Instead of examining the “brand new” world around her, You’er followed Hong’er into the Sky Poison Pearl. Soon, both of them had fallen asleep.

It would be a long time before either of them got used to the new shape of their souls.

You’er was now a half-human, half-sword like Hong’er, but at least her soul was finally complete. Given enough time, she would eventually regain her emotional expression, speech, sense of touch, sense of smell, and even a real body. She ...