With the engagement party over, a quiet, satisfied atmosphere settled over Clearwater City. The next morning, the Guild’s efficiency was on full display as things started to pack up. The grand pavilion was dismantled, the decorations were stored away, and the cliffside was returned to its natural beauty.

All of this with a speed and precision that was almost as impressive as the party itself. Hu Jian and Mei Fen spent the morning with their families and guests, saying their tearful goodbyes. A new life was going to start for this couple so they weren’t sure when they would get to see them next.

As the families departed on the Guild’s ships, Hu Jian went to find Li Yu. The expression on his face is a mixture of gratitude and self-doubt. “Li Yu,” he began, “about the offer to be the branch manager… I’ve decided I will take the branch manager position for now.”

He looked down at the ground, his voice low. “I know I am not worthy of it, that it was only because of favors that I was able to get it. But it makes the most sense for me right now. I can stay closer to my fiancée and help protect her family. I can also pay back the guild a bit by working well for them.”

Li Yu just smiled, his friend was always like this. Filled with too much self doubt when it came to real responsibilities, even when he was more than up for the task. He put a hand on his friend’s shoulder. “You underestimate yourself,” he said firmly. “You deserve such a position. You are honest, hardworking, and loyal. You will do a great job once you get some experience here. Listen to the advisors that Kui will have stationed here and learn. I know you are more than capable of such a thing.”

Bolstered by his friend’s unwavering confidence, Hu Jian smiled. “Thank you, for everything that you’ve done since we met.” He then looked at Li Yu, his expression serious and happy now. Li Yu could tell that he wanted to say more but he couldn’t find the right words for it.

Instead, after a little bit he said, “The wedding will be in a year, on a day that was picked because it is lucky. I am inviting you now, along with all those from the Guild who helped us, as our honored guests. We will take care of it on our own this time.” Li Yu’s grin was wide and genuine. “Of course, we will be there to witness it. I wouldn’t miss it for anything.”

Later that day, back on the Golden Voyage, Kui met with Li Yu in his private study. The Guild Master’s cheerful expression was replaced by a more serious one. “Wise Host, while our show of soft power was good, I think a more direct approach is needed as well. The Iron Peak Clan might be arrogant. A grand party might intimidate them by using our presence here, but it might also make them resentful. Being subtle about it isn’t always a good thing.”

Li Yu asked what his plan was, and Kui laid it out simply. “We will pay them a visit. A small delegation will go directly to the clan of the man that had been bothering her and be straightforward. We will inform their clan leader that Hu Jian is a branch leader of the Golden Shell Guild and that he should leave them alone now, or else. No ambiguity, no room for interpretation.”

Li Yu thought it was a good plan. “They are a relatively small clan anyway,” he agreed. “It is better to get any misunderstandings out of the way now.” To leave no room for question that the Golden Shell Guild is here and we protect our own.

Kui nodded, satisfied. “My thoughts exactly. We will also ensure the new branch is under the protection of our guards. And in honor of your friend, Xylia and I have decided to station a peak Foundation Establishment guard here permanently. It is more than this region should need, but it will be a failsafe for Hu Jian. At the very least, if things somehow get bad here, he can take Hu Jian and Mei Fen to flee.”

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Li Yu was thinking the same thing, he was going to ask Kui to station someone with a high cultivation in this region to help protect his friend. He was grateful that Kui and Xylia thought of it as well, he truly appreciated how thoughtful they were with people they knew were important to him. He was very lucky to have them as part of his group.

Back at the sect, the reality of his new future began to set in for Hu Jian. He was leaving the sect he had known for so long, his daily life in the Deep Water Menagerie that he had grown accustomed to. He would be leaving behind some of his closest friends, he wouldn’t be able to see them everyday. There was worry there, but there was also excitement. He would be starting his new life with the woman he loved, so he got to work.

His first stop was the mission hall and he found a guarding mission he could take in that region. That would be his official reason for him to be stationed in Clearwater City indefinitely from the sect’s side. He formally accepted the mission, a typically low-level, long-term assignment that few disciples of his standing would like to take.

The pay wasn’t great for the amount of time spent but it was a usually safe job. The elder managing the hall raised an eyebrow but processed the request without question. With his official sect business settled, it was time for the hardest part: saying goodbye.

Over the next few days, Hu Jian made his rounds. He met with other sect members that he was friends with, many of whom Li Yu didn't know. Hu Jian was much more social than Li Yu had been and he was in the sect far longer than Li Yu. These were the disciples he had shared guard shifts with, the ones he had teamed up with for minor sect tasks, the quiet friendships forged in the daily grind of sect life.

They weren’t too shocked by the news since many of them were at the engagement party and had heard about the branch manager position being offered to him. Still, they reacted with the sorrow of a friend going away.

“You’re leaving? To be a manager for the Golden Shell Guild?” one of them that wasn’t there asked, his eyes wide with disbelief. “How did you get such a fortunate encounter?” Hu Jian simply smiled and said he had a good friend who put in a word for him.

They all congratulated him, there was some envy among them with his new soon to be wife and new powerful position but their well-wishes were genuine. Everyone was saying their goodbyes, each conversation a small, bittersweet reminder of the life he was leaving behind. It was truly tough to leave such a place after a long time.

He also made a special visit to Uncle Wei, who had been a mentor to him once they started working at the Deep Water Menagerie together. The old man listened patiently as Hu Jian explained his plans, a warm, proud smile on his face. “You have grown into a fine man, Hu Jian,” Uncle Wei said, his voice raspy with emotion. “Do not think of this as leaving. Think of it as building a new branch on the same tree. You will always have a home here. Now go, and make us all proud.”

Finally, on his last night, he gathered with his closest friends one last time. Li Yu, Brother Kai, and Lin Tao met him at their usual spot for one last meal. The mood was heavy with unspoken farewells. They drank and ate, reminiscing about their shared past, the trials they had faced, and the dreams they had once spoken of.

Since they wouldn’t be able to see each other as often, this gathering was especially poignant. “Remember to send messages,” Brother Kai said, his voice unusually serious. “Don’t become a stranger just because you’re a big-shot Guild manager now.” Hu Jian laughed, but his eyes were misty. “Never,” he promised.

Lin Tao felt this departure more than anyone else. The two of them were like peas in a pod, almost doing everything together. It was extremely bittersweet for him to see such a close friend, no, to see someone closer than a brother to him go. He was happy for him so he didn’t want to show his sadness. He decided that he would visit often just to make sure Hu Jian was safe and sound.

The next morning, it was time to go. His friends, including a few of the other disciples he had said his farewells to, came to see him off. He shared a final, heartfelt handshake with Kai and Lin Tao, promising to visit as often as he could.

Li Yu stood with him, his presence a quiet, steady source of support. The two of them boarded Tempest, who had been patiently waiting. Tempest then launched into the air, flying Hu Jian away from the sect and towards the city where his new life, his new responsibilities and his future wife awaited.