A month before the Five-Year Appointment, Su Yang's courtyard welcomed an unexpected visitor.
A graceful figure appeared silently at the entrance, her long red hair falling like a crimson waterfall behind her, swaying gently with each step, while the woman herself seemed noticeably different from the girl Su Yang had first met years ago, the passage of countless missions, battles, near-death experiences, and quiet moments together having gradually erased the traces of youthful immaturity from her features and replaced them with a calm beauty that carried both confidence and strength.
It was Shen Bing.
Over the years, she and Su Yang had undertaken countless missions together, sometimes hunting demonic beasts, sometimes investigating suspicious incidents, sometimes escorting important figures, and sometimes simply being sent into places where ordinary martial artists would have considered surviving an achievement, yet through all those experiences they had somehow continued moving forward together.
There had also been assassins.
More than once, the mysterious force that had targeted Su Yang had sent people after them, and although neither of them knew the organization's true objective, they had learned to recognize the danger whenever those cold and deliberate killing intents appeared.
They had escaped together.
They had fought together.
They had bled together.
And somewhere along that long road, the relationship between them had quietly changed.
Shen Bing stepped into the courtyard and immediately noticed the first sign that Su Yang had been cultivating rather than resting.
Pill bottles were scattered across the ground, some empty, some half-filled, while several jade containers had been carelessly placed beside the walls, their lids still open as the medicinal fragrance lingering in the courtyard mixed with the faint heat radiating from the center.
Su Yang sat cross-legged in the middle of the room, shirtless, his upper body covered in sweat, his muscles tense beneath his skin as an oppressive aura slowly spread from his body.
Shen Bing stopped.
Her beautiful eyes widened slightly.
"Peak True Essence?"
Su Yang slowly opened his eyes.
The moment his gaze landed upon her, the stern expression he had maintained during cultivation immediately softened.
"Bing'er?"
He stood up and walked toward her, a smile already appearing on his face, and when he opened his arms as though he intended to pull her into an embrace, Shen Bing immediately raised one hand and stopped him against the chest.
"Don't."
Su Yang blinked.
Shen Bing wrinkled her nose.
"You smell like you've been refining pills for three days."
Su Yang looked down at himself.
Only then did he realize that his body was still covered in sweat.
He scratched his head awkwardly before laughing.
"Then I'll wash first."
"You'd better."
Her lips curved upward despite herself.
Su Yang turned toward the inner room, but before leaving he glanced back at her.
"Wait for me."
Shen Bing crossed her arms.
"I wasn't planning on leaving."
Those words were simple, yet the atmosphere between them became strangely warm.
They had long passed the stage where either of them needed to pretend that the other was merely a companion.
After so many years, after standing back-to-back against enemies and surviving situations where either one could have died, there was an understanding between them that didn't need to be spoken.
They simply had each other.
Shen Bing watched Su Yang disappear into the room, and her expression gradually became thoughtful.
Peak True Essence.
She couldn't help remembering Liu Ruyan.
The upcoming Five-Year Appointment would bring the two of them onto the same stage.
Once upon a time, Liu Ruyan had possessed an overwhelming advantage over Su Yang, but now...
Shen Bing's lips curled into a faint smile.
Perhaps she would regret some of her choices.
The thought made Shen Bing pout slightly.
"Serves her right."
After some time, Su Yang returned wearing fresh clothes, his hair still slightly damp from washing, and the oppressive aura surrounding him had already been restrained.
Shen Bing picked up his outer robe and stepped closer.
"Stand still."
Su Yang obediently raised his arms.
She placed the robe around his shoulders, adjusted the collar, then carefully straightened the folds near his chest.
Su Yang looked down at her.
Shen Bing was close.
Very close.
He could smell the faint fragrance coming from her hair, and when she raised her eyes, their gazes met for several breaths.
Neither moved.
The atmosphere suddenly became strangely quiet.
Shen Bing's cheeks gradually became slightly warm.
"What are you staring at?"
Su Yang smiled.
"You."
"Idiot."
She lightly punched his arm.
Su Yang didn't move.
Instead, he smiled even more.
Shen Bing couldn't help laughing.
"Are you ready for the Five-Year Appointment?"
The smile disappeared from Su Yang's face.
He looked toward the distant sky, his eyes becoming serious.
"I'm ready."
Shen Bing studied his expression.
She knew what those words meant.
Su Yang wasn't merely preparing for a competition.
He knew that the Five-Year Appointment would attract countless powerful people, and after what had happened over the years, there was no way the force pursuing him would simply allow him to grow peacefully.
She stepped closer.
"Then you need to remember something."
Su Yang looked at her.
Shen Bing raised her hand.
A golden talisman appeared between her fingers.
Before Su Yang could ask, she pressed it against his chest.
The talisman immediately melted into his body, transforming into countless strands of golden light that seeped beneath his skin before disappearing completely.
Su Yang's eyes widened.
"What is this?"
"A Golden Cover Talisman."
Shen Bing placed her hand against his chest for a moment longer before withdrawing it.
"It can protect you from a fatal attack."
Su Yang frowned.
"Bing'er, you..."
"Don't argue."
She pressed one finger against his lips.
Su Yang immediately stopped speaking.
Shen Bing's eyes softened.
"It's not because I think you'll lose."
Her fingertip remained against his lips as she quietly looked into his eyes.
"It's because I want you to come back."
Su Yang's expression softened.
Shen Bing smiled.
"So think of it as reassurance."
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Su Yang gently caught her wrist.
"I will."
Shen Bing's cheeks reddened slightly.
"You'd better."
They remained like that for several breaths before Su Yang finally released her hand, and the two continued talking about the upcoming appointment, discussing the people who were likely to appear, the dangers they might encounter, and the things they still needed to prepare.
The atmosphere had just become comfortable again when—
"Ahem."
The cough came from behind them.
Both of them froze.
Su Yang's expression stiffened.
Shen Bing immediately stepped away.
Su Yang slowly turned around.
Lin Sheng was standing inside the room.
Nobody knew how long he had been there.
Su Yang's face became awkward.
"Master..."
Lin Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, I am."
He glanced between the two of them.
"Or shouldn't I be?"
Su Yang scratched the back of his head.
"I... didn't notice you."
"Clearly."
Lin Sheng looked at Shen Bing.
Then he looked back at Su Yang.
"Won't you introduce me to your partner?"
Su Yang's face became even more awkward.
"Master, she's..."
Before he could finish, Shen Bing stepped forward and bowed respectfully.
"Junior Shen Bing greets Senior Lin Sheng, I'm Shen Bing, from the Shen Provincial Family."
Lin Sheng nodded.
"So you're Shen Bing."
His gaze briefly swept over her, and he could immediately tell that her cultivation had advanced considerably compared with their earlier encounters.
Not bad.
His disciple wasn't completely useless when it came to choosing companions.
Lin Sheng didn't say that aloud.
Instead, he reached into his storage ring.
"I came here for another reason."
He took out a pair of boots.
The moment they appeared, faint spiritual fluctuations spread through the room.
Then he brought out a sword.
Its blade carried a sharp aura that caused Su Yang's expression to become serious.
Lin Sheng tossed both items toward him.
"These are for you."
Su Yang caught them.
He looked at the boots first.
"Wind-Riding Boots?"
Lin Sheng nodded.
"Movement-type treasure, suitable for your current cultivation."
Su Yang then looked toward the sword.
The instant his hand touched the hilt, a sharp sword intent surged outward, causing his Four Seasons Sword Intent to instinctively resonate with it.
His pupils contracted.
"Rank 2 Peak?"
"Yes."
Lin Sheng folded his arms.
"The Five-Year Appointment won't be a child's game, and your current weapon isn't enough."
Su Yang tightly grasped the sword.
A serious expression appeared on his face.
"Thank you, Master."
Lin Sheng waved his hand.
"Don't thank me yet."
His gaze became slightly sharper.
"Use them well."
Su Yang nodded.
"I will."
Lin Sheng turned toward the courtyard entrance, but before leaving he glanced back at the two of them.
"Also..."
Su Yang looked up.
Lin Sheng's expression remained completely serious.
"Next time, remember to close the door."
Silence.
Shen Bing's face instantly turned bright red.
Su Yang stood there completely dumbfounded.
Lin Sheng walked away.
Behind him, Su Yang covered his face.
"Master definitely did that on purpose."
Shen Bing lowered her head, trying desperately not to laugh.
"He probably did."
From outside the courtyard came Lin Sheng's voice.
"I heard that."
Su Yang's expression collapsed.
Shen Bing finally burst into laughter.