Chapter 71 – Ashes and Promises
The clan's courtyard was quiet that morning, though the silence carried weight rather than peace. Incense smoke curled upward from brass burners, wreathing the ancestral tablets in a haze. The memorial for the fallen was set for the afternoon, but the mood already weighed heavy on everyone.
Lin Xuan stood at the edge of the courtyard, hands clasped behind his back. His crimson eyes swept over the stone tiles where the names of the dead had been freshly etched. The names were neat, carved deep enough to last centuries, but what names could replace the presence of those who had laughed, fought, and bled with the clan?
Liu Yue approached him with a bowl of fresh water, her steps light but hesitant. "Should I pour this for the incense, Brother Xuan?" Her moonlit eyes were unusually dim.
He nodded slightly. "Go on. Their spirits will recognize sincerity more than ritual."
As she poured the water into the vessel, Anika appeared from the side corridor. Dressed simply in pale robes, her dark hair fell over her shoulders, eyes carrying the calm of someone who had seen loss before and yet still dared to smile. "Do not look at the tablets with grief alone," she said softly. "They are not only reminders of death, but witnesses to our strength."
Lin Xuan turned to her, a question forming in his gaze. She didn't elaborate, only set her hand gently on Liu Yue's shoulder. For the moment, that was enough.
Later, the courtyard filled with clan members dressed in mourning whites. Luo Shuang lit the ceremonial incense, her silver hair shimmering in the glow. The elders spoke words of remembrance, but the weight of silence often pressed heavier than any speech.
When the names were read aloud, Lin Xuan lowered his head slightly. He did not bow—his pride would not allow it—but his silence was a vow. I will not let their sacrifice fade into ash. Every loss will be repaid in blood or honor.
But before the crowd could disperse, Bai Ningxue stepped forward. Her eyes were as sharp as her voice. "Lin Xuan, you stand here as though you bear no blame. Yet blood was shed under your watch. Will you answer for it?"
The courtyard fell still. Whispers spread like wildfire. Even Liu Yue's breath caught in her throat. Anika, however, folded her arms and leaned casually against a pillar, as though she'd been waiting for this moment.
Lin Xuan's gaze locked on Bai Ningxue. He didn't raise his voice, but his words cut through the air. "You believe I let them die without consequence?"
Her hand tightened on the hilt of her sword. "I believe you carry more arrogance than responsibility. Prove me wrong."
The challenge hung between them like thunder. Ji Yunjing stepped forward, concern etched across his face. "Ningxue—this isn't the time."
But Ningxue only drew her blade in one smooth motion. "The time chooses us. Lin Xuan, draw your weapon."
The duel began in the very courtyard where incense still burned. Gasps rose as the first clash rang out—steel against qi. Lin Xuan had not drawn a sword; instead, he lifted his hand, jade-colored qi coating his arm like armor.
Her sword thrust forward, swift as lightning. Lin Xuan tilted his body just enough, jade gleam flaring as he deflected the blade with his forearm. Sparks scattered, though no wound marked his skin.
"She's serious," Anika murmured, her lips curving into a faint smile. "And he won't hold back either."
The fight escalated. Ningxue's blade work was relentless, a rain of thrusts and arcs that sought every angle. Lin Xuan moved like flowing stone, his Jade Aegis rippling with each strike, turning aside her steel with minimal movement. Yet, he did not counter—he tested her patience.
"Why do you not strike?" Ningxue demanded, sweat beading her brow.
"Because you strike with anger, not purpose," Lin Xuan answered calmly. "If you wish to protect Dawnriver, then learn this: fury burns quickly, but leaves only ashes."
With that, he shifted. His hand flicked in a sharp motion, qi forming into a golden coin that snapped forward. The Severed Coin Seal embedded itself just before her heart, freezing her qi flow for half a breath. Her eyes widened as her body stiffened, the sword halting mid-swing.
Lin Xuan stepped close enough that only she could hear. "Blame me if it soothes you. Hate me if it gives you strength. But never mistake vengeance for loyalty."
He released the seal, and the golden coin dissolved. Ningxue stumbled back, breathing heavily, her sword lowering at last. Silence pressed down on the courtyard once more.
Then Luo Shuang's voice broke through. "Enough. This is a day of mourning, not division."
Ningxue sheathed her sword, her gaze lingering on Lin Xuan with a storm of emotions. Pride, defiance, and perhaps—deep beneath—respect.
That evening, the clan gathered again for a shared meal. It was tradition after a memorial: to eat together, to remind themselves that life persisted. Platters of roasted fish, steaming buns, and fragrant herbs filled the hall.
Lin Xuan sat beside Anika, while Liu Yue hovered nearby with hesitant warmth. Conversation began stiff but soon loosened. Children laughed, the elders shared quiet toasts, and even Ningxue sat silently, though her eyes flickered occasionally toward Lin Xuan.
Anika leaned close to him, her voice low enough for only him to hear. "You carry their burdens so fiercely, but you forget one thing."
"And that is?" he asked without turning.
"That you are not alone in carrying them." She smiled faintly, her fingers brushing his beneath the table.
For the first time that day, the heaviness in Lin Xuan's chest eased. He allowed himself one slow breath of release. The promise he had made at the tablets still burned in him, but it no longer felt like a solitary vow. It was something they all bore—together.