Immortal Paladin

053 Ren Xun the Guide

Ren Xun let go of the wheel, setting the controls to autopilot before slumping onto the bench. The hum of the Floating Dragon filled the air. A steady and rhythmic pulse was coming from the artifact’s formations.

He exhaled, letting the tension ease from his shoulders.

What was he supposed to make of this situation?

His father had sent him off to guide this group, but why? Ren Xun had been somewhat of a prince, a young lord of the Empire, yet here he was, reduced to playing a glorified chaperone.

Had his dalliance with a commoner truly been such an abhorrent development?

Not that it mattered. His life had never really been his own to live, had it?

Ren Xun warily glanced to his left.

Lu Gao sat cross-legged, eyes closed in deep meditation. His servant-like gray robes hung loosely around his lean frame, frayed at the edges from wear. His dark hair was unkempt, hanging in uneven strands over his face. If Ren Xun hadn't known any better, he would have assumed the man was just another wandering rogue cultivator.

But he wasn’t. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Once, Lu Gao had been the young master of the Lu Clan. However, through some twist of fate, he had been cast out, left to flee his own clan. Now, he was here—following the enigmatic Da Wei.

Ren Xun frowned. He had heard whispers about Da Wei, though what he had learned only raised more questions. His father had given little explanation, only orders. Orders to guide this strange group to the Imperial Capital.

He sighed and turned to his right.

Gu Jie sat a short distance away, scribbling something in a small notebook. Unlike Lu Gao, she was a mystery he hadn’t even begun to unravel. He knew little about her. He had heard even less. But something about her presence felt… off.

Perhaps it was his own lack of cultivation. He was only at the Fourth Star of the Martial Tempering Realm. Too weak to perceive things beyond the mundane.

With a quiet shake of his head, he reached into his storage ring and pulled out a piece of jerky.

He took a bite, chewing slowly as he watched the horizon.

Night had settled over the desert, a vast sea of darkness stretching in every direction. The Floating Dragon's formations kept it aloft and moving as the wind howled across the endless dunes.

Ren Xun sat with his back against the boat’s railing, absently watching the flames of a small, controlled campfire flicker in the middle of their deck. The flames weren’t natural, but rather the result of a formation that he had casually activated in the boat.

He stole a glance at the mysterious warrior and healer who had saved Yellow Dragon City in its time of crisis. His name was Da Wei or something close to it. Even now, as they sat beneath the open sky, Ren Xun couldn't quite understand him.

Then, without warning, Da Wei reached into his storage ring.

A moment later, he pulled out a bowl of steaming noodles thick with broth.

Ren Xun blinked.

Da Wei handed the first bowl to Gu Jie, who accepted it with nothing more than a slight nod. She barely looked surprised. As if this was something she had come to expect.

Then, he continued distributing the food.

Lu Gao, sitting opposite Ren Xun, looked just as taken aback as he was. But unlike Ren Xun, Lu Gao didn’t question it—merely accepting his portion in silence.

Ren Xun peered down at the bowl in his hands. The broth was still hot, steam rising from the surface. He could smell the richness of the soup, the unmistakable aroma of well-seasoned meat and fresh herbs. This wasn’t some preserved ration hastily thrown together. This was real food.

It wasn’t the food itself that unsettled Ren Xun—it was the implication behind it.

Da Wei was a cultivator strong enough that eating should have been unnecessary for him. Anyone who reached a high enough realm could sustain themselves purely on Qi alone. And yet, here he was, casually lifting a pair of chopsticks and slurping down his noodles as if he were just another traveler on the road.

Ren Xun hesitated before asking, “Why do you still eat?”

Da Wei glanced up, swallowing his mouthful before answering. “Because I like it.” He gave a half-smirk. “Food makes me feel alive.”

Ren Xun wasn’t sure what to make of that answer.

But as he took a sip of the broth, the warmth spreading through his chest, he found himself relaxing just a little. The tensions of the day melted away, if only for a moment.

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Da Wei grinned. “There’s nothing like food to bring people together.”

Ren Xun, still sipping his broth, had no argument against that.

He turned to Lu Gao, eyes gleaming with interest. “Was it true you turned into a demon?”

The moment the words left his mouth, he knew it was an insult. A blatant provocation. But Ren Xun had lived his whole life knowing he would always be protected. He got what he wanted, asked what he wanted, and said what he wanted. It was overbearing in a way, but he had been spoiled like that.

Lu Gao, however, didn’t react as expected. No burst of anger, no sharp glare. Instead, he looked… bored. As if Ren Xun had asked him whether it would rain tomorrow.

“Yes.”

Ren Xun blinked.

That was it? Just a yes?

Before he could pry further, Lu Gao casually fired back, “And was it true that you slept with a beggar?”

Ren Xun nearly choked on his noodles.

He saw the tiniest twitch of Lu Gao’s lips, the closest thing to amusement the former young master of the Lu Clan had shown all night.

Ren Xun wiped his mouth, smirking. “Not yet.”

Lu Gao exhaled through his nose and gave him a flat what the fuck expression.

“She wasn’t a beggar,” Ren Xun corrected. “More of a survivor.”

Gu Jie, who had been scribbling in her notebook, glanced up and quipped, “So it’s true, then? The son of an imperial prince is gallivanting across the land?”

Ren Xun huffed. “It’s not gallivanting—it’s love at first sight.”

Da Wei, who had been eating his noodles in peace, suddenly looked interested. “Oh?” He rested his chin on his palm, leaning in. “I have to hear this. What’s she like?”

Ren Xun’s lips curled into a proud smile. “She wore an azure mask, but her eyes—her eyes were scarred, yet she could see so much more than others.” He gestured vaguely, as if trying to capture something indescribable. “She had dark hair, long and wild. And she wasn’t just strong—she protected the weak and the poor. She could have been ruthless, but she wasn’t. She had a heart.”

He exhaled, shaking his head. “Her name is Lin Lim.”

The boat rocked gently beneath them. The fire flickered.

"Oh, Lin Lim? I know her,” Da Wei suddenly remarked, setting his empty bowl aside. “I believe she made a deal with the Governor to allow citizenship for the pilgrims she brought with her.”

Ren Xun’s head snapped toward him. “What?”

“They were just hoping to get free food from the Grand Feast on the seventh day of the festival,” Da Wei continued, “but they got something better than that.”

Gu Jie nodded, flipping a page in her notebook. “I heard something similar from Old Song. It seems he’s hiring his personnel from her group.”

Ren Xun’s fingers curled slightly over his knee. “When was that?”

Da Wei scratched his chin. “They finalized the agreement around the sixth day.”

Ren Xun felt his stomach drop. The sixth day.

He remembered bringing Lin Lim to his father, trying to talk things out, to reason with him. He had been shoved away.

"Father didn’t say anything about that…” he muttered. His jaw tightened. “Lin Lim too…”

Lu Gao, still seated cross-legged with his back against the railing, let out a slow exhale. “Don’t look so glum. Love is overrated.”

Ren Xun glanced at him.

Lu Gao shrugged. “I had a fiancée once.” He paused. “…She’s… uh…” His brows furrowed. “I don’t know, actually.” He shook his head and sighed. “Sorry for running my mouth.”

Not funny…

Ren Xun returned to the control panel, busying himself with the various instruments before him. The antique-like wheel, the blinking lights, the array of buttons—each element looked like it belonged to some overly complicated mechanism rather than a simple boat. He had trained to use these controls since childhood, but even now, he felt like he was working with something beyond his comprehension.

The sky had darkened completely, and he considered setting up his sleeping bag. He would have preferred a proper tent, but since they were flying through the night, that was out of the question.

Then, something flickered on the radar.

The artifact responded to the five elements, mapping out the presence of water, fire, earth, metal, and wood within a certain radius. A small yet distinct concentration of water stood out on the display.

An oasis.

Ren Xun narrowed his eyes at the reading, double-checking the coordinates. It wasn’t far. With the right adjustments, they could make a detour and reach it within the hour.

He turned his head toward Da Wei. “Senior, there’s an oasis up ahead,” he informed him. “We could spend the night there.”

Ren Xun adjusted the controls, still staring at the radar’s readings when Da Wei perked up at the mention of an oasis.

“We should stop there for the night,” Da Wei said. “Actually, let’s stay the whole week.”

Ren Xun blinked. “The whole week?”

“Yeah,” Da Wei said. “We need time for the artifact to recharge, don’t we? Might as well make the most of it.”

Ren Xun had no objections. A week was a long time, but it wasn’t a bad idea to rest while the boat recovered its warp capability. If there was an oasis, there was water. That meant an opportunity to refresh themselves, replenish supplies, and possibly even avoid unnecessary conflicts with demonic beasts.

Without further delay, he adjusted the course, gripping the wheel and guiding the boat toward the coordinates reflected on the radar.

The vehicle moved smoothly, gliding through the air like a drifting cloud. Despite the complicated-looking controls, it took little effort to maneuver. The Floating Dragon, after all, was a high-grade artifact built for both speed and stability.

Within moments, the barren desert scenery began to shift. A cluster of greenery appeared in the distance, the shimmer of water reflecting the moonlight. The oasis was small but unmistakable, a stark contrast against the endless sands.

They had arrived.

The boat settled gently near the oasis, hovering just above the sand before coming to a stop. Ren Xun barely had time to get his bearings when Da Wei clapped his hands together.

“Alright,” Da Wei said. “Let’s set up camp.”

Ren Xun watched as Da Wei pulled out a large tent from his storage ring, one big enough to fit all of them with room to spare. It was the kind of thing that only someone absurdly prepared would have on hand.

“I’ll handle it,” Lu Gao said, stepping forward.

Ren Xun wasn’t about to let him take all the work, so he moved to help. The two of them began setting up the frame, while Gu Jie—silent as ever—joined in, adjusting the supports and securing the edges.

Meanwhile, Da Wei stood off to the side, completely uninvolved, holding his goldfish. He wasn’t giving any orders or making any suggestions. He just… watched.

It was a little strange.

Ren Xun got a bit used to being told what to do.

Still, the tent came together quickly. They secured the final pieces, and soon enough, it stood tall against the desert wind.

Da Wei nodded in approval. “Not bad.”

Ren Xun dusted off his hands. He wasn’t sure why, but he had half-expected Da Wei to at least pretend to help.

“Alright,” Da Wei continued, “you all should get some rest. I’ll keep watch.”

Ren Xun had no objections. He wasn’t particularly eager to stand guard when there was someone like Da Wei around—someone who didn’t seem to need sleep in the first place.

With that, he stepped inside the tent, letting exhaustion take over.