The next morning, just as the first sunlight spread across the Thanh Van River, Tieu Lan had already finished preparing the medicine basket.
Today, the two of them were returning to Thanh Van Mountain.
Hao Nhien pushed open the cabin door and stepped outside. He was about to tell Tieu Lan to check their belongings one last time when he noticed her standing at the bow, staring at him intently.
There was something strange about that look.
Not surprise.
Not worry either.
Hao Nhien glanced down at himself.
Same old clothes.
Hair slightly messy from sleep.
The Tieu Dao Sword still hanging at his side.
Nothing unusual.
"What are you looking at?"
Tieu Lan did not answer immediately.
She came a few steps closer, tilted her head, and looked him over from top to bottom. Apparently still unconvinced, she slowly walked around him once.
Hao Nhien stood still and let her inspect him.
"Is there something on my face?"
"No."
"Then why are you looking at me like a medicinal herb that suddenly grew legs?"
Tieu Lan burst out laughing, but quickly became serious again. She lightly covered her mouth, brows drawing together as if trying to find the right words.
"I don't really know how to say it…"
Hao Nhien raised an eyebrow.
Tieu Lan looked at his shoulders, then at the way he stood on the deck.
"Young Master feels different today."
"Different how?"
"Not your face or clothes."
She thought for a moment longer.
"Your presence feels steadier. Even the way you stand feels different. I never noticed it much before, but today… just looking at you, you seem more settled."
She hesitated, then added,
"More imposing."
As soon as she said it, she looked a little embarrassed.
"That's just how it feels to me."
A trace of surprise passed through Hao Nhien's eyes.
Tieu Lan was even more perceptive than he had thought. Perhaps it was not only because of her Pure Wood affinity. After spending so much time beside him, she had become very familiar with his breathing, posture, and usual condition. A change that others might overlook, she noticed immediately.
Hao Nhien smiled.
"You're not wrong."
Tieu Lan looked up.
"I broke through last night."
She froze.
"Broke through?"
"Mm. Fourth layer of Qi Condensation."
Hao Nhien paused.
"You could say I've officially entered the middle stage."
Tieu Lan's eyes immediately lit up.
"Really?"
The joy on her face was impossible to hide. She took half a step closer, lips parting as though she had many things to say, yet in the end she only tightened her grip on the basket straps across her chest.
"That's wonderful…"
Her eyes curved with her smile.
"Really wonderful, Young Master."
Hao Nhien looked at her.
For some reason, seeing her so happy for him made the breakthrough from last night feel even more real.
He lightly clenched his hand.
The true qi within his Qi Sea immediately responded, circulating faster than before. When he applied the slightest force, spiritual power gathered in his palm more smoothly as well, without the old sensation of having to drag it out bit by bit.
The difference was not large enough to make him a completely different person.
But his foundation had clearly become steadier.
Hao Nhien relaxed his hand.
"It's only the fourth layer. There's still a long road ahead."
Tieu Lan shook her head seriously.
"It's not the same."
"Hmm?"
"Before, every time Young Master advanced, you looked like you'd just finished fighting yourself."
Hao Nhien laughed.
"That's one way to put it."
"But this time is different," Tieu Lan continued. "You still look a little tired, but not tense. It feels like your body has finally started accepting cultivation properly."
Hao Nhien fell silent for a moment.
Simple words.
But accurate.
This time, he had not forced his way through.
His body, meridians, and true qi had all reached the right point.
He had only given the final push.
"Mm."
Hao Nhien looked toward the quietly flowing Thanh Van River.
"This time really was different."
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Tieu Lan immediately looked even happier.
She adjusted the medicine basket on her back.
"Then Young Master will definitely be much stronger in the mountain today."
Hao Nhien glanced at her.
"Don't flatter me too soon. If we run into the Great White Ape, we still need to know when to run."
Tieu Lan laughed.
"I know."
Hao Nhien secured the Tieu Dao Sword at his side.
His frame was still slightly thin. His clothes were still old. His hair was still being tousled by the river wind.
But his footing was steadier.
His breathing was deeper.
Tieu Lan looked at him again.
Hao Nhien turned his head.
"What are you staring at now?"
She quickly lowered her gaze.
"Nothing."
But the smile at the corner of her lips remained.
"It's just… Young Master really does feel a little different today."
Hao Nhien shook his head with a smile.
"Let's go."
"Yes!"
The two left the boat and followed the small path beside the Thanh Van River.
Ahead, Thanh Van Mountain was still wrapped in morning mist.
Behind them, the Cosmic Ark rested quietly by the water. The pots of medicinal herbs on the deck swayed gently in the breeze, a little greener than they had been several days earlier.
Hao Nhien walked half a step ahead.
Tieu Lan followed close behind.
Too much had happened over the past few days. Today, she was clearly more relaxed, looking from side to side as they walked, occasionally crouching to inspect a patch of herbs before raising her head to watch the clouds above the mountain.
Hao Nhien glanced at her.
"You're that happy?"
Tieu Lan nodded immediately.
"Yes. Today we don't have to run away, we don't have to fight, and we're not testing any frightening spirit stones. We're only going to thank Senior and gather a few more herbs."
She smiled.
"Of course I'm happy."
At the words we don't have to fight, something faint stirred in Hao Nhien's chest.
He glanced toward the mountain.
A vague feeling.
Not a sense of danger.
Only that after everything that had happened recently, he no longer quite trusted days that were supposed to be "go there and come back."
But he said nothing.
There was no need to frighten himself in advance.
The path toward the waterfall was already familiar.
There had been light rain over the past few days, and the ground beneath their feet was still damp. The mountain air carried the scent of wet stone, rotting leaves, and fresh grass. Birdsong from the high branches mingled with the distant roar of falling water.
When they reached the lake beneath the waterfall, the sun had just cleared the mountain peak.
Thanh Van Falls poured down from the cliff, white water flashing beneath the morning light. Mist rose in a thin veil, breaking the sunlight into countless tiny sparks.
A few faint traces still remained on the white sand where Hao Nhien had once trained.
He stopped.
Before, this place had only been water, stone, resistance, distance, impact, and places where he could temper his body.
Only now did he realize how beautiful it actually was.
The scenery had not changed.
The one looking at it had.
Hao Nhien smiled faintly.
"When the heart grows a little lighter, even mountains and rivers look different."
Tieu Lan turned toward him.
"Is Young Master happy because we're going to see Senior Tieu Dao again?"
Hao Nhien looked at her.
The walk through the mountain had left a faint flush on her cheeks. A few strands of hair clung beside her face, and the pale mist from the waterfall reflected in her clear eyes.
He paused for a moment.
"Partly."
"And the other part?"
Hao Nhien had intended to look away.
But in the end, he still answered.
"You're so happy today that even the scenery seems a little brighter."
Tieu Lan froze.
Color immediately spread across her cheeks.
"Young Master is teasing me again."
"I'm telling the truth."
Only after saying it did Hao Nhien realize how direct it sounded.
He coughed lightly.
"Come on. We still have to reach the ledge."
Tieu Lan stood still for a heartbeat before hurrying after him with the basket in her arms.
The smile at the corner of her lips stayed there the entire way.
The two had just rounded the large boulder beside the lake when Hao Nhien suddenly stopped.
The waterfall still roared.
The wind still crossed the lake.
But he could feel something watching them.
No killing intent.
No hostility.
Only a very clear pressure, as though some enormous creature that had been standing silently in the forest had suddenly turned its attention toward them.
Hao Nhien's hand rested on the hilt of the Tieu Dao Sword.
He slowly turned.
Tieu Lan instinctively stepped a little closer to him.
Near the hidden entrance covered in vines, a massive white figure stood silently.
The Great White Ape.
Its dark red eyes stared directly at Hao Nhien.
Tieu Lan tightened her grip on the basket strap.
"Young Master… is that really it?"
"Mm."
Hao Nhien lowered his voice.
"Don't run. It has no killing intent."
At least, none that he could feel.
Hao Nhien stepped forward half a pace and cupped his hands.
"Senior Great White Ape."
He did not know how much human speech the creature truly understood, but last time it had clearly recognized the Tieu Dao Sword and deliberately stepped aside.
Speaking was still better than remaining silent.
"This junior is Quan Hao Nhien. Last time, Senior allowed me to enter the dwelling. Today I've returned only to pay my respects to Senior Nhat Kiem Tieu Dao. I have no intention of taking anything else."
The Great White Ape did not answer.
It only stared at him.
There was intelligence in those eyes.
But faintly.
Not like a human mind forming words and thoughts.
Yet not entirely like a beast acting only on instinct either.
Hao Nhien continued,
"If Senior does not want us to approach, then I'll pay my respects from here and leave."
The Great White Ape gave a low growl.
Small ripples spread across the nearby lake.
Tieu Lan's face paled slightly.
Hao Nhien remained where he was.
"A true man uses his mouth, not his fists."
He paused.
"Although Senior probably isn't a man."
Tieu Lan lightly tugged at the corner of his sleeve.
"Young Master…"
"I'm trying to negotiate."
The Great White Ape watched him for another moment.
Then it raised one arm.
Its enormous hand slowly clenched into a fist.
Hao Nhien stopped smiling.
The movement did not feel like preparation to kill.
If it truly wanted his life, given the difference between them, it would not need to stand there warning him for so long.
But it clearly did not intend to let him pass easily either.
Testing me?
The thought had barely appeared when—
the Great White Ape stomped down.
Boom.
The sand beneath its feet sank.
Its massive white body shot forward.
Far faster than its heavy frame suggested.
Hao Nhien immediately abandoned the idea of drawing his sword.
No killing intent.
The Tieu Dao Sword was unnecessary.
The ape's fist came toward him.
No technique.
No fist art.
Only the raw strength of a body far beyond his own.
Hao Nhien did not dare block it head-on.
His left foot stepped diagonally back by half a pace and his center of gravity dropped. He raised both arms not to stop the fist directly, but to form an angled surface before his body.
When the punch arrived, he turned his waist and shoulders with the direction of the force, trying to let the strike slide aside rather than taking the full impact head-on.
Thud!
The idea was correct.
The difference in strength was still too great.
Both of Hao Nhien's arms went numb instantly. The remaining force traveled through his shoulders and threw his entire body sideways.
He staggered back seven or eight steps.
His feet carved two long trails through the sand.
Only on the ninth step did he barely regain his balance.
His chest tightened sharply.
A metallic taste rose into his throat.
He swallowed it back, but a thin line of blood still appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Both arms throbbed.
Nothing broken.
But one punch had been enough to make the difference between them completely clear.
The Great White Ape remained where it was after the strike.
It did not pursue.
Hao Nhien noticed that immediately.
It held back.
If that punch had been thrown at full strength, there was no chance he would have merely been pushed back several steps.
The Great White Ape tilted its head slightly and looked at him.
Something in its gaze seemed different.
Hao Nhien rubbed his right arm.
"Senior, that was a little heavy for a test."
The Great White Ape growled softly.
Then charged again.
"…"
Hao Nhien immediately shifted his footing.
This time, he did not wait for the attack to arrive.
The Great White Ape swept one leg across.
The range was enormous.
Hao Nhien dropped low before the sweep completed, leaning close to the sand. The wind from the kick passed just above his head and whipped his hair into chaos.
The moment the ape's leg passed, its weight shifted to one side.
A brief opening appeared along its flank.
Hao Nhien saw it.
No need to think.
His supporting foot turned.
His waist followed.
His right leg swept out.
Thud!
His shin struck the Great White Ape's side.
The feedback immediately told Hao Nhien that he had just done something rather unwise.
Hard.
Far too hard.
Like kicking a solid wooden pillar wrapped in fur.
The impact rebounded through his shin.
But this time he had been ready for it.
He did not leave his leg caught in place. Hao Nhien immediately withdrew it and used the rebound to retreat another two steps.
The Great White Ape only shifted slightly.
No injury.
Almost no pain.
But it stopped.
Hao Nhien stopped as well.
Man and ape stared at each other.
Behind him, Tieu Lan had already tightened one hand around a medicine bottle inside the basket.
"Young Master…"
"I'm fine."
Hao Nhien never took his eyes off the Great White Ape.
By now, he was almost certain of one thing.
The creature did not want to kill him.
If it did, it would not have stopped after the first punch.
Nor would it be using attacks simple enough for him to clearly read their paths.
But why was it testing him?
Hao Nhien did not know.
The Great White Ape lowered its gaze toward the flank Hao Nhien had just kicked.
Then it looked back at him.
A low rumble escaped its throat.
Not anger.
Not pain either.
No matter how Hao Nhien listened, it sounded almost like…
contempt.
Hao Nhien looked at it.
Then at his still-numb leg.
He exhaled.
"All right."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"I think I understand what Senior means."
At least half of it.
If he wanted to pass apparently talking alone would not be enough.