Clearview Lake Villa District, Jiangnan City.
Inside a tastefully renovated residence, the splendid living room and grand, elegant lighting fixtures highlighted a refined, meticulously crafted sense of luxury.
"Difficulties?"
Andrew Han dusted off his light blue short-sleeved shirt and stretched lazily. "As far as I know, for a sect like Green Mountain Sect that has fallen from grace, you only need to apply for a Sect Sequence review. Once verified, it becomes a registered, officially recognized small martial arts sect."
Green Mountain Sect was once a major martial arts sect.
According to Andrew’s own research, more than twenty years ago, Green Mountain Sect ranked thirty-ninth among the major martial arts sects—its foundation was truly formidable.
Therefore—
Even though it has declined, rejoining the sequence should be extremely easy.
Carter Yan’s gaze grew contemplative as he leaned gently against the pale gold sofa. "If independent martial artists want to form a brand-new sect, they must go through an extremely rigorous process—there are five layers of qualification checks."
"Since the name Green Mountain Sect still exists, only a simplified three-layer review is required."
"That may be true, but passing is still unlikely."
With those words spoken—
Carter Yan hesitated, picked up the tea set from the coffee table, and began brewing tea. The sound of boiling water echoed through the spacious living room.
"Mm."
Andrew Han narrowed his eyes.
"Old Yan," he frowned, "as far as I know, rejoining the sequence only requires two conditions. First, the sect master must reach the titled Martial Lord, three-step realm. Second, there must be disciples."
Given Green Mountain Sect’s situation, a simple structure of master and disciple is enough to rejoin the sequence. The other two layers of review are trivial for Andrew.
They’re nothing more than requirements to slay Demons and Specters.
"So—"
Andrew Han leaned forward on the sofa, fixing his gaze on Carter Yan. "Green Mountain Sect already meets these two conditions. Why can’t it rejoin the Sect Sequence?"
Miles Ning had shown him great kindness—first by taking him as a disciple and tempering his character, then by helping him forge his life’s convictions step by step, and finally by teaching him martial arts and profound techniques. Nearly half of Green Mountain Sect’s battle merit points also belonged to Andrew.
Such deep kindness must be repaid.
What Miles Ning wanted was only to restore Green Mountain Sect’s name. Besides, Andrew truly believed himself to be a disciple of Green Mountain Sect.
This is belonging!
Unconsciously, he developed a sense of belonging to the sect.
"Even so," Carter Yan met Andrew’s intense gaze, forced a wry smile, and shook his head. "The core bodies of the Martial Arts Alliance are all in the Imperial Capital... Whether you can pass, I can’t say for sure. You’ll have to go there yourself."
With that said—
Carter Yan pursed his lips, poured two steaming cups of tea, and said no more.
"Mm."
Hearing this, Andrew Han frowned thoughtfully as Carter Yan slowly pushed a cup of hot tea toward him. A complex, indescribable emotion flickered in Carter’s eyes—part sympathy, part reflection, lost in thought.
Silence.
Inside the spacious living room, all was quiet.
Now and then, Monica Zhang could be heard outside, exclaiming softly—no doubt amazed by all the high-tech devices she was seeing for the first time.
The soon-to-be home was equipped with countless technological products, ranging from practical devices to decorative ones.
"Strange."
"I can sense it," Andrew Han thought to himself. "Carter Yan bears no ill will, but he won’t say more. Does Green Mountain Sect have other hidden troubles? Or perhaps Master isn’t truly a titled three-step Martial Lord?"
His mind spun with possibilities; flashes of insight came and went, but he couldn’t untangle them.
Despite Miles Ning’s and Carter Yan’s subtle hints, Andrew was still determined to visit the very heart of Sinovera—the Imperial Capital—next week.
The capital of Sinovera—the Imperial Capital!
This trip, he would see to Green Mountain Sect’s affairs properly.
Deep down, Andrew also wanted to experience the Imperial Capital’s atmosphere for himself, to visit the city known as the crown of Sinovera’s four top-tier metropolises—even if, in recent years, Yunhai Capital had slightly surpassed it economically.
But that doesn’t change things.
Perhaps every Sinoveran harbors the dream of touring the Imperial Capital.
"The Imperial Capital..."
"Memories from my previous life are just memories. In this life, I haven’t yet seen the Imperial Capital." Andrew mused for a moment, preparing to pull out his phone and open the ticketing app to book a ticket—or maybe two, just in case.
If Monica Zhang wanted to go tour the Imperial Capital too.
"Hoo—"
Andrew Han’s lips curled into a faint smile as he sipped his hot tea.
Now that she had embarked on the martial path, it was time for their relationship to begin anew—there was no need to keep stalling.
Slurp, slurp.
The tea gave off a light, fragrant aroma, and Andrew couldn’t help but take a few more sips.
Across from him—
Carter Yan glanced at Andrew in surprise, quietly pleased. In the past, Andrew would never drink anything outside, always bringing his own bottled water.
It made him breathe a sigh of relief.
Clearly, Andrew was starting to trust him. Bringing his sister over to apologize today should be safe.
"Mm."
"This tea is pretty good."
Andrew Han narrowed his eyes, savoring the fragrant tea as if he were a cow chewing peonies.
Vigilance and caution are essential traits for martial artists. Now that the Martial Arts World had learned that Specters were growing stronger and that the drawbacks of possession had vanished, Andrew had become even more alert.
But—