Ye Kaishan stepped into the manor, his gaze sweeping across the spacious corridor.
Though the exterior appeared modest, the interior was unexpectedly well-kept—polished floors, neat corridors, and the faint fragrance of sandalwood lingering in the air. It may not look like much from outside, he thought, but living here might not be a bad idea.
Song Yan seemed to share his thoughts. Together, they followed Shen Yao through the corridor.
"Here, this will be your room," Shen Yao said, opening a door on the ground floor. Inside was a well-furnished chamber with a two-person bed, a mirrored desk, and a soft scent of sandalwood drifting through the air.
"This room will suffice," Song Yan said with a satisfied expression.
"Well then, if you need anything, just let me know. My room is at the end of the corridor," Shen Yao replied before leaving quietly.
Ye Kaishan threw himself onto the bed with a content sigh. "I think this place isn't bad at all. The room's good, and most importantly, it's far away from the noisy market."
"Hm. You're right," Song Yan said, sitting gracefully on her bed. "It might not be a bad place to stay."
Ye Kaishan rested on his side, watching Song Yan in the dim light."We've already made it to the Eastern Continent," he said quietly. "You said you won't join Yaochi… so what are we going to do now?"
Song Yan leaned against the bed's headrest, her eyes thoughtful.
"The Yaochi Holy Land is one of the greatest overlords of the Eastern Continent. Once every fifty years, they hold a grand competition to display their strength.
It's not just for their disciples—outsiders and lone cultivators can participate too."
"A competition?" Ye Kaishan asked, curiosity flickering in his tone.
"Yes. And whoever wins may choose three treasures from Yaochi's treasure vault," Song Yan explained calmly.
"Though, in most cases, their own disciples or those from other holy lands take the prize. Still, countless cultivators gather for that once-in-a-lifetime chance."
"So, we're here for that competition as well?" Ye Kaishan asked.
She nodded lightly. "Exactly."
The treasure vault of a holy land, Ye Kaishan mused. There must be countless rare items gathered from all over the continent. Maybe… even something related to space.
As the thought drifted through his mind, his eyelids grew heavy, and before long, he slipped into sleep.
Song Yan glanced at him, a faint smile curling her lips. "Already asleep?" she murmured softly. "Well, a proper bed after half a month's travel does that to you."
She blew out the candlelight, the soft flicker fading into darkness. Soon, the room fell silent, save for the gentle rhythm of two steady breaths.
Heavenreach Citadel — Gambling District
The night was deathly still. Moonlight spilled across the empty streets, and a cold wind swept through the narrow alleys. Most of the shops had long closed, leaving only the whisper of the wind and the faint creak of hanging signboards.
Swish—
Four black figures darted across the rooftops, their movements as swift as shadows. Faces hidden beneath dark cloth, swords tied at their waists, they moved silently—ghosts gliding through the night.
"After them! Don't let them escape!" a woman's sharp voice cut through the silence.
A group of men and women in white and pink robes pursued them, swords gleaming with the emblem of a white lotus etched on their hilts.
"Damn it! Even with flying swords, we can barely keep up!" one of them cursed. "Their footwork and stealth techniques are too good!"
The chase wound through the district's rooftops until the four black figures abruptly scattered, vanishing into the darkness.
"Shit! We lost them!" the woman in white shouted in frustration. "That's the third time this week!"
"Leader! Over here!" another voice called.
The group descended swiftly—and froze. A pale body lay on the cobblestone road, her lifeless eyes reflecting the moonlight. The woman's face was drained of color, her skin bloodless.
"It's the tenth victim this week…" the leader muttered grimly, gripping her sword tighter. "We have to stop them before the city learns of this."
"Take care of the body," she ordered. "We'll report to the Sect at dawn."
As they moved to obey, a gust of cold wind swept through the alley, carrying with it the faint metallic tang of blood. The chill lingered long after they were gone.
Morning at the Manor
The first light of dawn filtered through the courtyard, warming the cool morning air. Birds chirped softly from the nearby trees, their song mingling with the rustle of bamboo leaves.
Yawn…
Ye Kaishan stretched as he stepped into the courtyard. "Sleeping on a bed after so long—I didn't even realize when I fell asleep," he murmured.
Thud… Thud… Thud…A dull, rhythmic sound reached Ye Kaishan's ears, breaking the stillness of the morning.
He turned his head towards the sound direction.
Shen Yao stood in the courtyard, fists striking against a wooden post. His hands were red and swollen, each punch landing with dull, heavy force. Sweat drenched his clothes, but he didn't stop.
"Are you practicing some kind of martial art?" Ye Kaishan asked, walking over.
"Oh, you're awake," Shen Yao replied, wiping sweat from his forehead. "Haa… I've been practicing for two years now. It's not much, but I'm trying."
Shen Yao said with a shy grin, rubbing his nose. "I just train my punches every day."
Ye Kaishan chuckled lightly. "I see."
"Two years, huh?" he smiled faintly. "That's impressive.
Shen Yao glanced toward Ye Kaishan and asked curiously, "Do you also practice some kind of martial art or something?"
"Well… you could say that," Ye Kaishan replied casually, Well… I'm not exactly a cultivator, but I've been studying that sword manual. It's practically the same thing, he thought to himself.
"Oh, really?" Shen Yao's eyebrows rose with interest. "That's great! I've been looking for a sparring partner for a while now. I've trained for two years, but I have no idea how strong I've become. Since you practice too, why don't we have a quick spar?"
Before Ye Kaishan could react, Shen Yao shifted into a stance, his feet sliding into position with surprising steadiness.
"Wait, I really d—"
But it was too late. Without warning, Shen Yao lunged forward, his fist cutting through the air toward Ye Kaishan.
"Hey, I said wait a minute!" Ye Kaishan called out, catching the incoming punch effortlessly. His expression remained calm, his movements smooth and controlled.
Huh? It's heavier than it looks… he thought, glancing at Shen Yao. The strike didn't appear refined, yet the moment it landed, it carried a surprising amount of force.
If it were before I strengthened my qi and blood, that blow might've fractured my hand.
"Did you perhaps learn martial arts from some kind of manual?" Ye Kaishan asked curiously, still holding Shen Yao's fist.
"Huh? Martial book?" pulling his hand back Shen Yao shook his head. "No chance. I don't have the money for that. I just hit the post every day until my arms go numb."
Then, with a faint smile, he added, "But you're really something—catching my punch that easily."
Ye Kaishan waved it off modestly, though his thoughts remained elsewhere. Even without cultivation, this guy's physical foundation isn't ordinary…
The morning sun rose higher, spilling golden light across the courtyard—two figures standing amidst it, one sweating from effort, the other observing with quiet intrigue.
Shen Yao wiped the sweat from his brow as he finished his practice. The courtyard was calm, the faint scent of morning dew still lingering in the air. He walked over and sat beside Ye Kaishan, who was quietly sipping tea beneath an old pine tree.
"What was your name again?" Shen Yao asked curiously, tilting his head.
"It's Ye Kaishan," came the blunt reply, his tone flat but not unfriendly.
"So it's Brother Ye," Shen Yao said with a faint smile. "Are you here for business or something else?"
"Well, something like that," Ye Kaishan replied, his gaze distant.
Just then, a sudden gust of wind swept through the courtyard. Both men looked up as several cultivators streaked across the sky, riding flying swords that gleamed under the noonday sun.
The hum of spiritual energy rippled through the air, disturbing the calm silence.
"Huh?" Shen Yao frowned. "These cultivators have been restless for the past two or three weeks… I don't know what's gotten into them."
"Has something happened in the city?" Ye Kaishan asked, his brows furrowing. He followed the trail of light in the sky — each face above them was grim, eyes sharp with worry.
"They don't tell anyone," Shen Yao muttered. "Even when the townsfolk ask, they keep their mouths shut. But something's clearly wrong."
"I see…" Ye Kaishan murmured, his tone deepening. His eyes narrowed as he felt the faint tremor in the air, as if the heavens themselves were holding their breath. The spiritual flow feels heavier than usual… something big must be coming.
He looked toward the distant city walls."Song Yan left this morning to gather information about the Yaochi Holy Land" he said quietly."I just hope she's safe."
A trace of concern flickered in his eyes, softening the usual firmness in his expression.
The sunlight burned overhead, casting long shadows across the stone courtyard. The world seemed peaceful — yet beneath that peace, a storm was quietly brewing.