The ceremony gradually drew to a close, but the storm Su Xue Qing had stirred had only just begun.
As the students began to leave the awakening field, the crowd buzzed louder than ever.
"Did you see her hair change color when she awakened?"
"That was insane. I've never seen anything like it..."
"And she's still so calm—like she expected it all along."
Among the crowd of excited boys, admiration flowed freely.
"Cold beauty, top student, and now a Hidden Hero Class... that's straight out of a novel."
"She's the kind of girl you write legends about."
Nearby, a cluster of fan girls whispered with sparkling eyes.
"I knew Su Xue Qing was special. I always said she had that main character aura!"
"That silver hair... she was like a goddess descending at that time."
But not everyone was so starry-eyed.
In the shadowed corners of the field, a different kind of whisper passed from lip to lip.
"She didn't even smile. So cold."
"Acting all noble just because of some awakening."
"Watch. Just wait till she falls—everyone will pretend they never cared."
Their voices were low, laced with envy. Their eyes followed Su Xue Qing's back with a mix of jealousy and hostility.
Amid the waves of gossip, footsteps approached.
"Su Xue Qing."
Her homeroom teacher, Li Ruoqing, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and a calm tone, stepped forward.
"You've made all of us proud today. I still remember when you first walked into my class, quiet but sharp-eyed. Now look at you."
She reached out and gently touched Su Xue Qing's shoulder, pride gleaming in her eyes.
"You're the kind of student teachers dream of guiding."
Behind her, the principal came walking with his hands behind his back, his expression calm and composed as always.
"This school will remember your name, Su Xue Qing," he said with a warm, weighty voice.
"You've given Baihua High something to stand on. Your success will inspire many."
Su Xue Qing offered a small nod in return.
"Thank you, Principal Zhou. Teacher Li."
Just then, another man approached.
Dressed in the deep-blue uniform of the Qingzhou Awakening Bureau, his presence was composed but respectful.
A badge gleamed on his chest.
"Su Xue Qing. Congratulations."
He stopped before her and gave a small, polite bow.
"I am Wei Nan, senior officer of Qingzhou's Awakening Affairs Department, currently stationed in Baihua City."
Wei Nan's gaze was firm, but not intrusive.
Professional, but clearly impressed.
"Your awakening has already been recorded as a Hidden-Class Hero Grade awakening. However, as you may know, Hidden Professions cannot be fully identified from the outside."
He paused, waiting.
"May I ask… have you seen the name of your profession?"
Su Xue Qing nodded.
"Yes."
Wei Nan hesitated for a second.
"If you are willing, sharing the name helps us register and prepare for external evaluations. Of course, it's not mandatory... but it's standard procedure for proper documentation."
The teacher and principal both looked at her, waiting quietly.
Su Xue Qing spoke evenly.
"Frostveil Monarch."
Silence.
Even the breeze seemed to hesitate.
Wei Nan blinked once.
The teacher tilted her head slightly.
The principal's brows lifted.
"That... is a kind of name I've never heard before," Wei Nan murmured.
"Elegant. Cold. Noble. Very rare, even among Hidden Classes."
The teacher frowned thoughtfully.
"It sounds more like a title than a profession..."
The principal nodded slowly.
"There's weight in that name. I suggest we tread carefully going forward."
Wei Nan exhaled and gave a respectful nod.
"I will submit your record to the Qingzhou Central Awakening Registry. It is standard for any Hidden Awakening, especially of Hero Grade."
"You may receive future attention from academies, guilds, or other official departments."
"Such an awakening is always coveted, after all. You can even attend the top universities of our country."
He paused, then added quietly:
"If anyone troubles you, remember that you're under Bureau protection now."
Su Xue Qing didn't reply—she only offered him a soft, expressionless nod.
Wei Nan stepped back and glanced at the principal and teacher.
"I'll take my leave and begin filing the report."
With that, he turned and walked off toward the Bureau's transport array.
The sun was low in the sky now.
Most of the students had already gone, and the field lay scattered with faint footprints and half-melted frost.
The gossip still lingered in the air, hanging like a fading echo.
Su Xue Qing turned slowly and began walking.
Behind her, Huo Lian and Chen Shuyun followed quietly, chatting softly between themselves.
The ice that had shaken Baihua High still glimmered faintly in the ground.
As the sun dipped below the rooftops of Baihua City, the echoes of the ceremony began to stretch far beyond school grounds.
It started with whispers among teachers.
Then it reached merchants near the academy.
Then it spilled onto the streets like wildfire.
"A Hidden Class awakened at No.1 Baihua High!"
"A girl named Su Xue Qing — Hero Rank, no less!"
"She froze the entire field during her awakening! Silver hair and ice crown!"
The story spread faster than it had any right to.
In tea houses, taverns, and noodle stalls, strangers leaned in to share the tale.
"First Hidden Class in decades, they say!"
"Hero Grade? Are you serious? That's provincial level!"
"She must be some noble's hidden daughter, right?"
"You don't know? She is the genius of the Su family. I heard she is the most excellent one of the three daughters."
Within an hour, every major neighborhood in Baihua was buzzing.
Banners were raised in the marketplace —
red paper and golden ink proclaiming:
"Congratulations to No.1 Baihua High for the Birth of a Hidden Awakener!"
Firecrackers cracked in one street.
Lanterns were lit in another.
Children chased each other shouting:
"Ice Queen! Ice Queen!"
Even those who didn't know Su Xue Qing personally celebrated the news.
Because to the people of Baihua City, her awakening wasn't just personal —
it was symbolic.
A spark of hope.
A reminder that even small cities could give birth to greatness.
Some old men sipped wine with moist eyes.
"It's been thirty years since the last one... I never thought I'd see it again."
The entire city was in a heated state, celebrating the brith of new prodigy.
But the real storm… had yet to begin.
[End of Chapter 3]