The night passed uneventfully. Hope remained vigilant, though the outskirts of the Azure Moon Forest rarely hosted rank 4 beasts or stronger. He kept the cub close, resting lightly against his sect's uniform. The little creature brought an unfamiliar warmth to his heart, though he still grappled with the implications of what he had done.

  As dawn broke, Hope stirred from his seated position, the light of the rising sun casting a soft glow over the forest. The cub clung stubbornly to his robes, its tiny claws hooked into the fabric as if it refused to let him go.

  Hope glanced down at it, the faintest flicker of an expression on his face before vanishing again. "I suppose you’re my companion now" he murmured under his breath. The words felt strange on his tongue, as if they belonged to someone else.

  After fastening his sword to his waist and securing his bag filled with supplies and the beast core, Hope began his journey back to the sect.

  The path out of the forest was long, the air thick with the scent of dew and earth. The rustling of leaves and occasional distant cries of beasts were his only companions, not counting the little one near his chest. Despite his injuries, he maintained a steady pace, his mind focused on reaching safety.

  It was then, as the trees thinned and the forest’s exit neared, that he spotted them—three figures dressed in uniforms similar to his own, though with subtle differences in style.

  Hope's eyes narrowed. ‘Ember Phoenix Sect’ he thought. No other sect would dare to imitate the Phoenix Cry Pavilion’s colours in this region, not unless they had the strength to back it up.

  The moment he noticed them, they noticed him. Their eyes flicked over his bloodied robes and the cub nestled against him.

  A sneer spread across the face of the tallest man in the group, his voice loud and mocking. "The Phoenix Cry Pavilion sure has lowered its standards, sending injured dogs out to play in the outskirts!"

  A girl among them laughed, her gaze lingering on the cub. "Look at him! He's holding a pup. How cute. I kind of like it."

  The second man, shorter but with an ingratiating smirk, immediately stepped forward. "If Junior Sister wants it, then I’ll get it for you."

  The girl nodded excitedly. "Yes, I want it.”

  The second man then asked without much thought “What should I do with the boy?

  “Kill him. He’s just an outer disciple. His sect won’t care about a nobody like him." Said the girl without even thinking.

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  The second man nodded silently.

  Hope’s eyes darkened as he listened from his position, unmoving. The casual cruelty in their words cut deeper than any blade could.

  The first man hesitated, doubt flickering in his eyes. "Junior Sister, are you sure? This could—"

  "Just do it!" the girl snapped, her tone impatient.

  The shorter man chuckled, dismissing the hesitation with a wave of his hand. "Don’t worry, Senior Brother. One move is all it’ll take to deal with this kid."

  With that, he began walking toward Hope, his steps slow and confident, as though savoring the moment.

  Hope remained still, watching the man approach. His grip on the cub tightened slightly, but his face remained calm, a mask of indifference. Inwardly, his thoughts churned. ‘I never thought I’d see the day when a so-called ally of the sect would stoop to this level. So much for unity between the Phoenix Cry Pavilion and the Ember Phoenix Sect.’

  The man stopped a few feet away, looking Hope up and down with disdain. He sneered. "Hand over the cub and your life, kid. Cooperate, and I promise it won’t hurt."

  Hope almost laughed at the absurdity of the situation. This man—this Peak Spirit Awakening cultivator—had no idea who he was dealing with.

  Without a word, Hope moved.

  The sword at his waist gleamed as it left its sheath, a blur of steel in the morning light. Before the man could react, his head separated from his body, blood spraying in an arc as it fell to the ground.

  Hope stood over the corpse, his expression unreadable. A single thought crossed his mind as blood rained over him, unbidden and strange. ‘I just cleaned myself…’

  In the distance, the remaining two disciples froze, their faces draining of color.

  "Junior Sister…" the senior disciple began, his voice trembling.

  The girl’s lips quivered, her bravado shattered. "Y-you said he was just an outer disciple!"

  The man clenched his fists, his eyes darting between Hope and his fallen companion. "You… You’ve doomed us both!"

  Hope’s gaze shifted to them, cold and unrelenting. He could see the fear in their eyes, the regret etched across their faces. They had underestimated him, and now they would pay the price.

  The girl screamed, her voice shrill and desperate, echoing through the forest as if hoping someone—anyone—would come to their aid. But in the Azure Moon Forest, no help would come.

  Hope moved again, faster than before. To the terrified disciples, he was nothing more than a blur, a shadow of death closing in.

  Their screams were cut short. Two more heads rolled to the forest floor, their bodies crumpling lifelessly beside them.

  Hope stood amidst the carnage, his chest rising and falling with measured breaths. Blood stained the ground around him, the metallic scent thick in the air.

  He glanced at the cub in his arms. It blinked up at him, unbothered by the violence it had just witnessed.

  "Even now, you’re calm" Hope muttered, shaking his head.

  He turned his attention to the bodies, his mind already calculating his next move. Trouble was something he didn’t fear, but inviting it unnecessarily was a fool’s game.

  With a thought, he willed destruction into being. A silent power that seemed to bend reality rushed over the bodies leaving nothing behind—not even ash.

  Satisfied, Hope adjusted his grip on the cub and resumed his journey.

  The exit of the forest loomed ahead, the sunlight growing stronger as he neared it. Despite the bloodshed, he felt no triumph, no satisfaction—only a hollow emptiness that refused to leave him.

  As the forest thinned and the familiar sight of the sect’s outer gates came into view, Hope allowed himself a moment to breathe.

  He glanced down at the cub, its tiny body warm against his own. The weight of his earlier promise returned to him, heavy and inescapable.

  “Let’s go home little one” Hope quietly said to the cub.

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