A Quiet Place, A Dangerous Secret

The spirit sword soared through the clouds like a silent hawk. Wind rushed past Lin Yuan's face as he stood on the sleek blade, gazing out over the endless sky. A thrill ran through him—freedom like he had never known.

Lady Yuexian, his grandmaster and the Taiyin Sect's outer sect leader, asked gently, "Are you afraid?"

Lin Yuan shook his head, a smile playing at his lips. "No. I used to fly with my third mother." The Golden Rock Bird. She was the fastest in the world.

"Mm." Yuexian's lips curled into a rare smile. "Then I'll go a bit faster."

She slowly increased speed. The clouds blurred past them until the wind lulled Lin Yuan into peaceful slumber.

---

He woke up lying on a soft bed in an unfamiliar room. Light filtered through white silk curtains. Nearby, Xiao Hu and Qingxue were crouched near a strange box, their attention focused.

"Where are we?" he asked groggily.

Xiao Hu turned and replied using voice transmission, "We're in the sect leader's house."

"What are you two doing?" Lin Yuan asked.

Qingxue giggled. "We're opening a mystery box the sect leader gave us. If we solve it, we get candy! But we can't use our hands—it's a challenging task. "

Xiao Hu's stomach rumbled. "Brother, I'm hungry."

"So am I," Qingxue added. "And my wings feel tied down! I want to fly again!"

Lin Yuan stretched and yawned. "Give me a moment."

After dressing in the disguise robes, Lin Yuan emerged from the room. Lady Yuexian was waiting.

"You're awake," she said.

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"Come. Let me show you around. "

Lin Yuan nodded. "But first… i wants some spiritual milk For Xiao Hu."

She led them to a nearby market in the sect's inner grounds. A young girl handed Lin Yuan a glass of fresh spirit milk.

Lin Yuan hesitated. "But… this is for Xiao Hu."

Yuexian chuckled. "You drink that. I'll have more brought for him."

A few disciples gathered around, curiously eyeing Xiao Hu.

"Is that… a black tiger?" one whispered.

Lady Yuexian nodded. "Black tigers are incredibly rare. I've never seen one in person until now."

Lin Yuan added, "He drink milk, mostly."

Yuexian called over a vendor. "Some fried meat and… maybe fried grasshoppers?"

An old woman nearby overheard and stepped forward. "My bird loves fried grasshoppers too." She handed over a paper pouch full of them.

Lady Yuexian smiled. "Stay here for a bit. I'll be back."

When she returned, she motioned for Lin Yuan to step onto the flying sword once again.

"This way. I'll show you the sect."

From the skies, she pointed out various landmarks:

* **Training Hall**

* **Practice Hall**

* **Mission Hall**

* **Fighting Arena**

* **Spiritual Beast Hall**

* **Beast Forest**

* **Mining Zone**

* **Herb Gardens**

* **Seed Vault**

* **Clothing Stores**

* **Weapon Shops**

* **Talisman Pavilions**

* **Array Hall**

* **Guest Quarters**

"Do not speak too much," she warned. "Avoid crowds. If you see a formation—don't enter. Where there's a formation, someone is there."

She handed him a moon token. "Use this to call me in emergencies. Now, let's see your land."

They arrived at a wide, open area nearly a hundred miles in size, once a mining site for spirit stones. It was barren but infused with lingering spiritual energy.

"You'll be living here. For now, there's no house. This used to be a mining ground. You'll be leaving with me."

"Can we move a house from somewhere else?" Lin Yuan asked.

"We can," she said. "But it'll be an old house—one used by outer sect disciples."

"That's fine."

"You won't get servants. I'll bring you food, wash your robes, and stay nearby. I'm not imprisoning you… but if you get caught, you'll die. Understand?"

Lin Yuan nodded solemnly. "Understood."

"Do you want anything else?"

"A soul tree… if possible."

"I'll give you ten. But you must plant them yourself. Cultivation is a journey walked with your own feet."

"I will."

She disappeared into the air.

Lin Yuan and Xiao Hu ran around the barren land while Qingxue stretched her wings and flew above, chirping joyfully.

Not long after, Lady Yuexian returned—with a portable house.

"Thank you," Lin Yuan said gratefully.

Beside her stood a woman with foxlike eyes.

"This is a problem," Yuexian said calmly. "I thought no one would recognize you… but she found out."

Lin Yuan's heart sank.

"She's a nine-tailed fox. She used an illusion to see your true self while you slept. She knows… you're a man."