Chapter 5
Scene 1: Whispers in the Woods
It was supposed to be the day of the final duels—a chance for every participant to prove their strength before the Shuilan Pavilion.
The sun hovered low behind pale clouds, and morning mist curled along the village paths.
Word had spread quickly: the next stage of the trial wouldn't involve sword or spell, but something more elusive.
In the village square, a senior disciple of the Shuilan Clan stood tall and composed as he addressed the gathered participants.
"Due to the high number of participants and the limited time granted by our master," he said, bowing his head slightly, "we regret that not all duels can be witnessed before sunset. However, those whose matches remain will still have the opportunity to advance—through the forest trial."
A few heads turned. Quiet murmurs stirred in the crowd.
"The sacred woods north of Baizhu are known to house rare spirit beasts," the disciple continued. "And as your village elders have confirmed, the forest holds strong spiritual resonance. Your next task will take place there."
He unrolled a small scroll and read aloud:
"Participants must enter the sacred woods. Capture or guide back a spirit beast—fox, hare, serpent, or bird. You must not harm them. Those who succeed show harmony with the natural spirit flow."
A ripple of excitement—and unease—passed through the crowd.
Spirit beasts were rare: elusive, clever, not easily fooled or caught.
Still, no one protested. The forest was familiar ground, but the Shuilan disciples' presence gave the trial a sense of gravity and purpose.
"Ah…" Mu Fan exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck. "I was hoping for at least one duel."
"You're lucky," Lin Ye said easily, bumping his friend lightly with his shoulder. "Now you can save your strength for the forest. "Besides, you're the gentle one. They'll probably come to you."
Mu Fan cracked a quiet smile. "Let's hope they don't come with claws."
Lin Shen said nothing, but gave a short nod, arms crossed in silent agreement.
Lin Ye tilted his head, glancing toward the forest's edge. Mist still hung there like a curtain, silver and soft. His grin faded slightly, replaced by something quieter.
"Harmony with the spirit flow, huh?" he murmured. "Let's see if the forest still remembers us."
With that, Lin Ye leaned toward his cousin Lin Shen, hands tucked lazily behind his head.
"I call dibs on a phoenix," he said with a wink.
"Or something smaller. Like a cloud snake. Or a mosquito with moral values."
Lin Shen ignored him and tightened the ties on his robes, jaw already clenched.
The Shuilan disciple gave a final bow. "Let the forest trial begin."
Soon after, flags were raised to mark the border of the sacred woods. Mist hung like breath on a blade, curling around the mossy trees.
A low chime echoed through the clearing — the signal.
Disciples surged forward in pairs and groups, vanishing into the green.
Lin Ye darted ahead with no real plan, bounding over fallen logs with all the grace of a deer chased by logic.
Behind him, his cousin shouted:
"It's not a race, idiot!"
The Chase,
The forest was unnaturally still. No birdsong, no rustling of beasts—just the soft hiss of wind slipping between ancient pine branches. Light filtered down in narrow shafts, catching on drifting pollen like flecks of spirit dust.
Not the peaceful kind of quiet, but the kind where even the wind seemed to hold its breath. Only the faint rustling of high branches and the soft creak of swaying pines stirred the silence—like old trees whispering secrets.
Lin Ye crouched behind a moss-covered log, flanked by Mu Fan on his left and Lin Shen on his right. They'd stuck together so far, moving as one. Occasionally, bursts of laughter slipped through the trees—not from them, but from other groups running past in serious pursuit of their targets.
Mu Fan leaned close, whispering, "I'll circle toward the east slope. That's where I felt a spiritual pulse earlier."
Lin Shen nodded curtly. "Then I'll take the ridge to the west. If you flush something out, I'll be in position to intercept."
Lin Ye grinned, brushing a leaf from his sleeve. "And I'll stay right here and charm it with my incredible personality."
Mu Fan chuckled softly. "Or scare it off with your voice."
They bumped fists—or in Lin Shen's case, exchanged a silent glance—then parted in three directions.
But just as Lin Ye turned back toward the clearing, something flickered. A soft rustle. The underbrush ahead stirred.
A silver fox, shimmering faintly with spiritual light, stared at him from behind a bush. Its eyes glinted with mischief.
Lin Ye froze.
Then—
"Come here, you slippery cloud rabbit!"
He lunged. The fox vanished. He dove headfirst into a pile of wet leaves.
Lifting his head, twigs in his hair, he spat out a leaf.
"Why are spirit animals always smug?"
Behind him, Mu Fan's laugh echoed faintly through the trees. Somewhere to the west, Lin Shen exhaled like he'd aged ten years.
The fox darted left—Mu Fan followed. Lin Shen moved swiftly to cut off another path. Lin Ye scrambled to his feet, bounding after it again, all three splitting across the woods, still chasing together.
After all, if one of them succeeded… it counted for them all.
In the distance, more voices rang out—some shouting commands, others whispering spells. But in the space between those sounds, the forest exhaled once more, quiet as breath on glass.
Alone now, Lin Ye wandered deeper into the forest, the absence of his cousin and Mu Fan leaving a dull ache of boredom that clung to him like a shadow. He kicked at a pile of dried twigs scattered across the forest floor, watching them scatter with a soft crackle.
"Alone in such a big, quiet forest…" he muttered, his voice tinged with the restless impatience of a child left waiting too long.
He scratched his head and grinned wryly.
"Seriously, what were the Shuilan Clan thinking, sending us on some wild goose chase instead of real duels? Forest trials? Please. Give me swords and shouting any day."
He dropped to a crouch, eyes scanning the underbrush. Waiting. Hoping to feel even the faintest pulse of spirit energy.
Minutes passed. The silence pressed in around him.
Then—something.
A soft rustle, a flicker of silver.
The fox appeared again, its eyes gleaming mischievously in the muted light.
Lin Ye's face brightened with renewed energy as he sprang forward, ready to chase once more.
Lin Ye sprinted after the silver fox, weaving between ancient trunks and leaping over roots that tangled like restless serpents beneath the moss. The deeper he pressed into the forest, the thicker the mist became, swirling softly around his ankles like the breath of unseen spirits.
Suddenly, the fox vanished into a cluster of bamboo, leaving Lin Ye alone in a clearing bathed in dappled light.
There, standing silently among the trees, was a figure.
The Shuilan master.
He moved with quiet certainty, each step deliberate and measured, as if the forest itself bent gently to his will. His robes flowed like a whisper in the wind, tracing arcs through the air with effortless grace. His gaze was fixed straight ahead—unyielding, calm, and yet burning with a deep, inscrutable fire.
Lin Ye froze, caught between awe and disbelief.
He slowly turned his head, eyes scanning the clearing. No disciples followed, and none stood nearby. It was just the master and the forest, alone.
A shiver ran down Lin Ye's spine.
Lin Ye thought with a smirk, "The Third Master really is like some perfect immortal, just like everyone says—but seriously, how can someone move so quietly? It's like he's trying to haunt the forest."
Silently, he dropped into the shadows, his breath shallow as he crouched behind a fallen log.
Why was the master here alone? What secret did these woods hold that demanded such solitude?
Curiosity bloomed within Lin Ye like a sudden flame.
He watched the master's steady walk, spellbound by the fluidity and strength in every movement—so perfect it seemed almost otherworldly.
After a moment, Lin Ye glanced around once more to confirm they were truly alone.
Then, with barely a sound, he slipped forward, determined to follow in the master's footsteps.
The young master stopped suddenly, as if a distant sound had caught his attention. Calmly, he turned his head—slow and deliberate—scanning the shadows.
Lin Ye froze behind a tree, heart pounding so loud he was sure even the birds could hear it. Did he see me? Did he see me? The thought hit like a lightning bolt, and panic bubbled up fast.
His breath caught in his throat, stuck halfway like a hiccup that refused to come out. His eyes snapped wide open, round and frantic—like a firefly trapped in a jar, flitting wildly but unable to find an escape.
He pressed his back flat against the bark, willing himself invisible, every muscle tense as if he could melt into the shadows. At that moment, he felt caught like a cat toppling a vase—frozen, wide-eyed, praying the floor would just swallow him whole—half terrified, half ready to bolt at the slightest sound.
But after a moment, the master's gaze softened, and he resumed walking, graceful and steady as before.
Lin Ye exhaled deeply, relief flooding him.
"Good thing he didn't catch me," Lin Ye muttered, voice low but amused. "Knowing him, he'd probably think I'm some sneaky spirit stalking him in the woods. What a weird thought—I'm just here for the fox, not for the Shuilan master ghost"
He rubbed the back of his neck and chuckled softly. "But… I forgot about the fox. I'm actually after the ghost."
He muttered to himself, eyes darting around like he was trying to convince—well, mostly himself.
"It's just curiosity, alright? Not because I like him or anything," Lin Ye said, puffing out his cheeks in exaggerated frustration, "Nothing to do with that Shuilan young master. I just... I don't like how he walks so calm and graceful. Like he's some kind of flawless statue. It's annoying."
He made a face—half grimace, half smirk—like someone trying to hide envy behind a joke.
"I want … to find something real about him. Something that proves he's not some perfect immortal above the rest of us. Or maybe he's just pretending? Yeah, that's it. Pretending to be all graceful and mysterious."
Lin Ye's eyes narrowed, one brow raised, in a moment of scheming mischief. "But why do I even care so much? Maybe I'm just nosy. Or maybe..." He paused, lips twitching as if debating whether to admit it out loud. "Maybe I'm a little jealous."
He shook his head with a resigned grin. "Yeah, that must be it."
Lin Ye stole one last glance toward where the master had been—but the figure was already gone.
A crooked grin spread across his face, the kind that looked half amused, half annoyed.
"How is he so fast?" Lin Ye wondered aloud, shaking his head. "No way I'm letting him get away that easily."
With that, he pushed off from the tree, eyes sharp, ready to follow.