Winter is Coming

Students from Fire, Earth, and Water Elemental Class departed from Tianluo Peak to proceed to their own training areas several li away from the foot of the mountain. The site may be as spacious as it seems, but there aren't enough rooms for the official disciples to use. The sect elders and students from Wind Elemental Class are the only occupants of the area's lodgings. The rest will need to travel to the sect's other regions.

Yanlin had already bid his goodbyes to his brother Jianyu and his friend Hong'yu, but Jingyi didn't seem to cheer up since his brother's abrupt departure. He wanted to send letters to Hyunhei, but Sect Leader Huo did not allow it since his brother was training in seclusion. That is why during their training sessions, Jingyi pours out his anger and sadness on the training dummies and causes them to shatter despite the sturdy materials used in making them.

Several weeks passed, and the breeze began to drop in temperature. The animals near the secluded manor are less seen due to the signs of the incoming winter season. Hyunhei is also desperate to prepare for winter, so he asks his senior for permission before going to the capital. "Senior Lijie, can I go to the capital to buy my winter clothes? These robes are too thin for the cold temperature in our area."

"What did I tell you yesterday? We'll ask Master Huo for your winter clothes, right?" Lijie protested.

"But I don't want to disrupt Shushu's hectic schedule. I already received my allowance last week and have enough silver leaves to buy my clothes." Hyunhei used his forbidden technique to convince his senior, the puppy eyes with matching pouting lips. Lijie was caught off-guard and tried to look away to hide his blushing face.

"Fine! You win this time. But don't forget all the lessons I've taught you for self-defense, understood?" Hyunhei nodded at him. "You should return in one piece." His student suddenly hugged him from behind as he was about to return to his study. His heart began to race, and he felt hot on his cheeks. Lijie heard his student's footsteps running away from the manor out of excitement, and he couldn't help but smile secretly. On the other side of the room, a man dressed in black knelt down, awaiting Lijie's orders. "Follow my dear junior."

Hyunhei ran as fast as he could to reach the capital before lunch. This was his only option for traveling since Lijie still needed to teach him how to ride a sword. He needed to cross a river before reaching Bingwen, and no boats were nearby. He decided to try the flying technique Lijie often used when leaving the manor.

"Be light as a feather; move with the flow of the wind." Hyunhei spread his arms as he jumped from the riverbank to the water's surface until he reached the other side. He cannot believe himself doing those unexpected things. The cold, gentle breeze reached his neck, sending shivers down his spine. This excited him to buy some nice warm clothes in the capital.

After entering the capital, Hyunhei went to the nearest post office to send a letter to his elder brother Jingyi and his father, who was in the Xin residence. He gave ten silver leaves as a tip for the mailman to deliver his letter as soon as possible. The capital streets are busy as ever and are filled with new and old faces. Hyunhei bought steamed pork buns and two sticks of candied hawthorn before going to their clothing store.

Hyundai entered the store and was fascinated by the designs and colors of the displayed winter robes. As a former fashion designer, he was amazed but felt a sense of emptiness. He removed his veiled hat and approached the shopkeeper. "Do you accept commissions for customized designs?"

The shopkeeper seemed surprised. "Oh! My valued customer! Are your eyes not satisfied with the patterns of our latest designs? We do accept such commissions, but it may take a while."

Hyunhei brought out a pouch that contained two taels of silver. "Are these enough?"

The shopkeeper's eyes widened, and they checked the insides of the pouch. He grew excited and accepted Hyunhei's commission right away. Hyunhei asked for some papers and a brush to draw his own designs. It was a general pattern, so the shopkeeper invited Hyunhei upstairs to show him some pre-patterned fabrics. Some shop assistants were asked to assist him in getting his measurements and completing his patterns. Hyunhei was just guiding them, and they were obliged to do his orders because their eyes were filled with amazement as the parts were sewn together.

It was about three in the afternoon when they finished all the ten winter robes they patterned. Hyunhei asked them to pack it securely for traveling and bought matching boots to suit the color of his Hanfu robes. The shopkeeper and his assistants bid their joyful goodbyes to Hyunhei and even gave him a free umbrella as a freebie for his bulk older.

The baggage was a little heavy, so he stopped by a nearby inn and rented a room to rest. Before closing the door, he ensured no one was around his room. Hyunhei then placed a soundproof and concealing barrier to avoid eavesdroppers. He cast a self-made portal to put his heavy baggage and lessen his burden. The portal is a controlled void wherein the user commands which things will be pulled out or put in it. Lijie was unaware because Hyunhei practiced these tricks while away from the manor.

He ordered a set of dishes and green tea to fill his grumbling stomach. After a while, the waiter knocked on his room to deliver his meal. The waiter poured the tea while smiling suspiciously, but Hyunhei ignored it, for he was famished. He paid the waiter and began munching on the freshly cooked soup dumplings.

After several minutes, Hyunhei's lunch was cleared off the table, and when he was about to leave the room, he suddenly felt dizzy and hot. He carefully laid himself on the bed while enduring such an uncomfortable feeling. Before his consciousness failed him, he heard footsteps on his door and several deep voices talking, but he could not understand them.

On the other side, the man dressed in black followed Hyunhei while keeping his presence concealed. His task is to keep his employer's students safe and sound. He was hired as a bodyguard from the Huanlei Agency, a mysterious organization known for the intel they have about everything. The agency includes secret investigators and assassins, but they only accept commissions with a good cause. Their origin and whereabouts are unknown, but some influential individuals like Chen Lijie have connections with the agency.

Hyunhei's bodyguard also purchased some Hanfu robes and changed into them to blend with the crowd. He now looked like a fine man with a face veil. He followed Hyunhei inside the inn while keeping his distance and reserved the room beside Hyunhei's room. Before he could enter the room, the waiter supposed to deliver Hyunhei's order smiled suspiciously, so he began to be vigilant of the incoming danger. His instincts did not fail him, for he noticed a group of five drunken men approaching Hyunhei's room. They were about to open the door, but he knocked out one of them, alerting the others. He tried to lessen the noise while fighting with them, and he successfully defeated all of them.

He placed their unconscious bodies in the room he rented and locked the door from the outside. Then, he entered Hyunhei's room to check on him, but all he could find was a cute seven-year-old boy peacefully sleeping on the bed.