I strolled through the sect grounds, the late afternoon sun casting long shadows across the stone pathways. My mind was still spinning with what I'd just witnessed, Wu Kangming walking alongside the sectless cultivator from Black Mist Valley. The same cultivator who should have been crippled or dead after Lu Fang's essence drain technique.

"You're overthinking this," Azure commented as I absently kicked a small stone along the path.

"Am I?" I replied silently. "A sectless cultivator somehow not only survives an essence drain but also advances to the ninth stage of Qi Condensation in record time? That doesn't strike you as suspicious?"

"Of course it's suspicious," Azure replied. "But what's your theory?"

I paused, watching the stone roll to a stop against a nearby tree root. "Remember how he fell into that spatial tear during the chaos at Black Mist Valley? I'm willing to bet he stumbled upon some kind of inheritance site."

"That would explain the miraculous recovery and rapid advancement," Azure agreed. "Spatial anomalies often hide ancient treasures or cultivation grounds."

I sighed, a twinge of regret passing through me. "Part of me wishes I had investigated that tear myself."

"While suffering from a soul attack and operating at 65% capacity?" Azure's tone was gently incredulous. "That would have been reckless even by your standards."

"I know, I know." I kicked another pebble, this one sailing farther than intended. "And we got what we came for, the Moonlit Dew Flower. I should be grateful for that."

"Precisely. Your goal was clear, and you achieved it. Whatever Luo Yichen found in that spatial anomaly, it wasn't part of your mission."

"Still..." I couldn't help but wonder what treasures or techniques the formerly sectless cultivator might have discovered. Something powerful enough to heal the damage from an essence drain and catapult him to the ninth stage was no small find.

"Focus on what you can control," Azure advised. "Whatever happened to Luo Yichen and however he connected with Wu Kangming, there's nothing you can do about it right now except prepare yourself."

He was right, of course. Whatever strange circumstances had brought Wu Kangming and Luo Yichen together, there was little I could do but focus on my own cultivation and the tournament ahead. It was nice having someone like Azure to keep me grounded.

As I walked, a sudden thought struck me. In all the chaos of recent events, I'd completely forgotten about something important.

"I should check if there are any letters from my parents," I muttered.

Since reconnecting with them during the beast wave mission, I'd felt a growing sense of responsibility toward them. They weren't just characters in a story; they were real people with real feelings. People who loved their son. The fact that I technically wasn't their biological son made their unconditional acceptance all the more meaningful.

"The message pavilion should be that way," Azure suggested, directing my attention to a modest building near the administrative area of the sect.

The Azure Peak Message Pavilion was a hexagonal structure with a blue-tiled roof and white stone walls. Unlike the grand halls and imposing training grounds that dominated most of the sect, the pavilion had a practical, almost mundane quality to it. After all, even immortality-seeking cultivators sometimes needed to send a letter home.

I pushed open the door and was greeted by the sight of orderly shelves lining the walls, each divided into small compartments labeled with disciple names or division designations. A middle-aged woman sat at a desk in the center, carefully sorting through a stack of message scrolls. She glanced up as I entered, her reading glasses perched on the end of her nose.

"Can I help you, young disciple?" she asked, her voice carrying the faint accent of the western provinces.

"I'm checking if there are any messages for Ke Yin, Outer Disciple," I replied with a respectful bow.

She nodded and gestured to a section of shelving to the right. "Outer Disciple compartments are arranged by entry year, then alphabetically. You should find yours there."

I thanked her and made my way to the indicated shelves. It took a few moments of searching before I located the small cubbyhole labeled "Ke Y." To my surprise, it contained several scrolls, most of them bearing the same simple seal, my parents' family mark.

With a mix of anticipation and guilt, I collected the scrolls and found a small reading table by the window. Unrolling the first one, dated more than three months ago, I recognized my mother's careful handwriting:

"Dearest Yin,

I hope this message finds you well. Your father and I miss you terribly, but we understand that cultivation requires dedication and focus. The village has been peaceful since you left. Old Wang's youngest daughter just got married to that boy from Greenleaf Village she's been seeing. Your father says I shouldn't bother you with village gossip, but I thought you might like to know what's happening at home.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Please write when you can. Even a few characters to let us know you're safe would ease a mother's worry.

With all our love,Mother"

I felt a pang of guilt as I set the scroll aside and opened another, this one dated two months ago:

"Our dear son,

Still no word from you, but we understand. A neighbor's son who joined Crescent Moon Sect five years ago only wrote once in the first year. Your father says that's just how it is with cultivators, always busy climbing higher, seeking breakthroughs. I try to be patient.

Your father has been having some trouble with his back lately. Nothing serious, just the usual aches that come with age. I've been making him that willow bark tea that Healer Liu recommended. It seems to help.

We love you and pray for your success every day.Mother"

Each letter painted a picture of daily life in Floating Reed Village: the changing seasons, local events, minor troubles, and persistent hope that their son was doing well. They never reproached me for not writing back, only expressed understanding that I must be busy with important sect matters.

At least I had already apologized for my silence when I visited them during the beast wave mission. My parents had waved away my remorse, insisting that "a cultivator's path is demanding" and that they understood. Still, seeing the gentle patience in their letters, the consistent outreach despite my silence, made me determined to be a better son going forward.

Finally, I reached the most recent scroll, dated just a day ago. This one bore my father's more angular script:

"Yin,

After much consideration, your mother and I have decided to accept your suggestion about moving closer to Azure Peak. I've contacted my cousin in Three Rivers Village about his offer to take over his tailor shop. Everything is arranged, he is ready to retire and seems pleased to keep the business in the family.

We've already begun packing our belongings and informing our regular customers. Most have been understanding, though Old Man Wang grumbled quite a bit about having to find a new tailor "at his age." Your mother made him a jar of pickled radish, which seemed to improve his mood considerably. He even offered to buy our house at a fair price, which is a relief.

Your mother is both excited and nervous about the move. The prospect of being closer to you brings her joy, but leaving the only home she's known for thirty years is not easy. The baby is doing well, according to Healer Liu. No complications so far.

We should be ready to depart within a few days. I've inquired about joining a merchant caravan heading in that direction, but safe passage with proper protection is expensive. Still, we'll manage somehow, perhaps by splitting the journey into smaller legs with stops in friendly villages along the way.

Don't worry about us, son.

We've made many journeys in our younger days. This old tailor still remembers how to travel safely, and your mother's warning glare still works wonders for keeping bandits at bay!

We look forward to being closer to you. Perhaps then we might see you more than once or twice a year.

With love and pride, Your Father

I rolled the scroll carefully and sat back, staring out the window at the distant mountain peaks. They had actually decided to do it, to leave their ancestral home and move closer to the sect. All because I'd suggested it would be safer for them and would allow me to visit more often.

The weight of that trust settled over me. These people were uprooting their entire lives based on my recommendation. The least I could do was ensure their safe passage to their new home.

"Master, if I may," Azure's voice broke into my thoughts, "this is good news, is it not? Your parents will be safer away from Floating Reed Village, especially after the events with Ke Jun."

"It is good news," I agreed silently. "Now I need to arrange for their safe transport. The roads between here and Floating Reed Village aren't always secure, especially for merchants carrying their livelihood."

I gathered the scrolls and thanked the attendant before heading back outside. My next stop was clear, the Mission Hall, where disciples could take or post tasks for contribution points or other compensation.

***

The Mission Hall was considerably more crowded than the Message Pavilion. Disciples of various ranks clustered around bulletin boards while mission assessors sat at elevated desks, reviewing applications and recording assignments. The air buzzed with conversation as cultivators discussed potential tasks, negotiated teams, or complained about mission rewards.

I approached one of the less busy assessors, a stern-looking middle-aged woman with her hair pulled back in a tight bun. Her desk placard identified her as "Senior Disciple Zhang Jing, Outer Mission Coordinator."

"How may I assist you, Disciple?" she asked without looking up from the scroll she was marking.

"I'd like to post a mission request," I explained. "I need experienced cultivators to escort two mortals safely from Floating Reed Village to Three Rivers Village."

That caught her attention. She set down her brush and gave me a more evaluating look. "Family members?"

I nodded. "My parents. They're relocating to be closer to the sect."

"I see." She pulled out a blank mission scroll. "What level of protection are you requesting?"

"Qi Condensation Stage 8 or above," I replied. While I would have preferred stronger cultivators, I couldn't afford the rates for Elemental Realm disciples.

"And the compensation?" she asked, brush poised.

"One thousand spirit stones per team member," I said. It was a sizable amount, but my parents' safety was worth it.

She raised an eyebrow slightly but made no comment as she began filling out the form. "Estimated departure time?"

"As soon as possible," I replied. "Within the next three days, ideally."

She nodded and continued writing. I was about to provide additional details when a large hand clamped down on my shoulder.

My body instantly went rigid, muscles coiling like springs as combat instincts kicked in. The last time someone had grabbed me from behind like this was during tournament sign-ups, a Stage 6 Qi Condensation cultivator trying to intimidate the "village bumpkin" into withdrawing.

That particular interaction had ended with the would-be intimidator being sent to the Medicine Pavilion before facing disciplinary action.

It seems I couldn't even submit a simple mission request without trouble finding me, and while I would rather not get into another altercation, I had to defend myself.

I spun around, my free hand already moving into the opening position of Phantom Strike, ready to cave in someone's chest if necessary.