The morning sun had barely risen over the sect when Li Chen began preparations. The air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of pine from the nearby mountain forests, but for Li Chen, the serenity of dawn was a thin veil over the tension that had already begun to coil in his mind.
Xu Ming was waiting at the residence courtyard, quietly stretching, the small pack of essentials beside him. Li Chen had summoned him early, leaving no room for hesitation. Today was not a training day—it was the start of a real mission, one that would push both of them far beyond the quiet halls of the sect.
"You're coming," Li Chen said simply, voice calm but firm. He didn't phrase it as a question.
Xu Ming's eyes lit up briefly before he bowed respectfully. "Yes, senior. I will follow your orders."
Li Chen nodded once. "You are not here as a subordinate. You will act as support, but you will also survive. That is your primary mission."
Xu Ming swallowed, nodding. The words weren't harsh—they were real. In the borderlands, survival itself would be a test.
Li Chen moved methodically, gathering items essential for a long-term mission beyond the sect:
Protective formations and gadgets: Small talismans and formation stones capable of warding off wild beasts and alerting him to disturbances. He handed a few to Xu Ming, who accepted them carefully, almost reverently.
Lightweight weapons and supplies: Though Li Chen rarely relied on anything but his sword qi, he understood that others might not know the full extent of his strength.
Emergency provisions: Medicines, spirit pills, and items for energy recovery—all of which Xu Ming was responsible for carrying.
Even as they packed, Li Chen was silent, his eyes scanning the horizon as if measuring the unseen. Xu Ming, accustomed to Li Chen's calm, didn't speak unless spoken to, yet he could feel the pressure in the air—the invisible weight of responsibility and danger.
Before leaving, the leading elders of the sect summoned Li Chen to the central hall.
"You will lead not only our disciples but a joint unit from the Five Great Sects," the elder said gravely. "Do not underestimate these beast tides. The borderlands are unpredictable, and while your skill is unparalleled, the mission will test strategy, endurance, and judgment."
Li Chen's gaze was steady. "I am aware. I will not fail."
Another elder, eyes narrowing slightly, added, "And remember, Xu Ming is under your protection. He must not be exposed unnecessarily. He is… fragile, compared to the scale of this mission."
Li Chen's expression remained unreadable. "I understand."
The elders exchanged glances, some relief hidden beneath layers of concern. It was rare for a core disciple to travel with a protégé. Fewer still could trust the young man to survive the borderlands.
At the edge of the sect, a wide clearing had been prepared. Representatives of the Five Great Sects were already there, each bringing their disciples. Li Chen's unit would be small but critical, composed of inner disciples and promising outer disciples who could handle themselves.
Xu Ming followed closely, silent, his eyes scanning the others. Some glanced at him dismissively—after all, he was known as "Li Chen's sword carrier," not a combatant. But Xu Ming didn't flinch. He carried the weight of Li Chen's trust, which mattered more than the opinions of the crowd.
Li Chen walked among them, observing potential threats, strengths, and weaknesses. Every glance, every posture told him more than any words could. When he stopped, his gaze fell on Xu Ming.
"Stay within the formation," Li Chen instructed quietly. "Observe, defend, and survive. Everything else is secondary."
Xu Ming nodded, fingers tightening around the protective talismans.
Stepping Beyond the Sect
The wind picked up as the group began to move. Mountains fell behind them, streams of qi subtly shifting in the air, reacting to the concentration of cultivators. For Li Chen, this was routine—but for Xu Ming, every step felt like a new world.
As they passed the sect gates, a quiet thought crossed Li Chen's mind: the borderlands were alive, waiting, testing. The beasts were only the first layer of danger. Beyond them lay the unknown—the pressure of rival sects, the hidden manipulations of fate, and the unpredictability of Xu Ming's own chaotic growth.
Li Chen adjusted the straps of his sword, eyes forward, expression unreadable.
"Let's go," he said calmly.
Xu Ming followed without hesitation, his resolve firm. Together, they stepped into the borderlands—the mission beginning, but the real test only just dawning.