They separated slowly, both breathing irregularly, their faces flushed with emotion and the unexpected intensity of their connection. Lin Xiao Yue's eyes widened as the full realization of her boldness dawned on her, her cheeks turning an even deeper shade of crimson. Without a word, she suddenly turned and fled toward the cottage, her footsteps light and quick, leaving Gù Tiānháo standing on the path, still processing what had just transpired between them.
He raised his fingers to his lips, still warm from her touch, a strange mixture of emotions churning within him. In his previous life as Alex Chen, he had experienced physical intimacy before, but nothing had felt like this—this unexpected merging of energies, this resonance that seemed to echo through his very core. It was as if something fundamental had shifted within him, some barrier between his past and present selves momentarily dissolved by the pure, unguarded emotion of their connection.
A rare, genuine smile formed on his lips as he watched the cottage door close behind her retreating form. The smile transformed his usually stern features, softening the hard edges that life in this cultivation world had carved into his expression. For a brief moment, he looked younger, more like the twenty-year-old whose body he inhabited rather than the calculating survivor he had become.
"Lin Xiao Yue," he called out, his voice carrying clearly through the morning air, "when I enter the sect, I will come find you. This I promise.
"For a moment, there was silence, and he wondered if she had heard him. Then the cottage door opened just a crack, and her voice drifted out, soft but clear: "I will be waiting, Young Master. No matter how long it takes.
"The simple declaration carried more weight than elaborate vows or flowery promises. It was a statement of fact, of intention—two souls acknowledging a connection that neither had sought but both now recognized. With a final glance at the cottage that had unexpectedly become significant to him, Tiānháo turned and continued down the path, his steps lighter despite the weight of separation.
The journey back to Maplewood Town took most of the day, giving Tiānháo ample time to reflect on the past weeks and plan for what lay ahead. He deliberately focused his thoughts on practical matters—the supplies he would need for the two-week journey to the examination city, the cultivation techniques he should prioritize during his travel, the information he hoped to gather about the sect and its testing methods. Yet his mind kept returning to the moment of the kiss, to the feeling of connection that had briefly transcended the cold calculations that usually governed his actions.
By mid-afternoon, the familiar outskirts of Maplewood came into view. The town seemed smaller somehow, more provincial than when he had first arrived. His perspective had shifted, his horizons expanded by his experiences in the Black Mist Forest and the knowledge gained from the God and Demon Slaying Bead. What had once seemed like a significant settlement now registered as merely a waypoint on his journey to greater things.
His first destination was the market district, where he methodically purchased supplies for his journey. Preserved meats and fruits that would last without spoiling, a new water skin of better quality than his current one, a sturdy cloak for protection against the elements, and various other necessities. He paid with spirit stones acquired from his beast hunts and alchemical successes, driving hard bargains but not haggling excessively—efficiency was more valuable than saving a few minor stones.
As he moved through the market, Tiānháo overheard snippets of conversation about the upcoming sect examination.
"...heard they're only accepting half the usual number of disciples this year," one merchant was saying to another. "My nephew's been preparing for months, poor boy can barely sleep from the pressure.
"It's those demonic cultivator attacks," another voice chimed in. "The sects are being more cautious about who they let in. Can't blame them, with infiltrators causing havoc in the southern provinces.
"Tiānháo filed away this information, making mental notes of anything that might prove useful. The reduced acceptance rate meant even fiercer competition, but his recent breakthrough to the 4th Level of Body Refinement and his expanded meridian network gave him confidence in his chances. The mention of demonic cultivators was concerning but not surprising—conflict between orthodox and demonic paths was a constant in this world.
After completing his purchases, Tiānháo sought out an inn on the outskirts of town, preferring to avoid the busier establishments where he might be recognized or remembered. He secured a small room for the night, paying in advance and requesting a pre-dawn meal to be ready for his early departure. In the privacy of his room, he laid out his supplies, organizing everything for maximum efficiency during travel.
With his preparations complete, Tiānháo settled into meditation, focusing on stabilizing his recent breakthrough and planning his cultivation schedule for the journey ahead. The sect examination was now approximately six weeks away, with the journey to the examination city taking about two weeks. That would leave him four weeks in the city—time to gather intelligence, perhaps make useful connections, and make final preparations for the test.
As he meditated, his thoughts drifted once more to Lin Xiao Yue. He wondered how she was faring, if she was practicing the techniques he had taught her, if she was thinking of him as he was thinking of her. Such thoughts were distractions from the cultivation path, yet he found himself unwilling to banish them entirely. Perhaps there was room in this new life for more than just the relentless pursuit of power. Perhaps connections, carefully chosen and maintained, could be assets rather than liabilities.
Dawn found Tiānháo already awake and prepared for departure. He consumed the simple breakfast provided by the inn, settled his account, and stepped out into the quiet streets of early morning Maplewood. The town was just beginning to stir, shopkeepers opening their stalls, early risers heading to work in fields or workshops. Few paid attention to the solitary young cultivator making his way toward the eastern gate, his posture straight, his steps purposeful.
At the town boundary, Tiānháo paused for a moment, looking back at Maplewood one last time. This place had been the starting point of his journey in this world—where he had first begun to understand the rules of cultivation, where he had taken his first steps on the path to power. He would likely never return here; his path led onward and upward, to greater challenges and opportunities. Yet he would remember this place, and the lessons learned here.
With a final glance, he turned eastward, toward the rising sun and the distant city where the sect examination would be held. The road stretched before him, winding through forests and fields, over hills and across rivers—a physical manifestation of the journey that lay ahead. His mind was clear, his purpose firm, his body strengthened by cultivation and recent breakthroughs. Whatever challenges awaited, he would face them with the same determination and adaptability that had brought him this far.
As Gù Tiānháo took his first steps on this new phase of his journey, the morning light caught the subtle glow of the God and Demon Slaying Bead within him, a reminder of the mysterious power that had chosen him as its vessel. What other secrets did it hold? What other abilities would it unlock as he grew stronger? These questions would find their answers in time, as he continued his ascent through the cultivation world. For now, it was enough to move forward, one step at a time, toward the destiny that awaited him.