Re-birth: The Beginning after the End-Chapter 192: BECOME ROUTINE
The days before her departure passed in a blur of focused refinement and comfortable silence. Li Hua lost herself in creating pills for her journey, while Mo Xing remained a steady presence beside her. He seemed content just to be there, requiring neither conversation nor attention, the quiet between them broken only by the gentle crackling of spiritual fire and the soft sounds of her work.
What started as potential distraction became something else entirely—a strange sort of intimacy built on shared silence and occasional glances, his unwavering presence as constant as the flames beneath her cauldron. Sometimes hours would pass with neither speaking, yet the space between them felt anything but empty.
When the morning of departure finally arrived, she found herself awake before dawn. She turned to see the familiar devastatingly handsome face sleeping beside her, Mo Xing's usually sharp features softened by sleep. Just as he had been every morning these past days—appearing in her bed like a constant shadow, as if leaving her side even for sleep was too much distance to bear.
Early morning light filtered through her window, casting gentle shadows across his face. For once, that knowing smile was absent, replaced by an expression of rare peace. Her fingers itched to trace the line of his jaw, to memorize the curve of his lips before she had to leave, but she didn't dare disturb this moment of vulnerability. It was so rare to see him without his careful masks, without the weight of whatever secrets he carried.
A distant bell marked the approaching hour, reminding her that soon she would need to meet Elder Fu and the other disciples.
As if sensing her thoughts, Mo Xing's eyes opened, golden irises immediately finding hers with that usual knowing look. "Admiring the view, Little Tempest?" His voice was rough with sleep but still carried that dangerous warmth that never failed to make her pulse skip.
"I was actually thinking how peaceful you look when you can't talk," she retorted, but the slight curve of her lips betrayed her feigned irritation.
His low chuckle followed her as she slipped out of bed. They moved through their morning routine with practiced ease—a dance they'd perfected over the past days. She washed up first while he made tea, their casual banter drifting through the morning air.
"Your tea is too bitter," she called out, knowing exactly how he'd respond.
"Yet you've been drinking it every morning," came his predictable reply, laden with that infuriating satisfaction she could hear even through the closed washroom door.
When they switched places, they passed close enough for his hand to brush her waist—a touch too deliberate to be accidental. They continued moving around each other in this comfortable choreography, their playful exchanges gradually settling into a contented silence that spoke of growing familiarity.
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It wasn't until she was adjusting her outer robes that he spoke, his voice carrying none of its usual playful lilt. "I'm going with you."
She turned to find him watching her with an intensity that made her pulse skip. This wasn't a request or even his usual casual command—there was something else in his tone, something that suggested he'd been planning this all along.
"When were you going to tell me?" She asked, her brows furrowing slightly.
"Today," he replied with that infuriating simplicity, as if joining her on a potentially dangerous mission to the Forbidden Zone was as mundane as their morning tea. His golden eyes watched her reaction with careful attention, that knowing smile playing at his lips again.
"And if I refuse?" The words came out sharper than she intended.
His smile deepened, carrying that dangerous edge that always spelled trouble. "Little Tempest," he moved closer, his presence filling her space like gathering storm clouds, "when have I ever needed permission to follow you?"
The truth in those words made her pause. From the moment he'd appeared in her life, he'd done exactly as he pleased.
"You better not hold me back," she said finally, injecting as much ice into her tone as she could manage—though they both knew it was more show than substance at this point.
"I would never dare to slow down my Little Tempest," he murmured, closing the space between them. The way he said it—half promise, half challenge—reminded her that she still hadn't seen the true extent of his abilities. Even their battle in the flower field had been him holding back, she knew.
Then without another word, his form dissolved into shadows before her eyes, leaving her alone to finish her preparations. When she emerged from her quarters onto the lantern-lit path leading to the main hall, she found him already waiting, a dark silhouette against the dawn sky. She walked past him with deliberate steadiness, and without a word, he fell into step behind her.
The morning air carried the scent of spirit herbs and burning incense as they approached the main hall. She found her eldest brother standing near the entrance, his robes bearing traces of his early morning practice. Two senior disciples—both from the advanced combat classes stood beside him.
When Li Wei's gaze moved past her to settle on Mo Xing, she recognized that careful, analytical look he usually reserved for particularly complex texts. Her brother was already cataloging every detail: their matched pace, the way Mo Xing's presence seemed to shadow her own, the unspoken understanding in their movements.
"Eldest brother." Her smile carried genuine warmth as she greeted him. "Did you come to see me off?"
Li Wei's face softened as he patted her head, the gesture so familiar it made her heart ache. "Of course." He reached into his robes, producing several talismans and a pouch that clinked with the distinct sound of rare spirit stones.
"Brother, I—" The protest died in her throat at the look in his eyes.
"Just in case," he said gently, pressing the items into her hands. "If you don't use them, then you can give them back when you return." His tone suggested this wasn't a request but a brother's right to protect his sister, even from afar.
"Thank you, eldest brother," Li Hua whispered, embracing him briefly.
"I also brought these from the ancient archives," he said, his scholarly enthusiasm evident in his voice. "They contain valuable historical accounts of the Forbidden Zone—including expedition notes from fifty years ago and the full journals from previous exploratory missions. I thought they might prove useful." He handed the bundle to her with the careful reverence he always showed for old texts. "Promise to take care of yourself, sister."
"Again, thank you eldest brother." Li Hua smiled softly, grateful he had thought to research the Forbidden Zone while she had been consumed with pill refinement. "I will take care of myself, and you must do the same."
Li Wei nodded but before he could respond, the sound of multiple footsteps drew their attention.
Elder Fu approached, leading a group of eight disciples whose combined spiritual pressure made the morning air feel heavy with potential. Li Hua's attention immediately caught on three familiar figures among them—the sect's elite disciples who held the prestigious third, fourth, and fifth positions in the rankings.
Sun Wei's presence was announced by the low rumble of thunder, his Thunder Eagle's wings casting electric shadows across the ground. Liu Fei moved with the same ethereal grace as her Golden Crane, both master and beast radiating refined power. And Zhao Jun's quiet confidence was matched by his Frost Wolf's predatory elegance, the beast's icy aura creating patterns of frost wherever it stepped.
Their presence here spoke volumes about the true nature of this mission. The sect wasn't just sending capable disciples to the Forbidden Zone—they were sending their best.
