Li Xuan stood beneath the trees, still watching the empty sky where Ling Yue had vanished.
Only after a long silence did his gaze lower to the jade token in his hand.
Dao.
His fingers traced the engraved word.
A thought stirred.
Perhaps… one day I should go to the Dao Sect.
With a flick of spiritual sense, he stored the jade token away.
Then he turned to leave.
But after only a few steps—
Something near the stone caught his eye.
A piece of pale cloth lay half-stirred by the wind.
Li Xuan paused, then bent to pick it up.
A handkerchief.
Soft as silk.
Along one corner, flowers were embroidered in silver thread— and beside them, a small crescent moon.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
Then he understood.
Ling Yue's.
For a moment he simply looked at it.
Then slowly—
He unfolded it.
Something small rolled into his palm.
Several medicinal pills.
His eyes widened slightly.
So—
She had left this deliberately.
Not forgotten.
Intended.
A faint warmth stirred in his chest.
He held both the pills and the moon-embroidered handkerchief in silence.
Then a thought crossed his mind.
Ling Yue…
We will meet again.
He carefully stored the pills away, folded the handkerchief with equal care, and placed it close to himself.
Then he turned and began walking out of the forest.
Days of travel followed.
Mountain paths.
Dusty roads.
Passing streams and scattered settlements.
Still recovering, yet moving onward.
At last—
As evening neared, a village appeared in the distance.
Smoke rose from rooftops.
Faint human voices drifted on the wind.
Li Xuan slowed, looking toward the small settlement ahead.
And walked toward it.
---
Li Xuan entered the village as evening settled.
The marketplace was still lively.
Vendors lined the streets, calling out over one another.
The air carried the scent of roasted meat, herbs, and dust from passing carts.
People moved through the crowded roads— merchants, travelers, hunters, and wandering cultivators.
After days in the wild, the bustle of mortal life felt strangely distant.
Soon, his eyes fell upon a modest inn near the street.
Warm lantern light spilled from its doorway.
Without hesitation, he stepped inside.
The inn was lively, though not overly crowded.
Several tables were occupied.
Low conversation drifted through the room.
Li Xuan found an empty table in a corner and sat down.
A server approached, and he ordered food.
While waiting, he heard fragments of conversation from a nearby table.
"…a mission…"
"…high reward…"
"…the mountain…"
He did not hear the full matter, but the mention stirred curiosity.
His food arrived.
He ate in silence.
When he finished, Li Xuan placed a silver coin upon the table, rose, and stepped back into the market.
Yet those half-heard words lingered in his mind.
---
After a moment, he approached a nearby vendor selling herbs.
"What is this mission people are discussing?"
The old vendor looked at him once, then smiled faintly.
"You must be new here."
Li Xuan did not deny it.
The vendor lowered his voice.
"The village chief's daughter suffered a severe injury to her dantian. Ordinary medicine cannot heal it."
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed faintly.
"It is said," the vendor continued, "that in a cave within the nearby forest, a high-grade medicinal pill lies hidden. A pill capable of restoring damaged meridians."
"Because of that, the chief has issued a mission, inviting cultivators to form a group and search for it."
"If they succeed, they will be rewarded with high-grade treasure."
The bustling market noise seemed to fade.
A cave.
A hidden pill.
Cultivators gathering.
Something about it felt too familiar.
---
A high-grade pill…
The words echoed in Li Xuan's mind.
A pill capable of healing severe injuries— perhaps it could aid his own recovery as well.
If the rumor was true, he could not ignore it.
Whether for the mission— or the pill itself— he needed to see this through.
Without another word, he placed a silver coin in the vendor's hand.
"Thank you."
Then he turned and began making his way toward the village chief's residence.
His steps were calm, but purpose had returned to them.
Ahead—
A new path was opening.