Chapter 10: Liam’s Lie
Rina activated the low-grade qi communication talisman given by the academy as she sat curled up near her dorm window, overlooking the western courtyard of Celestial Academy. The sky beyond shimmered orange with late-afternoon haze, and the faint buzz of sparring cultivators echoed in the distance.
The talisman flickered once, then bloomed into the warm voice of her father.
"Rina? Can you hear me?"
Her lips trembled. "Yes, Papa. I’m here."
He laughed, and the sound was vibrant—not the hoarse, tired chuckle she’d grown used to. For a second, it made her throat tighten.
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"You won’t believe it. Someone came to the library today. An elegant gentleman—spoke like he’d read every book in the place twice. Said he heard about me through a friend who called me kind-hearted and hardworking. Bought a full stake in the place—twenty percent. Paid enough to rebuild everything."
Rina sat frozen, breath shallow.
"The strangest thing, beta—he knew exactly what we needed. Asked about the preservation seals, mentioned the roof repairs without me saying a word. Even complimented your mother’s organization system. Said his friend spoke very highly of our family."
Her vision blurred. Could it be Liam?
"He left a business card with just a phone number. Very modest man. Insisted on staying anonymous. But Rina... do you have anything to do with this? Maybe a friend of yours helped us?"
Her father was ecstatic, too swept up in emotion to hear her silence.
"We can fix the roof now. Upgrade the preservation seals. Your mother’s even talking about hosting a reading camp this winter. We haven’t had a full repair budget in ten years."