Atlas's private quarters weren't lavish, but they were comfortable—a space meant for business, not indulgence. He leaned against the window, arms crossed, as Layla spread out a map on the wooden table between them. Her expression was sharp, calculating, the dim candlelight casting shadows across her face.
"We need to prepare for every scenario" Layla stated firmly, her fingers tracing the capital city on the map.
"Jinhai summoned us personally. That means he either sees us as a threat or an asset. Either way, we need contingencies."
Atlas smirked. "Oh, I love contingencies. Lay 'em on me."
Layla nodded. "Three key possibilities. One: He threatens to denounce Silver Lotus, paint us as rebels. If that happens, we need undeniable proof that we've contributed to the empire's prosperity—our trade networks, the increased stability in the western provinces, the economic benefits. A direct attack on us would cripple key trade routes. We use that leverage."
Atlas tapped his chin. "Alright, economic warfare. I like it. What's number two?"
"Two: He demands control over Silver Lotus." Layla's gaze hardened.
"That cannot happen. If we lose our autonomy, everything we've built—education, trade, independence—vanishes. We counter by offering collaboration, not subjugation. The sect remains independent but provides specialized training for imperial forces. We make ourselves too useful to erase but too untamed to fully control."
Atlas let out a low whistle. "That's risky, but I see the appeal. And door number three?"
Layla's voice was quieter now. "He orders Silver Lotus to sever ties with Ryl Trading—and you."
Atlas's grin faded. "Ah. And what's your play there, genius?"
She exhaled.
"We refuse outright, and instead, propose a deal. If Jinhai truly wants influence over Silver Lotus, we negotiate through trade, not force. We highlight that Ryl Trading is expanding imperial reach beyond what even his armies could. To cut ties with you would mean losing control over one of the most powerful financial networks in the region."
Atlas studied her for a moment before chuckling.
"Not bad, Princess. You're sharper than most politicians I've dealt with."
Layla rolled her eyes. "Don't call me that."
"Just saying" he teased,
"You handle politics like someone who's been in power before."
Her expression didn't waver. "Some of us actually study leadership."
Atlas hummed. He wasn't entirely convinced, but he let it slide.
"Alright. I'll play my part.''
Before Atlas left with Layla, he gathered Lin Wuye and Kai near the mountain pass where training was scheduled to take place. A third figure stood beside them, hooded, arms crossed.
"Alright, team" Atlas announced. "Meet Ying."
Lin Wuye arched a brow. "Ying?"
"Ying." Atlas emphasized. "Just Ying."
Kai, still sore from his last training session, looked at the woman with slight apprehension.
"She's training me?"
Atlas clapped his hands. "Oh, absolutely. And trust me, you'll see why in about three seconds."
Without another word, Ying raised her hand, palm facing the mountain. The air shifted. A terrifying pressure filled the space before a sudden, ear-splitting boom shattered the ground beneath them. The force of her strike sent massive shockwaves through the rock, causing a section of the mountain to crack and collapse in an avalanche of stone and dust.
Kai's eyes widened in horror. "…What?"
Lin Wuye stared at the destruction, then back at Atlas. "You put her in charge of training him?"
Atlas grinned.
"Well, if you can't dodge something like that, you probably shouldn't be fighting in the first place."
Bao, standing a safe distance away, muttered
"Master Lin… can you suppress that?"
Lin Wuye sighed. "No. I would simply dodge."
Kai swallowed hard.
This was going to be hell.
Kai had thought training under Jiang and Master Lin was brutal. The structured discipline, the exhausting drills, the repeated failures—it had been hard, but it made sense. Every lesson, every technique had been carefully measured, fine-tuned for his growth.
Ying was not like that.
The moment Atlas left, Kai realized he had made a grave mistake agreeing to this.
Ying didn't explain techniques. She didn't start slow. She didn't even give him time to breathe.
"Again" she said, standing atop a boulder, arms crossed.
Kai groaned from the ground, his limbs aching. He had been blasted into the dirt for the sixth time in the past hour. He barely had enough strength to push himself back up.
"I—" he coughed.
"I don't even know what I'm doing wrong!"
Ying finally stepped forward, tilting her head as if considering his complaint. Then, without warning, she vanished from sight.
Kai barely had time to blink before an immense force slammed into his side, sending him flying backward. He tumbled across the dirt, gasping for air as his ribs protested violently.
"Your body is too slow" Ying stated, walking toward him.
"Your mind is too hesitant. You expect your opponent to give you time to think. That is why you lose."
Kai coughed again, rolling onto his hands and knees. "I—I wasn't ready!"
"You think battle waits for you?" Ying's voice was calm, almost bored.
"If you have time to complain, you have time to move. Now, again."
Kai clenched his fists, frustration boiling over.
"Master Lin at least explains things! Jiang gives feedback! You're just throwing me around like a ragdoll!"
Ying finally smirked, crouching down to meet his exhausted glare.
"And yet, despite all your training, a month, you still cannot land a single explosion on me."
Kai's frustration turned to shame.
Because she was right.
No matter how hard he tried, she is always ahead of him. Faster. Stronger. Like she wasn't even taking him seriously.
Lin Wuye, who had been watching silently, sighed.
"I must admit, your methods are... thorough."
Bao, standing beside him, muttered
"Yeah, 'thorough' is one way to put it. 'Brutal' is another."
Ying didn't look away from Kai.
"His power is raw destruction. Explosion. Unstable. You want to teach him to control it? Then he must learn the difference between power and skill. Right now, he has neither."
Kai gritted his teeth, forcing himself up. His entire body ached, his mind screamed at him to stop, but something about Ying's words struck a nerve.
"You're saying... I don't deserve to use my power?"
Ying's gaze was unreadable. "I'm saying you don't know how."
Kai's fists clenched.