The thirteenth day of the sixth new moon month painted the eastern plains in golden light, yet the Taixu Academy branch was far from serene. The usual disciplined halls had turned into a boiling pit of chaos. Disciples crowded around the central pavilion, voices rising in frenzied chants.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Rules meant nothing under the heat of youth. The elders' strict orders dissolved like mist before the morning sun, as all eyes locked on the duel unfolding.
It wasn't just another spar. This time, it was the bully of the Feng family facing the shame of the Yun family—an ugly, captivating spectacle too good to ignore.
Feng Xiao stood tall in the arena, arrogance dripping from his every gesture. His lips curved into a cruel smile as he gazed at the girl before him.
"Oh, oh, ho…" He shook his head slowly, voice filled with venomous amusement. "Pathetic. Your brother warned me you had a temper, but this? This is all? And from such a beautiful little toy, too. What a waste."
Yun Yuxuan knelt before him, her breaths short and ragged. Blood seeped from a gash along her hand, dripping onto the stone tiles, each drop mocking her weakness. Her long black silk hair fell across her face, mercifully hiding the tears threatening to spill from her brown eyes.
She didn't expect her brother who hatew her to the bones to have actually come into contact with this brat ,if the sayings were right ,then two idiots fly together . Indeed, mindless beasts
To the crowd, she was nothing. A lowlife adopted by the Yun family, dragged from a forest and branded a failure. She could not cultivate properly, could not defend herself. To many, she was destined for nothing more than an arranged marriage where she would spend her days as someone's obedient housewife—washing clothes, bowing her head, and silencing her pride.
The thought alone made her chest tighten.
She clenched her fists, forcing her trembling body upright. "You…" she hissed through clenched teeth, her voice shaking with fury. "I will kill you."
Feng Xiao smirked, tracing his hand lazily through the air as if mocking her pitiful defiance. "Kill me? Hah. Then come. Show me."
The boys In the crowd burst into laughter, delighting in her humiliation. Some girls turned away, pity in their eyes, but pity was all they could give. None dared to step forward, none dared to stand against the arrogant brat even elders of the heavenly falls academy were too stupid to intervene
Yun Yuxuan stumbled toward a fallen sword lying nearby. She gripped the hilt, its weight crushing against her fragile body, but she forced herself to bear it. Her eyes locked onto Feng Xiao's, determination igniting one last ember of pride.
With a ragged scream, she charged.
"Aaaaahhh!"
Her steps were clumsy, her body heavy, yet her will refused to crumble. But fate seemed to mock her. The torn hem of her robes caught beneath her foot, and before her strike could fall, she tripped. She slammed onto the stone floor, face-first, the sword skidding away and clattering far out of reach.
Laughter erupted from the onlookers, cruel and unrestrained.
Feng Xiao's grin widened. He stepped forward and ground his heel against her hand. Bones cracked, and blood spilled beneath the pressure.
"I've touched the bodies of many women," Feng Xiao sneered, pressing harder. "What makes you think yours is special? You're nothing. Pathetic."
Yuxuan's body convulsed as tears streamed freely, no longer hidden by pride. Pain swallowed her whole, but the laughter around her cut even deeper than the breaking bones.
"Enough!" A girl's desperate cry rang from the crowd, muffled as boys shoved her back.
Then another voice thundered from above—deep, commanding, undeniable.
"ENOUGH!"
The ground shook as a figure descended from the sky, landing with a crash that shattered the pavilion tiles. Mist condensed into sharp, glowing wings spread from his back, each edge glinting like a blade. Spirit wings—an ability only those who had reached the Soul King realm could manifest.
The disciples froze In silence.
Feng Xiao staggered back a few steps, his arrogance faltering. He quickly straightened, feigning innocence as if nothing had happened .
The old man's eyes blazed with fury. "Feng Xiao! Enough of this foolishness. And the rest of you—scatter!"
The disciples snapped into bows. "Greetings, Ninth Elder Mu Chen!"
None lingered. Within moments, the crowd dissolved, leaving only the battered girl, the sneering bully, and the elder whose very presence pressed against the air.
Mu Chen's wings faded, but the pressure of his authority remained, settling heavily over the pavilion. His gaze locked on Feng Xiao with fire threatening to burn through restraint, but after a long moment, he exhaled and looked away. Even as Ninth Elder, he knew his limits. The Feng family's shadow stretched far, and to punish their favored heir would be to invite disaster.
"Leave," he commanded coldly.
Feng Xiao snorted, flashing one last mocking glance at Yun Yuxuan. His eyes spoke a promise—that she had survived today, but only today. Then he turned and walked away.
Yun Yuxuan forced herself to rise. Her body trembled, her bloodied hand shook, but still she bowed. "Greetings, Ninth Elder."
Her voice was steady, though her heart bled. Humiliated in front of all, ignored by the one who could have stopped it, yet she still humbled herself. She did not blame him, even if her soul screamed at the injustice.
Mu Chen studied her silently, his brows furrowed. "Aren't you tired of this? Go. Rest."
Yuxuan coughed, blood spilling from her lips. Tired? Of course she was tired—of failure, of scorn, of being treated as less than human. But surrender was not an option.
The Heavenly Falls Academy was her last hope. Without it, she was nothing but a puppet for mockery.
Her gaze hardened as she whispered under her breath, "Feng Xiao… I'll ."
The words surprised even her, To be humiliated was her daily dose with no end in sight .she was pathetically weak even compared to other girls , at least some of them had mastered the blood absorption technique which she had clearly failed to master
Mu Chen let out a slow sigh. She had given up everything to walk the path of cultivation, and though she had failed time and time again, her determination had not crumbled. There was disappointment in his heart—but also respect.
He turned away as Yun Yuxuan staggered from the pavilion, her small figure swallowed by the shadows of the academy walls, but the fire in her eyes burned brighter than ever before.