The mountain bell echoed a fourth time.
Its deep, ancient sound rolled through Cloud Peak like ripples across a still lake.
Joshua followed the stream of white-robed disciples climbing the stone steps toward the Outer Training Grounds.
For the first time since arriving, he slowed his pace.
He wasn't looking for anyone.
He was observing.
Cloud Peak Sect was far larger than it had seemed from Mo Xuanyu's small courtyard.
Stone paths wound between towering pines.
Disciples hurried from every direction, some carrying wooden swords, others balancing stacks of bamboo scrolls. A pair of servant disciples swept fallen leaves into neat piles while an elderly groundskeeper hummed softly as he watered flowering plum trees.
Beyond the outer grounds, mountain peaks disappeared into a sea of clouds.
It was peaceful.
Alive.
"...Beautiful."
The word slipped out before Joshua realized he'd spoken.
It wasn't excitement.
Just... an observation.
"Move!"
A young disciple nearly crashed into him while running down the stairs.
Joshua stepped aside just in time.
The disciple turned around while jogging backward.
"Sorry!"
Then he stopped.
"...Mo Xuanyu?"
Recognition flashed across his face.
"Oh..."
"...Sorry."
Joshua blinked.
"...You already apologized."
"I know."
The disciple scratched his head awkwardly.
"I just... didn't expect you to answer normally."
Joshua considered that.
"...Should I have answered strangely?"
"...No."
The disciple laughed.
"My name's Bai Feng."
He adjusted the stack of books in his arms.
"I work in the Martial Pavilion."
Joshua gave a small nod.
"Joshua."
Bai Feng tilted his head.
"...Joshua?"
Joshua paused.
"..."
"...Mo Xuanyu."
Bai Feng frowned.
"I could've sworn you just said—"
A loud shout interrupted him.
"BAI FENG!"
Both turned.
An elderly instructor stood halfway across the courtyard.
His beard trembled with indignation.
"BROUGHT THE WRONG BOOKS AGAIN?"
Bai Feng looked down.
His eyes widened.
"...Ah."
He had.
He bowed repeatedly toward Joshua.
"I'll explain later!"
Then sprinted away.
The books scattered behind him like frightened birds.
Joshua watched quietly.
"...Interesting."
The Outer Training Grounds stretched across a broad stone platform overlooking the eastern valley.
Nearly two hundred outer disciples had already assembled into neat rows.
Some practiced sword forms.
Others stretched aching muscles.
Several whispered while sneaking glances at Joshua.
"...He's here."
"...He looks different."
"...Didn't he tell everyone they were loud yesterday?"
"I heard he hit his head."
"No, I heard he was possessed."
"No, I heard—"
"You heard too much."
The calm voice cut cleanly through the gossip.
A young woman carrying a bundle of bamboo scrolls walked between the disciples.
She couldn't have been older than seventeen.
Her black hair was tied into a practical braid, and sharp eyes missed nothing around her.
"Morning gossip before training?"
"Really?"
The disciples immediately straightened.
"Senior Sister Lin Xia!"
Lin Xia sighed.
"I've only been gone for ten minutes."
"You've already created three different rumors."
She glanced toward Joshua.
"So."
"You're today's headline."
Joshua looked at her.
"...Headline?"
She nodded.
"Current version?"
She unfolded one scroll dramatically.
"'Mo Xuanyu secretly awakened an ancient inheritance after falling down the stairs.'"
Joshua remained expressionless.
"...Creative."
Lin Xia smiled.
"I thought so too."
She rolled the scroll back up.
"Don't worry."
"By lunchtime, it'll probably become five inheritances."
Joshua asked quietly,
"...Does this happen often?"
She looked genuinely surprised.
"You're new."
Joshua didn't answer.
Lin Xia smiled knowingly.
"Welcome to Cloud Peak."
Then she walked away.
As she passed another group of disciples, Joshua heard her mutter,
"No, he didn't punch an elder."
"...Where do you people get these ideas?"
"Line up!"
A powerful voice thundered across the training grounds.
Instantly, every disciple snapped into position.
Even Lin Xia hurried to her place.
An imposing middle-aged man strode onto the central platform.
His back was perfectly straight.
His expression...
Permanently displeased.
He carried no weapon.
He didn't seem to need one.
"Elder Han."
The title spread quietly through the rows.
Joshua immediately bowed with everyone else.
Elder Han's sharp gaze swept across the assembled disciples.
When it reached Joshua...
It lingered for a fraction of a second before moving on.
"Good."
"None of you are late."
He paused.
"I wish I could say the same about your cultivation."
A collective groan rose from the disciples.
Elder Han ignored it.
"The Sect Challenge begins in one month."
Murmurs erupted.
"So soon?"
"I haven't broken through yet!"
"I was hoping it'd be next season..."
Elder Han struck the stone platform once with a wooden staff.
Silence returned immediately.
"If you're hoping the date changes..."
"It won't."
"If you're hoping your opponent gets weaker..."
"They won't."
"So..."
He folded his hands behind his back.
"...Train."
Morning practice began.
The disciples separated into smaller groups.
Some practiced forms.
Others sparred.
Joshua quietly picked up a wooden sword.
The familiar feeling returned.
His fingers settled naturally around the hilt.
He stepped into an empty corner of the training ground.
One breath.
Then another.
He began.
The movements weren't particularly fast.
Nor especially powerful.
But each flowed into the next with remarkable precision.
No wasted motion.
No unnecessary flourish.
Just efficiency.
Elder Han, walking between the groups correcting stances, stopped for a brief moment.
His eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly.
"...Hm."
Then he continued walking.
Elsewhere...
At the very top of an ancient maple tree overlooking the entire training ground...
A pair of boots swung lazily through the branches.
"...Still boring."
A young man lay comfortably across one thick limb, one arm behind his head.
Golden hair shimmered beneath the morning sunlight.
His white-and-gold robes looked far too expensive for someone currently using a tree as a bed.
Another young man stood below with his arms crossed.
Brown hair.
Perpetually tired eyes.
"...You're skipping your own training again."
Lucian grinned without opening his eyes.
"I'm supervising."
Shen Kai looked around.
"From a tree?"
"Best view."
"...You're unbelievable."
Lucian stretched lazily.
"I've been called worse."
Shen Kai sighed.
"You've also been punished worse."
"...Details."
His golden eyes drifted absentmindedly over the training ground.
One disciple after another.
Nothing interesting.
Then—
His gaze stopped.
Far below...
A lone outer disciple practiced quietly beneath the morning sun.
Simple sword movements.
Nothing flashy.
Yet...
Lucian slowly sat upright.
"...Huh."
Shen Kai followed his line of sight.
"What?"
Lucian didn't answer immediately.
Instead...
He watched one more swing.
One more step.
One more breath.
"...That's strange."
"What is?"
"I don't know."
For reasons he couldn't explain...
He couldn't look away.
The morning bell echoed once more.
And somewhere below...
Joshua lowered his wooden sword, completely unaware that someone had just noticed him.