Thirty years passed. The "Blood-Wind Territories" were just a name in old, dusty books. Now, it
was "Aegis-Peak," a land of impossible, green prosperity. The purged land, free of chaotic Qi,
had become the most fertile in the empire, and a new, peaceful city-state had grown under the
mountain, populated by those who sought a life free of the sects' wars.
On the mountainside, in a simple but beautiful house of white stone and warm wood, a man sat
on his porch. He was in his late fifties, his black hair graying at the temples, his face lined with
quiet, happy creases. He was carving a small, wooden knight for his grandchild. He was Kael.
He was, and always would be, Level 10. His system, his Path, was complete. It had no more to
offer him, for he had fulfilled its every condition. He was not a god. He was not a cultivator. He
was the Knight-Protector, and his Vow was complete. He was, simply, at peace.
The screen door opened. A woman with beautiful, silver hair sat beside him. To any cultivator,
her power would feel like the ocean, a Sage-level being so vast as to be incomprehensible. But
here, she was just... Yue. She had willingly let her appearance age alongside his, to walk this
mortal path with him, step for step. "He'll love that," she said, her voice warm, resting her head
on his shoulder. "He'd better," Kael grumbled, smiling. "This part, the little Vow-shield, is tricky."
Their life was full. Their son, Jian, who had his father's will and unbending integrity, was now the
arbiter of the city below, a "mortal" leader respected more than any sect-master. Their daughter,
Mei, a prodigy with her mother's talent and her father's heart, was a legend in her own right—a
traveling, Core-level cultivator known as "The Kindest Sword," who protected, rather than
conquered. Their children were grown. Their legends were their own. And now, the house was
quiet.
"Thinking about it?" Yue asked. Kael nodded, his hands still. He looked at his own, internal log,
which, for thirty years, had read the same. [Path: The Knight-Protector (Legendary)] [Vow:
Fulfilled.] [Status: At Peace.] "It was a loud beginning," he said, his voice quiet. "A very loud
beginning," she agreed, her silver hair catching the setting sun. "But... a quiet ending." "Just as
we wanted," he said. He put down the carving knife and the half-finished toy. He took her hand,
his calloused, mortal fingers lacing with hers, which were still smooth and powerful. They sat
together, Kael and Lin Yue, watching the sun set over their mountain, over their peaceful city,
over their fulfilled Vow. He was a man from another world, who had chosen the weakest path.
And he had won. He was happy.