The flying boat cut smoothly across the sky, gliding above endless layers of mist and mountain, bathed in the amber hues of twilight. Spirit cranes wheeled in the distance, their long cries echoing faintly between the peaks.
Qin Lian sat cross-legged at the center of the boat, her sect token warm against her chest, the red thread swaying slightly with the wind. Her gaze drifted to the horizon, where the sun dipped low behind a sea of clouds.
Beside her, Yan Zhenwu sat with one knee drawn up, dressed now in simple traveling robes—just another wandering scholar to the untrained eye. But to her, he still radiated that quiet, swordlike presence that never quite went away.
He glanced at her with a small smile. "You held yourself well today, little sprout."
Qin Lian turned to him. "Little sprout?"
"You're only just rooted," he said, patting the top of her head gently. "Don't get cocky just because your spirit root turned out Heaven grade."
"I wasn't being cocky," she muttered.
"Mm. That's how it starts," he said, eyes twinkling. "Next thing I know, you'll be challenging elders with a stick and declaring yourself Sect Master."
Qin Lian gave him a look. "That actually happens?"
"Oh, once every decade or so," he said with a chuckle. "Youth makes you bold. And foolish."
She smiled despite herself. "You were like that too, huh?"
"Of course," he said, tone light. "Only difference is—I won."
Qin Lian snorted. "Bragging isn't very grandfatherly."
"Then consider it educational."
They both laughed.
As the laughter faded, he turned a little more serious. The wind tousled a few strands of his silver-streaked hair.
"Now listen carefully, Lian'er," he said, using her name in that old, affectionate way. "The Verdant Sky Sect is no ordinary place. Of the Ten Great Sects, we rank third. Not just in strength, but in history. Balance. Integrity."
He looked out over the clouds, voice low and steady. "This place… has shaped many legends. Some built great dynasties. Others vanished chasing immortality. You've stepped into a river older than kingdoms. Flow with care."
Qin Lian sat up a little straighter, the weight of his words settling around her like mist.
"You said there were other peaks, right?" she asked.
Yan Zhenwu nodded. "You'll be staying on Emerald Wind Peak—my peak. The best, of course."
"Biased much?"
"Not at all," he said dryly. "We train sword arts, body-and-spirit harmony, and cloud-step meditation. But we are not the only branch of the tree."
He began counting on his fingers. "Next is Azure Grove Peak, led by Shui Lanyan. She's a master of alchemy and herb arts. Sweet girl. Smiles like spring—but don't cross her. She once poisoned a beast king's tea and claimed it was for research."
"…That sounds terrifying."
"She makes good soup," he added helpfully.
Qin Lian tilted her head. "And?"
"Obsidian Root Peak," he said. "Led by Hei Jinbao. Earth arts, body refinement. His disciples could probably break a house by sneezing."
"That's… comforting."
"Then there's Moonspirit Peak, run by Xue Nianzhu. Illusionists. Dream weavers. Strange lot. Half the time they're walking in spirit realms while sipping tea."
"I'm guessing they're the quiet ones?"
Yan Zhenwu gave her a meaningful glance. "Don't ever mistake quiet for harmless, little sprout."
She nodded quickly.
"Lastly," he said, "Cloud Echo Peak, led by Fan Ruchen. He cultivates music-based arts. Flutes, zithers, bells. Very elegant. Very mysterious. Very annoying at dawn."
Qin Lian giggled. "Let me guess—he plays at sunrise?"
"Without mercy."
The boat dipped lower now as Emerald Wind Peak came into view once more, bathed in the glow of evening lanterns. Bamboo leaves rustled in the breeze. White cranes glided through the fading sky.
They landed softly on the jade-edged platform near Qin Lian's courtyard.
Yan Zhenwu hopped down first, then turned and offered her his hand.
"You did well today, Ah-Lian," he said gently. "Your parents—your grandmother… she would've been proud."
Qin Lian's heart ached a little at that, but she nodded, swallowing past the tightness in her chest. "Thank you, Grandpa."
He squeezed her fingers once before releasing them. "Now—go get some rest. Tomorrow, your cultivation journey begins. Morning meditation. You'll probably hate it."
"Will you be there?"
"I'll be on the same peak. But you'll have to learn alongside other disciples," he said, raising an eyebrow. "No special treatment."
She rolled her eyes. "You already gave me a courtyard with a koi pond."
"That's because you're my granddaughter, not because you're a Heaven-grade genius," he said with a small grin. "Don't confuse the two."
Qin Lian laughed.
The rabbit hopped off the boat behind them, sniffed the air, and darted toward the grass.
"I'll have someone bring your sect robes and schedule in the morning," Yan Zhenwu added as he walked her to her courtyard gate. "Sleep early. Eat well. And if you see turtles on the path again…"
"…step over them?"
"No. Bow politely. They outrank you."
Qin Lian blinked, then snorted. "You're serious, aren't you?"
His smile was maddeningly unreadable. "Goodnight, little sprout."
With that, he turned and disappeared into the drifting fog of the peak, his robes blending into the twilight like a whisper of wind.
Qin Lian stood in silence for a moment before looking down at her token, fingers brushing the engraved seal.
The stars above her courtyard shimmered like cold fire.
Tomorrow, everything would begin.
But for tonight, she would rest in the peace of belonging