Chu Shaoye looked at the resolute expressions on the two girls’ faces and smiled.
On the Myriad Spirits Continent, people lived by one rule: The weak are prey to the strong. Zhuyu City was nothing like their small village; without the drive to improve, they would quickly be left behind.
The three of them returned to the dormitory, and Chu Shaoye took out the Storage Bags he had prepared. “These are for the two of you. Storage Bags cannot be bound to an owner, so keep them safe and don’t lose them.”
Chu Qingyao could tell at a glance that the blue one was meant for her. She took it, peered inside, and exclaimed in surprise, “Brother, where did you get so much money?”
Chu Qingyu, however, raised her hands to refuse it. “Brother Chu, this is far too valuable. I can’t accept it.”
Leaving no room for refusal, Chu Shaoye pressed the pouch into her hands. “Living expenses in Zhuyu City are far higher than you two imagine. Once you’re able to earn money in the future, you can just pay me back.”
Chu Qingyu pressed her lips together, carefully put the Storage Bag away, and nodded firmly. Brother Chu was right; now was not the time for stubborn pride.
Chu Qingyao tugged on Chu Shaoye’s sleeve. “Brother, you still haven’t told me where this money came from.”
Chu Shaoye chuckled. “Do you think I robbed someone? Just spend it without worry. I still have more. If you run out of money, write a letter and tell me—don’t ask Father and Mother.”
Chu Qingyao frowned slightly, worry showing on her face. Though she had a carefree nature, she was not foolish. Having lived together for so many years, she too had sensed that Chu Shaoye’s background was far from ordinary.
Chu Shaoye patted her head and said gently, “Since the two of you are settled in, I’ll be on my way.”
Both girls were surprised to hear that he was leaving right away. Chu Qingyao said, “It’s already evening, Brother. Won’t you rest here for the night before setting off?”
Chu Shaoye shook his head. “It takes three days to reach the Crimson Firmament Sect from here. It’s better that I set out early.”
Seeing that his mind was made up, Chu Qingyao could do nothing more than walk him out of the academy.
Chu Qingyu suddenly spoke up. “Brother Chu, please wait for me a moment.” With that, she hurried back to her own dormitory.
From her cloth bundle, she took out a neatly folded belt. Made of black fabric, it was embroidered in silver thread with a pattern of cranes and flowing clouds. The design was fresh and distinctive; a single glance showed how much care had gone into making it.
Holding the belt in both hands, Chu Qingyu offered it to Chu Shaoye. “Brother Chu, I embroidered this belt myself. It’s for you.”
A faint blush rose to her fair, delicate cheeks. She had actually meant to give him this gift long ago, yet she had never been able to muster the courage.
Chu Shaoye took the belt, patted the top of Chu Qingyu’s head, and said with a soft chuckle, “Thank you, Qingyu. I really like it.”
When they reached the academy gate, Chu Shaoye told the two young girls not to see him any further and strode off on his own.
The setting sun stretched his shadow long across the ground behind him. Chu Qingyao’s nose stung, and tears spilled from her eyes. Parting from the last family member still with her, she truly felt for the first time that from this moment on, she would have to walk the road ahead on her own.
Chu Qingyao sniffled and nodded hard.
…
Even though Chu Shaoye could not help worrying about Chu Qingyao, he did not look back as he walked away.
Everyone had their own path to walk. He could not shelter Chu Qingyao beneath his wings forever; doing so would only raise a dependent vine, never able to bloom on her own.
After leaving Zhuyu Academy, Chu Shaoye went to the relay station and rented a Horned Horse. There were many varieties of Horned Horses, and the one he rented was a Tier One Horned Horse of the lowest grade.
Its body was jet-black from head to tail, with a sleek, glossy coat. It looked no different from an ordinary horse, save for a single horn the length of a palm growing from the center of its forehead.
Chu Shaoye paid the relay station a deposit of two Silver Coins, and in return he was given a wooden token carved with the Horned Horse’s details and the emblem of the relay station.
Once he reached the Crimson Firmament Sect and delivered the Horned Horse to the relay station there, he would hand back the wooden token, pay the rental fee, and receive his deposit back.
Chu Shaoye swung himself into the saddle and squeezed the horse’s flanks lightly with his legs. At once, the Horned Horse kicked into a gallop and sped out of the city.
The fox Beast Mark at the hollow of his collarbone grew warm. Chu Shaoye smiled faintly, knowing that the little fox wanted to come out, and summoned it forth.
The little fox sat tucked in Chu Shaoye’s arms. The headwind swept its fluffy fur back against Chu Shaoye’s chest.
Chu Shaoye parted the front of his robe and wrapped the little fox inside against his chest, leaving only a pair of sparkling silver-red eyes peeking out.
The little fox let out two excited yips, clearly delighted by the sensation of galloping on horseback.
Seeing how much it enjoyed the ride, Chu Shaoye called out, “Hyah!” The Horned Horse surged forward even faster. The shadows of roadside trees whipped past in a blur as its hooves kicked up a trail of dust along the road.
Chu Shaoye laughed aloud, feeling freer and bolder than ever before.
“Xuewu, from this day on, across heaven and earth, every corner of the Myriad Spirits Continent will bear the footprints of the two of us!”
In answer, the little fox let out two eager howls, as though whole-heartedly agreeing with him.
*
By the time the moon hung above the willow tips, Chu Shaoye had found a mountain cave where he planned to make do for the night.
After tying the Horned Horse to a tree beside the cave, Chu Shaoye built a fire at the entrance, tucked the little fox into his robe, and set out to hunt some game nearby. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Keeping his footsteps extremely light, he soon spotted a sleeping Long-Tailed Pheasant in a thicket of brush.
The Long-Tailed Pheasant was only a Tier One Spirit Beast and a relatively common one at that. Its body was slightly smaller than a domestic chicken’s, yet its tail feathers were remarkably long—especially in males, whose tail feathers alone measured over a meter in length.
Long-Tailed Pheasants were extraordinarily alert. Even in sleep, the faintest sound was enough to startle them awake and send them darting into flight.
At the moment, Chu Shaoye was still seven or eight meters away from the Long-Tailed Pheasant. He had no intention of creeping any closer, for fear of startling his prey.
Slowly bending down, Chu Shaoye picked up a stone from the ground, intending to strike the Long-Tailed Pheasant dead with a single throw.
Just then, the little fox stirred against his chest. Chu Shaoye looked down at it and saw its silver-red eyes eager for a chance to hunt.
Understanding at once, Chu Shaoye set the little fox down on the ground now that its hunting instincts had been roused.
The moment the little fox touched the ground, it sank into a hunter’s crouch, its eyes fixed on the prey, its body low and its tail swaying from side to side.
The sleeping Long-Tailed Pheasant seemed to sense the Killing Intent, and its eyelids cracked open slightly.
Seeing that its prey had stirred, the little fox pounced in an instant, crossing the distance in two bounds and pinning the Long-Tailed Pheasant beneath its paws.
Though it was only a Tier One Spirit Beast, the Long-Tailed Pheasant still had some skill of its own.
It whipped its head around to peck at the little fox, its sharp beak gleaming with a metallic silver light.
This was Iron Beak, a skill possessed by most bird Spirit Beasts. A single strike from it would surely leave a bloody hole in flesh.
Chu Shaoye called out a timely warning. “Xuewu, dodge!”
The little fox obediently sprang aside, though it did not leap far.
Timid and intent on survival, the Long-Tailed Pheasant had no thought of counterattacking once freed from the little fox’s weight. Instead, it beat its wings and tried to flee.
Yet the little fox had already prepared its next move. The Long-Tailed Pheasant had risen barely half a meter off the ground when the fox leaped into the air and swiped at it with a paw.
Three streaks of white light flashed through the air. Feathers scattered as the Long-Tailed Pheasant let out a short squawk and dropped to the ground, lifeless.
A flicker of surprise crossed Chu Shaoye’s eyes. He had not expected the little fox to be so capable as to actually kill the Long-Tailed Pheasant.