The Ancient Xue Clan — one of the seven pillars of the city — was renowned for its power, wealth, and prosperity.
One of the reasons for its greatness was the presence of an Earth-Rank warrior among its ranks. In the current generation, that role was fulfilled by the clan patriarch, Xue Shen — Qinxuan's father.
Thanks to his position, the first eleven years of the girl's life felt like a fairy tale. She was surrounded by loving parents, the respect and goodwill of every clan member. The child lived like a true princess.
But at twelve, her perfect world crumbled.
A string of tragedies changed everything: her mother disappeared on a mission, the Xue-girl discovered with shock that she could not cultivate, her father suddenly displayed cold indifference, and those who had once been kind turned to contempt.
Four years of mockery and humiliation transformed Qinxuan's life into a nightmare.
As if that were not enough, fate struck her again — betrayal by the one person who had supported her all this time.
Her half-sister, Xue Meili, had long seemed the only light in the darkness.
She had protected and sheltered Qinxuan, but it was a lie. At the very moment Meili handed her over to the bandits, the traitor confessed with a smile: all her kind actions had been part of a carefully planned game.
The threats she "saved" Qin Xuan from and the problems she helped solve — all staged by herself. The reason was simple: envy. Xue Meili had long loved the young city craftsman to whom Qin Xuan was betrothed.
— That's the story. Now, about my request… what do you say? If you help me, I swear I'll never be in your debt, — the white-haired said, finishing her tale and turning to Delia.
As her gaze swept over Delia's face, the white-haired noticed something she hadn't seen before.
(For someone capable of defeating a bandit, she looks far too exhausted. I need to check her condition and help if necessary, even if she refuses.)
Meanwhile, Delia weighed her own reasoning.
{Pros of helping her: I like her, I feel sorry for her, and it was pleasant to embrace her to channel energy. Clan troubles could turn into drama, and drama is fun. Cons… none. I see no reason to refuse. Still, I don't want to agree just like that. Hm…}
— Alright, I'll help you. But with one condition, — Delia said thoughtfully.
— What condition? — Qinxuan asked cautiously.
— You have to honestly tell me what it is that needs to be nurtured for a whole month.
There was no immediate answer. Silence hung for a few minutes before Qinxuan finally spoke:
— It's a technique I'm training. It allows me to create a flame inside my body. Developing it takes a month, but right now, I'm not capable of doing it myself.
— Wow, — Delia exclaimed sincerely. — And what is it for?
— In the future, it can be used for attack, defense, healing… even alchemy.
— Hmm, sounds good. And how do you plan to solve your problem?
— We need to return to the city. There, you'll understand everything.
— Excellent. I'll gather our things — and we'll go, — Delia said, unable to hide her anticipation.
Some time later…
{…}
Having spent nearly all their remaining money on a set of silver needles and renting a small two-story shop, Delia stood in the room at a loss for words. The floor was covered in dirt and dust, and the clutter and junk filled every corner.
— Don't make that face, — the black-eyed said with a light smile. — Just tidy up and open the shop, and we'll quickly recoup the money we spent.
— Out of three things I hate, you've already made me do one, and now you want me to do the second, — Delia replied grimly.
— What do you mean? — companion asked.
— Spend money and clean up. I can deal with losing money, but I'm not going to clean, — Delia said firmly, crossing her arms.
— Oh, come on, — the thin girl feigned a plea. — The sooner we start, the sooner we'll finish. And I… I can barely stand as it is.
Delia remained silent for a long moment, then finally sighed, grimaced, and began gathering trash and wiping dust. Seeing her displeased expression, white-haired simply smiled softly and joined in.
Two hours later, which felt like an eternity to Delia, the room finally gleamed with cleanliness. Slumping into a chair, she asked wearily:
— What now?
— Now our medical office is in order, and I can examine the first patient.
Glancing toward the door and seeing no one there, Delia squinted:
— We haven't even opened yet. Where would a patient come from?
Instead of answering, little doctor pointed at her.
— My patient has been here all along. Now sit and extend your hand.
Raising an eyebrow skeptically, Delia complied and extended her hand.
— I don't doubt your skills, but how long have you been practicing medicine?
— Long enough. You'll see for yourself soon, — the black-eyed replied calmly, though Delia felt the confidence and pride behind her words. — Now, stay quiet. I'm diagnosing.
Feeling her cool fingers on her hand, Delia noticed her heartbeat quicken. The brunette couldn't understand why she felt a twinge of nervousness.
— Now I understand, — Qinxuan finally said.
— And what did you learn? — Delia asked cautiously.
— You have an incredibly powerful body. Even for me, this is rare. Your strength exceeds the level of a 5th-Rank Mortal, although you're only at the second. But the cost is too high energy consumption. Even at rest, you expend more than necessary. It's beginning to take a toll. Long-term, it could be dangerous.
— And what should I do now? — Delia frowned slightly.
— For now, it's not critical. Tomorrow, once we earn some money, we'll buy the necessary herbs for restoration. And the problem with excessive energy consumption, we'll solve it right now, — the short girl said, taking out a sheet of paper and quickly sketching diagrams.
Five minutes later, the little-doctor handed the sheet to Delia.
— This is an aura and breathing control technique. Study it and then burn the paper so it doesn't fall into the wrong hands.
Examining the energy circulation diagram and notes carefully, Delia nodded respectfully:
— Thank you, doctor. I'll follow your instructions.
— Good. That's enough for today. Tomorrow we start the practice. You train for now, and I'll handle the sign. After that, we'll focus on my energy and then sleep.
Later, upstairs, the two girls sat on the bed facing each other.
— Ideally, energy transfer would be like in the forest, — Qinxuan mused. — But if it's uncomfortable for you, we can just hold hands.
— No, no, it's fine. Sit, — Delia quickly replied, adjusting so Qinxuan could sit on her lap.
As Delia's hands wrapped around white-haired girl, she felt the warmth of her breath at her neck and gentle waves of energy spreading through her body, bringing relaxation and lightness. Taller than her friend, Delia settled comfortably, resting her head on Qin Xuan's shoulder, soon slipping into a half-asleep state.
— That's enough for today, — Qinxuan softly said an hour later, pausing the process.
Sleepy, Delia reluctantly opened her eyes, nodded, and shifted to the right side of the bed. With only one bed in the room, Qinxuan took the other half. Wishing each other good night, the girls fell asleep.
Midnight wrapped the room in complete silence, broken only by the soft breathing of the sleepers. Delia woke unexpectedly, feeling something warm against her side. Opening her eyes fully, she noticed the room was pitch dark. Yet thanks to her night vision, she could make out the surroundings.
She quickly realized she was lying too close to Qinxuan. Her arm had accidentally draped over her friend, as if protecting her even in sleep. Delia's cheeks flushed slightly as she carefully withdrew her arm, trying not to wake Qin Xuan.
{What's happening to me? Sharing a bed… I usually hate it when someone invades such personal space like sleep…}
She tried to shift a little, but the movement felt unnatural. Lying on her back, staring at the ceiling, the youth reflected.
{I agreed to sleep in the same bed with someone. Me! Someone who always guards her comfort zone as if it were treasure. Why does it not irritate me now, as it usually would?}
Her gaze returned to Qinxuan. Her friend's calm, almost serene face, softly parted lips, and gentle blush looked particularly vulnerable in sleep. Delia couldn't help but smile — her anxieties were melting away.
{If my actions feel strange… what about her? She was literally betrayed and sold today, and yet she lies down calmly with an almost stranger.}
Shaking her head and feeling her eyes grow heavy, Delia made herself comfortable again, staying close to Qinxuan, whose warm presence reassured her.
With a light smile, she drifted back into sleep.