But Chu Feng… he had stepped fully into the second realm, Awakened Sense, a leap that normally required decades of cultivation, life-threatening enlightenment, or near-death experiences.
The secret realm, the killings, the collapse, Han Long's brutal lesson—each had forged the crack he needed.
And his consciousness expanded and bloomed.
The world felt sharper. His breathing, steadier. His spirit, calm as still water, yet deep as a cavern.
His entire demeanour shifted without him realising it—refined, grounded, almost noble in an ancient way. Even standing still, he drew attention like a sharpened sword half-hidden in silk.
Word quickly reached Yu Lianxue, Yu Lianyan, and Jìn Bǎo: Chu Feng had emerged from seclusion.
Moments later, the three dashed toward the courtyard.
When they arrived and laid eyes on him—
They froze.
Their hearts skipped a beat.
Chu Feng stood with an unassuming stillness, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the bamboo grove. His posture exuded calm, yet the air around him carried a subtle pressure—like the fleeting instant before a sword is unsheathed.
Yu Lianxue was the first to speak, her voice quiet but sharp, her eyes narrowing in analysis.
"…Congratulations on your breakthrough."
Yu Lianyan blinked, caught off guard, while Jìn Bǎo's jaw dropped in disbelief.
Chu Feng turned toward them. The faint shift in his gaze was heavier than before, carrying a clarity that unsettled the three of them. It was as if he could see straight into their hearts.
He inclined his head slightly, thoughtful, as if weighing something only he could understand.
The three exchanged glances. Something about him had undeniably changed—yet it wasn't simply cultivation that had shifted. It was deeper, more elusive… something in his presence itself that radiated power and calm all at once.
Moments later, they sat together in the courtyard, spreading out the treasures taken from the ancient palace: medicines, herbs, cultivation slips, talismans, jade bottles, and the massive Alchemy Atlas, which Chu Feng placed carefully beside him.
They divided everything evenly, and no disputes arose, nor greed flared. Only the quiet understanding of shared survival.
When the last item was settled, Chu Feng's gaze shifted to Jìn Bǎo. His eyes sharpened, as if cutting through layers Jìn Bǎo had carefully constructed.
"Since we've all faced life-and-death situations together," he said, voice calm but unyielding, "there's no need to mince words with you."
Jìn Bǎo stiffened.
Chu Feng's tone remained measured, yet each word felt precise, piercing:
"You hide behind a playful mask. Yet your eyes are always alert, and you move with caution. You're not as carefree as you pretend."
For the first time, Jìn Bǎo's laughter did not come. His face twitched, fingers tightening around his robe.
He lowered his head. The courtyard seemed to hold its breath, heavy with unspoken truths.
"My family… is a major merchant clan," Jìn Bǎo finally admitted, voice low. "Wealth flows like rivers, but so does danger. Show too much talent, too much value… and you paint a target on your own back. I learned early to make myself look useless or silly. The fewer expectations others have of you, the fewer knives wait in the dark."
His shoulders slumped.
"I like living, Chu Feng. So I hide."
He tried to laugh it off. But the sound came out thin, strained... barely a shadow of his usual carefree tone.
Chu Feng didn't smile.
"You need to grow stronger."
Jìn Bǎo's head snapped up, eyes widening.
Chu Feng continued, voice harder now, each word landing with weight:
"Stronger, so no one dares to target you. Stronger, so you don't need to hide behind jokes. Stronger so when trouble comes, you can protect yourself, rather than praying someone else gets stabbed first."
Jìn Bǎo swallowed, throat tight.
"There's a whole world out there," Chu Feng said. "If you stay in the same pond forever, you'll eventually suffocate."
Something flickered in Jìn Bǎo's eyes—a spark, faint but unmistakable.
Chu Feng then turned toward Yu Lianyan and Yu Lianxue.
Their backs straightened on instinct.
With a soft tone, Chu Feng said, "Your behaviour... everything points to a background far beyond normal sect disciples."
Yu Lianxue opened her mouth, but Chu Feng lifted a hand.
"You do not need to tell me."
He held their gazes, steady and unwavering.
"When you are ready, you will. Until then, I will not pry."
The twins exchanged a look.
Countless emotions flickered across their faces: Relief, guilt and gratitude.
Chu Feng rose slowly and looked toward the distant mountains.
"I am leaving the sect for a time."
All three stiffened.
Chu Feng continued, "I need to see the outside world. To broaden my horizon. To learn, grow, and temper myself. I refuse to become a proud whale in a small pond when vast oceans await beyond."
His voice was calm, yet the determination beneath it struck them to the core.
"When we meet again," he said quietly, "I hope none of us are left behind."
The words were simple.
Yet they carried weight.
He turned and began walking toward Han Long's residence.
The twins watched him go, hands clenched at their sides.
Yu Lianyan bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her usually bright eyes.
Yu Lianxue's expression softened into something unreadable.
Behind them, Jìn Bǎo's heart pounded, not with fear but with fire.
For the first time in his life, he felt the desire to step beyond the walls of safety and face the wider world.
The Jin Clan's private courtyard was quiet, lanterns glowing softly against carved pillars and jade-tiled roofs. A gentle night breeze stirred the curtains and carried the faint fragrance of spirit blossoms.
Inside the main chamber, Jìn Bǎo knelt respectfully before a stunning woman dressed in elegant merchant robes. Despite her gentle expression, her posture radiated authority: Madam Jin, the matriarch of the Jin Family.
She studied her son carefully.
Gone was the lazy grin. Gone were the exaggerated gestures and playful whining.
Before her stood a young man with clarity in his gaze, a fire she had never seen before.
"Mother," Jìn Bǎo began quietly. "I used to think a mediocre life was fine. Eat well, sleep well, avoid danger and survive comfortably."
He drew a slow breath.
"But now I have something to fight for."