Mountain wind brushed through the forest canopy, bringing the gurgling sound of distant streams, making the descending path seem even quieter. Tang Xiaoqi walked steadily, the rabbit spirit seated on his shoulder looking around, their silhouettes stretching long on the winding stone steps. He deliberately did not employ body techniques, simply walking step by step, as if to imprint every step of this farewell into his heart.
However, this deliberately maintained tranquility did not last long.
Just as he was about to step beyond the boundary covered by Qingxu Temple's protective mountain formation, officially entering the vast mountain forests of the outside world, hurried and determined footsteps came from behind, accompanied by a familiar spiritual energy fluctuation carrying a faint plum blossom fragrance.
Xiaoqi's footsteps paused, but he did not immediately turn around. The rabbit spirit on his shoulder, however, suddenly pricked up its ears, vigilantly watching behind them.
"Stop!"
A clear shout came from behind, carrying unquestionable intent.
Xiaoqi slowly turned around to see Third Senior Sister Liu Yun standing several zhang away, still dressed in those neat traveling clothes, long sword on her back, her heroic figure striking. Only now, her fair cheeks were flushed slightly from rapid movement, her chest rising and falling slightly, a pair of apricot eyes wide open, staring tightly at Xiaoqi. That gaze mixed annoyance, grievance, and a trace of unshakeable resolve.
"Third Senior Sister?" Xiaoqi's heart had already guessed somewhat, but he still feigned puzzlement as he spoke. "Why are you here? Did you forget to give me something else?"
"Don't play dumb with me!" Liu Yun stepped forward several paces, walking up to Xiaoqi, tilting her head to look at this junior brother who had unknowingly grown half a head taller than her, her tone carrying slight anger. "Tang Xiaoqi, your wings have hardened, haven't you? Think your senior sister is a burden? Or think my Liu Yun's sword isn't sharp enough, can't protect myself, and will only drag you down?"
The rapid-fire questions left Xiaoqi momentarily speechless. He looked at Liu Yun's slightly trembling eyelashes from excitement, at the barely perceptible hurt in her eyes, and sighed softly in his heart.
"Senior Sister, that's not what I mean." Xiaoqi softened his voice, trying to explain. "This journey ahead is unknown and fraught with danger. The Shadow Snake Pavilion's influence runs deep, and that demonic entity is unfathomable. I bear the Purification Source and am destined to be the center of the storm. You traveling with me is too dangerous. Moreover, the sect is newly stabilized. Eldest Senior Brother needs help, and the Law Enforcement Hall cannot do without you..."
"Danger?" Liu Yun interrupted him, the corners of her mouth curving into a sharp arc. "Tang Xiaoqi, tell me—where in the cultivation world is not dangerous? Is staying at Qingxu Temple absolutely safe? In the last demonic cultivator attack on the mountain, if our strength hadn't been insufficient..." Her voice suddenly choked, her eyes instantly reddening, but she immediately forced it down, her gaze growing even sharper. "If our strength hadn't been lacking, why would Master have had to sacrifice himself? Why would the sect have suffered such a tribulation!"
She took a deep breath, her voice trembling yet unusually clear: "Do you think only you want to grow stronger? Only you carry a blood feud?"
These words struck Xiaoqi's heart like a heavy hammer. He suddenly remembered that Liu Yun was an orphan adopted by their master from childhood, treated like his own child. Master's sacrifice had struck her no less heavily than his own loss of his father. That bone-deep hatred and desire to grow stronger burned equally in her heart.
"Senior Sister..."
"Don't call me Senior Sister!" Liu Yun abruptly turned her head away, her voice muffled. "If you still consider me your senior sister in your heart, you shouldn't exclude me from your plans! Yes, you're now at late Foundation Establishment, carrying rare treasures, your strength perhaps greater than mine. But one more person means one more share of strength, one more pair of eyes! In terms of combat experience, in terms of adaptability in battle, I, Liu Yun, don't consider myself inferior to you! What's more..."
She turned back, her gaze burning as she stared at Xiaoqi: "We were taught by the same master! Half your foundation in sword techniques was supervised by me! Have we not fought side by side enough times? In the secret realm, in the sect defense battle—was our coordination false?"
She extended her hand, pointing at the Crimson Flame Sword on Xiaoqi's back, then at her own sword on her back: "Your Crimson Flame and my 'Autumn Water'—can they not fight side by side again?"
Xiaoqi fell silent. Liu Yun's words were all reasonable, each one piercing his heart. His earlier considerations were based more on concern for his senior sister's safety—a kind of protection—yet wasn't it also a kind of underestimation, ignoring Liu Yun's own will and strength?
He looked at Liu Yun's stubborn gaze. There was not only a senior sister's concern for a junior brother, but also a cultivator's pursuit of her own path, the desire for vengeance, and trust in a companion who would fight beside her.
The rabbit spirit seemed to sense the gravity of the atmosphere, uneasily shifting on Xiaoqi's shoulder, looking at Xiaoqi, then at Liu Yun, making soft "cooing" sounds.
Mountain wind blew, curling up several fallen leaves, spinning in the air.
After a long while, Xiaoqi finally spoke slowly, his voice low: "Senior Sister, the outside world is far more complicated than we imagine. There may be sleeping in the wilderness, there may be danger at every turn, there may be... death."
"So what?" Liu Yun responded without hesitation, her eyes clear and determined. "We cultivators walk against the heavens—when have we ever feared life and death? Rather than staying safe and sound in the sect, watching enemies go unpunished, watching you fight alone outside, I'd rather face danger with you! At least between life and death, I can contribute some strength, can swing my sword, rather than worrying uselessly in the rear!"
She stepped forward, almost nose to nose with Xiaoqi, speaking word by word: "Tang Xiaoqi, listen carefully. I'm not some weak woman who needs your protection. I am your senior sister, I am Qingxu Temple's Law Enforcement Elder Liu Yun! My path, I choose myself! My sword swings for guardianship, and also rings for vengeance! If you insist on not taking me, then I'll venture out alone! The world is vast—can I not find a place to temper myself?"
The resolve in these words made Xiaoqi's heart tremble. He knew Liu Yun meant what she said. Letting her venture out alone might be even more dangerous than following him.
All reasons seemed pale and powerless before Liu Yun's resounding words.
Xiaoqi looked at this familiar and determined face before him. Countless images flashed through his mind: when he first entered the sect, her fierce supervision of his practice; in the kitchen, her complaining about his clumsiness while secretly saving him delicious food; in the secret realm, her back-to-back fighting against powerful enemies; during the sect defense battle, her whole body bathed in blood, yet her sword light never dimming...
He suddenly understood. Some paths were destined to need fellow travelers. Some battles needed companions who could be completely trusted.
The wall in his heart quietly crumbled.
He took a deep breath, his face revealing the first genuinely relieved smile since deciding to descend the mountain. That smile carried helplessness, carried gratitude, and carried a kind of release as if a burden had been lifted.
"Alright." He spoke softly. "Since Senior Sister insists, then... let's go together."
Liu Yun's tense expression instantly melted like ice and snow, brilliant light bursting from her eyes, but her mouth remained unforgiving: "That's more like it! So wishy-washy, not straightforward at all!" She deliberately pouted in disdain, but her upturned corners of her mouth betrayed her true feelings.
She patted the long sword on her back, her spirit high: "Don't worry, with your senior sister here, I guarantee you'll suffer less on this journey! If anyone blind enough gets in our way, they'll have to ask my 'Autumn Water' first!"
Xiaoqi smiled and shook his head, but warmth filled his heart. Having such a battle-capable, straightforward, and absolutely trustworthy senior sister as a companion, the road ahead seemed truly less daunting.
"However, Senior Sister," Xiaoqi said seriously, "since we travel together, we need to establish three rules."
"Speak!" Liu Yun readily agreed.
"First, when facing matters, we must discuss them—we cannot recklessly show off."
"I know, I'm not some reckless fool." Liu Yun huffed.
"Second, if something cannot be accomplished, preserving oneself comes first—we cannot linger in battle."
"...Fine, I'll listen to you." Liu Yun hesitated slightly, but still nodded.
"Third," Xiaoqi looked into her eyes, speaking earnestly, "no matter what happens, we must return together."
Liu Yun paused slightly, looking at the unwavering determination in Xiaoqi's eyes. The softest place in her heart was touched. She nodded forcefully, her voice softening as well: "Alright, we'll return together."
Sunlight through gaps in the branches and leaves spilled onto the two of them, as if draping a golden battle robe over this pair of senior sister and brother about to venture into the world together.
The rabbit spirit seemed to sense the easing of the atmosphere as well, excitedly jumping on Xiaoqi's shoulder, squeaking twice, as if urging them on.
"Let's go." Xiaoqi smiled.
"Mm!" Liu Yun responded, walking beside him as together they stepped beyond the boundary of Qingxu Temple's protective mountain formation.
The mountain forest's wind instantly became different—less of the sect's peaceful tranquility, more of wildness and the unknown. But their steps were more determined than at any moment before.
Behind lay warm memories and heavy responsibilities; ahead lay unpredictable dangers and infinite possibilities.
And this time, they were no longer alone.