As we moved along the winding path toward Sichuan, a fresh morning breeze brushed against my face. I turned to look at my brother, who sat in the wagon, staring blankly ahead, lost in thought. His brows were furrowed, eyes glazed with worry.
"Brother, what's the matter?" I asked softly.
He flinched slightly, startled. "Oh, Rin, it's nothing. I'm just… thinking about something."
I leaned in closer, narrowing my eyes. "Come on, Brother. You can rely on me a little. I'm already an adult. Share your worries with me."
He hesitated, locking eyes with me for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Well… Rin, we have very limited money right now. I'm not sure it'll be enough to complete our journey."
"What do you mean? We got a free ride to Sichuan—how could we be short on money?" I asked, puzzled, then squinted suspiciously. "Wait… what are you hiding?"
"I-It's nothing! I swear!" he replied with a nervous chuckle, avoiding eye contact.
Without a word, I lunged for his bag. He yanked it back, gripping the strap tightly.
"Rin, stop it! There's nothing in there!"
"Then let me see!" I pulled harder. "If there's nothing, just show me!"
We tugged at it from both ends until—rip! The bag tore open, its contents scattering across the wagon floor.
My jaw dropped. Laid out before us were a collection of ornate hair ornaments, expensive-looking makeup kits, beautifully embroidered men's robes, and shimmering accessories.
"You… spent our travel money on these?!" I shouted in disbelief.
My brother, red-faced but still smiling, said, "Rin, you can use my stuff too! Look at this cute dress—it's made of pure silk, and it's designed by a renowned master!"
"Brother!!" I yelled. "You spent all our travel expenses on shopping?!"
He pouted, holding up a floral-printed robe. "I couldn't help it… shopping is just so fun. Look at the craftsmanship!"
I was fuming. "We're selling all of this when we reach Sichuan! Food and survival come before frilly dresses!"
"Nooo!" he clutched the robes to his chest like treasure. "I love them! And I refuse to part with them! Rin, how can you be so cruel? A man needs beautiful things to survive!"
"I live fine without them!" I snapped.
"Well, I doubt you're even a man anymore!" he huffed.
"You—!"
"Why are you two fighting so early in the morning?!" Yu Meixian shouted from her corner, rubbing her sleepy eyes.
My brother quickly tried to brush it off. "Oh, it's nothing! Just a small disagreement about money."
I growled, "Because of him! He wasted it on this garbage!"
"It's not garbage!" he protested.
Yu Meixian laughed, brushing her hair back. "It's normal for men to enjoy shopping… but don't worry. I'll cover the rest of the expenses. I've saved quite a bit."
My brother's eyes sparkled. "Really?! You'd do that for us? We're eternally grateful!"
Yu Meixian strolled over, grabbing his hand with a flirtatious gaze. "For any other man, I wouldn't spend a single bronze coin. But for a fairy like you? I'd empty my life savings. And if that's not enough, I'll rob the imperial treasury itself—just for you."
They locked eyes in an intense, cinematic moment. My brother's cheeks turned crimson.
"R-Really? You'd do that… for me?" he whispered.
"Yes," she purred. "Only for you."
"HOW ABOUT YOU START BY SELLING YOUR DIGNITY FIRST!" I snapped.
The atmosphere shattered instantly. My brother's face turned to stone. "O-Oh look, the wagon's messy! I'll clean it up!"
Yu Meixian turned to me with a glare. "You know what? Maybe I should book another wagon just to put you away from me!"
I smirked. "You're lucky I didn't cut you in half for touching my brother."
She opened her mouth, eyes flaring, but then sighed and sat back down in silence.
"So," I said, leaning against the side of the wagon. "Since we're headed to Sichuan, can you at least tell me something useful about it?"
She glared at me. "You're really asking me that after everything?"
"I paid you already," I said smugly. "So open your mouth. Or should I tell my brother what you're doing with his bra in the corner of the wagon at night?"
Her face turned beet red. "Shhh! What if he hears that?!"
"Start talking."
"Fine," she grumbled. "Sichuan is one of the largest provinces in the central plains. It's famous for its food—fiery, rich, bold—and is considered the safest of all orthodox provinces."
"Safest?"
"Yeah. Because it's the only one with absolutely no unorthodox sects."
My jaw dropped. "Not even one?"
"Not a single one," she said proudly. "Not even branches of the Great Unorthodox Sects are allowed there."
"But… has it always been like that?"
She looked off into the distance. "No. During the Great Devil War, Sichuan was overrun by unorthodox forces. They constantly raided the Qingcheng Sect, Emei Sect, and Tang Clan. The Murim Alliance was stretched thin and couldn't send reinforcements."
"So what happened?"
"In desperation, Qingcheng, Emei, and Tang joined forces and created what became known as the Sichuan Alliance," she explained. "They set aside old rivalries and united against the unorthodox scourge. Their combined strength purged every dark sect from Sichuan. Not a single one remained."
I was amazed. "So the Murim Alliance got kicked out?"
"No, no," she laughed. "The Murim Alliance still exists in Sichuan. The Sichuan Alliance eventually merged with it—after much political friction."
"What kind of friction?"
She leaned closer. "Qingcheng and Emei are part of the 10 Great Orthodox Sects. Tang Clan is one of the 5 Great Orthodox Clans. Normally, these two factions hate working together. But because they united, their alliance caused chaos in Murim politics. The higher-ups pressured them to disband it."
"But they didn't?" I asked.
"Nope," she said proudly. "They fought back—refused to separate. And eventually, the Sichuan Alliance was accepted as a Murim Alliance sub-body. Now, Qingcheng, Emei, and Tang Clan equally govern Sichuan."
I sat back in awe, the mountain air brushing against my skin. "That's incredible…"
"It is," she said. "Which is why it's peaceful. But don't take it for granted—each sect there is a juggernaut in its own right."
I looked out across the rolling hills. "Maybe… maybe I can train in peace while we're there."
The wagon rattled on through the winding paths, the sun rising over the horizon. And so, our journey toward the heart of Sichuan continued—toward a land guarded by ancient swords, fiery cuisine, and the balance of power hard-won by blood and unity.