Time passed swiftly.
Three months slipped by in the blink of an eye.
During that time, Chu Feng cultivated relentlessly at the Sword Cliff. Day and night, he honed his sword intent, his breath alone sharp enough to make the air tremble.
On the night before departure, he slowly exhaled and opened his eyes.
Before him, the massive stone wall of the Sword Cliff shimmered faintly. The ancient sword scar carved into it pulsed like a quiet heartbeat.
"It's time."
He rose, brushed the dust from his robes, and went to make his final preparations.
The Next Morning
The four of them reunited at the Sword Cliff.
Chu Feng arrived first.
Yu Lianyan and Yu Lianxue came soon after, their auras calm, focused and ready.
A moment later, an elegant figure leisurely ascended the stone steps. He came equipped with talismans shielding him from the pervasive sword intent. It was a composed, refined entrance…
…right up until he reached the top.
The instant his foot touched the last step, his expression twisted. Sweat beaded down his forehead, his breathing turned ragged, and his body trembled as though an invisible hand was squeezing his soul.
With great effort, he forced out the words:
"I'm… not late, right?!"
Chu Feng blinked, baffled.
"…Jìn Bǎo?"
Jìn Bǎo, still shaking, weakly lifted an arm in greeting.
"Brother Feng!"
Chu Feng stared at him in silence.
Then he slowly turned to look at the twin sisters, his expression filled with silent question marks.
Yu Lianyan let out a long sigh. "He volunteered to fund the trip."
Yu Lianxue remained silent.
Jìn Bǎo puffed up with visible pride. "I'm very reliable!"
He made sure to wave his hands dramatically so Chu Feng could see the new spatial ring on his finger.
Chu Feng glanced at it, took note, and said nothing.
Seeing no reaction, Jìn Bǎo deflated slightly, shoulders slumping.
Yu Lianyan snapped."Reliable?… barely useful."
Jìn Bǎo squeaked and immediately ducked behind a nearby rock."Right, right… u-useful…"
He stressed the word as if terrified it might earn him another scolding.
Yu Lianxue cleared her throat, reclaiming the atmosphere. Then she looked at Chu Feng.
"We agreed to bring him, Feng'er."
Jìn Bǎo poked his head out again when he heard the name she used. His eyes bounced between Chu Feng and the twins, his mind clearly racing. He opened his mouth—
—but before a single word could escape, both twin sisters turned to stare at him, eyes sharp enough to cut stone.
He froze.
"…Never mind. Forget I exist…"
He slowly ducked back down out of sight.
Chu Feng rubbed his forehead.
Moments later, Jìn Bǎo stuck close to Chu Feng, whispering as though afraid of attracting the mountain's attention:
"Brother Feng… just being here for ten minutes feels like I'm losing ten years of my life."
"We should leave", and with that, they were ready to depart.
Reporting Their Departure
Before stepping beyond the sect's protective borders, they made their way to the Enforcement Hall.
An elder there looked them over with stern eyes.
"Destination?"
Yu Lianxue answered calmly. "Training outside the sect. Several months."
"Registered group size?"
"Four."
The elder stamped their jade slips, then handed each of them a departure token imbued with faint spiritual light.
"Proceed. And remember—if you do not return within one year, you will be marked missing."
He said it with the tone of someone who had made that announcement far too many times.
Yu Lianyu smirked
The elder raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
The four cupped their hands respectfully.
Then they turned and walked out of the Sword Sect together.
Step by step.
Toward the unknown realm waiting for them
Departing the Sect
The four reached the massive stone archway—carved with ancient runes that shimmered faintly with protective power. Beyond it, the path descended into forests, valleys, and the wide world beyond.
A guard disciple standing watch recognised Chu Feng and the twins immediately. His gaze then landed on Jìn Bǎo, and confusion followed.
"…He's with you?"
Yu Lianyan nodded. "Unfortunately, yes."
Jìn Bǎo, seeing her confirm, straightened up proudly—only to twitch violently at the follow-up comment.
The guard disciple simply waved them through, wearing the universal expression of someone who had decided it was not his business.
Yu Lianyan stepped out first. Yu Lianxue followed, graceful as ever.
Chu Feng walked forward with steady composure.
Jìn Bǎo paused at the threshold, staring at the world outside the sect.
He whispered, almost awed:
"…So this is it. The beginning of the journey where we spread our names far and wide…"
Yu Lianyan glanced back dryly. "Or where we beat bandits, run from spirit beasts."
Jìn Bǎo froze. "…Can… can we go back?"
Chu Feng calmly grabbed him by the collar and dragged him through the gate.
"We're leaving."
"Gah—! Brother Feng! Gentle! Gentle—!"
And so, laughing, sighing, bickering, and stumbling, the four of them descended the mountain road and stepped into the first journey together.
The moment the four of them stepped past the Sword Sect's boundary marker, the world felt different.
No more protective formations. No more stabilising qi fields. No more elders silently watching from the shadows.
Just open land, towering ranges, and the faint scent of danger mixed into the wind.
Yu Linyan stretched her arms lazily. "Finally out again. The sect air was getting stale."
Yu Lianxue unfolded a map, tracing a path with a slender finger."We head north first. We need to cross a forest valley before we can reach the teleportation node."
Jìn Bǎo patted his multiple bags. "Don't worry! I brought enough food to feed a small army!"
Chu Feng raised a brow. "Enough… food?"
"Food is cultivation fuel!" Jìn Bǎo declared proudly. "If we get hungry, morale drops. If morale drops, strength drops. If strength drops, we die!"
Yu Lianyan sighed. "Please stop talking. Every time you explain something, I lose brain cells."
Jìn Bǎo immediately sealed his lips.
The group travelled swiftly along the mountain path, heading north.