Dawn broke over the valley, golden light glinting off the newly forged weapon in Yu Lan's hands. Her personal army of a hundred warriors was ready, disciplined, and precise. Today was not merely a skirmish — it was a statement. A warning to the empire that the exiled daughter they had dismissed was rising.
Yu Lan adjusted the grip on the blade, feeling the subtle pulse of her cultivation within it. The weapon was an extension of her will, ready to strike at the first sign of danger.
Bo Li rode beside her, eyes scanning the horizon. His chest tightened as he observed her calm demeanor, her unwavering focus. "Do not overextend," he warned softly. "The empire is clever. They will not let this go unnoticed."
Yu Lan glanced at him, faintly smiling. "I know. That is why we strike carefully. Timing and precision — nothing more, nothing less."
His hand twitched near the hilt of his sword, ready to protect, to defend. He did not yet fully understand why he felt such pull toward her, but he would not leave her side. Not now. Not ever.
Huo Yun observed from a ridge above, directing the placement of scouts and relaying information through signals to ensure perfect coordination. Yet even as he orchestrated the strategy, his gaze kept flicking toward Bo Li's protective stance, his subtle touches and lingering glances.
Why does my chest tighten at such small things? Huo Yun thought. Focus. Strategy first. She is our priority. That is all that matters.
Still, jealousy simmered quietly beneath his composed exterior.
The strike began as the imperial convoy moved along the forested pass. Yu Lan's army emerged from hidden paths, encircling the patrols with discipline and efficiency. Arrows flew, but only to disable, not kill unnecessarily. Soldiers with experience fell in line with her strategy, guided subtly by her cultivation energy.
Yu Lan herself stepped forward when the convoy commander attempted to rally his men. With a swift motion, her new weapon — elegant, deadly, and resonating faintly with her power — struck, deflecting a sword and leaving the commander disarmed without a single fatal blow.
Bo Li intercepted a charging soldier, deflecting him with ease, while Huo Yun guided retreating patrols into traps, minimizing bloodshed and maximizing efficiency.
By midday, the patrols had been decisively neutralized. The villagers along the route whispered of a woman and her hundred warriors — a force moving like shadows, precise, unstoppable, and nearly supernatural.
Meanwhile, in the capital, news reached the emperor.
"Reports indicate the exiled Yu family is organizing forces in the northern valley," the chief minister said, bowing low. "Hundred-strong units, armed and trained, led by Lady Yu Lan herself. They have successfully intercepted patrols, redirected supplies, and undermined our authority in multiple districts."
The emperor's face grew stern. "Exiled or not, she cannot be allowed to grow unchecked. Send word to Long Tianwei — the matter requires immediate intervention. And quietly… investigate Yu Ya's intelligence. She may be our only inside advantage."
Back in the valley, Yu Lan sheathed her weapon, surveying the battlefield. Her army had acted flawlessly, her cultivation subtly guiding outcomes without revealing its presence.
Bo Li dismounted, moving to her side. "You… you've outdone yourself. They'll speak of this strike for years."
Yu Lan allowed herself the faintest smile. "It is not about recognition. It is about positioning. The empire's reaction will reveal their weaknesses."
Huo Yun descended from the ridge, his expression carefully neutral, but the quiet tension in his chest remained. He had orchestrated the strategy flawlessly, yet watching Bo Li near her — protective, devoted, and attentive — left him unsettled.
In the capital, the political tension thickened. Ministers whispered, the emperor grew wary, and Long Tianwei's influence felt threatened. Yu Ya, sensing the subtle rise of Yu Lan's power, gritted her teeth.
She dares to grow stronger while we wait? Yu Ya thought. I underestimated her once. Never again.
The stage was set. The rebellion had made its first public mark, and the empire, proud and arrogant, was beginning to take notice.
Yu Lan, standing atop the ridge in the fading light, allowed herself a moment of satisfaction. The petals of the lotus had struck.
And the capital now trembled at the first ripples.