Qian Renxue opened the second letter of recent news sent from the coast. First she saw the name Xiao Wu had written in her own hand, then a strip of pink hair ribbon tucked against the last page. Almost a year had passed since the previous letter assuring her they were safe.
There was no plea for reconciliation in the letter. Tang San wrote that Xiao Wu could now walk on her own, though the old injury to her right arm remained; her newly added sixth ring came from an Evil Spirit Orca, and he had not taken back the sacrificial ring returned to her. More than a month had passed since their ship left Sea God Island. The sea breeze had wrinkled the edges of the paper, but the final assurance that they were safe was written in a steady hand.
Bai Jin took the envelope and shook it. No second sheet fell out.
"Something this big, and that's all he wrote?"
"What did you want him to write?"
"At the very least, he should've mentioned how sturdy the crate I sent was."
Qian Renxue laughed and handed him the letter, adding no explanation on her mother's behalf. The medicine meant to save lives had arrived, and the living had returned; the old warrant for their capture still lay in the Empire's sealed files. Both outcomes could remain.
Bai Jin put the letter away and pointed at her right hand.
The wound in her palm had long since scarred over, and a short stretch of pale gold branding showed along the side of her wrist. She tried clenching her fist, and the light over her arm solidified with it. The outline of her right pauldron could already appear, though one final section was still missing before it could cover