On the way, Gwendolyn quietly shot Jared a look that told him not to worry.

Jared gave a slight nod, but none of the pressure in him eased.

He knew this was only the beginning.

The process of repairing the spirit vein was never going to go smoothly from start to finish.

And the Sylvan Kin's prejudice against the human race was not something that would disappear overnight.

If they wanted real cooperation, there was still a long road ahead.

As they walked, Elder Cillian said to Jared and Gwendolyn, "The residential quarter of Evershade is up ahead, by the spirit-brook bank."

"The spiritual essence there is thick, so it's a good place to rest. But there is one thing the two of you must keep firmly in mind."

"There are many ancient spirit flora and spirit beasts within Evershade."

"They are all companions of the Sylvan Kin. Please don't touch them carelessly."

"That way, we can avoid any unnecessary conflict. Also, even though the Clan Chief agreed to cooperate, there are still many clansmen in the clan who hold hostility toward the human race."

"So please, try not to go out alone."

Elder Cillian gave the two of them those reminders with careful consideration.

"Thank you for the warning, Elder Cillian. We'll keep it in mind," Jared said with a respectful nod.

He could understand the hostility from the Sylvan clansfolk.

What had happened back then had cut too deep. Something like that wasn't going to be settled easily.

The only thing he could do was prove his sincerity with what he did.

Prove that not every member of the human race was greedy and deceitful.

Before long, the three of them reached the spirit-brook bank.

The scenery here was even lovelier than it had been in the depths of the vale.

The clear spirit brook moved along at an easy, gentle pace.

Tender green grass covered the banks, and strange flowers in every color grew thick beside the water.

Fresh spiritual essence filled the air and left the whole place clean and invigorating.

A row of small cottages sat along the bank, each one built from wood and woven vines.

They were small and finely made, blending perfectly into the world around them. They were plainly the dwellings of the Sylvan Kin.

Elder Cillian led them to a cottage at the far end of the spirit brook and said, "Fellow adepts, this will be where you stay."

"Everything inside has already been prepared. You can rest here for now."

"At dawn tomorrow, I'll come for you and take you to the core spirit vein, where the restoration ritual will begin."

"If you need anything, just circulate your spiritual power and send out a signal. I'll come at once."

"Thank you for going to so much trouble, Elder Cillian." Jared cupped his fists and spoke with clear gratitude.

Elder Cillian gave a small nod, added a few more reminders, then turned and left.

Only after she watched Elder Cillian's figure recede did Gwendolyn let out the breath she had been holding.

She turned to Jared. "I didn't think Chief Greenwood would really agree to work with us."

"It took so much just to get here."

"But do you really have confidence you can repair the spirit vein?"

"Even the Sylvan Kin themselves haven't been able to solve the problem of the spirit vein running dry."

"Can the chaotic force really do it?" The uncertainty stayed plain in Gwendolyn's voice.

Jared smiled. "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. The chaotic force is the primal power from when the world first opened. It holds all things and nourishes all things."

"At its root, the decay of the spirit vein is spiritual essence drying up and turning foul."

"The chaotic force happens to be able to cleanse that filth, nourish the spirit vein, and restore its damaged foundation."

"The only issue is that repairing the core spirit vein will consume a huge amount of chaotic force."

"And during the process, we may run into dangers we can't predict. We have to be extremely careful."

There was no wavering in Jared's gaze.

Gwendolyn looked at Jared, her eyes full of love, and said, "I'll stay with you the whole way."

By now, somewhere along this journey, Gwendolyn had already given her heart to Jared.

They were no longer just partners, and she was no longer simply asking him to help find her clansmen.

The two of them had become something much closer to companions in every way that mattered, bound as much in spirit as in fate.

"Whatever danger comes, we'll face it together. And if there's anything else you need... I can do that too..."

The moment the words left her mouth, color rushed across Gwendolyn's cheeks.

Jared gave a quiet nod, and something inside him eased and spread warm.

Through all this time, no matter how dangerous things became, Gwendolyn had remained at his side from beginning to end.

She had stayed by his side through everything, never stepping away once At some point, Gwendolya had

become the one support Jared

could lean on the hardest.

He knew what lay ahead. Repairing the spirit vein and standing against the Celestial

Alliance meant walking straight into a road full of thorns.

But as long as Gwendolyn was with him, he could still keep moving. He had the

nerve to press forward without turning back.

And what Gwendolyn had said about

anything else he might need had struck deeper than she probably

realized. The words landed right

Where they were meant to.

It had been a while since they'd done any dual cultivation. Lately, something had felt

off without it.

"Gwendolyn, are you sure? Are you willing to give your body to me?" Jared asked. Gwendolyn didn't speak. She only nodded hard.

Jared smiled, gathered Gwendolyn into his arms, and carried her into the cottage.

Inside, the cottage was simple and tasteful. Soft moss covered the floor.

A potted spiritual plant sat in one corner, giving off a clean, faint fragrance.

By the window stood a wooden table and two chairs.

Sunlight filtered through the vine-woven window and spilled into the room, warm and gentle.

What followed was a fierce clash between the two of them. By the end, both were drenched in sweat, and neither had held anything back.

Afterward, Jared walked to the window and looked out at the beautiful view beyond

it. As he stood there, his gaze slowly turned heavy.

He knew tomorrow's restoration ritual wasn't just about whether the Sylvan Kin lived

or died.

It also concerned the future of the Freevale Resistance.

More than that, it concerned the fate of the entire Sixteenth Firmament.

He had to give it everything. There couldn't be the slightest mistake.

At that same time, inside Chief Greenwood's hollow-

Elder Alder and several other elders had gathered around Chief Greenwood, their faces set as they discussed the matter in low, grave voices.

"Clan Chief, do you really trust that Jared?"

One elder spoke up, the concern in his voice impossible to miss.

"The human race has always been slippery. We can't trust him that easily."

"What if fixing the spirit vein is just a cover, and what he really wants is our Sylvan Kin's core spiritual crystal?"

"If his real aim is to seize control of Evershade, then the Sylvan Kin will truly be beyond saving."

Greenwood shook his head.

"I don't trust the human race either, but we don't have a choice."

"The crisis with the spirit vein is right on top of us, and the Celestial Alliance is watching us like predators."

"Jared's chaotic force is our only hope. And he swore on that chaotic force itself. He wasn't lying."

"If he dares break his word, the chaotic force will turn on him on its own. All we need

to do is watch him in secret and stay on guard."

"The instant we spot anything wrong, we strike and kill him. We cannot give him any chance to harm the Sylvan Kin."

Even now, Greenwood had not fully placed his trust in Jared.

"The Clan Chief is right."

Alder gave a nod.

"We've already arranged people to keep watch on Jared's every move in secret."

"If there's even the slightest irregularity, we'll know at once."

"Also, we'll keep strict guard over the

spiritual crystals and the spirit spring needed to repair the spint

vein We won't let him find an opening."

"Good." Greenwood looked out the window at Evershade, the land that had raised

the Sylvan Kin for a hundred thousand years.

Too much sat in his eyes to sort cleanly.

He only hoped Jared truly could repair the spirit vein.

That he truly could work with the Sylvan Kin in good faith and help them survive this

crisis together.

If Jared broke his word, then even if it cost him everything, he would make Jared

pay a brutal price.

He would protect the Sylvan Kin's homeland.

The night deepened, and Evershade slowly sank into stillness.

Only the soft running water of the spirit brook and the faint humming of spirit flora

drifted through the night.

Jared and Gwendolyn each settled their breathing and gathered their strength.

They prepared themselves for the restoration rite at dawn.

And the contest that would decide the fate of the Sylvan Kin and the human race

had only just begun.

Ahead of them, danger and trial waited in silence.