"Ah." The light of realisation fell upon Jiye An's face.
"You're from... The fallen Settlement."
"..."
"I didn't know... So you're a survivor...? What are you doing around here?"
"How would I know? I only remember collapsing on the ground, then awakening in this place."
There was a hint of indignation in her voice. Yue's arms folded in front of her as she continued to recall.
"I had awakened in a room and was greeted by an unfamiliar woman. If it weren't for the... awfully cosy appearance of the room, then I would have suspected I was kidnapped, or something along those lines."
"You didn't choose to come here?" Jiye An palmed her face while uttering 'Master' under her breath. After a breath's time of brooding, Jiye An returned her gaze to Yue,
"But... you chose to stay here?"
"That should be obvious. I wouldn't be here otherwise."
"And you're fine with staying here?"
The shorter girl went silent. Yue simply held her gaze to Jiye An, who sighed in response.
Jiye An did not need to contemplate her situation.
She had heard about the situation from Immortal Adamant when the latter abruptly departed and later returned to the monastery injured.
But she had only heard about the fall of Star Gazing Settlement; she did not expect a survivor from the fallen Settlement.
With that in mind, Jiye An could guess part of the reason why Yue wanted to stay.
"Okay... Then Master Adamnt hasn't filled you in on the situation here...? I will do so now.
"Great River Bank Settlement is reigned over by three Immortals, each one occupying one of these five black plateaus. Naturally, two remain unoccupied, and we Immortal Seeds are contending for the fourth and fifth.
"The criteria have not yet been revealed, but there will be three summonings to test who among us is eligible for the fourth plateau.
"There is you and me, under Master Adamant. Immortal Blade has taken in two Immortal Seeds, while Immortal Monolith has three."
As she spoke, she pointed to the Immortal's respective monasteries.
Immortal Adamant's monastery was located on the middlemost plateau.
Immortal Blade's monastery was located on the middle-left plateau, while Immortal Monolith's plateau was located on the rightmost plateau, the one furthest upstream.
"What we will be measured against is our Cultivation and our performance in certain areas, that much is obvious, but what exactly is being withheld from us at this moment.
"We, Immortal Seeds of our respective Immortals, will naturally inherit our Master's legacy, and that means that we are representing our Master.
"Their Way, their Dao Arts and responsibilities, and ultimately, their title. The plateaus are a symbol of power in this Settlement; the owner of the fourth plateau could be considered a supporting power to their Immortal.
"But... that topic is much too far in the future to be discussing now.
"So, just know that others are wishing to compete against us, and for that reason, I will not delay your Cultivation any longer."
She took a step forward, beckoning Yue to follow along, who had done so reluctantly, a hint of confusion in her eyes.
This was because Jiye An walked to the edge of the back courtyard, the edge of the black plateau upon which this monastery was built upon.
The walls which surrounded the perimeter of the monastery seemed to fall off the edge.
"Of the First Realm of Cultivation, there are the Five Foundations."
Jiye An gestured for Yue to approach and sit near the edge of the platform.
For the second time since awakening in this place, there was a change in the girl's expression.
A small bead of trepidation slipped down her brow, but regardless, she approached.
Yue took small steps to approach that edge, feeling the intense winds dragging her hair into its discordant dance.
The white waters were rushing in her direction, but they crashed far below her, and yet, she still felt an immense pressure crash against her.
It almost knocked her off her feet, and she stumbled back, but before she could fall, Jiye An caught Yue by her waist, letting the girl regain her footing.
"Sit."
The white waters were violent and surging incessantly.
As Yue sat down, she did not find herself feeling more stable; it still felt as though immense pressure was against her.
"What is stopping you from falling back?"
"What?"
"Against these winds, against these currents, what exactly is stopping you from falling?
"Should I remove my hand, would you tumble over? If I step away, would you fly away like hair in the wind?
"What is stopping you from falling over?"
"..."
Yue had no response to that; there was no sound, but she heard ringing in her ears.
She felt sick due to the incredible pressure, but was unrelenting.
"Should you fall forward, you will die, and should you let the winds push you backwards... You will also die...
"Knowing that your life is on the line, just by sitting here, with such a frail foundation, what has brought you here?
"Just what is it that is stopping you from falling over?"
Jiye An's words were calm and straightforward, blunt, and all the more confronting, a total contrast to her more outgoing image just a few moments ago.
She sounded indifferent, but the unmistakable hint of warmth in her eyes gave away her true emotions.
"I want to live..." Yue muttered weakly, "I want to live freely...!"
"Is that all?"
"N-No... I...!" She stifled a low grunt in her throat, the feeling of bile rose to the back of her mouth, and she choked that down, too.
But before she could get any words out, Jiye An dragged Yue from the edge and let the girl collapse some dozen feet to the ground.
She was breathless, letting the bile spill from her mouth.
It was a gross sight, bringing a little surprise to Jiye An, for she had never expected such a reaction.
One breath, then another, then more thereafter...
Yue's breathing soon converged with her thoughts, and words tumbled out of her mouth,
"I hate this... I hate everything...! I hate this world, and this sky, and all this stuff that keeps happening to me..."
There was a solemn light in Jiye An's eyes as she watched Yue slowly rise to her knees.
Jiye An herself sat on the ground before her junior sister.
"So that is your Way...?"
"...?"
To Yue, she could barely register what Jiye An had spoken to her.
But, even then, she nodded; Yue felt that nodding was the correct response to that hushed question.