“Then who am I to reject?” Lu Dongjian said. The rest of the guards walked in, and the door closed behind them. There would be no need to bother them, assuming everything went well. If there was a problem, however, he and Hong Xin had already exchanged imprints on their core-transmission jades.
Their procession continued. At the end of the hallway stood a large door made of carved wood. Upon reaching it, Ling Fei walked ahead and grasped a small bronze-colored door knocker. She used it to deliver three soft knocks to the other side. Shortly after, the doors opened, revealing three additional women, matching them member for member.
Unlike the Red Dust Pavilion, the mistresses of the Icy Heart Pavilion wore white and blue. They didn’t smile like Hong Xin and her entourage did, preferring to keep a relaxed yet soothing expression. It was impossible to tell their true emotions at a glance, as they were covered in an icy veil that was difficult to penetrate.
That, Hong Xin thought, or their emotions are completely nonexistent. In her experience, lack of empathy and shallow feelings came hand in hand with their cultivation method. It wouldn’t surprise her if it had been months since any of the four women laughed.
But who is their leader? she wondered as she looked over the four. They were all dressed identically in white-and-blue robes decorated with silver runes. They each wore the same silver jewelry, including a foot-long silver bracelet they wore on their right wrists. Their makeup was pale, and their hairstyles identical. Each of them wore a blue hairpin not unlike the ones Hong Xin and the others wore. Perhaps this was some sort of test?
Hong Xin discarded personal appearance, as it clearly wasn’t useful in this situation. It seemed the Icy Heart Pavilion valued appearance much less than they did. So, she looked over each of their expressions. She ignored Ling Fei, for while deceiving Hong Xin might be a biting move, abasing herself and calling herself vice head while also welcoming them personally would be too degrading. Therefore, one of the remaining three would have to be in charge.
The one on the left, while seeming calm as a glacier, had a hint of uncertainty in her eyes. Hong Xin looked over to the next in line, the one in the middle—her eyes seemed lifeless as a puppet’s. So she rested her eyes on the woman on the right. Her eyes were bright blue, and when she investigated further, Hong Xin felt a chill run through her body. It was like she’d been plunged into an icy lake. The courage she’d mustered instantly vanished, leaving her heart open to the invasion of countless doubts.
Seeing she’d just been affected by a powerful dousing force, Hong Xin activated her kindling cultivation and melted the frigid anxiety that permeated her. She countered with the sweltering heat of a day in the desert. It invaded her opponent’s mind and body, but to Hong Xin’s surprise, the woman showed no outward signs of feeling anything. She simply wore the same impassive expression despite the sweat forming on her forehead. Heated emotions of anger, love, and caring burned inside the woman unnoticed.
“You may call me Headmistress Hong,” Hong Xin said to the woman. “Might I have the pleasure of knowing your name?”
“You may call me Headmistress Lan,” Headmistress Lan said with the same flat expression. “I told you she wouldn’t fooled or affected, Ling Fei. You should stop wasting our time with such foolish games.” The headmistress walked away from the two others, and the illusion that had been covering her disappeared. Her clothes were just as ornate as Hong Xin’s. She wore much more silver-colored jewelry on her hair than the others, and the silver embroidery on her robes was more intricate. “Introduce yourselves.”
“I am Vice Head Xi,” the woman with the uncertain expression said.
“I am Vice Head Dong,” the puppetlike woman said in a deadpan voice.
“You may call me Bai Ling,” Bai Ling said. Ji Bingxue and Mistress Huang introduced themselves as well. Unlike the Icy Heart Pavilion, the Red Dust Pavilion didn’t care much for authority titles. Instead, the pecking order was well known, with these three women occupying top positions in Hong Xin’s confidence.
Their introductions complete, Headmistress Lan led them to a long tea table where two young girls began serving tea. It was a flower tea made from cherry blossom buds. Though it contained no stimulating agents, it tasted like the freshness of spring.
Are they servants or trainees? Hong Xin wondered as she savored the tea. Their movements were precise, and their expressions, though unpracticed, were just as emotionless as the four other women.
“They’re talented, yes?” Headmistress Lan said, catching Hong Xin’s glance. “We found these two three years ago. They’ve gotten the very best training and will soon graduate in the first new batch of full members at the Icy Heart Pavilion.”
“I see,” Hong Xin said. She took a sip of her tea. “Then you’re serious about continuing the Icy Heart tradition in Gold Leaf City.” Though she tried her best, it was difficult to hide her displeasure at the notion.
“Of course,” Headmistress Lan said, raising an eyebrow. “From what I gather, you’re also promoting the same training, along with your new kindling training regimen.”
“Hand in hand,” Hong Xin said. “And well controlled. Our students don’t have to give up their feelings in exchange for power.”
“Give up?” Headmistress Lan asked flatly. “I see. So you view getting rid of a weakness as giving it up. Interesting.”
“I view washing the color out of a woman’s life as heavy-handed, yes,” Hong Xin said. “Everyone has hopes and dreams. Would you have your students squash them?”
“Dreams are worthless, and ambition transcends emotion,” Headmistress Lan said. “All of our members agree. If they don’t, they’re free to leave. I won’t waste my time on students that have such childish notions on cultivation.”
“Childish?” Hong Xin said, her temper rising. She noticed,
