When the siblings finally descended the stairs, they were greeted by the sight of two extremely luxurious carriages parked in front of the plaque of the First Under Heaven Pavilion. Standing beside one of the carriages, Mu Qing wore a smile and gestured invitingly as they approached. "Please, get in!"
Feng Ning, who had never experienced such a scene before, felt as if she were in a dream. The grand carriages, the impressive entourage, and the beautiful elder sister—it was all surreal.
"The journey to the Azure Dust Sect will take almost a full month. If either of you has any requests, feel free to let me know. I'll do my best to accommodate them," Mu Qing said with a smile.
Feng Wuchen nodded calmly and held Feng Ning as they stepped into the carriage, pulling the curtains shut. Once the siblings were settled, Mu Qing climbed into the other carriage and gave instructions to the driver. "We may depart now."
"Understood!"
As the carriage began to move, Feng Ning gently drew back the curtains. Watching the mountains in the distance gradually fade from view, she felt an unusual sense of melancholy. After all, this had been her home for over a decade.
"What's wrong?" Feng Wuchen asked upon noticing her expression.
Turning back, Feng Ning's eyes held a mix of emotions. "Brother, will we come back here someday?"
"Do you want to come back?"
Feng Ning pondered for a moment and then shook her head. "As long as I'm with Brother, anywhere feels like home."
"..."
Just as Mu Qing had assured them, not a single Blood-Clad Tower assassin appeared along the way to the Azure Dust Sect. This only deepened Feng Wuchen's curiosity about Mu Qing's true identity. For even the Blood-Clad Tower to be cautious, the power backing her surely exceeded that of the First Under Heaven Pavilion.
A month passed in the blink of an eye, and after enduring the bumps and jostles of the journey, the carriage finally arrived at the most splendid city in the Chen Kingdom—Jade Capital City! Or, as the citizens called it, the Imperial Capital.
It was already late afternoon when they entered the city gates. Towering and magnificent, the buildings were adorned in gold and jade, filled with opulence and grandeur at every corner. Feng Ning couldn't contain her amazement as she peeked through the curtains, her eyes wide with wonder at sights she had never dreamed of back in Falling Phoenix City.
Moments later, the carriage came to a stop.
"Time to get off!" Mu Qing called out.
Feng Wuchen stepped out of the carriage, carrying Feng Ning. As he looked up, he was met with a grand sight: another First Under Heaven Pavilion, far more imposing than the one in Blackwater City. The five large characters, written in bold and unrestrained strokes, exuded an overwhelming sense of power.
The Imperial Capital's First Under Heaven Pavilion towered nine stories high, with each floor vast enough to dwarf the branch in Blackwater City. It was bustling with finely dressed guests, a stark contrast between this place and the humble branch they had known.
Mu Qing noticed Feng Wuchen's composed demeanor and remarked with surprise, "Jade Capital's First Under Heaven Pavilion is the grandest establishment in Cangzhou. You're the first person I've seen who can remain so calm on their first visit."
Most people would have been awestruck by such an impressive sight, especially someone like Feng Wuchen, who grew up in the impoverished Falling Phoenix City. Maintaining such composure was rare.
What Mu Qing didn't know was that Feng Wuchen, in his previous life, had lived in the Supreme Heaven Realm. For someone with his experiences, such architecture, though grand, was not enough to stir him.
"Where is the Azure Dust Sect?" Feng Wuchen asked directly.
"No need to rush. The Azure Dust Sect lies atop the snow mountains a hundred miles east of the Imperial Capital. It will only take half a day to reach. Besides, today is only the twelfth of April. There are still three days until the sect's disciple recruitment. You should rest here at the First Under Heaven Pavilion until then."
"Alright."
"And it's best not to leave the pavilion without reason. The news of the Qin family lady's death has already reached the capital, and I fear they may come seeking revenge without hesitation."
"I understand."
The Imperial Capital's First Under Heaven Pavilion was unlike the humble establishment in Blackwater City. Behind the bustling exterior lay hidden powerhouses, and not long after stepping inside, Feng Wuchen sensed several dangerous auras. These individuals were at least at the Golden Body Realm.
To avoid attracting attention, Feng Wuchen kept a low profile. Aside from meals, he stayed in his room, meditating on the sword strike embedded in his mind. Its might had far exceeded his expectations. Throughout his cultivation, it seamlessly fused with the Slayer Heaven Sword Technique and the Dragon Abyss Sword Tower, raising his sword mastery and cultivation.
By now, he had advanced to the mid-stage of Intent Realm mastery. If he could spar frequently with experts like Yue Qingyin, it wouldn't be long before he achieved the major stage of Intent Realm mastery.
The next evening, the First Under Heaven Pavilion was unusually lively. Feng Wuchen, who had been meditating, suddenly opened his eyes.
"Why isn't she back yet?"
It had been over a quarter-hour since Feng Ning went downstairs to get food, and Feng Wuchen began to feel uneasy.
He stepped out of his room, only to find the entire pavilion packed with young talents and aristocrats, creating a lively scene. Yet none of this mattered to him; he only cared about his sister's whereabouts.
Scanning the crowd, he soon spotted a gathering on the second floor, where people were pointing and whispering.
"Who let that kid in here? So careless!"
"Judging by her clothes, she doesn't seem to be from a noble family. Maybe she snuck in to get food and caused trouble. Now she's dealing with Jiang Qianxue. That's bad news."
"Yes, Jiang Qianxue is the famous beauty of the capital, and her admirers could drown her in spit if she wanted."
Hearing this, Feng Wuchen pushed through the crowd. There, he found Feng Ning sitting on the floor, clutching her cheek, eyes wide with fear. Spilled food lay beside her.
"What happened?"
Feng Ning looked at Feng Wuchen, her eyes brimming with tears. "Brother… I was carrying the food back upstairs when someone pushed me. I didn't mean to spill it on this sister's dress… I… I really didn't mean to!"
Feng Wuchen lifted his gaze to see a young woman in a white dress, around seventeen or eighteen years old. She was a beauty, with delicate features and an elegant figure. Yet her eyes held a cold, dismissive air, different from Yue Qingyin's lofty pride—this was pure arrogance, as though no one else was worth her attention.
Feng Wuchen felt immediate distaste for her haughtiness. Ignoring her, he turned back to gently wipe Feng Ning's tears. But when he saw the red handprint on her cheek, his eyes turned icy.
"Who hit my sister?" he demanded.