Ch 10: Departure

The afternoon sun hung lazily over Sunrise City's northern gate, its golden light spilling across the cobblestone path.

Merchants shouted their final calls for the day, carts rumbled past, and travellers hurried toward the open road.

Su Wen stood quietly beside a modest carriage, the wind tugging lightly at his robes.

The shadows of the city walls stretched long behind him. He turned once, letting his gaze drift across the skyline, the academy towers, the busy streets, the faint hum of laughter and life.

Around four years of hard work, bitter lessons, and fleeting joy.

He didn't speak a word. His silence carried the farewell his heart refused to say aloud.

He reached for the carriage door, but before he could step in, a familiar voice called out behind him.

"Su Wen! Wait!"

He froze. The tone, half confident, half mocking, was one he'd know anywhere.

Turning slowly, he saw Gu Ming and Xu Mei walking toward him.

Both were dressed in the fine noble attire, their robes of deep azure trimmed with silver thread, embroidered with the emblem of the Sunrise Academy's elite disciples.

They looked every bit the rising stars of the continent; confident, admired, untouchable.

But to Su Wen, their presence gave him a feeling of disgust.

Xu Mei smiled softly, her delicate features glowing under the sunlight. "Leaving already?" she asked in a tone too sweet to be genuine. "You should've told us sooner. Maybe we could've seen you off properly."

Gu Ming folded his arms, his smirk widening. "Heh, off to your village, huh? Don't give up, brother. If you work hard enough, maybe one day you'll reach Foundation Establishment too."

Su Wen said nothing. His expression didn't change, but something cold flickered in his eyes.

Xu Mei tilted her head, brushing her hair back with practiced grace. "I'll be leaving for the Central Continent soon," she said softly, her voice dripping with false warmth. "Perhaps one day you'll reach there too. I'll… be waiting for you."

Gu Ming chuckled beside her, unable to hide his sneer. "Yeah, when pigs learn to fly..."

For a moment, Su Wen simply looked at them, the two people who had once filled his days with laughter, loyalty, and affection.

He remembered their shared dreams, their training sessions, the small joys they once celebrated together.

And then he remembered the lies. The betrayal. The quiet whispers behind his back.

He let out a slow breath and finally spoke.

"You could've just told me you don't like me," he said quietly, his tone even but sharp.

"Then maybe we could've stayed friends. But not only did you betray me, you also have the nerve to mock me."

Xu Mei's smile faltered. Her lips parted, but no words came out.

Su Wen turned his gaze to Gu Ming. "I always treated you like a brother," he continued, voice steady. "But you?… I didn't know you were so venomous."

Gu Ming's smirk stiffened. A flicker of jealousy, or maybe anger, crossed his eyes.

He opened his mouth, but Su Wen raised a hand, stopping him cold.

"For me," Su Wen said, his eyes like still water, "you both are already dead. You don't exist in my world anymore."

He took a step closer, his calm voice carrying like a quiet blade through the afternoon air.

"You live your life, I live mine. However I live, don't concern yourselves."

Xu Mei's eyes trembled, his words have shaken her pride. "Su Wen, I-I…"

"Enough," Su Wen interrupted. "Save your pity for someone who needs it."

Gu Ming clenched his fists, anger flushing his cheeks. "You think you're better than us now? You're nothing…"

But Su Wen was already walking away.

He stepped into the carriage, his movements calm and deliberate, and tapped the frame twice. "Let's go."

The driver flicked the reins, and the horses began to pull.

As the wheels creaked and the distance widened, Su Wen looked out the window one last time. Gu Ming stood there, red-faced with anger, while Xu Mei bit her lip, her perfect expression twisting just slightly.

Su Wen exhaled softly. "Hah… that's the second time I've said that line today."

He leaned back against the seat, shaking his head with a faint, wry smile.

The city's walls stretched behind him, bathed in gold by the afternoon sun, until they slowly disappeared beyond the horizon.

Whatever bonds he once had with those two people, love, friendship, and betrayal alike, were now nothing but dust in the wind.

Ahead lay the road to his grandparents' village. And for the first time in years, his heart felt light.

The carriage rolled steadily along the winding road, the sun dipping low in the sky, casting long golden shadows over the countryside. Su Wen leaned back against the soft cushions, eyes closed, allowing the gentle sway to lull him into quiet rest.

Voices drifted from the next carriage, carried faintly by the wind.

"Did you hear about that genius girl from Moon City, Du Yue?" one man asked, his bear-like ears twitching slightly. "She actually failed to overcome her Golden Core Heavenly Tribulation."

"Yeah," another replied, his tiger-like ears folding back in annoyance. "Her father's a greedy scum. He was willing to sell her to the Moon City Lord's son for a few Mid-Grade spirit stones."

A third spoke up, his rabbit-like ears standing tall. "I've heard she has a Pure Yin Immortal Body, what an idiot of a father… and the City Lord's son, who's nothing but a trash at Early-Stage Foundation Establishment at the age of 17, wanted to use her as a cauldron to advance his own cultivation."

The first speaker shook his head, bear-like ears flicking.

"She was an Immortal seed who had a bright future in the Central Continent, but her father destroyed it for her. To protect her dignity, she attempted the breakthrough to Golden Core herself, unprepared, unable to withstand the Tribulation. She was crippled… but at least it gave her a chance to escape Moon City. Tch tch… what a tragic fate for such a genius."

Su Wen listened silently, his face unreadable. His eyes remained closed, absorbing the story but betraying no emotion.

The sun sank lower, bathing the rolling fields in warm amber.

Hours passed in quiet motion until finally, the carriage rumbled to a stop outside the familiar gates of the Five River Village. Su Wen opened his eyes, letting the soft evening air fill his lungs. Without a word, he stepped down from the carriage.

The carriage continued onward towards the Yellow Town, leaving Su Wen at the quiet village gates.

The river glinted like molten gold, and the village lay tranquil in the fading light, welcoming him back to familiar surroundings.