TWO DAYS Ayden had been there at the Jade Palace. He had walked around the day after his arrival, and the students had watched in amazement as the man wandered around barefoot and shirtless, his white robe flapping with each step. The young people — girls and boys alike — had gone through every possible colour before A-Hui approached him to explain that, decency required, he could not go out with only a dress on his shoulders. Especially when the dress was not even appropriately attached.

      What a fuss over a man’s chest! Fortunately, he was not a woman. Some young people would have fainted. And maybe even the older ones.

      After negotiations, A-Feng and A-Hui had gone to buy him some dresses, and Ayden could finally go out this morning without the risk to make everyone uncomfortable. And since he stubbornly refused to wear an undergarment for fear of dying of heat, the two young people had agreed to get him black dresses, thus avoiding the fabric being too transparent. 

      No-Name hanging on his back, Ayden crossed the courtyard to the left side of the mountain. Most of the young people were in the large pavilion having their lessons. Still, Ayden had noticed another group leaving, and curious, he discovered yesterday that this was one of the training areas.

      Without stairs to reach this part of the Jade Palace, one could only rely on his agility and the spiritual and physical control of his Qi. Arriving at the foot of the cliff, Ayden looked up. This part must have been ten or twelve metres long, at a glance. A few youngsters were leaping here and there, taking support on a rocky outcrop to jump further. 

      “By the Mother... It really looks like these kids are flying,” sighed the redhead with a smile.

      But his gaze caught another figure further on, and turning his head, he recognised Lu Yuntu. The cultivator was in a quieter corner abandoned by the disciples: the cliff was too high for them there. And when Ayden saw him taking the leap, his eyes widened. 

      In a fantastic jump, the man put his foot on the first rocky protrusion before bouncing back immediately, and within three leaps, Lu Yuntu had reached the top. It was not only the power of his jumps that amazed Ayden: it was above all the lightness of his movements. Never had the rock shaken or crumbled under his steps as if the cultivator were no heavier than a feather. 

      Ayden laughed nervously, hiding his face behind a hand while shaking his head in disbelief. “No... This one flies.”

      How could he still be surprised by this kind of thing? Really. It was getting ridiculous. Rubbing his face vigorously to get out of his stupor, Ayden looked up at the cliff with a new flame. Of course, he couldn’t leap like they did, not because of his build, but because he had never cultivated that spiritual energy or those techniques. But that didn’t mean he could not climb up there, and after rubbing his hands together, he finally tackled the cliff. And he was glad he wasn’t wearing his armour. 

      The exercise was challenging even more with the lack of habit, yet he persisted in climbing, choosing his hold carefully not to slip. Without being aware of it, his ascent had finally attracted attention and after a while...

      “You’re almost there, young Master Ayden! Go on!”

      Several other voices joined the first, and the cheers burst into his ears. Surprised, Ayden looked up to see A-Feng looking down at him, leaning over the edge of the cliff. He had come more than halfway without even realising it, concentrated as he was on the task.

      "Don’t stay here like that, kid, or you’ll fall!"

      Lu Xiaofeng’s face reddened with anger. “Who are you calling a kid?!”

      Ayden smiled and grabbed another hollow to pull himself up. The wind blew harder, his hair snapping against his back in all directions as his dress flapped against his legs. But it was the screams that petrified him. Looking up, he saw A-Feng trying to catch one of his comrades, his fingers closing in on the void as the youngster toppled over. Everything happened in a flash. 

      Grabbing his two-handed sword with one hand, Ayden pushed off his feet and his free hand to throw himself aside as he drew his weapon. His free hand closed on the boy’s outstretched arm, his grip fierce. The armed one drove the cursed blade into the rock, the mineral shards leaping against him. 

      They slid, their combined weight and the violence of the impact pulling them into the void before everything finally stabilised. The kid was pale, tears welling up in his eyes, but he held on despite the pain of the impact, which must have damaged his muscles and dislocated his shoulder. Ayden let out a dull growl, something between a warning and effort.

       The redhead hissed through his teeth. “Stay still, you hear?”

      The youngster nodded vigorously, and Ayden growled again as he took in the tremors. In their position, the slightest vibration was noticeable and weighed on his wobbly grip. He couldn’t let go either, confident that the boy would break his neck or legs if he fell from this height. 

      But all search for solutions ceased as soon as the redhead’s gaze met the white robe of the clan. Lu Yuntu was coming, mounted on his sword. He was flying. He was really flying. Ayden’s heart missed a beat. The cultivator positioned himself right under the boy, and when he held out his arms, Ayden finally deigned to unclench his fist and let him take the boy. His gaze met Lu Yuntu’s before the latter descended with the young disciple. 

      Free of a weight, Ayden turned to secure his grip on the rock before unhooking his weapon and stowing it behind his back. He climbed with renewed vigour, his heart racing, and when he finally reached the top, all the young men were waiting for him with wide eyes. Ayden stood up, short of breath, a fine sweat covering his skin. The young people burst out in joy.