The carriage moved with a constant rattling over the dirt road. On its way to Star Dou Forest, sunlight filtered in golden lines through the foliage, warming the interior of the vehicle. Despite nature's soft murmurs, a gentle, almost familiar tension reigned inside.
Zhou Linlan sat by the window, arms crossed, her gaze distant, lost among the passing trees with a faint smile. Everyone knew she was always quiet and cold.
Beside her, Ye Xiulan smiled slightly. Her long bluish-gray hair seemed to catch the light like water in motion. Among everyone in the carriage, she was the only one Linlan didn't entirely shut out.
In front of them, Yu Luoming eagerly extended a small porcelain cup upon seeing her smile for the first time since he'd met her, making his feelings for her grow even more.
"Zhou Linlan," he said, "I made some jasmine tea for you. It's from a special shop in the city. I thought you might like it."
She barely turned her head, her usual serious face returning without revealing much emotion before she responded.
"I don't drink while traveling," she said in a calm voice not harsh, but leaving no room for insistence.
Yu Luoming forced an awkward smile and slowly withdrew to his seat before turning toward Hao Xi, who sat beside him with his eyes lowered.
"Damn it... You said that if I acted more refined and elegant, I'd catch Zhou Linlan's attention," he muttered under his breath.
Hao Xi said nothing, but it was obvious he'd predicted this outcome. His faint smile betrayed how hard he was holding back laughter.
Ye Xiulan let out a soft laugh.
"I told you not to be so direct, Luoming," she said without malice, her fingers intertwining gracefully.
Zhou Linlan said nothing. She didn't need to. Her silence was enough of an answer to show she had no intention of joining that conversation.
Ning Jingyi, sitting near the rear door of the carriage, leaned forward slightly. Her pink hair swayed with the movement of the vehicle, and her expression was that of someone trying to sound casual, though her words were clearly thought out.
"Linlan," she said, "when we get to the forest, can I stay close to you? Your defensive essence tool covers a good range, and if there are ambushes… I'd rather be in your zone."
Zhou Linlan raised her eyes, unsurprised. Jingyi wasn't asking out of curiosity. As a classmate and team member, she already knew the capabilities of Linlan's essence tools. She was asking for protection. A tactical decision, not an emotional one… though it was also an opportunity to strengthen their bond.
"That'll depend on what Teacher Luo Qing says or the strategy we decide on," Zhou Linlan replied calmly.
And that was enough to close the topic.
The teacher, seated at the front of the carriage, didn't even flinch. He was completely absorbed in an old book recounting the biography of Yu Xiaogang and Tang San, showing no interest in the group's conversations. As always, he seemed to ignore them entirely.
The other three team members, Qian Fei, a laid-back boy responsible for control with his bell-shaped martial soul. Luo Sanyi, a quiet girl with a shadow-based martial soul, and Wen Zhi, the defender with his Lazur Shield martial soul exchanged occasional comments among themselves. No one else tried to speak directly with Linlan. Though she usually answered, her responses made it difficult to maintain a long conversation with her.
Zhou Linlan couldn't stop thinking that it had been nearly two years since her master, Zhen Len, had sent her to Shrek Academy so she could better develop, grow as a cultivator, and build connections. Back then, she was only twelve and already a Grandmaster. Her talent was evident to those who didn't know her. And even though she didn't come from an influential clan, she was admitted thanks to offering a valuable storage-type essence tool as part of her enrollment. The academy, recognizing the soul tool worth, not only accepted her immediately but even refunded her 200 gold coins as partial compensation.
She was in the first grade. When students were grouped into teams of seven, she chose, or rather, accepted to be part of the most talented group in the class: Ye Xiulan, Yu Luoming, Ning Jingyi, Hao Xi, Qian Fei, Luo Sanyi, and Wen Zhi.
Zhou Linlan was assigned the role of ranged attacker, meant to stay close to Ye Xiulan and Ning Jingyi, thanks to her martial soul: the Thornwood Bow. Xiulan, with her Nine Heart Flowering Apple, was the healing support. Yu Luoming, with the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon, was the front-line attacker. Jingyi used the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda as support. Hao Xi took on a control role. The others filled defense and speed positions.
Despite her distant demeanor, no one could deny that Zhou Linlan was reliable in combat. Her defensive essence tool protected not just herself, but anyone within its range. That was the reason, rather than any fondness, that the group accepted her without objection.
"How long has it been since you saw your master?" Xiulan asked softly, knowing that the best way to start a conversation with Linlan was by mentioning her master.
Zhou Linlan lowered her gaze for a moment.
"Since the New Year holidays," she replied. "But if I'm lucky, I might see him before the next ones begin."
Zhen Len wasn't just her master. He was her guide, her reason for being at the academy… and though she'd never say it aloud, the most important person in her life. No one else knew that, and no one else needed to.
"I'm happy for you," Xiulan murmured with a sincere smile.
Zhou Linlan nodded. She didn't reply.
She remembered her master words before leaving her at the academy: "Try to make friends." She hadn't understood how. She'd never needed to her mother had only focused on making her stronger. And with Zhen Len, it wasn't possible, he couldn't interact with other humans. But if Zhen Len had asked… then she would try.
In her own way. From a distance.
Because even if she didn't talk much, she was always paying attention. Even if she didn't smile, she'd help if asked. And even if she didn't show it, she was beginning to see her teammates as more than just allies, though she still prioritized forming connections to fulfill the goals Zhen Len expected of her.
"You know, your silence doesn't bother me," Xiulan said, almost as if reading her mind. "I like it. It's… peaceful."
Zhou Linlan turned her head slowly toward her.
"Thanks," was all she said, and nothing more was needed. The two were good friends, though their bond had deepened even more after Zhen Len had told Linlan he was interested in the Nine Heart Flowering Apple martial soul and, if possible, would also like to take Xiulan as a student.
"By the way," Ning Jingyi chimed in with a smile, "since we're talking about your master, why don't you tell us what he's like and where he lives?"
Although Zhou Linlan liked to talk about how amazing her master was, she never revealed any details about his identity not his name, not his appearance, not whether he belonged to a clan or sect. Ning Jingyi only knew that he had to be the one who crafted the essence tools Zhou used. And though she had tried to get more information out of her, she never succeeded, which frustrated her, because she was interested in recruiting him for her sect.
She had investigated whether any clan or sect possessed multiple essence tools, but found nothing. So she concluded that he must be an unaffiliated soul master with a large collection... or, more likely, someone with the knowledge and skill to create them. After all, the creation of essence tools was a skill that had been lost a long time ago, according to her clan's secret records. In short, he was the perfect person to be recruited into the sect.
The sect, although outwardly enjoying a period of glory after the rise of a God, had been in decline ever since Ning Rongrong ascended without leaving behind any descendants or successors for her martial soul, and with the deaths of the only two remaining Titled Douluo. Ning Jingyi's father, current leader of the Nine Treasure Glazed Tile Pagoda Sect and the second son of Ning Fengzhi, was well aware of the critical state of things.
"My master made me promise not to say anything about him," Linlan replied without hesitation. "So I'd appreciate it if you refrained from asking about his identity."
Everyone expected that answer, so they at least appreciated Ning Jingyi's effort. But the most disappointed by it was Yu Luoming, who had hoped to win Linlan over by going through her parents.
"That's a shame," he sighed. "You always talk about how amazing he is and how much he spoils you, so we were curious to know more about him. But if you can't tell us, we understand."
The carriage was slowly approaching the outskirts of the village that marked the final stop before entering Star Dou Forest. Unlike the lonely roads they had crossed, this place was bursting with activity. Wooden stalls offered everything from dried fruits to basic tools, vendors shouted prices, and pack animals huffed amid the smells of spices, smoke, and sweat. It was organized chaos… clearly accustomed to receiving cultivator teams like theirs.
Zhou Linlan watched the commotion from the window with her usual expression, though something in her eyes betrayed a difficult-to-name emotion. Beyond the crowd, beyond the market noise, she knew she was getting close to seeing Zhen Len again.
She couldn't say it out loud, but that was her true goal for this expedition. To see him, even just for a moment. To feel that he hadn't been a dream. That he was still guiding her.
"What are you thinking about?" Ye Xiulan asked softly, leaning slightly toward her just as the carriage came to a screeching stop.
Zhou Linlan answered without looking at her.
"My master. I hope to see him soon."
At the front, Professor Luo Qing's dry voice cut through the atmosphere with the same disinterest as always.
"We've arrived. Settle in quickly. Don't waste time on nonsense. At dawn tomorrow, we head into the forest."
The group disembarked one by one. Yu Luoming jumped down with his usual arrogance, trying to reach Zhou Linlan to help her, but was ignored with her trademark cold elegance. Hao Xi let out a silent chuckle. Ning Jingyi stepped down with firm strides, unfazed by the stares their uniforms attracted. Qian Fei scanned the buildings, looking for the designated inn, while the others began glancing around.
Zhou Linlan was the last to leave the carriage.
That night, while the others enjoyed the inn's food, she knew exactly what she needed to do. She told them she was going to sleep early, which wasn't unusual, since everyone knew she always went to bed early. When she got to the room, she left a note for her friends saying not to worry, and not to mention her disappearance, because she would be back by morning, before slipping out through the window.