Two weeks had passed since the brutal confrontation with the Moon Dancing Wolves and their giant python.
In the fortnight since, Dai Yuan had returned to the depths of Brightmoon Forest several times, hoping to track down the escaped platinum Alpha and eliminate the lingering threat. But the wolves had learned their lesson well. The entire pack had abandoned their old hunting grounds, leaving the clearing eerily empty.
Dai Yuan came to a stop before the heavy stone gates of Brightmoon Town. He exchanged a familiar nod with the gatekeeper. His repeated trips in and out of the forest had made his towering, muscular frame a common sight here. The guard who once watched him with suspicion now offered a respectful wave as he passed through.
He glanced toward the western horizon. The setting sun painted long amber rays across the tiled roofs. Taking a deep breath of the cool evening air, Dai Yuan reflected on how far he had come. His journey had begun in the remote Blackscale Village. After crossing the province, he had spent a full month in Brightmoon Town. Now his foundation was stable, his injuries fully healed, and his cultivation had reached the mid-stage of the Silver Bone realm. It was finally time to move on.
As he walked down the bustling main street, a faint reluctance tugged at him. Brightmoon Town was peaceful, and the few people he had befriended here had treated him kindly. But the moment his thoughts turned to his conversation with Wang Linlin the previous afternoon, a headache began to throb behind his eyes.
The girl had been stunned when he told her he was leaving. After a long, patient explanation that his stay had always been temporary, Linlin refused to accept it. She first insisted he stay and work at her uncle's trading post. When he firmly declined, she declared she would pack her things and follow him instead. The discussion had quickly turned into a heated argument, ending with her bursting into tears and storming out of his room.
Whenever Dai Yuan remembered the stubborn look on her face, his temples throbbed. He liked her as a friend and was grateful for her help during his early days in town, but he had a strict path to follow. The cultivation world was far too dangerous. He had no intention of derailing his lifelong goals or dragging an ordinary girl into mortal peril.
With his mind made up, Dai Yuan changed direction and headed toward the outer city's martial arts arena. The rhythmic shouts of training disciples and the sharp crack of wooden weapons against training posts echoed through the evening air.
He had not come to train today. He was here only to bid farewell to the instructors who had granted him free access to the facilities.
Inside the training grounds, he spotted Instructor Li correcting a young student's stance.
"Instructor Li," Dai Yuan called out.
The middle-aged man turned and smiled. "Big D! Here to train again?"
Dai Yuan shook his head. "Not today. I came to say goodbye. I'll be leaving Brightmoon Town tomorrow."
Instructor Li's smile faded. He gave Dai Yuan's shoulder a heavy pat. "Leaving so soon? You've improved remarkably fast. It's a shame to see you go. Take care of yourself out there—the road is never easy for cultivators."
They spoke for a while longer. Dai Yuan thanked him sincerely for his guidance before moving on.
Next, he stopped by the market square, which was still lively as evening fell. At Mr. Gao's stall, the old man was arranging new scrolls as usual.
"Old Gao," Dai Yuan greeted.
Mr. Gao looked up with a wide, yellow-toothed grin. "Big D! What can this old man do for you today?"
"I'm leaving the city tomorrow," Dai Yuan said directly. "I came to say goodbye."
The old man's grin vanished. He scratched his head and sighed. "So soon? Well… the world is vast. A young man like you shouldn't stay stuck in one place." He reached under the counter and handed Dai Yuan a low-grade movement technique scroll. "Here, take this as a parting gift. Stay safe on the road."
Dai Yuan accepted it with genuine thanks.
From the market, he continued to the industrial district and stopped outside Mr. Jiang's blacksmith shop. The rhythmic sound of hammering still rang out, and the air was thick with the scent of coal and hot iron. Inside, the burly, bearded blacksmith was striking a glowing piece of metal on the anvil.
Dai Yuan waited patiently until Mr. Jiang finished his sequence and quenched the iron, sending a loud hiss of steam into the air.
"Kid! Here for your next weapon already?" the blacksmith joked.
Dai Yuan smiled faintly. "No. I'm leaving Brightmoon Town tomorrow. I just wanted to thank you for forging my rod. It has served me well."
Mr. Jiang studied him for a moment, then nodded. "You're a good kid—strong and honest. The road ahead won't be easy, but I believe you'll do just fine. If you ever pass through again, come find me."
They shook hands firmly before Dai Yuan turned to leave.
By the time he finished his rounds, night had fully settled over Brightmoon Town. Oil lamps cast flickering shadows along the stone walls as he made his way back to the Peace Goose Inn.
The moment he pushed open the heavy wooden door, the warm aroma of roasted meat and cheap ale greeted him. The main hall was quiet tonight, with only a few regulars drinking in the corners. Behind the reception desk sat Granny Marita, the stern but kind-hearted owner.
She took one look at him and sighed. "You're leaving, aren't you?"
Dai Yuan nodded. "Yes. Tomorrow morning."
The old woman walked around the counter and patted his arm gently. "You've been a good customer and a good boy. This city will feel emptier without you. Make sure you eat properly on the road, and don't get yourself killed out there."
Dai Yuan gave her a small smile. "Thank you for everything, Granny Marita."
He spent a little more time in the hall, exchanging farewells with the familiar regulars who wished him luck and told him to visit again if he ever returned.
When he finally returned to his room, Dai Yuan sat by the window, gazing at the scattered lights of Brightmoon Town. Two weeks of recovery and training had strengthened him considerably.
Tomorrow, he would leave Brightmoon Province and head northeast—toward the dangerous Brightmoon Forbidden Forest, the perilous border region between two provinces.