“Get up…” Jared stepped forward, offered his hand, and lifted Vivian gently to her feet. His words came out soft, carrying a quiet comfort.
“Miss Chance, there’s no need for this. I gave my word, I’ll make House of Wagner and the Celestial Palace pay for what they’ve done… You are House of Chance’s last heir and my friend. Protecting you and avenging you are things I ought to do, you don’t have to bow so low.”
His eyes stayed on Vivian. “Trust me, Dominic, Rowan, and every Celestial Palace dog will repay blood with blood. They’ll suffer for their crimes, and your father along with every fallen clansman will rest easier.”
Still held by Jared’s supporting arm, Vivian looked up at him, gratitude filling her gaze while she nodded hard. More tears slipped down, yet no sound left her lips.
Jared turned to Luther and Grace. His tone remained even, but a question lay inside it. “Will you come with me to Cloudhaven City to help Miss Chance, or remain here and keep recuperating? The road to Cloudhaven will be dangerous. The House of Wagner and the Celestial Palace won’t yield easily. Staying here is far safer.”
Luther sprang upright, thumped a fist to his chest, and flashed a firm grin. “Where Mr. Chance goes, I go! House of Wagner and the Celestial Palace have annoyed me for ages. If there’s a chance to smack them around, there’s no way I’m missing it!”
“Besides… My life already belongs to Mr. Chance. If you’re risking yours, how could I lounge here and enjoy the spoils? No matter how deadly it gets, I’m with you, through fire and flood, without hesitation!”
Grace hurried to her feet, nodded lightly, and met Jared’s eyes. “Young Master Chance, we’ll go with you. However dangerous the trip turns, we won’t retreat. We’ll stand beside you against House of Wagner and the Celestial Palace.”
Jared studied the two of them; a faint smile softened his face, and a flicker of approval flashed in his eyes.
“Good…” He dipped his chin. “Then we leave for Cloudhaven City together and make the Wagners and the Celestial Palace repay their blood debt!”
He turned back to Vivian, voice gentle, laced with concern. “Miss Chance, your wounds aren’t fully healed. Do you want a few more days to recover before we set out?”
“I’m fine!” Vivian answered at once and shook her head hard. “I’m nearly healed and can fight normally! I know Cloudhaven City, and I know where the House of Wagner estate and the Celestial Palace Branch sit. I can guide you straight to them!”
A steady, unflinching light filled her eyes; no trace of hesitation remained. Every part of her strained to race back to Cloudhaven immediately and confront her enemies.
Seeing that resolve, Jared understood persuasion would be pointless. He nodded once. “All right. At first light tomorrow we set off to settle this debt.”
“Good!” Vivian, Luther, and Grace answered together, voices firm, expectation burning in their eyes.
Quiet folded over the courtyard again.
This time the stillness carried no awkwardness or grief; momentum gathered inside it like a drawn bowstring.
All four of them stared toward the distant Cloudhaven City, the same steely glint lighting their eyes.
***
The next morning, pale predawn light stretched across the sky.
A thin shaft of dawn pierced the clouds, bathed Sky Dragon Valley, and brushed away the night’s chill.
At the valley mouth, four figures stood ready, gear in place, prepared to race toward Cloudhaven City.
Jared led the way, his golden robe snapping in the morning wind. Dragon-scale patterns on the cloth caught the first light and flashed in time with the faint golden aura around him.
He stood straight as a pine, features hard-edged, eyes hawk-sharp. Even with his aura restrained, a sovereign pressure rolled off him. Right behind him walked Vivian, Luther, and Grace.
Vivian now wore a plain white gown, dark hair bound simply, a longsword hanging at her waist. Yesterday’s tear tracks were gone, a chilled edge gleamed in her frosty stare locked on Cloudhaven’s direction.
Luther and Grace had changed into the Draconians’ clothing as well. His black robe draped over newly squared shoulders, the exhaustion of yesterday had vanished.
Grace wore a pale blue dress; her slim figure poised, lively eyes clear, aura steady.
They were only High Immortal Realm Level Six, a stage that looked tiny beside Jared’s might. Yet, walking within the pressure that rolled off him, a quiet confidence rose unbidden inside them.
The four of them shot forward, four streaks of light weaving through the mountain forest.
After close to one hour on the trail, the four travelers finally stepped beyond the last ridge of Sky Dragon Valley. Dense, unpeopled woodland now surrounded them on every side, the path ahead swallowed by shadow and moss.
Luther edged up beside Jared, casting a quick look at the others before dropping his voice. “Mr. Chance, are we really just marching straight into Cloudhaven City to fight? No scouting, no backup, nothing?”
“I heard the House of Wagner controls half the city. Their Patriarch, Rowan, already broke into True Immortal Realm Level One, and the tales say his strength can level mountains. Throughout the clan they still keep dozens of High Immortal Realm experts and several hundred armored guards…”
“That kind of force isn’t exactly a joke. And the Celestial Palace keeps a Branch Hall there too. Three Elders sit at High Immortal Realm Level Nine, plus more than twenty Palace soldiers, all of them seasoned…” Luther’s brows pinched together. “There are only four of us. You’re powerful, sure, but with enemies like that, aren’t we sticking our heads in the lion’s mouth?”
Jared did not slow or even glance back. “A lion’s mouth?” His tone stayed calm, yet a faint mockery rode the single question.
The corner of his mouth lifted. The small upward curve carried a chilly certainty as though every cultivator in House of Wagner and the Celestial Palace already lay crushed beneath his heel.
