The night storm had faded into nothingness by the time dawn arrived, leaving only the cool memory of rain upon the land. When Eklavya finally opened his eyes, he felt the crispness of early morning air brushing across his skin. He lay still for a moment beside Anshvi, listening to the faint echo of water dripping outside the cave, the soft rustle of wind gently pushing through leaves, and the faraway calls of birds waking to a new day.

  He pushed himself up and stepped outside the cave entrance.

  The valley was no longer shrouded in rain or darkness. The scattered clouds above him were slowly breaking apart, drifting like soft pieces of cotton across a sky turning light blue. Golden rays of the rising sun slipped between the cracks, spilling warmth upon his face and shoulders. The light was fresh, bright, and clean—like a blessing after a long night of chaos.

  Eklavya closed his eyes briefly. The warmth felt strangely comforting. A reminder that life continued despite everything. When he opened them again, he looked straight toward the lake stretching out before him. It was truly breathtaking.

  The lake remained as clean and clear as it had been the previous night. Not a ripple disturbed its glass like surface, as though the world had frozen it in time. The reflections of distant mountains shimmered faintly on the water, while hints of luminous blue-green light from the aquatic plants beneath still glowed from the shallows, softening with the arrival of daylight.

  Mist drifted lazily above the water, dissolving as the sunlight grew stronger. The forest around him glowed with a new life—glistening branches dripping with the remnants of rain, leaves sparkling with tiny droplets, the earthy scent rising from the ground in a wave of freshness.

  Birdsong filled the valley. Sharp chirps, melodious calls, rhythmic flutters of wings. It was as if an orchestra hidden amongst the trees had begun its morning performance.

  Eklavya inhaled deeply. The scent of wet ground… the smell of fresh water… the early warmth of the morning sun… It all blended together into something peaceful—something he hadn’t felt.

  As he took another breath, footsteps sounded behind him.

  Anshvi walked out of the cave, her hair tied loosely back, her expression still touched by sleepiness and calm. She carried the folded blanket in her arms and approached him silently. She offered the blanket to him with a simple gesture.

  Eklavya took it and stored it inside his storage ring.

  “How are we going to get out of the valley?” he asked as he turned toward her. “Any ideas?”

  Anshvi didn’t waste a second. She tied her hair in a few minutes after washing her face. She stepped closer, took his hand lightly—her touch cold from the morning air—and said, “Through the air, of course.”

  Before he could reply, she pulled him forward and leaped into the sky.

  Eklavya smirked and followed her lead, allowing her to guide their ascent. The ground immediately began shrinking beneath them—the lake turning into a small silver patch, the trees becoming clustered dots, the mountains distant, their peaks softened by clouds.

  As they went higher, the wind rushed past them, brushing against their faces and clothes. The valley disappeared in a blur of green, white, and blue.

  “Do you know,” Anshvi said as her voice rose above the wind, “a Grandmaster can fly high enough to touch the clouds?” She gestured with her chin upward toward clouds.

  The nearest cloud loomed like a white floating island above their heads. They shot toward it with accelerating speed. The world below faded into a miniature landscape—tiny rivers, tiny trees, tiny paths. Everything looked insignificant from this height.

  “What are you going to do?” he asked, curious at where she was taking him. She didn’t answer her question.

  Instead, she increased her speed. Her ki flared slightly around her, shimmering white and purple. Within a minute, they broke through the last stretch of air and came level with the cloud. Then they passed beside it.

  Cool droplets of moisture rushed past their skin as they skimmed the edge. If they had gone through the cloud directly, they would have been drenched again. Above the cloud, the world changed entirely.

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  They hovered in the open sky, floating above a sea of white clouds. Hundreds of cloud layers stretched endlessly, forming a soft ocean beneath their feet. The rising sun painted the horizon in warm orange and gold. Rays of sunlight pierced through the cloud sea, creating shimmering pillars of light that made the sky feel unreal—almost celestial.

  Eklavya stared silently, the view was mesmerizing. Above them hovered another layer of clouds—far, far away. Hundreds of kilometers above their heads, floating like unreachable kingdoms in the sky.

  Anshvi followed his gaze and said softly, “To touch that upper cloud… one must be an Overlord warrior. Only they can fly that high.”

  Eklavya nodded, absorbing the information. “Then how high can a Spirit Warrior fly?” he asked. Anshvi smiled faintly with pride, the wind tossing strands of her purple hair behind her.

  “Just around where we are now,” she replied. “This is the limit of the sky for a Spirit Warrior. Even a Grandmaster can’t reach this high.” Eklavya looked at her sharply—only then realizing something. She was a Grandmaster… But she was flying at the height of a Spirit Warrior.

  That meant—her talent, her heritage, or something about her cultivation allowed her to surpass the natural limits of her stage. Once again, she surprised him. And once again, he found himself silently impressed.

  After taking in the scenery for a while, they slowly descended.

  They passed through the golden light, moving below the cloud layer. Wind rushed against their faces as gravity pulled them down. The forest grew larger, the lake brighter, the outline of Trapura City appearing in the distance.

  With a final downward thrust, they accelerated toward the ground.

  In a few minutes, they landed half a kilometer away from the city walls. The stone walls stood tall and sturdy, casting long shadows across the road. Guards patrolled along the top, their armour shining under the morning sun.

  Eklavya and Anshvi walked toward the gate. The guards saw them approaching and straightened their posture. When Eklavya showed his jade token, they immediately bowed slightly.

  Inside the city, life was quiet and as usual.

  Shops opened their wooden shutters. Merchants arranged their stalls with fruits, herbs, pottery, and spirit-infused trinkets. Children ran across the street with laughter echoing behind them. The streets were not crowded yet—not at this hour—but the city was waking slowly, steadily and peacefully.

  As they walked side by side, Eklavya glanced at Anshvi. “You will stay in our clan,” he said quietly. “Because they will search for us, no matter what.”

  Anshvi shook her head without hesitation. “No. I’ll stay at my place.” Eklavya frowned, not agreeing with what she said.

  He understood why she was refusing—she didn’t want to burden his clan, and didn't want to cause trouble for his family. But she didn’t understand how dangerous it would be for her alone. The Falling Leaf Sect had already lost elders and disciples. They wouldn’t let it go.

  If Anshvi lived alone, she could be tracked down, surrounded, and ambushed anytime if they found out. And beyond all logical reasons, there was something else—something Eklavya didn’t want to admit.

  A spark of feelings. A subtle warmth he’d felt growing during their ordeal together. He wasn’t sure what to call it. He didn’t want to think too deeply about it. He didn’t want distractions from his path. But it existed, whether he acknowledged it or not.

  Still, he kept that feeling buried deep in his heart.

  They continued walking until the street ahead grew crowded.

  A dense group of people gathered around a large wooden board standing near the market entrance. It was the bounty board—the place where wanted notices were posted regarding bounty. They became curious and started walking toward the crowd.

  The crowd murmured, whispered, pointed. Some looked excited and others looked frightened. When the two pushed through enough to see the board clearly, they froze.

  A large poster was pinned in the centre. A man wearing a mask. The bounty on his head was five thousand low-grade spirit stones. Dead or alive. And the insignia of the Falling Leaf Sect stamped at the bottom.

  Eklavya stared for a moment and then he let out a short laugh. “So they’re willing to pay five thousand low-grade spirit stones,” he said with amusement. “That’s a big amount.”

  Anshvi’s brows drew together. “But why is there only yours?”

  Eklavya shrugged. “Who knows? Maybe they want to simplify their search. Or maybe they think you’re harder to catch. Either way, it’s good they didn’t target you.”

  His tone was relaxed—too relaxed, almost as if he had known this would happen.

  The crowd murmured louder behind them, discussing the bounty, guessing who the masked man might be, speculating whether he was a traitor, a murderer, or a rogue cultivator. None of them suspected the young man standing a few steps away.

  Eklavya and Anshvi stepped out of the crowd and continued down the street. The familiar path of the city slowly shifted into the refined stone walkway leading toward the Rudra Clan estate. The large gate rose in the distance, guarded by four armoured men standing in disciplined formation.

  As Eklavya approached, the guards straightened immediately. Upon recognizing him, they bowed simultaneously. “Young Master!”

  Eklavya gave a polite nod to them. Then, Eklavya entered through the gate and Anshvi followed behind him, her steps light but steady.

  The moment he stepped inside, Eklavya felt only one thing: The fear of the scolding he was definitely going to receive from his mother. And somehow… that thought scared him more than the Falling Leaf Sect.