Yesterday
It was supposed to be the beginning of everything.
Lǐ Xīrán had waited years for this moment, her martial soul awakening ceremony. That night, she had not slept at all. Her eyes remained fixed on the stars above her home, heart pounding between excitement and dread.
Excitement, because this would be her first step toward vengeance.
Nervous, because she feared what kind of martial soul might awaken.
And happiness, because despite the sorrow buried deep in her heart, this ceremony marked the start of a path where she could finally chase power, rather than mourn what had already been lost.
But fate did not smile upon her.
When the ceremony took place in the village's branch of Spirit Hall, her soul power barely registered, 0.5, with a Blue Silver Grass martial soul.
The same useless grass scorned by every generation.
Hope shattered before her eyes. The only quota available for Nuoding Academy was given to another.
That day, she did not eat. Nor did she drink. She simply cried.
Alone in her home, tears fell like endless rain—grief for her sister, fury at the world, and helplessness that coiled like chains around her soul.
By the time the sun fell, she had made her decision.
She would join her sister in death.
Yet before she could act, someone knocked on her door.
She opened it with hollow eyes, and found Old Tom, the village chief, standing there with his face wet with tears and voice trembling.
"There is… a quota," he said, pointing behind him. "A spirit master is staying in the village. He asked for you."
In that moment, something long buried stirred again inside her.
She did not wait for another word. She ran without shoes, without even drying her tears. Because someone, somewhere, had extended a hand.
A hand she would seize with everything she had left.
If it gave her the chance to stand again, then she would rise. If it gave her power, then she would take revenge. And maybe… just maybe… she could finally let her sister rest in peace.
---
Now
After returning from Eren's home, Lǐ Xīrán sat alone in her small wooden house, the structure creaking softly under her steps. The floor was nothing but pressed earth, and her furniture was sparse. But her eyes remained fixed only on the parchment in her hands.
It was real.
Her name was printed in black ink, along with the words: Blue Silver Grass. Soul Power: 0.5. At the bottom, the seal of Spirit Hall confirmed its authenticity.
She had stared at it for what felt like hours.
Eventually, her body reminded her of its needs. She had not eaten in nearly two days.
She stood, quietly prepared a pot of thin porridge with the last of her grain, and sat down on the floor to eat. Each spoonful tasted bitter, but it brought strength back to her limbs.
While eating, she drifted into silent thought.
"I must not waste this chance. I must train. I must cultivate. I must work for the organisation. I must earn this trust."
Black Lotus.
The name repeated itself again and again in her heart.
Not as a word, but as a vow.
When evening came, she changed into her only decent dress and left her house. She walked slowly to Eren's doorstep and sat beside his entrance, waiting patiently.
The sun dipped behind the trees. Shadows crept in.
But she did not move.
Instead, she crossed her legs, closed her eyes, and began to meditate. Even here, she would not allow herself to be idle. She would not give him reason to doubt her.
An hour passed.
Then, the quiet sound of a door opening broke her focus.
Her eyes snapped open.
She turned to look, and there he stood. Eren, the one who had reached down and pulled her from the abyss.
She rose to her feet and straightened her posture, heart beating faster for reasons she did not fully understand.
For the first time in her life, she felt as if her existence had weight.
"You're early," Eren remarked, his expression unreadable but voice laced with faint amusement. "Well, early bird gets the worm, though you are the only one here."
He stepped aside and gestured for her to come in.
Xīrán obeyed without question. She entered the room quietly and stood by the doorway until he motioned toward the stool in front of his bed. She seated herself with both hands on her knees, eyes steady despite the faint nervousness she could not hide.
Eren sat on the edge of the bed and raised his hand. With a brief flick of soul power, two items dropped from his storage ring and landed gently on the cloth between them.
Her eyes widened. The smooth, soundless motion of the objects appearing from nowhere was like magic.
Eren gave a quiet chuckle. "Never seen a storage ring before?"
She shook her head slightly.
"Well, now you have," he said. "Both are for you. This bracelet is silver, for daily use. Don't wear it openly until you reach Spirit Master rank, or Grandmaster at the very least."
He pushed the bracelet forward. It was simple in design, silver with elegant carvings, but it gleamed faintly under the light. She took it and slipped it onto her wrist carefully.
Next, he picked up the ring, a silver band with a deep crimson center, etched with a single character: 希然.
"This," Eren said, "is your identification mark as a member of Black Lotus. It is also a storage ring. Inside, you'll find your first resources from the organisation."
He spoke plainly, but with weight behind every word.
"There is a soul pill within. Take it, and your spirit power will rise directly to level ten. You'll also find a bundle of herbs for strengthening the body, prepare them in a hot bath, and they will improve your constitution. For a spirit master, this is critical."
Xīrán took the ring with both hands and examined the engraving with awe.
Eren gestured with his fingers. "Pour a little soul power into it. You'll understand."
She nodded and did as instructed.
A moment later, her mind was pulled into the ring's internal space. Her breath caught. It was vast, far larger than her entire home. Inside were neatly arranged: a thousand gold soul coins, several bundles of blue medicinal herbs, and a black box with a golden clasp.
With a thought, she retrieved the box.
Eren nodded in approval. "That is the soul pill. No side effects, no impurities. Spirit Hall would kill to produce one of equal quality, but they cannot, and even if they could, they would never give it to someone like you."
She opened the lid slowly.
A single golden pill sat within, faintly glowing.
She placed it into her mouth without hesitation.
The pill dissolved the moment it touched her tongue. A cooling current surged through her veins. Her mind cleared, her heart slowed, and her body felt as if unburdened from all weight.
She closed her eyes for a moment, breathing steadily.
Eren clapped once. "Congratulations. Your soul level has reached ten. You are now ready for your first spirit ring."
He paused.
"But do not rush. Stabilize your cultivation first. After that, you may either accompany me on a soul hunt—or if you prefer, I can obtain one for you, custom-tailored."
Xīrán opened her eyes. There was something new in them—resolve, born not from desperation, but from choice.
"No," she said firmly. "I will hunt it myself. If I want strength, I must work for it."
Eren's lips curled into a faint smile. "You've got guts."
She allowed herself a small chuckle. Praise, especially from him, was rare and deeply satisfying.
"Don't worry," Eren added. "A Black Lotus member will accompany you to ensure your safety. If I'm free, I'll come myself."
He paused, then pulled another item from his ring—a cloth folded neatly, golden-brown in color, with her name Xīrán stitched in dark thread across the center.
"Take this as well. It'll help during your cultivation."
She tilted her head, confused. "Is this… a blanket?"
Eren coughed lightly, smirking. "It's a Gourmet Tablecloth. Lay it on the ground, say what you want to eat, and the dish will appear. Simple as that."
Xīrán gave him a side glance, sighing inwardly. Can he ever explain things properly from the beginning?
Still, after everything that had happened since morning, she had learned to accept the absurdity of his methods.
She took the cloth, thanked him properly, and returned home.
That night, she began her first meditation as a full-fledged soul master of Black Lotus.
As for Eren, he returned to his home in Holy Soul Village without a word.
The petals of Black Lotus continued to bloom, quietly.