Kindling by Patrick G. Laplante

Synopsis:

The Southern Alliance’s plot has been foiled, and the Song Kingdom is safe—for now. As the kingdom recovers from its brutal civil war, Cha Ming sets out to solve his most pressing problem: healing Sun Wukong’s dormant soul. He and Huxian journey to Jade Moon Planet, a smelting trial left behind by an ancient existence.

Hong Xin, under her teacher’s instruction, enrolls at the mysterious Red Dust Pavilion. On the surface, they are training her to be a successful courtesan. She soon realizes this is nothing more than a façade, and they’ll stop at nothing to douse her newly kindled enthusiasm.