Khanh, Vy, and Minh Triet sat inside the carriage rattling along the forest road back toward the center of Dai Long. Across from them was Tinh Hai, slumped against the wooden wall, drinking heavily from a wine gourd. The strong smell of alcohol filled the air, mixing with the musty scent of the old cart.
The wheels jolted violently, shaking the carriage so hard that Khanh had to grip the railing tightly to avoid being thrown.
"Since there are no goods this time, the drivers probably don't bother using THUY to smooth the road anymore," Khanh thought, staring out the window at the endless green of the forest passing by.
Suddenly, Tinh Hai spoke in his hoarse voice:
"From now on… missions will be smaller, more individual. I'll personally train Minh Triet. Khanh, you'll study under La Diep. As for Vy, she'll learn from Master Ho Lam Uyen."
His words were resolute, yet laced with drunken weariness.
He waved his finger lazily in the air, as if drawing invisible letters, and added:
"Mm… the Nguyen King is preparing for a shift in power. The land will be in turmoil soon. We'll be… very busy."
The three young ones exchanged glances but said nothing, though unease weighed heavily in their hearts.
The journey dragged on. At times, small jokes broke the silence—Vy teasing Minh Triet, causing Khanh to chuckle. But soon the sound of the wheels grinding against the rocky path drowned out their laughter, leaving only silence again.
Along the way, they came upon a group of merchants besieged by a pack of giant Tigers. Without hesitation, they rushed to help.
Those with THUY raised barriers to protect the fragile cargo. Others wielded THO to teleport the merchants to safety. The rest tightened their grips on weapons and charged into battle.
By now, Khanh and Vy had grown used to channeling LINH, no longer fumbling as before. Their movements flowed with confidence, eyes lit with determination. "We're still slower than Minh Triet… but we're catching up. Just keep pushing… we'll be able to protect people, and slay demons too," Vy thought, fire burning inside her.
When the dust settled, the trembling merchants bowed repeatedly, offering Tiger meat and small gifts in gratitude. Their eyes glimmered with respect.
The road stretched on. The afternoon sun dipped westward, gilding the forest canopy in amber light. By dusk, they reached the Toll Station.
The same fat official waddled out from the gate, plastering on a fake smile. Though none of them liked him, they greeted him, paid the toll, and moved on. Behind him, the towering earthen walls loomed, thick and imposing, reminding them that passage always came at a price.
Another day's journey later, they finally arrived at The Heaven's Fracture.
The scene was like a massive ant colony. Papers piled chaotically on stone tables, people rushing to and fro, orders barked out between pounding footsteps echoing through the hall.
Bui To Nhu looked up from a stack of files, her sharp gaze sweeping across the four.
"Back already? Good. Your next missions are waiting. I left the files on the dining bench—one for each of you. Pick them up and read."
Khanh inhaled deeply, feeling the weight of pressure settle in as soon as they returned. The path ahead seemed only to be beginning.