The departure happened before sunrise.
Azure Heaven Sect still remained quiet when Zero stood near the southern docks overlooking the dark ocean horizon. Cold wind moved through the coastline while several enormous sea creatures floated calmly near the surface waiting for him.
The atmosphere felt heavy.
Not dramatic.
Just real.
Mo Wan stood beside him silently holding onto his sleeve.
Neither of them had slept properly the previous night.
The current Feng Xia watching the memory felt her chest tighten slightly.
Because she remembered this morning clearly.
The beginning of change rarely announced itself loudly.
Sometimes—
it simply arrived quietly before dawn.
Tennison stood nearby with his arms folded calmly behind his back.
Several sect elders waited in silence while ocean envoys prepared the escort route beneath the sea.
Zero adjusted the black outer robe around his shoulders before looking toward Tennison.
"…You already knew it would become this serious."
