As the sun rose the next day, Kanoru woke up. He had slept with his legs stretched out, his back leaning against the carriage wall. Glancing to the side, he saw Asuna and Mika sleeping on a makeshift bed on the carriage floor. Without disturbing them, he quietly climbed down.
Taking a deep breath of the fresh morning air, he observed the surroundings. Guards were still patrolling the convoy, and some caravan workers had already started preparing breakfast.
He spotted two people meditating on the roof of their carriage, energy visibly flowing into their bodies. Sensing their auras, Kanoru thought, 'They are apprentice warlocks.'
The cultivation systems of the two continents were completely different. On the Five Sacred Beast Continent, extraordinary individuals were called Warlocks. Like in Athia, their cultivation system followed a structured path: Apprentice Warlock, Low-Ranked Warlock, Middle-Ranked Warlock, High-Ranked Warlock, and Great Warlock.
Before coming to this continent, Kanoru had studied the Warlock practice system. In the Apprentice realm, one began by awakening their spiritual power. To advance to a Low-Ranked Warlock, they had to draw a lower-rank talisman inside their spiritual space. A Low-Ranked Warlock could inscribe up to four such talismans.
Three lower-rank talismans could then be merged to form a middle-rank talisman. Advancement to Middle-Rank Warlock required successfully merging the talismans. Failure to do so meant being stuck at the Low-Rank Warlock stage forever.
As he walked toward a stream beside the convoy, Kanoru washed himself, deep in thought. *If I can obtain a Warlock practice method, I'd like to study how they cultivate.* He had no intention of practicing it himself but sought to expand his knowledge. He knew this world wouldn't be his last stop—he would travel to many more in the future. The knowledge he gained on his journey might one day prove useful.
Nodding to himself, he turned and walked back to camp.
Leaning against his carriage, Kanoru pondered, *There are two other continents. I should try to visit them before this body dies.*
He had little information about them, only their names—Sacred Continent and Golden Continent. The Sacred Continent could be reached by traveling west from the Five Sacred Beast Continent.
A noise from inside the carriage broke his thoughts. Ten minutes later, Asuna and Mika stepped out, fully dressed.
"Good morning," Kanoru greeted.
They both nodded in response.
"How did you two sleep?" he asked.
Asuna replied, "We were fine, but what about you?"
Mika added, "Tonight, you sleep on the carriage floor, and I'll take your place."
Kanoru shrugged. "Go wash your face and do your morning routine. I'll bring breakfast."
Noticing that the food preparation had finished, he watched as Asuna and Mika walked toward the stream. Then, he headed toward the workers, who had just finished cooking breakfast—tea and buns.
After collecting their portions, he asked, "Will there be any stops today?"
He had spoken with Zhao Ye earlier and learned that the Golden Sparrow Caravan stopped not only at night but also in certain villages, towns, and cities along the route to Qinhua City. These locations had caravan bases where travelers could bathe and resupply.
One of the workers replied, "Fu Village, around noon, I think." He glanced at another worker, who nodded in confirmation.
Kanoru nodded in acknowledgment and walked away with their breakfast.
Two weeks passed. Now, at noon, the convoy traveled through a dense forest. They had to exit before dusk, as this was the Demon Forest—home to demons and Great Demons.
Kanoru sat beside Zhao Ye at the front of the carriage and asked, "Have you seen demons before?"
Zhao Ye nodded. "Yes, many times. Every two or three journeys, the caravan is attacked by demons."
Kanoru continued asking about demons and found that the information matched what he had read in the Mori family's private library.
Demons were evolved beasts capable of using a single elemental spell known as their talent. Great Demons, however, could learn multiple spells. Like Blood Beasts, a demon's greatest strength lay in its physical body—an advantage that increased when facing warlocks.
Warlocks cultivated spiritual power, making their bodies no different from ordinary people. However, some rare warlocks trained their bodies, allowing them to match a demon's strength.
Their carriage came to a stop as the one ahead halted. Kanoru wondered, *What happened?* He hadn't heard any sounds of fighting.
From the carriage window, Asuna poked her head out and asked, "What happened?"
"I don't know," Kanoru replied.
Zhao Ye jumped down and walked to the side for a better view. "Looks like something happened at the front of the convoy," he said.
Kanoru also jumped down. "I'll go check," he said.
Behind him, he heard Asuna call out, "Be careful."
---
*A few minutes earlier…*
At the front of the convoy, a crowd had gathered, whispering among themselves as they stared at a woman lying on the ground. Claw marks covered her stomach and arms. A sword lay beside her, and nearby, the body of a black wolf lay lifeless, wounds covering its body.
Ji Yuan furrowed his brows. "Manager Wang, I think I recognize her."
Wang Hui turned to him. "You know who she is?"
"I don't know her name, but I recognize where she's from."
Wang Hui studied the woman. Her deep blue hair spread behind her, blood marring her delicate features. Even with her injured, her beauty was evident. Her white warlock robe bore green markings, and a small tree was woven into the fabric.
"It looks familiar…" Wang Hui murmured, trying to recall where he had seen that insignia before.
Ji Yuan spoke firmly, "It's from the Evergreen Sect."
Wang Hui's eyes widened. "The *Evergreen Sect*?" He spun around. "Old Liu, save her quickly!"
When Wang Hui shouted, "Evergreen Sect!" Kanoru had just reached the gathered crowd at the front of the convoy. His gaze fell on the injured woman, and he wondered, *Evergreen Sect?*
As he listened to the murmuring around him, he learned that once they left the forest, they would arrive at Ren County, where the Evergreen Sect was the ruling power. Their influence, however, extended far beyond Ren County, as they were renowned throughout the Ming Dynasty for their unique pills.
A familiar voice called his name. Turning, he saw Ji Yuan.
"Yes?" Kanoru responded.
Ji Yuan stepped forward. "Mr. Kanoru, can we let her rest inside your carriage? It's the only one large enough."
Wang Hui added, "Mr. Kanoru, I will return five gold coins for the inconvenience. We wouldn't ask if we weren't still inside the demon forest."
Kanoru shook his head. "I don't need the five gold coins. But if you want my agreement, you have to ask my wife."
Wang Hui nodded. "Then let's go." He turned to Ji Yuan. "You carry her."
Ji Yuan nodded and carefully lifted the woman into his arms. The old physician, Old Liu, groaned. "Be careful! Her wounds will reopen."
Ji Yuan adjusted his hold and nodded. With the crowd following behind, Kanoru and Wang Hui led the way back to the carriage.
Reaching it, Kanoru called out, "Asuna."
Asuna's beautiful face appeared from the carriage window. "Kanoru, what is it?"
Kanoru quickly explained the situation. Asuna's gaze shifted to the unconscious woman in Ji Yuan's arms. After a brief pause, she said, "Okay."
She and Mika rearranged the makeshift bed on the carriage floor and took their seats on the bench, then helped Ji Yuan lay the woman down carefully.
Wang Hui stepped forward, extending five gold coins toward Kanoru. "Here."
Kanoru shook his head. "No need." He climbed onto the driver's seat. "Zhao Ye, let's go."
Wang Hui sighed and turned back toward his own ride. The crowd dispersed to their carriages, and within minutes, the convoy was moving again.