Hidden By Moonlight

The spirit sword soared through the clouds like a silent hawk. Wind rushed past Lin Yuan's face as he stood upon its sleek surface, eyes wide as the sky opened before him. The endless horizon, the dizzying heights—it was freedom .

"Are you afraid?" asked a calm, gentle voice behind him.

Lady Yuexian, his grandmaster and the Taiyin Sect's sect leader, stood tall behind him. The wind played with her silver robes, making her seem like a phantom of moonlight.

Lin Yuan shook his head with a small, nostalgic smile. "No. I used to fly with my mother."

"Mm." Yuexian's lips curled into a rare smile. "Then I'll go a bit faster."

The sword picked up speed, slicing through the clouds. The wind blurred the sky into streaks of white and blue. Before long, lulled by the gentle motion, Lin Yuan drifted into a peaceful slumber.

---

He awoke on a soft bed in an unfamiliar room, sunlight filtering gently through white silk curtains. Xiao Hu and Qingxue were crouched near a strange lacquered box, whispering to each other.

"Where are we…?" Lin Yuan asked, his voice groggy.

Xiao Hu replied through spiritual transmission, "We're in the sect leader's house."

"We're solving a mystery box!" Qingxue giggled. "If we open it we get candy! But don't worry we are acting like pet's. "

"My wings feel tied down," Qingxue whined. "I want to fly again!"

Lin Yuan yawned, then dressed in his disguise robes and stepped outside. Yuexian waited patiently.

"You're awake," she said simply.

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"Come. Let me show you around."

"But first… Xiao Hu needs some spiritual milk."

Yuexian nodded. "Let's go to the market."

---

The sect's inner market was serene and refined. Yuexian procured a glass of fresh spirit milk from a stall and handed it to Lin Yuan.

"This is for Xiao Hu," he said, hesitant.

"You drink that one. I'll have more brought for him."

A few disciples nearby eyed Xiao Hu with wide eyes.

"Is that… a black tiger?"

Lady Yuexian answered with a light chuckle. "They're rare. This is the first I've seen in person.How old he is. "

Lin Yuan added seriously, "He mostly drinks milk."

"Some fried meat and… maybe fried grasshoppers for the bird." Yuexian ordered.

An old vendor nearby overheard and smiled. "My bird loves those too." She handed over a pouch of crispy insects.

Yuexian then summoned the spirit sword again. "Come. Time to see your land."

---

The sword descended toward a wide, barren stretch of earth—once a mining zone for spirit stones. Though desolate, spiritual energy still lingered.

"This will be your residence. No house yet, no servants. You'll live simply. If you're discovered… you die. Understood?"

"I understand."

"I'll bring food. I'll wash your robes. You're not a prisoner… but you must remain hidden."

"Can I get a soul tree?"

"I'll give you ten," Yuexian said with a faint smile. "But you'll plant them yourself."

She vanished into mist.

Lin Yuan and Xiao Hu explored the open land, Qingxue flying overhead, chirping joyfully. Soon, Yuexian returned with a portable house.

"Thank you," Lin Yuan said.

But she wasn't alone.

Standing beside her was a woman with foxlike eyes and shimmering silver hair. Crimson pupils flickered like coals.

"She saw through you," Yuexian said flatly. "While you slept."

The nine-tailed fox gave a graceful smile. "Illusion cannot deceive illusion. I know what you are… boy."

Lin Yuan tensed.

Yuexian stepped forward. "He is under my protection."

"I'm not here to cause trouble," the fox said. "I'm intrigued. A boy, hiding in a nest of phoenixes… that stirs the heart."

"What do you want?" Lin Yuan asked.

"A deal. In exchange for my silence, you owe me one favor in the future. I won't ask now. But I will ask."

Lin Yuan hesitated—then nodded. "…Alright. I agree."

"Wonderful," she whispered. "But don't fall in love with me. That would be… tragic."

She disappeared.

---

That night, Lin Yuan sat beneath a newly planted soul tree, its silver leaves glowing faintly. Xiao Hu snored softly. Qingxue gnawed on meat jerky.

Yuexian returned, her voice unreadable. "That was dangerous."

"She already knew. At least now… we have her word."

"Keep an eye on her. Foxes speak in riddles. She may protect you—or doom you."

"Who is she?"

"She was the spiritual pet of the previous Sect Leader. Don't worry. I'll handle her." She handed him a scroll. "Mission registry. You'll start earning contribution points tomorrow."

"Yes, Grandmaster."

Her expression softened. "If you ever feel lost… come to me. You're not walking this road alone."

---

The next morning, the Taiyin Sect buzzed with activity. Lin Yuan, disguised as Lin Yue, stood in pale robes, watching disciples choose missions.

He picked a simple one: feeding spiritual cranes.

A white-haired senior sister greeted him and handed him spirit grain. "They bite when irritated."

The cranes shimmered silver in the morning sun. They accepted his offerings, even allowing gentle strokes.

Suddenly, the fox woman appeared again. "Come with me."

Lady Mingyan's voice echoed in his mind*Touch the pendant to her.*

Lin Yuan did. The fox vanished—and returned moments later, scowling.

"I was going to let you meet someone, but now I don't feel like it."

Mingyan's voice returned: *I planted a soul bomb. If she speaks your secret, she dies.*

---

Later, Lin Yuan bought twenty bottles of spiritual milk and a hundred kilograms of mixed seeds for Qingxue.

He returned to the sect leader's residence. "I'm ready to begin cultivation."

Yuexian smiled. "Good. Come with me."

---

They arrived at a quiet shrine with an assessment stone glowing faintly.

"Place your hand on it."

Lin Yuan did.

…Nothing. Then a faint, pitiful glimmer.

"…Mortal Body?" Yuexian whispered, stunned. "Even the old janitor has a Spiritual Body…"

Inside Lin Yuan's robe, the jade pendant pulsed.

Lady Mingyan's voice was cold. *Your body is sealed. The stone can't see through the Taiyin Seal.*

Yuexian exhaled. "We'll proceed anyway. Maybe fate will surprise us."

She brought him to **Moonmist Hall**, deep within the mountains. Mist curled like silver serpents. Pools of luminous Taiyin Qi shimmered.

"Bathe in the outer spring. Then enter the sacred pool."

Lin Yuan returned, only to see Yuexian already in the water.

She extended her hand. "Come."

They teleported to the center of the true Moonmist Pool.

"You'll soak your body here. The pain will begin soon."

"…I don't know how to swim."

She chuckled. "Then I'll teach you. But don't pee in the pool. Even the moon spirits will slap you."

For an hour, Lin Yuan flailed and floated. Despite the cold pain, warmth bloomed between master and disciple.

"I feel pain all over…" he gasped.

"Let it in. Let the Qi refine you."

Taiyin Qi surged through his skin like freezing lightning. Yuexian guided the flow gently.

"This is your cultivation pathway. You don't need to remember it. Your body will."

After an hour, she gave him a healing pill.

Lin Yuan chewed it.

And another.

And another.

He ate **160 medium-grade healing pills** before Yuexian finally collapsed onto a bench, exasperated.

"You… don't need to take missions anymore. Come to me every morning. I'll train you myself."

Lin Yuan bowed. "Yes, Sect Leader."

---

That evening, he returned to the market, bought food for Xiao Hu and Qingxue, and prepared seeds for the soul trees.

Then, as moonlight spilled across the land, he drifted into sleep—his journey just beginnig. He can't believe his life well be change this way.

Would WoW