The night atop the ancient mountain gradually grew quieter.
The waterfall continued its endless descent from the massive lake above.
Moonlight painted silver patterns across the rocks.
The cool wind carried the fragrance of rare medicinal herbs growing throughout the mountain.
Lin Shuan and Han Qing Li remained seated near the cliff.
Neither spoke for some time.
The peaceful atmosphere felt strangely comforting.
The kind of peace both of them had lost long ago.
Han Qing Li quietly observed Lin Shuan.
The young cultivator sat beside her while gazing toward the distant moon.
His expression appeared calm.
Yet there was always something hidden behind those eyes.
Something difficult to understand.
Something lonely.
Eventually—
her gaze drifted toward his forehead.
Toward the mysterious mark hidden beneath his hair.
The strange symbol seemed almost alive beneath the moonlight.
A faint frost-like glow occasionally flashed across it.
Han Qing Li had noticed it many times before.
But only now did she finally ask.
"Shuan Hao..."
Lin Shuan turned.
"Hm?"
Han Qing Li pointed toward his forehead.
"What exactly is that mark on your forehead?"
The moment the question appeared—
Lin Shuan froze.
"..."
His smile instantly became awkward.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen already covered his face.
The old monster could practically predict what was about to happen.
Lin Shuan scratched his cheek.
"Ah..."
"Uh..."
"This mark..."
Han Qing Li waited patiently.
Lin Shuan coughed.
Then began speaking.
"When I was born..."
"A huge snowstorm suddenly appeared."
Han Qing Li blinked.
Lin Shuan continued seriously.
"It was extremely large."
"Very terrifying."
"People couldn't see anything."
"My parents told me that after I was born..."
"The snowstorm immediately calmed down."
Han Qing Li stared.
"..."
Lin Shuan nodded seriously.
"Yes."
"It became peaceful."
Han Qing Li tilted her head.
"Huh?"
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen slowly shook his head in disappointment.
"Aah..."
"This boy doesn't even know how to make up a proper story."
Lin Shuan pretended not to hear him.
Meanwhile—
Han Qing Li became increasingly confused.
"Shuan Hao..."
Lin Shuan smiled nervously.
"Yes?"
Han Qing Li pointed toward the mark again.
"What does the snowstorm have to do with this mark?"
Lin Shuan immediately froze.
"..."
"..."
"..."
The young cultivator desperately searched for an answer.
Finally—
he laughed awkwardly.
"Hahaha..."
"Well..."
"The mark appeared when I was born."
"I don't really know anything about it either."
Han Qing Li stared silently.
For several moments—
she said nothing.
Yet inwardly—
many thoughts appeared.
So he truly doesn't know...
Or perhaps—
he doesn't wish to say.
Her blue eyes quietly observed him.
Shuan Hao...
You don't even understand yourself.
You don't know how extraordinary you truly are.
You don't understand how impossible your existence is.
You don't understand how many mysteries surround you.
One day...
I'll bring those things into the light.
Until then—
I'll stay beside you.
You can keep your secrets.
But I'll prove that you can trust me.
Nearby—
Lin Shuan became unusually quiet.
The mention of his forehead mark had awakened painful memories.
His smile slowly faded.
His hands unconsciously clenched.
Tighter.
And tighter.
His nails dug into his palms.
Soon—
tiny traces of blood appeared.
His gaze drifted toward the distant horizon.
Toward a place nobody could see.
His thoughts returned to the past.
A frozen clan.
A burning battlefield.
Blood.
Death.
Screams.
The Yu Long Sect.
The Yue Sha Empire.
The people responsible for destroying everything.
Inside his heart—
a silent voice echoed.
Mother...
Father...
I want to become stronger.
Faster.
I don't want to wait anymore.
I want justice.
I want the Yu Long Sect to pay.
I want the Yue Sha Empire to pay.
I want every person responsible to pay the price.
The night passed quietly.
Eventually—
the first rays of dawn appeared.
Golden sunlight emerged from beyond the horizon.
The moon gradually faded.
The stars disappeared.
A new day began.
.....
Several hours later.
The atmosphere atop the mountain became much livelier.
The waterfall roared continuously.
Birds flew through the sky.
The lake reflected the morning sunlight like a giant mirror.
Meanwhile—
Lin Shuan sat near the lake holding several freshly cut branches.
Han Qing Li watched curiously.
"What are you doing?"
Lin Shuan grinned.
"Making a fishing rod."
Several minutes later—
he proudly held up a simple bamboo fishing rod.
Han Qing Li blinked.
"Does that actually work?"
Lin Shuan immediately nodded.
"Of course."
Then—
after nearly half an hour of effort—
he successfully caught several fish.
The young cultivator became extremely proud.
"I knew it."
Han Qing Li laughed.
The two returned near the lakeside.
Lin Shuan gathered dry branches.
Soon—
a small fire crackled nearby.
Several fish rested beside it.
The problem appeared immediately afterward.
"..."
"..."
Lin Shuan stared at the fish.
The fish stared back.
Nothing happened.
Han Qing Li looked at him.
Lin Shuan looked at Han Qing Li.
Several seconds passed.
Finally—
Lin Shuan asked carefully.
"Qing Li..."
"Hm?"
"Do you know how to roast fish?"
Han Qing Li immediately lowered her head.
"..."
Lin Shuan instantly understood.
She didn't know either.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen nearly burst out laughing.
The old monster had watched Lin Shuan grow up.
Cooking had never been one of his talents.
Most of the time—
Tian Wuchen had handled such things himself.
Unfortunately—
he couldn't simply appear in front of Han Qing Li and start cooking.
Lin Shuan secretly transmitted his voice.
"Master..."
"Hm?"
"Can you teach me?"
Tian Wuchen grinned.
"Oh?"
"Finally need help?"
Lin Shuan immediately nodded.
"Please."
The old monster folded his arms.
"Interesting."
"I remember someone saying he could easily survive alone."
"I remember someone claiming cooking was simple."
Lin Shuan's face turned red.
"Master..."
"Please don't embarrass me."
Tian Wuchen laughed loudly.
"Oh..."
"I understand."
The old monster's grin widened.
"You want to impress this girl."
Lin Shuan nearly choked.
His ears turned completely red.
At that moment—
Han Qing Li suddenly stood up.
Without saying anything—
she picked up one of the fish.
Lin Shuan froze.
"You know how?"
Han Qing Li smiled faintly.
"Of course."
Lin Shuan stared.
"Then why didn't you say so earlier?"
Han Qing Li shrugged.
"Just because."
"Just because?"
"Just because."
Lin Shuan looked utterly confused.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen sighed dramatically.
"Lin Shuan."
"What?"
"This is one of those mysterious things girls do."
Lin Shuan became even more confused.
Han Qing Li simply laughed.
Soon—
she cleaned the fish carefully.
She removed the scales.
Cleaned the inside.
Washed it using fresh water from the lake.
Then she found a straight wooden stick.
The fish was carefully secured across it.
Afterward—
she held it above the fire.
Not too close.
Not too far.
"The fire can't be too strong."
She explained patiently.
"Otherwise the outside burns before the inside cooks."
Lin Shuan listened attentively.
Like a student receiving instruction.
Han Qing Li continued rotating the fish slowly.
"The heat must spread evenly."
"Turn it little by little."
"Don't rush."
Golden oil gradually appeared on the surface.
A delicious aroma soon filled the air.
Lin Shuan's eyes widened.
"Smells amazing."
Han Qing Li smiled proudly.
"See?"
After some time—
the fish finally turned golden brown.
Perfectly cooked.
Han Qing Li carefully divided it into portions.
Then handed one to Lin Shuan.
Nearby—
inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen nearly cried.
"Lin Shuan..."
"Hm?"
"Give me one too."
Lin Shuan immediately pretended not to hear him.
The old monster became furious.
Meanwhile—
Han Qing Li began eating quietly.
Lin Shuan glanced at her.
Then—
while making sure she wasn't looking—
he secretly slipped another piece into the pendant.
Tian Wuchen instantly grabbed it.
A moment later—
the old monster froze.
His eyes widened.
"Delicious."
Another bite.
"Very delicious."
Another bite.
Then—
he looked at Lin Shuan seriously.
"Lin Shuan."
"Hm?"
"I think you should bring this girl home."
Lin Shuan immediately spit out his food.
"Cough!"
"Cough!"
Han Qing Li jumped slightly.
"Is it bad?"
Lin Shuan shook his head rapidly.
"No!"
"It's amazing!"
"Very amazing!"
"Do you have more?"
Han Qing Li laughed softly before handing him another piece.
Inside the pendant—
Tian Wuchen continued speaking.
"I've decided."
"Master!"
"If she stays around, I'll get food like this every day."
"MASTER!"
The old monster laughed shamelessly.
The peaceful meal continued.
For a while—
everything seemed calm.
Then—
both cultivators suddenly became alert.
The atmosphere changed.
The surrounding forest became unusually quiet.
The birds stopped singing.
The wind slowed.
Even the nearby beasts became restless.
Lin Shuan immediately stood.
Han Qing Li also rose.
Her hand moved toward her sword.
Both sensed it simultaneously.
Danger.
Something was approaching.
Several moments later—
movement appeared among the trees.
Shadowy figures emerged.
One.
Two.
Three.
Then dozens.
Black fur.
Purple eyes.
Sharp claws.
Powerful bodies.
A pack of black leopards stepped from the forest.
The moment Lin Shuan saw them—
his expression darkened.
"Black Leopards..."
His voice carried unusual coldness.
"They've appeared again."
Han Qing Li immediately noticed his reaction.
"You've seen them before?"
Lin Shuan nodded silently.
Han Qing Li's expression became serious.
"On our way here..."
"We encountered many groups."
"Very large groups."
Lin Shuan frowned.
"How large?"
Han Qing Li thought briefly.
"Hundreds."
"Perhaps thousands."
"Their movements were organized."
"They didn't behave like wild beasts."
Her gaze sharpened.
"It looked as though someone was controlling them."
The words caused Lin Shuan's eyes to narrow.
Han Qing Li continued.
"Most were Rank Five."
"Some Rank Six."
"And several Rank Seven."
Silence.
A dangerous silence.
Lin Shuan understood immediately.
The Yue Sha Empire had finished preparing.
The beast armies were gathering.
The invasion was approaching.
Soon.
Very soon.
The Da Cang Empire would face war.
His fists tightened.
An old hatred surfaced.
A hatred buried deep within his heart.
The memories returned once more.
The burning Lin Clan.
His parents.
The blood.
The destruction.
Everything connected to the same enemy.
His voice became extremely cold.
"Yue Sha Empire..."
A powerful killing intent slowly emerged.
The nearby black leopards instinctively stepped backward.
Even they felt danger.
Lin Shuan's eyes turned icy.
"It was because of them..."
"That my family died."
The mountain suddenly became silent.
Han Qing Li froze.
She had known Lin Shuan lost his family.
But hearing those words directly felt different.
Much different.
For the first time—
she understood why revenge burned so deeply inside him.
Why he trained relentlessly.
Why loneliness followed him everywhere.
Because someone had stolen everything from him.
Just like someone had stolen everything from her.
A moment later—
a sharp metallic sound echoed through the mountain.
SHING!
Han Qing Li immediately drew her sword.