The One-Day War ended not with a pyre of heroes, but with silence.
At the Northern Mountain Basin, six Emperor Profound Realm cultivators had stood against five thousand soldiers of the Qiang State. When the last echo of steel faded, not a single defender had fallen.
Nearly two thousand Qiang warriors lay entombed beneath the avalanche.
The mountain had answered before the blades truly could. When the first tremor rippled through the Northern Basin, two thousand soldiers deserted before steel ever met steel—fearful not of men, but of the groaning weight of snow above them. Another thousand broke ranks the moment they felt it—the crushing descent of six Emperor Profound Realm auras pressing down like the will of heaven itself.
Formations dissolved. Discipline collapsed. Fear, more than blade or technique, shattered the Qiang army.
By the time the avalanche thundered down, it was less a tactic than a verdict.
Snow swallowed banners, cavalry, and command tents alike. King Alugang vanished beneath white ruin, his war cries cut short by the roar of collapsing heaven. What remained of his forces either fled into the wilderness or disappeared into the basin's frozen grave.
Jin Zhuo could not reconcile the scale of it.
He had held a front against two thousand men—two thousand trained soldiers pressing from three directions. He remembered the weight of their killing intent, the rhythm of spears striking his barrier, the tremor of the earth under their charge. Yet as he rode back to the watchkeep, snow hardened in his robes and dried blood flaking from his sleeves, the memory felt distant—like something he had witnessed through another body.
The Emperor Profound Realm was power incarnate.
But this?
This was annihilation without sacrifice.
And Northern Mountain had not been the only battlefield that day.
Within Xuanwu City, Mulan waged a war no less decisive—against her mortal enemy, the Zhu Family.
Alone, she faced a thousand Zhu soldiers.
Where others would have unleashed overwhelming force, she chose precision. She fractured their formations, manipulated their sightlines, and lured captains into overextension before dismantling them in sequence. Units collapsed one by one, not from chaos—but from orchestration.
She needed no army.
She was the army.
When the Zhu Family ancestor finally revealed himself, ancient aura surging like a storm long restrained, she did not meet him with brute dominance. She dissected his techniques, forced him into reactive patterns, and stripped away the myth of invincibility that had protected his name for generations.
But desperation is the final weapon of the cornered. The ancestor's triumph lasted less than a breath when Mulan and Yun Che activated the Fire Booster Self Destruct protocol.
The runes on the Fire Booster Gauntlet flared—not gold, but a violent black-red inversion. Yun Che had built contingencies into brilliance. Severed from its bonded user without proper disengagement, the core compression matrix destabilized.
Self-destruct protocol activated.
The ancestor tried to tear it free.
Too late.
The explosion tore through the courtyard in a column of fire and shockwave, shattering stone and rupturing defensive arrays. The blast echoed across Xuanwu City like the breaking of an era.
When the smoke cleared, the ancestor lay broken, flesh charred, profound veins ruptured and flickering erratically. Alive—but diminished beyond recovery.
By sunrise, the Zhu Family patriarch knelt.
By sunset, their banners no longer flew as Xuanwu City's highest authority.
The Zhu Family did not fall.
They were absorbed. Reordered. Reforged under Jin Zhuo's command.
Other noble houses—ever pragmatic—recognized the recalibration of power. Allegiance followed swiftly. Stability, after all, follows strength.
Yet even in triumph, there were shadows.
The Shu Family had chosen chaos as opportunity. Assassins struck at Shu Pei Pei from darkness while armies clashed beyond the city walls.
They underestimated her.
Kon secured the perimeter. Li Bing sealed escape vectors. Nezuko tore through hidden operatives with merciless efficiency. And Lin Yueru ensured the lesson would linger.
Her poisoned arrow struck true.
Shu Jiantian was spared—deliberately.
He would live.
But he would live weakened, the toxin gnawing at his meridians, every breath a reminder of the cost of crossing Shu Pei Pei. Also, a matter that the Shu Family owes her.
Mercy, when given, had purpose.
News of King Alugang's defeat spread through Xuanwu City like winter wind.
Six Emperor Profound Realm cultivators had altered the balance of power in a single day. The fall of the Zhu Family the Lunar Blossom Sect spared from calamity. A ruling family had risen without losing a single soldier. An invading king had vanished beneath snow and shame.
The One-Day War would not be remembered for how long it lasted.
It would be remembered for how precisely it ended.
=========================
"Ah—!"
Qingyue's voice broke the quiet of the courtyard as she fell onto the grass once again.
Her bamboo sword rolled from her grasp.
Standing a few steps away, Retsu calmly lowered her own shinai—the flexible bamboo training sword used in kendo practice. Even after the exchange, her posture remained relaxed, as though the bout had barely required any effort.
"Again."
She rested the shinai lightly on her shoulder, her gaze fixed on Qingyue.
It was still early morning.
And already, Qingyue had been defeated twenty-five times.
Slowly, Qingyue picked up her fallen bamboo sword and returned to her stance.
From the very beginning of the training session, Retsu had not even moved from her position. She held the shinai with one hand, standing in the same spot while calmly receiving every attack Qingyue launched.
Qingyue stepped forward again.
She attacked swiftly.
Retsu merely shifted her body slightly to the side.
The strike missed.
Before Qingyue could adjust, the bamboo sword in Retsu's hand moved in a blur—parrying the attack and twisting Qingyue's grip away.
The shinai flew from Qingyue's hands once more.
Twenty-six defeats.
Retsu lowered her weapon and looked at her.
"Again."
Qingyue stood there quietly for a moment.
Without her profound arts, she realized something painfully clear.
Her close-quarters combat ability was extremely poor.
With the Frozen Cloud Arts or her newly developed Frozen End Arts, she could dominate many opponents.
But stripped of those techniques…
Against someone skilled in pure swordsmanship, she could barely even approach.
She hadn't managed to touch even the hem of Retsu's clothing.
A memory resurfaced in her mind.
The tournament arena.
Back then, she had believed she had fought well.
But now she understood the truth.
Retsu had likely possessed thousands of opportunities to kill her during that match.
Chu Yuechan had been right.
If that had truly been a life-and-death battle, Retsu would have killed her before she even had the chance to draw her sword.
Retsu was really going easy.
Qingyue tightened her grip on the bamboo sword and attacked again.
This time, she abandoned simple strikes.
Instead, she began incorporating the sword arts she had learned in Asgard—precise footwork, flowing transitions between offense and defense, and controlled bursts of power enhanced by Haki.
Her movements became faster, sharper.
The air sliced softly as the shinai cut forward.
But against Retsu—
It was useless.
Retsu did not step back.
She barely even moved.
With a slight tilt of her body, she avoided Qingyue's first strike. The second was met with a simple deflection of the shinai. The third never even reached her.
Tap.
Retsu's bamboo sword struck Qingyue's wrist.
The numbness forced Qingyue's fingers open.
The weapon slipped from her grasp and fell to the grass once again.
Retsu lowered her shinai calmly.
Her movements had been so fast that Qingyue could barely follow them.
Even with Haki, her reaction speed simply could not keep up.
Qingyue stared at the ground for a moment, breathing slightly heavier than before.
The gap between them was overwhelming.
It wasn't merely about strength or cultivation.
It was the difference in pure combat experience.
Retsu had fought countless battles in the Dead Spirit Realm. Every movement she made carried the efficiency of someone who had survived life-and-death combat again and again.
Against that level of mastery—
Qingyue couldn't even come close.
Retsu raised her shinai again and rested it on her shoulder.
Her expression remained gentle, but her voice was firm.
"Again."
"Sigh… how many times has she lost now?" Yun Che asked as he leaned back, sipping a cup of coffee while watching the training session from the veranda.
Down in the courtyard, Qingyue had just been disarmed yet again.
Retsu's training method was deceptively simple—attack and defense, the most fundamental principles of swordsmanship. No profound techniques. No special arts. Just the basics that formed the foundation of every sword style.
But those basics were merciless.
Even an expert like Qingyue had suddenly become a novice the moment her Frozen Cloud Arts were restricted.
And even if those arts were allowed, Yun Che knew the truth—Retsu could still overwhelm her easily.
Today, however, Retsu had deliberately instructed Qingyue to use whatever sword arts she already knew. The goal wasn't to defeat her. It was to break down her habits.
Sword arts were excellent for offense.
But when it came to parrying, countering, and reading an opponent's blade…
They taught almost nothing.
So Retsu was starting from the very beginning.
And with Qingyue now wielding the Snowflower Ribbon, she would eventually need a custom fighting style, not something built entirely around Frozen Cloud techniques.
"Twenty-eight? I'm not sure," Mio said lazily as she fanned herself. "But Ret-chan definitely isn't going easy on her."
"I lost sixty-three times to Nee-sama on my first day," Nemu said calmly while eating a spoonful of Retsu's stew. "It looked exactly like this."
She paused.
"Nee-sama was going easy on me… but she still never let me win even once." Then she added quietly, "Though I'm glad it was Nee-sama training me."
"If it had been Yachiru-sama…"
Yun Che sighed.
"…that would've been full demon brutality. Retsu was indeed going easy in her own way. If its Yachiru, you either live or die. Train to survive not train to improve."
Despite the harsh training, he couldn't help but feel impressed.
Qingyue never once gave up.
She kept losing.
But every time she fell, she stood up again with her sword in hand.
Again.
And again.
And again.
More importantly, she was learning. At the start, she couldn't block anything. Now she could parry two out of every ten attacks from Retsu.
She still lost within five seconds.
But gradually—
She began lasting ten seconds.
The longest was fifteen.
Even Retsu had noticed.
Qingyue reminded her very much of Nemu. A student who refused to give up until the very last ounce of energy was gone. The difference was that Qingyue possessed enormous stamina and energy reserves. Most people would have collapsed after ten defeats.
Qingyue had endured thirty rounds.
Finally—
Tap.
Retsu's shinai stopped just short of Qingyue's neck. "Okay. That's enough."
It was the thirtieth defeat.
Retsu lowered the bamboo sword and spoke calmly. "You are persistent."
"But persistence alone won't stop your opponent from killing you," Retsu said calmly.
She paused for a moment before adding, "However… you are learning quickly."
Retsu stepped forward and extended her hand.
Qingyue accepted it, allowing herself to be pulled back to her feet. "Thank you, Sister Retsu."
Retsu nodded once. "It's only your first day."
"But you are already improving."
As Qingyue stood upright, she immediately felt the soreness spreading through her body. Her arms trembled slightly from the repeated impacts and strain.
This was the second time she had been pushed this far.
The first time had been during her battle with Yun Che in the arena.
And now—training under Retsu.
Retsu gently placed a hand on Qingyue's shoulder and helped support her as they walked back toward the veranda where Yun Che was waiting.
Across the courtyard, Retsu could sense several familiar presences.
Nearby, Cang Yue, Mulan, and Lin Yueru were practicing their Haki. Surprisingly, Bing had decided to join them as well. Out of courtesy for Mulan, Yun Che awakened her Haki as well.
Not far away, Chu Yueli was training alongside Little Fairy.
Meanwhile, Yoru and Yoruko had already returned to the inner world to freshen up.
As they walked, Retsu spoke again. "Techniques look impressive when you're actually striking someone."
Her tone was calm. "But if they don't land… They're just flashy sword movements."
Qingyue looked up at her. "How did you reach this level, Sister Retsu?"
Retsu smiled faintly. "Me?"
"I trained to survive." She shrugged lightly. "When you put your life on the line every time you train… your body adapts."
Qingyue blinked. "Train… to survive?"
"Ufufu…" Retsu chuckled softly as she remembered the tales of her being a Kenpachi from Yachiru. "Even I have a past I can only acknowledge."
Her eyes softened slightly. "Dark as it may be… it is still a part of me."
"I see…" Qingyue murmured quietly. She swallowed the words she had originally wanted to say.
Both Retsu and Yun Che had grown strong through struggles far harsher than her own. They had trained because survival demanded it.
She, on the other hand…
She only trained to become stronger so she could find her mother.
Compared to them—
Her path had never been so dark.
"Good work for today," Yun Che said as he handed Qingyue a small vial.
It was one of his Stamina potions.
Qingyue accepted it without hesitation. She uncorked the bottle and drank it in one smooth motion.
Almost instantly, the soreness in her muscles vanished. The fatigue that had accumulated through dozens of defeats melted away as if it had never existed.
"I assume this isn't your first time seeing one of those," Yun Che said.
Qingyue nodded. "Sister Yuechan gave me several before."
"Oh right," Yun Che replied with a small laugh. "I did give her quite a few back then."
He leaned back slightly and studied her. "Ah, well. So… how was your first day?"
Qingyue answered calmly. "Sister Retsu is quite merciful."
Yun Che chuckled. "She is."
He gestured toward the courtyard where Retsu had been training her. "Compared to what she went through, you definitely got the easy part."
"She barely moved from her position. All you had to do was attack and defend."
Qingyue shook her head slightly. "I still couldn't break through her defense."
"Well," Yun Che said with a small shrug, "you're fighting someone who has mastered the Way of the Sword."
He took another sip of coffee. "Someone who eventually started learning other weapons…"
"…because she got bored of using swords."
"Yuu-kun! I am not bored," Retsu protested immediately. "Maybe a little. But learning other weapons can be fun."
Yun Che gave her a flat look while sipping his coffee.
Qingyue tilted her head slightly. "The Way of the Sword?"
Retsu smiled gently. "It's not that difficult once you comprehend it."
Yun Che sighed quietly.
Retsu had already reached a celestial level of understanding even back when she was still a Shinigami before her reincarnation. Concepts like sword intent, sword will, and sword laws were things she had long since internalized.
By the standards of this world, her comprehension could easily be considered that of a Sword Deity.
And Cang Yue had already begun touching the fundamentals of such comprehension through her Three Sword Style.
But for someone like Qingyue—
It was a different matter.
"Can Qingyue learn the Way of the Sword?" she asked.
Yun Che shook his head slightly. "I wouldn't recommend it."
He leaned back casually.
"You already manipulate Haki, and with enough mastery you can achieve similar results."
"With the strength and speed boosts Haki gives you, plus energy manipulation enhanced with imagination and Ki-based attacks once you mastered Ki…" He shrugged. "You'd end up making the traditional Way of the Sword look like a joke."
Retsu chuckled softly beside him.
Yun Che continued without hesitation. "You can already fly now that you reach the Sky Profound Realm. Add Nemu's wings to that and your mobility is even better."
"So why bother riding a sword like traditional sword cultivators?" He gestured lazily. "If you really want to ride a sword, you could just condense one with Haki and manipulate the surrounding air currents."
"That would achieve the same thing." He took another sip of coffee. "But honestly, you already have wings."
"And I'm currently developing Ki wings as well."
"So sword-riding techniques are basically obsolete."
If any orthodox Sword Path cultivator heard Yun Che casually dismissing their sacred discipline like that, they would likely attempt to kill him on the spot.
Yun Che spoke as if he were discussing a minor inconvenience.
"Plus, training with Retsu will naturally let you grasp parts of the Way of the Sword anyway," he continued. "That's basically how Nemu picked it up."
He took another sip of coffee.
"So instead of focusing entirely on that… I suggest you look into other skills as well."
Qingyue nodded slightly. "Then… is there a suitable skill for Qingyue?"
"Hmmm…" Yun Che leaned back, thinking. "I probably have a few options in mind."
He tapped his temple. "But I'll need some time to dig through my mind palace and find something that suits you."
"Mind palace?" Qingyue repeated.
"There's a lot of stuff stored up here," Yun Che said, pointing at his head. "Knowledge, techniques, combat styles…" He shrugged. "Same way I compiled the Three Sword Style techniques for Little Yue."
Cang Yue blinked.
Qingyue looked thoughtful. "Can Qingyue learn what Sister Yue learned?"
Yun Che immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Three Sword Style doesn't suit you."
"You don't have the foundation for handling three blades simultaneously. Little Yue developed that style naturally through her own instincts." He gestured toward the courtyard. "For now, just focus on building your fundamentals under Retsu."
"Once I go through my techniques, I'll find something better suited for you."
Especially since you're using a sword with a ribbon attached." Qingyue looked down slightly. "Can Qingyue combine it with Frozen Cloud Sword Art?"
"You could try," Yun Che admitted. "But Snowflower is basically a katana with a ribbon extension."
"The structure and movement of that weapon are completely different from the Frozen Cloud sword forms."
He shook his head. "If you force them together, they'll clash."
"They're highly incompatible."
He waved a hand casually. "Don't worry though. I'll find something for you."
"For now, focus on improving your Haki control." He leaned forward slightly. "Once you're ready, I'll start teaching you Rokushiki."
"Rokushiki?" Qingyue asked.
"The Six Inhuman Arts," Yun Che explained. "They're techniques designed to push the human body to its absolute limits."
He nodded toward Cang Yue. "Right now, she's the only one among you who has properly cultivated them."
"I could ask her to help train you."
He glanced toward Little Fairy and Chu Yueli. "I'm pretty sure those two would want to learn them too."
He shrugged. "So why not focus on that while I figure out the best sword style for you?"
Qingyue lowered her head respectfully. "Qingyue will listen to you."
"Good girl," Yun Che said with a small, approving smile. "Since all of you are here… we might as well improve the Starry Tear technique I taught you the other day. I'll help Little Yue and the others master this later."
Qingyue blinked slightly.
"Starry Tear… isn't complete?"
"It's only the foundation," Yun Che replied as he casually took the shinai from her hand. "A five-hit sequence. Enough to build rhythm—but not enough to finish a fight. Still, it can considered a powerful five hit attack."
He stepped forward and summoned a dummy target from his inventory, planting it firmly into the ground.
"The complete version is called…"
He raised the bamboo sword.
Then—
He moved.
The first strike came like a flash.
Tak!
Then another—
Tak! Tak!
His body flowed seamlessly, stepping into an invisible pattern as if tracing the corners of a square.
But instead of striking once—
He struck twice at each point.
The tempo accelerated.
Tak! Tak! Tak! Tak!
Each hit landed with perfect precision, the rhythm tightening like a coiling spring.
Then—
He shifted.
Two rapid strikes landed at the center.
Tak! Tak!
And finally—
He stepped in.
The last strike came down with overwhelming force.
CRACK!
The dummy shattered completely.
Silence followed.
Even though it had only been a shinai, the execution carried overwhelming technique and control.
Mio, Retsu, Nemu, and Qingyue all widened their eyes.
"…What was that?" Qingyue whispered.
Yun Che lowered the shinai slightly.
"Mother's Rosario."
He exhaled softly.
"An eleven-hit Original Sword Skill from the Dead Spirit Realm. Designed for one-handed swords." He gave a faint, almost amused smile. "Funny enough… the one who created it had the same name as me."
The others remained silent, still processing what they had just seen.
Because what Yun Che had demonstrated wasn't just speed—
It was flow, precision, and overwhelming mastery condensed into a single sequence.
A technique that, once mastered—
Could decide a battle in an instant.
"Now, why don't you girls master this?" Yun Che said, tossing the shinai back to Qingyue.
"Yosh! Let's do it, everyone!" Retsu pumped her fist enthusiastically.
"Ouhh!!" Mio squealed, while Nemu gave a quiet nod.
Qingyue looked down at the shinai in her hands.
A harmless training weapon.
Yet, in his hands, it had just shattered a target completely.
Then her gaze lifted to Yun Che's back.
Silent resolve formed in her eyes.
They trained until sunrise.
The night passed in a blur of strikes, footwork, and repeated failure.
Retsu grasped the technique the fastest—unsurprising, given her mastery and the system's assistance. Nemu and Mio followed closely behind, adapting to the rhythm of the eleven-hit sequence with mechanical precision.
Qingyue, however, relied on repetition.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Her Starry Tear grew faster, sharper, more controlled. Slowly, she began to understand the extended pattern—layering additional strikes, adjusting tempo, refining transitions.
By dawn, she could execute a rough version of Mother's Rosario.
Not perfect—
But functional.
If she hadn't learned Starry Tear beforehand, this would have been impossible. Give it a few more hours, she could finally master the Mother's Rosario.
Exhausted, Qingyue lowered her shinai and turned toward Retsu.
Mio and Nemu were already seated nearby, catching their breath.
"Sister Retsu," Qingyue asked softly, "Yuuki said you've mastered the Way of the Sword… a woman with thousands of techniques."
She hesitated slightly. "Then why do you still learn new skills from him?"
Retsu smiled gently. "Ufuu… it's love."
"Love?"
Retsu nodded, her expression warm. "Anything from him is enough to make me excited to learn."
She glanced toward Yun Che. "Skills from this continent don't really interest me anymore. But anything Yuu-kun offers…"
"I want to learn it."
Qingyue absorbed her words quietly. "I see…"
Retsu continued, her tone thoughtful. "Mastering the Way of the Sword is only one path."
"What about the Way of the Halberd? The Spear? Other weapons?"
She gave a soft chuckle. "I still have a long way to go."
"Recently… I've even started getting interested in halberds."
"Then… please guide this Qingyue alongside you." Qingyue lowered her head slightly. "I may not surpass you… but at least, allow me to stand beside you."
Retsu stepped closer and gently patted her head. "Ufuu… I'll guide you in any way I can."
"Even more so after receiving your blessing."
Qingyue's expression softened.
"Alright," Yun Che's voice suddenly called out, breaking the quiet moment. "Why don't we freshen up? I'll prepare breakfast."
The group looked toward him.
The long night of training had ended.
Qingyue blinked.
"But… didn't we already have breakfast before training?"
"We had one, yes..." Yun Che admitted casually. "But what about second breakfast?"
Qingyue tilted her head in confusion. "Is second breakfast a real thing?"
Yun Che chuckled. "I'm kidding."
He waved his hand toward the courtyard where the others were still training. "These girls just like to eat."
"And you burned quite a bit of energy during training just now." He finished the rest of his coffee. "So of course you'll want to eat again to recover it."
Qingyue nodded slowly.
That did make sense.
Before Yun Che could say anything further—
Two presences approached the courtyard.
Yun Che turned his head.
Walking through the entrance was Xue Ling.
And beside her—
The woman they had saved the previous night.
Xue Yin.
The same woman Yun Che had pushed beyond her limits… turning her into a newly awakened Monarch.
Xue Yin.
A woman who appeared to be around the same age as Little Fairy, yet possessed power that most cultivators could only dream of reaching in several lifetimes.
Women of her age who devoted themselves entirely to cultivation would normally only reach the Heaven Profound Realm, perhaps the Sky Profound Realm if they were exceptionally talented.
But Xue Yin was different.
Her Enchantress constitution had allowed her to surpass those limits and step into the Sovereign Profound Realm—a legendary realm usually reserved only for the cultivators of the Sacred Grounds.
Despite the twenty-year age difference between her and Xue Ling, the two sisters looked almost identical.
They carried the same beauty.
The same presence.
The same natural elegance.
Standing together, they could easily be mistaken for twins.
The only difference was that Xue Yin's aura was no longer chaotic and overwhelming like before.
It had stabilized.
Controlled.
Now she could truly stand beside her younger sister.
Everyone in the courtyard instinctively turned their attention toward her.
Aside from Mio, Xue Yin had now become the second Monarch-level cultivator within the Blue Wind Empire.
A Sixth Level Sovereign Profound Realm expert.
A level of power few people in the world would dare to offend—and one many factions would desperately attempt to recruit.
Xue Yin walked forward alongside Xue Ling before stopping in front of Yun Che.
"I did not have the chance to properly thank you for healing me, child."
"Just call me Yun Che," he replied casually. "And you don't have to thank me. I did it for Sister Ling."
But Xue Yin shook her head.
"I thank you from the bottom of my heart."
She bowed deeply.
A Monarch bowing like that was an extremely rare sight.
Yun Che quickly stepped forward and gently helped her straighten up.
"Don't worry about it," he said with a smile. "It was my pleasure to help."
But Xue Yin's expression remained serious.
"I swear that I will repay this debt of gratitude one day." Her voice was firm. "My life… my body… they belong to you."
Yun Che waved his hand dismissively. "Don't worry about it. I don't need anything like that."
"No," Xue Yin insisted. "A life debt cannot be ignored so easily."
Yun Che sighed softly. "Fine."
"Then I want that life."
Both sisters looked at him.
He smiled. "Dedicate it to staying with your sister."
"You left her for twenty years."
"Spend the next twenty years by her side."
Xue Yin blinked in surprise.
"This…"
"Consider it my request for repayment," Yun Che said with a grin.
For a moment, Xue Yin simply stared at him.
Then a faint smile appeared on her face. "You truly are a one-of-a-kind man."
"My gratitude for saving this foolish sister of mine," Xue Ling said as she lowered her head in a respectful bow.
Yun Che waved his hand casually. "Hey, you're Little Yue's guardian. Besides, seeing you happy with your sister again is already satisfying enough."
He grinned lightly.
The simple remark made Xue Ling blush faintly.
"Just take good care of each other," Yun Che continued. "You two have plenty of time to make up for the years you lost."
He glanced toward Xue Yin. "And now you've got a Monarch-level sister watching your back."
"You're basically safe."
Xue Ling nodded. "Yes… that is true."
But her expression quickly turned firm. "That doesn't mean I'll let her be the one protecting me."
"Ling'er?" Xue Yin looked at her in surprise.
Xue Ling folded her arms confidently. "Give me five months."
"That's all I need to surpass her."
Xue Yin blinked. "That's not possible."
Xue Ling smiled faintly. "We have our ways, Yin'er."
"You'll be surprised."
Yun Che sighed quietly to himself.
He knew exactly what she was referring to.
Those cultivation Level Three XP pills.
With normal cultivation and sufficient resources, Xue Ling might need about a year to climb all the way to the Sovereign Profound Realm using her Enchantress Body.
But with the pills he had created…
It was essentially easy experience points.
Those pills were essentially easy experience points. Still, Yun Che knew there was another issue. Even if Xue Ling reached the same realm as her sister, Xue Yin's modified constitution meant she could still carry ten levels of excess power within her body. Unless Yun Che eventually modified Xue Ling's body in a similar way, the older sister would remain stronger despite equal cultivation levels.
"Ufuu… it seems more and more people are stepping into the Monarch realm, Danna-sama," Mio mused, fanning herself lazily.
Xue Yin looked toward her.
"You are…?"
"Mio desu," the girl replied cheerfully. "Nice to meet you, Lady Xue Yin."
Xue Yin suddenly widened her eyes.
"Mio… wait. Are you the Mio mentioned in the rumors? The Ninth Level Monarch?"
Even though she had lived as a secluded fairy for many years, news still reached the Lunar Blossom Sect. She had heard whispers of a mysterious Monarch who had appeared in the Imperial City not long ago.
"Yup," Mio replied casually. "Nice to see another Monarch."
She stepped forward and shook Xue Yin's hand with a friendly smile. "You really do look like Ling-san."
Despite her power, Xue Yin carried no arrogance. Her demeanor remained gentle and humble—something Mio immediately liked. Mio herself rarely showed friendliness to outsiders, but since Xue Yin was Xue Ling's sister and lacked any prideful attitude, befriending her felt natural.
"Please treat me well, Lady Mio," Xue Yin said politely.
"Don't worry," Mio replied with a grin. "Just Mio. We can be friends, desu."
Nearby, Qingyue stepped forward and bows. "Xia Qingyue of the Frozen Cloud Asgard."
"Ah, I remember," Xue Yin said thoughtfully. "You were the second runner-up in the tournament. Fancy meeting an Asgardian fairy here."
Nemu bowed politely. "Unohana Nemuri, desu. Pleased to meet you."
"Unohana…" Xue Yin nodded in recognition. "Ah, yes—the sister of the second one who helped save me."
She smiled warmly. "Thank you on behalf of both of us. I would like to meet your sister as well."
"Nee-sama is currently cooking," Nemu replied. "You can join us for breakfast."
Nemu bows and took off to the kitchen to help her sister alongside Qingyue.
Soon after, Xue Yin greeted Little Fairy and Chu Yueli as they approached. She had heard stories about them as well—two sisters from the Frozen Cloud Asgard, both masters among the so-called Asgardian fairies.
These were the people who had come to her aid.
Her gratitude toward them ran deep.
In truth, she had never held a good impression of the Frozen Cloud Asgard before. But seeing Chu Yuechan, Chu Yueli, and Xia Qingyue together began to change that perception.
Perhaps not every Asgardian carried arrogance.
After a moment, Xue Yin sighed softly. "I do wonder how people will tell the two of us apart."
Yun Che chuckled. "Don't worry about that."
"We can easily tell you apart using Haki."
"Haki?" Xue Yin asked curiously.
"It's part of our cultivation system," Yun Che explained. "Two people may look identical, but you can't fake life force or scent."
"Even twins carry different scents."
"You can dress the same and look the same, but those subtle differences remain."
"Haki cultivators can perceive them clearly."
"I see…" Xue Yin nodded.
Then she turned to her sister. "Are you also a Haki cultivator now, Ling'er?"
"Yes," Xue Ling replied. "I recently awakened it with Yun Che's help."
She hesitated briefly before speaking again. "I know you only just met my sister… but I would greatly appreciate it if you could help awaken her Haki as well."
"Ling'er…" Xue Yin murmured softly, clearly not wanting her sister to plead on her behalf.
"Please… I—" Xue Ling began again.
"Okay." Yun Che answered immediately.
Xue Ling blinked in surprise. "You'll allow it?"
"Haki can technically be learned by anyone," Yun Che said calmly. "But I don't awaken it for random strangers."
He glanced between the sisters. "Besides… I saw quite a bit while healing your sister."
"You two share the same constitution, don't you?"
Xue Ling froze slightly.
"…."
She had not expected Yun Che to recognize their secret so easily.
"Don't worry," Yun Che said casually. "You're not the only ones here with special bodies."
He crossed his arms. "So I'll extend the same invitation to you."
"You can learn it as well—so long as you dedicate that power to the same cause your sister serves."
"Protecting your sister… and her princess."
Xue Yin bowed slightly. "Then… may I learn it as well?"
Yun Che shrugged. "I'd prefer keeping that power within our circle."
"But since you'll remain close to Sister Ling… we can begin teaching you when you're ready."
"Haki is a life-changing power."
Xue Yin lowered her gaze slightly, a faint blush appearing on her cheeks.
"Yes… I will be waiting."
"Oh look," Jasmine's voice echoed inside Yun Che's mind. "Someone just charmed another woman. Someone extremely special that is."
Her tone carried clear amusement. "I told you before—saving a woman's life tends to bind her to you forever."
"I had no such intention," Yun Che replied internally. "I only did it for Sister Ling… and to avoid getting myself blown up."
"Sure," Jasmine replied dryly. "Remember the tomb incident with that woman over there?"
She was referring to Chu Yueli.
"Hey," Yun Che protested mentally. "That was Mihawk. Not me."
Jasmine scoffed. "And this time it's you."
Yun Che rolled his eyes. "I can just turn her down if it becomes a problem. No big deal."
"You really think it's that easy?" Her voice turned slightly more serious. "You have no idea what an Enchantress Body truly means, do you?"
Yun Che paused. "You know about it?"
"Of course I do," Jasmine replied. "It's an extremely powerful profound body that born on twins every thousand years. Once extremely sought in the Realm of the Celestials. In this case, not among twins. I didn't mention it earlier because you were too focused on healing her."
She continued calmly. "You have a knack on charming women with amazing bodies. Qingyue's Nine Profound Exquisite Body, Xuyi's successor... Cang Yue's Lin Lunar Body and now, the Xue sisters' Enchantress Bodies."
"Enchantresses carry a curse that naturally enthralls men around them."
"But they themselves usually carry no malicious intent."
"However…" Her tone sharpened slightly. "Once they find someone they genuinely care about… they will stop at nothing to obtain that man."
"Why?!" Yun Che nearly blurted aloud.
"Because you're the only man who cannot be enthralled by them," Jasmine answered simply. "Of course they'd want someone like that."
She continued. "And let's not forget—Xue Ling already wants your alternate form, Mihawk."
"Which, indirectly, means you."
Yun Che fell silent.
"And now the older sister appears," Jasmine went on mercilessly. "The same man saves her life."
"The same man who can resist the Enchantress Body completely." She gave a dry conclusion.
"Congratulations."
"You've just gained the attention of women who won't stop until they obtain your affection."
Her tone made it sound less like congratulations…
…and more like a death sentence.
"..."
Yun Che had absolutely nothing to say.
He slowly turned his head.
Xue Yin was still standing nearby.
And she was smiling at him.
Yun Che immediately turned around and started walking away. Mio also gave the new Monarch a casual nod of acknowledgement.
Xue Yin watched them leave quietly.
Despite her immense power, there was no arrogance in her demeanor. In fact, there was a faint sense of relief in her expression. For twenty years she had lived isolated—surrounded only by poison, pain, and solitude.
Now…
For the first time in a long while—
She found herself standing among people.
And she was quietly grateful just to be there.
All because of that man.
"Took you a while." The voice came from ahead. Cang Yue stood there with Mulan and Lin Yueru, clearly waiting.
"Yue'er… forgive me," Xue Ling said with a respectful bow. "My sister fell asleep earlier."
"Don't worry about it," Cang Yue replied lightly. "I had Mulan and Yueru with me."
Xue Yin stepped forward and bowed politely. "You must be Princess Cang Yue. My sister has told me much about you."
"Yes," Cang Yue replied with a composed smile. "Blue Moon Princess Cang Yue. It is a pleasure to finally meet Lady Xue Yin."
Xue Yin hesitated slightly before speaking again. "I realize this is sudden, but I would like to—"
"You want to become my Imperial Protector, right?" Cang Yue interrupted casually.
She raised a thumb.
"You're hired."
"Eh?" Even Xue Yin was caught completely off guard.
She had been mentally preparing a thousand arguments to convince the princess to accept her.
"That easily?" Xue Ling said in surprise before laughing softly. Even she wanted to beg for Cang Yue accept Xue Yin.
Cang Yue grinned. "Well, for one thing, it gives her an excuse to learn Haki."
"And more importantly… she's a Monarch."
"There's no way I'm rejecting a Monarch-level protector."
Mulan let out a quiet sigh as she watched the exchange.
A Monarch joining the ranks of the Imperial Protectors was no small matter. This was also the first time she had properly met the famed Fairy of the Northern Mountain.
"Yue'er…" Lin Yueru sighed.
Even she had been accepted just as easily once upon a time.
Now, alongside Mulan, they were welcoming Xue Yin as well.
Still, Cang Yue was not someone who accepted protectors carelessly.
She had rejected countless applicants in the past.
She only accepted those she personally deemed worthy.
She was the prodigy of the Qinglong Sect.
Mulan was her distant cousin.
And Xue Yin was the sister of Xue Ling.
Those connections mattered.
Xue Yin bowed again politely. "The princess of the Jin Family and the prodigy of the Qinglong Sect… it is an honor to meet you both. I hope we can work well together."
Lin Yueru awkwardly returned the bow, while Mulan did the same with respectful composure.
Cang Yue smiled quietly.
To think that all of her protectors now stood gathered before her.
If news of this reached the palace, it would undoubtedly shake the entire empire.
Once word spread that a Monarch-level cultivator had joined the Blue Moon Princess's protectors, countless sects and factions would scramble to curry favor with her just like they tried to curry favor with Xue Ling.
But Cang Yue understood something clearly.
Xue Yin had not come for power, influence, or prestige. She had come simply because her sister was here.
==============================
"Sister Yin!"
The voice called out just as Xue Yin entered the watchkeep main hall, following closely behind Xue Ling. The Jin Family alongside Yun Che's party had already begun gathering for breakfast, but the moment she appeared, attention shifted toward her.
"Chuke…" Xue Yin instinctively took a small step back.
For years, she had avoided contact.
Avoided closeness.
Avoided people.
But then she glanced at her sister.
Xue Ling gave a small nod.
Only then did Xue Yin steady herself.
She was cured.
There was nothing to fear anymore.
"To see you so healthy…" Zhong Chuke said, his voice filled with relief. "I never doubted that one day you could be cured."
"Yes," Xue Yin replied softly. "Even I am surprised."
Zhong Chuke studied her for a moment. "Then… you are fully healed now?"
"I am," she nodded. "The curse and the disease are both gone. That Yun Che… truly is a miracle doctor."
Behind him, Tian Xi and Yao Yao quickly stepped forward and bowed.
"We greet the Grand Sect Mistress."
Xue Yin looked at them—and to their surprise, she bowed back.
"You two… thank you."
"Eh?" Both girls froze, completely caught off guard.
"Your stubbornness… your persistence," Xue Yin continued gently, "brought this cure to me."
She lowered her gaze slightly. "Despite my orders not to bring my sister… you chose to defy them."
"For that… I am in your debt."
"No—no, we…" Yao Yao stammered, flustered by the sudden gratitude.
Tian Xi quickly elbowed her side before stepping forward more properly.
"It is an honor to be part of saving the Grand Sect Mistress's life," Tian Xi said. "We only wanted to protect our sect."
Xue Yin smiled faintly.
But to her—
That act of defiance had changed everything.
Xue Yin lowered her gaze to her hands.
They were no longer pale and lifeless. No longer stiff like a porcelain doll. Warmth had returned to her skin, and a natural color now rested on her face.
She flexed her fingers slowly, almost unfamiliar with the sensation. Even the faint stir of hunger within her felt strange—something so ordinary, yet something she had been denied for so long.
For a brief moment, her vision wavered.
Then she stepped forward.
Before Tian Xi and Yao Yao could react, Xue Yin gently pulled both of them into an embrace.
"Thank you…" her voice trembled softly. "Truly… thank you."
The two girls froze, caught completely off guard. They had never seen their Grand Sect Mistress like this—so close, so warm, so human.
Xue Yin held them a moment longer, her arms tightening slightly as if afraid this moment might slip away.
"You gave me a chance to live again," she whispered.
Tian Xi glanced at Yao Yao, still stunned.
Then, slowly, they relaxed—
And returned the embrace.
"You can truly enjoy living for once," Zhong Chuke said gently.
"Yes…" Xue Yin nodded, her voice soft. "I intend to spend as much time as I can with my sister."
Xue Ling smiled faintly at that, seeing a side of her sister she had never been able to witness before.
"Come, Yin'er. You must be hungry."
"Yes…" Xue Yin nodded again, almost shyly.
Then Xue Ling turned slightly and gestured.
"Come on, you two."
Tian Xi and Yao Yao blinked before quickly following along. Zhong Chuke smiled to himself as he walked behind them.
=====================
Breakfast had already been prepared.
Yun Che, Mio, Nemu, and Retsu worked together, laying out freshly made mountain shaped naan bread alongside Mio's special beef curry—the same dish served during the Banquet of Ten Houses a week prior.
The rich aroma filled the hall instantly.
Warm.
Spiced.
Irresistible.
Even those who had just fought through a war found their appetites awakened.
Yoruko and Yoru joined them as well, taking their seats as the group gathered together.
For a moment—
It felt peaceful.
As if the chaos of the battlefield had never happened.
Everyone ate.
And once again, they were reminded just how fortunate they were to have meals like this.
"At this rate," Chu Yueli said calmly, "I might as well move to the Imperial Palace just for the meals. I can't bring myself to eat anything outside of Retsu's cooking anymore."
Little Fairy sighed lightly. "It takes hours to travel from the Asgard to the palace."
Chu Yueli glanced toward Yun Che. "But doesn't that ship of his allow us to travel quickly?"
"We could ask him," Little Fairy replied. "But we should only travel at night. I'm not keen on the Asgard Mistress growing suspicious of our absence during the day."
Her gaze shifted briefly toward Qingyue. "Especially now that Qingyue doesn't seem to care much about sect rules anymore."
Qingyue remained silent, though there was no denial in her expression.
"I admit…" Little Fairy added quietly, "meal times are something I look forward to now."
Nearby, Xue Yin sat in quiet composure, savoring a newly prepared latte from Retsu. The warmth of the cup lingered in her hands, its unfamiliar yet refined taste offering a rare moment of calm amidst the tension that surrounded them.
"What will you do now, Senior Zhong?" Jin Zhuo asked, his tone measured as he turned to the sect master of the Lunar Blossom Sect.
Zhong Chuke exhaled softly before answering. "I had planned to relocate the sect to Xuanwu City. With the Northern Mountain sealed by the avalanche, securing supplies has become increasingly difficult."
Jin Zhuo tilted his head slightly, considering. "Then why not use the Cang Outer Palace? It's currently under siege by the Jin Family."
Zhong Chuke's brows drew together in surprise. "You would hand over the palace so easily?"
"It was originally meant to serve as a fortress," Jin Zhuo replied evenly. "But its defenses are not yet fully established. Rather than let it fall, you could take it. Consider it a gesture—an offering to solidify the alliance between your sect and the Jin Family."
A brief silence followed, heavy with implication. Zhong Chuke's gaze deepened, already envisioning what such support could mean. "We will not forget this debt," he said at last. "With Sister Yin as Grand Sect Mistress, our sect would surely rise among the strongest."
The image of the Lunar Blossom Sect thriving under powerful protection took shape in his mind—stability, influence, and a future no longer dictated by scarcity.
But before that vision could settle, Xue Yin's voice cut through the moment, calm yet resolute.
"I'm sorry, Chuke," she said, setting her cup down gently. "I will be stepping down as Grand Sect Mistress."
"Wait… what?" Zhong Chuke's eyes widened, the composure of a sect master cracking for the first time. Around him, his disciples stiffened in disbelief, and even several members of Yun Che's party turned in shock toward Xue Yin.
Unfazed, Xue Yin set her cup aside and rose gracefully. "I wish to follow my sister. Wherever she goes, I will go. As of now, I serve as the Imperial Protector of Princess Cang Yue… and soon, I will leave with her."
Zhong Chuke took a step forward, his voice faltering. "But—"
"I understand what this means," Xue Yin interrupted gently, though her tone left no room for persuasion. "With a monarch's backing, the sect would become untouchable. But my decision is firm. I spent twenty years apart from my sister… I will not lose that time again."
"Yin'er…" His voice softened, caught between duty and emotion.
She smiled faintly, though there was a trace of self-awareness in her gaze. "Besides, I've contributed little to the sect. I've been nothing more than a figurehead… a freeloader in fine robes. And truthfully—" she glanced toward the distant peaks, "there's little joy in remaining alone atop the mountain. From this moment on… I no longer wish to be the Fairy of the Northern Mountains."
Silence settled, heavy but inevitable.
At length, Zhong Chuke exhaled and straightened. "If your heart is set, I will not stop you. I had planned to entrust the sect to you and retire, once I had properly guided these two into capable successors…"
Xue Yin's eyes softened, but her resolve did not waver. "That doesn't mean there won't be a replacement."
Zhong Chuke frowned slightly. "Who…?"
Xue Yin turned, her gaze landing on a familiar figure beside Zhong Chuke. "Yao Yao."
The young woman blinked, caught off guard. "Y-Yes…?"
"From this day forward," Xue Yin said, her voice carrying both authority and quiet pride, "you will stand as the Guardian of the Northern Mountain… the new Fairy of the Northern Mountains."
A brief pause—then, firmly:
"You are my successor."
"Eh?!!" Yao Yao's eyes widened, her voice nearly cracking under the weight of what she had just heard.
"Yao Yao… will be the new Fairy?" Zhong Chuke repeated, as if confirming the reality before him.
Xue Yin nodded calmly. "Yes. She is far more suited to succeed me."
A playful chuckle broke the tension. "Hoho… Yao'er has become a fairy," Tian Xi teased, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Xi'er!" Yao Yao shot back, flustered, her composure unraveling. "Don't joke about this—I didn't ask for any of it!"
Zhong Chuke's gaze shifted, sharp and deliberate. "And who said you are not one as well, Xi'er?"
"Master…?" Tian Xi froze, her teasing expression vanishing instantly.
His tone grew firm, carrying the weight of a decision long considered. "Once the two of you complete your training, Yao Yao will formally ascend as the Guardian of the Northern Mountain… and you—" he pointed directly at Tian Xi, "—will become the Sect Mistress of the Lunar Blossom Sect, succeeding me."
"Eh?!!" Tian Xi's shock mirrored Yao Yao's from moments ago.
A grin slowly spread across Yao Yao's face, mischief returning in full force. "Serves you right," she said, crossing her arms. "I'm not going to stand alone as some lofty guardian while you do nothing."
"Why me?!" Tian Xi protested, clearly overwhelmed.
Zhong Chuke stepped forward, his presence steady and resolute. "Because both of you possess the strength—and more importantly, the character—to become the pillars this sect needs. Power alone is not enough. You must be examples."
He paused, letting his words settle.
"When your throne training is complete, the Lunar Blossom Sect will pass into your hands. You will lead it forward…"
His voice softened, though it carried no less certainty.
"And I will finally retire."
"But… we're not cut out to lead," Tian Xi said, her voice lacking its usual confidence.
Zhong Chuke chuckled, clearly amused rather than concerned. "Then I will teach you what you need."
"Ehh…?" Both girls deflated at once, any attempt at resistance dissolving under his certainty. For perhaps the first time, they regretted the very power that had set them apart.
"Xi'er…" Yao Yao stepped forward and wrapped her arms tightly around her friend. "I just wanted to keep doing small quests with you. Now I have to become… a Fairy?"
Tian Xi returned the embrace, equally distraught. "And I have to become Sect Mistress…"
Neither of them was ready. Not truly.
But beneath their reluctance lay something undeniable—temperament, talent, and a natural alignment with the sect's lunar arts. They were unrefined pillars, not yet burdened with weight, but strong enough to bear it when the time came.
Xue Yin's voice cut in, calm and reassuring. "Don't worry. My sister mentioned that Yun Che will prepare the same pills you took before. In one month's time, your cultivation will be elevated further before you formally assume your roles."
One month.
A narrow window—yet enough to transform them.
They would need to absorb doctrine, understand the sect's internal structure, inherit its martial legacy, and learn the delicate balance of diplomacy and authority. Governance was not cultivation; it demanded clarity, restraint, and foresight.
Zhong Chuke would personally instruct Tian Xi—resource allocation, elder management, negotiation strategy. Every decision a sect mistress made would ripple outward.
Xue Yin, meanwhile, would guide Yao Yao—mountain defense formations, spiritual perception, and the intangible weight of becoming a symbol others would believe in.
Tian Xi exhaled slowly, then nudged Yao Yao with her elbow. The two exchanged a look—hesitant, but resolute.
They turned back together.
"…We accept," Tian Xi said.
"But on one condition," Yao Yao added, her tone sharpening just slightly.
"Name it," Zhong Chuke said after a brief pause, his tone measured but generous. "You two have earned the right to ask for much."
Tian Xi and Yao Yao exchanged a glance—then spoke without hesitation.
"We want to stay in the watchkeep."
Zhong Chuke's brows furrowed. "But you two—"
"We will still fulfill our duties," Tian Xi cut in, her voice steady now. "We will serve the sect. But we want to live here."
The refusal was not impulsive—it was deliberate.
Tian Xi had no intention of residing in the Sect Mistress courtyard. To others, it was a symbol of authority. To her, it was a suffocating monument to expectation. Vast halls, ancestral tablets, and an oppressive stillness that demanded reverence at every breath. Leadership, in that space, felt less like guidance and more like confinement.
Yao Yao was even more straightforward.
"I'm not living alone on the Northern Mountain," she said flatly.
There was no defiance in her tone—only clarity.
The mountain was sacred, yes. Beautiful, yes. But it was also isolating, steeped in silence and legacy. A place where one watched, guarded, and endured… alone.
"I'm not inheriting loneliness along with the title."
Their proposal followed naturally.
They wished to reside within one of the Jin Family's courtyards.
The implication was immediate—and profound.
That courtyard was not merely comfortable; it was functional in ways the sect had never prioritized. Temperature control without wasting profound energy. Flowing water without logistical strain. Illumination that did not rely on consumable resources. Food preserved, balanced, and—most unusually—enjoyable.
It was not indulgence.
It was efficiency.
Time saved from managing discomfort could be redirected toward cultivation, governance, and mastery. The environment itself reduced friction—something traditional sect structures had long ignored in favor of austerity.
Tian Xi saw it clearly.
Why bind leadership to isolation when clarity of mind was more valuable than ceremonial suffering?
Yao Yao saw it even more simply.
Why live alone… when you didn't have to?
Silence followed their request.
Not out of resistance—but because everyone present understood, on some level, that this was not a whimsical demand.
It was… practical.
They did not speak of prestige, or symbolism, or tradition. They spoke of something far simpler.
They wanted to live comfortably.
To eat food that was actually enjoyable. To rest in rooms cooled without circulating exhausting strands of yin energy through their meridians. To bathe in clean, flowing water—
And after Yun Che introduced something as absurdly simple as a showerhead connected to profound water crystal orbs…
There was no going back.
After experiencing it once—the steady stream, the ease, the absence of ritual and effort—neither of them had any desire to return to the old ways.
When Jin Zhuo finally looked up, his gaze had sharpened.
He was no longer evaluating two girls asking for comfort.
He was calculating the restructuring of power.
If Tian Xi—the future Sect Mistress of the Lunar Blossom Sect—and Yao Yao—the incoming Fairy of the Northern Mountain—chose to reside within the Jin Family watchkeep…
Then the nature of that place would fundamentally change.
On paper, it was shared residence.
In reality—
It was consolidation.
Within a single fortified compound would stand five Thrones.
Jin Zhuo himself.
His wife, Jin Yuelian.
His daughter, Mulan.
Sect Mistress of the Lunar Blossom Sect, Tian Xi.
Fairy of the Northern Mountain, Yao Yao.
Five throne-level experts.
Stationed together.
That concentration alone surpassed the distributed strength of the empire's four great sects—at least in terms of peak combat power within a single location.
And that calculation did not even include Yun Che.
Nor the… irregular variables that followed him.
The conclusion was unavoidable.
The watchkeep would not simply become secure.
It would become—
Untouchable.
For Jin Zhuo, this wasn't ambition—it was alignment with reality. The Jin Family had already tied itself to the sect and Yun Che's rise. Allowing Tian Xi and Yao Yao to stay simply acknowledged what was already happening.
Zhong Chuke, however, did not agree at once.
His first reaction was hesitation.
Traditionally, a Sect Mistress belonged within the sect's grounds, and the Fairy of the Northern Mountain should remain on the mountain. These weren't just customs—they reinforced authority and legitimacy. Letting both reside elsewhere blurred that line.
It was unconventional.
Possibly risky.
But Zhong Chuke was not rigid.
He considered the situation carefully.
The Jin Family watchkeep was more secure than most sect locations, reinforced by both formations and Yun Che's innovations. More importantly, Tian Xi and Yao Yao were at a critical stage. Forcing them into isolation now would do more harm than good.
They didn't need distance.
They needed stability.
The two were inseparable—closer than sisters, perfectly in sync. Splitting them for the sake of tradition would only create unnecessary pressure.
After a long pause, Zhong Chuke exhaled.
He agreed.
For the next month, they would not stay in the cold, silent halls of the sect or the mountain.
They would remain together in the watchkeep.
Train together. Learn together. Prepare together.
When the time came, they would take Yun Che's pills—raising their strength to mid-level Throne. That power would match their new positions, silencing doubt before it could form.
They were still young.
But they would not be unprepared.
Zhong Chuke's decision was no longer about preserving tradition.
It was about shaping the future.
The Lunar Blossom Sect would relocate from the Northern Mountains to Xuanwu City.
Not as a retreat—
But as consolidation.
The Northern Mountains had once offered isolation and clarity. Now, that same isolation had become a weakness. The sect's numbers were too thin, its supply lines too limited. Against a force like the Wu Clan, it could not sustain a prolonged conflict.
Xuanwu City changed that equation.
Recruitment would expand immediately. The city provided access to merchant families, smaller clans, independent cultivators, and even war orphans—an ideal pool to rebuild the sect's ranks.
Operations would also become far more efficient. With Tian Xi and Yao Yao based in the Jin Family compound, coordination—whether administrative, defensive, or diplomatic—could be handled in real time, without the delays of distance.
Zhong Chuke, meanwhile, would step back from formal leadership.
Not into irrelevance—
But into precision.
As a senior advisor, he would guide the two through governance, alliance management, and the realities of wartime leadership—free from the burdens of title, yet fully present where it mattered most.
This was not abandonment of the past.
It was adaptation for survival.
=============
Yun Che could not help the faint sweatdrop forming at his temple.
The girls' original reasoning had been… painfully simple.
Ceiling fans. Air conditioning. Electric lighting. Proper kitchens.
And somehow, that preference for comfort had escalated into a full-scale geopolitical restructuring of sect territory.
He didn't know whether to laugh or sigh.
Jin Zhuo, on the other hand, did not hesitate.
He immediately offered the former Cang Outer Palace—a large, defensible compound located only half an hour from the Jin Family watchkeep. Its position was ideal: close enough for coordination, far enough to function as an independent headquarters.
The decision was executed without delay.
As the Lunar Blossom Sect's Grand Ark descended upon the vacant palace, transformation began at once.
Training grounds were expanded and restructured. Dormitories multiplied to accommodate incoming disciples. Defensive formations were reinforced—layered with both traditional arrays and Yun Che's modern surveillance and monitoring systems.
On the surface, everything moved with precision.
But no one celebrated.
Because this was not the end of a conflict.
It was the prelude.
The Wu Clan had not merely suffered losses.
They had been humiliated.
Their influence in Qiang State had collapsed. Their operational foothold in Jin Province had been dismantled. Their authority—once unquestioned—had been broken in full view of all.
For a clan built on dominance…
Such humiliation demanded blood.
The intelligence reports confirmed it.
War was no longer a possibility.
It was inevitable.
From the distant Wangya Islands, preparations were already in motion. Ten thousand half-hollows—grotesque hybrid siege units—were being mobilized. Their transport vessels gathered just beyond visible coastal range, hidden but unmistakable in intent.
Their target required no speculation.
The nearest landing point lay along the beach less than a day's march from Xuanwu City.
Once a foothold was secured—
The city would follow.
What had begun as strategic relocation now hardened into emergency fortification.
Within the Jin compound stood five Thrones.
Two more—Tian Xi and Yao Yao—were on the verge of reaching mid-level power.
Yun Che remained an anomaly unto himself.
Recruitment surged daily.
And yet—
Ten thousand half-hollows were not a raiding force.
They were an invasion.
No one spoke it aloud, but all felt it.
The Lunar Blossom Sect had left behind the quiet isolation of the Northern Mountains and stepped directly into the center of a coming storm.
And soon—
The beach would decide everything.
Whether this new foundation would stand…
—or be written in blood.