Zhao Hai and Zhao Gao trudged through the night toward the Zhao Clan, the silence between them heavier than iron chains. The cool wind whipped across their faces, yet Zhao Hai's back was drenched in sweat. His mind raced with the memory of Feng Tian's voice, echoing like judgment from the heavens. Geez… how could I have forgotten? Long Yi is a member of the Beast God Pavilion… To challenge her was no different than inviting my own execution.
Every step made Zhao Hai's shame burn deeper. His once-proud dignity as Third Elder felt hollow now, replaced by the shadow of humiliation. Zhao Gao dared not speak; his master's expression alone told him that tonight's events would haunt the clan for months, perhaps years.
At the clan gates, the night watch spotted them. Disciples and guards immediately dropped into bows, voices rising in unison. "Greetings, Third Elder."
Zhao Hai gave a curt nod, face stiff, and entered the inner grounds. His footsteps echoed through the mansion halls like falling stones, until finally he pushed open the doors to his chamber. There—he froze.
A woman stood before his throne. Her figure was tall and graceful, her presence sharp as a blade yet calm as still water. Though she appeared no older than her late thirties, the aura that clung to her body crushed the air around her. Zhao Hai's pupils shrank instantly. He recognized her.
Zhao Gao, however, did not. His ignorance quickly betrayed him. "Who are you, lady? How dare you stand before the Third Elder's throne—"
Slap! Zhao Hai's hand cracked across Zhao Gao's cheek. The sound echoed like a whip.
"SHUT UP, YOU FOOL!" Zhao Hai roared, his voice trembling with both fear and reverence.
Then, the mighty Third Elder dropped to his knees, his forehead nearly touching the ground. "Greetings, Second Elder, Senior Zhao Xing."
Zhao Gao's heart nearly stopped. His knees buckled as his eyes widened in horror. "T-the Second Elder… Rank 84 Holy Monarch… Zhao Xing!?" He had heard countless stories of her, the iron pillar of the Zhao Clan, the one whose fury could flatten armies. Now, to see her in the flesh made his lungs tighten.
Zhao Xing turned, her calm gaze scorching like the midday sun. "It has been six months since I last saw you, Hai."
Zhao Hai pressed his head lower, his voice strained. "Yes, Second Elder."
Her steps were unhurried as she moved closer, yet every inch she closed tightened the suffocating atmosphere. "Your son, Zhao Xiong, I have observed him. His heart begins to shift onto the right path. But you… your heart, I can no longer change." Her tone was ice laced with fire. "You are fortunate the Clan Leader is absent, and the First Elder remains in deep seclusion. Otherwise, you—"
The unspoken words carved daggers into Zhao Hai's chest. His heartbeat thundered, his palms pressed hard to the floor. "Please forgive me, Second Elder! I swear, I will never dare act recklessly again!"
But Zhao Xing's silence was more suffocating than any shout. Suddenly, a burning gale surged outward from her body, shaking the hall. The air twisted, and cracks spider-webbed faintly across space itself before vanishing. Zhao Gao collapsed to his knees, coughing violently, the sheer heat and pressure forcing the air from his lungs. Wh-what… what kind of terrifying aura is this… he thought, terror overwhelming him.
Zhao Xing's gaze lingered on Zhao Hai one last time, unreadable. Then, without another word, her figure blurred, and she vanished into the night, leaving only the scent of burning wind behind.
Far across the city, warmth filled the Lan family home. Lan Xin carefully laid the last dish on the dining table, the steam curling upward like a gentle invitation. Long Yi sat beside Zhen, Naer, and Lan Hua, her usual sharp presence softened in the glow of the household. Zhen and Naer were already eating eagerly, laughter and clattering chopsticks filling the air.
Long Yi took her first bite, her eyes widening faintly. A soft, almost girlish smile tugged at her lips. "The food is truly good."
Zhen's chest puffed with pride, his mouth full as he spoke. "See, teacher? I told you! Mom's cooking is the best in the world."
Their laughter mingled, the tension of the night slowly dissolving. Yet as Long Yi's eyes drifted across the table, her sharp senses pricked. Strange… Lan Hua emits a subtle dark aura, and Lan Xin… a light one. I noticed this when I first met them, but now it is clearer. These energies feel so… familiar. The thought gnawed at her, though she kept her expression calm.
Dinner passed with warmth and quiet joy, but soon Long Yi placed her chopsticks down, her gaze turning toward Zhen. "Zhen, since it is night and I am here, you know what comes next, don't you?"
Zhen immediately straightened, determination flickering in his eyes like fire. "Teacher, how many rounds tonight?"
Lan Hua and Lan Xin exchanged bewildered looks. "Rounds? What are you talking about?" Lan Hua asked.
"Is there a large ground nearby?" Long Yi asked instead.
"Yes," Lan Hua replied after a moment. "Just a few minutes' walk from here. A wide field."
"Good," Long Yi said with a faint nod. "Then let us go there."
The night stretched vast and open as they reached the field. The stars scattered like gems overhead, the moonlight washing the earth in pale silver. Long Yi stood before Zhen and Naer, her eyes sharp yet expectant. "Five rounds."
Both children nodded without hesitation. They set off running, their small figures circling the field with earnest determination. Lan Hua and Lan Xin stood nearby, watching, though unease tugged at their hearts.
"Mrs. Long Yi," Lan Xin asked softly, worry evident, "is it really all right for them to train so harshly at night?"
Long Yi chuckled, her expression gentle. "Please, just call me Long Yi. And yes—it is more than fine. For beast bond masters, this is the foundation. Before techniques, before battles, the body must be honed to its very limit."
The children's footsteps echoed faintly against the quiet night. By the third lap, their breathing grew heavier, sweat glistening under the moon. On the fourth, Naer stumbled, her balance faltering. But Zhen's hand shot out, steadying her, his grip firm. He pulled her along, refusing to slow.
Long Yi's smile deepened. "Zhen has reached the peak of Spirit-Forged Master."
Lan Hua blinked in surprise. "But Zhen told me he is Rank 18. How can that be?"
Long Yi's eyes gleamed knowingly. "Under Zhao Hai's crushing pressure, Zhen's bond power surged. He has advanced to Rank 19. And Naer as well—she has risen from Rank 17 to 18."
Her gaze sharpened, her words carrying the weight of prophecy. "When Zhen reaches Rank 20, he will step into the realm of Soul Lord. That will be the true beginning of his journey."
Zhen and Naer pressed on, their figures moving against the night like sparks refusing to die. Lan Hua and Lan Xin watched with mixed awe and happy, the truth of their children's growth sinking in. For the first time, they glimpsed the path stretching far ahead—a path filled with tribulations, battles, and unimaginable heights.