The Land Ends With You

The guest

Chapter 2

The next morning, within the spacious central hall of the Wei Estate—

Lin Lanyi, the young guest from the capital, stepped forward with quiet grace and stopped before the most powerful man in the valley.

Wei Balong sat imposingly in the seat of honor. His body was large and powerfully built, noticeably more imposing than the refined gentlemen commonly seen in the capital. His sharp features were framed by a neatly trimmed beard, clean and meticulously groomed.

His commanding gaze met Lanyi's for a brief moment before the severity in his eyes gradually softened.

"Lin Lanyi pays her respects to the Clan Leader and the three Madams."

"Welcome to the Zhenyuan Estate, Young Lady Lin."

With just those few words, the intimidating atmosphere around him eased, replaced by a strange and unexpected warmth.

Lanyi turned her gaze toward the three women seated beside Wei Balong.

Each possessed a beauty entirely distinct from the others, as though Heaven itself had deliberately crafted them one by one.

Lady Pan, the First Madam, sat to the right of the Clan Leader. Her presence carried both composure and authority, yet beneath that dignity was the compassion of a mother watching over the valley. Lanyi could sense at once that this woman was the "pillar" holding the balance of the entire estate together.

Lady Huifan, the Second Madam, sat beside her. She was as beautiful as a flower bathed in morning dew, her features soft and luminous. Hers was the kind of beauty that made everyone nearby feel at ease without even realizing it.

Lady Daifu, the Third Madam, was the youngest of the three. Her face was delicate and charming, with large, bright eyes like those of a playful young deer. A smile seemed to linger constantly at the corners of her lips.

Lanyi quietly observed the flow of Qi circulating throughout the room, astonishment rising in her heart.

'Incredible...'

Wei Balong's Zhenyuan Qi burned like a raging flame, yet the three distinct streams of Rouling Qi belonging to his wives gently embraced and intertwined with it.

'So this is why this estate feels different from the rest of the valley...'

She watched the colors of the four currents of Qi coil around one another.

'Opposing forces... and yet... they support and strengthen one another like this?'

'It feels so warm.'

"Greetings, Uncle Wei, and greetings to the three Madams."

Lanyi lowered herself into an elegant curtsy, every movement perfectly in accordance with proper etiquette.

"Make yourself comfortable here, Lanyi. The Lin family and the Wei clan have shared a pact for many generations."

The Clan Leader continued,

"As for the Rouling Qi within you, my three wives will guide and care for you. When it comes to handling the balance between Yin and Yang, few are more experienced than they are."

Lady Pan gave a small nod before stepping forward and gently taking Lanyi's hand.

"You need not worry, child."

Her voice carried the affectionate concern of an elder toward a young girl who had traveled far from home.

"We will prepare herbal drinks and protective formations in your residence to help calm your Qi. Before you enter Yao Yuan Feng Xi, you must remain under the closest possible supervision."

Lady Huifan smiled sweetly at her.

"Do not be too reserved, Lanyi. While you are here, consider this place another home."

Lanyi accepted their kindness with quiet gratitude. Although nervousness still lingered within her, the warmth she received from all three Madams allowed her to relax somewhat.

Yet amid that calm—

She suddenly sensed a strange "current of heat."

It did not come from any of the Zhenyuan in the room.

It was coming from somewhere much farther away.

That Afternoon — The Pavilion at the Lotus Pond

The afternoon sunlight filtering through the mist of the Cursed Lands appeared softer than it ever did in the capital.

Lanyi had been invited to a wooden pavilion standing at the center of a pond filled with snow lotuses.

The air here was noticeably cooler than in other parts of the settlement, for this area had been protected by a formation specifically designed to balance Qi.

Steam curled from a teapot upon the marble table as Lady Daifu carefully prepared the tea with practiced ease.

"Drink this first, Lanyi. It is snow-plum blossom tea mixed with dew gathered from the tips of Yin ferns. It will help cool the restless Qi within your chest."

Lanyi accepted the cup and took a small sip.

The cool fragrance spread all the way into her lungs.

At the same time, the sound of a pipa began to rise from Lady Huifan's hands.

The melody was soft and flowing, like water passing gently over stone.

'How beautiful...'

Suddenly, Lanyi remembered something.

'Before... back at the estate... I heard a single musical note that made the gardener and the guards stop moving... just before the Young Clan Master appeared.'

'It sounded exactly like the music Lady Huifan is playing now...'

"Let these melodies guide the circulation of your Qi."

Lady Huifan's voice was gentle.

"Do not resist. Do not be afraid. Let your heart follow the music."

Lanyi closed her eyes and began circulating her Qi according to their instructions.

With every graceful movement of Lady Huifan's fingers across the pipa strings, Lanyi felt something increasingly familiar.

"I feel... as though I've heard this music before."

Huifan secretly smiled.

"Really, dear? Where?"

"At my family's estate... before the Young Clan Master came to help me."

"My, Yi'er truly knows how to surprise me. What remarkably sharp senses you have."

Lanyi blinked.

"Eh? Then... that really was you, Madam?"

"Yes, dear."

Huifan continued playing without missing a note.

Lanyi thought back to that moment.

When she had seen Huifan standing at the estate, the woman had been elegant and composed—

Yet there had been no musical instrument anywhere near her.

"Mother suspects you are wondering about something."

Huifan exchanged a knowing glance with Daifu and Lady Pan.

"Back then, Mother had no instrument anywhere nearby, did she?"

"That is correct."

Lanyi nodded.

"That is because..."

Huifan rose from her seat.

Yet the wooden pipa continued to play on its own, even though no one was touching it.

At the same time, a faint blue glow appeared in the air before her.

Within that light, the vague outline of another pipa seemed to take shape—almost transparent, as though it existed somewhere between illusion and reality.

Huifan raised her slender hands and began plucking at the spectral strings in the air.

Each movement mirrored the notes sounding from the real pipa below, the two instruments playing together in perfect harmony.

Lanyi could only stare in astonishment, as did the maids who had accompanied her.

"Th-This... How are you doing that, Madam?!"

Lady Pan and Lady Daifu hid amused smiles behind their teacups while Huifan answered,

"This is one of the abilities of the Rouling, dear. If you train properly, you may one day be able to do it as well."

"If you train properly, you may one day be able to do it as well."

Lanyi could hardly believe what she was seeing.

'So this is the power of a Rouling...'

Although the sight stirred genuine excitement within her—

Her determination to return to her former life remained unchanged.

"N-No... no, Madam."

"Lanyi is grateful for your kindness, but I came here... to seal this power."

"I am not suited to being a Rouling."

"My life has already been arranged, and I am already betrothed..."

"I cannot accept such kindness from you."

'I must return to Father as soon as possible...'

The young woman's firm refusal caused all three Madams to quietly exchange glances.

'I... How much longer will I have to remain here...?'

"Do not let your thoughts wander, Yi'er."

Lady Pan spoke from behind Lanyi.

She held one hand just above the young woman's back, spreading a steady and powerful current of Qi like a protective shield, preventing Lanyi's pure energy from surging outward and disturbing the Zhenyuan beyond the pavilion.

"Aunt..."

Lanyi murmured after circulating her Qi for some time.

Hope made it impossible for her to ignore the question weighing on her heart.

"How long must I continue adjusting my Qi like this?"

"In only a few months, the bridal procession will come to collect me. I fear that..."

"Be patient, child."

Lady Pan's voice remained gentle, but firm.

"The path toward sealing one's power differs from person to person. It depends upon one's natural aptitude."

"Before we can train you properly, we must first discover the path most suited to you."

"It is much like what you just saw Mother Huifan demonstrate."

"For her, the way she learned to control her power was through music."

"I have heard that you yourself enjoy playing musical instruments."

"Would you be willing to try beginning there?"

"But Aunt... I do not wish to train this power."

"To suppress a power is much like taming a tiger."

"You must first understand it."

"You must learn to control it."

"If you can command it, then you will also be able to seal it."

"..."

Lanyi considered Lady Pan's words.

Her lips pressed together slightly as her gaze lowered toward the stone floor.

Although she could not fully understand everything yet, she eventually gave a small nod.

"Yes, Aunt."

"Lanyi will follow your teachings."

Upon the tiled roof of the guest residence, two Wei brothers crouched with their knees drawn up, secretly peering through the gaps between the branches toward the pavilion over the pond.

Puzhen, the fun-loving second brother, narrowed his eyes as he studied the young woman seated among the three Madams.

"...Big Brother really wasn't exaggerating."

"Look at her. She really is as flawless as one of those paintings of capital beauties."

"And that skin..."

"I almost thought she was made of snow."

Beyuan, the youngest, gave a dismissive huff.

"She is merely pretty in the way sheltered noble ladies are pretty."

"She cannot compare to Mother's dignity."

"Our fourth sister is still cuter."

Although his mouth tried to sound uninterested, his eyes remained fixed on Lanyi.

"And her Yin Qi is far too still."

"How boring."

"The Rouling here are far more lively than that."

"Oh, little brother..."

Puzhen lightly elbowed him in the side.

"Mother cannot hear you flattering her from here."

"No need to pretend you're so unimpressed."

"I saw you swallow when she lifted that teacup."

"Who is flattering anyone?! I'm only speaking honestly—"

Whoosh! Thud!

Before Beyuan could finish arguing, a hard green peach flew through the air and struck him squarely in the forehead.

A second one followed immediately after, nearly smashing into Puzhen's face and forcing him to dodge aside at the last possible moment.

"Ow!? Who did that?!"

The two brothers jolted and looked down.

They had been ready to retaliate—

Until both of their faces went pale.

Lady Pan stood below with one hand planted firmly on her hip and another green peach still in her hand.

Her sharp gaze pierced straight up toward them.

"You two! Get down here this instant!"

"Did I not already warn you that her Qi is dangerous?"

"If it erupts and the two of you are caught in the backlash, Mother will punish you both on top of that!"

"Oh, Mother! We're just sitting on the roof!"

"Yes, yes! I heard this building had a newly reinforced roof, so we only came up here to test it!"

"Look, look! We're excellent at balancing up here, aren't we, Mother?"

Puzhen shouted back with a laugh, showing absolutely no concern for the danger she had warned them about.

But then—

At that very instant—

The calm atmosphere surrounding the pavilion suddenly twisted.

Lanyi's previously composed face rapidly turned deathly pale.

The teacup in her hand began trembling so violently that tea splashed over the rim.

An intensely cold aura spread from her body.

The temperature dropped so sharply that the surface of the lotus pond began freezing over despite the natural heat of the Cursed Lands.

The Rouling Qi that had been suppressed until now—

Exploded outward like a broken dam.

"Ugh... Aunt... I... I can't breathe!"

Lanyi cried out in panic.

She clutched her chest and collapsed.

Pure Yin power surged outward from her body in wave after wave.

On the rooftop, the two brothers went pale as the overwhelming pressure struck them without warning.

The instant Lanyi's Qi erupted, it did not merely scatter aimlessly in every direction.

Instead—

It reacted violently to the nearest Zhenyuan whose power was both aggressive and completely unguarded.

"Hey—ugh...!!"

Beyuan barely managed half a shout before his entire body froze rigid.

His eyes widened in shock.

Lanyi's incomparably pure Yin Qi was like a ravenous black hole.

It surged toward him, tangled around his body, and violently tore the green Qi from within him through the air—

As though it intended to devour his very spirit and strength in a single breath.

The youngest Wei brother trembled violently.

His face drained of color as the heat within his body was mercilessly stolen away.

The power he had boasted of as strong and stable suddenly seemed worthless and fragile before the overwhelming absorption instinct of a direct bloodline.

"Beyuan! Get back!"

Puzhen shouted in alarm.

He grabbed his younger brother by the collar and tried to drag him out of range.

But the pulling force was so heavy and powerful that it felt as though he were trying to tear a mountain from the earth.

And then—

His own strength began to fade as well.

The Yin Qi had begun tearing at his Yang power too.

For the first time in his life, Beyuan finally understood the terrifying truth.

'So this... is the power of a true direct-line Rouling?!'

The power he had always believed existed merely to receive and balance the heat of Zhenyuan—

Now...

'It's devouring our power...!!!'