The day had finally arrived. With Buyu's treatment complete and her legs fully healed, it was time to set out for the Immortal Phoenix Sect. Jin Shu felt a mixture of excitement and trepidation. The journey ahead was filled with unknowns, and the sect itself held mysteries he wasn’t sure he was ready to face. Yet, he had to uncover what had happened to his mother. For the past week, he had clung to the hope that she might return on her own, but each passing day without her appearance only deepened his anxiety.
Turning to Biyu, he said, “Alright, let’s go.”
As they approached the bustling streets of Black Mountain City, Jin Shu paused, his sharp ears catching the sound of hurried footsteps echoing from deeper within the manor.
“Wait!” a voice cried.
He turned to see Li Xue rounding a corner, nearly skidding to a halt as she approached.
“What?” Jin Shu asked, his tone sharper than intended. Her immediate flinch made him regret it. With a sigh, he softened his expression. “Ah, sorry. I didn’t mean to yell.”
Li Xue shook her head quickly. “It’s okay. But…” Her eyes shimmered with determination as she looked up at him. “Can’t I go with you?”
“No,” he replied bluntly.
“Why not?”
“Because I promised General Gong I’d keep you safe here in Black Mountain City.”
“How are you going to keep me safe if you’re not here?” she retorted smugly, crossing her arms.
Jin Shu pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling the headache forming. “Enough. Don’t argue with me. Stay here.”
Li Xue’s defiance faltered for a moment under the finality of his tone, but she quickly recovered, stepping forward with renewed determination. “Then give me something, or I’ll follow you!” she declared.
“Hah…” Jin Shu exhaled heavily, seeing where this was going. “What do you want?”
“Kiss me!” she demanded, her expression both bold and hopeful.
Jin Shu snorted, half-expecting such an outlandish request. With a wry smile, he leaned toward her face. Her eyes lit up, and she closed them, puckering her lips in anticipation.
Pop!
“Ow!” Li Xue yelped, clutching her forehead where Jin Shu had delivered a solid flick. Tears welled in her eyes as she glared up at him. “Why?!”
Leaning closer, Jin Shu whispered in her ear, his voice soft yet firm. “Stay here. Be good. When I come back, I’ll think about granting your request.”
Her eyes widened in stunned silence before she nodded absentmindedly, her earlier defiance evaporating.
Straightening, Jin Shu glanced at Biyu. “Now, we’re leaving. Stay safe. We’ll be back soon, hopefully.”
With that, he turned toward the manor gates, determined to face whatever awaited him on this journey.
----------------------------------------
They traveled in silence for several hours, each lost in their own thoughts. Well, except for Yin’er. She darted ahead of them, her giggles echoing through the forest as she chased butterflies, birds, squirrels, and anything else that caught her fleeting attention.
Jin Shu eventually decided to break the silence. “I never did ask—how far is the sect from here?”
Fan Biyu glanced up, momentarily pulled from her absentminded pace. “Um, I’m not sure of the exact distance. But it usually takes about three days.”
He nodded thoughtfully. “Second question: why are we heading east? Isn’t the sect in the south?”
“That’s the second and third question,” she teased with a light giggle. “We’re heading east to reach the Jinlong River. From there, we’ll take a boat. It’s the fastest route to the sect.”
“The Jinlong River? Interesting. So that’s why we didn’t take horses?”
She nodded. Then, tilting her head curiously, she asked, “It sounds like you’ve never heard of it before?”
“Ah, I haven’t,” Jin Shu admitted. “In fact, I don’t know much beyond the area around Black Mountain City and the capital.”
“Really?” Biyu’s brows furrowed slightly, as though surprised.
“Yes. Ever since I was old enough to hold a hammer, my focus has been on blacksmithing, and later, runesmithing. Aside from basic things like reading and writing, that’s all I was taught.”
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“Then, do you know the name of the land we live in?” Fan Biyu asked, a teasing smile playing on her lips, as if daring him to embarrass himself.
“Of course I know that… it’s, uh…” Jin Shu trailed off, his confidence faltering.
“Fan Yu,” Nano’s calm voice chimed in.
“Fan Yu. It’s Fan Yu,” Jin Shu repeated quickly, acting as if the answer had come to him naturally, not from the mini supercomputer living in his dantian.
“Correct,” Biyu said with an amused tilt of her head. She paused thoughtfully before posing another question. “How about this one? What are the names of the four major sects?”
“Um…” Jin Shu hesitated. “Immortal Phoenix, Demonic, Beastmaster, and…”
Nano?
“It is not within your memories,” Nano replied flatly.
“Three out of four. That’s pretty good, right?” Jin Shu deflected with a wry smile.
Biyu chuckled softly. “The fourth sect is special. Most cultivators don’t even know of its existence, let alone its name.”
“What is it?” Jin Shu asked, his curiosity piqued.
“The Long family,” Fan Biyu said mysteriously, her tone carrying an air of intrigue.
“Huh? Isn’t that the family of famous runesmiths in the northern region?” Jin Shu asked, his confusion growing.
“They are,” she confirmed. “But what most people don’t know is that they have a sect—the Four Pavilions Sect. It’s made up of the Rune, Assassin, Warrior, and Scholar Pavilions.”
“Really? That’s unexpected,” Jin Shu murmured, intrigued. “So, which is the strongest sect?”
“Well…” Biyu hesitated, glancing around before leaning closer. “Don’t tell anyone I said this—especially not Master. Our Immortal Phoenix Sect and the Beastmaster Sect of the western region are about evenly matched. But the Four Pavilions Sect is rumored to be stronger than the Demonic Sect—which even our sect and the Beastmaster Sect can barely stand up to.”
Jin Shu raised a brow. “If the Four Pavilions Sect is so strong, why don’t they just wipe out the Demonic Sect?”
“There are a few reasons,” Biyu explained, her voice lowering slightly. “But the main one is fear of mutual destruction. Even if they won, the cost would be too high.”
“Hmm…” Jin Shu nodded thoughtfully, his expression showing understanding.
They continued their journey, filling the time with idle chatter as the hours slipped by. Eventually, they emerged from the dense foliage to behold a grand river stretching before them, glowing under the setting sun. The water shimmered with a golden hue, snaking through the landscape like a magnificent dragon.
On the western bank, a bustling dock came into view. Large ships and smaller vessels were moored along the shoreline, and the area buzzed with activity. Sailors barked orders as they loaded cargo, while passengers hurried to board their boats. A handful of small buildings dotted the area, their shadows stretching long in the evening light.
“It certainly lives up to its name,” Jin Shu remarked, his gaze fixed on the gleaming river. “The river, I mean.”
Biyu nodded, her eyes following the shimmering current. “Uh-huh.”
“So, how do we board one of these ships?” Jin Shu asked, glancing at the bustling docks.
Fan Biyu gave him a quizzical look. “We pay?”
“No, I get that,” he said, waving a hand dismissively. “I mean, do we go to one of those buildings to buy a ticket? Or do we just walk up to a sailor and ask to board their ship?”
“Oh…” Biyu’s cheeks flushed slightly as she looked down, realizing her misunderstanding. She quickly pointed to a modest building near the docks. “We go to that building and pay to board whichever ship is heading downriver to Fa Hou, the small shipping city.”
“Got it. Let’s go, then,” Jin Shu said, wasting no time as he started toward the building.
“Wait,” Biyu called out, stopping him. She pulled out a light green veil and carefully secured it around her face, concealing her features.
“What’s that for?” Jin Shu asked, his brow furrowing.
“It’s a rule,” she explained, adjusting the veil. “Disciples of the sect aren’t allowed to show their faces to outsiders. Only our families and fellow sect members can see us unveiled.”
“But I’ve seen your face,” Jin Shu pointed out.
“You don’t count,” she replied smoothly. “We’re essentially family.”
“Uh…” Her words caught him off guard, and a faint blush crept onto his cheeks. It was the first time someone had referred to him as family, and the sentiment left him momentarily flustered.
“What? You don’t like it?” she asked sharply, tilting her head as she studied his reaction.
He quickly waved his hands in protest. “No, no! It’s not that. I… I liked it. I… ahem…” He cleared his throat awkwardly. “I see you as a precious family member as well.”
Biyu hummed softly, her tone playful. “I never said anything about precious. But I’m glad you feel that way.”
Jin Shu coughed and turned his head, determined to hide his embarrassment. “Let’s just go,” he muttered, stepping forward briskly.