Su Vaen's return had scarcely preceded the ascension of morning sun when it arrived at its outpost. Delicate mist spiralled about aged trees, high trunks tall and slender creating long shadows along wet ground.
His humble wood station, frugal but reliable, was one solitary watchful presence at the forest's border on the edge of immense, raw wilderness.
This was his residence for the past few years, a life of isolation and passive observation.
But today was different.
As he walked up, he could see the two imperial guests standing by the entrance waiting for him.
Prince Xinyue Xian and Princess Xinyue Mei.
Prince Xian was tall and imposing, his broad shoulders and stiff posture exuding command.
He bore the unmistakable Xinyue Clan sharp face, with an angular jawline and keenly piercing sapphire-blue eyes that radiated natural intensity. His long black tresses, cleanly up-braided in imperial fashion, caught the morning sun.
Unlike the rich robes of court life, he wore today a practical dark blue martial robe, embroidered in fine silver lines that simulated the horizon of the sky.
His actions were crisp, intentional, testament to years of hard training.
As a Stage 5 Foundation Establishment practitioner, he carried the air of command of someone who has fought in battle.
Even as a prince born, his bearing was not condescending but commanding, like a field marshal charting the landscape. By his side stood Princess Xinyue Mei.
Mei had an ethereal beauty, delicate but striking, with silken porcelain complexion and a slender, willowy build.
Her almond-shaped eyes, which glittered like blue moonstones, had a questioning air, set beneath dark lashes that added intensity to her gaze.
Her raven-black locks feel like silk, loose strands tied up with a ribbon of silver. For all her royal lineage, she had an air of the untamed about her like a wildflower that bloomed outside the walls of a royal garden.
She wore a light azure silk robe, its fabric thin yet resilient, allowing for fluid movement. The insignia of the Celestial Zephyr Bloodline was embroidered over her left shoulder, a symbol of her imperial bloodline.
Unlike her brother's commanding presence, Mei's aura was calm yet alert, carrying an air of quiet calculation beneath her soft smile.
"You're late," Prince Xian stated, arms crossed, though there was no real impatience in his voice.
Su Vaen nodded slightly. "The forest doesn't keep the empire's time, You Highness."
Mei smiled quietly. "I suppose it doesn't. But since we're all ready, shall we begin?"
The three of them entered into the depths of the wilds, the dense canopy overhead casting lovely patterns of light and dark over the forest floor. Birds of all colors darted back and forth between the trees, their melodies adding to the rustle of the leaves.
Su Vaen led them along a rarely used trail as they walked, stopping to indicate plants and animals few within the imperial palace would ever have the opportunity to witness.
"This tree over here Verdant Starwood is one of the rarest in the outer region. Though, cheap in your eyes. It is a low ranked material of alchemy." Su Vaen said, stopping beside a big tree with pale golden leaves that radiated softly.
"Its wood is said to never decay before 20 years. The nobles employ it to craft ceremonial objects."
A bit further down, Mei knelt by a tiny, crystalline blossom growing near an outcropping of rocks. "And what about this?" she said, stroking its petals with her fingers.
"Moonveil Bloom," replied Su Vaen. "It blooms only in the light of the moon and is used in low rank alchemy. If well brewed, it will enhance one's spiritual sensitivity for Qi Condensation. Pity, for such a beautiful flower."
Mei studied the flower, then regarded Su Vaen with a knowing smile. "So you know your flora and fauna too."
As they proceeded deeper inside, the three met various animals—some simply observing them from a distance, some fleeing at their arrival.
Among them was the Cloudstrider Stag, a vicious beast with silver-white coat and antlers that emitted a faint light. It stood at the edge of a meadow, its long body blending beautifully into the mist. When it became aware of them, it vanished in one leap, leaving behind only a shimmer of silver.
"A glimpse of something rare," said Su Vaen. "They are reputed to bring good fortune to whoever gets a glimpse of them. Local tale."
Mei trailed behind the disappearing form with reverent wonder. "It was like it was going through another world."
Shortly thereafter, a Bristleback Armadillo scurried across their path, its spiny shell glinting in the sunlight. This beast was far less stately than the dignified stag, rolling into a ball and tumbling into a nearby burrow.
Prince Xian smiled. "Far from as regal as the last."
"They have their uses," Su Vaen said. "Their shells are used in defensive armor crafting for low rank soldiers."
Along the way, they encountered a few bird species, a distant Gloomfang Panther camouflaged in the leaves, and even the trace remains of a Razorback Serpent's cast skin. Each encounter painted a picture of the wild—one of beauty and danger.
As the sun climbed higher, the humidity of the forest grew heavier. Mei wiped a light sheen of sweat from her brow.
"It's going to be noon soon," she said. "The air is getting thick."
Prince Xian nodded. "We've covered good ground. Perhaps we should start heading back."
Su Vaen gazed down the path, then at them with a thoughtful face. "There's a secret spring not far from here, pure water, untainted by animals. If you'd like, I can take you there before we return."
Mei tilted her head, intrigued. "A spring? In the middle of the forest?"
"More of a secret glade with a natural spring," Su Vaen described. "Not many have heard of it. If you need to wash up, it's the best place around."
Prince Xian exchanged a glance with his sister and then nodded brusquely. "That will do."
Mei smiled into a small, satisfied smile. "Then let's go visit this secret of yours."
And so the three continued their journey, their footsteps quiet on the forest earth as the uninhibited wilds whispered around them.