In the end, the whole arc came into focus—the spark, the storm, the final hush.

The girl’s name was Nalu Geyas, daughter of the current head of the Geyas merchant clan. In short, a proper heiress.

The Geyas clan used to be the richest across the Northern Abyss Continent, its trade like roots threading every corner. That was past tense. Ten years ago, their pillar fell—Kelendo Geyas, a peak God‑tier mage‑warrior and Nalu’s grandfather. With his passing, rivals scented wealth like sharks scenting blood. They surfaced, one after another.

Without a God‑tier’s shelter, the clan stood like a stag before a pack. We all know how that ends.

As for the Skyseeking Herb, Nalu found a clue in Kelendo’s relics a dozen days ago. It lay within his former domain. For a girl burning to revive her house, that was sunlight breaking through cloud.

She prepared for ten days and set out with elite guards to “seek the grass.” But the wind carried whispers like cold knives. On the way back, they ran into the infamous bandit order of the Northern Abyss Continent—the Shadow Knights, backed by several Saint‑tier experts and even a God‑tier.

Back in the Geyas heyday, they wouldn’t have feared the Shadow Knights. Now… their only real fighter was Nalu’s father, a peak Saint‑tier mage‑warrior. That can’t match an order with a resident God‑tier.

You saw the rest. The elite guards Nalu brought were cut down almost to the last by the Shadow Knights’ elite detachment.

As for the ending—of course we weren’t letting the Shadow Knights walk away… Hm. Déjà vu hit like a bell. When we first reached the Eastern Moon Continent, we saved Faya from pursuit too, arriving on dragonback all the same.

So this is fate? I honestly want to rant—how do I keep hitting the same plot twice in a row?!

…

“Dear big brother, is the Skyseeking Herb that rare?”

“Risking your life for one stalk? Doesn’t compute.”

The two sisters, now knowing Nalu’s story, stared at the herb in my hand, puzzled as mist.

“How to put it… I remember the Skyseeking Herb as something that tweaks your constitution and nudges your odds of sensing a law. Not that precious, right? I used it a lot when cooking at home.”

I thought it over. Its body‑changing effect isn’t strong. I ate it for years, yet under Xinuo’s guidance I couldn’t last a single day of sword practice back then. It’s not some high‑grade miracle.

“When I got sick, my teacher usually fed me Skyseeking Herb. It’s like a common medical supply, isn’t it?”

We’d already finished off those Shadow Knights cleanly. Lixue followed my line of thought.

“No, no…!!!”

Lanxia cut in, face grave, voice steady like a drum.

“On the Northern Abyss Continent, the Skyseeking Herb is a top‑grade God‑tier herb. Its greatest effect is to raise the chance of comprehending a law. If a peak Saint‑tier takes it—with solid basics and a streak of luck—breaking into God‑tier isn’t strange.

So, if Nalu brings it back and her father takes it, and fate opens that door, the Geyas clan could step out of this trap.”

“Eh? It’s really that precious?” I still struggled to square it.

“Of course. Even I’d have a hard time getting a single stalk,” Lanxia said, tail‑proud and matter‑of‑fact.

“Got it.”

Muttering, I walked to Nalu, who was crying for the fallen guards. I set the herb back into the jewel box in her hands.

“Why?!”

Nalu stared at me, disbelief flashing like lightning.

“The Skyseeking Herb’s no use to me. In exchange, could you give me a map of the Northern Abyss Continent? The more detailed, the better.”

I smiled and wiped the tears from her face. She’s carried her house like a mountain. That’s not easy.

“Right. We just got to the Northern Abyss Continent. We don’t know the land. We need a map urgently,” Lixue said, and my younger sisters came to my side.

“If it’s that precious, take it back. We won’t be using it anyway.”

“Yeah. A map beats a herb right now. If possible, a guide would be even better.”

“Honored lords…”

Nalu swallowed fresh tears, stood, and bowed deep. “For such grace, Nalu has no words.”

“Don’t be so stiff. If you feel you owe us, be our guide.”

“I think Lingsaki’s idea’s great. A guide beats wrestling a map,” I added.

“No problem! Anything at all—if I can help, just say the word!”

She bowed again. Without noticing, a bright smile bloomed on her lovely face like dawn breaking through rain.