Lin Luoyu pushed open the door and glanced at the faint red glow of the rising sun on the horizon.
She let out a soft sigh and stepped out, heading toward the deep pool.
Recently, the sect had been lively in every sense of the word—yet also marked by farewells in every sense.
First, there was the departure of Xie Lingyu and Qinghe, followed by the Second Senior Brother setting off once again for the Central Continent.
Originally, the Second Senior Brother seemed intent on leaving quietly, but he was caught by the Master, who insisted on throwing a farewell gathering for him.
The Master even made the Second Senior Brother take the stage to deliver a speech about his future aspirations—likely as punishment for his attempted escape.
The Second Senior Brother had no choice but to comply. At first, his speech was coherent and well-reasoned.
But then the Master urged him—"Say a few more words."
And those "few more words," under the Master’s insistence, ended up being far too many.
In the end, the Second Senior Brother left the stage with his face buried in his hands.
By the latter half, his words had devolved into mere rambling—even he probably had no idea what he was saying.
Fortunately, the Master didn’t press him further after that.
The farewell gathering didn’t last long.
Before the Second Senior Brother departed, the Master handed him an ornate token and instructed him:
"Don’t hold back—I’ve already paid for this. If you run into trouble, just flash this token. If you see anyone from the Tianyan Sect, greet them with it. From now on, prioritize seeking out Tianyan Sect disciples whenever you need help."
"Even if you’re just eating and spot a Tianyan Sect disciple, waving this token will get you a meal."
The Second Senior Brother replied—"I’ve already reached the stage of fasting. I don’t eat anymore."
The Master shot back—"You blockhead! If you’re injured, you can demand they bandage you first!"
The Second Senior Brother looked like he had more to say but ultimately nodded solemnly in understanding.
And so, he set off.
As a member of the sect, Lin Luoyu naturally interacted with the Second Senior Brother often.
Though he had a naturally stern expression, he was genuinely warm-hearted toward his fellow disciples.
At the very least, he would proactively ask if anyone needed help.
So his temporary departure left Lin Luoyu with a sense of loss—as if a kind older brother had gone away.
Lin Luoyu walked toward the deep pool, a place that wasn’t just Chen Baiqing’s usual haunt but also her own.
Whenever she wanted to rest or clear her mind, she would go there.
Today, she arrived earlier than usual.
Chen Baiqing hadn’t shown up yet, so she didn’t receive her daily candied fruit.
By the poolside, Lin Luoyu glanced at the fish in the water.
Her mind wandered for a moment before she suddenly noticed that the ordinary fish seemed fewer in number and far more skittish than before.
"Senior Sister, why are you up so early today?"
Cui Hao’s voice came from behind her. Lin Luoyu blinked and turned to look at him, her tone puzzled:
"Why are you up so early too?"
Cui Hao sat down across from her and picked up the teapot to start brewing tea:
"You’ve been absent-minded for days now. I just happened to wake early today, but have you been rising early often lately?"
"Absent-minded? Me?"
"The Master’s been having me keep an eye on you recently."
"Why you?"
Lin Luoyu gave him a skeptical look. This guy had a history of drawing questionable artwork—hardly a paragon of virtue.
If the Master or the Second Senior Brother had said this, she might have taken it as concern.
But coming from Cui Hao, it felt a little off.
Under her doubtful gaze, Cui Hao wanted to protest but lacked the confidence.
He placed the freshly brewed tea in front of her:
"Not just me. The Third Senior Sister has been asking if you’re upset lately, and the First Senior Sister also checked if you had any problems."
"Pretty sure the Second Senior Brother asked if you needed help too, didn’t he?"
Lin Luoyu paused, recalling—apparently, she really had been out of it recently.
Cui Hao took a sip of his own tea:
"The Master wanted to ask you directly, but he figured you’d come to him if you really needed to talk."
Lin Luoyu silently lifted her cup, took a sip, and set it back down.
She wasn’t a tea connoisseur, but the difference between Cui Hao’s brewing and Chen Baiqing’s was obvious.
Lin Luoyu shook her head lightly. "I’m fine..."
"I didn’t come here to hear you say you’re fine." Cui Hao’s usual easygoing smile faded, replaced by rare seriousness.
"At first, I thought the sect was just a bigger school—teachers instructing students, students repaying the teachers after learning."
"I’ve also looked into other sects and know that even immortal sects aren’t necessarily peaceful. Schemes and deceit might run deeper than in the mortal world."
"Before coming here, I’d prepared for the worst. But fate gave me the best possible outcome."
"The sect is wonderful, the Master is kind, everyone is great. This place feels more like home than home ever did."
"So, Senior Sister—what do you think?"
Lin Luoyu stared at the unusually earnest Cui Hao, momentarily thrown off. But after hearing his words, she took a deep breath:
"Of course everyone’s great."
Cui Hao’s smile returned. "Then shouldn’t you be less distant? Helping each other is a sect tradition—Master-certified."
Lin Luoyu turned her gaze back to the pool:
"It’s not about being distant. I just haven’t figured this out myself yet..."
Cui Hao didn’t press further, simply drinking his tea again.
Silence settled between them.
After a while, Lin Luoyu retrieved a heavily creased letter from her spatial ring.
She had unfolded and refolded it countless times, memorizing every word.
She handed it to Cui Hao.
He took it but hesitated before opening it, whispering:
"Can I read it?"
Lin Luoyu nearly facepalmed. Had Cui Hao left his brain at home today? What kind of question was that?
"No! Give it back!" She reached for the letter without hesitation.
"Wait, wait! My bad!" Cui Hao twisted away and quickly unfolded the letter.
His eyes skimmed the contents.
The handwriting was messy, as if the writer had no patience—like someone barely literate had dictated it to a scribe.
The message was blunt, almost as if an entire conversation had been condensed into a single line.
It asked how the Fourth Senior Sister’s cultivation was progressing and whether she was getting along with her fellow disciples.
If she had time, could she return to the village? There were rumors of monsters nearby. If her training had borne fruit, could she come back and help?
Cui Hao read it over a few times but couldn’t see why this would trouble her.
"Isn’t this just about slaying some monsters? What’s the big deal? Nothing’s stronger than the Master anyway."
Lin Luoyu scoffed:
"What if there are no monsters to slay?"