One week has passed since Li Yu and his team returned to the sect. A period of relative peace settled over the mountain, a welcome respite after the intense battles and diplomatic meetings. Li Yu received a detailed report from Fengliu, but there was no news of significance at this time. It seemed the Beast Faction, after suffering two devastating losses in a row, had gone under ground.

There were no major attacks, no open movements of their forces. The latest intelligence suggested that they had even stopped fighting the Human Revolution Faction as much in the south. The most likely theory was that with two of their big bases gone and the considerable manpower they had lost, they were withdrawing for now to lick their wounds and consolidate their power.

This was just a working theory, they could be doing the opposite. Focused on getting back at their attacker and moving in complete secrecy that it is all undetected. Li Yu and team could now only wait and see what their next move was. Ideally, they would leave the continent all together and give up here but that was the most unlikely scenario.

This quiet period allowed Li Yu to spend time with his friends from the sect. One sunny afternoon, he was sitting in a pavilion with Brother Kai, Lin Tao, and Uncle Wei, when Hu Jian approached, a strange mixture of profound happiness and deep anxiety on his face. He took a deep breath, and then the unexpected news came tumbling out. “I… I’m engaged!”

For a moment, there was stunned silence, followed by whoops of joy from Li Yu and Brother Kai. Uncle Wei chuckled, his eyes crinkling in a warm smile as he offered his congratulations. “About time one of you rascals settled down!”

Lin Tao, however, just grinned knowingly. “It’s about time you told them,” he said, clapping a blushing Hu Jian on the back. The dialogue between the group of friends expanded as they fired off questions. “Who is she? Where is she from? How long has this been going on behind our backs?” Brother Kai demanded with a laugh.

Hu Jian, his face bright red, began to tell his story. “We met over six months ago,” he started. “Remember that mission escorting the shipment to Clearwater City? The team had to stay in town for around two weeks waiting for the merchant caravan to arrive. That’s where I met her. Her name is Mei Fen.”

His voice softened as he spoke her name. “We just… started talking in the town and we didn’t stop. It went so well we ended up exchanging communication tokens. After we left, I couldn't get her out of my mind, I had to meet her again soon somehow.”

He continued, explaining his secret courtship. “I started to pick missions that took me around that region, just so I could have an excuse to stop by her sect or her town. Sometimes, if we arranged it together, she would meet me in a nearby city. Other times, I would just use my free time to make the journey. We got along together very well and were happy to see one another. It felt… right. Of course, there were some ups and downs, arguments and misunderstandings, but through it all, my feelings for her never changed.”

His expression grew incredibly proud. “The same was true with her. Even though she was being pressured by another man at certain points throughout, she endured it and still chose me. She chose me, someone without any significant background or anything like that. I may be from the Green Mountain Sect but I do not hold any position of note, the sect wouldn’t move for me.”

“Our engagement is truly based on our feelings for each other.” He then went on to explain more about his fiancée. She was from a small, respectable sect in that region, and her cultivation was at the 3rd level of Qi Condensing. Her family was a decent power in the local area, with her father being a 3rd stage Foundation Establishment expert.

But as he spoke, the happy light in his eyes dimmed, replaced by a deep worry. This was the source of his anxiety. “There’s a problem,” he admitted, his voice low. “The biggest issue is that other guy. He’s the young master of the Iron Peak Clan, and they are a much stronger power in that region than her family’s sect. She is afraid that by getting engaged to me, he will put pressure on her family, and she’s terrified of what his clan might do.”

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He looked down at his hands, his shyness evident. He was clearly hesitant to ask, but he saw no other choice. “I need a strong backer behind me. I… I was hoping you could help. I can’t use the sect’s name for my own gain. Not only might I get in trouble for doing such a thing, I can’t bring myself to lie and do so. And while I manage an important part of the sect’s business now, it’s not my place to command its authority. My own family is nothing special in the cultivation world, useless to bring up as a name.”

Li Yu smiled at him, a warm, genuine expression. He was thinking that Hu Jian truly was a nice person. He could have easily taken advantage of his position. He could have used the name of the Deep Water Menagerie and its resources to intimidate the Iron Peak Clan without anyone ever discovering it. But he didn’t do that for his own personal gain. He was honest and open, and he was asking for help from a friend, not leveraging his power.

At the same time, Li Yu also felt a bit bad. He was so caught up in his grand adventures, in fighting ancient factions and meeting legendary beings, that he wasn’t aware of these things at all. Of course, they hadn’t told him, but still, he felt he hadn’t paid enough attention to the lives of his closest friends.

He had been making sure that they were paid extremely well, ensuring they could take care of themselves and their families back home with plenty to share. He thought by doing so he could help out his friends, allowing them to grow and do more of the things they wanted. However, he hadn’t been paying enough attention to notice their personal struggles, and he was ashamed of that. No matter. He would make it right, right now.

He reached out and patted one of his longest friends on the shoulder. “It’s no problem at all,” he said, his voice firm and reassuring. “You should have told me sooner. You are my friend. Your problems are my problems.” He then smiled, an idea already forming in his mind.

“You said you needed a backer? You have one. You and I are very close to the Golden Shell Guild aren’t we? We will use the Golden Shell Guild’s name as your shield and the shield for your new family. And if you want to, we can go even further.”

Li Yu for a bit before saying, “we can have the Guild open a new branch in her town, and you can go manage it. You can be the branch leader there and have influence. That way, you can be close to her family while still carrying on your duties, if that’s what you two wish to do. The option is on the table. Whatever you and your fiancée want to do, I and the Guild will back you. I have at least that much influence in the Guild.”

He patted his friend again on the back with a bright and cheerful smile. This is great news, one of his closest friends had found love and he wanted to make sure they were happy. He would go fight off a team of demons right now if it meant his friend would be able to do so safely. In this case, it was an easy solution that didn’t require much effort on his part.

Kael, Bai Yan, Jian, and Cyra, who had been sitting quietly in a nearby pavilion, had overheard the entire exchange. They looked on, smiling to themselves as well. Hearing the words “at least that much influence” was a bit of an understatement, and it brought a shared, knowing amusement to their faces.

They were happy to see this display of genuine friendship, to witness the simple, innocent struggles that came with young love as well. They were all ancient and powerful beings who had lived for centuries, their lives filled with epic battles, political intrigue, and the lonely pursuit of power. Even though they were old, how could they not understand the feelings of love, of finding that particular right person.

To them, the threat of a mere clan and a spurned suitor was laughably insignificant. But they understood the gravity it held for these young people. It was a large wall for them, not because they couldn’t make it work but because of an outside power. A threat of a strong clan or sect has made many relationships not bare fruit. Politics and desires were ever present and there were always those who used them for their own selfish gains.

They themselves had had moments of love in their long lives, fleeting or enduring, and this pure, innocent scene, for a moment, brought them back to their own youths as well. It was a refreshing, grounding experience for these people to see. It brought them out of their own goals for a moment and placed themselves in the young man’s shoes. Their desire to help burning as well now.