Time slipped like sand; five or six easy days vanished in a breeze of leisure and laughter.

For my farewells, Xinuo pushed our departure back by a day; in other words, tomorrow we set sail.

We’d barely packed halfway when Hill swept the whole room into a spatial charm; too eager, we weren’t leaving till after today.

My room fell hollow in a heartbeat, a shell echoing with quiet; the main estate felt lonelier, like a courtyard after frost.

After breakfast, my sister and Serenemoon took Hill out to play; Xinuo read in the nearby sea of flowers, pages drifting like petals.

Unlike her usual manga and light novels, she studied tomes on a thousand years of outer history, wanting a compass for the era before we left.

My chest held a soft ache; today I would say a proper goodbye to my parents, who got back from traveling last night. On my sister’s urging—and my own—I headed to their manor.

A small thrill, like stepping into an old skin; for visiting my parents, Xinuo granted rare mercy and let me wear men’s clothes today.

“Sorry to intrude.”

I crossed the manor and stepped into the hall; my parents were waiting. My usually easygoing father wore a face like stone.

“Emperor, you’re here.”

“Want a drink?”

As I entered, Father greeted me, casual as wind; Mother poured black tea and slid the cup over like a quiet stream.

“Yes. Father, Mother, I’m here to say goodbye.”

I sat straight before them and said it bluntly, like drawing a blade.

They had expected it; their eyes didn’t ripple much, calm as a pond.

Father looked at me, thoughtful. “Last time we spoke like this was two months ago. Now you’ve gone from ordinary to a Sword Wielder. Time runs fast.”

Mother’s voice was warm, like sunlight through leaves. “Yes. Emperor doesn’t look like a child anymore.”

It felt unreal, like a dream rising from steam; I sipped her tea. “Two months ago, I’d never imagine becoming a Sword Wielder.”

“Isn’t that good? You can leave the Central Continent and go to the outside you’ve longed for.”

“Just don’t forget you’re the Mizumi Clan’s young heir,” Father said, tone firm as a blade’s spine.

Of course I won’t forget; no need to hammer it in like a stake.

Leave the Central Continent and forget who I am? That’s impossible; names are anchors.

“You misunderstood. Out there, you must uphold the Mizumi Clan’s honor. Do not tolerate provocation,” Father said, words like iron bells.

“Xiong’s right.” Mother’s gaze was gentle as rain. “As the Mizumi Clan’s young heir, you represent us. Do nothing that harms our prestige, and never go easy on anyone who dares challenge you—or the Clan.”

“Understood!”

I answered firm as iron; even without their words, I’d never permit anyone to provoke the Mizumi Clan.

“Good.”

Father nodded, satisfied, bit into a piece of fruit like a crisp moon, then asked, “So, Emperor, any plans? Routes, goals, once you reach the outside?”

Shame pricked like thorns; I lowered my head. “Honestly… I’ve got no clue. Xinuo said she’d handle arrangements.”

“It’s your first time outside; it can’t be helped.” Father patted my shoulder, steady as a pillar. “Don’t lean on Senior Xinuo too much. Grow fast, stand on your own.”

“I will.”

“Good. I’m looking forward to it.”

Father’s smile loosened the room; the stern mask slipped, and his usual lazy ease returned, light as a breeze. Handsome when serious, but heavy as storm clouds.

“If there’s nothing else…”

With the main talk done, my mind drifted toward leaving, like a kite tugging loose. Mother caught my sleeve. “You leave tomorrow, right? We won’t see you for a long while. Stay and chat with me and Xiong.”

Uh… my heart wavered, like a reed in wind.

Thinking it through, I’d spent less time with my parents than with my sister and Serenemoon; we rarely talked beyond passing breezes.

Soon I’d be gone for long stretches; if I didn’t sit and linger now, chances would thin like autumn light. I sat again and poured them tea, steam curling like clouds.

“Alright. What should we talk about?”

My mind circled like a moth; finding no flame of a topic, I asked their opinion.

“Hmm… what to say.”

Mother sipped black tea and fell into thought; Father wore a deliberate “I’m thinking” look, stiff as a carved mask.

Clearly, the topic had to be my job; Mother asked me to stay and chat, yet silence pooled like still water—what was that about?

Once I leave tomorrow, only Serenemoon and the two or three maids at the main estate can play with my sister; the house will echo like an empty lane.

She clings to me like ivy; will that be a problem? If only my parents traveled less and stayed home more, roots deepening in soil.

With that thought, I ventured, “Father, Mother, could you spend more time at home with Littlesky and Serenemoon? The main estate is quiet enough, and I leave tomorrow…”

I stopped halfway, watching their faces like weather shifting across hills.

“No wonder Littlesky and Serenemoon like Emperor so much.” Mother’s gaze warmed me like a hearth; she turned to Father. “Xiong, what do you think?”

“Hmm, we’ve spent little time on the kids—call us unfit and it’s not wrong. Even Littlesky was raised by Emperor…” He drained his tea in one go and slapped his thigh like a drum. “Decided! Caiyin, from today, let’s stop touring the Central Continent. We’ve seen most places worth seeing.”

“No objections. I planned this the moment I heard Emperor leaves tomorrow,” Mother said, smile soft as a crescent.

Relief washed over me like warm sunlight; both parents agreed to stay home.

The main estate is the house I grew up in; I hate seeing it grow colder day by day, even if that’s a tide I can’t reverse.

I’d read the Mizumi Clan’s records; when the clan was founded, the main estate was lively as spring markets, lanterns bright and voices weaving.

Sadly, over three centuries, more and more found the main house dull, unwilling to live days so idle they echoed like empty courtyards.

They left in waves, scattering across the Central Continent to find their own homes; over time, the main estate thinned like mist. By our generation, apart from the clan head’s line, almost no one remained.

If the clan head’s seat hadn’t fallen to Father, he’d likely join the others, taking wife and children on “long journeys” across the Central Continent, paths winding like rivers.

“Thank you, truly.”

“Emperor, really, why thank us?” Mother’s tone carried guilt, like a shadow at dusk. “We’ve been poor parents, leaving the sisters to you. Even Qianji and Serenemoon weren’t very sensible—no help, and you ended up caring for them too.”

“Right.” Father nodded, feeling it, words heavy as stones. “Compared to us, you’re more like the parent.”

“Come on, I’m sixteen.”

I grumbled, a smile tugging; the stone in my chest finally settled, quiet as a pond at night.

Noon.

“Father, Mother, I’ll prepare lunch. Please wait a bit.”

“Emperor’s cooking… feels like ages since we had it. And today may be the last time—for now,” Father said, nostalgia warm as steam.

“Yes, so work a little harder today, make it rich as a harvest. Xiong and I will call everyone at the main estate for your farewell,” Mother said, eyes bright as lanterns.

“So the farewell spread is all on me.”

“No helping it; your skills are the best in the Mizumi Clan,” Father said, half-teasing, like spring rain.

…Then I’ll get to it.

Cheer in my steps, I left the manor and sprinted for the kitchen. No hemming and hawing—use every ingredient, make dishes to stun them like fireworks.

The farewell lasted till night; Hill ate happiest, a little star with a bottomless stomach, joy bubbling like a spring.

Serenemoon’s magic was as handy as ever; a ravaged table turned clean in the blink of an eye, mess vanishing like morning mist.

Besides, Xinuo changed her mind—departure not tomorrow, but tonight; the decision sliced the night like a crescent blade.

Reason was simple: Hill had emptied our room. Tonight or tomorrow—no difference; we stood at the same threshold under the same moon.

So now it was deep night after our baths, the air cool as water.

In the courtyard outside the main estate, shadows lay like ink.

“Return to your true form, Hill.”

“As you command!”

Xinuo spoke, and Hill’s small body flared with silver-white light; when it faded, a proud silver dragon stood holy under the moon, scales like flowing frost.

Xinuo took my hand and leaped onto Hill’s broad back, movement smooth as a swan’s flight. “We depart.”

“Oooh!”

Great wings unfurled, sky-filling; one mighty beat, and we shot from earth into high air, stars close as sparks.

“Master, where should I fly?”

“The Eastern Moon Continent—the nearest point to the Central Continent.”

“Understood!”

No sooner said than done; we streaked east like an arrow, cutting wind like silk.

The Mizumi Clan’s home blurred fast beneath us; my heart was a tangle of tides, hoping the road ahead would flow smooth as a long river.

The journey across the world—officially begun.