiercely. Yet she stubbornly turned her face aside and refused to look at her. Her little chest heaved violently, while the golden lotus in her palm flickered unsteadily like a candle about to go out.

"Zhishu." Yun Zhiyu crouched down, meeting her younger sister's eyes.

"Don't bother with me!" Yun Zhishu screamed, though her voice cracked with sobs. "Go take care of your Na'er! She's great! She understands you! She's good at everything!"

"She doesn't understand me," Yun Zhiyu said softly, reaching out to wipe away her sister's tears. "You do."

Yun Zhishu slapped her hand away, though not hard, like resistance born of a spoiled child's grievance. "I don't understand! I can't learn anything! I don't understand the sword techniques you explain, and I don't understand the forging you talk about! I can only draw! I can only hold up drawing boards! I can only... only cling to you!"

Her voice grew quieter and quieter until it dissolved into choking sobs. "Na'er can do everything... She understands without you teaching her... You don't need me anymore..."

Yun Zhiyu felt as though something had clenched around her heart.

She looked at her sister's reddened eyes, at that little face filled with grievance, jealousy, and fear, and suddenly remembered so much—how warm Yun Zhishu's hand had been when she clutched Yun Zhiyu's finger at just one month old; the skipped beat in Yun Zhiyu's heart when she first called her "Big Sister"; countless nights when the little girl lay on her back, her soft little face pressed to the nape of her neck, breathing evenly as she slept sweetly.

"Silly girl." Yun Zhiyu's voice softened, carrying an almost broken tenderness. "Big Sister doesn't need you to be good at anything. Big Sister needs you simply because you're you."

She reached out and pulled Yun Zhishu into her embrace. At first, the little girl was stiff. Gradually, as if melted by some warmth, she finally burst into loud sobs, her fists thumping Yun Zhiyu's back over and over. But they were not hard, merely an outlet for her grievance.

"You're lying..." Yun Zhishu sobbed. "These past few days... you haven't paid attention to me at all..."

"Big Sister was wrong." Yun Zhiyu gently patted her back as though soothing an infant to sleep. "Junior Sister Na'er just arrived. She doesn't understand anything. She has no family here and no friends. Big Sister wanted her... wanted her to feel a little warmth. But Big Sister forgot that my Zhishu needs warmth too."

She paused, resting her chin on the top of her sister's head. Her voice was as soft as a dreamlike murmur. "Big Sister promises you that during morning meditation, the spot beside me will still be yours. When I practice swordsmanship, you'll still be the one handing me my towel. When I forge, you'll still be the one sitting in the corner drawing designs... Big Sister will take care of Junior Sister Na'er, but Zhishu... you are Big Sister's precious treasure. No one can take you away."

Yun Zhishu's crying gradually quieted, though she still sniffled. "...Really?"

"Really. Pinky promise?"

"...Mm."

Yun Zhiyu held out her little finger and hooked it with her sister's. Tears still clung to Yun Zhishu's eyelashes, but at last, her lips curled into a smile. That smile bore tear tracks, like a rainbow after rain—fragile, yet bright.

"Then... what about Na'er?" she asked quietly, still somewhat unwilling. "She... she's actually kind of pitiful too..."

Yun Zhiyu laughed and rubbed her hair. "What does Zhishu want to do?"

"...Make peace?" Yun Zhishu pursed her lips. "But I have to be first! I want her to apologize to me first!"

"Alright, you first."

Yun Zhiyu stood while holding her sister and walked toward Na'er. The silver-haired girl still leaned against the stone bench, complex emotions in her silver eyes. As she watched the sisters interact, that intimacy and wordless understanding were like a mirror, reflecting something she had never possessed. It reminded her of the brother from East Sea Aolai Town three years ago.

"Na'er," Yun Zhiyu said softly, "Zhishu wants to make peace with you, but she says she wants you to..."

"I'm sorry," Na'er suddenly said, her voice quiet but clear.

She struggled to stand and bowed slightly toward Yun Zhishu. "I shouldn't have... shouldn't have stolen Senior Sister away. I didn't know that was 'stealing.' I... I just wanted to be close to warmth."

Rare vulnerability surfaced in her silver eyes. "I have no family here. No one has ever treated me as kindly as Senior Sister, except for Brother. So I became greedy. I'm sorry."

Yun Zhishu froze. She looked at the moisture in Na'er's silver eyes, at the bloodstained clothes covering that little body, and suddenly remembered what Big Sister had said—"She has nothing. No family, no friends."

And Yun Zhishu herself had Big Sister, Father and Mother, Sister Yuan En, Sister Xinglan, and Brother Lizhi.

"...I was wrong too," she said quietly, slipping from her sister's arms and walking toward Na'er. "I shouldn't have hit you. Big Sister said... said you're my junior sister and that I should be accommodating toward you. I... I wasn't, and I hit you."

She held out her small hand, palm upward. "Make peace?"

Na'er looked at that hand, hesitating for a long time before finally taking it gently. Yun Zhishu's palm was warm, carrying the softness unique to children. It was utterly different from her cold Silver Dragon Bloodline, yet it strangely made her feel... as though she belonged somewhere.

"Peace," she said softly.

Yun Zhiyu watched the scene, complicated warmth filling her heart. She stepped forward and gathered both children into her arms, resting her chin atop their heads—one silver-white and one glossy black, woven together into a strange picture.

"From now on," she said, "you are both my younger sisters. Big Sister will take care of you, protect you, teach you swordsmanship, and stay with you as you grow up. But you must also promise Big Sister—"

"What?" the two children asked in unison.

"No more fighting." Yun Zhiyu's voice held amusement, but also unquestionable seriousness. "If you have any grievances, tell Big Sister. Big Sister will solve them. You only need to... be sisters, be friends, and be each other's support."

Yun Zhishu and Na'er exchanged a look. In each other's eyes, they saw a bond that had not yet taken shape, yet had already begun to sprout.

"...Alright," they said together.

In the distance, Yali and Yun Ming stood side by side, taking in the entire scene. Yali's eyes were faintly red, while Yun Ming's arm rested around his wife's shoulder. His black robes spread like wings, sheltering everyone in their shadow.

"The children," Yali said softly, "are stronger than we imagined."

"Because they have each other." Yun Ming's voice was low. "That is... the meaning of family."

Leaning on her cane, Long Yeyue emerged from the attic's shadows. Her clouded eyes reflected the crater in the open space, as well as the three small figures embracing one another. Suddenly, she smiled, her aged voice scattering on the wind:

"Torch Dragon, silver spear, Sacred Lotus Spear... Shrek is about to usher in another era."