Cultivation is Creation

The morning sun was just starting to burn away the mist as we made our way along the road toward Myriad Paths City. According to Wei Lin, we were only a few hours away from our destination, but something felt... off.

Maybe it was the memory of ash scattering in the wind, or maybe something more immediate, but I couldn't shake the feeling off.

I found myself scanning the treeline more frequently, paying extra attention to any rustling leaves or odd shadows. The road had been suspiciously peaceful – no bandits, no spirit beasts, not even a single crazed hermit demanding we acknowledge his enlightenment.

Lin Mei noticed my unease. "What's on your mind? You keep looking around like you're expecting trouble."

"It's just..." I hesitated, not wanting to sound paranoid. "The journey's gone surprisingly well, hasn't it? Almost too well."

Wei Lin groaned. "And now you've done it. You never say things like that out loud! It's like inviting the heavens to prove you wrong."

"Hey, don't blame me," I protested, raising my hands. "I just answered a question!"

"Next thing you know, we'll be ambushed by spirit beasts," Wei Lin continued dramatically. "Or maybe some rogue cultivators will demand we hand over all our treasures. Or perhaps—"

"A wandering immortal will descend from the heavens and challenge us to a poetry competition?" Lin Mei suggested with a grin.