Chapter 25: The Dragon Qi’s Return and a New Beginning
Three days later, Lin Yue lay in a soft bed in the Azure Cloud Sect’s infirmary, the jade pendant resting on his chest. His dragon qi was still weak—just a tiny spark in his dantian—but it was growing, slowly, thanks to the Spirit Spring’s qi and Master Liu’s healing potions.
Xiao Yu sat beside him, reading from his father’s journal. “Your father wrote about a village in the north,” she said, looking up. “The prisoner’s family—we found them. They’re safe. We told them what he did. They said they forgive him.”
Lin Yue smiled, closing his eyes. The prisoner had made amends, in his own way. And now, his family was safe. That was enough.
His father walked into the room, carrying a small bowl of soup. “Master Liu says this will help your dragon qi recover faster,” he said, setting the bowl on the nightstand. “He also said the other sects—Clear Water, Golden Mountain, Iron Palm—they’ve sent messengers. They want to form an alliance. To rebuild. To make sure nothing like the Shadow Sect ever happens again.”
Lin Yue opened his eyes, sitting up slowly. “Really? They’re willing to help?”
His father nodded, sitting beside him. “They saw what you did. They saw that you’re not just a boy with a codex—you’re a leader. Someone who fights for what’s right, even when it’s hard.” He paused, his hand resting on Lin Yue’s shoulder. “I’m sorry, Yue. For leaving you. For letting you face this alone.”
Lin Yue shook his head. “You didn’t leave me. You gave me the journal, the pendant. You gave me hope. And I wasn’t alone. I had Xiao Yu. Elder Mu. The disciples. Long Xuan.”
Speaking of Long Xuan—his voice echoed in Lin Yue’s mind, soft and warm. “Your dragon qi is returning. Slowly, but surely. The codex’s power is now yours, not just mine. You’ve earned it.”
Lin Yue smiled. “Thank you, Long Xuan. For everything.”
“I’m just glad I could help,” Long Xuan said. “Now rest. You have a lot of work ahead of you. The alliance, the realm’s recovery… it won’t be easy. But you’re ready.”
Lin Yue nodded. He knew it wouldn’t be easy. There would be more challenges, more dangers. But he wasn’t scared. He had his father back. He had Xiao Yu. He had the sect, and the new alliance. And he had the codex—now not just a weapon, but a symbol of hope.
A week later, Lin Yue stood in the main training ground, his dragon qi now strong enough to summon a small shield. The disciples gathered around him, their faces bright, their spirits high. The other sects’ messengers stood beside Elder Mu, their expressions respectful.
“We have a lot of work to do,” Lin Yue said, his voice carrying across the crowd. “We need to rebuild the sects. We need to help the villages that were hurt by the Shadow Sect. We need to make sure the Dark Dragon’s soul is never released again. But we’ll do it—together.”
The crowd cheered, their voices loud, their hope unshakable. Xiao Yu stood beside him, her hand in his, and his father stood behind him, his hand on his shoulder.
Lin Yue looked up at the sky, the sun shining bright. The journey ahead was long. The challenges were great. But he was ready.
Slow. Steady. Strong.
That’s how he’d won. That’s how he’d keep winning.
And as the cheers continued, as the disciples began to train, as the alliance took its first steps toward a better future, Lin Yue knew—this was just the beginning. A new beginning, for the sect, for the realm, and for him.
The end of one journey. The start of another.