The journey continued in a tense silence. Xinyi occasionally glanced back, her golden eyes narrowed at Lei. Even in human form, he smelled like heavenly fire, and it made her scales itch.
After a while, the sun began to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in bruises of purple and gold, the sound of crashing water began to drown out the wind.
"We're here," Gong Feng announced, pointing toward a massive veil of white water crashing into a turquoise basin below.
"The Silent Falls. If there's indeed a cottage, it should be just beyond that mist."
Xinyi began her descent, landing heavily in a clearing surrounded by ancient, moss-covered trees. The air here was thick with moisture and the scent of damp earth.
Johan stepped off the dragon's back, his feet hitting the soft ground. He looked at the waterfall. In Qian Yun's memory, this was a place of peace. To Johan, it was just a lot of moving water.
"A beautiful place for a homecoming," Long Xiao remarked, stepping off his cloud (which vanished into thin air the moment his feet touched the grass). "So, where is this family we've traveled so far to see?"
Long Xiao sighed dramatically, Lei following behind him closely.
"Master, this place is unsettling." Lei shook the feeling away.
"Hmph, looks like someone's becoming a chicken as soon as they touch down. Hiding behind your Master now." Long Xiao scoffed, scanning the area with his spiritual sense but he didn't detect any mortal presence within several hundred feet.
"Mhm… that's unusual." Long Xiao thought, his lips twitching. "This is going to be interesting."
Johan didn't answer immediately. He looked around, his eyes falling on a small, humble cottage tucked into the treeline.
"Li Ping," Johan said softly. "Stay close. I suspect my 'family' might find me a bit... changed."
The mist parted just enough to reveal the cottage.
A small, timeworn structure crouched at the edge of the clearing like it had grown from the earth itself. Its roof sagged under a thick blanket of emerald moss, and pale vines clung to the stone walls, tracing delicate patterns across the surface. A single lantern crookedly hung beside the door, its glass fogged and its metal rusted, as though it hadn't been lit in years.
The windows were narrow and dark, but not unfriendly. They were more like watchful eyes, quietly observing the world beyond the trees.
The clearing around it was soft with layers of fallen leaves and patches of glowing mushrooms nestled at the roots of ancient trunks. Every sound was muted here; even the thunderous roar of the waterfall seemed distant, softened by the thick curtain of mist. It felt like a place forgotten by time, a sanctuary carved out of silence.
Together, they approached the cottage.
"Is this where you live, Brother Qian?" Gong Feng glanced at Johan, his expression bored.
As they walked, the flapping of their robes and feet made subtle noises against the grass.
"It appears so, Senior Feng." Johan said curtly, reaching out to open the door.
It was already ajar. Noticing this, he didn't panic, entering the threshold.
Li Ping followed behind him closely. Even though she could feel a chill down her spine, she was filled with determination to protect her young master.
"Appears so?" Long Xiao raised an eyebrow, following Gong Feng after he entered too. That wasn't quite the answer he was expecting.
Xinyi gritted her teeth, laying down unwillingly in the grass, deeming it to be filthy of a dragon of her standing.
"Mother... I'm home." Johan's voice produced a subtle hint of forced warmth as he said quietly.
If someone was inside, Johan had no intention of startling them. Panic made people flee... or attack.