In the forest, slender trees form a canopy overhead, filtering sunlight into dappled patterns on the moss-covered ground. Ferns unfurl in the shadows while the scent of pine and earth lingers in the air. A nearby stream murmurs softly, adding to the tranquility of the woodland scene.

A fox and a man were walking along a path that cut through the forest's heart.

Each step the man took encompassed four of the fox's. It felt more like the fox was struggling to keep up with the man rather than walking side by side.

"Hey, could you slow down a bit? I can barely keep up," the fox panted.

The man turned back and glanced at the fox.

------Silence------

Then he turned his head forward again.

His feet gradually came to a halt.

With a look of relief, the fox finally caught up fully.

"Thank y-"

Before he could finish his sentence, a gust of wind abruptly silenced him.

The man had suddenly dashed forward. In a matter of seconds, he vanished from sight.

It took a few moments for the realization to sink in for the fox.

Once it did, anger overtook his expression.

"That son of a #?$%!" the fox exclaimed.

He didn't dwell on his anger for long, swiftly starting his own mad dash forward.

If he didn't begin now, he would never catch up to the man.

'What did I do to deserve this? There's no justice in this world!!!' thought the fox. His life was a tragedy without equal.

And so, he ran as fast as his legs would allow him.

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A few minutes later, the fox finally spotted the man up ahead.

He was now walking at a leisurely pace, resembling someone taking a casual stroll in the woods.

The fox ran even faster, attempting to catch up as quickly as possible.

In a matter of moments, it finally surpassed him.

Instead of continuing to run, the fox then veered to the side, positioning itself directly in the young man's path. It turned around, standing face to face with the man.

"What are you planning to do?" the fox asked, this time trying to sound as forceful as possible.

A faint smile played on his lips.

"I always thought the expression was nothing more than an exaggeration, but it seems like there really are those who have eyes but don't see Mount Tai right in front of them."

He left this remark to the fox as he passed by once again. This time, his pace remained slow and steady.

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'Not again! I won't let you do it this time.'

The fox quickly turned around and started running after him.

"Hey, you bastard-"

He stopped before finishing his sentence.

He hadn't noticed before, but they were right at the end of the forest. With this last dash of his, the trees parted away and revealed a brand new view.

His eyes were momentarily stunned by the sunrays assaulting them from every direction, the difference in lighting hard to handle at first.

Blinking against the brilliance, he found himself standing on the threshold of a vast expanse. Before him lay a seemingly endless plain, adorned in lush shades of green that rippled and swayed with the gentle caress of the wind.

The gravel road he tread upon stretched out like a sinuous serpent, winding its way across the verdant landscape toward the distant horizon. Along its course, tufts of wild grasses swayed in the breeze, and occasional clusters of wildflowers added splashes of vibrant color to the tapestry of greenery.

At the farthest reaches of the road, where the earth seemed to touch the sky, a majestic city came into view. It stood sentinel at the foot of a towering mountain range, its silhouette etched against the azure canvas of the sky. The city sprawled outward, its expansive reach encompassed by a formidable barrier—a great wall that encircled its perimeter like the protective embrace of a guardian.

Even from this distance, the city's magnitude was palpable, its towering spires and bustling streets hinting at the vibrancy of life within its confines. Though distant, its presence commanded attention, a beacon of civilization nestled amidst the untamed grandeur of the natural world.

A look of resignation appeared on the fox's face. He had made a fool of himself again.

'That scoundrel. He has no business being this smooth,' thought the fox.

He continued moving forward, catching up to the man, whose pace had significantly slowed down compared to earlier. This time, however, he didn't say anything.

The one who started speaking was the man instead.

"We're looking at Bachuan City."

"Oh, so that's the capital of the Hermit Kingdom. It looks just as impressive as the rumors say," remarked the fox.

He had stopped speaking after that comment, but in his eyes, it was clear he had something else to say. It stayed stuck in his throat, however.

The young man, seemingly reading the fox's mind, responded without any prompt.

"We're going to the city in order to get my life in order. I'm planning on becoming a teacher. That's why we're headed towards Bachuan," he said.

"You're planning on becoming a teacher? Sure, that might be a good occupation for a mortal, but for a cultivator, that doesn't seem like a very bright prospect. Or are you planning on forsaking the cultivation life entirely?" queried the fox.

"There you go again, speaking without thinking. Obviously, I'm not planning on giving up my cultivation path. If that were the case, I wouldn't settle for being a random teacher. I would use the power I have right now and force my way into the position of King of a small nation," responded the man.

"But then wh-"

Before he could finish, the man interrupted him.

"Look ahead and figure it out yourself. I've given you enough information for you to put the pieces together."

A frown creased the fox's face.

'There he goes again with those little riddles of his. Would it hurt him that much to be more straightforward?'

Regardless of his misgivings, the fox focused ahead.

His eyes lingered on the city for a moment, his mind attempting to decipher what exactly the man was planning to achieve in a mortal city.

He said he wanted to be a teacher, but at the same time, he didn't want to give up his cultivation journey.

Teacher and Cultivation.

Something clicked.

The fox raised his head, focusing on the mountain range behind the city.

'So that's what he's trying to do.'

A voice interrupted the fox's internal thoughts.

"A good plan, right?" asked the man.

"It's not a bad plan. If you succeed, that will indeed greatly help you in your cultivation journey. The real question is, how will you make that objective of yours a reality? Do you have a plan of sorts? It's not easy getting noticed by a sect, especially for a teaching position," the fox inquired.

The man showed a cunning smile.

"I have my ways. Before long, I'll have the sect Master himself come down from his mountain to personally beg me to teach in his sect," he responded.

"Oh, quite the confidence. Are you sure you want to set the bar that high right off the bat? It'll be akin to slapping your own face if you fail miserably after such proclamations," remarked the fox.

The man laughed.

"With how many times this face of mine has been slapped over these last two years, I don't think one more slap would make any noticeable difference," he retorted to the fox.

'I know I was asking for that, but still, you bastard. Isn't it fine to let me have at least one win? Why am I unable to win any interaction with him?'

Disgruntled with the situation, the fox fell silent.

The man didn't seem to have anything else to say either, so he didn't break the silence.

The man and the fox continued their journey toward the city on the horizon.