A few hours passed since then. The frontier slowly returned to its usual rhythm. The training grounds echoed with steady breathing while veterans barked occasional corrections, blacksmiths hammered away at weapons, and patrols rotated along the wooden walls.
Leon continued maintaining Sage Guidance as naturally as breathing itself. The Qi inside his meridians flowed in calm, orderly streams, and by now they were slightly more than half full. His thoughts, however, drifted elsewhere—the fluctuation. If his theory was correct, another group from Earth had just arrived, and he wanted to confirm it.
The problem wasn't reaching the location; it was doing so without making everyone suspicious. Going alone was impossible. If Lyra discovered him wandering toward freshly detected disturbances inside Demonic Beast territory, she would stop him immediately. And if he somehow slipped away, there were other variables to calculate. Grade Zero beasts like the crab and the eye were no longer threats to him now that his self-expression had reached the late stage, and with the addition of Sage Guidance, his control had reached the next level.
The true issue was that he could meet packs of grade 0 beasts which he couldn't handle yet. Or he could meet higher grade beasts. He vividly remembered the massive Grade Two beast that had swatted him aside like an annoying insect; his ribs hurt just from the memory. Even worse, he could meet a pack of higher grades. He was better of taking a suicide pill if that happened. One unlucky encounter, and his story ended there. He needed protection, and he also needed an excuse.
Leon looked around the training field. Ethan was still walking slow circles while maintaining Sage Breathing, occasionally muttering a sentence before losing the rhythm and sighing. Miller sat cross-legged nearby, still trying to hear his own Spirit Blood and seemingly on the verge of grasping it. Davis was cultivating quietly by himself, Maya slept against a tree, and Adrian was meditating a short distance away.
Perfect. Leon walked over and casually sat beside him. Without saying anything, he rested a hand against Adrian's back as though checking his posture. His fingers lightly traced one short word onto the fabric.
*Agree.*
Adrian stiffened ever so slightly. Before he could react, Leon removed his hand and spoke normally.
"I've been thinking."
Adrian opened his eyes. Leon continued as though nothing unusual had happened.
"We're progressing slower than we'd like because of our Ancient Spirit Blood. If we can evolve it into Desolate Spirit Blood, everyone's cultivation speed should improve. Even the people struggling with Sage Breathing should eventually be able to maintain Sage Guidance almost constantly."
"A bit optimistic," Lyra replied, glancing over along with several nearby recruits.
"Well, barely," Leon nodded. "Still, I think we should start hunting again. Nothing would cement Sage Breathing and Sage Guidance better than using them in real battle. That's the fastest way to progress, just like the general said."
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Adrian was completely lost. He had no idea what Leon was planning, but he remembered the physical message left on his back.
"...Sounds reasonable," Adrian spoke up, masking his confusion. "I agree."
Leon smiled faintly. "Great." He glanced toward Maya. "I'll only bring Maya and you with me. A small group is enough to test whether regular hunting is practical."
Several recruits nodded, as that sounded sensible—less risk and less strain on the village logistics. Leon finally turned toward Lyra.
"Want to come?"
✦ ✦ ✦
Lyra blinked. Then she blinked again. Her eyes moved from Leon, to Adrian, and then back again.
An expedition. Outside the village. Several days. With Adrian. Her expression remained perfectly professional, but internally, her thoughts raced into a frantic panic.
*Maya will hog Leon and I will have Adrian to myself! A double date.*
No. Absolutely not. This was a military reconnaissance mission—a very serious military reconnaissance mission. She folded her arms, pretending to weigh the tactical options.
"...Actually..." She looked toward the southern forests. "There is still the matter of the fluctuation. I was hoping nothing would happen like the last time but if this is a recurring problem we need to investigate."
The atmosphere among the listening recruits instantly grew serious.
"The General left before we could investigate," Lyra continued. "As acting commander, confirming its source falls under my responsibility. You wanted to hunt, and I need to perform reconnaissance; our objectives happen to overlap." She paused just long enough to make it sound official. "We'll scout the fluctuation first. After that, you can hunt along the return route. The three of you can act as the night watch, allowing us to save on veteran units and leaving them to guard the border. That keeps everyone under protection while allowing me to finish the mission without weakening the border."
Several veterans nearby exchanged approving nods. It was sound reasoning and an efficient use of manpower, so no one questioned it. Only Lyra knew the entire explanation wasn't quite complete. If she happened to spend several uninterrupted days talking with Adrian..., well, that was merely an unavoidable consequence of fulfilling her military duties.
Leon almost smiled. 'She swallowed the bait. Operation fake double date has been a resounding success!'
He needed someone strong enough to keep Grade Two beasts away while he investigated the fluctuation, and Lyra needed a legitimate reason to leave the village. Both had achieved exactly what they wanted without either revealing their real objective.
"Works for me," Leon said.
✦ ✦ ✦
A soft voice interrupted them. "...I'm coming too?"
Maya had quietly walked over, her hair slightly messy from sleeping against the tree. Leon nodded. "Of course."
Relief immediately appeared on her face, and she tried to sound casual. "Good. I've been making much better progress near you. Maintaining Sage Breathing is easier, and if we're traveling..." She hesitated for a moment. "...I'll have more time to practice."
Leon simply accepted the explanation. "Then come."
Maya smiled to herself. Traveling meant several nights away from the village—several nights where she could cultivate near Leon's passive aura without having to make up excuses. And even sleep peacefully! It wasn't a bad arrangement, not bad at all. With this, the small party all achieved their public goals outwardly and their hidden agendas secretly.
Only Adrian remained confused. But Leon had never acted randomly before; if he had written *Agree,* there was a reason. He would find out eventually—probably, maybe.
The four of them quickly gathered supplies, packing dried meat, water, a few medical herbs, and extra cloaks for the freezing nights. Lyra informed the veterans she would personally lead a temporary reconnaissance mission, shifting the border defenses slightly to compensate for her absence. Within the hour, everything was ready.
Leon adjusted the straps on his pack and glanced once toward the southern wilderness. Somewhere beyond those forests, another fluctuation had appeared. If his deduction was correct, more survivors from Earth had arrived.