The cool night air brushed gently across the cliffside, rustling the sparse blades of grass that clung to the rough stone.
High above, the stars shimmered like a tapestry of immortal sparks strewn across the vast heavens. Lin Mu sat on the cloud formed table near the edge of the cliff beside the Jade Echo Retreat, his legs hanging beneath him and a steaming cup of tea resting in his hands.
The fragrance of the Immortal-leaf blend Little Shrubby had prepared earlier lingered faintly, grounding him in the present even as his thoughts wandered far. The Saintess sipped her tea silently, watching the winds blow and the stars twinkle.
The events of the Path of the Sealed Swords still lingered in Lin Mu's mind, as vivid as if he had just stepped out from its endless halls and boundless illusions. The taste of those trials, the solemn weight of the final one, and the silent birth of his Sword Heart—they were all etched into him.
