"Then one day, I overheard a merchant whispering about Bellini—said Master Heizan had vanished. Some claimed he was arrested. Others said he fled. I didn't know what to believe. I just hoped he was safe."
Sion's tone darkened.
"My wife's pregnancy was smooth for the most part. She never complained. Even when we ate dust and fought beasts for shelter, she never stopped smiling."
Sion's hands trembled.
"This morning, she gave birth, which was supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. It was the happiest day of our lives. Seeing my princess for the first time, holding her. And then—they came. Three disciples from the Moonveil Heart sect and those three that were chasing me from the Elemental Sword sect on order of the sect to kill me for being a traitor.
My wife was weakened from childbirth—but she helped me fight them off. We killed one of the disciples from her sect and injured two more before an elder showed up from her sect. And she insisted that I leave with the child while she holds off the elder and those three from my sect."
Jalen's jaw clenched faintly.
"I wanted to stay behind and help," Sion whispered. "But she reminded me of what is more important to us, and that's the safety of our daughter. She told me we would meet up at the border after she disposed of the enemies and be family on some other continent."
He choked.
"But I saw it in her eyes. That wasn't a promise. It was goodbye."
Sion lowered his head. "I ran. Not for myself—for her. For our daughter. Those three from my sect, I figure, managed to get past her and chased me for days until I made it to Mystic Ground. It swallowed me whole. Next thing I knew… I was here."
The cave fell into solemn silence.
Then Jalen placed a hand on his shoulder—firm, steady. No words. Just presence.
Sion broke down. Silent tears against stone skin. Then his body tightened—fury overtaking grief.
"I'll make the Moonveil Heart Sect and the elemental sword sect pay," he said through his teeth.
Jalen nodded once. "We will. But for now, rest and restore your strength."
Sion nodded.
From behind them, Jael peeked over the edge of a rock.
"Father? Why is Uncle Sion crying?"
Sion blinked. "Wait… you're a father?"
Jalen raised a brow. "What—you thought only you could get someone pregnant?"
"I—I didn't know you and Lady Rana—"
"Who said Rana and I are together?"
Sion blinked. "I thought you two were a thing."
"This is my son Jael," Jalen introduced Jael, who now hung over his shoulder. "He's a spirit beast. A dragon, to be exact."
Sion looked shocked as he looked at Jael. A dragon? He thought they were only myth; he had never met a true dragon, but even so, this was not what he expected. This dragon looked very much human. Then it hit him. "Did you mate with a mythical beast?"
"No, you dirty mind. I'm still a virgin."
"Then how are you this kid, Dad?"
"I just am. He chose me."
Sion blinked again.
He didn't know whether to laugh, cry, or pass out.
Though there was a few more rare treasure left hidden deep within the Mystic Ground like the legendary armors, the other supreme flaming spirit too, etc., Jalen made a choice.
He would leave them behind because he feared what staying might cost.
Too many eyes hunted him already. Too many enemies—some known, some cloaked in shadow—wanted him dead. And now, with Sion and the child under his protection, the risk had multiplied.
Jalen was strong. But was he strong enough to protect Sion, a newborn, and his dragon child… all while fending off cultivators who could tear mountains apart?
He didn't want to find out.
__
Two nights before their departure, Jalen sat with Sion beneath the cave's outer ridge. The stars above shimmered like distant embers—beautiful, but cold.
"We are going back to the Vernon Continent," Jalen said quietly. "We will create a new identity for Shia and hide her within our family. Then you will train in secret to increase your realm to the point where you don't need to hide anymore."
Sion's jaw clenched. "You want me to leave my daughter?"
"I want you to protect her," Jalen replied. "If you stay on the Rale Continent, they'll just keep coming. And one day, I might not be there to stop them."
Sion didn't answer right away. His gaze drifted to the sleeping child inside the cave—Shia, wrapped in silk and silence.
"She's all I have left."
"And that's why you need to disappear," Jalen said. "You told me that apart from your master, no one in your sect or on the Rale continent knows your true background. So if you separate from her, they won't know about the child; best case scenario, they will think you both die, but if they don't, then at least they won't be able to identify the child, and she will be safe. They will just focus on finding only you."
Jalen then held his shoulder firmly, looking him in the eyes. "I know it's hard. And as a father myself, I can't imagine being parted from Jael, though the kid annoys me, but it's for her safety."
Sion's fists trembled. But he nodded.
__
Two days later, Jalen activated the exit formation.
Jalen stood at the center of the ancient sigil, his aura pulsing like dusk—soft, invisible, but vast.
He thought briefly of Walford and Jaya. He hoped they'd be fine. He wished her luck in her competition; though he'd made no promises, he wanted to help her achieve victory. But after killing her brother, that door had closed.
Still… he wanted her to win.
__
Under the veil of his Spirit wind art first technique: Breath Like Dusktechnique, Jalen traveled with Sion, Jael, and baby Shia across the Rale continent to the Vernon continent.
It took a month.
Had Jalen been alone, he'd have arrived in days. But Sion's cultivation realm was low. The same for Jael. And Shia—unlike Jael or Jared—was almost like a mortal. She couldn't endure long flights. Her body needed rest. Her spirit needed quiet.
Sometimes they stopped for hours. Sometimes for days.
But they made it.
The Vernon continent welcomed them with misty hills and quiet valleys.