The four-season bears' width worked against them, forcing the party to stagger down the narrow side road. They found the back road lacked the ordered plaining of the major ones, leading them into a winding maze of stone and wood. Yet every clash of steel still reached them.

I am so lost.

Felix finally slowed at a Y-intersection, his eyes slowly weighing the two options.

I’m not even sure if I am heading in the right direction anymore.

Hesitantly, he turned toward Daiyu. She only shook her head before squeezing her mount around his own and took the lead. He frowned at her back, but it evaporated as she led them back to a major road in minutes. It was instantly familiar, ‘Tolo’s Mystical Tools’ only a few buildings away in the direction of the city center.

They headed in the opposite direction, the massive southern gates visible down the road.

Maybe I should have let Daiyu lead since the beginning… Do I have a bad sense of direction?

Their bears had just begun to pick up speed when another fight started at the base of the gate. The colors of the Yang Family and the city guard standing out amongst the blur of bodies.

“Well, fuck.” Said Felix, pulling his bear to a halt and absently holding Edward in place. “So much for an easy getaway.”

“Let’s just rush them and burst through.” Said Yang Mei. “The longer we sit here, the bigger chance we will get mixed up in something. The Yang family members are too busy with the guards and I doubt they would care for a few random cultivators anyway.

“Wishful thinking, Sister Mei. As a third party, we could be ignored, or we could draw both parties’ ire. Maybe we should hide?” said Cixi. “Daiyu, I noticed how you and Felix seemed to know that Merchant Tolo. His shop should be only a few buildings back up the road. Perhaps we can hide there?”

Daiyu’s head snapped toward another sideroad, and a few seconds later Felix caught the sound of footsteps. A guard, with uniform torn and bloodied burst from the alleyway. A pile of trash was in the man’s way and he kicked it aside. The grunt of pain and now flailing limbs showed it to be human. The guard barely slowed, only giving their party and the now prone beggar a confused look before disappearing down another road. Seconds later, five men in Yang Family livery followed. They didn’t even spare their group a glance, before going down the same alley the guard had fled.

Felix nudged his bear toward the tangle of limbs.

Cultivators really don’t care for mortals at all, do they? I hope that beggar is still alive.

A rapping of chalk on board made him look back at Daiyu.

“Just stop and watch.” Wrote Daiyu.

“What? At least let us help him.” Said Felix.

She just pointed her chalk toward the tattered mess of clothes and tangled limbs. The mound twitched, then rocketed into the air. With a graceful flip, the beggar landed on his feet, casually scratching his ass as he looked around. Then he made eye contact with Felix. He pointed his middle and index finger at Felix, rubbing them together and spitting in their direction. After a belch and curse, the beggar scuttled away down the alley the guard had come from.

“What the hell was that?” said Edward. “Did you all see what I just saw?”

“I saw the same thing man. This world is full of strange people. What did that gesture mean?” said Felix.

“It means go pleasure yourself with your weapon,” said Yang Mei. “I didn’t know it was used this far south.”

“Focus people! We need to make a decision” said Cixi. “Look, what’s happened already.”

She pointed toward the southern gate in the distance where the conflict had somehow doubled in size. They watched it for a moment and turned as a group toward ‘Tolo’s Mystical Tools’.

“Try to pull in the bears after us.” Wrote Daiyu as they neared. “Felix and I will make sure the building is safe. I don’t like that the doors are open.”

She jumped from her mount, landing without a sound. Felix slid off his and hurried after her. They paused as they walked inside, finding all the previously covered walls bare of even a single item.

“Well… that is not a good sign. Do you think he hid his inventory as soon as the fighting started?” Said Felix. He opened a drawer and sighed when he found it empty. “I mean, I suppose it makes sense to run since his informant may have left clues that led back to him, but he could have at least left something for us to find.”

Daiyu didn’t respond. She just stared up at the floor above before running up the stairs. Felix shrugged and followed. Stripped of items and even furniture, the room lay bare of everything but one of the store attendants. He laid dead on the floor.

So, it wasn’t a clean getaway then. Isn't that the guy who gave me the snotty look earlier… weird.

They hurried to Tolo’s office door at the back and found two more corpses at the entrance. A second dead attendant and a man in Yang Family colors. The office itself was ripped apart, its interior coated with great swaths of blood. Tolo was nowhere in sight.

“Daiyu… What do you make of this?” said Felix.

Daiyu's head slowly turned, pausing extra-long on the shadowy corners of the room. Then she slowly took her chalkboard back out, somehow holding both it and her sword in one hand.

“I am not sure what to make of it.” Wrote Daiyu. “I do know we need to leave. Now.”

“Should we loot the bodies?”

“No, it seems clear that whoever did this took everything of value.”

“Wait! His bookcase!”

Felix hurried over to a closet in the back, opening to show the little library. He opened his bag of holding as wide as it would go and began shoving entire shelves of books in. Daiyu watched him for a moment, before shaking her head and turning to face the door, sword out.

How can I pass up more books? I mean, they aren’t special but I am burning through the ones I copied from the Hall of Knowledge faster than I expected. Plus, who knows. Maybe the elder who is responsible for the hall’s creation will give us points for bringing new books back.

When the last book disappeared into the bag, Felix found himself being dragged away. They returned to the first floor and found their companions had somehow corralled all but the largest of the bears into the building. Yang Mei was trying to pull the last one through the clearly too small doorway. It stared back at her listlessly, despite her efforts, clearly bored.

“I am sorry to say that we need to leave. Our acquaintance Tolo is probably dead,” said Felix.

“What?” said Yang Mei, letting go of the bear. “Are you messing with me, Felix?”

“Sorry, but no. The corpses of some of his attendants and Yang Family members are cooling upstairs. It does not bode well for the Merchant.”

“Do you know how hard it is to corral these damn bears inside, we just got them… You know what? Screw this!” said Yang Mei

She turned around and threw herself at the door frame. Wood gave to muscle, and soon the entrance was double in size. The previously stuck bear had slowly backed out of the building as she worked. Then she turned on the remaining four-season bears, their normally placid eyes watching her warily. She pointed at the now enlarged entrance and they trundled out.

Felix felt a smile tug at the corner of his mouth as he watched. Edward nervously edged away, sprinting out the front door when Yang Mei's fist stopped just short of a support beam.

You are still too green buddy.

Mounting up, Cixi eyed the fight at the end of the road and looked back toward Felix.

“Are we going to try and break through then?”

He followed her gaze to see that the fight had grown again.

How the hell did Captain Bai make it all the way over here?

The man’s feather waved back and forth with his movements as he fought one Yang Family member with two of his fellow guards. Felix even spotted a few rogue cultivators. This group fought together, the randomness of their techniques making them stand out more from the two main groups more than even their lack of uniform.

“I think we should.” Said Felix. He glanced back at ‘Tolo’s Mystical Tools’ and suppressed a shudder. “The city isn’t safe for us. The waters are too deep for our cultivation. We should have left when the city lord told us to. Daiyu, do you want to take the lead?”

She shook her head and pointed to Yang Mei.

“My fighting style means I should not be the hammer, especially with my arm still injured.” Wrote Daiyu. “Have Yang Mei lead, with you beside her Felix. Cixi will bring up the rear and I will support.”

“Makes sense.” Said Yang Mei, a grin on her face. “I am still a little frustrated.”

They urged their mounts forward, falling into something resembling the formation Daiyu had outlined. Yang Mei led them toward one of the thinner sections of the fight, where three Yang Family members faced off against five guards. Their charge was ignored until they were only a few meters away.

Despite being spotted, they directed their mounts to pass through a small gap behind the Yang Family members. Yang Mei’s mount had just entered the passage when one of the Yang members spun, spear tip streaking toward Yang Mei’s face. She grabbed the spear with her hand and rose upward and away with the momentum to an awkward looking standing position, balancing on the now still four-season bear. Then she crouched back down, her leg darting out to shatter the man’s sternum.

Felix tried to urge his bear forward to support her, but more yang members joined the fight from the surrounding alleyway.

Where are they all coming from!

Their mounts had nearly come to a halt, and they bunched close together as they fought. Felix tried to wield his sword from the bear's back, eventually wasting a Ragnarök strike to fend off a Yang family man.

Fuck! All my moves are optimized for standing on the ground!

Then one of the Yang Members turned his sword on Felix’s mount, cutting a swath across the four-season’s blubbery water form. Felix was knocked off as the bear reared back and the hard packed road smashed the air from his lungs. On its hind legs, the bear’s shadow covered him as he scrambled to his feet.

Its form rippled in waves as its appearance changed. Bluish blubber gave way to stone which turned to wispy hair and then embers. The Yang Family members backed up as the other four bears also rose to their feet. Then they pounced.

Stone claws met flesh and the bears' sudden ferocity pushed the Yang Members back.

Felix spun to parry a blade intended for his back. On the ground once more, his strike sent the attacker flying even as a few cracks spread from where Felix’s feet met the ground. Before he could follow up on the attack, he had to raise his sword to fend off a different assailant.

This is weird… Thought Felix, dodging another Yang Family Member who had avoided a Ragnarök strike. No one is dying. He nearly stumbled over a corpse, before his movements turned smooth again. Not anymore at least…

“City Lord!” Rang a voice, the sound reaching every corner of the city. “What crime has my family committed? What line have we crossed to deserve this!?”

The fighting slowed, many looking toward the city center. One of the bears took a swipe at a Yang Men who barely dodged. The man didn’t retaliate, and the bear hesitated at the lack of reciprocated violence. Then it and the other bears stopped, settling back on their haunches and giving discontented chuffs.

“What do you mean? You betrayed the city!” Boomed the city lord, his voice somehow even louder. “Yang Fu, if you have the conviction to stab me in the back like this, then say it loud enough for the entire city to hear! The other families won’t allow a spineless coward to rule!”

“We have been doing no such thing!” said Yang Fu.

“Do not lie!” Said the city lord, his tone turning truly angry. “I had my suspicions, but I didn’t want to believe it. Then we had the final confirmation of your family’s betrayal yesterday. I am not sure who your family is working for, but your granddaughter was seen planning with an identified malefactor.”

There was silence as the two figures simply stared at one another. Then an unbridled storm of lighting emanated from Yang Fu.

“That unfilial BITCH!” said Yang Fu.

The fighting stopped completely as everyone in the city watched Yang Fu’s display of rage. It took a full minute before the man regained control and the two figures moved to hover mere meters apart.

“Yang Family members,” said Yang Fu, his voice barely intelligible. “You are to cooperate with the city guard and find Yang Fen. All members who do not follow this order are to be apprehended. The city lord and I will personally reward those responsible for her capture, including a pill to aid in reaching the core realm. Anyone found aiding her flight will receive my wraith!”

“City Guard!” said the city lord. “break into groups of five. The Yang Patriarch words are true. Those responsible for Yang Fen’s arrest will be rewarded.”

Felix and company watched the stunned combatants. Even the ferocious four-season bears seemed stunned. Then the calm was shattered as the former enemies turned partners. A few hateful looks were passed between the two groups, but an obvious glint in their eyes overrode such considerations.

Wow… the power of greed is impressive.

“Let’s get out of here,” said Felix.

A few of the Yang Members sent them and the surviving rouge cultivator hateful looks. These were not masked.

They’re trying to find outlets to their rage. We definitely need to leave.

As they neared the gate, one of the Yang family members pointed toward them.

“Wait, what do you think you are doing?” Said the man. He shot hateful eyes toward Cixi and Felix noticed the burns visible on his body. “No one can leave until we have apprehended the traitors.”

“He’s right.” Said a city guard. “I’m sorry but I will have to ask you and the others to stay.”

Felix didn’t even respond and just pulled out the city lord's token. The man paled.

“I’m deeply sorry.” Said the guard, bowing. “I-I am afraid though that I’m not skilled enough to verify the token. If you could please wa-”

“Stand down.” Said a tired voice. Felix turned to see a wounded captain Bai forcing himself through a crowd of guards. “It is legitimate. They are also recent guests of the City Lord. Let them pass.”

The city gate lifted, and Felix and company mounted up. He looked back as they left the chaos behind them, sighing at the bodies that still dotted the ground.

That… is not our problem.

Felix urged his bear closer to the others who had pushed ahead and the gate boomed shut behind them.

Elder Zhenzhen watched the disciples move further and further away.

They truly know how to find trouble. Thought Elder Zhenzhen.

She scanned the city once more with her divine sense and frowned.

This Yang Family Miss is quite slippery. I would’ve like to prune her now...

She briefly scanned over ‘Tolo’s Mystical Tools’ and her frown deepened.

Another strand of intrigue. I can’t locate that merchant or his body… impressive. Why is so much happening in this awkward little place? Maybe it will be fine if I just send Brother Akeno another message. Ahhh, I just want to follow Felix’s group and eat my pastries!

She flew her cloud into the City lord mansion. The entrance guard's eyes never looked in her direction. The servants didn’t spare her a glance even as she made faces at them as she went by. Not even the majordomo who was hiding his core realm cultivation noticed her. All the way into the City lord’s secret office she went, till she floated before the Yang Family Patriarch and City lord. She gave them with a dissatisfied pout.

The Yang patriarch was slumped in his chair, staring down at his hands while the city lord paced back and forth.

“Yang Fu, how the hell did you let it get to this point?” Said the city lord.

“How was I to know my own flesh and blood would stab me in the back like this! I thought I could leave it to the younger generation and focus on my cultivation. That is how this is supposed to work. They support me and I shield them until they are strong enough to stand on their own, yet I still haven’t understood the extent of the damages that girl has caused. Our vault has been stripped clean and many of our key members are gone to who knows where. I have no idea who of those left are still loyal.”

“It is your responsibility to manage your family, no one else! I’ve lost good men because of this."

“You, you’ve lost good men! Without warning my family comes under siege and it is only luck that some of my men saw it coming. Why didn’t you come to me first? Then maybe we could have stopped this mess and caught that child.”

“I thought you were the mastermind. How was I to know you were betrayed by your own granddaughter.”

“I am beginning to doubt she was only essence gathering. Did you know my brother is one of the ones missing? There is no way she would sway him unless she was a genius. He only respects talent. No, that’s not right. He only respects power… how strong is that little bastard!”

“Are you sure you should be telling me this,” sneered the city lord. “She is your flesh and blood. If she is really so talented in both scheming and cultivation, then shouldn’t you be able to forgive anything.”

“Pfft, I’m not going to forgive a sword through the back just because she’s my descendent. I would have canceled her marriage if she had just shown me her talent. No, when we find the ungrateful cunt, I’ll kill her myself.”

“And I fear this isn’t the end of it.” Said the city lord with a sigh.

“What do you mean?” Said Yang Fu, finally looking up from his hands.

“I don’t know but I’m worried.” Said the city lord. “What if your granddaughter isn’t the extent of the rot. With the empire involved… it is unlikely they put all their eggs in one basket.”

“The other families?” said Yang Fu.

“Perhaps.” Said the city lord. “I can’t be sure.”

The Yang Patriarch stared back down at his hands before clenching them into fists. He rose to his feet and met the City lord eyes.

“Then we need to start looking for that girl personally. If it is as you say, we need to solve this crisis fast and plan for what may come.”

“Hold on old men,” said Zhenzhen. Both men were suddenly on their feet, their hands crackling with power. She smiled sweetly back at them. Then stopped hiding her power. “We still have much to discuss.” Their expression morphed to fear, and her smile widened. “I need you to do this right; you are ruining my vacation.”