The Journey Begins

When Li Xuan pushed open the courtyard gate, three people were standing outside.

Shi Yong leaned against the courtyard wall, his heavy saber planted in the ground. He held a cold bun in his hand and was yawning. Su Ying sat on the stone steps, her hammer resting on her knees, her eyes red as if she hadn't slept well. Ying stood farthest away, leaning against a red pine tree with her arms crossed. Her face was expressionless, but she was wearing new black combat attire, and a short sword had been added to her waist.

"How long have you been waiting here?" Li Xuan asked.

"Not long," Shi Yong took a bite of his bun. "Just two hours."

Li Xuan glanced at him but said nothing.

"The Shadow Division approved it," Ying said, her voice flat. "Three people will go to the Northern Territory with you. Shi Yong, Su Ying, and me."

Li Xuan frowned. "I didn't say I wanted to bring anyone."

"You didn't, but the Shadow Division did," Ying said, pulling a black token from her bosom. She shook it. "Mission Order: Grade C Number 9. Investigate the Black Abyss in the Northern Territory and track down the whereabouts of Gurqin's main body. Captain Li Xuan, team members Shi Yong, Su Ying, Ying. No time limit, contribution points calculated per person."

She tossed the token to Li Xuan.

Li Xuan caught it and looked down. The token was engraved with "Shadow Division," and the back bore the mission number and date. The script was clear, and the seal was complete; it was indeed an official mission order.

"When did it change?" he asked. "You said it was just me before."

"Last night," Ying replied. "After the news of Gurqin's clone being destroyed spread, the Elder Council held a meeting all night. They finally decided to send additional personnel... not because they don't trust you, but because they don't trust the Northern Territory."

Shi Yong stuffed the last bite of his bun into his mouth and mumbled, "Anyway, I have nothing to do. It's fine to go to the Northern Territory for a change of scenery. It's better than being bored in the sect."

Su Ying stood up, hugging her hammer, and said softly, "My uncle also agreed. He said... he said it's good to go out more and gain some experience."

Li Xuan looked at the three of them and remained silent for a few breaths.

He wanted to refuse. The Northern Territory was not like the sect; there were no rules, no backup. Going there was gambling with his life. Shi Yong and Su Ying were only at the ninth level of Stamina, not even having reached the Inner Qi Realm. Although Ying was at the second level of True Qi Realm, she still had missions from the Shadow Division. Who knew who she truly listened to.

But he also knew refusal was useless.

He, an inner disciple, could not disobey an order from the Shadow Division.

"When do we depart?" he asked.

"Noon," Ying said. "Gather at the North Mountain Gate. You have two more hours to pack your things."

Li Xuan nodded and turned back into the house.

The moment he closed the door, he leaned against it and closed his eyes.

Inside his body, the Red Sun True Qi and Blood Fiend Gang Qi flowed slowly, as quiet as two hibernating snakes.

After refining the Wolf Soul imprint last night, the two forces finally reached a certain balance.

Like two neighbors who refused to yield to each other, they had drawn a clear line and were living their own lives.

He looked at his status panel:

[Li Xuan]
[Status: Peak]
[Realm: Inner Qi Realm Third Level (Minor Accomplishment)]
[Strength: 32.1]
[Stamina: 85.0]
[Agility: 5.2]
[Spirit: 15.0]
[Potential Points: 25.0]
[Cultivation Method: Blood Fiend Bone Forging Technique Third Level (Break Limit Triple)]
[Cultivation Method: Mountain Suppressing Art (Perfection)]
[Cultivation Method: Red Sun Scripture (Minor Accomplishment)]
[Special: Blood Fiend Diamond Body, Yin and Yang Harmony]

25 potential points.

He hadn't used them, unsure where to allocate them. His Strength and Stamina far exceeded those of the same level. Agility was still a weakness. His Spirit had just broken through to 15 points, which was enough for the short term.

He thought for a moment, then added 10 points to Agility and 5 points to Stamina, leaving 10 points in reserve.

[Agility: 5.2 → 15.2] [Stamina: 85.0 → 90.0]

A warm current surged through his legs and abdomen. The resilience of his muscles and fascia clearly improved. He tried walking a few steps in the room; his steps were much lighter than before, and the sound of his landing was almost inaudible.

With the Shadow Step movement technique, he should now be able to unleash seventy percent of its power.

He packed his belongings—the Blood Wolf Saber, dry rations, a water skin, Golden Wound Powder, a few spirit stones, and the jade slip left by Qin Lie. He tucked the jade slip close to his body, placing it with the letter given by Steward Liu.

As he was leaving, he glanced back at Courtyard 7.

The old plum tree was still there, the stone table and stools were still there, and the bedding on the couch was still in the same state as last night.

He had lived here for over a month, and now he was leaving.

Noon, North Mountain Gate.

Four people stood on the stone steps, looking down the mountain. The official road snaked like a serpent, disappearing into the distant mountain shadows.

Shi Yong carried the heavy saber on his back, and a leather armor, borrowed from the Logistics Hall, hung at his waist. Su Ying had on a new pair of boots, her hammer wrapped in cloth and slung behind her. Ying was the same as always, clad in black, expressionless, like a shadow about to dissipate at any moment.

Li Xuan made a final check of their equipment, ensuring nothing was missing.

"The route," he looked at Ying. "Have you traveled the roads in the Northern Territory before?"

Ying nodded. "Several times. From Crimson Firmament Mountain to the Northern Territory border, it takes seven days by official road. But the official road is crowded and easily exposes us. If we take the mountain path, we can reach Black Stone Market in five days, but the path is difficult, with several cliff sections."

"Take the mountain path," Li Xuan said. "Time is tight."

Ying had no objections.

The four began their descent.

Halfway down the mountain, footsteps suddenly came from behind.

"Senior Brother Li!"

Li Xuan turned and saw Zhou Ning running down, panting, clutching a cloth bundle.

"Senior Brother, wait..." Zhou Ning reached them, bent over, catching his breath for a long moment before handing over the bundle. "This... this is from the manager. He said it's cold in the Northern Territory, so you should bring a few more warm clothes."

Li Xuan took the bundle and opened it. Several cotton-padded clothes, neatly folded.

"The manager?" he asked.

Zhou Ning's eyes flickered, and he lowered his voice. "It's Elder Han Yue. He said... he said that place in the Northern Territory is so cold at night it can freeze people to death. He told you not to push yourself too hard."

Li Xuan tied the bundle and slung it over his shoulder.

"Please thank Elder Han for me."

Zhou Ning nodded, then hesitated. He pulled a small porcelain bottle from his bosom and pressed it into Li Xuan's hand.

"This... this is my own," his voice grew even lower. "Golden Wound Powder, the best quality. I saved up contribution points for half a year to get it. Senior Brother, please take it, in case you need it..."

Li Xuan looked at the green-robed youth. Sixteen or seventeen, with delicate features, not very bold, his hands trembled slightly, but his eyes were bright.

"Thanks." He put the bottle away.

Zhou Ning grinned and turned to run. After a few steps, he looked back and shouted, "Senior Brother, come back alive!"

His voice scattered in the mountain wind.

Shi Yong clicked his tongue beside him. "You sure know how to win people over."

Li Xuan ignored him and continued walking.

Can't find the book title, maybe try searching for the author, perhaps the name has changed!

Five days later, the Northern Territory border.

The mountain path was even more difficult than Ying had described. On the third day, they encountered a landslide, and the four had to detour for half a day, adding twenty li to their journey. The fourth day brought rain, turning the mountain path into a muddy swamp. Su Ying slipped three times, and Shi Yong fell once, cracking the scabbard of his heavy saber. Ying, however, was steady, each step landing firmly, like a cat walking on the edge of a cliff.

Li Xuan walked at the front, using his Blood Wolf Saber to hack through the thorny branches blocking their path. His agility came into play, his steps light and his reactions quick, steadying himself several times when he nearly slipped.

On the evening of the fifth day, they finally crossed the last mountain ridge and saw the plains of the Northern Territory.

The grayish-yellow earth stretched to the horizon, devoid of trees or grass, only cracked land and scattered stones. In the distance, a few low hills lay like dead behemoths. The wind was strong, whipping sand and dust against their faces, stinging them.

"This is the Northern Territory?" Su Ying whispered. "How desolate."

"It's even more desolate further north," Ying said. "Past Black Stone Market, you won't even see many stones, just sand and saline-alkali land. You can walk for three days without seeing a single blade of grass."

Li Xuan remained silent. He looked at the grayish-yellow expanse, recalling Iron Wall City, remembering Wang Meng, and the defenders who died on the city walls.

"We'll rest at Black Stone Market tonight," he said. "We'll continue north early tomorrow."

The four descended along the valley and arrived at Black Stone Market as night fell.

The town was even more desolate than a month ago. Most of the rescued people had left, and the remaining dozen or so households had closed their doors. The streets were empty. The town hall's door was open, and an old man sat inside—not the one from before, but an older one, his hair completely white, his back severely hunched, and his eyes clouded. He squinted for a long time before recognizing them.

"Are you the Immortal Masters who came last month?" the old man's voice trembled. "You... you've come again?"

Li Xuan nodded. "We'll stay for one night and leave tomorrow morning."

The old man nodded repeatedly, trembling as he stood up and led them to the backyard. There were several empty rooms in the backyard, previously used by the town hall for passing caravans. Though dilapidated, they at least had beds and blankets.

As soon as Shi Yong entered, he collapsed onto a bed and was snoring within three breaths. Su Ying sat in the corner, hugging her hammer, and fell asleep leaning against the wall.

Ying did not sleep. He stood by the window, gazing at the night outside, lost in thought.

Li Xuan also did not sleep. He sat cross-legged on the bed, circulating the Red Sun Scripture, nurturing the Pure Yang Qi within his body. After arriving in the Northern Territory, the Yin and cold energy in the air had noticeably intensified. Ordinary people would fall ill if they stayed here long, and even martial artists would feel uncomfortable. But for him, this Yin and cold energy was beneficial—the Red Sun Scripture specialized in countering Yin and evil, and it automatically circulated upon encountering Yin energy, as if sharpening a blade.

Outside the window, the moon rose.

The moon in the Northern Territory was larger than at Crimson Firmament Mountain, and colder. The moonlight cast a thin layer of frost over the grayish-yellow land.

"Can't sleep?" Ying suddenly spoke.

Li Xuan opened his eyes. "You're not sleeping either."

Ying was silent for a moment, then said, "I was thinking about Qin Lie."

Li Xuan looked at him.

"Before I joined the Shadow Division, I saw him once," Ying said. "In the Northern Territory, in a place called Qingshi Town. He lived there for half a year, helping the locals dig a well."

Li Xuan's heart stirred. "You saw him?"

"I did," Ying said. "He was already incredibly old then, his right sleeve empty, and he walked with a limp. But he was still practicing his saber—with his left hand. He'd get up before dawn every day and chop at a dead tree. One strike, after another, all day long."

"What did he say to you?"

Ying thought for a moment. "He said, 'Don't learn from me.'"

Li Xuan fell silent.

Qin Lie had written those same three words in his letter.

"Why didn't you tell me sooner?" Li Xuan asked.

Ying didn't answer. He turned, leaning against the window frame, and looked at the moon.

"Because I owe him," Ying said. "He saved my life."

Li Xuan waited for him to continue.

But Ying didn't speak again.

He just stared at the moon, his face blurred by the moonlight.

After a while, he walked away from the window, sat down in a corner, and closed his eyes.

"Sleep," he said. "We have to travel tomorrow."

Li Xuan didn't press further.

He closed his eyes and continued circulating the Red Sun Scripture.

Outside the window, the wind wailed, like someone crying in the distance.

Before dawn the next day, the four of them set off.

North of Black Stone Market, the road became even more difficult. The official road had long been buried by sandstorms, leaving only faint, intermittent traces. Ying walked at the front, stopping every so often to identify their direction and ensure they weren't going astray.

After three days of walking, the scenery grew increasingly desolate. First, there was no grass, then even the stones became scarce, their feet treading on fine sand and salt crust. When the wind blew strong, the sand felt like needles against their faces.

Su Ying wrapped her face with cloth, leaving only her eyes exposed, but tears still streamed down her face from the wind. Shi Yong's lips cracked and bled. He licked them and cursed.

On the evening of the fifth day, they saw a ruin.

It wasn't Iron Wall City. Iron Wall City was further east, hundreds of miles from here.

This was a smaller city, or rather, a town. Most of its walls had collapsed, and the houses inside were reduced to rubble. The sandstorm had buried half the street, exposing rooftops and chimneys like half-buried skeletons.

"Where is this?" Li Xuan asked.

Ying stood at the edge of the ruins, looking at the broken walls. He was silent for a moment.

"This is called Grey Stone Fort," he said. "Twenty years ago, three thousand people lived here. Then the barbarians attacked, the city fell, and everyone died."

He paused.

"Qin Lie came here. He said that before he entered the mine, his last stop was Grey Stone Fort. It wasn't ruined then; people were still doing business—selling bread, wine, cloth. He stayed in the fort for one night, ate a bowl of lamb noodles, and drank a pot of wine."

He turned to look at Li Xuan.

"He said that bowl of noodles was delicious. He never ate such delicious noodles again."

The sandstorm blew past, hitting the ruined walls with a rustling sound.

Su Ying lowered her head, burying her face in her cloth.

Shi Yong was silent for a long time, then grunted, "Let's go."

The four of them passed through the ruins and continued north.

On the night of the sixth day, they finally reached their destination.

It was a rocky beach, filled with huge gray stones, like a herd of beasts crouching on the ground. Narrow gaps existed between the stones, and when the wind blew through them, it made a whistling sound, like someone crying.

"Fifty miles further north is the barbarian nomadic territory," Ying said in a low voice. "From here on, we could encounter barbarian scouts at any moment."

Li Xuan nodded.

He crouched behind a large stone and looked north. He couldn't see anything in the darkness, but he could feel the chilling energy in the air growing stronger, so dense it felt tangible.

Inside his body, his Red Sun True Qi began to circulate automatically, like a ball of fire burning in his chest.

"We'll camp here tonight," he said. "We'll take turns on watch before dawn. Ying will take the first half, I'll take the second. Shi Yong and Su Ying will rest."

Shi Yong started to say something, but Li Xuan glanced at him, and he fell silent.

The four of them found a gap between the rocks to shelter from the wind and huddled together. Shi Yong and Su Ying quickly fell asleep. Ying leaned at the entrance of the gap, his eyes closed, but his ears were perked.

Li Xuan didn't sleep.

He sat cross-legged in the innermost part, circulating the Red Sun Scripture, repeatedly nourishing the Pure Yang Qi within his body.

As they ventured deeper into the Northern Territory, he felt one thing more and more clearly.

Something here was waiting for him.

He opened his eyes and looked at the sliver of sky above.

The Northern Territory's night sky was cloudless, the stars were large and bright, like nails hammered into the sky one by one.

In the distance, a wolf howled.

They're coming.