"What are your plans for the future?" Bai Yun asked, having grasped the general situation, his gaze falling on Yin Mei.
"I… I don't know," Yin Mei replied softly, her expression tinged with melancholy and uncertainty.
"How about heading to the Imperial City? I'm on my way there and can look after you and your daughter along the journey," Bai Yun offered, a sudden inspiration striking him as the system issued a new main mission prompt.
Main Mission: Travel to the Zhongzhou Imperial City.
Reward: 1000 Evolution Points.
Penalty: None.
Time Limit: None.
"With nowhere else to go and longing to escape this treacherous place, I will trust Bai Gongzi's guidance. Though I fear we will burden you along the way," Yin Mei murmured, a shadow of sorrow deepening on her face as her thoughts lingered on her plight.
"Then we'd better set off without delay, lest the Huoyun Sect sends another group after you," Bai Yun decided decisively, glancing at the radar's map.
"Very well," Yin Mei agreed softly.
The Imperial City lay nearly a month's journey on foot. Bai Yun studied the route, planning to stop in a nearby town to purchase a carriage. But first, they would have to traverse the Endless Mountains, a journey fraught with hardships for Yin Mei.
As Bai Yun forged ahead to clear the path, Yin Mei followed behind, holding her daughter close. Her gaze rested on him, a mixture of gratitude and wariness in her eyes. She knew all too well the allure she held over men. Though Bai Yun had saved her, she could not grant him full trust, yet her dependence on him left her feelings tangled and complicated.
By the time Bai Yun had arrived through the teleportation, dusk had already fallen. They had not traveled far before darkness enveloped the forest. The towering trees of the Endless Mountains, rising dozens of meters high, blocked out even the faintest moonlight, shrouding the surroundings in an oppressive gloom.
Finding a suitable resting spot, Bai Yun retrieved three meals from his "Cosmic Evolutionary" space.
Yin Mei's eyes widened in astonishment at the sudden appearance of food.
Little Yin Yue, her hunger unabated, wasted no time, reaching for the appetizing meal and devouring it eagerly.
"Go ahead, eat," Bai Yun said with a chuckle, neither hiding nor offering explanations. With the "Cosmic Evolutionary" system at his disposal, no one in this world could corner him, so he felt little need to elaborate.
"Is that a storage artifact?" Yin Mei asked hesitantly.
Bai Yun paused, then replied casually, "Something like that."
Without further explanation, he began eating. Yin Mei, her hunger gnawing, finally picked up her meal. Despite her weariness, she ate with measured grace.
"Mother, this is so delicious!" Yin Yue exclaimed, her appetite growing with each bite until she unknowingly finished a portion meant for an adult.
"Yes, it is," Yin Mei said with a gentle, indulgent smile.
After finishing their meals, silence descended over them once more, an awkward quiet befitting strangers who had only just met.
"Yin Jie, may I call you that?" Bai Yun broke the silence, unable to bear the stifling atmosphere.
Startled out of her thoughts, Yin Mei nodded. "As you wish, Bai Gongzi."
"Please, just call me Bai Yun," he urged.
"Very well," Yin Mei replied softly, cradling her now-slumbering daughter.
"What do you plan to do once we reach the Imperial City, Yin Jie?" Bai Yun asked as they continued through the forest, their conversation sporadic but slowly warming the chill of the night.
Exhausted from her ordeal, Yin Mei could no longer resist the pull of sleep. Though she only allowed herself a light rest, her wariness of Bai Yun keeping her from fully letting down her guard.
Meanwhile, Bai Yun sat cross-legged, channeling his Qi in cultivation. As he completed a full cycle, he felt a breakthrough within reach. The mid-grade thunder-elemental Qi stone at his chest grew dimmer with each passing moment until, an hour later, it finally lost all its luster. With that, Bai Yun quietly advanced to the rank of a High-Grade Profound Master.
When he opened his eyes, a flicker of lightning flashed within them. A faint smile curled his lips, though it faded when his gaze shifted to Yin Mei. A trace of regret flickered across his expression.
Rising to his feet, he moved toward her with deliberate care, his steps light so as not to disturb her rest. For a moment, he studied her serene, beautiful face. Then, with a flick of his hand, he produced a blanket and gently draped it over Yin Mei and her daughter.
"How could I be so thoughtless?" Bai Yun muttered to himself, retreating with quiet steps, self-reproach flickering in his heart. The autumn night carried a biting chill, and he vowed silently, "I will become a better man."
Sitting down once more, he immersed himself in cultivation. Sleep was unnecessary for him, and he resolved not to waste a single moment, channeling his efforts into strengthening his Qi.
Though his actions were subtle, Yin Mei, ever on guard, had been awake. She feigned sleep as Bai Yun approached, her body tense with apprehension, unsure of his intentions. When he only tucked the blanket around her, she felt her unease ebb, finally succumbing to genuine sleep. She was, after all, utterly exhausted.
By dawn, the group was on the move again. After spending a night together, their familiarity had grown. As they journeyed, Bai Yun occasionally retrieved snacks from his space, delighting the little girl and earning her playful nickname for him: "Little Bai."
As they stopped for lunch near midday, Bai Yun's expression suddenly darkened.
"What's wrong?" Yin Mei asked, her attention fixed on him. She had been watching him closely, sensing his sudden change in demeanor.
"Someone's coming," Bai Yun replied grimly. "Stay here and don't wander. I'll handle it."
Yin Mei paled but nodded, forcing a calm facade. "Be careful."
"Little Bai, go defeat the bad guys! Be safe!" Yin Yue cheered, waving her tiny fists at him. Her trust in him had clearly deepened, courtesy of his endless supply of treats.
With a faint smile at the mother and daughter, Bai Yun turned and sprinted in the opposite direction.
Side Mission: Eliminate the two elders of the Huoyun Sect in pursuit.
Reward: 3000 Evolution Points.
The radar displayed no targets yet, but Bai Yun knew they were near. Waiting for them to approach would only put Yin Mei and her daughter in danger, so he chose to confront them head-on.
After running for a while, two red dots finally appeared on the radar. Bai Yun pulled out an intermediate "Swift Talisman" and surged toward them.
Knowing their spiritual senses would undoubtedly be scanning the surroundings, he abandoned any thought of ambush. He would face them directly—head-on and unrelenting.