Chapter 289: Skyfall city 1.

A little spiritual light gathered at the tip of Mo Yuxin’s finger, not bright enough to look impressive, just enough to show the old stone floor beneath their feet.

Su Yubing glanced around. "So, do you think the voice will come back?"

Mo Yuxin looked toward the empty hall. "Probably."

"Do you think it wants to kill us?"

"Probably not."

Su Yubing smiled. "You sound very confident."

"If it wanted to kill us, it would have tried already."

That answer was so simple that Su Yubing laughed. She leaned her shoulder against Mo Yuxin’s arm and said, "Then what do you think it wants?"

Mo Yuxin thought for a moment. "Attention."

"Attention?"

"Yes. It spent all that effort arranging a ruined sect, seven lanterns, mysterious voices, ancient formations, tea, and dramatic lighting. Someone clearly put a lot of effort into making an entrance."

Su Yubing covered her mouth, but her shoulders shook with laughter.

"You are really taking this seriously."

"I am taking it seriously."

"You are making fun of it."

"Those things are not mutually exclusive."

Su Yubing looked at her wife for several moments. Even in the dim light, Mo Yuxin’s features looked sharp and handsome. Her black hair was tied loosely behind her, a few strands falling over her forehead, and her calm expression made her look like the kind of wandering sword cultivator from those stories where every young master in the city would somehow end up getting jealous of her without understanding why.

Mo Yuxin noticed the stare.

"What?"

Su Yubing shook her head. "Nothing."

"You are staring at me."

"Can I not stare at my wife?"

"You can."

Mo Yuxin stepped closer. "You should do it more often."

Su Yubing raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"I like being looked at by you."

Su Yubing smiled in that soft, charming way that always made Mo Yuxin lose whatever serious thought she had been having. "You are getting clingier."

"I have always been clingy. You just did not complain before."

"I never complained because I like it."

Mo Yuxin’s smile immediately became brighter.

She pulled Su Yubing closer and wrapped one arm around her waist.

"Then stay close."

"I am already close."

"Closer."

"How much closer do you want?"

Mo Yuxin lowered her voice. "Close enough that nobody can steal you."

Su Yubing laughed softly and rested her head against her shoulder. "Who would be stupid enough to try?"

Mo Yuxin thought about the ancient presence below the mountain.

"Apparently, this entire continent."

Su Yubing laughed again.

The mysterious atmosphere of the ancient hall lasted perhaps another three breaths before both women decided to leave.

Neither of them found anything else in the ruined sect worth staying for. The ancient voice did not return. The golden eyes did not appear again. The formation remained silent. After searching the halls for anything that could possibly be useful, Mo Yuxin found a small storage room containing several spirit stones, a map of the nearby region, and a packet of dried spirit herbs that were old enough to have become useless.

She took the map.

Su Yubing looked over her shoulder.

"Where are we?"

Mo Yuxin unfolded it.

The map showed the western half of the Southern Continent, drawn in the style of ancient cultivators who believed mountains should be represented by dramatic black brush strokes and rivers should be drawn as if they were angry dragons.

Bluewave City was near the southwestern coast.

Farther inland was a vast region marked with forests, deserts, sect territories, beast mountains, and several major cities.

One city stood out immediately.

SKYFALL CITY.

The name was written in dark red ink.

The city was located deep in the central region, nearly seven thousand kilometers from Bluewave City by ordinary roads.

Su Yubing stared at it.

"That is far."

"Yes."

"How long would it take ordinary cultivators?"

Mo Yuxin calculated. "Several months, maybe half a year if they have bad luck."

"And if we travel normally?"

"About twelve days."

Su Yubing blinked. "That fast?"

Mo Yuxin nodded.

They were both Nascent Soul cultivators on the surface, but even that was more than enough to travel quickly. If they truly used their hidden cultivation, they could cross the distance before most people finished one meal.

But they had agreed to keep a low profile.

So twelve days was already fast enough.

Su Yubing tapped the map.

"Skyfall City."

"Yes."

"Why do you want to go there?"

Mo Yuxin smiled. "Because it is the biggest city in this part of the Southern Continent."

"That is it?"

"That is enough."

Su Yubing leaned closer. "There are probably many treasures there."

"Probably."

"Many sects."

"Definitely."

"Many arrogant young masters."

"Almost certainly."

"And many people who will somehow offend us for no reason."

Mo Yuxin folded the map. "That part is guaranteed."

Su Yubing laughed.

They left the ruined sect before dawn.

The path down the mountain was rough and covered with fallen leaves, but that did not matter. Mo Yuxin walked in front while Su Yubing followed, though after less than half an hour Mo Yuxin slowed down until they were walking side by side.

Then she reached over and held Su Yubing’s hand.

Su Yubing looked at their joined hands.

"Why?"

"Habit."

"You have been holding my hand for three days."

"I know."

"Your hand is going to get tired."

"No."

"My hand is not going anywhere."

"I know."

"Then why hold it?"

Mo Yuxin glanced at her.

"Because I want to."

Su Yubing’s smile softened.

"Fine."

They continued down the mountain.

By sunrise, the ruined sect was already hidden behind layers of trees and mist.

The ancient secret beneath the mountain remained untouched.

Neither of them knew exactly what the seven lanterns had awakened.

Neither of them cared enough to return immediately.

They had come to the Southern Continent to travel together, not to solve every strange mystery that happened to cross their path.

There would be time for mysteries later.

The first goal was Skyfall City.

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TO BE CONTINUED.