Fenghuang Yu limped in the dark up to the desk for a return flight and found it empty. Her understanding was that these were supposed to be manned at all times because some missions required evening activity.

She called, “Hello?”

A red-haired young woman who appeared about twenty in inner sect robes and wearing the red ribbon of an official beast driver walked up and said, “Someone’s here?”

“Hello. My mission took longer than expected, but I am ready to return to the sect.”

“I see.” She said as she sat down at the desk and took out the ledger. “Well, that will be 30 points.”

Yu took the parchment out of her ring and held it out to the young woman. “I have a ticket.”

She took it, looked it over, and said, “That isn’t valid for a trip up. Just down. 30 points and held out her badge.”

Yu smiled at her. “No. It is a two-way ticket. Please look again.”

“I don’t need to look twice. I know what I see and it is a used one-way ticket. Now it's 40 points for wasting my time, outer sect disciple.” Her tone made a sudden change from professional to aggressive.

Yu struggled to maintain a polite tone when she asked “Senior, may I have your name?”

“No. You don’t need it. Now pay your points or go away.”

Yu sighed, took the ticket back, and limped by her and the desk to the area with the beasts. “Where do you think you’re going?”

“To find another rider,” Yu called back neutrally.

“Good luck.”

Yu found only a single flying beast, a black, white, and gray-featherd owl. All the other animal rest areas were empty. Would she really have to wait for another rider to fly down?

“See? What did I tell you? Now it’s 50 points,” Yu heard behind her.

Yu glared back at her. Who in the hells was this person? “You will regret this come morning,” Yu called over her shoulder, turned to the side, and sat at the edge of the beast area, meditating.

“You can’t sit there.”

Yu sighed. “Why not? I’m not bothering anyone.”

“You’re bothering me.”

“I’m sorry, senior. But I am outside of the beast area and can sit anywhere in the fields I want.”

Yu heard stomping and opened her eyes to find the young woman standing above her with her arms crossed beneath her breasts, glaring down at her. “Leave.”

Not wanting to get into a fight she would certainly lose, Yu made her way back to her feet and limped farther away. She was a good twenty paces from the beast area now.

“Is this acceptable, senior?”

With a smug look on her face, the young woman said, “No. Go into one of the fields.”

“Why are you doing this?” Yu was utterly baffled at this girl. What did Yu ever do to her?

“I run the night riding operations in the western fields and you disrespected me. To save face I have to punish you.”

Save face from whom? Nobody was there to see.

Yu shook her head and limped away. As soon as she was right outside the Migomo fields, she stopped, sat, and meditated. Yu worked to refill her Qi and then lay down looking up at the stars until her eyes drifted closed.

***

Yu woke to a brightening sky and pain in her ribs where the red-haired driver had just kicked her. “Get up, you little shit.”

Yu returned to her feet, thankful that her ankle was strong enough to hold her weight.

Yu said cheerily, “Good morning, senior.”

Faster than Yu could react, the young woman grabbed Yu where her ponytail met her head and yanked her head back. Yu yelped and reached for the hand. The girl swung her fist and punched Yu in the stomach with a good deal of force. Yu’s breath was knocked out of her and she would have fallen if she wasn’t being held painfully by her hair, which made her feel like her scalp was being pulled off.

“You couldn’t just agree, could you? There’s always a few who think they can get around the rules,” snarled the red-head.

Yu was trying to catch her breath and figure out what she should do when she was struck again, this time a slap across the face.

“Outer sect scum need to be taught their place.” Another punch to the gut followed. When Yu was able to focus again, she saw only the woman’s growling face. “You think you’re all high and mighty. Whatever rich noble family you came from. You’re all the same.” She threw another punch to the gut and Yu was having trouble breathing at that point. “Whoever you were before you came here, you’re nothing now.”

The girl threw Yu to the ground and she could breathe again. Then Yu started laughing. The girl screamed at her. “You think this is funny?” The girl screamed as she kicked Yu in the ribs. Yu was using Earthen Armor by then so her bones didn’t break but she fell over and rolled to her side.

Despite that, she couldn’t stop laughing.

The girl’s eyes were wide and furious when she screamed, “Shut up. Bitch!” Then she swung her leg again and Yu rolled over onto her back with the force of the blow to her chest.

She groaned but also laughed. It was painful but Yu couldn’t help it. This whole episode was just too absurd. Then Yu heard a familiar buzzing sound and one of the bees zoomed close. The girl was just raising her foot above Yu’s stomach to stomp down but Yu reached up and caught it. That distracted her enough for the warrior bee to lunge forward and stung the girl in the center of her chest.

She let out a guttural scream and fell onto her back. Yu did not let go of the girl's foot. With all her Qi-infused might, Yu twisted outward. A cracking sound was following a gurgling squeal from the inner sect disciple. Then Yu tapped her badge and called for an emergency medical team.

It was something that could be done by disciples but if abused, the privilege would be removed and a hefty fine would be levied. She'd been told it was what her suitemates did when she had the incident in Gui Ai’s room.

Yu crawled onto the downed girl’s body up to her head and, once again using all the strength she could, punched her abuser in the face. The girl’s head bounced backward and hit the ground, her red hair flying. The girl started glowing red, likely out of training and instinct more than thoughtful action, and Yu struck her in the diaphragm with the heel of her palm causing the red glow to vanish along with the girl’s ability to breath.

Yu’s laughing countenance had vanished and was replaced with a snarl as she swung again at the prone woman’s face. And again. Yu struck her in the face another seven times until she was barely coherent and both were bloody. Then Yu turned and saw a warrior bee a few paces away and Yu bowed to it. It twitched around on the ground a little and then lifted off and flew back to the hive. The sun had risen by then and Yu sat back on her rear, waiting for whatever came next.

***

It took a good five minutes for the emergency team to arrive, finding both the girl and Yu lying there. The girl’s body was a swollen mass and Yu’s face and torso were bruised.

Yu pointed and said, “She was stung by a vibrant honey bee warrior and requires an antitoxin. She also has some bruising, a possible concussion, and a broken ankle. I’m just bruised. Take care of the senior first.”

None of Yu's injuries were serious, she knew. And she didn't want any evidence of removed from her body.

The two healers looked at her with raised eyebrows and Yu said, “I just joined the initiate healing class.”

They seemed to accept that as they nodded and they took care of the girl. Yu stood stiffly and asked, “I’m fine to make my way back. Are there any other riders available for me?”

The older male healer said, “I’m afraid not. You’ll have to join us. And we need your detailed report for the incident anyway.”

***

Twenty or so minutes later, Yu helped them carry the girl into one of the healing centers. The elder asked her to take a seat on a bed for another healer to look at her; she would then have to file a report. Yu said, “Elder, can I speak to you privately first?”

He raised his eyebrows and said, “Yes. Let me get this started while you go have your ribs looked at. Your face is already healing, which is impressive.”

After both of those things happened, Yu was sitting in the healer’s office and asked curiously, “What did you wish to speak to me about?”

“Elder. If I have to file an official report, I would like an elder from the law enforcement group present. Preferably Elder Tseung but any that has no relation to the girl would be acceptable. I don’t even know her name.”

His white bushy eyebrows nearly rose into this receding hairline and he said, “I see. In that case. . .” he tapped his badge and said, “I am required to have a report and thus I have done as you asked.”

Yu bowed her head and said, “Thank you, elder.”

He said, “Your diagnosis was correct of her injuries by the way. Thankfully, that species of bee has a toxin which is not deadly to any but the weakest cultivators and mortals in a single dose.”

Yu nodded. She knew that or she would have tried to do something about it. She didn’t want the girl to die after all.

The elder asked Yu questions about her healing classes until an unfamiliar elder with the law enforcement armband arrived with an outer sect disciple at his side.

Yu stood and bowed upon their entry. The elder waved her down and asked the healer, “What is it, Elder Bangwan?”

Yu sat as the healer described the situation and Yu’s request. The law enforcement elder said, “You requested a law enforcement elder to make your report on another disciple’s injuries. Is that correct?”

“Yes, elder.”

“Are you confessing to something?”

It was Yu’s eyebrows that rose that time. “I do not believe so, elder.”

“You understand how it looks, don’t you, Disciple. . .?” He was clearly waiting for her name.

“Fenghuang Yu, elder.”

“Disciple Fenghuang Yu, you under-”

He is cut off by his student touching his arm and whispering in his ear.

“He turned back and said, did you say your name was Fenghuang Yu?”

“Yes, elder.”

He was silent for a few breaths when he said, “I see. That could make things more. . . complicated.”

Yu said, “Elder, I don’t think it does. If you will hear me out, I can tell you the story and you can decide what actions you feel are needed.”

He looked skeptical then and nodded. “Go on with your story then.”

“Before I begin, do any of you know how many points it costs for a ride from the western fields back to the sect?”

The two elders don’t but the young trainee says, “Western fields is 10 points in the day and 15 at night.”

Yu nodded. It was as she thought.

“Elder, this is what happened. I had just completed my mission and was hoping to return to the sect when the inner sect disciple, whose name I still do not know, told me that my return ticket was invalid for a return trip. That ticket came with the quest for a two-way; additionally, the senior who helped me get down said it was good for a return trip.”

The elder said, “It could have been an honest mistake.”

Yu said, “I figured that as well and when I attempted to correct her and asked her to look again, she reiterated it was invalid without even glancing at it again and told me the fee for traveling up was 30 points.”

The elder shifted but Yu continued. “I asked again and told her it was a mission item and I was sure and she then said I had annoyed her so it was 40 points. I did not wish to pay so I turned around and sat outside the beast area to rest until another ride came. She then told me I was annoying her yet again by being so close and told me to go into the fields and that the price had just risen to 50 points. I decided against paying or starting an argument with a senior so I went to the Migomo Flower field and lay just outside for the night. The disciple then woke me with a kick to my ribs and began striking me while gripping me by my hair. She ranted about how outer sect disciples needed to learn their place and how we’re all nothing and on and on. She struck me numerous times in the torso with fist and foot. The healer can testify to my bruising.”

They looked at the healer who nodded. Yu finished the story with, “She then was about to stomp on me and I grabbed at her leg. While I was holding it, a warrior Vibrant Honey Bee, likely disturbed by her yelling and the violence, approached and stung her. I was holding her foot still and broke it. I attempted to subdue her but she began the process of using a skill and I knocked her out with repeated blows to the head and one to the diaphragm to prevent her from using any skills on me. I summoned the healers and reported her injuries to the best of my ability and requested a law enforcement elder to present my testimony.”

The healing elder said, “The girl’s injuries are exactly in line with that story and she did indeed report the injuries accurately when I arrived on the scene.”

The law enforcement elder said, “That is quite the story, Disciple. Do you have any other proof?”

Yu said, “Elder, I will swear to that exact testimony in any situation or truth-telling you ask. I would also postulate that she has been abusing her authority from the nighttime riding position and even a cursory investigation would prove that out. It seems fitting she be removed from that responsibility so she can no longer abuse it. In addition to whatever is the appropriate punishment.”

The elder did not look pleased by Yu’s statement. “The only punishments that should concern you are your own, disciple.”

Yu bowed her head and said, “Of course, elder.”

“I will of course have to interview the victim.”

Yu raised her eyebrows and said, “I believe you just did interview the victim, elder.”

While the healing elder coughed, the other elder’s face turned red. “You are pushing your luck disciple. I have been lenient to this point but assaulting a senior outside of a sanctioned match is an expellable offense.”

“Elder, sect law states all disciples are permitted to use force in their own defense.”

He furiously spat, “Don’t quote the rules to me! I should just enforce the law now and be done with it. You attacked a senior and I would be well within my rights to punish you this instant.”

Yu stared at him for a few silent moments and asked, “Elder, are you sure?”

The man looked like he could combust into flames at that moment and demanded, “I’ve had enough of-”

Yu interrupted his rant and turned to the healer. “Elder Bangwan, was Elder Tseung unavailable? He seemed reasonable and fair when I spoke to him last.”

The law enforcement elder’s mouth snapped shut and his face turned even redder.

The healer said, “Are you sure, disciple? This would escalate things beyond your aims.”

The law enforcement elder paled as Yu said, “This entire episode has not only caused me physical damage and abuse from a senior, I was prevented from turning in a quest, delayed getting new skills I was awarded for being promoted to the initiate healing class, I had a terrible night sleep outdoors in the dirt before a morning with two classes I may not have time to eat before, and now I have to deal with a blatantly unfair judgment from a clearly biased law enforcement elder. So yes, I am absolutely sure.”

The healer sighed, nodded, and tapped his badge.

Yu turned to the law enforcement elder whose red face paled to be nearly white as snow. His disciple stepped away from him and looked at Yu pleadingly.

Knowing what he was asking, Yu winked at him and his shoulders relaxed.

Sitting while staring silently at the elder, Yu waited without moving, save her chest rising and falling.

“You don’t know what you’ve done, you little shit.” His face darkened to a greenish-purple as he spoke. Yu reflected that his face would be a painter’s nightmare with its constantly shifting shades.

Rather than respond, Yu sighed and shook her head. “Elder Bangwan, you witnessed this entire episode, did you not?”

“I am sorry to say I have, disciple.” The aged healer truly did look regretful in Yu's opinion.

Not five breaths later, the familiar bearded visage of Elder Tseung stormed into the room. “What in the nine flaming hells is going on Bangwen that you summoned me with such urgency?”

The law enforcement elder, who you never learned the name of, opened his mouth but the healer had started speaking immediately, “Thank you for coming with such alacrity, Elder Tseung. You have two issues to address and you will greatly dislike both.”

Then Elder Tseung looked around the room and saw Yu. His eyebrows rose and he said, “Again?”

Yu said, “Can I explain, elder?”

The other elder said, “Don’t listen to her, Tseung. This disciple assaulted a senior, was blatantly disrespectful, and made wild unprovable accusations.”

Yu just sighed and shook her head.

“Alright. Tell me everything you know, Elder Bangwen. Then Elder Dianxin. Then you.” He pointed at the still-unnamed young trainee. “And then you, Disciple Fenghuang Yu.”

And so Bangwen told the story based only on what he witnessed with absolute neutrality and facts starting from when he got the call for help to when Yu asked him to summon Tseung.

Without saying a word, he looked at Elder Dianxin and asked, “Do you refute anything that Banwen said?” Interestingly, the way Bangwen provided his testimony was entirely fact-based with no presumption or hyperbole, thus not allowing Dianxin to deny it or else call the healer a liar. And so the more obviously less senior law enforcement elder said through gritted teeth, “No.”

“I see. Now tell me from your perspective what happened,”

His story was the absolute opposite, filled with presumptions of Yu’s motivations and blatantly calling Yu a liar. In short, he said he can be trusted and Yu could not. None of it contradicted Bangwen though.

Then Elder Tseung turned to the young man and he gave an entirely fact-based representation, even to the point of making Dianxin look like the biased and ineffectual law enforcement elder he was. Clearly, the boy felt like he knew which way the wind was blowing.

Following that, the perturbed Elder Tseung asked Yu her version of events and she gave an identical story as the prior one to Elder Dianxin and only added the new stuff about Dianxin that was perfectly aligned with what both Bangwen and the young man said.

She ended with, “As I told Elder Dianxin, I will swear to these facts on any truth-telling setting requested.”

Elder Tseung glared at Yu and then at Dianxin. “I will investigate all of this. I will be in contact. Disciple Fenghuang Yu, it is currently approaching 8th hour and you have not eaten. As such, your next infused meal will be paid for by the law enforcement department.” He then tapped her badge and said, “Disciples, you are free to go. Elders, please stay.”

Elder Tseung’s face had shaded red with fury and Yu thought she might have seen the air around him waving like when it gets so hot, the stones on the earth give off visible heat.

The two youths escaped with as much speed as they could. Yu said, “Thank you for being honest.”

He shrugged and said, “I’m no fool. Given the choice between an unpopular elder and the sect master’s direct disciple, I know which side to take.”

Yu nodded and said, “Well, whatever the motivation, thank you. I have to head to Lightning Mountain, but would you be willing to share your name?”

He blinked and said, “Right. I guess you never got it. I’m Gei Ran.”

“Nice to meet you. Maybe we’ll see each other around.” Then Yu bowed and ran to her next classes.