The night winds felt especially strange that night, cold and biting. They howled in their ears with distressing noises.

  Leaving the Radiance residence during the confusion, Noah picked up Ting in his arms and headed east.

  — Xiao Yun? Is that the name of the one who tried to attack Undric’s daughter? — Noah nodded, causing Ting's eyebrow to arch distastefully — And you’re taking me to where people like that are? Are you crazy? Why do you want to go after someone like that? I thought you said you didn’t care.

  — And I don’t care. I’m doing this for a different reason than you think, not for Isadora. He's a genius, you understand?

  — And maybe he's crazy too, so it’s not very appealing to me. And also, how do you know all this? Did “the thing” tell you about it?

  [Thing?]

  [Is she talking about me...?]

  — Yes. — he replied, answering both questions.

  [What do you mean by “yes”?!]

  [She called me “thing”!]

  [Not system or just “her”, but “thing”!]

  Don’t you think you’re exaggerating a bit? I thought maybe I couldn’t reveal you to her, so—

  [No!]

  [What kind of stupid rule would that be?!]

  Noah stared at the interface in silence. His expression was enough to say what he thought.

  [...Fix this.]

  Maybe later. We’re busy right now, can’t you see? And by the way, whose fault is it?

  [....]

  Stopping high in the sky, they found themselves above a large, bustling residence.

  — This is the place? — Ting stared at the area illuminated by yellowish lights attached to wooden posts and the edges of rooftops — Where Xiao Yun is?

  — He's still on his way, sneaking to the south gate now. First, he went somewhere in the southwest of the city.

  — Isn’t that next to the Radiance residence? Did he try to trick them by heading the wrong direction?

  — Not exactly...

  Events weren't slow in their constant development, but rather a bit boring. Noah crossed his legs in the air and sat Ting on top of them. Sometimes, he sighed during the wait, which seemed longer than it actually was, every time the guards' steps reached them. Holding her soft body, he waited.

  On the other hand, Ting watched the action in the city as much as the residence below. The Radiance guards roamed the streets in groups, while those waiting at the front gates of the Xiao residence leaned on their weapons and against the walls.

  For guards, they're incredibly relaxed...

  Servants wandered along the paths where lamps lit the light stone tiles unbothered by anything else. There weren't many of them, perhaps due to the hour. Yet, in the city, Ting noticed an unexpected movement happening somewhere she knew. Yes, the residents seemed agitated.

  What happened? Is it because of the guards’ movements?

  Unlike her gaze, her hearing wasn't sharp enough to investigate.

  — He’s here. — Noah said, shifting her anxious attention to the residence below.

  — Who? — Noah pointed the direction, and her eyes narrowed — Are you kidding? He’s just a boy.

  — A very strong boy for the standards of this place, I think.

  — Well, yes, but still ... — she turned to the youth sneaking along the walls of the residence and invading — Are you telling me he tried to kill someone?

  From the sky, they watched the invasion.

  Even though she felt apprehensive, and now somewhat uncomfortable after seeing the face of the one she had just been condemning, Ting also watched silently. She didn't believe someone so young could have such coldness and discernment, much less reasons to attempt something like murder.

  Was someone using him? That’s what she thought was most likely. But who?

  Her eyes narrowed, lines forming on her forehead. Worse than thinking that child could have done something like that was imagining what he must have gone through to end up in such a situation. And she didn't want to imagine that, but her mind perhaps thought otherwise.

  He doesn’t seem to just be coming home, but rather infiltrating a place he already knows. Is he looking for something?

  Ting noticed the boy had been spotted by someone who, slowly, began to follow him.

  Maybe someone...?

  The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

  Xiao Yun entered a cave on the south side of the property, followed shortly after by the woman.

  — What exactly are you planning? Will you let him get caught? Why did we come here, just to watch?

  Holding her, Noah straightened up.

  — You’re very anxious, you know that? So much that it seems like you’re the one looking for the sister, not him. — he said, as he descended to the ground.

  Touching the ground generated neither dust nor disturbance.

  He set her down, taking some time to straighten her clothes, which had gotten messed up during the flight.

  Yet, Ting couldn’t say anything. She was speechless at the absurd things Noah said so calmly.

  — His sister was kidnapped...?

  He nodded.

  She wanted to scream, to complain about such coldness towards the lives of children, but did she have any reason? From the very start, Noah had never shown the opposite through his actions.

  Only me...

  And that view no longer seemed reason for pride. It was a bit frightening above all. Especially because she didn't know the reason for any of it.

  — I think we need to talk again later. — she whispered as she walked to the cave, leaving him behind.

  —...Did I do something?

  [Don’t look at me.]

  Ting entered the dark, rocky entrance and was closely followed. Even though there was no light source, she could see the path with some clarity, not as well as Noah, but well enough to find her way. She heard the echoes of footsteps, drips falling nearby, and, farther inside, voices coming from the cave.

  — I'm sorry, Yun’er. I didn't—

  — I don’t need your apologies.

  —...I heard what happened, why did you do that? What if they had decided to kill you instead of—

  — Don't pretend you care, please. It's disgusting. Just answer what I asked, where is she?

  — Yun’er, please, I—

  — Just say it already!

  The two turned to the entrance, where they found a young woman frozen in place.

  Ting looked at the place in disbelief. She didn’t want to believe that the red on the rocky walls was blood or that the impact marks had been caused by blows. Even if they were, she wanted to think all that was only training, though she knew a child should never set foot in such a place. She ignored the iron bars that served as a door to get there, otherwise she’d have to accept it was probably a cell.

  Alerted, the two froze at the strange eyes appearing behind her. They were frightening, even though they did nothing but analyze the surroundings. Their glow drowned them, leaving them motionless.

  — She’s not here, boy. — Noah commented casually.

  Clenching his fists, Xiao Yun swallowed hard. His nails dug into his palms as he forced himself to speak — W-Who are you? — but his voice was so low that it couldn't even echo as much as the drops falling from the rocky ceiling.

  — I can take you to her, if you want. She’s not far, she’s just a bit further into the forest.

  Xiao Yun glared at the trembling woman in front, his fists shaking and teeth bleeding, but not from fear — He took her to the forest?! — he exclaimed with blazing eyes — You let him throw her to the beasts and still dare pretend you care?!

  — N-No, Yun’er, I didn’t—

  — Shut up! — he raised his fist, hesitated, trembled. He couldn’t. He yielded —…Of all the mistakes my mother may have made, bringing you home was certainly one of the biggest, Qing. You got what you wanted, so tell me, was it worth it?

  She remained silent while the boy walked past her.

  — I hope you don't regret it.

  The three left.

  Xiao Yun followed them despite his distrust, fear, and doubts. He didn’t think those words were an invitation.

  Meanwhile Ting kept the words she wanted to say to Noah about his impassive conduct stuck in her throat.

  But Ting remained in the darkness, silent. Only after many moments did she bow towards the entrance.

  — Thank you, Yun’er... — her voice came out quiet, choked — I also hope you get what you desire.

  Even while being carried by the collar, Xiao Yun was incredulous. He was in the sky. Flying. This was ridiculous.

  Impossible…

  Something he had only read about in books.

  Foundation Establishment? His biggest dream, as it was the way he thought he could leave that place. To leave hell behind and be free. So that he could make her live.

  He watched the beasts fleeing and the immense landscape below, which from above seemed to go on endlessly. It was so vast his eyes couldn't glimpse the end. There was much to see and experience.

  Ways to heal her... Dreaming cost nothing.

  His eyes wandered to the two strange beings who had suddenly appeared, bringing a resolution. Distrust hung even in the air he breathed.

  — Who are yo—!

  Balance was lost for a brief moment when Noah almost plummeted to the ground.

  — What happened? — Ting asked as she grabbed the boy by the arm — Are you okay?

  Noah kept his arm securely around her waist. Yet for a moment, she saw him consider letting go of Xiao Yun to protect her with his other hand too. Fortunately the disturbance passed, but she didn’t let go of the boy until they were back safely on the ground.

  It couldn't be a Qi exhaustion, she knew. Someone at Golden Core level would never get tired just from casual flight, and she wasn't even sure if that was really his cultivation. Maybe it was greater. Ting was sure it must be. So his problem must be something other than fatigue.

  “There's something wrong with me or around me”... she recalled his words. She hadn’t doubted it was true, even if not fully believing. However, apart from being true, apparently it influenced him more than she thought.

  — Is this where the girl is? — Noah nodded, but Ting didn't understand why he was hesitating to descend when they were already there.

  — Hide somewhere and wait. — he said, bringing them to the ground.

  The ground was cracked and cold, or was it teeming and full of grass? With no sign of vitality, the withered trees had no color. But why, to his eyes, were they huge and glowing with fervor? Dismembered bodies rose from the ground like bones, being the only image they shared. The wind whistled among the stones and echoed with the slow, anxious beating of Ting and Xiao Yun’s hearts.

  — Is someone here? — Ting guessed, hoping to be wrong — Is she strong?

  — I’m not sure, maybe? Seems a bit crazy, or better ... desperate.

  After a few more steps, he stopped. He reached through the air and felt as if he were touching a wall. He tapped the transparent shell a few times, but got no reaction.

  — A barrier? And worse, a double one. — Ting commented as she noticed — This person is definitely very experienced, Noah. Be careful.

  — Want to give me a good luck kiss? — her expression closed, she turned away, taking Xiao Yun with her — What did I do?

  After they hid, Noah analyzed the barrier in front. Qi flowed in every direction and gathered at a rather unstable end point; all this was as clear to his eyes as sunlight at noon.

  He sighed. Checked Ting one last time then focused. His fist sliced the air and struck the barrier with a dull thud. The surface oscillated, stretching like flexible cloth, then stabilized.

  Noah frowned.

  Failed...? No.

  Cracks echoed through the valley. Splinters appeared throughout the barrier, like cracks in glass under pressure. In an instant, it shattered, collapsing into pieces that drifted through the air.

  The way was open.