Departure

Xiaoyao City's largest teahouse, Qingxin Residence, stood on the most bustling street in the eastern part of the city.

It was nearing noon, and the teahouse buzzed with voices. The storyteller was recounting all manner of bizarre tales of monsters and spirits, drawing bursts of applause from time to time.

The moment Mu Bai pushed open the teahouse's carved wooden doors, he felt countless gazes converge upon him.

The murmurs came to an abrupt halt, and the entire hall fell silent in an instant.

"It... it's the Young Master!" someone whispered in alarm.

Mu Bai's strength as a Grandmaster of Martial Arts was no longer a secret. The people of Xiaoyao City had all learned of it.

Ignoring everyone's stares, Mu Bai headed straight for the private room in the farthest corner of the second floor—the place Langya Xing had arranged to meet him.

Outside the private room, Mu Bai paused briefly to straighten his collar, then knocked softly.

"Come in." A familiar voice came from within.

Pushing the door open, he saw Langya Xing seated by the window. His white robes were spotless, and he idly turned a celadon teacup in his hand.

Sunlight filtered through the lattice window, casting mottled light and shadow across his handsome face.

"You're late, Young Master," Langya Xing said without turning around.

Mu Bai took a seat opposite him. "I've kept you waiting, Young Master Langya."

Only then did Langya Xing turn his head. His star-like eyes met Mu Bai's directly. "Have you made your decision?"

No pleasantries, no empty courtesies—straight to the heart of the matter. Mu Bai liked such directness. He took the White Jade Token from his robes and placed it on the table. "I am grateful for your favor. Mu Bai is willing to accompany you to the Langya Family."

A trace of surprise flickered through Langya Xing's eyes before they returned to calm. "I thought you would refuse."

"Why?"

"You couldn't let go of the Carefree Prince's Estate, nor could you let go of your father." Langya Xing took a light sip of tea. "Most worldly martial artists are like that."

Mu Bai smiled. "My father said that when a martial artist travels far, that too is a form of protection."

Langya Xing raised a brow slightly at that. "The Carefree Prince sees things clearly enough." He set down his teacup. "In that case, shall we depart at once?"

"So soon?" Mu Bai was somewhat surprised.

"The journey is long, and the road will take time." Langya Xing rose to his feet, his white robes like snow. "If you have anything left to arrange, Young Master, I'll give you one hour."

Mu Bai shook his head. "There's no need. I settled everything before I came."

In truth, after his long talk with his father the previous night, he had already made every preparation.

His father would handle the affairs inside and outside the estate, while everything needed for his martial cultivation had been packed away. The only thing weighing on his mind was his father facing all those open attacks and hidden arrows alone.

But just as his father had said—the stronger he became, the safer the estate would be.

As the two descended the stairs one after the other, the teahouse patrons had long since fallen utterly silent.

Everyone stared wide-eyed as the Young Master, who had displayed such overwhelming might the day before yesterday, left side by side with that mysterious young man in white.

Outside Xiaoyao City, a plain carriage had already been waiting for some time.

Beside it stood several dozen servants dressed in ordinary clothes. Judging by their breathing, they were all martial arts experts.

The creatures pulling the carriage were no ordinary horses, but two snow-white beasts. They resembled horses, yet each had a single horn upon its head, and intelligence gleamed in their eyes.

"These are..." Mu Bai stared at the two strange beasts in surprise.

"Bai Ze Beasts, exotic beasts raised by the Langya Family. They can travel a thousand li in a day." Langya Xing gave a brief introduction, then lifted the carriage curtain.

Mu Bai cast one last look back at Xiaoyao City's towering walls. There lay the home where he had lived for more than twenty years, and the father he respected most.

But at this moment, he did not hesitate. He stepped into the carriage in a single stride.

The interior was far roomier than its appearance suggested, simply decorated yet elegantly appointed. Most eye-catching of all was a pearl set into the ceiling, giving off a gentle glow.

"What is this?" Mu Bai studied the carriage interior curiously.

Langya Xing smiled faintly. "Just a Luminous Pearl. I have plenty of such trifles. If you like it, I'll give it to you."

Mu Bai's face reddened, and he waved his hands repeatedly. "No, no need. But you—Young Master Langya, stop calling me Young Master all the time. Just call me Mu Bai."

Langya Xing nodded slightly. "Very well. Then you needn't keep calling me Young Master Langya either. Just use my name."

Mu Bai smiled. "All right, Langya Xing." Then he extended his right hand.

Langya Xing froze for a moment, but then extended his own hand and clasped Mu Bai's.

Mu Bai said, "Our old grudges are settled. From now on, we're friends."

"Friends..." Langya Xing seemed dazed, as though he had not heard that word in a very long time.

Just then, with a soft sound, the carriage slowly began to move.

Through the window, Mu Bai watched Xiaoyao City's outline gradually recede, until it finally vanished beyond the horizon.

"The road is long, Mu Bai. You may as well rest for a while." Langya Xing closed his eyes to rest. "The servants will wake us when we reach the first post station."

Mu Bai nodded, but sleep would not come.

He watched the scenery race backward beyond the window, his thoughts churning.

Once he left, he did not know when he would return; what lay ahead was entirely unknown as well.

But there was one thing he knew for certain—whether blade mountains and seas of fire or a splendid future awaited him, he would use the Qinglin Sword in his hand to carve out a martial path of his own.

The carriage traveled farther and farther away, eventually becoming a tiny white speck between heaven and earth before disappearing into the unbroken mountain ranges to the north.

(The End of This Volume)