Xiaomei walked briskly through the corridor toward Riven's room.
Her steps carried a lightness they hadn't possessed in a long time.
Ever since Riven had returned, everything inside the Millings Manor had begun changing.
The family debts were cleared, the servants no longer wore worried expressions, and even Lady Millings had a smile on her face all the time.
Thinking about all this, Xiaomei couldn't help but hum softly as she skipped along the corridor.
Stopping before Riven's room, she knocked gently.
"Young Master. The breakfast is ready."
She stood quietly outside the room, waiting for his usual reply.
However, even after nearly five minutes, no voice came from inside.
Xiaomei blinked in confusion before knocking again, this time a little louder.
"Young Master?"
Still, silence.
Growing slightly nervous, she slowly pushed the door open.
"Young Master... I'm coming in."
The room was empty.
The neatly arranged bed had already been made, and the window stood open, allowing the cool morning breeze to drift inside.
There wasn't a trace of Riven.
Xiaomei's expression immediately changed.
"Where did Young Master go?"
She hurriedly ran back into the corridor.
As she rounded a corner, she nearly bumped into Eli.
"Sister Eli!"
Eli looked at the flustered girl with amusement.
"What happened?"
"Do you know where Young Master Riven is? He isn't in his room."
Eli smiled helplessly.
"So that's what you're worried about. I saw him in the garden not long ago."
Relief immediately washed across Xiaomei's face, and she let out a long sigh before placing a hand over her chest.
Seeing her reaction, Eli couldn't resist teasing her.
"Don't tell me you've fallen for Young Master Riven."
Xiaomei's cheeks instantly turned bright red.
"W-What are you saying, Sister Eli?"
Eli laughed softly.
"If not, then why are you so nervous?"
Xiaomei hurriedly shook her head.
"I was only worried because everyone was waiting for breakfast."
Eli simply smiled.
"Then hurry; if you keep everyone waiting any longer, Lady Millings will think you got lost."
Xiaomei nodded repeatedly before running toward the backyard.
As she approached the garden, she slowed her pace.
She saw Riven quietly walking through the flowerbeds.
The garden looked completely different from yesterday.
Flowers of various colors had already been planted throughout the previously empty ground.
Even the withered corners of the garden now appeared far more lively.
Riven walked slowly between the flowerbeds, scattering seeds into the freshly turned soil with calm, measured movements.
The morning sunlight fell upon his white hair, making it seem as though it carried a faint silver glow.
For a brief moment, Xiaomei simply stood there watching, and only after gathering herself did she step forward and bow respectfully.
"Young Master."
"The breakfast is ready."
Riven nodded without looking up.
"I'll be there shortly."
He finished sowing the handful of seeds in his palm before placing the remaining packets neatly on the nearby stone table.
Only then did he dust the soil from his hands and begin walking back toward the manor.
Xiaomei quietly followed behind him, but for some reason, she kept her head lowered the entire time.
Seeing her unusual silence, Riven suddenly asked,
"Is something bothering you?"
The unexpected question startled her.
"N-No, Young Master."
"I was only thinking..."
She hesitated before speaking softly.
"...about how much the family has changed after your return."
Riven smiled faintly.
"It wasn't much."
Xiaomei hurriedly shook her head.
"It is much, because of you, all the debts have been repaid."
"Everyone smiles again."
"The Old Master even talks about rebuilding the family."
As she continued speaking, Riven's attention gradually drifted elsewhere.
His gaze turned toward a distant direction beyond the manor.
His eyes narrowed slightly.
He thought, 'I think we will meet the spirit girl again.'
He let out a quiet sigh.
Seeing his expression, Xiaomei immediately stopped talking and lowered her head.
She thought she had spoken too much and had disturbed him.
Neither of them spoke another word until they entered the dining hall.
Everyone was already seated, and the moment Riven entered, the old master smiled warmly.
"Come, Riven."
"Sit."
Riven took his usual seat beside him, and breakfast was soon served.
While everyone was eating, Riven suddenly spoke.
"I have to meet someone today."
The entire table fell silent.
Lady Millings looked at him with slight concern.
"Will you be leaving the city?"
Riven nodded.
"Yes, but don't worry. I'll return before evening."
Only then did everyone relax. They had only just reunited with him, and the thought of him leaving again naturally made them uneasy.
Seeing their expressions, Riven simply smiled before continuing his meal.
After breakfast ended, everyone returned to their own work.
The old master headed toward the training courtyard.
For nearly a year he had neglected his martial arts because of the family's financial struggles.
Now that things had improved, he wished to begin cultivating once more.
Lady Millings and Rose left to inspect the family shops.
The manor gradually became quiet again.
In the backyard garden.
A large tree stood beside the flowerbeds. Under its shade rested a simple stone table with several chairs.
Riven sat quietly beneath the tree.
Moments later, Shen Chu appeared beside him and respectfully bowed.
"Immortal Master, you called me."
Riven nodded.
"I think it's time we meet that spirit girl again."
Shen Chu frowned.
"You mean the Sea Tribe plans to attack once more?"
Riven shook his head.
"I don't know, but she has entered the land again and she isn't alone."
"I want you to speak with them. If possible, end this matter today."
"I'll accompany you."
Shen Chu immediately nodded.
"As you wish, Immortal Master."
Riven stood up and lightly placed one hand on Shen Chu's shoulder.
The surrounding space distorted, and the next instant, both of them vanished without leaving behind the slightest fluctuations.
Riven stood up from the chair and put his hand on Shen Chu, and they instantly disappeared.
Nearly half an hour later.
Eli quietly entered the backyard and looked around the garden.
It was completely empty.
The flowers planted that morning gently swayed in the breeze, but neither Riven nor Shen Chu could be seen.
Eli narrowed her eyes.
She had originally come to observe where Riven intended to go before sending another report back to the Imperial Capital.
It had already been several weeks since her last message.
Previously, Shen Chu had remained beside Riven almost constantly.
Because of that terrifying old man, she had not dared investigate further.
However, she hadn't seen Shen Chu for the past two days.
She had begun to suspect that the old cultivator had already left Murong City.
As for Riven, although he was undoubtedly extraordinary, Eli still wasn't particularly worried about him.
After looking around one final time, she quietly departed.
...
Far away, above the ruined coastal city.
The surrounding space silently rippled.
Riven and Shen Chu appeared high above the sky.
Below them stretched the same city that had been destroyed several days earlier.
Unlike before, however, groups of humans now wandered through the streets.
Some searched the collapsed buildings, while others carried away the dead.
Many still hoped to find survivors beneath the rubble.
None of them noticed the two figures standing silently in the heavens.
Shen Chu's gaze suddenly shifted toward the distant horizon.
"There they are."
Far away, four figures rapidly approached through the sky.
Leading them was the same Naiad spirit they had encountered before, and following behind her were three strange sea creatures.
A massive serpent nearly the size of a horse, a giant crab as large as a carriage, and an enormous turtle whose shell resembled a small fortress.
The moment they sensed Shen Chu's aura, their expressions immediately changed.
The Naiad Spirit stared coldly at the pair.
"How did you know we were coming?"
Shen Chu chuckled.
"This morning, I caught the smell of fish."
"So it really was you."
The Naiad Spirit's face instantly darkened.
Without another word, the four sea creatures spread out, surrounding Riven and Shen Chu from every direction.
She drew an ice-blue sword.
"Return my halberd, and perhaps I'll leave your corpse intact."
Shen Chu merely smiled.
Seeing that infuriating smile, the Naiad Spirit completely lost her patience.
"Kill them!"
She shot forward.
The giant serpent and the crab attacked from opposite directions, and only the turtle remained behind, blocking every possible escape route.
Three powerful attacks closed in simultaneously; Shen Chu was about to move.
Suddenly, he felt a hand rest lightly upon his shoulder.
It was Riven.
Shen Chu immediately stopped.
The Naiad Spirit's eyes lit up with excitement, and she poured every ounce of her strength into the strike.
The icy sword slashed toward Shen Chu's neck.
Splash!
Blood sprayed across the sky and a massive head spun through the air before crashing toward the ground below.
Silence.
The Naiad Spirit's triumphant smile froze.
Her eyes slowly widened.
The head that had fallen belonged to the giant turtle.
Its enormous body drifted lifelessly through the sky before beginning its descent.
No one had seen what happened.
One moment the turtle had been guarding their retreat, and the next, it was already dead.
Even the serpent and the crab instinctively halted their attacks.
Fear silently spread across the battlefield.