The first day's journey tasted like freedom.
Chi Kai, who already visited the Eternal night mansion for sect games, showed the path.
Chi Kai sat at the front of the spirit crane, one hand resting lightly on its crown, the other pointing toward the thread of a road that wove through the mountains like a pale ribbon.
"Keep east-northeast along the Spine Ridge," she called back over the wind. "There's a split after the third peak—take the lower pass."
Mo Han nodded, eyes on the horizon. Behind them, the mountain eagle rode the currents a little lower, wings steady, the old beast keeping pace with quiet pride.
Jia Kai sat just behind Mo Han, silent but vigilant, her spear laid across her lap; Fatty Lambu clung to the crane's back with a look of exhaustion.
