Riley thought that would be the end of his dealings with the sect and that he could finally live in peace—but he was dead wrong.
A month passed in relative calm.
His days were simple, filled with laughter, the warmth of his wives, and the quiet joy of a man who finally believed he had earned his rest.
The sect had not bothered him, and for a while, he began to think that perhaps they had forgotten about him entirely.
But fate had other plans.
One morning, just as the sun was rising, Riley found another letter lying neatly on his table, sealed with the crimson insignia of the sect.
His expression darkened the mont he recognized it.
He stood there for a long while before finally opening the envelope.
The words were short but heavy—they were summoning him again.
After reading it twice to be sure, Riley sighed and went inside.
His wives were already gathered for breakfast, their faces lighting up as he entered.
That only made what he had to say even harder.
"I’ll be away for a few days," he said quietly, setting the letter down on the table.
"The sect has assigned a sect mission. I’ll return as soon as I can."
The cheerful atmosphere vanished in an instant.
"We’ll miss you!" Aurora said, pouting softly as she reached for his hand.
"Take care, husband," Edith added, her eyes filled with worry.
"I want to go too," Juliet said, crossing her arms stubbornly.
Riley smiled faintly, though there was no humor in his eyes.
"I’d take you all with if I could. But this isn’t a personal mission this ti. The sect has already assigned a partner."
The three won exchanged uncertain glances, their concern deepening.
"Then promise us," Aurora said softly. "Promise you’ll co back safe."
"I promise," Riley replied, brushing a stray lock of hair from her face. "You know —I always keep my word."
Three days later, after making sure everything was in order at ho, Riley packed his travel bag, put it in his storage ring and donned his sect robes once again.
As he turned to leave, his wives stood by the doorway, watching him with mixed expressions of pride and fear.
Without looking back, Riley set off down the path leading toward the sect’s eting grounds—where his unknown partner awaited, and with them, the beginning of yet another Chapter he had hoped never to write.
He t his partner at the sect gates and was surprised to see Selena already waiting there, her arms folded, expression sharp as ever.
She stood in her usual crimson robes, her sword strapped across her back, her long dark hair tied neatly into a high ponytail.
Even from a distance, Riley could tell she wasn’t in the mood for pleasantries.
"So, you also didn’t take in any disciples," Selena said as soon as he approached, her tone cutting like the edge of her blade. "I expected as much."
Riley raised an eyebrow, already sensing the irritation behind her words.
The sect had long had these sect policies for elder disciples—anyone without apprentices under their tutelage would be assigned mandatory field missions, often the most tedious or dangerous ones.
It was the sect’s way of making sure no one grew too complacent.
The more cunning disciples had already found ways around it.
They took in disciples by na, offering them a few words of guidance now and then, but in truth, they did nothing to train them.
It was all for show—just enough to dodge the sect’s requirents.
Selena, however, clearly wasn’t one to play by such wanton scheming.
Riley gave a small laugh. "What can I say? I just don’t have the ti to train anyone."
"Just admit the truth," she snapped, narrowing her eyes. "Your hands are too busy with your won. You n are all the sa—always thinking with your lower half. I don’t understand how soone like you finds the ti to build harems left and right. It’s disgraceful."
Riley smirked. "Disgraceful? I prefer the term fortunate. And if you’re that curious about my won, I could always make room for one more." He leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice just enough to be teasing.
"How about it, fellow disciple Selena? Care to beco my next wife?"
The air between them went still. Then—
"Whoosh!"
A flash of steel cut through the morning light, so fast that it split the ground where Riley had been standing just monts ago.
The shockwave from the strike sent dust swirling around them.
Riley reappeared a few feet away, hands raised in mock surrender, his grin still intact.
"Hey now, easy! You could’ve killed there. What if I hadn’t cultivated any movent techniques?"
Selena’s glare was cold enough to freeze fire. "Then it would’ve been your own fault for speaking nonsense."
He chuckled, brushing a speck of dust off his shoulder. "You could’ve just said no, you know. There’s no need for violence. But I’ll take that swing as a ’maybe.’"
"Keep talking and I’ll make it a definite no," Selena warned, sheathing her sword with a sharp motion.
Despite her irritation, there was a faint pink hue on her cheeks—a detail Riley did not miss.
He grinned wider, falling into step beside her as they began walking down the mountain path.
Their mission hadn’t even started yet, but Riley could already tell—it was going to be a long journey.
***
The two boarded a sleek flying boat that shimred faintly with spiritual light as it cut through the clouds.
The wind whistled softly, carrying the scent of pine and distant misty peaks.
Below them stretched an endless sea of mountains and rivers, but even with such a breathtaking view, Riley looked thoroughly unimpressed.
He leaned lazily against the railing, arms crossed behind his head, and let out a long sigh.
"Peaceful flight, huh?" he murmured to himself. "Too peaceful."
Selena stood a few paces away, her posture straight and her expression cool as always.
Her crimson robes fluttered in the wind as she gazed into the distance, the picture of calm discipline.
Naturally, Riley couldn’t let that stand.
"So, tell , Selena," he began, his tone playfully casual, "do you have a dao companion?"
She didn’t even blink. "No."
"That so?" Riley tilted his head, a teasing grin tugging at his lips. "Never had one? Not even a short-lived romance?"
Her eyes flicked to him briefly, sharp as blades. "I don’t see how that’s relevant to our mission."
"Oh, co on. We’ve got hours of flight ahead. A little conversation won’t hurt." He leaned in slightly. "So then... have you two already kissed?"
Selena’s brow twitched. "You’re unbelievable."
Riley chuckled under his breath. "Alright, alright. I’ll change the topic. How old are you really, Selena? You look around twenty... but I’ve heard so very interesting rumors about you from the inner court. That you’re already a thousand year old maiden."
That finally earned him a glare. "Say another word, and I’ll throw you off this boat."
He raised both hands in mock surrender. "No need for violence, fellow disciple. I’m just curious. It’s not every day I et soone so—" he paused, looking her over with an amused smirk, "—composed."
Selena turned away, choosing to ignore him, but Riley wasn’t done.
For the next hour, he continued tossing questions and jabs her way, as if his sole purpose was to test the limits of her patience.
Sotis he humd loudly, sotis he paced around her, and at one point, he even pretended to trip and fall conveniently close to her feet.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of restraint, Selena snapped.
"I’m going to cultivate," she said, her voice cold enough to freeze the air itself. "Wake up when we arrive at the Frozen Fla Sect."
Riley grinned, leaning against the doorfra as she brushed past him. "Sure thing. Don’t worry—I’ll guard the ship while you ditate."
She didn’t dignify that with a reply.
But as she walked toward the cabin, she could feel his gaze following her, slow and deliberate.
It wasn’t lecherous—at least, not entirely—but there was a strange weight in it, as if he was studying her, morizing the way she moved.
For so reason, that made her chest tighten.
Once she entered the cultivation chamber, she locked the door behind her with a sharp sound and pressed her back against it, breathing out a long sigh.
"Infuriating man," she muttered, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Why does he have to look at like that?"
She sat down cross-legged, trying to steady her mind and sink into ditation.
But Riley’s lazy grin and teasing tone lingered stubbornly in her thoughts, disrupting her focus more than any demonic qi ever could.
Outside, Riley was sitting on the deck, one leg dangling off the side of the boat as he gazed at the horizon.
His expression, for once, wasn’t mischievous.
There was a trace of nostalgia in his eyes, sothing quiet and almost wistful.
"She’s got spirit," he murmured with a faint smile. "Reminds of soone I used to know."
The flying boat soared higher into the clouds, leaving behind only the fading echo of their earlier banter.
In truth, Riley only wanted a bit of payback for the way Selena had confronted him so fiercely during the Dao Teaching stage.
Her sharp tongue and unyielding attitude had made him stand at the spotlight back then, and teasing her now felt like harmless revenge.
But what he didn’t realize was that his playful pestering—his casual smiles, his easy confidence, and the way he always seed to see through her cold exterior—was slowly doing sothing neither of them expected.
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