Chapter 38

Chapter 38: Fangs Among the Clouds

The gates of the Azure Serpent Sect groaned open, revealing a winding path that snaked through a cliffside shrouded in clouds. The air was laced with incense and steel—welcoming, yet unforgiving.

Stone pavilions and elegant spires perched on impossible ledges. Serpent statues twisted along rooftops. Waterfalls shimmered like threads of light, flowing both downward and upward—a sign that the sect's energy defied even the laws of nature.

"This place…" Yun Mei Lian whispered. "It feels like it's watching us."

"It is," came a cool voice from the mist.

They turned.

Descending the stone path with a dancer's grace was a woman in silver-blue robes, her hair bound in jade pins. Her eyes were cold and calculating—like blades sheathed in frost.

"I am Zi Han, inner disciple and sect prodigy," she said. "You are the ones who stirred the mountain."

Xiao Lian inclined his head, cautious. "We come seeking guidance. Knowledge."

"You come with fire and thunder. The Windblade has awakened. That alone makes you dangerous."

Yun Mei Lian stepped forward. "We came through the trial. We earned our place."

Zi Han's eyes narrowed. "We shall see."

---

They were led through the sect grounds—past sword gardens where disciples trained blindfolded, past pools where serpents glided beneath mirrored waters, and into the Hall of Currents—a massive chamber built into the mountain itself.

There, the elders sat in meditation, their qi flowing like river currents through the air.

One of them—an old man cloaked in sapphire robes—opened his eyes. His voice was deep, but calm. "I am Elder Mo Chen. You have come to learn. But first, we must test the truth of your intent."

A gong sounded.

The walls shifted.

Suddenly, Xiao Lian and Yun Mei Lian stood in a dueling arena made of cloudglass—an elevated platform that floated in midair.

Zi Han stepped onto the opposite side, drawing her serpent-hilted blade. "I will be your examiner. Survive three exchanges."

"Survive?" Xiao Lian muttered.

Zi Han smiled without humor. "I don't hold back."

---

The duel began in a flash of wind.

Zi Han moved like flowing water—fluid, silent, unstoppable. Xiao Lian parried her first strike just in time, feeling the weight of her inner energy pressing against his arm like a storm tide.

Yun Mei Lian joined the defense, stepping in like a shadow between attacks. Her movements were deceptive—elegant, honed by both stage and sword.

One strike. Two. The third came with a twist of illusion—the air around them turning to serpents made of mist.

"An Azure Mirage…" Mei Lian breathed.

Xiao Lian's qi surged. The Windblade hummed.

He swept the air—and with a roar of wind, broke the illusion in a single stroke.

Zi Han stumbled back, stunned.

The platform stabilized. The duel was over.

From the hall, Elder Mo Chen nodded slowly. "You may stay."

Zi Han stared at Xiao Lian, her mask cracking just a little.

"This isn't over," she said softly. "You're not the only one with a destiny."