Mu Xiaofan settled into Heavenly Peak with the peaceful ease of someone who had lived his entire life among trees and rivers.
Within minutes of his arrival, every animal that followed him had calmly curled up around the courtyard as if they'd been living there for generations.
The massive black bear plopped itself right in front of the training hall.
The fox was curled on a roof tile.
The deer grazed politely.
The giant bird perched on the gate like a statue.
Lin Xuanji stood in the middle of the courtyard, staring at them with the dead expression of a man questioning every decision that brought him here.
"…Why is my sect a zoo now?"
Mu Xiaofan blinked innocently. "They won't cause trouble."
"They're sitting on the roof."
"They like high places."
"They blocked the gate."
"They're guarding it."
"They ate my breakfast."
"They were hungry."
Lin Xuanji placed a hand on his chest.
"I'm the Sect Master. I should not be afraid to ask for my own breakfast."
Ruolan tugged his robe. "I-I can make more food, Sect Master…"
"No. No. I won't let a bear bully me out of my own steamed buns."
Lin Xuanji marched toward the bear.
The bear stared at him.
Lin Xuanji stared back.
The bear blinked.
Lin Xuanji blinked.
The bear slowly extended a huge paw…
and gently nudged a steamed bun toward him.
Lin Xuanji froze.
"…It… saved one for me?"
Mu Xiaofan beamed. "He likes you!"
Lin Xuanji took the bun with trembling hands.
"…Thank you?"
The bear huffed in satisfaction.
Ruolan almost cried in relief.
Feng Xiao muttered, "This sect is getting weirder."
Tian Wen watched the exchange with unreadable eyes.
Kai Yun cracked her knuckles. "CAN I TRAIN WITH THE BEAR?!"
"No!" Lin Xuanji yelled. "You will not train with ANYTHING bigger than you!"
"But it looks strong!"
"It IS strong!"
"That's the POINT!"
Lin Xuanji grabbed her by the collar before she launched herself toward it.
"You will not cause a beast stampede on my mountain."
Mu Xiaofan tilted his head.
"He doesn't like fighting. Only cuddles."
Kai Yun froze mid-struggle. "CUDDLES?"
The bear perked up.
Kai Yun's face lit up like a child seeing fireworks.
"…Can I pet him?"
Mu Xiaofan nodded cheerfully. "He likes head pats."
Kai Yun sprinted toward the bear so fast her sword bounced on her back.
Lin Xuanji shouted, "WAIT—!"
Too late.
Kai Yun threw her arms around the bear's massive neck.
The courtyard held its breath.
The bear gently lowered its head onto her shoulder and rumbled happily.
Kai Yun gasped dramatically.
"He's SO SOFT."
Ruolan fainted again.
Feng Xiao stared. "You're… hugging a bear."
Kai Yun petted the giant creature proudly. "I am TAMING MY FIRST BEAST."
Mu Xiaofan corrected her softly,
"No, he just likes attention."
"She's taming it," Fang Xiao muttered.
"She's calling it taming," Tian Wen corrected.
Lin Xuanji put his face in his hands.
"I need therapy."
After the bear-hugging incident, Lin Xuanji gathered everyone.
"Alright. Listen up. We now have five disciples. That means we must—"
The mountain hummed.
Lin Xuanji scowled. "—stop humming while I'm speaking!"
Kai Yun laughed.
Mu Xiaofan smiled.
Ruolan nodded timidly.
Tian Wen remained calm.
Feng Xiao smirked.
Wei Tian stood at attention.
Ling Xueyin looked quietly amused.
Lin Xuanji cleared his throat.
"We need to begin proper group training."
Kai Yun raised her hand. "Does that mean fighting?"
"No."
"Maybe sparring?"
"No!"
"Just a LITTLE hitting—"
"No hitting!"
She groaned dramatically. "This sect is cruel."
Feng Xiao crossed her arms. "You'll survive."
Mu Xiaofan raised his hand. "Do I… hit things too?"
"You will not hit anything," Lin Xuanji said firmly. "You will learn basic qi control first."
"Oh," Xiaofan said, relieved. "Good. Hitting things makes me sad."
Kai Yun gasped. "THAT IS A CRIME."
Tian Wen looked at Xiaofan with surprising softness.
"You don't need to fight if it doesn't suit you."
Xiaofan nodded gratefully.
"You're kind."
Feng Xiao blinked. "…He really calms people…"
Lin Xuanji clapped his hands.
"Everyone. Formation. We begin cultivation guidance."
Ruolan hurried to stand straight.
Tian Wen exhaled slowly, ready.
Feng Xiao ignited faint flame in her palm.
Kai Yun stabbed her sword into the ground with excitement.
Mu Xiaofan copied Ruolan's stance, though he looked a little lost.
Wei Tian patrolled with vigilance.
Ling Xueyin moved behind them, silent as moonlight.
Lin Xuanji stepped to the center of the courtyard and inhaled deeply.
"Now… focus your senses. Feel the energy of the mountain—"
The mountain hummed.
Lin Xuanji groaned.
"NOT RIGHT NOW."
Kai Yun laughed.
Mu Xiaofan reached out and touched the ground.
"Oh… it's warm."
Tian Wen nodded slowly. "It is."
Feng Xiao blinked. "I've never felt it like this before…"
Ruolan whispered, "Is this… the mountain helping us?"
Wei Tian frowned. "Or responding."
Lin Xuanji stared up at the peak.
Something stirred far above.
Something ancient.
Something waiting.
He took a steadying breath.
"Alright. Let's continue."
The disciples followed.
For the first time…
All five trained together.
And somewhere deep within the mountain, an old power awakened slightly—
drawn by the growing strength of Heavenly Peak's disciples.
The mountain hummed again—
soft, resonant, expectant.
Lin Xuanji's eye twitched.
"…Please don't hatch anything."
The mountain hummed louder.
Lin Xuanji screamed internally.