You can call me, Xu Yan.

Xu Yan stumbled slightly as the world around him shifted, the sensation of being teleported disorienting but brief. As his feet touched solid ground, he exhaled and steadied himself. Before he could collect his thoughts, he noticed movement from the corner of his eye. Turning, he saw Mei Qing standing beside him.

Her gaze was fixed on him, her expression caught between shock and curiosity. "You…" she began, her voice faltering. "Your face—it's completely different."

Xu Yan raised a brow before realizing what she meant. He touched his face instinctively, and it dawned on him that his disguise technique had deactivated. In the chaos of the trials, he had forgotten to maintain it. His true appearance was now exposed—a handsome visage with a faint scar running along his cheek. Despite the imperfection, the scar only seemed to amplify the sharpness of his features, giving him an air of experience and resilience.

"Ah," Xu Yan muttered, his tone nonchalant. "It seems I've been careless."

Mei Qing continued to stare for a moment before averting her gaze, her expression softening. She held out the sword in her hand, the blade still glowing faintly with the remnants of Lin Canjian's energy. "Master left this sword to me," she said solemnly. "From now on, I will do my best to live up to his legacy. I won't let him down."

Xu Yan nodded, his tone sincere. "Senior was a good man. His legacy is in capable hands."

Mei Qing's brows furrowed slightly as she hesitated, then looked back at him with a perplexed expression. "Why don't you come back with me to the Azure Sky Sect? I'm sure we can sort out whatever misunderstanding you have. After spending these days with you, I can tell you aren't a bad person. My father is an elder of the sect and has considerable influence. I guarantee you there won't be any problems."

Xu Yan's lips curled into a faint smile. "I appreciate the offer, but for now, I'll have to pass." He paused, then added, "I'll leave you with some advice, though. Be careful who you trust in the sect. There's more going on than you realize."

Mei Qing's eyes narrowed slightly at his words, her expression sharpening. She gave a small nod. "I'll keep that in mind."

The two emerged from the tunnel and stepped into the open air outside the forest. The sunlight filtering through the trees cast dappled patterns on the ground, a stark contrast to the trials they had just endured.

Xu Yan turned to leave, his steps steady and deliberate. Mei Qing's voice called out behind him. "Wait! What is your name?"

He paused, glancing back over his shoulder. For a moment, he seemed to consider her question, then replied simply, "You can call me Xu Yan."

Before she could respond, he turned and disappeared into the distance, his figure fading into the shadows of the forest. Mei Qing stood there for a moment, her grip tightening on the sword in her hand. Quietly, she whispered to herself, "Xu Yan…" She etched the name into her memory, a resolve forming in her eyes.