Chapter 183: Departure

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The Ash Road is bustling with activity. It is not just disciples gathered but servants as well. There are multiple crates and luggage, and even some tame Spirit Beasts along with their minders. They have all gathered here for a single reason.

They are waiting to be taken to the Storm Dragon Empire.

Lord Feng Gui made the announcement a little under a month ago, and disciples from all divisions volunteered for the mission. Everyone is eager to prove their worth to the future Patriarch. Those present have been thoroughly tested for suitability over the past few weeks. Of course, the disciples trusted by the Elders did not need to go through the process. They had their spots assured from the start.

Just like Elder Xue warned Liu Jin, Elder Fa added quite a few of his followers to the delegation. As the man in charge of External Relations, it is hard to exclude him from something like this. At least, not without exposing him as a traitor, something that carries several risks.

However, that does not mean Liu Jin is without allies.

“I can’t believe Brother Hong won’t come with us!” Huang Shing says. He has his head raised high as he looks over the huge crowd with curiosity. If his self-control was weaker, he’d probably be petting the Spirit Beasts.

“It is understandable,” Liu Jin replies. “He chose to focus on his training.”

Lu Mei covers the lower half of her face with her sleeve and laughs. “That is a kind way of saying he could not stand being inferior, so he locked himself into isolation for a year.”

Bei Hong’s situation is far from unique. Once the initial excitement of returning alive from the Dead Plains died down, many disciples put renewed efforts into their training. Almost dying so many times ended up being an excellent incentive for growth. The isolation chambers, which had been emptying now that many of the disciples there learned about the new Patriarch, were suddenly in demand once more.

Even Liu Jin had undergone isolation training for two months once his lessons with Elder Xue were over. It would have been three had it not been for Lord Feng Gui’s announcement. Lu Mei also went into isolation for a month. Of the three, only Huang Shing refrained from doing so.

“It still doesn’t feel right not having him with us,” Huang Shing points out.

Liu Jin nods. “True.”

Despite their troublesome first meeting, the four somehow ended up as a group. Going on such a long trip without Bei Hong feels… not quite wrong but not fully right either. At the very least, Liu Jin will miss having such a reliable fighter at his side, especially when surrounded by so many unknowns.

Lu Mei, who has known Bei Hong the longest, rolls her eyes. “Oh, I am sure you will manage somehow. Now, stop moping. We need to look our best, especially you, Jin. Everyone is watching us.”

Lu Mei, Huang Shing, and Liu Jin are standing in front of the crowd. They are not the only ones. All the disciples given positions of authority for the duration of this expedition are standing side by side. Some will handle the day-to-day affairs, while others will be more involved in the negotiations. Liu Jin is likely to be part of both.

After all, he wears the black and gold of a Core Disciple now.

“I hardly think it is us they are looking at,” Liu Jin says, glancing at other chosen disciples. Mud is among them. “Not when there are so many impressive people gathered.”

Even as he says it, he realizes he is wrong. Certainly, many people are in awe of the Core Disciples (a group that, he now realizes, includes him), but there are also quite a few disciples looking at the three of them with respect and wonder. Many of them are new disciples, but there are also some who were part of the group that went to the Dead Plains. He can spot Ni Cai and Ten in the crowd.

“Gah!”

The strangled and not-at-all dignified sound cuts Liu Jin’s musings short. Huang Shing’s face is frozen in shock, and his raised finger points straight ahead.

“What are you doing?” Lu Mei hisses at him. Wind blows Huang Shing’s hand back to its place.

“Over there!” Huang Shing hisses back. “Look!”

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Liu Jin follows Huang Shing’s line of sight and finds Feng Zhi. The Young Master of the Eternal Flame Clan casually makes his way across the crowd. A servant trails behind him. The assembled disciples quickly move out of the way as he passes.

He is in the Second Level of the Earth Realm.

A single level after so long is not particularly impressive, but it is noteworthy because Feng Zhi has, at last, overcome the First Level of the Earth Realm. There is no telling how Feng Zhi will grow from now on.

As Feng Zhi reaches the front, he stops for a moment to glare at Liu Jin—a glare that Liu Jin meets with complete impassivity—before taking his place among the Core Disciples. The moment is so brief most probably didn’t notice it.

“What of it?” Lu Mei asks. “We knew the Young Master would be here.”

It was a bit of a surprise to Liu Jin when he first heard the news. Elder Xue had explained the reasoning behind the decision to him. Unlike the mission to Night Forest Nation, Feng Zhi is not being sent to be hidden or save face. Rather, his presence is a sign of legitimacy and goodwill towards General Dan. It means the future Patriarch of the Eternal Flame Clan trusts him enough to send his son to negotiate with him.

“Who cares about him?” Huang Shing hisses. “I am talking about her! That’s Yi Jiao! She’s right there!”