She held him at arm's length, her gaze assessing. Julian felt like a prize beast being judged, and he was almost surprised she didn't demand he open his mouth to inspect his teeth. "Your fur is unkempt. And your attire! Those tattered hides and that worn tunic – I wouldn't use them as cleaning rags, let alone wear them."
"Fortunately for you, they are my garments, not yours."
She made a dismissive sound. A den servant entered the room carrying a silver tray laden with small meat pastries and spiced tea. After the servant departed, his grandmother gestured towards one of the woven reed couches. "Sit and have some refreshment."
Julian remained standing. "Forgive my bluntness, but you do not appear to be on your deathbed. You stated you were dying."
She settled gracefully onto the edge of a carved stool, taking her time as she poured tea into an ornate cup. "Bless your naive heart. I did not precisely say I was dying."
"You mentioned undergoing treatments. Did the Shadow Sickness claim you?"
"No. Sit. The tea cools."
"The wasting sickness?"
"No. The pastries are filled with cured meats from the western plains. Try one."
"The trembling curse? The weakening affliction? A sudden stillness?"
She waved a dismissive hand, rejecting all the ailments he listed. "If you must know, I was… resting."
"Resting? You said a diagnosis had been made. You said seeing me was your final wish before departing this realm."
"We are all dying, Julian. Each sunrise brings us closer to the final darkness. Now, sit before my life essence becomes agitated."
"Do you suffer from an imbalance of life essence?"
"You are about to cause one." When he remained standing, she sighed heavily. "If you must know, I underwent a minor restorative ritual. I spent some time in a secluded spring in the southern mountains until the twentieth cycle."
Restorative ritual? He had fallen into a snare, manipulated into coming here. As she revealed fragments of information, the truth dawned upon him. He was a fool. "You underwent a ritual to restore your youthful appearance."
"I prefer to call it a necessary refinement. You should be familiar with the concept, given your father's penchant for tinkering with his own hunting sleds instead of entrusting them to a skilled craftsman."
"If that was intended as an insult, your aim was poor."
"Indeed…" His grandmother looked up at him, devoid of any shame. "My point is that witnessing the passage of years is not easy. You are my grandson, and the last of my direct lineage. Your grandfather has been gone for ten cycles, and your mother… your mother is lost to us. You are the last Ming."
"I am a Ming in name only, imagination as it is. I am a Zhao by blood."
"Yes, well, that is… unfortunate."
The truth was, she was so accustomed to behaving like a member of the ancient ruling families that she likely did not realize how arrogant she sounded. "I do not believe my father would concur with your assessment."
She cleared her throat as if something was lodged within it. "How is he faring in the… guardian of the borders these days?"
"He serves as a protector of the deep waterways."
"Whatever the distinction."
"I am certain he would send his regards, but he is currently on a long patrol for the next five moon cycles."
"He abandoned his new mate so soon after the joining ceremony? A pity," she said in a flat tone. "Julian, sit. You are making me uneasy. It is troubling enough that you refuse to claim your inheritance and I must resort to sending you physical tokens."
"I did not request an inheritance or tokens." His grandparents had established it upon his birth, likely as a means of luring him to their territory with the hope that he would one day serve the Ming lineage. "By the way, the Old Den at Kunming sends their gratitude for your generous contribution."
His grandmother sighed. "I received their acknowledgment. I already support numerous worthy causes. The resources are for you, Julian. You may choose to dress as one of the wild wolves, but I do not wish for you to live as one. Now, sit and eat."
"I have no appetite. Listen, Grandmother, in your message, you stated you had something of important to tell me. Why not reveal it and be done, for truthfully, this bonding between grandson and grandmother is not proving fruitful for me."
"You desire the truth?"
Of course. He held up his hands, urging her to proceed. He was ready to depart and find lodging for the remainder of the week.
"I wish for you to live here, with me." She did not blink, nor did a hint of amusement touch her face. He suspected the old wolf was serious. She might not be near death, but she was clearly delusional.
"That will not occur. You waste your breath."
"I have one week to change your mind." She took a measured sip of tea, then placed the cup on the table. "You will grant me one week, Julian. Will you not?"
"Give me one reason why I should not walk out that door this very moment."
"Because it is what your mother would have desired."
At the Elite healer Academy
It was the first day of assessment, where their healing abilities would be evaluated, and they would be assigned to training circles for practical exercises. Venus awoke to the chime of her morning alarm at the fifth hour and proceeded to the bathing facilities. A large inscription adorned the entrance:
FIFTH HOUR – QUARTER PAST SIXTH HOUR
CLOSED FOR FEMALES ONLY
Someone had crossed out "FEMALES ONLY" and scrawled "Zhou Wei's Scorn" instead. The words stung.
She stood beneath the hot spray, the steam rising around her. She wanted to return home. Perhaps Gao Tianyu was correct; perhaps she had been accepted to Elite merely because she was female, a means to fulfill some quota.
What was she doing here?
She left the bathing area and peeled off the offensive sign. She would not report such a petty act. To do so would be to invite ridicule for lacking resilience. Five young males, towels wrapped around their waists, were already waiting in line. One of them was Gao Tianyu. He snickered as she passed by, muttering something to the male beside him.
Back in her chamber, she glanced at her communication crystal and noted five incoming messages.
Chen Zixin: Find us a new primary healer who will transfer to our enclave, even if you must offer… favors! Do it for the group. Just kidding .
Liang Zhihao : Do not fail! Just kidding.
Wang Yu : Do not heed Chen Zixin or Liang Zhihao. (Your sister Bai Lan instructed me to write that. She is observing me.)
Bai Lan: Good fortune! Warm regards.
Lin Yue: Are there any appealing males there? Send me their perfect photos!
They reminded her of her responsibility now that Gao Tianyu had revealed his true, unpleasant nature and abandoned their local healing circle. If she could attract the attention of esteemed practitioners to Kunming healer Academy and demonstrate her skills, every member of their circle would have an opportunity to be recognized. She could not yield or retreat.
Her crystal chimed just as she was about to leave for the morning exercises. It was Julian. She ignored the call. She had much to say to him, but now was not the time. Her focus this week needed to be solely on her medical training.
On the training grounds, the lead healer blew his whistle. As the aspirants gathered, he delivered a lecture on respectful conduct and the avoidance of unwanted advances. A fine way to further alienate the males… All eyes seemed to bore into her, and she simply wished to vanish until it was over. She barely heard the encouraging words before they began their physical conditioning and drills, still acutely aware of the stares. It was a closed session, so parents and observers were not permitted. None of the males stood near her or spoke to her.
Healer Zang, the instructor for specialized techniques, had the aspirants practice fundamental skills for an extended period, then in the afternoon, had them practice applying various treatments starting with basic poultices. He increased the complexity after each successful application. Venus proved the most adept, until Healer Zang assigned the more experienced aspirants as assistants, so they could practice more intricate procedures.
Gao Tianyu was assigned as her assistant. He sauntered over with a smug expression. She would have requested a different assistant, but complaining was ill-received. What would she say? That Gao Tianyu was a former associate and she did not wish to cooperate with him? He would likely scoff and dismiss her.
The healing arts were not for the faint of heart, either physically or mentally.
I can do this. She glanced at the other aspirants who were called upon first. They were all highly skilled, like meticulously crafted automatons who knew precisely what to do and when. Several aspirants she had only heard of but never met, were present – minor celebrities with egos as inflated as their reputations. She could envision every one of them practicing at advanced levels and beyond.
When Healer Zang called her and Gao Tianyu for their turn, she prepared for the simulated ailment and attempted to execute a flawless diagnostic sequence, but at the last moment, Gao Tianyu subtly shifted his hold, causing her touch to be imprecise. He did it so subtly that only she would notice, unless one had a recording crystal and could review it in slow motion.
"Still sleeping with that loser Julian Zhao xin?" Gao Tianyu muttered as she resumed her position for a second attempt.
Venus ignored him and focused. This time, when the simulated ailment was presented, Gao Tianyu released his hold at the last instant, causing her to miss it entirely and stumble.
"Oh, no! Are you alright?" Gao Tianyu asked with feigned concern, offering a hand to help her up. She swatted it away.
"Hold the focusing crystal properly so I can diagnose it!" she snapped as she regained her footing.
He made exaggerated gestures of distress. "Boo-hoo. Feeling sorry for yourself because your local circle will falter without me?"
"Gao Tianyu, to the side. Brady, take his place!" Healer Zang called out.
As Brady approached to replace Gao Tianyu, the two males exchanged a brief hand gesture.
Venus positioned herself, and Brady presented the simulated ailment. At the last moment, he subtly altered its presentation, causing her diagnosis to be incorrect. It was a clear failure. She could hear suppressed laughter from the observing aspirants.
At the evening meal, she sat alone at one of the tables. She was sore, exhausted, and disheartened.
The next two days mirrored the first. She was assigned to a training circle, but none of the males spoke to her. When practicing with inanimate aids, her techniques were flawless, but when working with an assistant, nothing seemed to go correctly. Somehow, Gao Tianyu had managed to sabotage her efforts.
After the evening exercises on the third day, the lead healer, Healer Thomas, summoned her to his office. It was located in the main building near the registration area. As she entered, still clad in her training robes, Healer Zang stood beside Healer Thomas, holding her assessment records.
"What is the issue, Lin Yue?" Healer Thomas asked. " Your pack brought you here because we saw potential. Few females progress beyond the initial stages of healing, but we believed you possessed the tenacity to defy expectations." He pointed to the records. "To say we are dissatisfied with your progress thus far is an understatement."
"I am equally dissatisfied. The male aspirants are deliberately hindering me."
There was no sympathy or understanding – only a healer eager to see results. "You must learn to overcome any interpersonal conflicts. There will always be those who seek to create discord and undermine others. It is the responsibility of each individual to rise above such pettiness and find a way to succeed. We have practical assessments for the remainder of the week, culminating in a significant demonstration on the night of the fifth cycle. Esteemed practitioners, observers, and chroniclers will be present… a full gathering. If you wish to return home and concede defeat, Lin Yue, simply state your desire."
!