The dawn mist had not yet dispersed as the group prepared to depart from the eastern gate of Golden Flame City. Lin Yaochen, Tie Luoyan, and Ge Zhiyao stood ready, their gear packed for the long road ahead. Mozi, the great spirit beast, crouched at the rear of the carriage, his eyes glowing like embers as he silently observed the three companions embarking on this new leg of their journey.
Lin Yaochen wore a simple dark brown short robe. Hanging at his chest was the Radiant Disc, emitting a faint, pulsing green light—a lingering, weak resonance directed toward the Southeast Spirit-Mist Forest.
As the carriage began its slow crawl along the forest path, Yaochen didn't need to look back to feel the sickly sweet atmosphere permeating the interior.
Tie Luoyan and Ge Zhiyao were conversing in low tones, sharing occasional laughs and whispered confidences. It felt as if the entire carriage was being filled with their romantic affection, turning even the morning mist into a shade of rosy pink.
Unable to help himself, Yaochen curled his lip and grumbled under his breath to Mozi, who sat beside him. "I'm supposed to be the protagonist, right? Why does it feel like they're the lead actors in a romance, and I'm just the tragic supporting character forgotten in the corner?"
Mozi flicked an ear and exhaled a leisurely breath. "Those destined for greatness should not sweat the small stuff. Did you not say yourself that you wished for them to walk together in harmony?"
"Well, yes, I said that..." Yaochen tilted his head, his tone dripping with mock resentment. "But this high-profile display of affection is making me physically lonely. Tell me, Mozi—I'm not bad-looking, I'm witty, I'm quick on my feet... why is there no love for me?"
Mozi couldn't resist a wag of his tail. "You are the type who is either incredibly dense or completely oblivious. Love is not something that happens just because you tell yourself you're handsome."
"Hey! Whose spirit beast are you anyway? How dare you call me dense?"
Mozi gave him a sidelong glance, his tone lazy but sharp. "You are Lin Yaochen, the Seeker of Radiance, carrying the fate of the entire realm on your shoulders. Matters of the heart cannot be rushed. When fate arrives, it arrives. If it's not meant to be, don't go looking for it—save yourself the disappointment."
Yaochen was momentarily speechless. After a long pause, he muttered, "...You might actually have a point."
The carriage wheels crunched over the forest gravel, creating a gentle, rhythmic hum. As the morning sun slanted through the trees, Yaochen looked toward the hazy white fog of the distant road and let out a long sigh.
"This path to find the Radiance... it really is full of tribulations."
By nightfall, the three had made camp. The firelight flickered against their determined faces, the sound of the wind through the leaves weaving a tapestry of tension and hope.
The task of making dinner naturally fell to the Bearer of Fire, Tie Luoyan. The flames roared under his command as he worked with practiced efficiency, the aroma of cooking filling the air. Meanwhile, Mozi crouched in the shadows, his beastly pupils scanning the darkness for any scouts the Third Continent might have sent.
Ge Zhiyao sat by the carriage, a sheet of paper spread before her. She sketched intricate mechanical lines with a fine pen, occasionally frowning in deep thought, the world around her vanishing in favor of her designs. And Yaochen... he aimlessly toyed with the Radiant Disc, watching the light patterns shift without providing a clear direction.
He suddenly looked up at the stars, his mind drifting back to the village that had sheltered them—the one that was subsequently raided by the Radiant Bandits.
"I wonder how the village chief and the others are doing now..."
His chest tightened as he remembered the girl who had watched the parched fields with such cold, distant eyes: Qing Sha.
He remembered the day they had worked the cracked earth together. She had knelt before a withered seedling, a deep, hidden sorrow in her gaze as she touched a dead leaf. She had whispered to herself, "If my Radiant power were still here... I would make you all live again."
The voice had been faint, but it had pricked his heart like a needle.
Yaochen looked down at the silent disc in his hands. He thought of Qing Sha, the withered land, and the commoners whose power had been stolen by the bandits.
"What are you thinking about?" Mozi approached, his voice low and steady.
Yaochen pulled his gaze away from the night sky and shook his head. "Nothing much. Just remembering things from before."
He paused, looking into Mozi's eyes—eyes that seemed to pierce through all secrets. "Mozi, do you know what kind of place the Spirit-Mist Forest is?"
Mozi sat down beside him, the firelight dancing in his pupils like ancient memories being unearthed.
"It is a realm apart, out of sync with the rest of the Radiant world. The mist never lifts, creating a world unto itself. Most mortals who wander in never wander out."
"Is it really that mysterious?"
"It is more than mystery," Mozi whispered. "The Spirit-Mist Forest was once the holy ground of the Wood-Radiance Clan. They worshiped nature as their mother and lived in harmony with all things. For generations, they ignored the Imperial Court, ignored royal decrees, and bowed to no Marquis. They have their own laws and heritage. If you wish to seek the Radiance there, you must first pass the trial of their hearts."
"Will they be hostile?" Yaochen frowned.
Mozi looked at him with a heavy gaze. "Not hostile—mistrustful. There is a fracture between them and the Radiant Court... even if you come with good intentions, they may not let you in."
"What kind of fracture could be so severe that they won't trust anyone?"
Mozi looked toward the rising mountain mist in the distance. "Decades ago, the people of the Spirit-Mist Forest were the purest guardians of the Wood-Radiance pulse. They protected the 'Emerald Heart,' one of the five Great Roots of Radiance."
"A previous Radiant Marquis, seeking immortality and a breakthrough in martial power, sent troops into the forest under the guise of 'territorial expansion.' In truth, he intended to seize the Heart and harvest its spirit."
"The Forest Guardians had once co-existed with the Court, but when the betrayal was revealed, they fought back. The war burned for a month. Their losses were catastrophic. Since then, they sealed the forest with a barrier and swore an oath to sever all ties with the outside world."
Yaochen remained silent, feeling a heavy weight in his chest.
Mozi continued quietly, "That struggle cost them their kin and their trust. They trust nature more than power, and ancestral precepts more than imperial commands. If you want to enter that forest, you cannot rely on bloodlines or titles. You must rely on... your sincerity."
"Dinner's ready! Eat up and get some sleep—we'll need our strength for the road tomorrow!" Tie Luoyan's voice boomed through the woods as he banged a ladle against a pot, sounding like a head chef at a busy tavern.
Yaochen, Mozi, and Zhiyao gathered around to find a clean cloth spread on the ground, laden with fragrant dishes. Golden-brown fried cakes, hot soup garnished with spring onions, and sizzling skewers of grilled meat... it was clearly the work of a master.
"Now this is a dinner," Mozi muttered, licking his chops with genuine appreciation.
Yaochen looked at the feast and then thought back to the pot of watery porridge he had once cooked. His face stiffened as he mumbled, "Yeah, well... he is a professional chef..."
It was hard to tell if he was impressed or just salty, but beside him, Ge Zhiyao couldn't help but stifle a giggle.
After dinner, as the fire crackled low, the group sat together. Mozi licked the last of the soup from his muzzle and settled by the embers. "The next stage of the journey requires us to pass through a town before we reach the forest—Pine Ridge Town."
"Pine Ridge?" Zhiyao repeated.
"Yes. It's the mandatory waypoint for anyone heading toward Vine-Mulberry City or the Spirit-Mist Forest. Lots of travelers mean lots of news." Mozi turned to Yaochen. "Once we leave there, it's a two-day trek to the forest boundary. We should resupply and listen for rumors."
He paused, his voice turning somber. "It has been a long time since I was last there. The forest... may have changed."
With the plan set, exhaustion finally took hold. The carriage was lined with dry hay and blankets for Ge Zhiyao to rest. Though she hadn't complained, the fatigue of the road was etched into her features.
Lin Yaochen and Tie Luoyan pitched a simple tent and lay down by the fire. The night breeze rustled the canvas, but with Mozi lying guard at the hearth—the radiant sigil on his forehead glowing faintly—a rare sense of peace settled over the camp.