By the time the herb lesson ended, the sun had climbed high above Cloud Peak.
Joshua's basket had passed Elder Mu's inspection without issue.
"Excellent."
She looked over the neatly arranged herbs.
"Not a single mistake."
Several disciples groaned.
Chen Hu looked at Joshua with disbelief.
"...How?"
Joshua answered honestly.
"...I don't know."
Elder Mu chuckled.
"Some people spend years learning."
"Others simply remember with their hands."
Joshua paused.
"...Remember?"
The elder tilted her head.
"...Hm?"
"...Nothing."
Joshua lowered his eyes.
Perhaps she hadn't meant anything by it.
Yet that single word lingered in his thoughts.
The afternoon lecture had been cancelled.
Instead, Elder Han gathered the outer disciples in the courtyard.
"If you've completed today's assignment..."
"...you are free to cultivate."
The announcement barely finished before disciples scattered in every direction.
Training grounds.
Dormitories.
Mission Hall.
Dining Hall.
Everyone already had somewhere to be.
Joshua remained standing.
He realized something.
He had nowhere to go.
"..."
Not because Cloud Peak wasn't welcoming.
Simply because...
He hadn't yet found his place within it.
"Joshua!"
Bai Feng hurried over, clutching three bamboo scrolls against his chest.
"I finally found you."
Joshua inclined his head.
"Senior Brother Bai."
Bai Feng looked around nervously.
"...Are you busy?"
"No."
"...Good."
His face brightened.
"Would you..."
He hesitated.
"...Help me carry books?"
Joshua blinked.
"...Books?"
"There are too many."
Joshua looked at the towering stack.
"...There are."
"...I may have borrowed more than I can carry."
Joshua quietly took half of the pile.
"...Lead the way."
Bai Feng smiled with visible relief.
"Thank you."
The Martial Pavilion stood halfway up the mountain.
Unlike the grand lecture halls or training grounds, it was remarkably quiet.
Ancient wooden shelves stretched toward the ceiling, filled with thousands of bamboo scrolls and bound manuscripts.
The scent of old paper and sandalwood lingered in the air.
Joshua instinctively lowered his voice.
"...It's peaceful."
Bai Feng smiled proudly.
"My favorite place."
"I can see why."
An elderly librarian sat behind the entrance desk.
Without looking up from his book, he spoke.
"...You're late."
Bai Feng froze.
"...Again?"
"You said you'd return those scrolls before noon."
"...It's only..."
Bai Feng looked outside.
"...Slightly after noon."
The old man finally lifted his head.
"...Three hours."
"..."
"...Still today."
The librarian sighed deeply.
"I'll allow it."
Bai Feng smiled sheepishly.
"I knew Elder Xu was the kindest."
"I am not."
"You are."
"I am tired."
"...That too."
Joshua watched the exchange quietly.
The old man noticed him.
"...Mo Xuanyu."
Joshua bowed politely.
"Elder."
"You've never visited before."
"No."
"Why now?"
Joshua looked around the vast library.
"...I wish to learn."
The old librarian studied him for a long moment.
Then nodded.
"...Good answer."
He reached beneath the desk and placed a small wooden token in Joshua's hand.
"Temporary library access."
"Do not damage the books."
"I won't."
"Do not write in them."
"I won't."
"Do not eat inside."
Joshua looked genuinely confused.
"...People do that?"
Both Elder Xu and Bai Feng answered together.
"Lucian."
Joshua spent the next hour wandering through the endless rows of books.
Unlike Bai Feng, who disappeared almost immediately into the history section, Joshua moved without any particular destination.
His fingers brushed lightly across the titles.
Introduction to Spiritual Herbs
History of the Eastern Kingdoms
Spirit Beast Encyclopedia
Founding of Cloud Peak Sect
He paused.
"...Cloud Peak."
He removed the scroll carefully.
Settling beside an open window, Joshua began reading.
The pages spoke of a sect founded nearly a thousand years ago by four wandering cultivators who believed strength should serve compassion, not ambition.
The sect's symbol—a white crane flying above clouds—represented freedom earned through discipline.
Joshua continued reading.
About the founders.
The early disciples.
The traditions.
The annual festivals.
The names of mountains surrounding the sect.
Hours passed unnoticed.
"...So this is home."
The words slipped out quietly.
He didn't notice Bai Feng, standing only a few shelves away, glance toward him with a faint smile.
Elsewhere...
Near the Sword Hall.
"Again."
Grand Elder Qing Yuan stood with his hands behind his back.
Before him...
Lucian knelt perfectly straight.
Shen Kai stood nearby, wisely remaining silent.
The Grand Elder looked at the broken practice swords lying on the ground.
"...Explain."
Lucian pointed confidently.
"The wall attacked first."
"..."
"The swords bravely defended me."
"..."
"...Then they sacrificed themselves."
The Grand Elder slowly closed his eyes.
Shen Kai quietly muttered,
"...I don't know him."
The old cultivator opened one eye.
"How many swords this month?"
Lucian thought seriously.
"...Including today's?"
"...That would be the usual way to count."
"...Seven?"
"Twelve."
"...Ah."
"Memory is difficult."
The Grand Elder sighed.
"Your punishment."
Lucian straightened.
"Herb Valley?"
"No."
Lucian brightened.
"Cleaning duty?"
"No."
His smile grew.
"Copying scriptures?"
"No."
Lucian blinked.
"...Then?"
The Grand Elder smiled very slightly.
"You will assist Elder Xu in reorganizing the Martial Pavilion."
Lucian's smile disappeared.
"..."
"...Master."
"...Please."
"I'd rather fight."
The old cultivator turned and walked away.
"Report immediately."
"...Cruel."
Shen Kai patted Lucian's shoulder.
"...You earned it."
"I know."
"...That's the worst part."
Late afternoon sunlight streamed through the Martial Pavilion windows.
Joshua remained completely absorbed in a scroll describing the ancient cultivation realms.
He didn't notice someone approaching until a familiar voice sighed dramatically.
"...I knew I'd find you surrounded by books."
Joshua looked up.
Lucian stood there carrying an enormous stack of dusty scrolls nearly taller than himself.
"...Senior Brother."
Lucian looked miserable.
"I've been sentenced."
"...To reading?"
"Worse."
"Organizing."
Joshua glanced at the mountain of books.
"...That is unfortunate."
"It is."
Lucian dropped the stack onto a nearby table with a heavy thud.
Dust exploded into the air.
Both young men coughed.
From across the pavilion—
Elder Xu's voice rang out.
"...Lucian."
"...Less destruction."
Lucian called back,
"That wasn't destruction."
"It was gravity."
Joshua quietly reached for the fallen scrolls.
Without a word, he began stacking them neatly.
Lucian blinked.
"...You're helping?"
"You have work."
"I do."
"...Thank you."
Joshua simply nodded.
For the next hour...
Neither spoke much.
One sorted.
One shelved.
Occasionally Bai Feng wandered over to correct the order.
The silence was comfortable.
Broken only once.
Lucian held up a faded scroll.
"...Ghost."
Joshua looked over.
"What is 'Dual Cultivation Through Goat Meditation'?"
Bai Feng nearly dropped the books in his hands.
"E-Excuse me?!"
Elder Xu looked up sharply.
"...Give me that."
Lucian obediently handed it over.
The old librarian glanced at the title.
His ears immediately turned red.
"...Who put this in the cultivation section?"
He disappeared into a restricted archive without another word.
An awkward silence settled over the pavilion.
Bai Feng stared at the floor.
Joshua looked at Lucian.
"...I don't think you're supposed to read that."
Lucian nodded solemnly.
"...I figured that out."
"...How?"
"...Elder Xu has never moved that fast."
For the first time that afternoon...
Joshua let out the faintest sound.
It wasn't quite a laugh.
More like...
A quiet breath of amusement.
Lucian looked at him in surprise.
Then smiled.
"...There it is."
Joshua tilted his head.
"...What?"
"Nothing."
Lucian picked up another stack of books.
"...Just..."
"...You look better like that."
Joshua didn't answer.
But for reasons he couldn't explain...
The Martial Pavilion felt a little warmer than before.