What peace feels like.

The spirit boat cut through mist like a blade, streaking back toward the Taiyin Sect at breakneck speed.

Lin Yuan sat still, Tearlume curled in his lap beneath a soul-warming blanket, while Lady Qingxiuan stared ahead with one hand on her sword hilt. The weight of discovery, death, and deception had settled heavily in the boat.

They had escaped Whisper Province, but not untouched.

The great silver doors creaked open.

Sect Leader Yuexian sat upon the high jade dais, flanked by two elder advisors and veiled disciples. The moonlight behind her cast her shadow long and sharp.

"You're late," she said, her voice quiet but cold. "And the palace sent no message."

Lin Yuan stepped forward, bowing deeply, then unrolled the black cloth. Within lay the shattered sect token of Elder Moonveil and a sealed crystal containing fragments of her robes—and her bone.

"Elder Moonveil is confirmed dead," he said. "The spirit vein beneath Whisper Palace was corrupted. Someone buried a sacrificial altar beneath it. Not fox-made. Abyss Sect mark confirmed."

Gasps echoed. One elder stood.

"The Abyss Sect? Within royal lands? That's a declaration of infiltration!"

"It was hidden behind fox wards," Qingxiuan added. "Even the locals may not know."

Yuexian stared at the items without blinking. "And the noble, Lady Huayan?"

"Alive. Clever. Dangerous. May have been suppressing the corruption. Or helping it flourish. Hard to say."

Lin Yuan hesitated, then added, "She let us go. Maybe to send a message.

Yuexian did not flinch. "We must assume our presence is compromised. Fox courts may pretend neutrality, but the Abyss Sect has infected their roots."

She stood. "Prepare a sealed report. Call the Inner Council. And issue a silent bounty on known Abyss operatives near Whisper Province."

Then she looked to Lin Yuan.

"You. Rest for one day. Then meet me for debriefing. You are no longer a child of the outer halls. This was your first true mission."

Lin Yuan opened his mouth, but she held up a hand.

"And bring Tearlume to the medical ward. She's not a walking treasury—she's a child."

Tearlume bit the corner of his robe.

"Mostly."

---

That night, Lin Yuan sat by the waterfall springs. Qingxiuan rested nearby, watching moonlight ripple over the water.

"We lived," he said.

"Barely," she replied. Then paused. "You did well. Even if you still talk to babies like they understand politics."

A messenger crane landed beside them, dropping a scroll into Lin Yuan's lap.

**Mission Report Received.**

**Contribution Points Awarded: 12,000.**

**Honor Rank Upgraded: Inner Disciple (Silver Lotus Tier).**

He stared. "Silver Lotus?"

Qingxiuan leaned back, arms crossed. "Try not to get assassinated before the ceremony."

He chuckled.

Tearlume blinked, then gently burped soul mist over his lap.

"...And maybe get this one a bib."

"I should feel weird but I feel nothing . " "Why don't you go in caltivation . I can give you soul fruit"

The **spirit formation chamber** was silent—except for the humming of energy lines and the faint crackle of qi rotating through Lin Yuan's meridians.

At the center of the glowing formation, **Lin Yuan** sat cross-legged, a faint sweat glistening on his brow. He held the **Dark Holy Stone** in his palms. Threads of spiritual darkness slowly unraveled from it, purifying under his moonlight qi.

> "Just a bit more... I can purify this into a usable core," he whispered.

Suddenly—**CHOMP!**

> "Ow!"

He looked down.

A tiny mouth had latched onto his calf.

**Tearlume**, glowing faintly and bundled in a leafy silver robe, blinked up at him innocently with big, chubby eyes.

> "Did you… bite me?!"

The baby gave him a blank look. Then squirmed.

> "Oh, you probably need to pee!"

He ran into **Lady Mingyan**, who had just returned from the training yard.

> "Mom, emergency! Baby bladder alert!"

Without blinking, she took Tearlume from his arms like a seasoned general receiving a spirit bomb.

> "Handled. Come back later."

Fifteen minutes later, Lin Yuan resumed his cultivation.

**Deep breath. Focus. Channel moonlight. Refine. Feel the darkness... surrender...**

**CHOMP!**

> "You bit me again?!"

Tearlume was nestled beside him again, this time latched onto his sleeve, drooling slightly.

> "You're lucky you're cute."

She giggled and slapped her tiny palms together in victory.

"Alright, no more biting. Let's try something else."

Lin Yuan took out a simple **spirit scroll** and drew a **grid** on it—5x5.

> "This is a game. We take turns marking dots. Whoever gets **five in a row** wins. Got it?"

Tearlume blinked.

> "You go first."

She immediately grabbed the brush with both hands and shoved it into her mouth.

> "...Not like that."

After a moment, she copied his action and placed her dot.

She stared at the board intensely… then grabbed her **own hair**, pulling it like a frustrated scholar.

Lin Yuan burst out laughing.

> "Don't rip your roots out, little one. You're trying so hard."

She let out a tiny growl, furrowed her little eyebrows, and **drew her next move**.

The days passed softly.

They **ate together**—crushed **soul fruit**, fed to each other with tiny jade spoons.

They **slept beside each other**, Tearlume curled behind Lin Yuan's feet like a small, glowing vine sprout.

She **bit him** when she needed to pee.

And when they weren't cultivating or sleeping…

They **played dots**.

Sometimes she won.

Sometimes he let her win.

Once, she won **fairly**, and Lin Yuan caught her **wiggling her bottom** in a triumphant baby dance.

> "You're proud, aren't you?"

She smacked the scroll with both hands and drooled on it.

> "Alright. That's your victory stamp."

As the week went on, Lady An raised an eyebrow one morning.

> "Have you been changing Tearlume's…?"

Lin Yuan blinked.

> "Actually… she just pees. No poop."

Lady Mingyan explained calmly over tea.

> "They've only been eating **soul fruit** and **pure qi essence**. There's almost no waste. Even her pee is mildly spiritual."

Lady Baihua added, "I collected some in a vial. It actually helps accelerate flower growth."

Lin Yuan turned red.

> "...I think I need a vacation."

That night, Lin Yuan tucked Tearlume under a spirit-woven blanket. She reached out and grabbed his sleeve, refusing to sleep alone.

He lay beside her, whispering softly.

> "We didn't get much cultivation done today... but I think I learned something more important."

She snored softly.

He smiled.

> "I think this is what peace feels like."

He go to sect leader house and stay there for 3 day. He again take tearlume in qi condensing formation.