Liang Yuntian looked at Zain with gentle curiosity.
"Then how about you, Young Master Zain?" he asked.
"What brings soone like you to a dangerous place like this?"
He glanced around at the thick red mist still floating in the air.
"You’re still quite young, and this corrosive ether isn’t kind to the body or spirit," he continued.
"Even if you’re traveling with three powerful True Royal Rank guards, it’s still risky to set foot this deep into the Inner Zone of the Devil Nest."
Zain gave a small smile.
There was no nervousness in his eyes. Only calm confidence.
"Thank you for your concern, Sir Liang," he replied. "But you don’t need to worry about ."
He placed a hand on his chest. "I may be young, yes. But I’m not weak."
"In fact, you can say that I’ve already reached the level of True Royal Rank myself."
Liang Yuntian’s eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise.
He hadn’t expected that.
"You?" he said with a light laugh.
"I must admit, I didn’t expect soone as young as you to be that strong already. That’s quite impressive."
Zain nodded. "I’ve been lucky. I had so fortunate encounters in the past, things that helped grow faster than most."
Velra, watching from nearby, smiled quietly.
Zelia stayed silent as always, but her presence spoke volus.
Savra leaned back on a rock and added, "He’s stronger than he looks."
Zain chuckled and looked back at Liang. "Just like your group ca here to train the mind, I ca here for sothing similar."
He looked out toward the red mist again.
"This place forces you to stay sharp. It attacks your body and your heart."
"So, I decided to co here not just to train my strength... but to train my personality, patience, and will."
He paused, then said sincerely, "I want to beco a better version of myself."
Liang Yuntian smiled, clearly impressed.
"I see... no wonder. That’s a noble goal. It’s good to see young people taking their growth seriously."
"Not just chasing power, but shaping who they are on the inside too."
Zain nodded.
But in his heart, he said sothing else.
’Well... I can’t exactly tell you the truth, can I?’
He looked at Liang Yuntian with a calm smile, but inside his thoughts were moving quickly.
’I didn’t just co here to train my mind or heart.’
’I ca here to see if this place... would make a good foundation.’
’A good location... for the future base of my Heavenly Demon Sect.’
He smiled to himself.
’But no one needs to know that yet.’
So, he simply nodded again and said, "It’s been a good trip so far."
And Liang Yuntian smiled back, never realizing just how big a plan was hidden behind that peaceful expression.
---
The next morning, the red sky above them slowly brightened.
Zain and his group were already up, standing near the edge of the temporary resting spot.
The girls checked their weapons and gear while Zain stood quietly, facing the misty path ahead.
Liang Yuntian approached, robes flowing gently with his steps.
He gave a calm smile.
"Young Master Zain," he said, "I’ve been thinking."
"Since our paths are the sa... how about we travel together for a while?"
Zain turned to face him, confused.
Liang continued, "There’s strength in numbers."
"And though your group is strong, the Inner Zone still holds dangers beyond our understanding. Perhaps we could take care of each other."
He spoke kindly, without pressure.
Zain smiled in return, appreciative of the offer.
But after a short pause, he shook his head gently.
"I truly appreciate the invitation, Sir Liang," Zain said politely. "But I’m afraid we’ll have to decline."
Liang blinked. "May I ask why?"
Zain glanced back at Velra, Savra, and Zelia. The three girls were standing behind him, quiet but alert.
"We’re used to moving as a small unit," Zain explained.
"Our teamwork is... personal. We know each other’s patterns, timing, and even thoughts during battle."
"Adding more people might break that rhythm."
Velra nodded, crossing her arms. "We don’t do well in mixed teams."
Savra smirked. "We’re a little too wild for polite teamwork."
Zelia said nothing, but her steady gaze made it clear she agreed.
Zain looked back at Liang and gave a small bow. "So, I must apologize."
"It’s not because we doubt your strength. It’s because we’ve learned to survive by relying only on ourselves."
Liang Yuntian chuckled softly and bowed in return. "I understand."
"Cultivators must walk their own paths, and so must you. I won’t take offense."
He paused, then added with a sincere tone, "In that case... we will pray for your safety, Young Master Zain."
"May your journey be steady, and your will remain strong."
Zain smiled. "Thank you, Sir Liang. I wish the sa for you and your group."
They exchanged respectful nods.
The two groups stood in silence for a mont, the mist curling around their feet.
Then, without another word, Zain turned and began walking forward.
His girls followed closely behind him, forming a tight diamond-like formation as they disappeared into the mist.
Liang Yuntian watched them go, expression calm but thoughtful.
One of his juniors stepped up beside him. "Elder Liang," the young man asked softly, "what do you see in that person?"
"It’s rare for you to speak so much to soone younger. Even rarer to show interest."
Liang Yuntian let out a small chuckle.
"He was... interesting."
The elder cultivator folded his hands behind his back.
"I can’t fully explain it, but sothing about him didn’t feel ordinary."
"His presence, how he carried himself. It wasn’t like other young n I’ve t."
The junior looked confused. "But he seed polite. Calm. Nothing strange."
Liang nodded. "Exactly. He was polite, calm, and respectful."
"But behind that... I sensed sothing deep. Sothing powerful."
He looked out toward the mist again.
"What truly surprised ," he continued, "was how easily he understood our cultivation path."
"Most people in this world don’t know anything about it. They laugh at our robes, call our techniques old-fashioned."
"But he..." Liang smiled, "he understood. Without mocking. Without confusion. As if he had once walked the sa path."
The junior’s eyes widened a little. "You think he’s... one of us?"
Liang Yuntian didn’t answer directly.
He just kept smiling.
"Let’s just say... if fate allows, I’d like to et him again one day."
Then, he turned back to the others.
"Co. We have our own path to walk."
And with that, the cultivators moved forward, their robes flowing like wind through the mist.
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