The morning training ended with Ruolan sweating, Feng Xiao complaining about sore legs, Tian Wen sitting cross-legged to stabilize his qi, and Wei Tian loudly insisting they should run fifty more laps.
Lin Xuanji refused with shaking knees.
"I am the Sect Master. Which means I decide the number of laps."
Wei Tian nodded respectfully. "Understood, Sect Master. Then we will run fifty tomorrow."
Lin Xuanji almost passed out.
Ling Xueyin covered her smile behind her sleeve.
"Your authority is impressive, Sect Master."
He glared at her. "You're enjoying this, aren't you?"
"Immensely."
Before he could think of a retort, the System chimed:
(Host. Fourth disciple ETA: six hours.)
Lin Xuanji groaned.
"Six HOURS?! Can't I have ONE day without suffering?!"
(No.)
Ruolan tilted his head. "Sect Master… is the wind rude again?"
Lin Xuanji coughed violently. "Extremely rude."
Feng Xiao snorted. "You should fight it."
"I WILL IF IT CONTINUES TALKING."
Tian Wen, listening quietly, looked up.
"…What kind of disciple is arriving?"
Lin Xuanji glanced around. The System never gave him full descriptions—only hints.
(Host. Fourth disciple: sword affinity. Emotional instability: moderate.)
Great. Another emotionally complicated child.
(Clarification: This one is not sad. She is angry.)
Lin Xuanji winced. Angry like Tian Wen?
(No. Different.)
Different how?
(She likes hitting people.)
Lin Xuanji dropped his broom.
"…Oh no."
Ruolan whispered, "Sect Master… did the breeze insult your family?"
"No. It insulted ALL OF US."
Feng Xiao looked intrigued. "A sword user? I want to test her…"
"NO DUELS." Lin Xuanji snapped. "Not until we know she doesn't stab friends."
Tian Wen muttered, "At least she has a spiritual root."
Lin Xuanji patted his shoulder. "Don't worry. You'll surpass her."
Tian Wen didn't react, but his jaw tightened with determination.
—
They prepared the courtyard—sweeping, tidying, arranging tea—because Ruolan insisted that first impressions mattered.
Wei Tian stood at the gate, spear in hand.
"I will intercept."
Lin Xuanji panicked. "NO. We greet her calmly. No military charge!"
Wei Tian lowered his spear slightly. "…Understood."
Ling Xueyin glanced at the horizon. "She is close."
"How do you know—" Lin Xuanji began.
The mountain hummed.
A small tremor shook the ground.
Feng Xiao grinned. "Oh. That hum. That means trouble."
Ruolan hid behind Lin Xuanji again.
"W-Why does Heavenly Peak only hum during scary moments?"
"BECAUSE IT HATES ME."
(Incorrect. Host is simply amusing.)
"YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY IT OUT LOUD."
They waited.
Minutes passed.
Then—
A voice echoed from below the mountain.
"HELLO?! ANYONE ALIVE UP THERE?! THIS PLACE LOOKS ABANDONED!"
Lin Xuanji's mind blanked.
Feng Xiao stiffened. "She's loud…"
Tian Wen frowned. "Too loud…"
Wei Tian adjusted his stance.
"Potential threat."
"NOT EVERYTHING IS A THREAT!"
Another shout echoed up the path.
"I SWEAR IF THIS PLACE IS EMPTY, I'M LEAVING!"
Lin Xuanji cupped his hands around his mouth.
"WE ARE HERE! STOP THREATENING THE MOUNTAIN!"
A moment of silence.
Then rapid footsteps.
Fast.
Sharp.
Confident.
A girl appeared at the top of the steps.
She was around sixteen—short black hair tied in a messy tail, clothes travel-worn, sword too large for her height strapped across her back. She stopped on the final step—
—and blinked at the group staring at her.
"…Oh. You ARE alive."
Ruolan squeaked.
Feng Xiao's eyes lit with excitement.
Tian Wen narrowed his gaze.
Ling Xueyin observed silently.
Wei Tian subtly shifted into a guarding stance.
Lin Xuanji stepped forward with what he hoped was a pleasant smile.
"Welcome to Heavenly Peak. You must be—"
"Kai Yun."
She pointed at herself. "I'm here to join."
Lin Xuanji blinked. "That… was fast."
She shrugged. "Some floating old man in a dream told me to climb this weird mountain or I'd die early. So I climbed."
Ruolan gasped.
Feng Xiao whispered, "A dream? Upper-realm remnant soul?"
Tian Wen stiffened slightly.
Lin Xuanji, on the verge of fainting, muttered internally:
System… WHY do they all come with trauma?!
(Host. Variety enhances sect flavor.)
I SWEAR I WILL THROW YOU OFF THIS MOUNTAIN—
Kai Yun looked around the courtyard.
"This place is… okay. Small. But okay."
Lin Xuanji forced a proud expression. "It has character."
She nodded. "Good. Anyway, can I fight someone here?"
"NO."
"…Later?"
"No!"
"…Tomorrow?"
"NO!"
Kai Yun sighed dramatically.
"You're no fun."
Feng Xiao stepped forward, eyes shining.
"We can fight later. Quietly."
Kai Yun grinned. "Deal."
Ruolan nearly fainted.
Tian Wen rubbed his temples.
Wei Tian coughed loudly.
"Duels must be approved by the Sect Master."
Kai Yun blinked. "What rank are you? You look like a guard."
Wei Tian nodded. "Correct."
She turned to Lin Xuanji.
"…Your guard is stronger than most sect elders. What are YOU?"
Lin Xuanji froze.
"I—I am just… normal."
Kai Yun looked unconvinced.
Then shrugged.
"Fine. As long as I can train here."
Lin Xuanji exhaled in relief. "You can."
Kai Yun smiled—bright, reckless, and sharp like her sword.
"Then from today on, I'm your disciple."
The moment she said it, the mountain hummed softly—
—welcoming her.
Lin Xuanji felt his knees weaken.
"…Another one," he whispered.
Ling Xueyin stepped beside him.
"You're building a family," she said softly.
Lin Xuanji sighed.
"A loud family."
Kai Yun cracked her knuckles.
"A STRONG family."
The mountain hummed again.
And somewhere deep within the peak, unseen by all, the foundation for a future storm slowly took shape.