Parting and Pursuit

Ning Xiaochuan stood before the Ning Manor's main gate, gazing up at the four gilded characters "Qingyun Ning Clan" on the archway. The night was deep, and most lights in the manor had been extinguished, save for his father's study.

He took a deep breath and gently pushed open the side door. The old servant on night duty saw him and was about to speak, but Ning Xiaochuan made a shushing gesture. The old servant understood, nodded, and pretended not to see him.

Passing through the familiar corridors, Ning Xiaochuan's heart beat faster. He could have left quietly, but there were some things he had to tell his father in person.

At the study door, he raised his hand to knock, but the door opened on its own.

"Come in, Xiaochuan." His father's voice came from inside, as if he had expected him.

Ning Zhantian stood with his back to the door, facing the window. The moonlight outlined his tall figure. This strongest man in Qingyun City looked strangely weary.

"Father..." Ning Xiaochuan's throat tightened. "You know I'm leaving?"

Ning Zhantian turned around, a complex expression on his face that Ning Xiaochuan had never seen before. "From the moment you awakened the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon, I knew this day would come sooner or later."

He walked to the desk and took a brocade box from a drawer. "Sit down. There are some things I need to tell you."

Ning Xiaochuan sat down nervously. The little dragon Source Soul poked its head out from his collar, looking around curiously.

Ning Zhantian looked at the little dragon, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes. "Your mother had a similar Source Soul back then."

"Mother?" Ning Xiaochuan leaned forward. His father rarely mentioned his mother; he only knew she had left when he was three.

Ning Zhantian opened the brocade box. Inside was a crescent-shaped jade pendant, milky white all over, with natural dragon patterns on its surface. "This was left by your mother. She told me to give it to you after you awakened your Source Soul."

Ning Xiaochuan took the jade pendant. The moment his fingertips touched it, the little dragon Source Soul suddenly let out an excited "Goo-choo!" and pounced onto the pendant. Both glowed with a soft white light.

"This is..."

"Dragon Soul Jade, a treasure of heaven and earth that shares the same origin as your Source Soul," Ning Zhantian said, his eyes deep. "It can help the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon grow and protect you in critical moments."

Ning Xiaochuan felt a warm power emanating from the jade pendant, flowing through his fingers into his meridians. It felt so comfortable that he almost moaned. The little dragon Source Soul, as if drunk, flew around unsteadily before happily burrowing back into his body.

"Father, who exactly is Mother? Why did she have such a treasure?" Ning Xiaochuan clutched the jade pendant tightly.

Ning Zhantian looked at the moon outside the window. "She came from an ancient and mysterious family. I don't even know her exact origins. Twenty years ago, she was severely injured and ended up in Qingyun City. I saved her..." His voice lowered. "Then she left, leaving only this jade pendant and a message."

"What message?"

"'When our child awakens their Source Soul, darkness will surely pursue.'" Ning Zhantian looked directly into Ning Xiaochuan's eyes. "Thinking back now, she must have been referring to the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon."

Ning Xiaochuan's heart jolted. "So that's why you warned me not to easily display the special abilities of my Source Soul?"

Ning Zhantian nodded. "I thought it was just ordinary caution, but I didn't expect..." He paused. "Someone reported today that several unfamiliar faces have appeared in the city, inquiring about you."

Ning Xiaochuan remembered the black-clothed figures in the cave, and cold sweat broke out on his palms. "People from the Dark Source Soul Hall?"

"You encountered them too?" Ning Zhantian's brow furrowed. "It seems the situation is worse than I imagined."

"Father, I have to leave Qingyun City," Ning Xiaochuan said firmly. "Su Linger said the Dark Source Soul Hall has no bottom line in their actions. If I stay, I'll only bring trouble to the clan."

Ning Zhantian was silent for a long time, then suddenly took an ancient-looking map from the bookshelf. "Are you going to Tianyuan Sect?"

Ning Xiaochuan was surprised by his father's perceptiveness and nodded.

"This path is not easy." Ning Zhantian unfolded the map and pointed to a winding route. "South of the city, through Green Pine Forest, across the Soul Severing Mountain Range. It's at least a half-month journey. And the people from the Dark Source Soul Hall will surely set up ambushes along the way."

He took out a green token and handed it to Ning Xiaochuan. "This is the Ning Family Guest Token. With this, you can seek help at Ning family shops along the way. Remember, don't trust anyone, not even the Ning family—except Old Zhou. He's my most trusted confidant and runs a pharmacy in Qingyan Town at the foot of the Soul Severing Mountain Range."

Ning Xiaochuan took the token, his throat tight. "Father..."

Ning Zhantian suddenly hugged him, the force so great it made Ning Xiaochuan's ribs ache. This father, who had always been majestic in Ning Xiaochuan's memory, now had a voice choked with emotion. "You must stay alive, Xiaochuan. Your mother said that when the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon reaches its full form, it can reverse life and death and shatter the void... Perhaps our family will have a chance to reunite."

Ning Xiaochuan's nose stung, and he nodded heavily.

By the time he left the study, the sky was turning pale. Ning Xiaochuan glanced back one last time at the home he had lived in for sixteen years before turning and disappearing into the morning mist.

Beneath the old locust tree south of the city, Su Linger had been waiting for a long time. Seeing Ning Xiaochuan approach, she frowned slightly. "You're a quarter of an hour late."

"It took some time to say goodbye to my father," Ning Xiaochuan explained briefly.

Su Linger's gaze fell on the jade pendant at his waist, and a hint of surprise flashed in her eyes. "Dragon Soul Jade? Where did you get it?"

"My father gave it to me. He said Mother left it." Ning Xiaochuan touched the jade pendant. "You recognize it?"

"It's recorded in the ancient texts of Tianyuan Sect. It's a treasure left by the ancient dragons." Su Linger gave Ning Xiaochuan a deep look. "Your mother is not simple."

She didn't ask further and turned towards the forest path. "Let's go. We should reach the stream valley on the other side of Green Pine Forest before dark."

The two walked one after another through the mist-shrouded forest. The little dragon Source Soul on Ning Xiaochuan's shoulder seemed more spirited than yesterday. Its scales were more lustrous, and its size had increased. It occasionally let out a small puff of milky mist, which refracted colorful light in the morning sun.

"Your Source Soul has grown?" Su Linger looked back.

Ning Xiaochuan nodded. "It's been like this since I touched the Dragon Soul Jade. By the way, I encountered another black-clothed figure last night..."

He briefly recounted the attack in the cave, and Su Linger's expression grew more serious.

"Silver-masked Soul Hunter, a mid-level combatant of the Dark Source Soul Hall." She quickened her pace. "We need to leave this area as soon as possible. The appearance of a Silver-mask means there are at least two Bronze-masks nearby."

Ning Xiaochuan kept pace with her. "Why is the Dark Source Soul Hall so obsessed with the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon?"

"Legend has it that the Sacred Spirit Young Dragon's Source Spirit Breath can purify all negative Source Qi, including the 'Soul Devouring Source Qi' that the Dark Source Soul Hall relies on." Su Linger pushed aside the bushes in front of her. "More importantly, they have been conducting Source Soul fusion experiments, trying to create a perfect Source Soul..."

She suddenly stopped, looking around vigilantly. "There's movement."

Ning Xiaochuan also felt that the atmosphere around them was wrong—it was too quiet, even the chirping of insects and birds had disappeared. The little dragon Source Soul nervously gripped his collar, its tiny claws trembling slightly.

"Run!" Su Linger yanked Ning Xiaochuan's wrist and dove to the right.

Almost in the same instant, three black lights streaked past where they had just stood, striking a large tree ahead. The trunk instantly corroded, leaving a large hole.

"Good reflexes, little girl from Tianyuan Sect." A chilling voice echoed from the treetops. Ning Xiaochuan looked up and saw three figures in black standing in a triangular formation on the branches. One wore a silver mask – the same one from the cave. The other two wore bronze masks.

"Three Soul Hunters..." Su Linger's voice was tense. "It seems the Dark Source Soul Hall values you highly, Ning Xiaochuan."

The silver-masked man chuckled. "A Sacred Spirit Young Dragon is a rare sight, the Hall Master himself ordered it captured alive." He looked at Su Linger. "As for you, your Mysterious Ice Phoenix Source Soul is also quite good. It'll make perfect experimental material for the Third Hall Master."

"Dream on!" Su Linger formed hand seals, and several ice cones materialized out of thin air, shooting towards the three.

The silver-masked man didn't even flinch. The two bronze-masked figures darted in front of him, and two black chains flew from their sleeves, shattering all the ice cones.

"Be careful, those are Soul Devouring Chains!" Su Linger pulled Ning Xiaochuan back. "Once you're entangled, your Source Soul will be directly ripped out!"

Ning Xiaochuan's heart tightened, and he immediately summoned his little dragon Source Soul. The little creature didn't act cute this time; it flew directly above Ning Xiaochuan's head and spewed a large cloud of milky mist, shrouding them both.

"Huh?" The silver-masked man looked at the mist in surprise. "It can actually resist the soul-devouring aura? Interesting..."

He made his move, his fingers forming a claw. A stream of dark Source Energy, like a venomous snake, shot out and instantly pierced the mist's defenses!

"Ice Wall!" Su Linger hastily erected a defense, but the black energy was extremely corrosive. The ice wall melted at a visible rate.

"It's useless, little girl," the silver-masked man said leisurely. "My soul-devouring Source Energy is specifically designed to counter your orthodox Source Energy."

Ning Xiaochuan gritted his teeth, trying to mobilize the Source Energy within him. After yesterday's breakthrough, he was now a Source Warrior at the fifth stage, but facing Soul Hunters who were at least Source Masters, the gap was still immense.

"Su Linger, is there any way to deal with them?"

"Unless we can get close," Su Linger whispered. "The soul-devouring Source Energy is strong in ranged attacks, but weaker in close combat. The problem is..."

"The problem is they won't give us a chance to get close," Ning Xiaochuan finished, a flash of inspiration striking him. "Unless someone distracts them..."

Without waiting for Su Linger's reply, he charged forward, shouting, "Little guy, maximum power!"

The little dragon Source Soul let out a "Goocho" sound. Its size suddenly swelled to that of a hunting dog, and it spewed a thick, milky white beam of light straight at the silver-masked man!

"Sacred Spirit Breath?" The silver-masked man didn't dare to take it head-on and dodged. The two bronze-masked figures swung their Soul Devouring Chains to meet it, but wherever the beam passed, the black chains shattered!

"Good opportunity!" Su Linger instantly understood Ning Xiaochuan's intention. Her figure moved like a phantom, closing in on the left bronze-masked man and striking his chest with her palm.

"Mysterious Ice Palm!"

The bronze-masked man hastily blocked, but Su Linger's palm contained extreme cold Source Energy. The moment they made contact, his entire arm froze!

"Ah!" The bronze-masked man cried out and retreated. Su Linger pressed her advantage, condensing an ice sword at her fingertips and thrusting it towards the man's throat.

On the other side, Ning Xiaochuan had already reached the other bronze-masked man during the silver-masked man's evasion of the light beam. He had no systematic martial skills, so he could only punch out instinctively.

The bronze-masked man sneered, easily dodged, and slapped Ning Xiaochuan's back with a palm. Intense pain shot through him, and Ning Xiaochuan staggered back several steps, a sweet taste rising in his throat as he spat out a mouthful of blood.

"You dare resist with such little ability?" the bronze-masked man scoffed, condensing a ball of black energy in his palm. "Hand over your Source Soul obediently!"

In the critical moment, the little dragon Source Soul suddenly abandoned its pursuit of the silver-masked man and lunged at the bronze-masked man. The latter was prepared, and a new Soul Devouring Chain flew from his sleeve, accurately entangling the little dragon!

"Goocho!" The little dragon let out a pained cry, its body shrinking at a visible rate.

"Little guy!" Ning Xiaochuan's eyes blazed with fury, and he lunged forward despite his injuries.

"Don't go!" Su Linger shouted, but she was entangled by the other bronze-masked man and couldn't break free.

The silver-masked man watched leisurely. "The Sacred Spirit Young Dragon belongs to us now."

Just as the Soul Devouring Chain was about to completely bind the little dragon's Source Soul, the Dragon Soul Jade on Ning Xiaochuan's waist suddenly erupted with a blinding white light! The jade pendant flew up on its own, transforming into a stream of light that struck the bronze-masked man's forehead.

"Ah!" The bronze-masked man felt as if struck by lightning, and the Soul Devouring Chain instantly snapped. The little dragon Source Soul seized the opportunity to break free and flew back into Ning Xiaochuan's body.

The silver-masked man watched this scene in shock. "The Dragon Soul Jade recognized him as its master? How is that possible!"

Ning Xiaochuan was also stunned, but then he felt a warm current flow from the jade pendant into his body, and his injuries rapidly healed. Even more miraculously, he felt a closer connection to his little dragon Source Soul, as if they had truly become one.

"Su Linger!" he shouted. "Source Soul Resonance!"

Su Linger instantly understood his meaning. She feinted an attack, broke free from her opponent, and retreated swiftly to Ning Xiaochuan's side. They stood back-to-back, releasing their Source Souls simultaneously.

The little dragon Source Soul and the Mysterious Ice Phoenix met in the air. Surprisingly, instead of the previous repulsion, they quickly merged, forming a strange creature that was half dragon, half phoenix!

"Ice Dragon Roar!" Su Linger grasped Ning Xiaochuan's hand, guiding the combined Source Soul to attack.

The ice-blue dragon's breath, mixed with milky white light, swept towards the three Soul Hunters like a tsunami. The silver-masked man's expression changed drastically, and he hastily pulled the two bronze-masked men in front of him.

"No! My lord, spare me!" the two bronze-masked men cried in terror, but it was too late.

The dragon's breath swept over them, freezing them instantly before they turned to dust in a flash of white light!

Although the silver-masked man avoided the direct impact, his right arm was grazed. His entire arm froze and then shattered like fragile glass.

"Ah!" He let out a non-human shriek. "You... you just wait!"

A cloud of black mist exploded, and the silver-masked man vanished without a trace.

The combined Source Soul then dissolved, returning to each of them. Ning Xiaochuan's legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground, gasping for breath. That final attack had nearly drained all his Source Energy.

Su Linger's condition was slightly better, but her face was also pale. "I didn't expect we'd be able to use a Combined Source Skill on our first formal cooperation..."

She helped Ning Xiaochuan up. "We can't stay here. The silver-masked man is heavily injured, but he'll definitely summon more pursuers."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, forcing himself to stand. The two supported each other as they walked towards the depths of the dense forest, leaving behind a ravaged woodland scarred by the battle.

As dusk fell, they finally arrived at the valley Su Linger had mentioned. It was a hidden mountain hollow with a clear stream winding through it, and a naturally formed cave on the bank.

"We'll rest here tonight." Su Linger inspected the cave and, confirming it was safe, took out the dried food and water skins she carried.

Ning Xiaochuan slumped by the stream, cupping the cool water to wash his face. The little dragon Source Soul flew out from within him and joyfully leaped into the stream to play, seemingly having fully recovered from the recent fierce battle.

"Your Source Soul's recovery is truly astonishing," Su Linger said, handing him a piece of dried meat. "An ordinary Source Soul would need at least three days to recover from such depletion."

Ning Xiaochuan took a bite of the dried meat. "It's probably thanks to the Dragon Soul Jade. By the way, do you know why it suddenly unleashed its power?"

Su Linger shook her head. "The Dragon Soul Jade is a legendary treasure; even the Tianyuan Sect's ancient texts don't fully record its functions. However..." She hesitated. "It seems to have recognized you as its master, which is very unusual."

"Recognized me as its master?"

"Yes, treasures have spirits and can choose their own masters," Su Linger explained. "Normally, it takes a long time of nurturing to establish a connection, but you just got it and..."

She didn't finish, but Ning Xiaochuan understood her meaning—this was another abnormal phenomenon related to his mysterious mother.

Night fell, and the two took turns keeping watch. Ning Xiaochuan took the first watch, sitting at the cave entrance and gazing at the star-filled sky. The little dragon Source Soul lay on his lap, occasionally puffing out a small cloud of milky mist to play.

"Little guy, thank you today," Ning Xiaochuan said, gently stroking its head. "Without you, we might have already..."

The little dragon made a "gū jiū" sound and affectionately nuzzled his palm.

"Who was your mother?" Su Linger's voice suddenly came from behind him. She was awake and sat beside Ning Xiaochuan, hugging her knees. Her profile in the moonlight was much softer.

Ning Xiaochuan recounted what his father had told him. Su Linger listened thoughtfully.

"To possess the Dragon Soul Jade and foresee the pursuit of the Dark Source Soul Hall..." she murmured, "your mother might be from 'that place'."

"What place?"

Su Linger shook her head. "It's just a guess. When we get to the Tianyuan Sect, I'll take you to see my master; perhaps he knows more."

Ning Xiaochuan nodded, not pressing further. They silently gazed at the starry sky, each lost in their own thoughts.

"Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you some basic Source Skills," Su Linger suddenly said. "With your current fighting style, facing a strong enemy is too dangerous."

Ning Xiaochuan looked at her gratefully. "Thank you. But... why the sudden change of heart? Didn't you say we'd study systematically after reaching the Tianyuan Sect?"

Su Linger looked into the distance. "Today, you rushed out to save me despite the danger... I owe you one."

Ning Xiaochuan smiled. "As partners, there's no 'owing' between us."

"Partners..." Su Linger softly repeated the word, a slight smile gracing her lips. "Go to sleep; we still have a long journey tomorrow."

She got up and returned to the cave. Ning Xiaochuan watched her retreating figure and suddenly felt that this seemingly aloof girl might be much softer on the inside than he had imagined.

The night breeze swept across the stream, creating ripples. Ning Xiaochuan clutched the Dragon Soul Jade at his chest, feeling the warm power emanating from within. The road ahead was still long, but at least for now, he was no longer alone.