The outpost’s provision room was a dimly lit space carved into the mountainside. The air was thick with the aroma of dried herbs, preserved meats, and something vaguely resembling stale rice.

Tian Hao wrinkled his nose, his stomach growling with hunger that demanded far more than the austere offerings on display.

"Seriously? Is this even edible?" He couldn't help but wonder, his disdain deepening with every glance at the bland provisions.

“Ugh, how can anyone eat this,” he muttered, letting his eyes drift over the meager supplies. “I’d rather eat dirt. At least it would have some… earthy notes.”

Lin Mei shook her head, amused. "Still the same spoiled Young Master," she thought, a smile tugging at her lips. "Even after everything in the Hidden Realm, some things never change."

“Endure hardship (chī kǔ nài láo; 吃苦耐劳), Tian Hao,” she said, her voice carrying a playful sarcasm. “Besides, it could be worse. They could be serving roasted rock lizard.”

Tian Hao visibly shuddered, the memory of their earlier encounter with those serpentine creatures flashing through his mind. His face contorted in mock disgust.

“Point taken,” he sighed.

The luxury of Fatty Wu's culinary creations felt like a distant, hazy memory now, replaced by this pitiful excuse for sustenance.

Even the most basic delicacies he once took for granted, those he would have previously scoffed at, were now elevated in his memory to divine feasts. He could almost taste them: succulent roasted duck, savory steamed buns, sweet cloudberry tarts—each imaginary bite was a painful reminder of the comforts he'd lost.

They settled for simple rations—dried meat, hardtack biscuits, and lukewarm water—that did little to appease Tian Hao’s refined palate.

As they began their meager meal, Tian Hao noticed the Core Disciples gathered in a corner of the room, their voices hushed. He nudged Lin Mei, his gaze flicking towards the group. “What do you think they’re talking about?”

“Probably sect business,” Lin Mei said, shrugging dismissively, her attention drifting back to the plain rice porridge before her. "Please, let it be nothing serious," she thought, exhaustion creeping in. "We've already dealt with enough."

The thin gruel did little to ignite any enthusiasm—no flavor, no richness, just emptiness that matched the day’s exhaustion.

Just then, Senior Disciple Chun’s voice rang out, carrying across the room with an air of excitement that further piqued Tian Hao's interest. “You hear about the upcoming event in Skyveil?” Chun said, loud enough for everyone nearby to catch. His voice carried the enthusiasm of a disciple eager to share important news. “It’s supposed to draw quite a few notable sects and powerful figures from the surrounding region. The Skyward Lotus Sect was given an invitation, which is a big deal considering our status. This is a chance for us to make an impression.”

Lin Mei glanced over, her curiosity now mirroring Tian Hao’s. She tried to mask it, casually pretending to examine the shelves of dried herbs while moving a bit closer to catch more of the conversation. Her senses felt heightened after days spent navigating the treacherous mountain paths, every word from Senior Disciple Chun carrying additional weight.

Senior Disciple Chun continued, his gaze sweeping across Yu Xian and Wei Lo. His tone was now laced with an almost fatherly encouragement, the kind a senior might offer to promising disciples eager to showcase their hard-won skills.

“For someone like you, Wei Lo, or you, Yu Xian,” his gaze lingered on each of them in turn, each pause an unspoken challenge for them to step forward, “this could be a chance to showcase your abilities, to gain some real recognition. It’s not every day our sect gets a chance like this.”

Yu Xian's eyes brightened at the mention, her shoulders straightening slightly as though already preparing for the challenge. Wei Lo, on the other hand, gave a small, confident nod, a hint of determination flashing across his features.

His gaze then flicked over to Tian Hao. A subtle but unmistakable smirk tugged at the corners of his lips.

“Though,” he added, his voice dripping with mockery, “I imagine it might be a bit of a challenge for certain individuals to fit in at such a high-profile environment.”

Tian Hao met the jab with a shrug, forcing a nonchalant smile as if the comment held no weight.

He knew his reputation—the spoiled young master, the hedonistic cultivator—preceded him. He'd heard the whispers, the mocking laughter, the disdain in the voices of those who saw him as nothing more than a burden to the sect. A joke to those of higher standing, or merely an amusement. And now, here he was, facing another opportunity to be the butt of thinly veiled criticism.

"Let them think what they want," he thought. He lifted his cup in a mock salute towards the core disciples.

Lin Mei, sensing an opportunity, spoke up. She cast a cautious glance towards Tian Hao to assess his interest before turning her attention back to Senior Disciple Chun.

Her voice was casual, but her gaze was sharp as she took a bite of roasted jerky, her attention unwavering.

“Which sects are supposed to attend?” she asked, her tone carefully neutral. “Anyone… particularly noteworthy?”

Her query, while seemingly innocent, carried an underlying tension. Her gaze was intense, as if every word mattered far beyond their current conversation.

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Senior Disciple Chun’s earlier smugness softened slightly as he turned to answer her. He was clearly pleased to hold court amongst what he thought of as admiring juniors. He nodded. His voice was now filled with an almost reverent air as he listed some of the most prominent sects in the region.

“The Blazing Sun Sect, the Golden Feather Sect,” he paused, letting the weight of each name hang in the air.

He added with a more cautious tone, “and maybe even the Iron Talon Sect. There’s talk of some big demonstrations as well – martial competitions, spirit beast taming, perhaps even a glimpse of some celestial treasures.”

His eyes gleamed with excitement, as if he was already there at the event itself.

At the mention of the Iron Talon Sect, Lin Mei’s expression shifted ever so slightly. Her eyes widened briefly, the pupils contracting almost imperceptibly before she quickly schooled her expression back to one of studied indifference.

She gave a casual nod, forcing a smile. “Interesting,” she murmured, her voice barely audible. Her earlier curiosity was replaced now by a cold determination, as though the information had sparked something deeper within her, her mind focused far beyond the provision room’s dust and stale rice.

She caught Tian Hao’s gaze and forced another smile, trying to reassure him that everything was fine. She hoped he didn’t notice the way her hand trembled slightly as she reached for another piece of jerky, tearing off a small piece and chewing slowly, deliberately. She was savoring not the taste of the dried meat, but the information she’d just received, the weight of their earlier conversation settling into her soul.

After eating in silence for a while, Tian Hao looked towards the small, silver fox perched patiently on his shoulder.

An idea sparked in his mind—perhaps a little… distraction could lighten the mood and provide some welcome amusement in the otherwise dreary atmosphere of the outpost.

He debated whether he should introduce Jiuwei. "Well, they'll find out she can talk soon enough," Tian Hao thought, a wry smile forming. "It's not like she can stay quiet for long anyway." He knew it was going to be an awkward introduction, but there wasn't much choice.

“Everyone,” he announced, his voice carrying a playful lilt, “meet Jiuwei. She’s a spirit beast I stumbled across and…"

He hesitated for a split second. Should he call her a companion? A friend? Maybe even an unwilling partner? None of it seemed quite right. He settled on 'befriended,' even though it felt almost laughable considering Jiuwei's haughty demeanor.

"Well, I guess you could say I befriended her.” He gestured to Jiuwei, offering a smile that was only partly genuine.

He felt Lin Mei stiffen slightly beside him.

"First, the Iron Talon Sect, and now this?" Lin Mei thought, feeling a pang of anxiety. "How will the Core Disciples react? Can Tian Hao just not make things worse for a single day?"

His attempt to make light of the situation fell slightly flat, his usual confidence replaced by a hesitant formality.

Jiuwei, her silver fur gleaming faintly in the dim light, puffed herself up, her tail fanning out slightly in a majestic display of what dignity she could muster despite her diminished size. Her golden eyes narrowed as she surveyed the disciples before her, as if she were sizing them up, her silent judgment more imposing somehow than any boast she might have proclaimed.

“Befriended? Hardly!” she exclaimed, her tiny voice carrying all the authority she could muster. “I merely… allow this mortal to accompany me.” She paused, tilting her head slightly, before adding with an almost condescending tone, “He amuses me.”

Yu Xian exchanged a surprised glance with Wei Lo, her eyes widening in disbelief. Wei Lo's expression mirrored hers, his brow furrowing as he struggled to make sense of what he was seeing.

“A… talking fox?” Wei Lo stammered, glancing again towards Yu Xian.

Yu Xian frowned at the fox as she looked from Tian Hao to the fox perched precariously on his shoulder. Her expression was one of disapproval.

Wei Lo leaned closer to Yu Xian, his voice barely a whisper. "A talking spirit beast... that's supposed to be rare, right? And usually, they're powerful. This one looks... almost ordinary."

Yu Xian nodded, her frown deepening. "Exactly. There's no Qi radiating from her. Spirit beasts that can talk usually have an overwhelming presence. This one... there's something strange here."

Wei Lo sighed, his gaze still fixed on Jiuwei. "Yeah, she looks like she's barely holding on. We should still be careful—Tian Hao might have brought back more trouble than he realizes.".

Missing this exchange completely, Tian Hao couldn't keep the grin off his face. He looked towards Lin Mei. "It's a long and utterly ridiculous story."

Lin Mei rolled her eyes, her lips twitching into a reluctant smile. "He's got that right," she thought, barely believing the story herself even after Tian Hao had explained it. "With him, everything really is absurd and overly complicated."

“Well,” Wei Lo said, his tone now laced with cautious politeness. “Welcome, I suppose. As long as this… little fox doesn’t bring calamity upon us.” He gave Tian Hao a pointed look.

Yu Xian’s gaze lingered on Jiuwei for a moment longer.

She still couldn't sense anything—no Qi radiating off the fox, nothing like the whispers of power that hinted at the energy held within high-level spirit beasts. Nothing like she’d felt from the guardian beast of the sect, on the rare occasions she'd seen him.

This diminutive little fox, the almost unreal bluster—it was too much. Her duty to protect the Sect, even this annoying, spoiled young master, felt heavier, as though this journey was about to become more treacherous.

“Just be careful, Tian Hao. Spirit beasts are not… always what they seem,” she said, her voice carrying a hint of warning. “Even if she looks harmless, it’s best not to take chances.”

She turned away, as though the topic no longer warranted discussion, as if she'd added her bit of wisdom and now washed her hands of the matter.

Yu Xian, though, couldn't shake her unease. The small fox's quiet judgment upon her was more palpable somehow than the loud pronouncements of some grand beast—rather than just an annoying companion of Tian Hao's.

Tian Hao, his initial amusement at Jiuwei’s bluster now replaced by a slight anxiety at Yu Xian’s words, could only offer a self reassuring grin, hoping his carefree attitude would mask his inner doubts.

"They just don't get it," Tian Hao thought, trying to steady his nerves. "They weren't in the Hidden Realm. They didn't see what I saw, didn't face what I faced."

"Of course they'd be skeptical," he continued internally, feeling a twinge of frustration. "It's not like this is just some regular spirit beast." He took a deep breath, trying to convince himself. "Plus, she could've killed me when the formation dissolved... but she didn't."

He forced a smile, as if to bolster his own confidence. "She even gave me that new technique. She could've abandoned me there, but instead, she guided me out." He shook his head, almost laughing. "No way she's dangerous."

Yu Xian and Wei Lo exchanged a confused glance with Lin Mei, eyebrows raised. Wei Lo tilted his head slightly, muttering under his breath, "Is he... alright?"

Lin Mei sighed, shaking her head. "I swear, sometimes I think he's lost more than just his sense of caution on this adventure; if he ever even had that."

Tian Hao finally spoke up. “Noted, Senior Yu Xian. But I think Jiuwei and I have a… connection. Right, Jiuwei?”

Jiuwei simply huffed in response, a regal sniff echoing in the sudden quiet. She flicked her tail dismissively, her golden eyes narrowing. "Honestly, if I wanted to converse with mortals, I would've chosen ones with more flair." She paused, her gaze locking onto Tian Hao. "I suppose you’ll do for now. At least you're entertaining—like a lost duckling."