The Faces of This Chapter:
Yena: A determined and resolute young woman | Serious, resolute, adaptable
Miao Miao – Yena's childhood best friend | A flower spirit | Playful, caring, sharp-witted, protective
Jin Yue – A young man from the Province of Huliya | Confident, composed, and observant | skilled in medicine and wilderness survival
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Jin Yue held Yena's gaze for a moment before straightening, clearing his throat. His expression was unreadable as he shifted his attention to both girls.
"A magic commoner without a spirit weapon… isn't that unusual?"
Yena, momentarily flustered, resumed walking, "Oh, that… Actually, Miao Miao and I are searching for one. I don't have a spirit weapon yet," she admitted, then quickly added, "We're also looking for a sect to advance our cultivation."
Jin Yue frowned slightly. "No weapon? It's not unheard of—many take their time choosing—but you haven't joined a sect either. Why?"
Miao Miao crossed her arms. "You certainly ask a lot of questions."
Yena sighed before explaining, "We've been traveling through the provinces, searching for the right spirit weapon. We wanted to explore multiple sects before choosing one—a place where we could truly grow. That is why we came here." She exhaled deeply, adding with a small, wry smile, "Even if it meant coming without weapons."
By then, they had reached the large tree where Yena and Miao Miao had rested earlier. The three settled down beside one another.
Jin Yue, now convinced by her explanation, felt a twinge of guilt for pressing the matter. With a firm nod, he said, "Then allow me to assist you. I will accompany you on your journey to find a sect that suits you best." He glanced at Yena, seeking confirmation.
Miao Miao raised a brow. "Huh? We do not need protection, you know. Even without a weapon to channel her magic, Yena is more than capable of defending herself. Her martial arts are refined—she could stand against many highly trained commoners."
Jin Yue smirked. "You have a way of twisting my words." He added, "I simply wish to accompany you on this journey. I may not seem all that useful, but I assure you, I have my strengths." He paused before adding, "Besides… to tell you the truth, I myself haven't joined a sect either."
Miao Miao scoffed. "Tch… Then perhaps you should worry about yourself before offering help to others."
Yena nudged her gently. Leaning close, she whispered, "He knows the forest better than we do. He might help us find a way out."
Jin Yue, watching their hushed conversation with amusement, smirked.
Yena turned back to him. "Jin Yue, allow me to introduce ourselves properly. I am Yena, and this is Miao Miao. We are from the Province of Fenixia." She raised her palm, summoning a flickering golden flame.
Jin Yue's eyes gleamed with interest. "A fire spirit? Impressive."
"And Miao Miao bears the spirit of flowers," Yena added.
Jin Yue nodded. "Ah... having a flower spirit is common in Huliya. I never knew they existed beyond our lands."
Miao Miao huffed. "There's much you do not know."
Yena smiled, hoping to diffuse their playful bickering. "It is getting late. We should rest."
Jin Yue leaned against the tree, arms crossed. "Rest, then. I will keep watch. This forest is more treacherous than you realize. Wild beasts lurk in every shadow."
"Would you be alright alone—"
Before Yena could finish, Miao Miao interrupted. "He will. Let's rest. I've made a bed behind the tree." She grabbed Yena's wrist, pulling her along.
Yena barely had time to respond before being dragged away. "Thank you, then. Good night. Let me know if you feel tired."
Jin Yue simply smiled in confirmation before she was pulled out of sight.
Once they were on the other side of the tree, ensuring Jin Yue was a little farther away, Miao Miao finally spoke, her voice low. "Are you sure we should let him tag along?"
Yena tilted her head. "Umm… He doesn't seem bad. Why are you so wary of him?" She narrowed her eyes. "I've never seen you this cautious about someone."
Miao Miao muttered, "I just don't like him. The only thing he's got is his handsome face."
Yena, smiling teasingly, nudged her. "Oh? So, you admit he's handsome?"
Miao Miao groaned. "Yenaaa!"
Yena chuckled. "Alright, alright. I won't tease you anymore." Then, in a more serious tone, she added, "But we do need him. He's from Huliya, so he can guide us out of the forest. Moreover, we don't know much about Tianlok—he could help us with our expedition."
Miao Miao sighed, shoulders slumping. "Whatever you say. If you trust him, I won't argue. But—" She shot a quick glance toward Jin Yue, who was playing with the rabbit from earlier. With a resigned exhale, she muttered to herself, "At least he doesn't look harmful…"
Then, turning back to Yena, who was waiting for her response, she added, "I'll keep an eye on him, just in case."
Yena shook her head with a small smile but acknowledged Miao Miao's concern. "As you wish, little Miao Miao. Now, drink some water and eat something. Get some rest—we have a long journey ahead tomorrow. I'll be back in a minute."
With that, she rose to her feet, brushing off stray leaves, and walked toward Jin Yue.
Jin Yue, who had been playing with the rabbit, straightened as Yena approached, letting the small creature hop away.
"Umm… Here." Yena held out a handful of ripe berries she had gathered earlier. "You must be hungry after the long day. Thank you for offering to help." Feeling a bit awkward under his steady gaze, she added quickly, "Help yourself… I'll be leaving then."
She turned to go, but his voice stopped her.
"Yena."
She turned, surprised.
"Can I call you that?" Jin Yue asked, his tone unusually hesitant, as if testing the name on his tongue.
She nodded.
He smiled slightly. "Yena… can we talk for a moment? I'm feeling a bit bored right now." But realizing how inappropriate his request sounded—given that they were still strangers—he quickly added, "But it's fine if you'd rather rest. We can talk tomorrow." He sat down on the soft grass of the forest.
Yena hesitated for a moment but, feeling grateful for his help, sat down beside him, keeping a respectful distance.
"So, what do you want to talk about? I'm boring myself, you know," she teased.
Jin Yue hadn't expected her to sit down. He stared at her for a moment, caught off guard, before she spoke again.
"Since we'll be traveling together, I think we should get to know each other," Yena said, her tone serious and resolute.
Jin Yue smirked. "Fair enough. I'll go first."
"You already know my name and that I'm from Huliya. This is my spirit weapon—" he gestured toward the silver-throned whip hanging from his waist, its handle encrusted with glistening crystals that shimmered like frozen stars. "I've reached cultivation level thirty-seven. Actually, I was on my way to Tianlong, but I took a shortcut… and, well, I ended up lost in this forest."
Yena tilted her head, intrigued. "Tianlong? But isn't that province known for having very few sects? Were you unable to find one in Huliya?"
Jin Yue shook his head. "No, no... there are plenty of great sects in Huliya. But my mentor is from a sect in Tianlong, and I want to study there to advance my cultivation. Plus…" He paused, a glint of excitement flickering in his eyes. "I want to take part in the Great Sect Tournament."
Yena smirked, her interest piqued. Their goals aligned. "I intend to compete too. Have you participated before?"
Jin Yue chuckled. "Ah, this is the issue with Tianlok citizens… we don't age normally." He leaned back slightly. "I'm twenty-four. I was too young to participate in the last tournament."
Yena's eyebrows lifted in surprise. "Twenty-four?"
He nodded. "What about you? Have you ever competed?"
She shook her head. "No, never. I'm twenty-one."
Jin Yue almost clapped his hands in delight but stopped himself just in time. Instead, he casually replied, "Age is just a number in Tianlok, but it's nice to have a companion close to my age."
Yena smiled faintly. "Yeah… Miao Miao is nineteen." A short pause. "I know there was some misunderstanding between you two earlier, but I assure you, she's genuinely kind and pure-hearted. She's just protective. We're in unfamiliar territory and have to be cautious, so she's being extra careful. But once you get to know her, she's really sweet."
Jin Yue's expression shifted, his smirk replaced by something more thoughtful. "I understand her worries, and honestly, I don't blame her. Given the situation, I must've seemed suspicious…"
He let the thought linger before changing the topic. "What's your cultivation level? I know you don't have a spirit weapon yet, but you must have cultivated to some degree."
Yena hesitated for a fraction of a second before answering. "Seventeen." She lied. In truth, her level was thirty-nine, but without a visible spirit weapon, she figured it was best to downplay her strength.
Jin Yue, mistaking her hesitation for disappointment, offered reassurance. "That's still good. Once you find your spirit weapon, you'll be able to cultivate more efficiently."
She only hummed in response, not wanting to dwell on the topic.
Sensing her distraction, Jin Yue asked, "What about Miao Miao? Does she have a spirit weapon?"
Yena nodded. "Yes, she does. A dagger. Her cultivation level is thirty-two."
(A lie, of course. She said this to make their group seem less vulnerable. Divine beings didn't have cultivation levels, and the level Yena claimed for Miao Miao was far lower than her true power. The dagger, however, was from the divine world—a beautifully gem-embedded blade—but Miao Miao had only bought it for cutting fruits and herbs.)
Jin Yue looked impressed. "That's a remarkable level for her age." He chuckled. "I mean, you know, we're very young. We're practically infants compared to the average age of a Tianlok citizen."
Yena smiled slightly. "Yeah, She trained hard." [...]
Jin Yue studied her for a moment before asking, "Have you thought about what kind of spirit weapon you want? Since it binds with your primordial spirit, it's important to choose wisely."
Yena tapped her chin in thought. "Something light but powerful at the same time."
Jin Yue scratched his head, trying not to sound like he was promoting his own weapon. "The only thing that comes to mind is… a whip."
Yena's eyes sparkled with interest. "Actually, I was thinking of that. Your spirit weapon looks incredible."
Jin Yue's smirk widened. "Would you like to try using it?"
Yena's face lit up. "Can I?"
He unhooked the whip from his belt and handed it to her. She admired the craftsmanship before swinging it experimentally. She was already skilled with weapons, but a whip was entirely new to her, and she was determined to master it. However, after several attempts, she still wasn't satisfied. She sighed in frustration.
Jin Yue had been watching her with quiet amusement, a small smile playing on his lips. After observing her struggle for a while, he finally spoke. "May I?"
Yena nodded.
Jin Yue stepped behind her and gently adjusted her grip, his fingers firm but careful. "You need to snap your wrist, not just your arm," he said, his voice was low, steady. He guided her hand, then pulled her arm back before lunging the whip forward.
The weapon cracked through the air with a sharp snap, knocking down a cluster of fruit from a distant tree.
Yena's eyes widened in astonishment. "Whoa…"
Jin Yue grinned. "Now, try again."
They practiced several more times, but Jin Yue's focus gradually shifted. Instead of the whip, he found himself captivated by Yena's expressions—her determination, her excitement, the way her eyes lit up each time she improved. He was so engrossed in watching her that he almost didn't notice when she finally landed a perfect strike.
"I did it!" Yena turned to him excitedly, their faces suddenly too close.
Both froze.
Flustered, they quickly stepped back from each other, the whip slipping from Yena's grasp.
Jin Yue cleared his throat, scanning the forest as if looking for distractions. Yena hurriedly picked up the whip and handed it back to him.
"Thank you for letting me use your spirit weapon." She rubbed the back of her head awkwardly. "You should rest too. Let me know if you get tired."
Jin Yue gave a small, almost nervous nod. "I… will. Good night, Yena."
Yena disappeared behind the tree where Miao Miao was resting.
For a long moment, he stood there, turning the whip over in his hands. Then, shaking his head, he lay down on the ground, gazing at the endless sky.
The stars stretched above him, distant and cold. But for the first time in a while, he felt something close to warmth.
He closed his eyes. And though he wasn't sure why, a small smile lingered on his lips.