Come With Me

After returning from the square, Hao Nhien did not immediately rest.

Night had already fallen. Lamps along the roads of Hoa Van lit one after another, forming long ribbons of pale golden light through the darkness. In the courtyard, the door to a small room remained open, and Lanh Hoa was already waiting inside.

The moment Hao Nhien entered, he dropped to one knee.

“Clan Chief.”

Hao Nhien looked at him for a moment.

“Stand up.”

Lanh Hoa did not move.

“This subordinate awaits your orders.”

Hao Nhien let out a quiet breath.

He had known the man before him long enough to understand that some things were difficult to change no matter how many times they were discussed. Ever since the Hoa Ky Tribe had returned, Lanh Hoa had almost instinctively placed himself in a very clear position.

He had no desire to become an elder, nor did he wish to compete for authority within the tribe. The only position he had chosen was beside the Clan Chief—going ahead when danger appeared and standing behind Hao Nhien whenever a path of retreat was needed.

Hao Nhien had once wanted him to devote more attention to the Hoa Ky Tribe itself. But over time, he came to understand that in Lanh Hoa’s mind, protecting the Clan Chief was also a way of protecting Hoa Ky.

It was not an order.

It was the road Lanh Hoa had chosen for himself.

Hao Nhien no longer tried to change him.

“Fine.”

He leaned lightly against the back of the chair.

“If you insist on continuing to follow me, then first become strong enough that I don’t have to turn back and save you.”

Lanh Hoa paused for a moment before the corner of his lips curved faintly.

“This subordinate understands.”

Hao Nhien asked about the flying sword Luu Thanh had given him.

When he learned that Lanh Hoa had already completed the binding process but could only control it steadily within a range of about fifteen zhang, Hao Nhien immediately shook his head.

“Too short. That range is only enough for extended close combat. Against an opponent with good movement techniques, you’ll be forced onto the defensive very easily.”

“This subordinate is still practicing.”

“And the pills?”

“I have not used them yet.”

Hao Nhien looked at him.

“Why?”

Lanh Hoa answered naturally:

“This subordinate was waiting for the Clan Chief to decide.”

Hao Nhien remained silent for several breaths before speaking.

“The pills are for you, not for me. Use them when you need them. Don’t keep them merely because you’re afraid of wasting them. What I need is a stronger Lanh Hoa, not a storage ring full of pills.”

Lanh Hoa lowered his head.

“Understood.”

Hao Nhien paused before continuing.

“Before I leave Hoa Van, I want you to go somewhere.”

“Black Wind Valley?”

Lanh Hoa’s eyes immediately changed.

Hao Nhien had told him about that place before and had also mentioned that both Quan Nha and Tieu Lan had gained something from Black Wind Valley. However, he had no intention of making Lanh Hoa copy anyone else’s path.

“You do not cultivate Wind, so the way you train there will be different. I don’t need you to go deeper simply because I once did, and I certainly don’t need you forcing yourself to comprehend something that does not belong to you.”

Lanh Hoa nodded.

“Black Wind has two things that suit you very well. The first is body tempering. The deeper you go, the greater the pressure on your muscles and bones, your ability to maintain balance, and your body’s reactions. You favor close combat. If your body can withstand one more strike, or if you can hold your footing for one more instant, that may already be enough to change the outcome of an entire battle.”

Hao Nhien paused briefly before continuing.

“The second is movement. It doesn’t matter that you don’t possess Wind spiritual power. Watch how the wind changes direction, when it strengthens, when it weakens, and the gaps between two waves of wind. Then use your own body to move through those openings. You will never be as fast as a Wind cultivator, but your reactions will become sharper and your footwork less rigid.”

Lanh Hoa listened intently.

“Quan Nha once used that place to sharpen her reactions. Tieu Lan was also forced by the Black Wind to make her body adapt. You will definitely gain something from it. How much depends on you.”

Hao Nhien took out a jade slip and placed it on the table.

“This contains the areas I have already explored, several places suitable for training, regions you absolutely must not enter before you are strong enough, and a few methods for using Fire spiritual power to protect your meridians when the pressure becomes too great.”

Lanh Hoa accepted the jade slip with both hands and tightened his grip slightly.

“Clan Chief.”

“Mm?”

“When you return, this subordinate will be stronger.”

There was no exaggeration in his voice.

No empty promise.

Only one simple sentence.

Hao Nhien looked at him and nodded.

“I’ll be waiting.”

Lanh Hoa rose and took two steps toward the door before stopping.

“Clan Chief.”

Hao Nhien looked over.

Lanh Hoa lowered his head.

“If something like the battle with Duong Quang happens again, please allow this subordinate to stand closer.”

Hao Nhien understood what he meant.

During that battle, the rules of the Huyen Bang, the protective barrier, and the constantly fluctuating space had made outside interference nearly impossible.

But beneath all of that, the thing truly tormenting Lanh Hoa was much simpler.

He had not been strong enough to stand beside the Clan Chief when he was needed most.

Hao Nhien did not comfort him.

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He only said:

“Then become stronger.”

Lanh Hoa bowed his head.

“Yes.”

Only after his figure disappeared beyond the doorway did Hao Nhien summon the others.

Luu Thanh, Quan Lam, Quan Khai, Quan Can, Luu Van, and Hoa Duong arrived one after another.

Hao Nhien did not organize a long council meeting, because most of Hoa Van’s affairs already had people responsible for them. He merely wanted to settle the necessary principles before leaving.

“After what happened with Duong Quang, checking people entering Hoa Van can no longer be based solely on cultivation level.”

Luu Thanh immediately understood.

“I have already increased the number of people stationed at the gates.”

“That is not enough. Forbidden pills, formation talismans, and artifacts capable of large-scale explosive power all need to be recorded. There is no need to confiscate them, and Hoa Van should not become a place where everyone carrying an artifact is treated as an enemy. But if something can threaten a densely populated area, then at the very least we should know where it is.”

Luu Thanh nodded.

“I’ll establish a procedure.”

“High-level cultivators can still enter normally. Hoa Van is open. Don’t turn this into a place where anyone strong is automatically treated with suspicion. If someone behaves unusually, quietly assign people to watch them.”

After that, Hao Nhien turned to construction and logistics.

The western district needed further expansion. Housing had to keep pace with trade. The water supply needed reserves beyond current demand. Transport and manpower allocation would continue to be coordinated by Quan Can and Quan Lam as before.

Yet the two matters he emphasized most were different.

“All information related to replenishing life force or restoring the source of life should be gathered by Luu Van. Even rumors that sound absurd should not be dismissed immediately, but they must be verified before any price is paid.”

Luu Van smiled faintly.

“The more absurd the rumor, the more expensive it usually is.”

“Then filter them even more carefully.”

Hao Nhien turned toward Hoa Duong.

“As for the new Hoa Ky people, don’t let them gather in one district and live entirely on support. Those who can work should be assigned work. Anyone who knows spirit herbs can go to the medicinal gardens. Those with skills should be sent to construction or the trade caravans. The children should study together with the children of Hoa Van.”

Hoa Duong slowly nodded.

Hao Nhien continued:

“They are Hoa Ky, but they are also people of Hoa Van. There is no need to build an invisible wall between the two.”

“This subordinate understands.”

The remaining matters did not require much explanation.

Hoa Van’s current system was already capable of functioning on its own, and that was exactly what Hao Nhien wanted to see before leaving.

When everyone had taken their leave, the courtyard fell quiet again.

Hao Nhien remained seated for a while before asking someone to call Tieu Nhan in.

The moment she stepped through the door, she looked around and then pointed at herself.

“Only me?”

“Mm.”

Her eyes immediately lit up.

“Something important?”

The corner of Hao Nhien’s lips curved slightly at her expression.

“Yes.”

Tieu Nhan immediately sat up straight.

“Tell me.”

“After I leave Hoa Van, continue studying alchemy under Phong Van Tu. In addition, I’m assigning you part of the southern medicinal garden.”

Tieu Nhan blinked.

“Assigning it to me?”

“Yes.”

“Really?”

“Did I call you here to joke?”

She immediately shook her head, then looked at him expectantly.

“Not the entire garden.”

Hao Nhien added.

“You’re not capable enough for that yet.”

Tieu Nhan puffed out her cheeks.

“Couldn’t you praise me first and criticize me afterward?”

“I’m telling the truth.”

She choked on her response for a moment, but finally sat still and listened.

“Phong Van Tu will still make the decisions concerning alchemy. You will oversee the southern medicinal garden, especially helping the newly arrived Hoa Ky and Cat Loi women learn how spirit herbs are grown in Hoa Van. Seed allocation, harvesting, preliminary processing, and determining which batches are qualified for the Treasure Pavilion will be coordinated with Luu Van.”

Tieu Nhan was no longer joking.

“I can do it.”

“I know.”

Those three words immediately brightened her eyes.

“You really trust me?”

“Why would I give you the job if I didn’t?”

Tieu Nhan smiled immediately, but the smile only lasted a short while before she asked:

“How long will you be gone?”

“I don’t know.”

“Where are you going?”

“Thanh Van City first.”

“And after that?”

“Not certain.”

“Will it be dangerous?”

Hao Nhien looked at her.

“Yes.”

Tieu Nhan remained silent for several breaths before taking two medicine bottles from her storage ring and placing them on the table.

“Then you have to take these.”

Hao Nhien looked at the first bottle.

“What is this?”

“Blood-stanching powder Sister Tieu Lan made earlier. The other bottle is something I refined recently.”

Hao Nhien picked up the second bottle and examined it for a while.

“Is it poisonous?”

Tieu Nhan’s eyes widened.

“Quan Hao Nhien!”

He laughed.

Ignoring him, she immediately began explaining the dosage, when to take it, and when he absolutely should not force his meridians.

Hao Nhien simply sat and listened, nodding occasionally.

The familiar feeling kept a faint smile on his lips.

When she was nearly finished, Tieu Nhan planted both hands on the table.

“And don’t think reaching Foundation Establishment layer eight means you don’t need medicine anymore.”

Hao Nhien paused.

“You already know?”

“Soon all of Hoa Van will know.”

She snorted softly.

“Your aura is different.”

Hao Nhien rubbed his forehead.

“Fine. I’ll take them.”

“That’s better.”

Tieu Nhan stood up.

After taking a few steps, she turned back.

“Brother.”

“Mm?”

“Remember to come back.”

This time, she was not smiling.

Hao Nhien looked at her for a moment.

“I’ll try.”

Tieu Nhan immediately pouted.

“There it is again. ‘I’ll try.’”

“I don’t like making promises about things I cannot guarantee.”

She looked at him for several breaths before finally nodding.

“Then try very hard.”

“Mm.”

Tieu Nhan had barely stepped outside when Hao Nhien noticed a figure in green already standing in the corridor.

Quan Nha.

The moment he came out, she asked:

“Finished?”

“Almost.”

“What is left?”

Hao Nhien looked at her.

“You.”

Quan Nha raised an eyebrow.

“Me?”

“I want to go to Thanh Van City and meet Lanh Tuyet. After that, I may have to travel very far. There is even a chance I’ll have to find a way to approach Heavenly Eye.”

Quan Nha’s expression did not change.

Hao Nhien asked:

“Do you want to come with me?”

She looked at him as though the question itself were unnecessary.

“I’m going with you.”

“I haven’t finished explaining how dangerous it may be.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Quan Nha.”

She stepped closer and took his hand.

“Last time, it took me too long to make my way back. This time, don’t even think about leaving me behind.”

Hao Nhien looked at her for a long time before gently tightening his hand around hers.

“Fine.”

Quan Nha asked:

“When do we leave?”

“Tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll prepare.”

She had just turned away when Hao Nhien called after her.

“Quan Nha.”

She looked back.

“Thank you.”

Quan Nha looked at him for a moment before replying:

“Save those words. Tell me after we return.”

Then she left.

Hao Nhien remained standing in the corridor for a while, the corner of his lips lifting faintly.

Before leaving Hoa Van, there was still one final and most important thing he needed to test.

Hao Nhien returned to the Cosmic Ark.

Tieu Lan still lay inside the room with the densest Wood spiritual qi. Her breathing was more stable than before.

Phong Van Tu had examined her that morning and confirmed that her life force had not increased noticeably, but at least it was no longer decreasing.

Hao Nhien sat beside the bed and placed two fingers against her wrist.

Her heartbeat remained weak, but steady.

He looked at her for a long time before speaking softly.

“I have to leave.”

His hand tightened slightly around hers.

“This time, I’m not leaving you behind.”

During the past three days, Hao Nhien had thought about this many times.

The Cosmic Ark could return into his soul. He could enter and leave it and bring objects with him. But until now, whenever an independent living being remained inside, an invisible resistance had always appeared, preventing him from fully storing the Ark away.

Lanh Tuyet had once entered seclusion inside it before breaking through to the Golden Core realm, but at that time, Hao Nhien had never tried to force the Ark back into himself.

After what happened to Tieu Lan, he had tried twice.

Both attempts had failed.

Today, he wanted to try once more.

Hao Nhien adjusted her blanket and then left the Cosmic Ark.

His consciousness returned to the courtyard.

The Ark remained within its separate space, while Tieu Lan continued sleeping inside.

Standing in the room, Hao Nhien closed his eyes and slowly directed his intent toward the Cosmic Ark.

The resistance immediately appeared.

He did not force it.

Instead, he kept his intent steady and carefully felt every change.

Compared with the previous two attempts, the resistance was clearly weaker this time.

Hao Nhien frowned slightly.

He stopped and sent his spiritual sense inside once more to check on Tieu Lan.

Her breathing remained stable, and the Wood spiritual qi inside the room showed no abnormal changes.

Only after confirming that nothing was wrong did he try again.

The Cosmic Ark trembled faintly.

A tiny fluctuation appeared within the space surrounding Hao Nhien’s consciousness.

The resistance was still present, but instead of blocking him absolutely as it had before, it began to loosen slowly.

One beat.

Then another.

Just as Hao Nhien was preparing to stop, the resistance suddenly weakened sharply.

The Cosmic Ark immediately disappeared from its previous location and returned into his soul.

Hao Nhien opened his eyes.

In the first instant, he did not care that he had succeeded.

His spiritual sense immediately entered the Ark.

The room was still intact.

Wood spiritual qi continued to gather slowly.

Tieu Lan remained on the bed, her breathing soft and stable just as before.

Hao Nhien checked once more before finally relaxing.

A long breath escaped him.

For the past three days, every time he thought about having to leave Tieu Lan behind in Hoa Van, a heavy feeling had settled in his chest.

Now, at last, that weight had eased.

But another question immediately appeared.

Why had it worked this time?

His Soul Art had become stronger than before. That was one possibility.

The Cosmic Ark itself might also have undergone some change he had not yet noticed.

But Hao Nhien remembered something else.

Tieu Lan’s life force still remained within his body.

The vitality she had forcibly given him had not completely disappeared after pulling him back from the edge of death. Instead, it had merged into the circulation of his body and become a deeply rooted part of his current life.

Perhaps that had created a connection between them that had never existed before.

Hao Nhien did not know.

Nor did he currently have a way to verify it.

He only knew that the resistance which had once prevented the Cosmic Ark from carrying an independent living being had weakened enough today for Tieu Lan to leave Hoa Van together with him.

That was enough.

Hao Nhien looked into the inner space of the Cosmic Ark, where Tieu Lan still lay quietly amid pale green streams of Wood spiritual qi.

The corner of his lips curved upward.

“Then... come with me.”