The Broken Paths

The next morning, the first rays of sunlight crept through the wooden screens of the Silver Lotus Sect, casting soft golden hues over the sleeping quarters. Jiang and Bao stood at the entrance, their usual energetic banter muted by the sight before them.

Layla and Meyu lay curled up on the sleeping mat, wrapped in a shared blanket, their faces relaxed in deep slumber. For once, there was no tension in Layla's features, no signs of the torment she usually carried. Her breathing was steady, her expression peaceful in a way that neither of them had ever seen before.

Meyu, despite her usual sharpness, had an arm draped protectively over Layla, her face turned slightly toward her as if keeping watch even in sleep. There was something strangely soft about it—like a bond neither of them had intended to form, but had settled into naturally.

Jiang raised an eyebrow, nudging Bao lightly. "They look... comfortable."

Bao crossed his arms, staring at them with a mix of amusement and curiosity. "More like exhausted. Guess they talked all night."

Jiang smirked. "Yeah, but look at them. If we wake them up now, I feel like we're going to ruin something."

Bao sighed. "True. But we also kind of need them awake. We could wake them gently, though."

Jiang gave him a flat look. "Do you even know how to wake someone gently?"

Bao paused, then grinned sheepishly. "Not really."

The two boys stood there for a moment longer, neither willing to disturb the rare tranquility before them. Layla and Meyu, despite everything they had endured, had found solace in each other.

Jiang finally huffed. "Fine. Five more minutes. Then we wake them."

Bao smirked. "Agreed."

Just as they were about to turn away, soft footsteps echoed behind them. Zhu Fen and Zhao Lihua approached, their eyes landing on the sleeping pair with mild curiosity.

"Wow" Zhu Fen murmured, crossing his arms. 

Zhao Lihua nodded, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Meyu is always so sharp, so on edge. But right now... she almost looks normal."

A worker from Ryl Trading, who had tagged along out of curiosity, let out a surprised chuckle. "That's rare. The only time she ever looks that relaxed is when she's with Master Atlas."

Jiang and Bao exchanged glances. Atlas. It made sense—he was the one who had given her a new life, after all. But seeing her like this, wrapped up with Layla, was something else entirely.

Bao scratched the back of his head. "Guess that means Meilin is special to her, too."

Zhao Lihua smiled faintly. "Looks like it."

The group stood there for a few moments, simply watching the quiet scene before them. For all the chaos, for all the battles and burdens these two carried, right now, they were just two people finding comfort in each other.

Jiang sighed. "Alright, seven minutes. Then we wake them."

Bao laughed. "We just keep adding time, don't we?"

Before they could act, a loud clash echoed from the training grounds, followed by a sharp gust of wind. The familiar, rhythmic sound of clashing wood and grunts filled the morning air.

Jiang glanced at Bao. "Sounds like Master Lin is already up.

Bao grinned. "And it sounds like he's already beating someone up."

Sure enough, as the two turned their attention toward the training grounds, they spotted Lin Wuye engaged in a fierce spar with both of them—Jiang and Bao, or rather, their future selves in an inevitable morning session. The older man moved with the precision of a seasoned warrior, easily parrying their strikes while countering with smooth, effortless movements.

Back inside, the distant sounds of battle stirred Layla from sleep. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim morning light. The warmth against her side made her pause—Meyu was still there, curled up beside her, breathing evenly.

For a brief moment, Layla hesitated. She hadn't woken up like this with someone in a long time.

It felt... safe.

Then, another loud thud from the training grounds snapped her fully awake. With a small groan, she rubbed her eyes, stretching as she listened to the ongoing fight just outside.

"Morning already?" she mumbled.

Meyu stirred slightly but didn't wake, her hand instinctively gripping the fabric of Layla's sleeve as if holding onto something in a dream. Layla stared at the hand for a moment before shaking her head with a small smirk.

"Looks like Jiang and Bao are getting their asses kicked early today" she murmured to herself before sitting up, stretching her arms.

After the morning training, the doors to the training hall slid open with a loud clack.

Meyu stood at the entrance, arms crossed, a smirk playing on her lips. "Alright, everyone up. Time for a very important business discussion."

Jiang, now sporting a fresh bruise from his spar with Lin Wuye, groaned. "Can't this wait? Some of us just got our asses handed to us."

"Nope." Meyu's smirk widened.

"Because today, we're talking about money."

That got everyone's attention.

A short while later, the group gathered in the hall. Meyu stood at the front, holding a wooden board where she had scribbled down some rather questionable pricing.

She clapped her hands together. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the grand monetization of Silver Lotus Martial Arts!"

Everyone stared.

Lin Wuye raised an eyebrow. "You sound way too much like Atlas right now."

Meyu ignored him and pointed at the pricing breakdown.

She tapped the board again. "We'll offer three tiers. The Copper Tier is for standard classes—group lessons, basic forms, and conditioning. Affordable, accessible, keeps the masses coming in. But Silver? That's where things get interesting. Tailored training, in-depth instruction, access to specialized techniques. That's where the real profit starts."

Zhao Lihua narrowed her eyes. "And Gold?"

Meyu smirked. "Gold is exclusive. Private mentorship, advanced martial techniques passed down only to the most dedicated. Limited slots, high prestige, and most importantly—outrageous prices."

She tapped the board and listed the breakdown:

Copper Tier (5 copper per session): Basic group lessons, conditioning, and fundamental forms. Accessible to commoners and entry-level students.

Silver Tier (10 silver per month): Personalized training, specialized techniques, one-on-one feedback. Designed for serious practitioners who want real progress.

Gold Tier (1 gold per month): Private mentorship with masters, access to hidden techniques, and a prestigious ranking within the sect. Only for the wealthiest and most dedicated.

A long silence followed.

"What the hell are these prices?!" Bao nearly choked.

"Who's going to pay gold pieces for a lesson?!"

Elder Jian Bo and Zhao Lihua, the most numbers-savvy among them, stared at the pricing board like it was some kind of dark sorcery.

"This is daylight robbery." Elder Jian Bo muttered.

Layla, arms crossed, smirked. "And yet, someone will pay."

Yuxe Wuye shook her head, looking almost impressed. "This really is something Atlas would come up with."

Meyu grinned, her expression full of mischief.

"Oh, it'll work. Trust me. Nobles will beg to throw money at us just to feel superior."

Elder Jian Bo crossed his arms. "So the rich get better training while the poor scrape by?"

Meyu rolled her eyes. "No, old man, the rich get convinced they're getting something better. The real talent? That still comes from the ones who dedicate themselves to the craft. But if nobles and high-status merchants want to throw gold at us for lessons they won't even master, why should we stop them?"

Lin Wuye exhaled slowly, rubbing his temple. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but this plan… it actually makes sense."

Layla, arms crossed, smirked. "Someone will always pay. They have a problem and we sell the solution."

Jiang, still staring at the price breakdown, shook his head. "This is insane."

Meyu grinned wider. "No, this is business."

Elder Jian Bo stroked his beard thoughtfully. "Then tell me, Meyu, how exactly do you plan to market this to the general public? Martial arts sects have existed for generations, and yet very few have ever if ever, successfully monetized their teachings beyond taking in disciples."

Meyu smirked, pleased that he was catching on. "Simple, Elder. We create demand where none exists. Right now, only warriors, nobles, and mercenaries actively seek martial training. But what if we made it desirable for everyone?" She gestured to the board.

"The Copper Tier ensures accessibility. Farmers, merchants, even low-ranked soldiers—they can afford five copper per session. The key is to make them believe that even basic training gives them an edge which will since anyone who has at least martial arts will do better than someone who does not. That alone will draw in crowds."

Jian Bo nodded slowly. "And the Silver Tier?"

"That's where we trap the ambitious ones," Meyu said smoothly.

"Once someone starts at Copper, they'll want to improve. So we introduce selective admissions for Silver—make it seem elite enough that they feel compelled to climb higher. Restricting access while making it just affordable enough keeps them chasing."

Zhao Lihua hummed in understanding. "And Gold?"

Meyu's smirk widened. "Gold is the illusion of power. Nobles will throw gold at us just to say they are trained by the Silver Lotus Sect, even if half of them can't land a proper punch. Most of them only want the bragging rights. Prestige sells itself."

By the time the discussion ended, a strange energy filled the hall. For the first time, the entire sect wasn't just thinking like warriors—they were thinking like businesspeople. They had spent months learning math, science, and commerce under Meyu's teachings, but now they were applying it.

Meyu stood tall, hands on her hips.

"Starting tomorrow, we begin spreading the word. We'll send envoys to major towns, set up exclusive training halls just for outsiders, and have our name reach even the ears of royalty. This isn't just about money—this is about making the Silver Lotus Sect untouchable."

Lin Wuye exhaled through his nose, shaking his head. "It's bold. I'll give you that. But let's see if this actually works."

That night, long after most of the sect had gone to sleep, a private meeting was held in the great hall. Only the top-ranking members were present—Layla, Lin Wuye, Yuxe Wuye, Jiang, Bao, and Zhao Lihua.

Elder Jian Bo, arms crossed. "Let's assume Meyu's plan works, and we actually get outsiders willing to pay these insane fees. Who's going to train them?"

Lin Wuye leaned forward, fingers tapping against the wooden table. "Most of our skilled fighters are already committed to training our own disciples. If we assign too many to outsiders, our sect might weaken."

Bao frowned. "Do we even know if anyone will actually come? It's a great plan, but let's be real—who's going to pay gold for training when most sects offer lessons for free to their disciples?"

Zhao Lihua sighed. "People will pay for status, not just skill. Meyu is right about that. But I admit, I'm skeptical."

Layla, who had been quiet, finally spoke. "They will come."

Everyone turned to her.

She met their gazes evenly. "The world is changing. People don't just want strength; they want security. The war, the shifting power in the regime—people are afraid. And fear makes people desperate. If we position ourselves as the solution, they will come. As you said Bao, most sects trains their disciples, keyword ''their'' while we train anyone who coughs up money and in exchange they learn how to protect themselves while we keep our techniques."

Lin Wuye studied her for a long moment, then exhaled. "Then we prepare. If this truly works, we will need a plan."

Elder Jian Bo nodded. "We will. But first, let's see how many show up. If this succeeds the Silver Lotus Sect may just be able to regain its lost status."