Once in his office, a servant entered the room and said, “Sect Leader, we have placed the strange bones in the courtyard.” Sect Leader Choi nodded and proceeded to the courtyard. The strange bones the servant referred to had been fished out the previous night while the fishermen were mining for red black steel.

Since it was late and quite dark when they were found, Sect Leader Choi had decided to inspect them in the morning. Now, the servant had reminded him of this task. As he entered the courtyard, he saw all the important members of the sect—from elders to disciples—standing around the bones, murmuring among themselves.

The bones were humanoid, with wings and horns—an unsettling sight in itself. But the oddest part wasn't merely their appearance. What truly puzzled Sect Leader Choi was the strange energy emanating from them—an energy he was somewhat familiar with but hadn’t encountered often. It was mana. His expression reflected a mix of confusion and shock.

Sect Leader Choi had once met a Western traveler during his journey north to the capital—a mage who went by the name Mister Rin. That encounter had given him a basic understanding of the energy associated with Western combat arts, the mystic force they called mana. But finding a human-like skeleton infused with such energy was bizarre.

If these were merely the remains of a mage killed alongside some creature, it might have made sense. But the wings and horns were not just accessories; they were a part of the skeleton, fitting perfectly as if the being these bones once belonged to had naturally possessed them.

After nearly an hour of inspection by the elders and disciples, Sect Leader Choi finally addressed the group. "Back to your duties, everyone. I will write a letter to our masters to inform them of this discovery. Until we receive their instructions, no one is to touch these bones."

"Yes, Sect Leader!" The crowd responded in unison before dispersing. As they left, Sect Leader Choi rubbed his temples, feeling the weight of yet another unexpected responsibility. It seemed that something new always came up, demanding his attention and effort.

Somewhere on the route between Hua Province and Gunghua Province,

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The first flakes of snow began to fall softly, blanketing the landscape in a thin layer of white. In these northern regions, winter often arrived a full month earlier than in the southern parts of the continent. Amidst the falling snow, a long line of carriages made its way out of Hua Province, each bearing the crest of a different family or region.

At a glance, it might have seemed as though a great migration was underway, or perhaps even a retreat from some devastating battle. In truth, these were the carriages of participants returning from Mount Hua’s Dragon and Phoenix Tournament. The event had drawn competitors from all over, but the recent attack by the demonic sect had forced its cancellation. Now, with the tournament cut short, all the participants were heading back to their homes, their ambitions and rivalries temporarily set aside by the chaos that had unfolded.

The atmosphere within the carriages was heavy with unspoken tension and disappointment. Some participants sat in silence, their dreams of glory abruptly dashed. Others were simply relieved to be returning home safely, having narrowly escaped the dangerous circumstances. A somber few mourned the loss of their fellow participants who had fallen in the battle against the Demonic Sect. The shadow of that violent encounter loomed large, casting a pall over what should have been a triumphant return.

The tension was even more palpable in the rear of the convoy, where a small team of martial artists surrounded a single carriage, their eyes vigilant as they guarded its precious cargo. At the front of the group, an elder woman rode her horse with a stern, determined expression. She wore the uniform of Mount Hua, her presence commanding respect from those around her.

This was Chen Feng Ling, wife of Mount Hua’s Elder Yang. Inside the guarded carriage lay her unconscious grandson, Lu Shun Cha Ling. Ever since the attack, Lu Shun had not awakened, and his condition remained critical. Elder Yang had deemed it best for Chen to personally escort him back to the Blazing Dawn Sect, to reunite him with his mother. They both knew what anguish she must be experiencing, having heard the devastating news of her son's fate.

Inside the carriage, opposite the still form of Lu Shun, sat Richard. who had become an unexpected companion on this journey. He gazed out the window, watching the snowflakes drift down from the sky, their delicate beauty a stark contrast to the grim reality they faced. Since Lu Shun was supposed to escort Richard to the Blazing Dawn Sect as part of his promised duties, but with Lu Shun incapacitated, his grandmother had taken on the responsibility, ensuring that her grandson's promise was fulfilled.

"Mister Rin, please close the window. Shun must be feeling the cold, and we can't risk him catching a chill while he's unconscious. The physician’s carriage is too far ahead for me to consult with him about this," Chen Feng Ling called out from her horse, her voice carrying the weight of worry and care.

Richard nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Of course, Mistress Chen," he replied, his tone respectful. He gently closed the window, shutting out the icy air. The carriage grew quieter, the muffled sounds of the outside world barely penetrating the thick walls.

Richard glanced at Lu Shun, his expression softening. The young man’s face was pale, almost lifeless, yet there was a stubborn resilience about him, as if he were fighting some unseen battle even in his unconscious state. Richard hoped that the journey would bring Lu Shun the healing he needed and that they would arrive at the Blazing Dawn Sect before it was too late.

Outside, the snow continued to fall, the landscape gradually transforming into a white, silent expanse.