The sun rose over winding roads and misty valleys as a small group made their way down the mountain paths.
A white-robed youth strode confidently at the front, arms folded, radiating smug self-assurance. Behind him, Shen carried a pack of beast pelts, horns, and two large monster teeth. Ziyan trudged beside them, bored but amused.
They were headed toward Cloudpeak City — the last major town before Shen's home territory.
Ziyan yawned. "You sure we need to walk all the way?"
Li Qingyu looked smug. "We're not walking. We're adventuring."
Ziyan stared. "…We're walking."
"I'm the Sect Master. My words are canon."
They passed travelers, peddlers, even a group of mercenaries hauling a half-dismembered boar beast. Most gave the group wide berth — the aura around Li Qingyu was faint, but somehow made even Core Formation cultivators squint nervously.
As they reached the city gates, Shen pointed to the market rows. "This town's merchant guild buys beast parts for a good price. If we sell now, we'll have plenty of spirit stones for the road."
Li Qingyu raised a brow. "You know your markets?"
"I studied in the merchant pavilion back home."
"Useful," Ziyan said, dumping a slab of mutated bear-hide on a vendor's table. "I'm terrible with haggling. I tend to throw fire."
The vendor stuttered. "Th-This is… Grade Three beast hide?!"
Li Qingyu nodded. "Also these." He pulled out a pouch full of talons and a twisted crystal core — loot from the Bloodvine Serpent they'd defeated on their last mission.
The vendor nearly passed out. "Th-this alone could fetch ten mid-grade spirit stones—!"
"Twenty," Li Qingyu cut in. "Or I sell to the Black Lotus Guild."
The merchant gulped and nodded rapidly.
As coins exchanged hands, the trio wandered through the streets.
Li Qingyu glanced sideways at Shen. "So. Your clan. What's the story?"
Shen sighed. "Once, the Shen Clan stood at the peak of the Northern Territories. Our ancestor was a Core Formation Patriarch who crushed enemies with one finger. We built cities, tamed beasts, even founded two academies."
"Sounds dramatic. What happened?"
"…Internal strife. Greedy elders. A few bad alliances. The usual."
Ziyan scoffed. "So you're like a fancy crumbling mansion?"
Shen frowned. "We're a declining clan — but we're still a powerful clan. There are still cultivators in the Shen Clan stronger than me. It's just… no one's united anymore."
Li Qingyu folded his arms. "That means your father's trying to hold a cracked wall together with pride and chewing talismans."
"…Something like that," Shen said quietly.
They passed a tea house where cultivators were boasting loudly about their sects.
"Did you hear? Azure Wind Sect's Third Elder said Eternal Radiance Divine Sect is just a scam with smoke bombs and bribes!"
Li Qingyu paused.
Ziyan grabbed his sleeve. "Don't. Not worth it."
He sighed. "Fine. Later."
Back on the road again, Shen looked thoughtful. "You're really coming with me?"
"I said I would," Li Qingyu replied. "Your family might be proud, but I'm arrogant. And arrogance wins in the long run."
Shen smiled slightly. "You're a strange sect master."
"I'm the best sect master."
"Only one disciple would say that."
"Then I'll get more."
They crested a hill. In the far distance, the first banners of Shen Clan territory flapped in the wind.
Ziyan cracked her knuckles. "Here we go. Noble families. Always a blast."
---