Morning light seeped through the open flaps of the grand tent, casting soft golden rays over Wuying's form as she stirred awake. A lingering warmth settled in her chest as fragments of the night before trickled back—Xiao Wen's firm voice, the steaming cup placed in her hands, and then… darkness. She rubbed her eyes, realization dawning. She drugged me…
Stretching out the stiffness in her limbs, Wuying stepped outside, the cool morning air refreshing against her skin. The encampment was already alive with quiet activity; low murmurs of conversation mingled with the rhythmic clash of metal. She turned toward the training grounds, where Xiao Wen was locked in a sparring session with several black-robed cultivators of the Xiao Family. Her crimson hair caught the sunlight like a river of fire, each swing of her blade cutting through the air with razor precision. Every strike cracked with the force of Spirit Qi, sending her opponents staggering back.
"Wen, what's going on?" Wuying called out, her voice still thick with sleep.
Xiao Wen deflected a masked cultivator's strike with a flick of her wrist, the impact sending him skidding across the ground. "You're finally up," she noted, her tone light but tinged with amusement. Dismissing her sparring partners with a curt nod, she wiped a bead of sweat from her brow and strode toward Wuying. "I could tell you were on edge, so I slipped a few sleeping pills into your drink. You needed the rest." Her sharp gaze flickered over Wuying's face, assessing her. "Feeling better?"
A flush crept up Wuying's cheeks. She had been on the brink of an emotional collapse the night before, clinging to desperation like a drowning man grasping at reeds. Now, with clarity returning, she felt the tightness in her chest loosen ever so slightly.
"Yes," she admitted, softer than before. "I guess it helped… Thank you." She hesitated before adding, "Has there been any news about Xuefeng?"
Xiao Wen's sharp demeanor softened just a fraction. "I received word from my father this morning. He recognized the runes surrounding that underwater tunnel. Apparently, it's a sealed space that only opens once every few days. Xuefeng isn't in any immediate danger, but he's trapped for now."
Wuying exhaled, tension she hadn't even realized she was holding dissipating like mist in the sun. "So he really is safe…"
Xiao Wen nodded. "My father is on his way. He'll attempt to break through the barrier if possible."
Gratitude swelled in Wuying's chest, though it was tinged with embarrassment at how she had lost herself in panic the night before. "Thank you… for stopping me," she murmured. "I wasn't thinking clearly."
Xiao Wen waved it off with a casual shrug. "No big deal."
Before Wuying could respond, Xiao Wen gestured toward the lake. "More good news. Your clan leader arrived yesterday with Senior Wang."
Following her gaze, Wuying saw two figures emerging from the water's edge. Liu Xiaobei and Senior Wang strode onto dry land, droplets sliding from their robes, their expressions set with quiet purpose.
"Clan Leader, Senior Wang." Wuying hurried to meet them. "What brings you here?"
Liu Xiaobei inclined his head, his expression unreadable. "Senior Wang sensed something amiss with Xuefeng's token, so we came to investigate." He withdrew a similar-looking token from his sleeve, the faint pulse of Qi within it proving its connection. "Fortunately, we can still sense that he's alive, just unreachable."
Wuying's eyes brightened. "Oh! Can I get one of those? I'd rather not go through that panic again."
Liu Xiaobei pursed his lips, clearly weighing the value of the rare artifact. After a moment, he sighed. "We don't have many to spare… but I suppose we can make an exception for you."
Relief and gratitude lit Wuying's face as she bowed lightly.
Suddenly, a rush of wind stirred the air, and a masked cultivator descended from above, landing in a kneeling salute. "Princess," he reported crisply, "something is approaching at high speed."
Xiao Wen turned toward the horizon. A black dot loomed in the distance, growing larger with alarming speed. A knowing smile curved her lips. "That must be my father's warship." Without hesitation, she raised a hand and unleashed a blazing sphere of fire high into the sky, an agreed-upon signal.
Looming above them, the vessel cast a giant shadow across the campsite. Easily a hundred meters long, it hovered majestically before shrinking down to a fraction of its size, gliding to the ground in a swirl of displaced air. A ramp extended, revealing five figures on the deck: a dignified man in stately robes, a regal woman at his side, a dark-haired girl with a delicate face, and behind them two twin sisters who wore matching calm expressions.
A flicker of unease crossed Liu Xiaobei's face as he beheld the man in the lead. It's him… He swallowed an invisible knot of tension, memories from decades past surfacing unbidden.
"Xiaobei?" The man's brows lifted in surprise. "Never thought I'd see you here."
Liu Xiaobei exhaled slowly and stepped forward. "Long time no see, Xiao Feng."
Xiao Feng studied him for a beat before a wide grin split his face. In a blink, he vanished from the deck, reappearing beside Liu Xiaobei in an instant. He clapped a firm hand on his old rival's shoulder. "So, you've been hiding out in the Eastern Region all this time, huh?" His voice carried no hostility, only the warmth of nostalgia. "I spent forever looking for you after that mess we got into."
Liu Xiaobei gave a hesitant nod. "Not mad anymore, then?" Twenty years ago, they'd nearly destroyed a city fighting over a woman, culminating in Liu Xiaobei's forced retreat from the Central Region.
Xiao Feng pulled his wife closer, the twins standing protectively behind them. "Why would I be mad?" he said, letting out a boisterous laugh. "I've got this wonderful wife and two amazing daughters now. That old grudge was childish, nothing more."
Liu Xiaobei bowed to the woman politely. "And who might this be?"
She returned the courtesy with a friendly nod. "I'm Xiao Feng's wife. He's mentioned you a few times."
Liu Xiaobei shot Xiao Feng a wry smile. "You're a fortunate man indeed."
"Enough about me," Xiao Feng quipped, slipping an arm around his wife's shoulders. "What brings you here?"
Liu Xiaobei exhaled. "I'm Xuefeng's father. I had no idea Xiao Wen was your daughter."
An immediate spark lit Xiao Feng's eyes. "That's brilliant!" he declared, voice echoing across the campsite. "So you and I… we're going to be family."
"Family?" Liu Xiaobei repeated, confused.
"Sure," Xiao Feng replied, slapping him on the back. "My daughter, your son—they're quite close, right? So marriage is just a formality now. Tianshi, come here!"
A shy figure with dark hair glided down the ramp. Wuying's eyes darted to the girl, noting her gentle features. A ripple of tension coiled in Wuying's stomach. Tianshi… Isn't this the name Xuefeng mentioned before? But how did he meet her?
As if reading her mind, Liu Xiaobei frowned. "But Xuefeng never left the Eastern Region. How would they even know each other?"
"Good question. Tianshi also never left the Central Region…" Xiao Feng mused, turning to Tianshi. "Well, dear? Mind filling us in?"
"Uhm…" Tianshi momentarily paused, not expecting they would question her in front of everyone.