"Yo, Xiao Lin! What wind blew you and your son out of the house today?"
Xiao Lin had barely settled onto the stone stool across from Nalan Jie when he was met with the man's signature snark.
Nalan Jie had his reasons for being prickly. Over the past few years, every time he'd visited the Xiao estate to drag Xiao Lin out for a stroll, he'd been rejected under the guise of "cultivation." Even on the rare occasions Xiao Lin did agree, he'd vanish back home before the tea got cold.
As for Xiao Lin visiting the Nalan home? Those instances were so rare they could be counted on one hand. If it weren't for the fact that Xiao Lin's attitude remained unchanged during their meetings, Nalan Jie would have suspected their bond was fraying. Naturally, now that Xiao Lin had finally shown up—and brought his son along—Nalan Jie had to let off some steam.
"Today? I believe it's a Northwest wind," Xiao Lin replied with a straight face, diving into his routine of serious-sounding nonsense. "Since the Nalan estate happens to be in that direction, Zhan'er and I just drifted over to see you."
Nalan Jie nearly rolled his eyes into the back of his head. He'd noticed that ever since Xiao Lin's wife passed away, the man's skin had grown progressively thicker.
Nearby, Xiao Zhan and Nalan Su watched their fathers bicker. They remained perfectly still, eyes focused on their feet, pretending to be deaf. They were clearly used to this. In fact, if they ever saw these two meet without insulting each other, they'd assume the sun had risen in the west.
Still, the boys couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy. Seeing their fathers' "ironclad" friendship—the kind where they could talk about anything and drink until dawn—made them realize they lacked that same spark.
While Xiao Zhan and Nalan Su were close and had grown up together, they felt something was missing. Xiao Zhan was casual and free-spirited, while Nalan Su was as stern as his name suggested, handling everything with rigid seriousness. They often had clashing views on the same subject. Furthermore, as heirs to the top clans in the empire, a subtle sense of competition simmered between them.
They were good friends, yes. But they weren't "life-and-death" partners like their fathers. They had tried to change themselves to bridge the gap, but you can't force a "Lao Liu" bond. You don't become best friends by being polite; you become best friends by trying to scam each other—much like how Nalan Jie had tried to arrange a marriage for a daughter Xiao Lin hadn't even had yet.
"Alright, you two go play," Nalan Jie said, waving the boys away once he realized they were suppressing laughter. "Us adults have things to discuss. Su'er, take Xiao Zhan for a tour of the grounds."
"Yes, Father," Nalan Su replied instantly. "Father, I'll be off then," Xiao Zhan added.
Once the boys were gone, the courtyard fell silent. Nalan Jie leaned back, his playful smirk vanishing. "The kids are gone. Out with it—why are you here? I don't believe for a second this was just a 'whim'."
He knew his friend. Ever since the funeral, Xiao Lin had become a complete shut-in. Back in the day, they used to frequent high-end lounges to "listen to music" (and perhaps sample the more colorful side of the capital). Now, Xiao Lin was a hermit, which meant Nalan Jie had lost his favorite wingman.
"Heh, you really are the maggot in my stomach, aren't you?" Xiao Lin teased, cutting off Nalan Jie's retort before it could land. "I'm going on a journey. A long one. It could take several years. While I'm away from the capital, I need you to watch over the Xiao Clan."
Xiao Lin's tone shifted to a rare, sharp seriousness. The jokes died instantly.
"Can I ask what you're going for?" Nalan Jie asked after a long pause.
"Cultivation."
Two words. Nalan Jie's lip twitched. Of course. Even at the King realm, this guy was still obsessed. He suspected Xiao Lin was still using training to numb the pain of his loss. Out of respect, he didn't pry, but he wanted to help his friend move on.
"Then I'll go with you," Nalan Jie offered firmly.
Xiao Lin's face contorted. "Hey! Nalan Jie, don't say things that could be misunderstood! I'm going for a private solo journey. I don't need a chaperone!"
If anyone else had heard that, they'd think there was something "improper" going on between two grown men. Xiao Lin felt like his social reputation was on the verge of a cliff.
"Is that so? Then I suggest you find someone else to watch your clan," Nalan Jie huffed, his pride kicking in even as he realized he'd overstepped.
"In the entire Jia Ma Empire, the only person above the King level I trust unconditionally is you," Xiao Lin said softly. "That's why I'm here. If you won't help..."
"Who said I wouldn't?" Nalan Jie interrupted, waving him off. "Fine, get lost already. The Xiao Clan will be fine whether you're there or not. I'll keep an eye on them. Just try not to die out there, you b**tard. If you die, I'm stopping my protection immediately!"
Xiao Lin just smiled. That was the essence of their friendship—vicious words masking a bond that could weather any storm.
After leaving the Nalan estate, Xiao Lin spent his final three days in the capital in a way most wouldn't expect from a master: he stopped cultivating entirely. He dedicated every waking hour to Xiao Zhan. He knew that in the years to come, his son would have to find his own path, but for now, he wanted to leave the boy with enough warmth to last a lifetime.
When the dawn of the departure arrived, Xiao Lin shared a final quiet word with Xiao Dongcheng and a firm embrace with his son. Then, he turned and vanished into the horizon.
Once he was well beyond the borders and his Heavenly State Soul confirmed no one was watching, Xiao Lin stopped. It was time to shed the skin of the "Xiao Clan Dou Wang."
He circulated his Star Dou Qi through the meridians of his face. In a display of anatomical precision, his features shifted. The youthful, twenty-five-year-old look of a high-level cultivator melted away, replaced by the rugged, weathered face of a middle-aged man.
"There. Even Nalan Jie wouldn't recognize me now," Xiao Lin murmured. By adopting this persona, he severed the link between his future actions and the Xiao Clan. More importantly, he could finally stop worrying about the Soul Hall. Without the "Xiao" name and his original face, he was just another anonymous expert in a continent of millions.
With the mask in place, Xiao Lin took a step forward—not onto the ground, but into the air.
He didn't manifest Dou Qi wings. Instead, ripples of distorted space appeared beneath his boots. As a Dou Zong, he could now tread upon the void, utilizing his rudimentary grasp of spatial laws to fly with a grace and speed that made Dou Wangs look like crawling insects.
"Finally... no more hiding," he exhaled, a long, resonant whistle escaping his throat as he accelerated. The sheer joy of flying unhindered by a low-profile disguise was intoxicating.
Xiao Lin had a clear goal in mind. If one wants to temper their spirit and find the most lawless resources, there is only one place in the Northwest: The Black-Corner Region.
The Black-Corner Region is a sanctuary for the world's most dangerous exiles. It has no laws, only the Law of the Jungle. Strength is the only currency, and everything—wealth, beauty, secret techniques—can be bought or stolen. For a 1-Star Dou Zong like Xiao Lin, it was the perfect playground. He was strong enough to walk horizontally through most of the region, yet low-level enough that he could still find meaningful challenges.
Xiao Lin knew that two powers dominated this region:
The Heaven Snake Mansion: Rumored to house hidden Dou Zun protectors.
Jia Nan Academy: An ancient institution founded by Mang Tian Chi (an elder of the Lei Clan from the Eight Ancient Tribes).
Xiao Lin was particularly interested in the academy's Inner Academy, specifically the Blazing Sky Qi Refining Tower.
The Fallen Heart Flame, Xiao Lin thought, his eyes flashing. Ranked 14th on the Heavenly Flame List, it was known as a "Cultivation Cheat." While other flames provided raw destructive power, the Fallen Heart Flame provided a continuous "heart fire" that refined the user's Dou Qi 24/7. To a "Lao Liu" who valued long-term efficiency, it was the most practical treasure in existence.
"I missed my chance to use the tower to break through to Dou Zong," Xiao Lin smiled as the wind whipped past his new face. "But using it to stabilize my foundation and push toward the mid-stars of the Sovereign realm? That sounds like a plan."