Seeing Han Yu playing cards with the boys, Xu Qing didn't know what to think.
"You're playing cards this early in the morning?" Xu Qing asked, surprised that soone had the will—or the energy—to do that at this hour.
"Of course! I've played all kinds of gas with my friends. We could go on for an entire day, too." Han Yu said, puffing out his chest with a bit of pride.
"That's not sothing to be proud of. Doesn't that just an you're a wastrel with no real work?" Xu Qing replied with a deadpan look.
"Hey! I train too!" Han Yu protested. "I'll have you know I just reached the Seventh Stage of the Body Tempering Realm this week." He stated this as if it were a grand achievent.
Xu Qing remained unimpressed.
"Whoa! Big brother, you're already at the Seventh Stage?!" Xiao Er's eyes widened in amazent.
"I'm only at the Third Stage. Even big brother is just at the Sixth Stage," Xiao San said, sounding genuinely impressed.
"It's all in daily training." Han Yu grinned, flexing his arm to show off his muscles.
SIGH.
"Get ready. We have to leave," Xu Qing stated.
"Already? We haven't even had breakfast yet!" Han Yu whined.
"If you eat now, you'll regret it later." Xu Qing smirked.
"Why would I regret food?" Han Yu frowned, suspicious.
"You'll find out soon enough." Xu Qing's smirk deepened.
Han Yu shivered. 'What is she planning? She isn't going to beat up again, is she?' His mind filled with worst-case scenarios.
"Get up." Xu Qing's tone left no room for negotiation.
"Yes, Ma'am!" Han Yu shot up like a soldier given an order.
Xu Qing turned and walked out. Han Yu hesitated for a mont before reluctantly following her.
"Bye-bye, big brother! Co again!" Xiao Er and Xiao San waved cheerfully as he left.
A few minutes later, Han Yu and Xu Qing walked past the city gates. Xu Qing then reached into her pouch.
Whoosh!
A sword materialized in her hand.
"Whoa... the entire sword fits inside that tiny pouch?" Han Yu's eyes widened in wonder.
"It's a Spatial Storage Pouch. Haven't you seen one before?" Xu Qing asked.
"Never." Han Yu shook his head. "I've only heard of them."
"Hmm..." Xu Qing humd in response before hopping onto her sword. "Get on."
This ti, Han Yu hesitated less. He stepped onto the sword, feeling much more stable than before. The terror from his first flight was fading—mostly.
WHOOSH!
They shot into the air at Xu Qing's maximum speed.
Han Yu held onto her for dear life. "How far is the next city?!" He had to yell to compete with the roaring wind.
"A little over a hundred kiloters!" Xu Qing shouted back. "We'll be there in under three hours!"
"That's fast!" Han Yu exclaid, though he was too busy praying for his life to appreciate it fully.
Then, after a few monts, he finally worked up the courage to look around.
And what he saw... was breathtaking.
The world stretched out before him like a living painting. Forests, rivers, and mountains ford an endless sea of green and blue, blending into the horizon. A serpentine river snaked through the landscape, shimring under the morning sun. Birds flew below them, their colorful feathers catching the light.
It was beautiful.
'It's rather pretty,' Han Yu thought, genuinely enjoying the view for the first ti.
For about five minutes.
Then—
'This is kinda boring after a while...'
It was just trees. Trees everywhere. Trees forever.
He sighed, watching as birds and beasts popped up from ti to ti. A few flying creatures even tried to approach, but a casual flare of aura from Xu Qing sent them scattering in terror.
Han Yu blinked. 'Wait a minute... wasn't that a Drill Beak Bird?!'
That was a Qi Refining realm beast!
And she had scared it away without even trying.
'Damn. She's really strong.'
Of course, what Han Yu didn't realize was that this was still a safe zone. Xu Qing could exert dominance here, but in truly dangerous regions, even weak beasts refused to back down. Those creatures grew up facing death daily—fearless, ruthless, and relentless.
Even Xu Qing would find it annoying if they had to constantly fend off such attacks.
Still, Han Yu was thoroughly impressed.
Until he spotted sothing in the distance.
"Is that... a fort?"
A massive wall stood ahead, at least thirty ters tall and three ters thick. Watchtowers dotted its periter, standing like silent sentinels. Cultivators soared through the air, their robes fluttering as they patrolled the skies.
On the ground, military encampnts stretched around the fort like an armored beast, filled with soldiers in battle gear. Their movents were swift, disciplined, efficient—a stark contrast to Han Yu's... well, lack of discipline.
"What is this place?"
Xu Qing didn't answer imdiately. She simply steered the sword lower, descending toward the fortified city.
A few minutes later, they landed outside the main gates.
The ground rumbled beneath their feet as armored cultivators marched past, their weapons gleaming in the morning light.
Han Yu gulped. 'Why does it feel like I walked into a war zone?'
"This is the Northwestern Frontier Fort City," Xu Qing finally answered.
Han Yu's eyes widened.
"Wait... this is one of the Frontier Forts?!"
He had heard about them before, but seeing one in person was sothing else entirely.
There were eight such fort cities, two of which belonged to the Yuran Kingdom—the North Frontier Fort City and the Northwestern Frontier Fort City.
They were built at the edge of the dangerous regions, acting as the first line of defense against the horrors beyond.
To the north lay the Ending Spine Mountains, a place so treacherous that even seasoned cultivators feared to tread. But before those mountains ca the Hidden Mayhem Forest—a land crawling with powerful beasts.
So of these creatures had reached the Nascent Soul Realm and ruled over the forest like kings. Others lurked in the shadows, waiting for the perfect mont to strike.
And every so often... they did.
The beasts attacked in waves, testing the fort's defenses.
That was why this city existed—to stand as a shield against the horrors lurking beyond.
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