Six months had passed since winter ended and Shadow Rest survived the Blood Path crisis through strategic coordination instead of heroic suicide.
Hunter stood on the wall watching autumn sun paint everything gold. His foundation reconstruction sat at seventy-five percent complete. Should have finished months ago but hidden injuries didn't heal on convenient schedules. Nine months total now instead of four and a half. The microscopic meridian damage from qi deviation had stabilized through careful management Liu Mei would be proud of if she knew how many times he'd almost ignored her advice.
Foundation Mid breakthrough loomed within reach. The final twenty-five percent would complete during advancement.
Perfect timing. Or terrible timing given what he felt building.
Something was converging.
"You look contemplative," Mei said, appearing beside him with Gerald. "Thinking about impending crisis or avoiding obvious relationship dynamics?"
"Crisis. Definitely crisis."
