Zhao Hai asked his son, Zhao Xiong, in a deep, rumbling voice, "Who did this to you, Xiong?" His presence filled the room, heavy and oppressive. Zhao Xiong lowered his head, fear flashing in his eyes, his lips trembling slightly, but he said nothing. Silence stretched in the chamber until Hong Li, who had accompanied him, took a step forward and broke it. "Respected elder of the Zhao clan, Zhao Xiong got injured in a sparring match. It was not intentional at all."
Zhao Hai remained quiet, but his sharp gaze flickered between Zhao Xiong and Hong Li like twin blades. The stillness in the room was suffocating. After a long pause, he spoke coldly, each word carrying a weight that made the air feel hotter. "Just tell me that kid's name first." A faint aura erupted from him, radiating like fire. The burning pressure made Zhao Xiong's shoulders tense, and even Hong Li felt his heartbeat quicken as sweat gathered on his brow. Still, Zhao Xiong refused to speak. His silence was stubborn, almost fearful. Hong Li finally sighed and said, "His name is Lan Zhen. He is the same age as Zhao Xiong."
"Lan Zhen?" Zhao Hai frowned deeply, his brow furrowing as if digging through his memories. "He doesn't belong to any clan, does he?"
Hong Li hesitated. "No, he does not belong to any clan, but…"
Zhao Hai's voice cut in sharply. "But? What do you want to say, Hong Li? Speak clearly."
Hong Li's expression stiffened, his eyes darting away. "His bond is very special." He stopped abruptly, then shook his head with firm resolve. "I am sorry, elder Hai, I cannot tell you more than this. I am prohibited from saying more." His tone carried finality. Zhao Xiong also remained silent, unwilling to betray even a word.
Zhao Hai narrowed his eyes, his aura dimming but not vanishing. He let out a slow breath and said, "Xiong, in two days your hand will recover. After recovering, you will cultivate in the clan for a year and…"
Zhao Xiong lifted his head slightly, asking cautiously, "And father?"
Zhao Hai's jaw clenched, teeth gritting as he forced out the words. "I will also go with you to the academy and see this Lan Zhen boy myself." His voice carried the promise of both curiosity and quiet menace.
Hearing this, Zhao Xiong bowed his head respectfully. "Yes, father."
Zhao Hai turned to Hong Li, his tone calm again though his eyes remained sharp. "Mr. Hong Li, you may return to the academy."
Hong Li gave a small bow. "Yes, thank you, elder Hai. I will be leaving then." He quickly excused himself, eager to leave the oppressive aura behind.
That night, under the silver glow of the moon, the academy grounds were quiet except for the soft rustling of leaves. Lan Zhen, Gu Naer, Lei Wei, Shi Feng, Bing Xueer, and Yu Xiatao walked together toward the training field, their footsteps crunching lightly on the path. Each of them carried the exhaustion of the day, yet curiosity sparked in their eyes when they spotted Long Yi already waiting. She stood tall in the center of the field, her robe fluttering slightly in the night breeze, her presence steady and commanding.
"Teacher, we are here," Zhen said, his voice respectful yet firm.
Long Yi nodded, her eyes sweeping over the six of them like a hawk surveying its flock. "Good. From today onward, you will run fIVE rounds around the field."
Her words landed like stones. The six of them froze, jaws dropping slightly as if struck by lightning.
"FIVE ROUNDS?!" Xueer cried, throwing his hands into the air in exaggerated despair. "Mrs. Holy Lord, this is very difficult! My legs will abandon me halfway!"
Yu Xiatao shook his head rapidly, his voice bordering on panic. "Even completing three rounds is hard enough, let alone five! We'll collapse before we finish!"
But Long Yi's gaze did not soften. Instead, her eyes gleamed with determination. "These five rounds, you six must complete together. Do you understand? If one of you falters, all will stop. You rise and fall as a team."
The group exchanged uncertain looks. Doubt swirled among them, but Zhen stepped forward, clenching his fists tightly. His eyes burned with quiet determination. "Yes, teacher. We will definitely do it for sure."
Gu Naer tugged at his sleeve softly, her eyes filled with worry. "Zhen?"
He turned to her and then to the rest of his friends, his voice steady and filled with conviction. "Come on, guys. Since coming to the academy, we've faced so many hardships together. Remember the entrance trials? Even then, we stood side by side. We defeated a Tier-2 beast, the Devouring Dragon, something that others twice our strength could not do. We didn't give up then, and we will not give up now."
Naer's eyes softened, and she smiled, slipping her hand into his. "Yes, guys. Let's do it. We're stronger together."
Bing Xueer, who had been pouting dramatically, suddenly grinned, his usual playfulness returning. "Yes, let's do it! After all, we promised to become a team, didn't we? A team that will stand at the top one day."
Lei Wei cracked his knuckles, his fiery aura flickering faintly. "I won't back down from a challenge. If Zhen says we can do it, then we'll do it."
Shi Feng gave a sharp nod, his cold expression firm. "We're not weaklings. If we can't even run five rounds, then we don't deserve to call ourselves future elites of this academy."
Yu Xiatao hesitated but then let out a long sigh, his lips curving into a small smile. "Fine, fine. I'll endure it. But if my legs break, someone has to carry me."
Their voices united, ringing across the quiet field as they turned toward Long Yi. "Teacher, we will complete the four rounds!"
Long Yi, who had been observing them carefully, finally allowed her stern expression to soften into a faint smile. She clasped her hands behind her back. "Alright then. Since you have chosen to accept, let the training begin. Show me that your words carry weight." Her eyes gleamed with approval, though deep within, a trace of expectation flickered. She knew this would test not only their endurance but also the bond they shared as companions.
Under the moonlit sky, the six of them took their first steps together, hearts beating as one, ready to face the challenge that awaited them.