The next day,
The kilt slowed to a halt, its shadow sliding over the restless waves. Li Min leapt from the canoe and landed firmly upon the beast's head. The great beast tilted its wings and descended slightly, letting out a deep rumble before coming to a full stop.
"Who are you?!" A voice thundered from the island ahead, sharp and demanding.
"I am Li Min, from the Iron Clad Sect! I request entry to Jun Island!" Her voice rang out clear and unwavering, echoing across the water.
"Do you carry the Iron Clad Sect's emblem or a Jun Island pass?"
"Yes! I have the pass right here!" she cried. With a swift motion, she drew out a wooden token etched with strange markings and hurled it toward the island, the token spinning through the air.
The pass bore the shape of an island carved upon its surface, and beneath it, cryptic scribbles glowed faintly under the sunlight. The man who caught the pass poured his aura into it, the air humming for a moment. Then he gave a nod.
"Very well, you may enter. But the beast must remain outside!" the man declared.
"Fine!" she shouted back. Then she turned, her eyes sweeping over her companions.
"We can enter now. Let's go." With that, she sprang from the beast's head and landed gracefully upon solid ground.
The others followed her lead. As the beast hovered only about two storeys above the ground, none of the disciples had any trouble making the leap. After all, each one was a trained body cultivator with a frame honed by endless hours of discipline and strength.
When the last figure jumped down, the kilt began to disappear into the unravel. The canoe dissolved into a cascade of sand, and the massive beast gave a deep bellow before diving back into the vast ocean below.
"Welcome to Jun Island, dear guests." The man standing near the shore offered a formal bow as his words carried across the breeze.
Li Min and Yu Hao exchanged brief nods in acknowledgment.
After that, Yu Hao's voice rose. "All of you, follow me." Without delay, he turned and began striding down a narrow path that wound between tall stone lanterns and whispering trees.
"Jun Island is divided among four great forces from four distant continents. As for us, our Iron Clad Sect owns but a single residence here. Many other forces hold their own quarters as well." Yu Hao explained as they walked, his tone calm but steady, and then continued,
"We are here."
In time, they arrived before a quiet residence. A simple wooden board stood outside, and on it, bold strokes spelled out: "Iron Clad Sect."
Yu Hao turned to the disciples, his gaze sweeping over them. "We will be staying here for eleven days. Train diligently while you remain. When our time is done, we will return to the Iron Clad Sect." His voice carried a weight of expectation as he stepped inside, summoning a servant to guide the disciples to their quarters.
The servant bowed respectfully and led them down a polished corridor. They were given five rooms in total, each designed to house four disciples in comfort.
"I will take my leave now." The servant bowed once more, her steps soft as she departed.
Yang Zhai looked around carefully, eyes tracing every detail of the room. It was spacious, easily enough for five people. At its center lay a low floor table, five feet long and three feet wide, resting upon woven mats. The walls and beams were built of fine wood, and on the floor, soft blankets were spread.
Flower patterns danced across the walls, and in each corner stood a clay pot filled with white blossoms, their faint fragrance drifting through the air. The Shoji doors framed two exits: one opening into a small garden beyond, and the other being the entrance Yang Zhai had just crossed.
"Greetings, I am Min Ho. I hope we all get along well." A young man stepped forward, his voice steady as he addressed Zuh Qil. He appeared to be around twenty-one years of age.
He was broad-shouldered and powerfully built, his skin tanned by sun and training. A simple cloth wrapped his waist, leaving his well-defined upper body bare. He had short brown hair and framed a sharp jawline, and at six feet three inches, he cast a long shadow in the dim light.
Zuh Qil inclined his head slightly, bowing in return. Yang Zhai caught the gesture and spoke up,
"He is my master, Zuh Qil, and I am Yang Zhai. We both look forward to learning from and standing beside you."
Min Ho nodded with a faint smile and turned his eyes toward another figure—a youth who seemed about twenty, with cropped black hair and a plain, unremarkable appearance. His height matched Yang Zhai's, and his robe was simple and ordinary.
"I am Jin Su," the boy replied softly, his tone hesitant, as Min Ho's gaze lingered on him.
"So, you're the quiet sort, not fond of words," Min Ho observed, catching Jin Su's shy demeanor.
"Still," Min Ho continued, his expression brightening, "I'm impressed. You actually managed to give that cultivator a hard time, even though you're only a mastery path cultivator. By the way, where do you keep your beast hidden? I've never seen anyone manage that. Most mastery-path cultivators keep their beasts right by their side. How do you even do it?" Min Ho's curiosity burned in his voice.
"About that, haha… that's a secret," Yang Zhai answered with a faint laugh, his lips curving knowingly.
"Ah, you don't want to share. That's fine. Every cultivator has their own secrets," Min Ho said with a grin. "But what if someone suddenly attacks you? Out here, you can be struck at any time, even by me." His words carried a playful edge, though his eyes glimmered with something unreadable.
"Haha, you're amusing. I'm sure you wouldn't go that far, hahaha," Yang Zhai replied with a carefree laugh.
Zuh Qil's left hand shifted slightly, a subtle gesture for Yang Zhai to hold his tongue. Yang Zhai caught it at once and fell silent.
Min Ho studied Zuh Qil for a moment.
"Sigh, why so serious? I was only joking. We'll be together for eleven days. Let's get along instead of making enemies," Min Ho said lightly, raising his hands as if in surrender.
Zuh Qil gave a few quick hand signs to Yang Zhai and started toward the door. Yang Zhai nodded, speaking softly—"Master wishes to take a stroll around the island. We'll be taking our leave."—and followed behind him.
The two of them stepped out of the Iron Clad Sect's residence, their figures soon swallowed by the narrow path under rustling trees.
As they strolled, Yang Zhai's mind turned inward, weighing his choices and the path ahead.
This journey was never part of the plan I'd made in my past life for this life, nor was joining the Iron Clad Sect. But if I truly want to break free from the kas, I need to meet Mil Do Nim. Otherwise, even though I intended to reach the Recn Continent, it was never meant to be through the Iron Clad Sect. This… this is why I still linger at Rank Five Perfect Stage. Otherwise, I would have already advanced to rank 6 if not for joining the Iron Clad Sect
As far as my memory serves, Mil Do Nim should be joining the Iron Clad Sect around this very time, arriving with this same traveling qafila.
"For now, I'll follow the Iron Clad Sect," Yang Zhai thought."
The paths he'd drawn in his previous life had nothing to do with the Iron Clad Sect after leaving Mantora Mountain. But some roads demand to be rewritten, and so—he walked on.
!|!*****!*****!|!