By the time Jared and the others returned to Cloudhaven City, three days had already passed.


    Outside the city gate, Lydia, Vivian, Evelyn, Luther, Grace, and Gwendolyn were all waiting.


    The second Jared''s figure appeared in the sky, Vivian was the first one to rush forward.


    "Jared!"


    She threw herself into his arms and clung to him tight. "You''re back!"


    Jared patted her on the back and smiled. "It''s not like I went off to war. What are you so worked up about?"


    Vivian didn''t answer.


    She only buried her face against his chest, her eyes rimmed red.


    Lydia walked over and looked Jared over from top to bottom.


    Only after she made sure he wasn''t hurt did the tightness leave her.


    "How did things go over in the Demon Marches?" she asked.


    "It''s handled."


    Jared briefly told them what had happened.


    When she heard that Darian had dropped to his knees and begged for mercy, and that the demonic cultivator had run ahead of time, Lydia''s brows drew together slightly.


    "That demonic cultivator got away? Could hee back again?"


    "No."


    Jared shook his head. "The person backing him is Skr. Skr already took a loss at the Celestial Pce, so he won''t dare show himself again anytime soon. Since he ran, that demonic cultivator won''t dare stay in the Demon Marches either."


    Lydia nodded and didn''t ask anything else.


    The group returned to the city lord mansion.


    Rnd arranged for the disciples of the Sky Dragon Lineage to go rest, then


    followed Jared into the Council Hall.


    "Mr. Chance, what are your ns next?" Rnd asked.


    Jared went quiet for a moment.


    "I''m going to the Fifteenth Firmament."


    The Council Hall went still in an instant.


    A light shed through Lydia''s eyes.


    She had been waiting for this day for a long time.


    Gwendolyn''s expression didn''t change, but her fingers shifted ever so slightly.


    Vivian, on the other hand, went pale on the spot.


    "So soon?" Vivian''s voice came out shaking.


    Jared looked at her, and something heavy rose in his chest.


    What stood between him and Vivian had always been a little absurd whenid out inly.


    Back when the marriage contest was held, both of them had their own schemes, and neither one had taken any of it seriously.


    But after spending this stretch of time together, Vivian had given him something real, and he couldn''t deny that he''de to care for her too.


    Especially after that night... some things, once they happened, never went back to what they were before.


    "Vivian, I have to go."


    Jared''s voice stayed low, but there was no give in it. "Skr took Josephine away, and no one knows where they went. I think they may have gone to the Fifteenth Firmament. I need to find her."


    Vivian bit down on her lip and said nothing.


    She knew Jared was right.


    Josephine was his wife. She was the woman he loved most.


    There was no way Jared would give her up.


    But that didn''t make this any easier to bear.


    "Then go."


    Vivian''s voice was so soft it was almost impossible to hear. "I''ll wait for you here."


    Jared walked over and took her hand.


    "I''lle back."


    Vivian lifted her head and looked at him. Her eyes were red, but she didn''t let the tears fall.


    "I know."


    She smiled a little. The smile barely held together, but it was gentle. "You''ve never broken a promise you made to me."


    Something in Jared loosened, and he pulled her into his arms.


    Off to the side, Lydia Wraithmoor and Gwendolyn exchanged a nce. Neither of them said a word.


    That night, Jared had a banquetid out at the city lord mansion.


    It was a farewell dinner.


    In the middle of the meal, Evelyn Ashcroft rose with a cup of wine in her hand and walked over to Jared.


    "Young Master Chance, this cup is from me."


    Her voice caught as she spoke. "Thank you for saving my life. If it hadn''t been for you, I would''ve already..."


    "Don''t say that."


    Jared took the cup from her and drained it in one swallow.


    Only then did Evelyn''s tears finally spill over.


    "Young Master Chance, when you go to the Fifteenth Firmament, you have to be careful. I heard from my sister that the Fifteenth Firmament is far more dangerous than the Fourteenth Firmament..."


    "Don''t worry."


    Jared patted her shoulder. "I''ll take care of myself."


    Evelyn wiped at her tears, nodded, then turned and went back to her seat.


    Luther rose to his feet as well.


    "Mr. Chance, I''m going with you to the Fifteenth Firmament."


    Jared looked at him once, then shifted his eyes to Grace beside him.


    He shook his head.


    "No."


    "Why?" Luther said, his brow drawing tight. "My strength may notpare to yours,


    but I can at least help with something."


    "It has nothing to do with your strength," Jared cut in. "It''s because of her."


    He looked toward Grace.


    Grace''s expression shifted slightly, and her hand tightened around Luther''s.


    Jared''s voice eased a little. "Luther, I know you want to help me. But have you thought about what happens to Grace if you go with me to the Fifteenth Firmament? She''d be eft here in the Fourteenth Firmament, waiting for you alone. Do you know what that feels like?"


    Luther said nothing.


    Of course he knew.


    He had once been the one waiting in the Fifteenth Firmament for Grace.


    That longing.


    That torment.


    That helpless stretch of not knowing whether the other person was dead or alive.


    No one in the room understood it better than he did.


    "Mr. Chance is right."


    Grace tugged lightly at Luther''s sleeve. "Don''t go. I... I don''t want to be by myself."


    Luther looked at her and said nothing for a long time. In the end, he gave a single nod.


    "All right. I won''t go."


    Jared smiled. "That''s more like it. Stay with her and don''t leave her alone."


    The rims of Luther''s eyes reddened a little, but he kept the tears from falling.


    "Mr. Chance, take care."


    "You too."


    After the banquet broke up, Jared went alone to the rear court of the city lord mansion.


    Rnd was already there, standing under the night sky with his head tipped back, looking up at the stars.


    "Mr. Chance." When he saw Jareding over, Rnd turned around and gave him a respectful bow.


    Jared walked over to him and stopped at his side. The two of them stood shoulder


    to shoulder.


    "Rnd, I''m leaving Cloudhaven City in your hands."


    Rnd gave a solemn nod. "Don''t worry, Mr. Chance. I''ll guard Cloudhaven City well."


    Jared was quiet for a moment. Then he reached into his robe, took out a jade slip, and handed it over.


    "These are some of my cultivation insights, along with notes on a few techniques. Take it. Let the disciples of the Sky Dragon Lineage read it. It might help you." Rnd received the jade slip with both hands and carefully put it away.


    "Mr. Chance, when are youing back?"


    Jared lifted his eyes to the sky and stood there in silence for a long while.


    "I don''t know." His voice was low. "Maybe soon. Maybe not for a long time. But I can


    promise you this-I wille back."


    Rnd nodded and didn''t ask anything else.


    Jared patted him on the shoulder, then turned and walked away.


    Behind him, Rnd stayed where he was, watching Jared''s back disappear into the


    night. He didn''t move for a long time.


    By early morning the next day, the sky still hadn''t begun to brighten.


    Jared, Lydia, and Gwendolyn stood at the city gate, ready to leave.


    Lydia was dressed in fitted ck travel clothes. Her long hair was tied high, and the wraithde hung at her waist. Standing there, she looked sharp and battle ready


    Gwendolyn still wore that in white dress. Her dark hair spilled down her back, and


    she stood quietly off to the side, like a white lotus blooming out of snow.


    Jared wore an ordinary teal robe, with the Dragonyer Sword at his waist. At a nce, he looked no different from a wandering cultivator passing through.


    The city gate was crowded with people who hade to see them off.


    Vivian stood in front of everyone else. Her eyes were red, but she didn''t cry.


    She wore a light teal dress that stirred in the morning wind, slender and yielding like


    a willow branch under a breeze.


    "Jared, you promised me. You have toe back." Her voice came out rough.


    Jared walked over and pulled her into a light embrace.


    "I promised you."


    Vivian leaned against him, listening


    to the steady beat in his chest and holding onto the warmthing off him, as if she meant to press this moment into memory and never let it fade.


    "Go on." She let go, stepped back, and smiled. "Don''t keep them waiting too long."


    Jared nodded, then turned and walked back toward Lydia and Gwendolyn.


    Evelyn came over and handed Jared a bundle.


    "Mr. Chance, I packed some immortal herbs and healing elixirs for you. You''ll need


    them on the road."


    Jared took the bundle and smiled. "Thanks, Evelyn."


    Evelyn shook her head and stepped aside.


    Luther and Grace stood together with their hands sped, watching Jared.


    "Mr. Chance, take care." Luther''s voice sat low in his throat.


    "You too." Jared nced at them and smiled. "Get married soon. Quit dragging it


    out."


    Grace''s face red red on the spot, and Luther scratched his head, caught just as


    off guard.


    Jared burst outughing, then turned and headed for the city gate.


    "Let''s go."


    Lydia and Gwendolyn fell in behind him.


    The three of them turned into three streaks of light and vanished into the horizon.


    At the city gate, Vivian stayed where she was, staring at the direction they had disappeared into.


    She did not move for a long, long time.


    Atst, tears slipped down her face.


    "Jared, you have toe back."