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Chapter 7: Departure
When I woke up, the first thing I saw was the old man standing beside my bed, his back slightly hunched, his expression heavier than usual.
He let out a quiet sigh.
"Wuxian," Linfeng said slowly, "you must leave this valley."
His words struck me harder than any attack.
I frowned instinctively. "Why? This is my home."
Linfeng didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at me—really looked at me—as if trying to engrave something into his memory. Then he spoke.
"If this is truly your home," he asked calmly, "then why are you constantly being chased, hunted, and forced to risk your life?"
I opened my mouth, but no words came out.
He continued, his voice steady but firm. "Listen to me. This world is far bigger than you think."
Frustration welled up inside me. "But I don't know anything beyond this valley. At most, I know a few nearby ones. Everything else is unknown."
Linfeng shook his head. "Then learn. Travel. Cultivation was never meant to be confined to one place."
His gaze drifted toward the distant mountains, layered endlessly beyond the horizon. "With your potential, staying here will only bind you. This valley has already become too small for you."
He paused, then added in a lower voice, "This is Lingnan, the Southern Continent. And this valley… is nothing more than a speck."
My heart trembled.
"Beyond it," he continued, "are countless valleys, sect territories, ancient ruins, inheritance grounds, and cities ruled by powerful families. Opportunities exist—but so do dangers far greater than what you've faced here."
Then his tone changed.
"I also have matters of my own to attend to," Linfeng said. "I will be leaving this valley as well."
My chest tightened. "Senior… does that mean you won't be able to protect me anymore?"
He nodded. "I won't."
Silence fell between us.
After a long moment, I asked quietly, "Senior… how many continents are there in this world?"
"Five," Linfeng replied without hesitation.
"Lingnan, Bingyan, Donghuan, Xihai, and Tianling."
The words echoed in my mind like thunder.
Five continents.
I had spent decades struggling just to survive in one small valley—yet the world stretched endlessly beyond it.
"With your current cultivation," Linfeng said, pulling me back to reality, "as long as you keep a low profile, you'll be able to stand your ground. Don't act recklessly. Don't expose everything you have."
I nodded slowly.
I clasped my fists and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Senior. If not for you… I would have died many times over."
Then, hesitating for a moment, I asked, "Will I… see you again?"
Linfeng laughed, a rare warmth flashing in his eyes. "Brat, don't worry. I'm not abandoning you just yet."
I looked up in confusion.
"You still haven't reached the peak of the Qi Pioneer realm," he said. "Enter seclusion."
My expression stiffened. "But I only broke through recently—"
"I know," he interrupted calmly. "You will remain in seclusion for one year."
There was no room for argument.
I nodded and entered the cave.
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One year later.
The cave trembled violently.
Boom.
Qi surged like a raging tide, filling every corner of the space. My bones creaked, my meridians burned, and my dantian roared as power condensed within me.
When the turbulence finally settled, I opened my eyes slowly.
I had reached the peak Qi Pioneer realm.
Before I could even steady my breathing, Linfeng appeared in front of me.
He studied me for a long moment, then smiled faintly. "It's finally time for us to part ways."
My throat tightened.
"Junior," he said, "I wish you well on your journey."
Emotion surged uncontrollably. I stepped forward and hugged him tightly.
"Senior… when I grow strong enough, we will meet again."
He hesitated for a heartbeat, then returned the hug, patting my back once before stepping away.
After packing my belongings, Linfeng personally escorted me to the edge of the valley.
The wind was cold. The mountains stood silent.
"Goodbye, Senior," I said.
He waved his hand lightly.
I took one last look at the Binz Valley—the place where I had struggled, bled, survived, and grown.
Then I turned around.
Without looking back, I walked forward—toward Lingnan, toward the unknown, and toward a fate far greater than this valley could ever contain.
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