Alex sat cross-legged on his cultivation mat, feeling the familiar warmth of qi flowing through his meridians. But something was different today. The energy moved smoother, denser, like honey instead of water.
His eyes snapped open. "Eighth stage!"
The realization hit him like lightning. Foundation Establishment Eighth Stage—he'd broken through overnight without even noticing. His dantian hummed with newfound power, the Red Umbra Flower's energy having worked its magic while he slept.
"Senior Sister will be pleased," he muttered, then immediately regretted the thought. Pleased meant harder training. Much harder.
As if summoned by his fear, Shui Bing appeared at his doorway like a silver specter. Her ice-blue eyes assessed him instantly.
"Eighth stage," she observed. "Good. Your foundation is solid."
Alex scrambled to his feet, bowing. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister."
She stepped into his small room, her presence making the space feel even tinier. "Your progress is acceptable, but raw power means nothing without real combat experience."
Alex's heart sank. More brutal training sessions incoming.
"Which is why," she continued, surprising him, "you will undertake a sect mission. Real world experience. Real danger."
Alex's eyes widened. A mission? Outside the sect? Away from her daily torture sessions?
"Senior Sister, that's—that's wonderful!" he exclaimed, unable to hide his excitement.
Shui Bing's eyebrow arched dangerously. "Wonderful? You think missions are vacation trips?"
"No, no! I just meant—" Alex backpedaled frantically.
"I see." Her voice dropped to arctic temperatures. "You believe escaping my 'clutches' will be... refreshing?"
Alex felt his soul leave his body. How did she always read his thoughts?
"Senior Sister, I would never—"
Her whip cracked, leaving a groove in the wooden floor an inch from his feet. The smile she gave him could have frozen the sun.
"How delightful. Since you're so eager for independence, perhaps I should recommend a Class 4 mission. The haunted mines where disciples regularly disappear?"
"I'll be good!" Alex squeaked.
"Or maybe the demon cult investigation where the last team came back missing their sanity?"
"I take it back! Your training is wonderful! Enlightening! The highlight of my day!"
Shui Bing's smile turned predatory. "Too late. Mission Hall. One hour. Don't keep them waiting."
Alex bolted from the room like his robes were on fire, her laughter following him down the corridor.
Once he was gone, Shui Bing's expression softened into something almost tender. She touched her lips, hiding a genuine smile.
"Dumb idiot," she murmured fondly, then quickly composed herself as another disciple passed by.
---
The Mission Hall buzzed with nervous energy. Disciples clustered around the bulletin boards, whispering about blood moon sightings and beast attacks. Alex pushed through the crowd, scanning the available missions.
Most were depressingly mundane:
*"Clear road bandits for merchant caravan - Class 1"*
*"Eliminate demon wolves near Peaceful Village - Class 2"*
*"Investigate suspicious cult activity - Class 2"*
Then something caught his eye:
*"MISSING: Feng Long, Guardian Beast of Feng City. Class 3 Mission. Reward: 500 Spirit Stones + City Lord's Favor. Warning: Guardian Beast is Qi Condensation Ninth Stage. Last seen one month ago near Whispering Woods."*
Alex's pulse quickened. A Class 3 mission! Finally, something worthy of his newfound power.
"Alex!" Jin Hao's voice boomed across the hall. "Brother! Perfect timing!"
Alex turned to see his friend approaching, hair singed and robes smoking slightly. A typical morning for Jin Hao.
"Let me guess," Alex grinned. "Another explosive experiment?"
"Beauty enhancement pills for men," Jin Hao said proudly. "Only minor explosions this time. The test rat grew magnificent whiskers before they caught fire."
"Progress," Alex deadpanned.
Jin Hao's eyes landed on the mission board. "Ooh, what are we looking at?"
"This." Alex pointed to the missing beast mission. "Class 3. Real adventure."
Jin Hao read quickly, his eyes lighting up like fireworks. "A missing guardian beast! Brother, this is perfect! I've been wanting to test my animal communication pills!"
"You have animal communication pills?"
"Well, theoretically. The mice just stared at me judgmentally when I tried talking to them. But maybe it was working and they were silently judging my life choices?"
Alex laughed despite himself. "Come on, let's get permission from your master and take this mission."
An hour later, they stood at the sect gates with their travel packs, official mission scroll in hand. The afternoon sun cast long shadows as they prepared for the journey to Feng City.
"Remember," Alex said, adjusting his sword, "stay alert. The blood moon has everyone spooked, and the roads might not be safe."
Jin Hao patted his pouch of experimental pills. "Don't worry, brother. I brought my entire collection. What could go wrong?"
Alex decided not to answer that question.
As they set off down the mountain path, neither noticed the tiny silver pendant attached to Alex's pack, glowing faintly with Shui Bing's qi signature.
Back in her chambers, Shui Bing sat in meditation pose, her consciousness partially connected to the surveillance charm. Through it, she could hear Alex and Jin Hao's excited chatter as they jogged toward adventure.
"Like children going to a festival," she murmured, but her tone held warmth rather than criticism. "Stay safe, you dumb idiot."
---
The journey to Feng City took them through increasingly dangerous terrain. What should have been a peaceful afternoon run became a running battle with agitated wildlife.
"Third pack of demon wolves today," Alex panted, wiping blood from his sword. "The blood moon really has them stirred up."
Jin Hao kicked a wolf carcass, disappointed. "They attacked before I could test my 'Peaceful Submission Pills.' Such waste of good test subjects."
"Maybe that's for the best," Alex muttered, remembering the last time Jin Hao tested pills on aggressive creatures. The explosion had created a crater that was now a small lake.
As evening approached, they crested a hill and saw their destination: Feng City. Massive stone walls rose from the valley floor, torches flickering along the battlements. Even from a distance, they could see guards patrolling in unusual numbers.
"Looks like they're taking security seriously," Alex observed.
"Probably worried about beast attacks," Jin Hao agreed. "Good thing we're here to help!"
They approached the main gate as darkness fell. Crossbow-armed guards challenged them immediately.
"Halt! State your business in Feng City!"
Alex stepped forward, producing his Lion Cloud Sect emblem—a jade token carved with their sect's roaring lion symbol. Jin Hao followed suit with his own Elephant Mountain Sect emblem.
The guard captain's eyes widened in shock. He stammered something to his subordinates, who scattered like startled rabbits.
"H-honored cultivators! Please wait here! I'll inform the City Lord immediately!"
Within minutes, the captain returned with a middle-aged man in expensive silk robes. The newcomer had kind eyes but worry lines etched deep around them.
"Greetings, young masters!" he said, bowing deeply. "I am Feng Yuan, Lord of this humble city. Like the distant wind that brings news from afar." He smiled at his own introduction. "Though lately, the news has been troubling indeed."
Alex and Jin Hao exchanged pleased looks. A poetic name—always a good sign in their experience.
"Greetings, City Lord Feng," Alex replied formally. "I am Alex of Lion Cloud Sect, and this is Jin Hao of Elephant Mountain Sect. We've come regarding your missing guardian beast."
Relief flooded Feng Yuan's features. "Blessed heavens! Please, honored cultivators, come to my manor. We have much to discuss, and you must be hungry from your journey."
As they walked through the city streets, Alex noticed the citizens hurrying home, shuttering windows despite the early hour. The blood moon's influence was felt here too.
"Your people seem frightened," he observed.
Feng Yuan sighed. "Ever since Feng Long disappeared, the city feels vulnerable. He was more than a guardian—he was a symbol of safety. Without him..." He gestured helplessly at the fearful atmosphere.
The City Lord's manor was modest but comfortable, with gardens that spoke of peaceful times. Servants hurried to prepare food while Feng Yuan led them to a reception hall decorated with paintings of landscapes and poetry scrolls.
Over steaming cups of jasmine tea and plates of delicate pastries, Feng Yuan told his story.
"Five years ago, I was traveling through the Whispering Woods when I discovered a young lion beast, badly wounded by territorial disputes. His leg was nearly severed, and infection had set in." The City Lord's eyes grew distant with memory. "I could have left him to die—most would have. Lion beasts are dangerous, after all."
"But you didn't," Alex prompted.
"Something in his eyes reminded me of my younger brother, who died protecting our family during a bandit raid. Fierce pride, but also... loneliness." Feng Yuan smiled sadly. "I spent three weeks nursing him back to health. Used most of my personal cultivation resources for healing pills."
Jin Hao leaned forward, interested. "What kind of healing pills? I've been working on regeneration formulas—"
Alex kicked him under the table. "Continue, City Lord."
"When Feng Long—I named him that, 'like a dragon,' for his proud spirit—when he recovered, he made a cultivation vow. Fifty years of protection for Feng City, in exchange for cultivation resources and a safe territory." Feng Yuan chuckled. "He's kept that vow faithfully. Naughty sometimes—he once ate an entire merchant caravan's worth of spiritual fruits—but always protective."
"And now he's been missing for a month?" Alex asked.
"Usually he leaves for hunting trips, three to five days at most. But this..." Feng Yuan pulled out a jade slip, glowing faintly with residual qi. "This holds his scent signature. If something has happened to him..."
The worry in the older man's voice was genuine. Alex felt his resolve strengthen.
"We'll find him," he promised. "Do you have any ideas where he might have gone?"
"The Whispering Woods, most likely. It's his favorite hunting ground, and where I first found him." Feng Yuan handed over the jade slip. "But please, honored cultivators, be careful. The woods have been... strange since the blood moon appeared. Even the local herb gatherers won't enter anymore."
Alex pocketed the jade slip, feeling its warm pulse against his fingers. Tomorrow, the real adventure would begin.
That night, as he settled into the comfortable guest room the City Lord had provided, Alex felt excitement thrumming through his veins. His first real mission. His chance to prove himself beyond the sect's walls.
In her distant chambers, Shui Bing smiled through their connection, sensing his enthusiasm. "Sweet dreams, little hero," she whispered to the night.