Morning training ended with another deep toll of the mountain bell.
Almost immediately, the once orderly training grounds dissolved into cheerful chaos.
Some disciples rushed toward the dining hall before the best dishes disappeared.
Others headed for lectures, while a handful remained behind to continue practicing.
Joshua quietly returned the wooden sword to the rack.
He had only taken two steps—
"Ghost!"
Joshua stopped.
"..."
He turned slowly.
The young man who had been lounging in the maple tree earlier was jogging toward him with an easy smile, sunlight catching in his long golden hair.
Behind him, another young man with brown hair walked at a much slower pace.
Unlike the blond disciple's bright grin, his expression suggested he'd already apologized for something at least three times that morning.
The brown-haired disciple sighed.
"...Lucian."
"You don't even know him."
Lucian pointed toward Joshua.
"I'll fix that."
"You've known him for exactly..."
Shen Kai looked toward the sky as if calculating.
"...Two minutes."
"That's enough."
"It isn't."
"It is."
"It really isn't."
Lucian ignored him completely.
He stopped in front of Joshua and smiled.
"Morning."
Joshua inclined his head politely.
"Senior Brother."
Lucian looked disappointed.
"...That's so formal."
Joshua waited.
Lucian waited too.
Neither spoke.
Finally Joshua asked,
"...Was there something you needed?"
Lucian blinked.
"...Actually..."
He thought seriously for several seconds.
"...No."
Joshua nodded.
"...Then I'll be leaving."
He stepped around Lucian.
Lucian immediately stepped the same direction.
Joshua changed direction.
Lucian unknowingly did the same.
They repeated this twice more.
Shen Kai covered his face.
"...You're blocking his way."
Lucian looked down.
"...Oh."
He quickly stepped aside.
"My mistake."
Joshua walked forward.
Three steps later—
"Ghost."
Joshua stopped again.
"...Yes?"
Lucian scratched the back of his neck.
"I forgot to introduce myself."
He extended one hand.
"Lucian."
Joshua looked at the offered hand.
Then shook it lightly.
"Joshua."
Lucian smiled.
"I thought your name was Mo Xuanyu."
Joshua paused.
"..."
"...It is."
"..."
Lucian tilted his head.
"...Is it?"
Joshua looked genuinely troubled.
"...I..."
He couldn't explain why that name had slipped out.
It had simply...
Come naturally.
Before the awkward silence could grow—
Shen Kai stepped forward and bowed politely.
"I'm Shen Kai."
"My apologies."
"My friend has a habit of speaking before thinking."
Lucian looked offended.
"I think."
"Occasionally."
Shen Kai looked at Joshua.
"...See what I deal with?"
Joshua considered that.
"...Frequently?"
Shen Kai stared.
Then sighed dramatically.
"...He's learning."
Lucian burst into laughter.
"I like him."
Joshua quietly corrected him.
"...We've spoken for less than five minutes."
"Exactly."
Lucian beamed.
"Imagine how much I'll like you next week."
Joshua wasn't sure how to answer that.
Fortunately...
A loud voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Senior Brother Lucian!"
An inner disciple came running.
"The Sword Hall elder has been looking everywhere for you!"
Lucian froze.
"...Everywhere?"
"...Yes."
"...Does he sound angry?"
The disciple blinked.
"He broke your practice sword yesterday."
Lucian looked genuinely offended.
"It broke itself."
"You threw it into a wall."
"It was a very judgmental wall."
Shen Kai pinched the bridge of his nose.
"...Go."
Lucian sighed dramatically.
"I suppose duty calls."
He turned back toward Joshua.
"We'll talk again, Ghost."
Joshua nodded politely.
"...Safe travels."
Lucian smiled brightly before jogging away toward the Sword Hall.
Halfway across the courtyard—
He suddenly stopped.
Turned around.
Ran back.
Shen Kai groaned.
"I knew it."
Lucian looked at Joshua with complete seriousness.
"I forgot to ask."
Joshua waited.
"...Do you like sweets?"
Joshua blinked.
"...Yes."
Lucian snapped his fingers triumphantly.
"I knew it!"
Then he ran away again.
Joshua watched him disappear.
"..."
Shen Kai remained behind for a moment.
He looked in the direction Lucian had gone before speaking quietly.
"...Don't misunderstand."
Joshua looked toward him.
"He isn't usually..."
Shen Kai searched for the right word.
"...Persistent."
Joshua asked,
"...Am I unusual?"
Shen Kai smiled wryly.
"...Honestly?"
"I think that's what Lucian is trying to figure out."
With a respectful bow, Shen Kai left as well.
Silence returned.
Joshua continued toward the lecture hall.
...
The lecture hall was built entirely from dark cedar wood, its open windows overlooking rows of swaying bamboo.
The scent of ink and old paper lingered in the air.
Joshua found a seat near the back.
Not because he wanted to hide.
Simply because it was quiet.
Around him, disciples gradually filled the room.
Bai Feng hurried in carrying another mountain of books.
He tripped over the doorway.
The books scattered across the floor.
"...Again?"
Lin Xia sighed as she helped gather them.
"I was reading while walking."
"We noticed."
Joshua quietly stood.
Without saying a word, he picked up the remaining scrolls and stacked them neatly.
Bai Feng accepted them with embarrassed gratitude.
"...Thank you."
Joshua nodded once.
"...You're welcome."
Lin Xia watched the exchange with narrowed eyes.
"...Interesting."
Bai Feng looked confused.
"What?"
Lin Xia smiled mysteriously.
"Nothing."
"...Just updating today's rumors."
Joshua looked at her.
"...Please don't."
"I'll try."
She paused.
"...No promises."
Before Joshua could respond—
Elder Han entered.
Every disciple immediately stood.
The elder surveyed the room.
"This afternoon..."
He placed a bamboo scroll on the desk.
"...we begin spirit herb studies."
A chorus of groans echoed through the hall.
Elder Han ignored them.
"If you cannot identify medicine..."
"...you cannot save your life."
He looked toward the class.
"And if you cannot save your own life..."
"...someone else will have to."
His stern gaze swept across the room before settling briefly on Joshua.
"For tomorrow..."
"Each of you will collect five common medicinal herbs from Herb Valley."
"No mistakes."
"If you poison yourselves..."
"The Alchemy Hall will charge you for treatment."
A nervous silence spread through the room.
Even Lin Xia stopped smiling.
Joshua quietly wrote the assignment into his notebook.
Herb Valley.
A place he had never visited.
Somehow...
He had a feeling tomorrow would be far more eventful than today's peaceful lessons.