JustJae

Following his father's murder, Wu Ling's mother returned to the life of a courtesan, disguising her young son as a girl to take refuge in the Bamboo Silk House, a women's only sect dedicated to the arts. Now, as his powers awaken, he'll find himself torn between protecting his family and the goals of powerful cultivators who see him as a means to an end. 

"Wu Ling, I've accepted a marriage proposal on your behalf," the bewitching Hall Master of the Bamboo Silk House declared. "When you enter the Inner Sect, you'll enter under the name 'Hua Qianhu', fiancee of a young lord of the Liang family." 

"Hall Master, that's impossible!" Wu Ling protested. "Even if you ignore my relationship with Meifeng, I might have dressed well enough to hide as a mortal woman but I could never..."

"So you truly didn't realize what you were doing," the Hall Master said, a dark smile on her lips. "Little Ling, you're a natural-born Shapeshifter. I'll teach you what you need to know," she said, her features shifting until she looked like a mirror image of the stunned Wu Ling. "As long as you follow my arrangements and learn my techniques, it isn't impossible for you to reunite with Meifeng..." 

"But you should consider Young Lord Liang carefully," the Hall Master added. "His affection for you is genuine. Perhaps, one day, you'll even feel the same for him..."

Unparalleled Artist: Unlikely Hero

<p>When they finally arrived, Wu Ling offered his arm and escorted his senior sister into the elegant interior of the Crystal Pool. While the Eastern Blossom Ward of Silver Sword City was mostly known for its plentiful gardens and beautiful views, the Crystal Pool created an environment that drew its guests inward rather than directing their attention outward. </p>

<p>The polished stone tables of the restaurant were supported by giant, glittering crystals in a multitude of hues. At the center of the grand dining room, a geode several meters across had been split cleanly in two and set into the floor to form the gazing pool that gave the restaurant its name. Within the pool, several glowing crystals had been suspended in the water of the pool, each one reflecting and refracting off the crystals that lined the geode before casting their light in a shimmering curtain on the ceiling of the restaurant. </p>

A Duet (Part 2)