Chương 127: Chapter 18: The Three-Year Promise

Reyn offered a respectful bow, his expression solemn, before turning to depart. Once clear of the cavern's mouth, a streak of light erupted from his feet, and he vanished into the horizon in a flash of ethereal radiance.

"Senior Brother, with Reyn heading to the Mu Clan of Huizhou, a persistent unease gnaws at my heart," Dan Chenzi remarked, his brow furrowing as he watched the fading light.

"Do you think we should have equipped him with a few more defensive treasures? Just to ensure he has a way out should the unexpected occur?" Qingxiaozi let out a sudden, amused laugh, shaking his head at his companion's fretfulness.

"Do you truly believe that disciple of yours is in need of our protection?" Dan Chenzi blinked, momentarily stunned. Memories of Reyn's repeated displays of hidden trump cards flashed through his mind—especially the terrifying methods used to dispatch Tiandaozi, which had left even the two of them feeling a chill of apprehension. He let out a self-deprecating chuckle and sighed.

"Well... let us just pretend I never mentioned it."

Mid-flight, a transmission talisman suddenly streaked through the air, fluttering to a halt directly before Reyn. He frowned slightly, snatching the glowing paper from the air. As he finished reading the message, the talisman ignited in a burst of spiritual flame, crumbling into fine ash. After a moment of silent deliberation, Reyn adjusted his trajectory and banked toward a different peak. The medicinal garden was not vast, spanning perhaps seven or eight acres.

At its heart lay a small, crystalline lake where several grass carp darted through the reeds. Surrounding the water were clusters of exotic flora and rare herbs, their delicate fragrances weaving together to create an atmosphere of profound tranquility. It was a place that seemed to wash away the dust of the world from one's soul. Reyn retracted his flight light, landing softly a few yards from the lake. His eyes brightened as they fell upon a graceful silhouette seated atop a smooth azure stone.

He began to walk forward, his footsteps light on the grass. At that moment, the figure turned slowly. Her brows were like arched willow leaves, her nose finely sculpted, and her lips like cherry blossoms. Her face was devoid of makeup, yet she possessed a natural, transcendent nobility that required no adornment. A soft smile played in her bright eyes, and as the corners of her mouth curled upward, she looked capable of toppling kingdoms.

A gentle breeze swept through the garden, lifting her long, silken tresses; for a heartbeat, she looked as though she might simply dissolve into the wind and ascend as an immortal. In Reyn's eyes, Ji Yueli suddenly felt ethereal, almost illusory. Despite the scant distance between them, she felt as remote as the furthest star, as if they belonged to two worlds that could never truly intersect.

"Elder Reyn, this disciple was bold to invite you so abruptly. I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive my lack of propriety." Reyn snapped out of his daze, offering a wry, helpless smile as he cupped his hands.

"Senior Sister Ji, why the sudden formality? You have aided me countless times in the past; I hold those debts close to my heart and would never dare forget them." Ji Yueli's smile widened, her eyes crinkling into beautiful crescents.

"It seems Junior Brother Reyn is indeed a man who values sentiment and righteousness. Hearing that, I can finally set my heart at ease." When a beauty of her caliber smiles, the world seems to lose its color. While she lacked the overt, soul-stealing allure of a temptress, she was like an orchid in a secluded valley—high and refined. Every subtle movement of her features carried a moving, understated grace. Reyn felt a brief moment of distraction before quickly recovering.

He cleared his throat, a hint of awkwardness coloring his features. From the corner of his eye, he saw a faint blush creep onto Ji Yueli's cheeks as she lowered her head to study her toes. A sudden silence fell over the garden. Yet, in this quietude, there was no stiffness—only a strange, fluttering restlessness that began to bloom in both their hearts. Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

"Senior Sister..."

"Junior Brother..." They spoke simultaneously, then shared a soft, knowing laugh.

"Would Senior Sister care to go first?" Ji Yueli pursed her lips and smiled, not bothering with further pleasantries.

"I heard from my Master yesterday that you are departing for the Mu Clan in Huizhou tomorrow, and that you won't return for three years. I have prepared a modest spread of wine to see you off."

"Your kindness is deeply appreciated," Reyn replied with a faint smile. They walked together toward a small pavilion nestled under the shade of a sprawling tree, where the cool breeze provided a welcome respite from the sun. They sat cross-legged on the stone floor. The fare was simple—fresh wild greens and fruits, washed clean and arranged neatly on jade platters. The wine, however, was special; Ji Yueli had personally gathered rare blossoms and spiritual herbs to brew it. She called it 'Thinking of You'.

They spoke of many things, their laughter light as they drifted from one topic to another. Reyn, though young in appearance, carried the detached, misty aura of a high-level cultivator. Ji Yueli, with her peerless beauty and tender gaze, was the picture of elegance. Within that pavilion, sharing clear wine and wild fruit, they looked like a pair of celestial companions stepped straight out of a master's painting. Hours slipped by unnoticed.

As the sun began to dip toward the west, painting the sky in hues of orange and gold, Reyn finally stood up. He looked deeply into Ji Yueli's eyes and cupped his hands.

"I depart tomorrow. For these next three years, I hope Senior Sister takes great care of herself."

"Focus on your cultivation, Junior Brother. Three years from now, beneath this very pavilion, I shall be waiting for your return." Ji Yueli reached up to brush a stray lock of hair from her face, performing a graceful bow with a gentle smile.

"I only wonder... three years from now, will Junior Brother have condensed his Golden Core?" Three years... the Golden Core Realm? Reyn gave a nonchalant smile and turned to walk away. His voice drifted back through the trees, ethereal and firm.

"If I successfully establish my foundation, then in three years, I shall certainly return with a Golden Core!" As the words fell, his figure vanished into the dense woods. A moment later, a streak of azure light shot into the sky, hurtling toward the horizon.

"In three years, I won't let you leave me too far behind, either." A deep crimson flush spread across Ji Yueli's face. She pulled out a transmission talisman, her eyes shimmering with a mix of shyness and hidden resolve. She whispered a few soft sentences into the paper before tossing it into the air. The talisman transformed into a streak of light and vanished instantly.

"Three years from now, beneath this pavilion, I shall wait in my finest attire. I will wait for you to come for me, riding upon five-colored auspicious clouds, to take me to the Lei Clan in Thunder Abyss City. There, we shall pay respects to your departed parents and seal our eternal union!" A soft, warm smile touched Reyn's lips as he felt the transmission talisman ignite and fade.

A surge of heroic ambition welled up in his chest, and he couldn't help but throw his head back and let out a long, thunderous whistle. The sound was clear and piercing, echoing through the heavens. The rolling waves of sound traveled far into the distance. Beneath the pavilion, Ji Yueli's eyes were filled with bashful joy as she heard that distant, answering cry.

The following day, carrying the invitation jade tablet for the Mu Clan of Huizhou, Reyn quietly slipped away from the Xuanxiao Sect without alerting anyone, heading straight for Thunder Abyss City. The Lei Clan of Thunder Abyss City had indeed suffered a period of great upheaval following the news of Reyn's disappearance. As time passed with no word, the spirits of the clansmen had continued to sink. That was, until the day of the battle with the Qingyan Sect.

Reyn had appeared like a god descending from the heavens, slaughtering powerful enemies and assisting Qingxiaozi in slaying Tiandaozi on the spot! Later, when the matters of Mo Yu and Duan Zhonghua were settled, the news that Ancestor Ming Diao had also fallen by his hand sent shockwaves through the region. When the news reached the clan, the entire Lei family erupted in celebration. The city had rejoiced for an entire day, the sound of firecrackers audible for miles.

From that moment on, the prestige of the Lei Clan was firmly established, echoing throughout the state. A streak of azure light suddenly descended into a dense forest a few hundred meters outside the city walls. Moments later, a man in simple green robes stepped out, blending into the flow of people entering the city gates. Thunder Abyss City remained as prosperous as ever. Pedestrians crowded the streets, and the shouts of vendors created a lively, mundane symphony of urban life.

Reyn maintained a faint smile, looking for all the world like a traveling mortal scholar as he strolled toward the Lei Clan compound.

"The Lei Clan Compound lies ahead. Halt!" While he was still a full street away, several men in pitch-black combat robes stepped forward to block his path. Though their expressions were stern and vigilant, their tone remained professional and lacked the typical arrogance of those who bully others based on their master's influence.