The Shining Star Above The Heaven
Chapter 508: Time to Continue Their Journey

Chapter 508: Time to Continue Their Journey

At the Thorny Flower Garden, Aldrian sat inside the pavilion, surrounded by the beautiful scenery of the garden. He was enjoying herbal tea served by Sect Master Baek, who had fully recovered and regained her mature beauty. She had even taken part in the purge operation, showcasing her power as the leader of one of the great sects.

Baek Jimin had followed her mother, both to support her and to gain more experience in battle.

After all the chaos and fighting, they finally had a moment of true peace. There were no traitors left—Kwon Mira, her daughter, and everyone who had worked with the devils had already been executed. Some of the elders who had supported Kwon Mira in taking the sect master’s seat, without knowing about the devils, had their cultivation crippled and were banished from the sect as punishment.

Besides enacting justice, the punishment also served to avenge some of Sect Master Baek’s loyalists who lost their lives when Kwon Mira seized the sect master’s seat. One of them was Elder Lee Seoyeon, whom Aldrian had met in Dual Horns Peak City. At the time, she had been one of the envoys sent by the three great sects to meet him after the incident with the city’s mayor.

He could only feel pity for her—but that was the nature of a cultivator’s life. Though cultivators wield great power, they are also fragile and can be killed with little warning.

After sipping their herbal tea, Sect Master Baek that seated across from Aldrian, looked at him.

"So, you’ll return to the Atria Empire?" she asked.

Aldrian nodded.

"Yes. I think I’ve already stayed too long here. I still have things to do, and I need to continue my journey with the rest of my group," he replied.

Sect Master Baek sighed.

"What a pity. I had hoped you could stay longer. After all that has happened, the three great sects wanted to hold a banquet in your honor—but it seems we’ll have to abandon that plan."

Aldrian showed a regretful expression.

"My apologies, Sect Master. Perhaps another time."

"It’s all right. I only regret that you won’t be staying longer."

Not long after, Baek Jimin joined them in the pavilion and sat beside Aldrian. Sect Master Baek looked at her daughter with a smile. She could finally show her emotions more freely now that the problems within the sect had been resolved. Although there was still an ache in her heart because of her husband’s fate, seeing Baek Jimin looking well and happy was enough to soothe her.

"Jimin, do you still want to follow Young Master Aldrian?" she asked.

Baek Jimin looked at her mother with a smile and nodded.

"Of course, Mother. I’ll follow him wherever he goes," she said, wrapping her arm around Aldrian’s left arm.

Sect Master Baek could only smile at her daughter. She had already heard everything from Jimin about her journey with Aldrian. She had been truly shocked when she learned Aldrian’s identity as the mysterious swordsman and all that he had accomplished while she had been in hiding.

Baek Jimin had also shared how she felt about Aldrian, telling her mother that she wanted to be with him. Sect Master Baek had not expected her daughter to already have romantic feelings, let alone willingly accept being the second woman in Aldrian’s heart. That alone astonished her, knowing how proud and hard to approach her daughter usually was.

However, considering who her daughter’s partner was, she could not bring herself to feel disappointed, even if Jimin was "only" the second. Under normal circumstances, she might have had strong opinions about harems—wanting nothing less than the best for her daughter. But to have someone like Aldrian as her man? There was no better choice. He was the best possible partner for Baek Jimin.

"I see. Take care of yourself, and don’t let yourself become a burden to Young Master Aldrian. You must grow even stronger—do not bring shame to the name of the Heavenly Demon or the successor of the Heavenly Demon’s Flower Scripture," Sect Master Baek said.

"Of course I will, Mother. There’s no way I’ll allow myself to become a burden to Aldrian," she replied, tightening her grip around his arm.

Aldrian smiled at her and gently touched her hand, as if to show his support.

"Young Master, please take care of my daughter. If she gets too unruly, feel free to punish her."

"Mother!" Baek Jimin cried out, her face turning red as Aldrian and Sect Master Baek both laughed.

"Of course, Sect Master. I’ll take good care of Baek Jimin—you don’t have to worry," Aldrian replied.

Sect Master Baek nodded, and they continued talking for a few more hours before it was finally time for Aldrian and Baek Jimin to leave.

"Goodbye, Mother. See you next time," Baek Jimin said, hugging her mother affectionately.

"You too, child. Take care of yourself," Sect Master Baek replied, returning the embrace.

After that, Aldrian and Baek Jimin disappeared from the pavilion. Sect Master Baek remained standing, still smiling as she looked at the spot where her daughter had just stood.

"Dear, if only you were here with me... You would see that our daughter has grown into such a beautiful and powerful woman. She even loves someone now," she thought, imagining her husband. Her eyes dimmed with sadness as she remembered him.

"Where are you now? Are you all right?" She wondered one last time, before quietly sitting in loneliness.

When Aldrian returned to Caritas, Sylphia greeted him and Baek Jimin enthusiastically, immediately pulling them aside to hear about their time in the Demon Territory.

News of his appearance there had already spread and once again causing a sensation. Aldrian truly seemed to be a bane to the devils’ presence—wherever he went, devils lost their lives.Everywhere he appeared, they were flushed out of their hiding places, and whatever plans they had for the territories were crushed.

As Aldrian and Baek Jimin recounted their stories from the Demon Territory, Baek Jimin boldly told Sylphia how she felt about Aldrian. It was the first time she had openly admitted that she was in love with him in front of Sylphia.

Sylphia smiled at her, then turned to Aldrian.

"You hear that? You’ve stolen another woman’s heart. You really are a bad boy," she said teasingly, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "What am I supposed to do to stop more women from falling for your charm, hmm?"

"Well, what can I do? With my father’s and mother’s genes, I can’t hide my charm even if I want to. It’s too strong, even for me," he replied jokingly, making both women laugh.

"Anyway, I think it’s time for us to continue our journey. I’ll visit Marchioness Weilmar to say goodbye, and tomorrow we can head to the Buddhist sect’s territory," Aldrian said.

The two women nodded, and not long after, Aldrian left for Weilmar City. Baroness Weilmar had already been elevated to the rank of marquess by the emperor, so she was now known as Marchioness Weilmar.

When he arrived at her mansion, he was greeted warmly. Marchioness Weilmar came out to welcome him personally. In this place, his presence was already seen by many as that of a hero—some even called him a god. His visits were always celebrated, even with exaggeration, but no one ever complained.

After Aldrian and Marchioness Weilmar sat inside the special guest room, Aldrian expressed his intent to continue his journey. With that, his role as the leader of Caritas, which was still under the jurisdiction of the Weilmar march, would come to an end, and she would need to choose someone to replace him.

Hearing this, a sense of loss filled Marchioness Weilmar’s heart. She had always known this day would come. Aldrian was never meant to stay; he was only "passing through" the Atria Empire, having coincidentally visited Caritas, the city under her barony in the past.

Because of Aldrian’s presence, her territory had become more famous and bustling, as many came to visit him or to stay close to him. The people of Caritas loved and adored him, for he had protected the city and its denizens multiple times. He was the one who upheld the law and maintained order during times when the rest of the empire remained in chaos.

Now that Aldrian was ready to leave, Marchioness Weilmar realized she would need to find someone to replace him. She could already imagine how many would feel sorrowful at his departure. She couldn’t help but sigh.

"Alright, I understand," she said. "But don’t you want to keep your position as the mayor of Caritas? Many truly love you, and they already consider you a part of Caritas. You could keep that role and continue your journey, while I send someone to Caritas to act as mayor in your place."

But Aldrian shook his head.

"No, that would be inconvenient in the long run," Aldrian said. "Psychologically, the acting mayor would end up depending on me for decision-making whenever they face something they believe is too big for them to handle. I don’t have the time to always take care of it."

"Also, the people of Caritas need to get used to not having me as their leader. I’m an outsider who happened to arrive in Caritas at the right time and took on the role of city lord. I have my own journey, so I can’t always be there with them."

Marchioness Weilmar sighed again.

"I see, then it can’t be helped," she said.

They spoke for another hour before Aldrian left Weilmar City, she looked at the spot where Aldrian had just stood, then bowed her head.

"Thank you for everything."