Dragon's Descent [Xianxia, Reverse Cultivation]

"Something about this troubles you?" Ming Lian asked, his perception acute as usual even when he was struggling with his own equilibrium.

"How many villages have reported similar problems?"

"Four in the past month, all within a day's travel of each other. Enough to indicate a developing pattern, but not so many that we've received multiple redundant reports."

"And that pattern is?"

"The pattern suggests either contamination spreading from a central source or coordinated interference from external actors."

"Coordinated interference by whom?"

"Unknown. Could be rival sects testing our defensive responses, rogue cultivators seeking to establish territory, or..." Ming Lian paused, his expression growing more serious as he worked through possibilities. "Or advance preparation for larger-scale conflicts."

Xiaolong nodded.

The analysis demonstrated exactly the sort of strategic thinking that made him valuable for complex investigations. His ability to see patterns and implications that others might miss was remarkable, and his water-sensing capabilities would be invaluable for tracking spiritual corruption.

But she also understood his hesitation in accepting the mission. Deflecting problems to others had become a habit, a form of self-protection that made life feel predictable and safe even as it compromised his growth.

This mission—this chance to recover some of the autonomy he had suppressed for so long—mattered deeply. Not just for her human friend who needed reminders that his worth wasn't confined to supporting roles, but for everyone whose lives would be affected by whatever forces were corrupting the region's water sources.

"You're the ideal person for this mission," Xiaolong said. "Your analytical skills, your understanding of water cultivation principles, your sensitivity to spiritual disturbances—everything about this assignment plays to your natural strengths."

"Assuming my natural strengths haven't atrophied from years of disuse."

"Only one way to determine that."

Ming Lian stood in contemplative silence, moonlight filtering through the pavilion's trees to create shifting patterns across his features. When he finally spoke, his voice carried a note of cautious resolve.

"Tomorrow morning, I'll inform Elder Wei that I accept the mission assignment. I'll also request that you accompany me as... consulting support."

"Consulting support?"

"Someone with experience in unconventional approaches to complex problems. Which is accurate enough, even if it doesn't capture the full scope of your capabilities."

The diplomatic phrasing suggested Ming Lian's political instincts remained sharp despite his cultivation stagnation. "And our mutual learning experiment continues during the mission?"

"Especially during the mission. If I'm going to rediscover how to compete instead of accommodate, I need practice in situations that matter."

"Challenge accepted."

They stood together in the Hidden Moon Pavilion's filtered light, two beings from vastly different backgrounds who had found common ground in the recognition that growth required courage to abandon familiar limitations. The evening air carried the scent of night-blooming jasmine and the distant sound of fountain water following ancient patterns that carved new channels through stone that seemed permanent but proved, over time, to be remarkably malleable.

"There's one more thing," Ming Lian said as they prepared to return to the main compound. "Li Feng. I'll need to tell him about the mission, and about... about what happened this morning."

"What will you tell him?"

"The truth. That I've been hiding from my own potential because I was afraid testing it might change something I valued. That I'm ready to stop hiding, even if it means discovering things about myself that don't fit the role I've been playing."

"And if he's angry about the years of accommodation?"

"Then he's angry. But anger between friends who are honest with each other is better than comfort between friends where one is pretending to be less than he could be."

The insight demonstrated exactly the sort of growth that made their experimental partnership promising. Ming Lian was beginning to understand that authentic relationships required authentic participation, not careful management of others' expectations.

"I think Li Feng will be relieved rather than angry," Xiaolong said. "He's been missing his friend, not his subordinate."

"I hope so. Though I suppose there's only one way to find out."

The sect's main administrative pavilion occupied the compound's central position for reasons both practical and symbolic. Its elevated location provided convenient access from all residential areas while its architectural prominence reminded visitors and members alike that the Azure Waters Sect valued organized governance alongside spiritual development. The morning light streaming through its wide windows created an atmosphere that balanced formality with warmth, encouraging honest discourse while maintaining appropriate respect for hierarchy.

Elder Wei sat behind his desk reviewing mission reports with the sort of methodical attention that characterized his approach to all administrative responsibilities. His weathered hands moved across documents with practiced efficiency, noting resource requirements and personnel allocations with the unconscious competence that came from decades of similar work.

Ming Lian appeared at the appointed time, carrying himself with a posture that suggested nervous determination rather than his usual careful deference. Xiaolong accompanied him, positioned as support rather than authority—present to provide encouragement but not to influence the conversation through her own status.

"Elder Wei," Ming Lian said, offering the traditional bow that marked formal business. "I've come to discuss the investigation mission you mentioned yesterday."

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"Ah, Ming Lian. Please, sit." Elder Wei gestured toward cushions arranged before his desk. "I was hoping you would consider the assignment, though I understand if you prefer to wait until Li Feng's consolidation period concludes."

"Actually, I'd like to accept the mission myself. With your permission, I would also request that Xiaolong accompany me as consulting support."

The straightforward acceptance seemed to surprise Elder Wei, though his expression remained diplomatically neutral. "You're confident in handling the investigation independently?"

"Yes, Elder. Li Feng is better served by focusing on his new stage than by having his cultivation interrupted for what is probably a straightforward assignment. My water-sensing capabilities might also offer some advantages in assessing whatever is affecting the region's spiritual resources."

The analysis struck Xiaolong as admirably accurate. Elder Wei was known for his measured demeanor, but even he couldn't be entirely immune to the appeal of delegating problems to people best suited for solving them. Ming Lian had just presented a convincing argument that he was exactly that sort of person for exactly those sorts of problems.

"Very well. Let me brief you on the situation details."

Elder Wei opened a folder containing reports, maps, and correspondence that painted a troubling picture of systematic interference with cultivation resources. The affected villages formed a rough arc around Azure Waters territory, suggesting either natural contamination spreading from a central source or deliberate preparation for larger conflicts.

"Flowing Creek Village reported the first incident three weeks ago," Elder Wei began, pointing to locations marked on a regional map. "Their sacred spring, which has supported local cultivation for over two centuries, suddenly began producing water that disrupts spiritual circulation rather than enhancing it."

"What sort of disruption?" Ming Lian asked, leaning forward with engaged attention.

"Cultivators who drink the water report feeling... clouded. Their spiritual awareness becomes muddled, their energy circulation irregular. Not immediately dangerous, but profoundly disorienting for anyone attempting advancement work."

"And the pattern spread to other villages?"

"Silver Brook, Harmony Falls, and Clearwater Crossing. All report similar corruption of their primary water sources within days of each other. The timing suggests coordination rather than coincidence."

Xiaolong studied the map, noting the strategic positioning of the affected locations. The villages formed protective boundaries around approaches to Azure Waters territory, though she suspected their primary value lay more in disrupting local spiritual development rather than in establishing physical defenses.

"Do we have samples of the corrupted water?" Ming Lian asked.

"Limited quantities. Our preliminary analysis suggests the contamination isn't natural—it appears to be spiritually induced rather than chemically based."

"Meaning someone is deliberately perverting the water's natural properties through cultivation techniques."

"That's our working theory. Which is why your water-sensing abilities would be invaluable for tracking the source and method of contamination."

The acknowledgement was delivered matter-of-factly, but Xiaolong caught a hint of approval in Elder Wei's tone that suggested he recognized Ming Lian's genuine suitability for the assignment. Not everyone might be willing to see past his habits of accomodation and deference, but Elder Wei appeared to have enough insight to recognize that this mission presented exactly the sort of challenge that would draw out his under-developed abilities.

"How long should we plan for the investigation?" Ming Lian asked.

"Three to five days, depending on what you discover. Travel to Flowing Creek Village, investigate the corruption source, determine whether the threat requires immediate intervention or can be addressed through longer-term measures."

"And if we encounter hostile cultivators responsible for the contamination?"

"Exercise appropriate caution. Your primary mission is intelligence gathering, not combat resolution. If the threat exceeds your capabilities, withdraw and report for reinforcement."

"Understood, Elder."

Elder Wei glanced up from the report scroll, his perceptive gaze studying Ming Lian's posture and expression. "You seem... enthusiastic about this mission."

"I've neglected fieldwork for too long. This assignment offers a chance to apply my strengths to problems worth solving."

The explanation carried enough conviction that Xiaolong doubted Elder Wei would press for more. His eyes moved between Ming Lian and herself before his expression softened into a subtle smile.

"Very well. May the mission sharpen your insights and deepen your self-understanding. Both seem overdue for refinement."

The acknowledgement drew a surprised but pleased smile from Ming Lian, who rose with more confidence than he had shown upon entering the chamber. "We'll depart after the morning meal. And Elder Wei?... Thank you for the opportunity."

As they departed the administrative pavilion, Xiaolong noticed the change in Ming Lian's demeanor. His posture remained dignified, but it had lost some of the defensive tension he had carried since their confrontation with Li Feng. His steps had become lighter, more energetic, as if accepting the mission had dislodged something heavy he had been carrying for too long.

Most importantly, his spiritual pressure radiated with newfound purpose, more vibrant and dynamic than it had been in all her interactions with him at the sect. If Elder Wei's intention had been to challenge Ming Lian to test his limits, then it appeared the strategy was already bearing promising fruit even before their investigation began in earnest.

"How do you feel about leading your first independent mission?" she asked as they walked through the morning courtyard.

"Nervous," Ming Lian admitted. "But also... excited. It's been so long since I approached a challenge thinking 'I wonder what I can accomplish' instead of 'I hope I don't embarrass myself.'"

"The difference between competing and accommodating."

"Exactly. Though I suspect the real test will come when we encounter whatever is corrupting those water sources. Analytical thinking only goes so far when facing actual threats."

"Then we'll discover what you're capable of when analysis meets application."

They spent the remaining morning preparing for departure—gathering travel supplies, reviewing maps and village reports, discussing investigation strategies that played to Ming Lian's strengths while accounting for unknown variables.

Xiaolong noted how his decisions balanced caution with boldness, how his plans accommodated contingencies without paralyzing himself with hypotheticals. The practical focus of the morning seemed to anchor him in ways that abstract discussions at the pavilion could not.

As they prepared to leave, Li Feng approached them near the sect's main gates. His expression held concern rather than anger, though the intensity in his eyes suggested he had things to say beyond simple goodbyes.

"Ming Lian," he said, his tone carefully neutral. "I heard about the mission assignment."

"Yes. Elder Wei asked me to investigate the water corruption reports."

"And you accepted."

"I did."

The simple exchange carried undercurrents of the previous day's confrontation—acknowledgment without detailed explanation, recognition that both friends were navigating changed dynamics.

"Be careful," Li Feng said finally. "And... trust yourself. Your instincts have always been better than you give them credit for."

"I'm learning to remember that."

Li Feng's expression lightened slightly, the first genuine warmth he had shown since their sparring session. "Good. I'll be interested to hear about your discoveries when you return."

"I'll make sure to bring back interesting intelligence."

The conversation concluded with mutual nods rather than dramatic reconciliation, but Xiaolong detected a shift in the emotional climate between them. Li Feng's confidence in Ming Lian's capabilities was obvious, while Ming Lian's acceptance of that confidence represented progress from his previous deflection patterns.

As Xialong followed after Ming Lian, Li Feng's hand brushed against hers. For a moment their fingers entwined—not fully, but enough to promise deeper connections when the moment allowed.

"Bring him back safely," Li Feng whispered.

"I'll do better," Xiaolong replied. "I'll bring him back stronger."