Li followed Han out of the grand hall, his head lowered in thought. Why would someone as esteemed as the sect leader hold expectations of him? Replaying recent events, he tried to pinpoint where things had taken an illogical turn. Vivid scenes flickered in his mind: Yun's grim figure looming over him in the Xuan family's shadowed hall, a flicker of shock passing through his eyes when they made contact. Then, Yun ordering him to raise his head before the guest—who wore a similar expression of surprise. Finally, Sect Leader Xu, who parted with him by bestowing a disguise, as though he were someone worth protecting.
Just as Li felt he was on the verge of connecting the dots, he stumbled into Han's broad back, brought to an abrupt halt.
Han's voice, low and unamused, brought him out of his musings. "Are you going to stop daydreaming and greet your senior and fellow disciples?"
Li steadied himself and raised his head, seeing two figures waiting outside the hall. At the front stood a short man with a wide smile, his spiky black hair jutting out like the quills of a pufferfish. His robe was adorned with the Three Waves Sect symbol, lined with gold.
Noticing the gold-trimmed insignia, like that of Elder Yan, Li realized this cheerful figure was also an elder. Behind him stood a taller disciple with a quiet, subdued air, his golden hair cascading like a waterfall and framing a face so sculpted that even Li couldn't help but take note of his beauty.
The elder's eyes crinkled as he spoke, his smile widening. "My name is Runpo, and this here is my second disciple, Ji. I'll be welcoming you both to the Three Waves Sect. No need for formality; we're all fellow sect members now."
Han clasped his hands politely, his tone warm. "Of course, fellow practitioner Runpo. I am Han, and this young one here is my adoptive son, Li. I apologize for his lack of manners—it's my fault for not raising him better."
Runpo chuckled, clearly pleased by Han's response, and with a wave of his hand, summoned a spirit boat. "Think nothing of it. Time's the best teacher, and it'll smooth out the rough edges of youth. Now, please, come aboard so we can start the journey."
Han cast a warning glance at Li before stepping onto the boat behind Runpo and Ji. Realizing he'd let himself get too lost in thought, Li sighed. Going against one's nature is not as easy as Yun made it sound, he reminded himself, following Han onto the boat.
The spirit boat lifted smoothly, gliding down the mountain and through parting clouds, the view stretching in a stunning panorama below them. As the breeze swept through their robes, Runpo broke the silence, glancing at Han with a mischievous smile. "What say we elders go down to the cabin and discuss the grand dao, leaving our young ones to mingle?"
Han met Runpo's gaze with a look of understanding, then glanced at Ji, who had been eyeing Li from the moment he'd stepped onto the boat. With a slight nod, Han replied, "I had the same thought. Disciple Ji, I leave Li in your care."
Ji clasped his hands, his voice resonant and deep. "Of course, Elder Han."
As Han and Runpo headed below deck, Ji's expression changed, growing confident—and a touch overbearing.
Throwing away his polite facade, Ji leaned closer to Li. "I'm Ji from the Forgery Hall. You can call me Senior Brother Ji, and as you're under Elder Han, I don't mind teaching you a thing or two."
Keeping his expression neutral, Li replied blandly, "I will be under your care, Senior Brother Ji."
Ji chuckled, his ego inflating. "Doesn't it have a nice ring to it? Don't worry; with a senior brother like me, you'll be able to walk sideways along the mountains with no one daring to stop you."
Watching Ji's smug face, Li had already mentally labeled him a fool—one of those types who bent to authority but abused those beneath him, like the petty bullies who led gangs back in his village days. To keep Ji happy, he'd offer a few empty compliments here and there. Uninterested in conversation, Li sat down and pulled out his Chi Weaving manual, ready to continue his studies.
"Hey!" Ji barked, his deep voice booming around them. "You haven't even introduced yourself, and you just start cultivating? Do you take your senior brother for a joke? You want me to rescind the protection I graciously offered you? What island did you come from, anyway? Are you from a cultivation family? What manual is that you're looking at?"
Li's brows furrowed as Ji's voice continually dragged him out of his focus. Setting down the jade slip, he concealed his rising irritation and asked, "If I answer your questions, will you leave me to my studies?"
Ji crossed his arms, feigning a solemn look. "What's with the cold attitude? Answer those questions, and I'll leave you alone. I swear it on my teacher's life. May the heavens strike my dear teacher if I break this oath!" He straightened his back and pointed skyward, a dramatic vow etched across his face.
Hearing this oath, Li set his jade slip aside, reciting his prepared cover story in a monotone voice. "I was born on Planet Debian and have never left it. I grew up on a small island in the northern sea. By luck, I obtained the legacy of a dead ascendant practitioner but couldn't start cultivating due to the lack of spiritual energy. Elder Han found me while searching for his missing junior disciple, who left the legacy I found. Upon hearing of his junior's end, Elder Han decided to adopt me and brought me to the sect."
Ji's eyes grew misty, and he patted Li's shoulder. "Such tragedy! Elder Han must see his junior in you. Don't worry, if I ever meet whoever left you stranded on a mortal island, I won't snatch the legacy from them—I'll just adopt them myself!"
Li's face darkened. The thought of this arrogant idiot inheriting the Xuan family legacy made his blood boil.
Completely oblivious, Ji continued, now prodding for gossip. "Tell me about Elder Han. You probably don't know this, but Elder Runpo is extremely proud. I've never seen him be so deferential to another elder, especially one who just joined."
Li sneered, deciding to test Ji's oath. "Didn't you swear to stop asking questions? Or did you forget about your teacher's life?"
Ji waved his hand dismissively. "My teacher is a senior practitioner. What harm could a little heavenly lightning do to him? Just answer the question!"
Li reevaluated the shamelessness of this so-called Senior Brother. Heavenly lightning was feared by practitioners at every level—an inevitable trial that left a mountain of ash from those who failed. To risk such a trial on his teacher's behalf, and for idle gossip no less... Just as Li was about to return to his studies and ignore Ji altogether, he noticed something that made him stow his jade slip and smile instead.
Ji, noticing Li's change in demeanor, turned eagerly toward him, ready with more questions—until he felt a familiar, foreboding presence behind him. A chill ran down his spine.
"Good, good, GOOD!" boomed Elder Runpo's voice, heavy with barely contained fury. "This wonderful disciple of mine thinks so highly of me, to the point of wishing heavenly lightning on my head! Truly, I'm almost moved to tears."
Elder Runpo stood behind Ji, his anger palpable, and even Han, who stood nearby, shook his head as if wondering if he'd ever encountered a disciple so shameless.
"Teach—" Ji croaked, attempting to explain, but Runpo cut him off with a cold glare.
"Enough! How much more will you embarrass me today?" Runpo turned to Li, his tone warming. "Young disciple Li, we've arrived at the Resource Hall. This...unworthy disciple of mine will escort you to collect your items."
Ji's face paled. "But...but Elder! The Resource Hall is still hundreds of feet below us, and I don't have a flying tool. How am I supposed to reach it?"
Without further ado, Runpo grabbed Ji by the scruff and strode to the boat's edge. "You'll figure it out," he said, before tossing Ji like a javelin over the side. Ji's screams echoed as he plummeted, fading into the distance.
Runpo then turned to Li, who was still processing the absurd scene, and gathered a nearby cloud into a platform. "Now, don't worry. You've shown nothing but respect," he said kindly. "This cloud platform will take you down gently. I wish you success on your cultivation journey, young one."
Li stepped onto the cloud platform and bowed, thanking the elder. Before descending, he cast a look at Han, searching for any final advice. Han met his gaze with a steely look but said nothing.
Realizing he was truly on his own, Li looked down at the Resource Hall below. Taking a deep breath, he steeled himself, knowing that his cultivation journey was about to officially begin.