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A light breeze drifted across the canopies of the Greenwood Kingdom, brushing through the ancient leaves of the Elder Tree as a final farewell.
Near the edge of the great gate, two skyships hovered gently, their formation sigils glowing dimly as the final preparations were made. Feiyin stood beside Qingling at the boarding ramp, Baiyu coiled around his shoulders, her white scales glinting under the filtered light. Ruan waited just behind, checking the crew's inventory one last time, though her eyes occasionally glanced toward the central city road.
Moments later, the Queen of Greenwood emerged with her court in tow. She walked with poise, but her eyes betrayed the astonishment she still hadn't entirely masked. A flashback danced through Feiyin's mind-
A few days earlier, deep within the Elder Tree Grove, both he and Qingling had sat in focused meditation. The wood essence around them had swirled unnaturally, spiraling and condensing as they entered enlightenment. When they opened their eyes, the intent had been there- full and complete. The Queen, who had come to oversee their final audience, had stood speechless for nearly a minute.
"Two young cultivators... and both of you comprehended Wood Intent in my own lands," she had murmured. "It seems the forest has claimed you as its own."
Back in the present, she stepped forward and handed Feiyin a polished emerald-green jade.
"This was forged by a formation grandmaster I met in my youth, during my wilder years. It links directly to my own communication jade, and is resistant to jamming and distortion. If you need to contact me- or if I need to reach you- it will serve."
Feiyin bowed, his tone respectful. "Thank you, Your Majesty."
The Queen's gaze softened, though she maintained her regal posture. "Take care yourself, we still have a long, bumpy road ahead of us."
Feiyin nodded solemnly, the weight of their alliance lingering between them.
Thalatiel approached soon after, a longbow slung across his back and another in progress cradled in his arms. He looked the same as always- casual confidence hiding focused determination- but there was a glint in his eyes that wasn't there before.
"I'll have this one finished by the time you return," he said, lifting the bow of silvered wood. "With stronger tension and a better curve. I'm calling it 'Green Fang.' It'll be my seventh bowstring... if I can finish it before you're back."
Feiyin raised an eyebrow. "Pushing past six already?"
Thalatiel grinned. "I have my reasons. Let's just say a certain lady has high standards."
Qingling smirked. "Just don't let it snap again. That'd be a shame for your courtship aspirations."
Thalatiel looked wounded. "That was user error. Not craftsmanship. I'll have you know, my bows are legendary."
Feiyin chuckled, watching as Baiyu slithered a bit higher up his shoulders, her eyes gleaming with interest at the exchange.
Behind them, a few young noble ladies stood at a distance, whispering behind their fans. One gave a dramatic sigh.
"He's already leaving? We didn't even get to invite him to the flower pavilion..."
Feiyin heard it but pretended not to. Baiyu, however, gave a smug flick of her tail.
Qingling leaned closer with a teasing smile. "Your fan club grows. Should I be jealous?"
Feiyin shrugged with a grin. "Perhaps? I mean, even Fenlan has his own."
Qingling turned toward him with mock indignation. "Hey!"
Then she looked at her beast companion, Fenlan, who stood regal and aloof near her side, his crystal antlers gleaming in the light. Her eyes narrowed in playful betrayal. "You as well, Fenlan?" she asked with exaggerated drama.
Fenlan gave a soft snort and turned his head proudly away, as if agreeing with Feiyin.
"Traitor," Qingling muttered under her breath, though a smile tugged at her lips.
With laughter still trailing the breeze, the Red Lotus contingent ascended the ramps and boarded their twin skyships. As the vessels lifted into the air, the green canopy of Greenwood slowly faded behind them, replaced by endless blue sky and the horizon of new trials ahead.
With a final round of farewells, the Red Lotus contingent boarded their twin skyships and lifted into the morning sky, the green horizon of the kingdom fading slowly behind them.
The trip back toward Xu Capital passed without incident, far smoother than their first departure.
During the journey, Feiyin began studying the Spirit Whispering technique- a method of using spiritual sense to directly communicate with others without speaking. Typically reserved for cultivators in the Yin Refining Phase and above, the method had incredible requirements for the soul. Yet Feiyin, with his already advanced spiritual sense-tempered and refined repeatedly through trials and elemental baptisms- found from the jade slip he got the ruin trial that it allowed him to start practicing it ahead of the norm.
After a few hours of immersion, he managed to grasp the basics. Eager to test it, he began communicating with Baiyu using the technique, poking at her thoughts gently as she coiled lazily around his shoulders. It wasn't long before Baiyu groaned in protest, her tail flicking in irritation. She hissed tiredly before slinking off to curl beside Fenlan in a corner of the deck. Feiyin laughed, calling after her, but she pointedly ignored him- though the amused twitch of her tail betrayed her true feelings.
They reached Xu Capital by dusk the next day. The skyships descended toward the Red Lotus headquarters where members helped unload crates of rare herbs, minerals, and essence materials acquired in Greenwood. The formal report of mission completion was made swiftly, and the team was granted a few days of rest.
Feiyin spent his first morning back visiting the orphanage. Disguised beneath a simple illusion talisman, he strolled through the gates unnoticed, a soft smile tugging at his lips as he watched Jin and the other children sparring in the courtyard. Their laughter rang like chimes in the morning breeze, full of energy and innocent bravado.
He waited until the caretaker left them briefly, then quietly stepped into the shaded alcove by the practice ring. Jin was the first to notice the faint fluctuation in the air, his sharp eyes narrowing. But before he could raise alarm, Feiyin dropped the illusion with a small wave, revealing himself.
The children froze for a second before erupting in joy.
"Brother Feiyin!" Jin cried, launching himself forward.
They swarmed him- laughing, shouting, bombarding him with questions. Feiyin let out a hearty laugh and crouched down to embrace them all, ruffling hair, giving quiet greetings, and teasing Jin about how he'd finally grown taller. It didn't escape his notice how much healthier they all looked now- their cheeks rounder, skin less pale, eyes brighter.
Luan, the quiet girl who once clutched ribbon-strung braids in silence, now greeted him with a shy smile and a confident nod, her movements more steady. Han, the straw-weaver, waved excitedly with a new basket already halfway finished on his lap. Even Mi, the self-declared warrior, tried to show off a new stance she'd been practicing with a stick, earning laughter from the others when she stumbled into a pile of blankets.
They spent nearly an hour together. Feiyin listened to their stories- tales of daring bread thefts turned market trades, of straw charms for luck, of nights spent counting stars while practicing breathing forms. He answered their questions, shared a few light jokes, and even gave a short sparring demonstration, carefully controlled so as not to overwhelm. Bao, the toddler, clung to his leg as always, and the twins, Lin and Yao, mimicked his movements like two tiny shadows.
Before leaving, he discreetly placed a small wooden box beneath their sleeping mats. Inside were a few protection talismans along with a bunch of healing pills- nothing overly potent, but enough to guard against sickness and help broken bones.
With one final glance at the joyful chaos behind him- at Jin directing the younger ones, at Luan brushing Yao' hair with a smile, at Han holding up his newest hat proudly- Feiyin stepped back into the world, a quiet warmth settled deep in his chest.
Later that day, Feiyin returned to headquarters and sat down to review the mission scrolls available for the next few months. Based on the Red Lotus's current progress and projected operations, he calculated that they would only be stationed in the outer regions for another half-year before returning to the Saint Spirit Sect. With that in mind, he knew he had to press forward with the elemental infusion phase, solidifying each aspect before their time ran out.