They set out for Cloud Peak Sect under a sky that seemed undecided between calm and unrest, a pale stretch of blue streaked with drifting clouds that cast slow-moving shadows across the land. The path they chose was not the familiar winding route of bustling roads and scattered inns, but a narrow, quieter trail that cut through ridges, forests, and forgotten valleys. It was a path used by those who valued speed over comfort and secrecy over company.
The wind followed them like a silent witness, threading through the tall grasses and bending them in gentle waves. Occasionally, it carried the faint scent of pine and damp earth, grounding their journey in something almost ordinary, despite the weight each of them carried. Jiang Yunxian walked ahead, his pace steady but unhurried, his figure relaxed in appearance yet sharpened by a tension that lingered beneath the surface. One hand rested near his lapel where Rong Qi's feather lay, as if reassuring himself that it was still there.
Rong Qi had improved. That much was undeniable. Though he had not reached the height of his true form, there was now a refinement to his presence, even in silence. The knowledge of his own beast language had given him clarity, a foundation he had previously lacked. And the ability to manifest a translucent human form, even if incomplete, was proof that his cultivation was finally aligning with his origin. Whoever had trained him had not wasted time. There was discipline in what Rong Qi had described, a deliberate shaping rather than careless instruction.
"It will not take long now," Rong Qi had said earlier, his tone quieter than usual but firm with certainty.
Jiang Yunxian had nodded at the time, but his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.
To Cloud Peak Sect. To the Pool of Knowledge. To the countless records buried within it, many of which had not been touched for centuries. Huang Bien's name was not something that should be left as a half-told legend. Not when his poison was now coursing through Jiang Yunxian's veins, waiting patiently, like a predator certain of its eventual kill.
The land gradually shifted as they moved forward. The forests grew denser, the sunlight filtering through layers of leaves in fractured beams that painted the ground in shifting gold and shadow. Birds called out intermittently, their voices echoing in the distance, but even those sounds seemed muted in the presence of the trio. It was as though the world itself recognized the heaviness of their journey and chose not to intrude.
Behind him, Xing Yue walked in silence.
It was not unusual for her to be quiet. She had always been measured with her words, choosing them carefully and speaking only when necessary. But this silence was different. It was not composed. It was not deliberate. It was heavy, almost suffocating, like a storm gathering without thunder.
Jiang Yunxian noticed. Of course he did.
He noticed the way her steps lacked their usual certainty, how her gaze remained distant even when the path demanded attention. He noticed the absence of her usual sharp remarks, the quiet that followed even when Rong Qi made an offhand comment. It was not just silence. It was withdrawal.
He did not ask.
Not because he did not care, but because he understood something fundamental about people like Xing Yue. Questions, when asked too early, did not bring answers. They built walls instead. And Jiang Yunxian, for all his careless demeanor, was not someone who pushed against closed doors without reason.
Still, the thought lingered.
There was more.
Not just about her, but about everything that had happened. About the impostor who had called him "Master" with such certainty, with such familiarity that it could not have been coincidence. That word carried weight. It was not thrown lightly, not in a world where titles and bonds defined existence itself.
And yet, Jiang Yunxian could not recall ever claiming such a disciple.
His brows furrowed slightly as he walked, the motion subtle enough to go unnoticed. That moment in the Azure Scaled Court had not been normal reaction from Lianhua… none of it aligned with the identity he had lived with for so long.
There were pieces missing. And he intended to find them.
The Pool of Knowledge was not merely a place of records. It was a repository of truths, some preserved, others hidden beneath layers of time and intentional obscurity. If there was anything about Huang Bien that had been omitted from common legend, it would be there. If there was a flaw in the poison, a method overlooked or buried, it would be recorded somewhere within those ancient texts.
Because Jiang Yunxian refused to accept that "Death is Better" was absolute.
Nothing in this world was absolute.
Not even death.
A stronger gust of wind swept through the path, rustling the trees and carrying with it a faint chill. Jiang Yunxian exhaled slowly, his expression returning to its usual calm, almost lazy composure. To an outsider, he would appear unchanged, still the same man who preferred wine over responsibility, still the same carefree cultivator who drifted through life without concern.
But beneath that surface, something had shifted. His awareness had sharpened. His purpose had solidified.
First, Cloud Peak Sect. Then, the Pool of Knowledge. Then, the truth about Huang Bien. And after that… he would deal with everything else.
The poison. The impostor.
And whatever past had begun to surface, whether he welcomed it or not.
Ahead, the distant silhouette of mountain peaks began to emerge through the thinning forest, their towering forms piercing the sky like ancient sentinels. Cloud Peak Sect was not far now.
And for the first time since leaving the beast realm, Jiang Yunxian allowed himself a faint smile—not one of amusement, but one of quiet resolve.
Whatever answers awaited him there, he would uncover them.No matter the cost.
___
They decided to rest, even if only for a short while. The road ahead still stretched long and unforgiving, and even though Jiang Yunxian had found a so-called "shortcut," it still meant three full days of travel before they would reach Cloud Peak Sect. The sky was already dimming into evening when they entered the town, its lanterns flickering awake one by one like tired stars trying to outshine the dusk.
Unfortunately, fate—or perhaps just bad luck—had no intention of making things easy for them.
Every inn they passed was full. Every courtyard was occupied. Even the smallest roadside lodgings had no space to spare. By the time they reached the end of the street, the only place left standing with open doors was a brothel, its entrance adorned with red silk curtains that swayed lazily in the warm night breeze. Laughter, music, and the faint scent of perfume drifted out into the street, wrapping around them like an invitation none of them particularly wanted.
Still, a roof was a roof. So they went in.
The rooms were… decent, in the way that brothel rooms always tried to be—overly decorated, heavy with incense, and just a little too warm. Jiang Yunxian didn't complain at first. He dropped onto the bed, stretched lazily, and muttered something about finally getting rest.
That illusion didn't last long.
Because the moment the lanterns were dimmed and the night settled into silence… it wasn't silent at all.
From the room next door came sounds. Not just sounds—persistent, shameless, absolutely relentless sounds. Laughter, whispers, muffled voices, and then the unmistakable rhythm of a couple who clearly had no intention of sleeping anytime soon.
Jiang Yunxian stared at the ceiling. At first, he tried to ignore it. Then he turned to the side. Then the other side. Then he pulled the blanket over his head.
It didn't help.
The night stretched on, and so did the noises—soft at times, loud at others, rising and falling like waves that refused to crash. By the time the first crow crowed at dawn, announcing the arrival of morning, Jiang Yunxian looked like a man who had fought a war and lost.
"They must have eaten something powerful," he muttered hoarsely to himself as he sat up, eyes dull and hair slightly disheveled. "Who has that much energy and still refuses to rest?"
A knock came at his door.
When he opened it, Xing Yue stood there, composed as always, though even she seemed faintly aware of the situation. She took one look at him and paused.
Jiang Yunxian leaned against the doorframe like a broken puppet, his expression hollow.
Before she could say anything, Rong Qi stepped forward from behind her, freshly awake, bright-eyed, and completely unaffected.
"Hell, what happened to you?" Rong Qi asked, blinking in confusion.
Jiang Yunxian turned slowly to look at him, his expression twisting into something between disbelief and resentment. "You… you slept?"
Rong Qi frowned. "Of course I slept. Why wouldn't I?"
For a long moment, Jiang Yunxian said nothing. Then he groaned deeply, dragging a hand down his face. "I will remember them," he muttered. "Their faces. Their voices. Their existence. One day, I will return the favor."
He straightened, or at least tried to.
"Whatever. Let's eat. If I cannot sleep, I can at least fill my stomach."
Without waiting for a response, he headed downstairs.
The diner below was already lively. Morning light filtered through the open windows, casting a soft golden glow over the polished wooden tables. The scent of freshly cooked food filled the air—warm porridge, steamed buns, grilled meat, and fragrant tea. It should have been comforting.
Instead, Jiang Yunxian looked like a ghost wandering into a feast.
They sat, ordered their breakfast, and before anyone could stop him, Jiang Yunxian grabbed a jar of alcohol and drank straight from it. Not a sip. Not a cup. The entire jar.
Rong Qi stared. Xing Yue said nothing, though her expression suggested she had already expected this.
Then, just as the morning settled into something almost peaceful, a new pair descended the stairs.
Jiang Yunxian froze mid-motion. He narrowed his eyes.
"…Hu ge, are you sure… can't you wait…" one voice murmured, soft and slightly embarrassed.
They were two of the same gender.
The other voice, calmer, steadier, responded in low tones that carried just enough confidence to confirm everything Jiang Yunxian did not want confirmed.
Recognition hit him like a thunderclap.
His face flushed red instantly. He pointed—actually pointed—at them, his hand shaking in disbelief. And shock at the revelation.
"Wait—were they…?!" His voice rose, sharp and incredulous. "Unbelievable!"
The entire diner turned to look at him.
Jiang Yunxian didn't care.
Because at that moment, after an entire night of suffering, he had finally found the source of his misery—and he was absolutely not going to let it go unnoticed.