The Forbidden Heir in This Cultivation World

The group trudged through the dense forest as twilight fell, the air growing cooler with each passing moment. Despite their fatigue, no one suggested stopping to rest—not after what they had just faced. The encounter with the Shadowfangs lingered in their minds, a stark reminder of the darkness spreading across the land. 

Kaida led the way, his twin swords sheathed but his hand never straying far from their hilts. His sharp eyes scanned the forest ahead, alert for any sign of danger. Behind him, Ryomi walked in silence, occasionally glancing at Tarezuchi, who had fallen into a quiet reverie. 

"You're thinking too much," Ryomi said finally, breaking the silence. 

Tarezuchi glanced at her, startled. "What?" 

"Your face," she replied with a faint smirk. "It's like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders." 

"Maybe because I am," he muttered. 

Ryomi stopped, her smirk fading. "We all are," she said, her tone softer. "You're not alone in this, Tarezuchi. Don't forget that." 

Her words lingered in the air as the group continued their march. Akiyo, walking near the rear with Kota and his sister, broke the silence with a loud groan. 

"Can we talk about how every time we find something ancient and mysterious, it tries to kill us?" he grumbled. 

"It's almost like the world doesn't want us to survive," Kota quipped, his tone dry. 

"It's not the world," Tarezuchi said, his voice steady but firm. "It's the darkness. It's testing us, wearing us down. The Codex showed me what's at stake—this isn't just about the seal. It's about proving we're strong enough to protect it." 

"And are we?" Kaida asked from the front, his tone blunt. "Strong enough, I mean." 

Tarezuchi didn't answer right away. He looked down at the Flameheart pendant, its glow faint but persistent, as though it were urging him forward. "We have to be," he said at last. "Because if we're not, no one else will be." 

---

As night fell, the group set up camp in a small clearing. Akiyo gathered firewood while Ryomi and Kota worked to prepare a makeshift shelter. Kaida patrolled the perimeter, his sharp gaze piercing the shadows, while Tarezuchi sat by the fire, lost in thought. 

The flames crackled softly, casting flickering light over the group. For a while, they sat in silence, the weight of their journey hanging over them like a shroud. 

It was Ryomi who finally broke the tension, her voice light but tinged with mischief. "So, Tarezuchi," she said, leaning forward with a grin. "If the world doesn't end, what's the first thing you're going to do?" 

Tarezuchi blinked, caught off guard by the question. "I... I don't know. I haven't thought about it." 

"Well, think about it now," she said, her grin widening. "You've got to have some kind of dream, right?" 

"I guess..." He hesitated, his gaze drifting to the flames. "I'd like to find out more about my family. About where I come from. And maybe—just maybe—find a way to live without always looking over my shoulder." 

Ryomi nodded, her expression thoughtful. "Not a bad dream. What about you, Akiyo?" 

Akiyo grinned, leaning back against a tree. "Easy. I'm going to open a tavern. Big place, lots of ale, maybe a fighting pit out back. And no glowing runes or ancient trials allowed." 

The group chuckled, the tension easing slightly. Even Kaida allowed a faint smile to cross his face as he sat down by the fire. 

"What about you, Ryomi?" Tarezuchi asked. 

She shrugged, her smile turning wistful. "I don't know. Maybe I'll find a nice, quiet place to settle down. Somewhere with a good view and no monsters trying to eat me." 

---

As the fire burned lower, the conversation faded, and the group began to drift off to sleep. Kaida took the first watch, his sharp eyes scanning the forest as the others rested. 

But Tarezuchi found sleep elusive. The visions from the Codex still haunted him, their vivid details refusing to fade. He could see the fraying edges of the seal, the dark figure watching him, and the cataclysmic destruction that would follow if they failed. 

He reached for the Flameheart pendant, its warmth a small comfort in the darkness. "What are you trying to show me?" he murmured, his voice barely audible. 

The pendant pulsed faintly in response, its glow casting shadows over his face. And then, faintly, he heard it—a whisper, soft and fleeting, like the rustling of leaves in the wind. 

"Tarezuchi..." 

His breath caught, and he glanced around, his heart pounding. But the others were asleep, and the forest was silent. 

"Tarezuchi..." 

The voice came again, stronger this time. It was familiar, yet distant, like an echo from another time. He clutched the pendant tightly, its warmth intensifying as the whisper grew clearer. 

"Seek the Ascendant Seal," the voice said. "The answers lie beyond the veil of shadows." 

Before he could respond, the glow of the pendant dimmed, and the voice faded into silence. Tarezuchi stared at the pendant, his mind racing. 

"The Ascendant Seal," he whispered to himself. 

Whatever it was, he knew one thing for certain—it was the next step in their journey. And it was waiting for him to find it. 

As the first light of dawn crept over the horizon, Tarezuchi stood and looked out into the forest. The trials ahead would be more dangerous than anything they'd faced so far, but he couldn't afford to stop now. 

"Wherever it is," he murmured, "I'll find it. I'll find the Ascendant Seal." 

The forest seemed to whisper back, its shadows shifting as though in response. The journey was far from over, and the echoes of the Codex still lingered in his heart.