With constant nourishment from Jade Nectar, the lotus seed Jun Wu Xie planted proceeded to bud and flower, the intermingling rich fragrances of the lotus and the wine enveloped Jun Wu Xie’s room at all times.

The fragrance infuses Jun Wu Xie with spiritual energy even while she sleeps.

Contractual spirits from plants may seem useless,however their cultivation techniques were simply ridiculous.

Within a mere two weeks, Jun Wu Xie was able to gather spiritual energy within her body.

Staring at the scarlet glow on her palm, Jun Wu Xie finally allowed a tinge of satisfaction to show in her eyes.

Spiritual energy in this world are classified into seven stages, in the colours of the rainbow.

Differentiated by red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

Jun Wu Xie had only just been exposed to the spiritual energy, the red glow in her palm, shows a red spirit.

Spiritual energy can only be developed after the awakening of the contractual spirit, that will mean, people of this world, start their training in earnest only from the age of fourteen. Before that, they need to build up their bodies, and fortify their tendons, arteries and veins, in preparation for the awakening. Originally, before she took over this body, Jun Xian conditioned and cultivated Jun Wu Xie from a young tender age intensively in preparation for her spiritual awakening, and made it extremely receptive to spiritual cultivation now.

From age fourteen onwards, people have to rely on the contractual spirits to endlessly cultivate their spiritual energy, as their spiritual energy increases, the spirit absorbs more, allowing them to grow.

They are intertwined and interdependent.

When an average person starts cultivating their spiritual energy, the body is able to gather a minute amount of it and to have the energy manifest outwards would take anyone at least half a year’s time.

However, Jun Wu Xie only took half a month’s time to accomplish this, if anyone knew this, they would be frightened to death!

Jun Wu Xie suddenly retracted everything as the red glow vanished, the next moment, there was a knock on the door.

After she started cultivating, her five senses had been heightened.

“Come in.”

The door creaked open as Long Qi stood outside as he gave a respectful bow: “Second Master has invited Miss to see him.”

“Alright.”

Long Qi led the way as he brought her to the underground training grounds, it was an expansive land and it looked awe-inspiring as weapons filled the four majestic walls surrounding it.

At the centre was a lone figure, holding a sword relentlessly practising his sword moves, as the movements were swift and fierce, fluid and sharp, his robe was soaked with perspiration, however he did not seem to care as he continued on with a firm determination.

“Uncle.” Jun Wu Xie called out to him.

Once he heard her, Jun Qing immediately sheathed his sword into the scabbard on his back as he gave her clear and bright smile.

“You’re here, Wu Xie.”

Jun Wu Xie gave a quick analysis as she looked at him from head to toe. No one could have imagined that just not too long ago, the very same person was crippled that was just half a step into death’s door.

Ever since Jun Qing he discovered he could stand, he had been secretly training, pushing himself to his limits daily, in this hidden training grounds, in an attempt to make up for the time lost when he did not have use of his legs.

“I asked you here today seeing the weather has been nice lately, and thought it would be nice to have my lovely niece accompany me to enjoy this equally beautiful spring.” Jun Qing smiled warmly and handed the sword over to Long Qi.

 

Jun Wu Xian has no qualms going gallivanting with Jun Qing.

After changing into a fresh set of clean clothes, Jun Qing got back in his wheelchair, with Long Qi pushing him out of the Lin Palace gates, and onto the horse drawn carriage with Jun Wu Xie.

The carriage went around in the Imperial City for a while, Jun Wu Xie had no interest and paid no heed to the hustle and bustle of the city, merchants shouting their wares or the people engaged in conversations. The entire time, her eyes were lowered while she stroked and caressed the cat sitting quietly in her lap.

Looking at Jun Wu Xie, Jun Qing could not help but sigh.

Jun Wu Xie had never been talkative from a young age, but seeing this blossoming girl so withdrawn, still so quiet, does make one worry.

After some time, the carriage finally stopped. Long Qi helped Jun Xian down from the carriage, and Jun Wu Xie followed suit.

After getting off the carriage, she looked around to see where she was and was taken aback.

Just meters away, an army garrison stood, Jun Wu Xie turned to look back, the Imperial City sat far off in the distance. Unknowingly, the horse carriage had taken them out of the Imperial City.

“The Jun family is famous for their Rui Lin Army, as a daughter of the Jun Family, you will have to come here sooner or later.” Jun Qing proclaimed, sitting in the wheelchair, with Long Qi pushing him from behind.

“Miss, please come with me.” Long Qi asked respectfully, pushing the wheelchair into the barracks.

The Rui Lin Army, the most ferocious army in the State of Qi, had proven their mettle on countless battlefields. Their reputation preceded them, it kept their enemies holed up behind their borders for many long years.

In recent years, State of Qi enjoyed stability at their borders, only then did Jun Xian pull back the Rui Lin Army. To avoid suspicion from the Emperor, Jun Xian handed over most of the military might over and garrisoned the barracks away from the Imperial City. He housed the Jun family of three within the Imperial City, to put the Emperor at ease of any rebellion, with their three lives within the grasp of the Emperor.

It was known, only the descendants of the Jun Family can command the Rui Lin Army.

With the lives of the Jun Family in your hands, you control the Rui Lin Army indirectly.

It was the first time Jun Wu Xie had set foot in the Rui Lin Army barracks, for her and for this body as well.

It was high noon, the sun was beating down strongly, in the huge expanse of the barracks, only one group of soldiers were on patrol, the whole encampment was silent.

With Long Qi leading with the wheelchair, he brought Jun Wu Xie deep into the barracks. Enveloped in utter silence, Jun Wu Xie followed behind without a word, intently observing all that she saw.

There was no one in the barracks, there was no sign of the Rui Lin Army out at the garrison. The notoriously feared Rui Lin Army seems to have disappeared into thin air.

However, the moment when Jun Wu Xie came to the training grounds, her eyes widened.

Rows upon rows, soldiers fully armored, under the scorching sun, weapons gripped in hands, engaged in mock battle, in uniformed unison. The heavy still air within stirred into a warm rush, from the forceful slashes of the weapons.

Feeling the warm rush up close, it felt oppressive and overwhelming.

“This is our Jun Family’s Rui Lin Army, our sharpest sword, Wu Xie, remember, this sword, can only be wielded by the Jun Family.” Jun Qing turned, his smile faded, his eyes steeled, chilling to look at.

Rui Lin Army, it can be the strongest talisman of the Jun Family, protecting them for centuries, but it can also attract the suspicions of the Emperor.

 

Jun Wu Xie, since her rebirth, had heard much of the Rui Lin Army and today she finally saw with her own eyes, the widely feared and reputed ferocious warriors, in the flesh.

A hundred thousand troops training under the melting sun with not a single whisper of complaint, Jun Wu Xie would not have thought it possible, if she had not witnessed it herself. Such a highly disciplined and ferocious army!

“The Rui Lin Army, as a whole can defeat the enemies, fragmented can take the enemy general’s head. Remember this, Jun Wu Xie, no army in Qi, matches up to even a minute fraction of the Rui Lin Army. The Emperor had generally left the Lin Palace to its own devices, because we command such a formidable force.” Jun Qing’s eyes no longer showed the soft pampering gaze of her uncle, but the gaze of a commander of an army, steadfast, and proud.

Any soldier picked out from the Rui Lin Army can easily take on five grown men in a brawl. One wonders what it must have taken the Jun Family, to shed how much sweat and blood, in what way, to achieve command of such a formidable force, willing to fight under the Jun Family’s banner.

No one knows.

Many have tried to poach from the Rui Lin Army, they have either died at their hands, or unceremoniously thrown out.

They are the sharpest blade, a blade that will never point at the Jun Family!

“I understand, Uncle.” replied Jun Wu Xie, hiding the awe she is feeling. This trip to the Rui Lin Army was not a mere tour, Jun Qing has deemed Jun Wu Xie, qualified to know of their outstanding army, and no longer looked at her as an innocent and ignorant kid, but as one of the Jun Family’s stalwart pillars.

Jun Qing softened his gaze and nodded his head.

“Your coming to the barracks today, was the intention of me and your grandfather. There is something, we have to give you.” Jun Qing gestured to Long Qi.

Long Qi handed over a brocade bag to Jun Wu Xie.

Outlined on the black brocade bag, with silver silk thread, was a *Qilin (Chinese mythical creature), treading on clouds, an auspicious sign. There were three tubes, as wide as her finger, in the bag and Jun Wu Xie looked up in wonder at her Uncle.

Jun Qing explained: “Those are Soaring Cloud Signals of the Rui Lin Army, pull the lever on the Soaring Cloud Signal and a flare will fire high into the sky, bringing the Rui Lin Army to you. Wu Xie, your grandfather and me were worried you would be rash at such a young age, unable to weigh the severity, and were hesitant to hand you something that mobilizes the Rui Lin Army. However, you have recently surprised us with the huge changes in you, and both your grandfather and I agree, you are mature enough to handle the Soaring Cloud Signal.” The Soaring Cloud Signal, to the Jun Family, is something very closed guarded. Once the signal flare is fired, it mobilizes the entire Rui Lin Army.

The shows the trust bestowed upon Jun Wu Xie, by Jun Xian and Jun Qing. They have handed the sharpest blade, over to Jun Wu Xie.

“Thank you.” was all Jun Wu Xie could manage, the three tiny tubes were light, but the implications it came with weighed a ton.

“We are family, no thanks needed.” Jun Qing smiled, he knew, they were in Jun Wu Xie’s good hands.

Recently, Jun Wu Xie had been on close terms with the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince health was improving, as was his temperament. His reputation which had vastly improved both in Court and among the commoners, was a good thing, except to the eyes of some – it was something else.

Lin Palace will shield Jun Wu Xie from any harm, for anyone scheming otherwise, shall best reconsider, whether they can withstand the might of the whole Rui Lin Army storming down in vengeance!