The morning sun rose slowly over the Fire Sect, its golden-red glow sliding over the eastern mountains like warm liquid flame. The entire sect felt strangely quiet, as if even the winds outside were afraid to disturb what had happened last night. Inside the medical chamber, the air still carried a faint trace of a gentle golden aura—the remnant of Little Life's Light energy that had flowed through Little Fire's hands and saved Shuye.
Shuye lay on a soft jade bed carved with fire patterns. Her eyelashes trembled. A thin mist of steam drifted from her breath as she slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision blurred for a moment, then cleared… revealing a worried face leaning close.
"Shuye! You're awake!" Spirit Fairy burst out, relief softening every part of her expression. She had been sitting beside the bed the entire night, her pinkish flame aura gently protecting Shuye's weakened breathing.
Shuye blinked, confused, then attempted to sit up—but her body trembled violently, almost collapsing.
Little Fire reacted instantly.
"Careful! Don't move too fast."
His hand supported her back. His voice held worry he was trying unsuccessfully to hide.
Shuye could feel her cheeks burning—not from fever, but from embarrassment.
"W–why… does my body feel like this?" she whispered, her voice soft, breath shaky. "My ancient wind… it's unstable. I—I couldn't control it…"
Her eyes lowered. She felt ashamed at losing control in front of Little Fire. She remembered collapsing, the black wind tearing through her meridians, and then—a warm golden light touching her chest, calming her breath, soothing her heart.
She faintly remembered his hand over her heart.
The memory alone made her ears glow red.
Spirit Fairy gently held her hand.
"Don't force yourself. Your condition was very bad. You scared both of us…"
Shuye's lips parted slightly. "Spirit Fairy… you stayed here all night?"
"Yes." Spirit Fairy nodded simply, not hiding it. "I was worried."
Shuye felt warmth in her chest. They had been rivals once, but now… Spirit Fairy's concern felt natural, comforting even.
Little Fire crossed his arms awkwardly.
"You should rest for a while longer. Your wind aura is still shaky."
Shuye attempted a small smile. "I… I'm fine now. Really."
But even as she spoke, another tremor ran through her fingertips, delicate but uncontrollable.
Little Fire frowned. Shuye immediately looked away.
---
Later that morning, Sect Leader Fire Hornet summoned the trio to the Flame Hall. The hall was massive, built from red crystal stone that reflected flames like mirrors. Dozens of disciples stood in rows, waiting for instructions. All eyes sharpened the moment Little Fire entered.
Fire Hornet stood at the center, his aura fierce yet warm like a volcano.
"The Secret Realm of the Flame Planet will open in a few days."
Whispers spread through the hall. The Flame Planet was a legendary realm filled with ancient fire ruins and treasures older than recorded history.
Fire Hornet continued, "This time, many disciples will enter… but the core mission falls on three people."
His fiery gaze swept across them.
"Little Fire.
Spirit Fairy.
Shuye."
Gasps echoed. Even Spirit Fairy's eyebrow twitched in surprise.
"Your mission," Fire Hornet declared, his voice echoing like thunder,
"is to retrieve the Meteor Core."
Even among peak cultivators, no one dared to touch the Meteor Core—it was unmeltable and far too dangerous. But these three were different.
Little Fire swallowed lightly.
Spirit Fairy's eyes sharpened.
Shuye's fingers, still weak, tightened at her side.
---
After the meeting, the entire sect buzzed like boiling water.
"Did you hear?! He froze lava using ice! "
"That's not normal… that's impossible!"
"He even healed Shuye with some kind of golden light!"
"Is he human or some divine spirit beast?!"
Wherever Little Fire walked, disciples whispered, bowed, or stared with awe. Some female disciples even shyly approached with small gifts—but Spirit Fairy quickly stepped between them with a bright smile and cold eyes.
"No need, he doesn't accept gifts."
Little Fire sighed helplessly, feeling the jealousy leak from her aura like heated mist.
Shuye, still recovering, walked silently beside him. But whenever someone whispered about him, her heart reacted in a way she didn't understand—soft, warm, almost protective.
Why?
Why did she suddenly feel… comfortable around him?
She didn't know.
She only knew that she kept stealing small glances at him when he wasn't looking.
---
Little Fire's Training
The first thing he did was retreat to the Boulder Field, where ten giant meteor stones rested like fallen stars. He raised his hand, invoking fire forms—
Soft flames like warm silk.
Destructive flames like burning thunder.
Explosive flames that cracked the earth.
Each swing he practiced was slow and heavy, as if he was already holding the sword he would forge—a sword meant only to protect.
The boulders trembled with each strike.
Sweat evaporated from his skin instantly from the heat.
Spirit Fairy's Training
Spirit Fairy danced within a circle of floating fire petals. Her flame dance was a new technique—a dance that boosted qi and speed. As she moved, flames followed her like blooming flowers.
But she wasn't just training.
Between every movement, her eyes looked toward Little Fire's direction.
She wasn't practicing for herself.
She was practicing how to protect him.
Shuye's Training
Shuye isolated herself in a quiet wind chamber. Gentle breezes swirled around her, trying to suppress the dark wind pulsing inside her veins.
She bit her lip to hide the pain.
Cold sweat formed across her forehead.
She also felt it again.
A presence.
Someone spying on her.
She turned sharply—but no one was there.
Her heart tightened with fear.
Something—or someone—Eyeing on her other half of ancient wind.
But she hid all of this from Little Fire.
She didn't want to burden him.
---
During the week, Spirit Fairy and Shuye grew closer. They often sat together in the Tea Chamber, sipping spirit tea brewed from Fire Sect herbs.
Spirit Fairy spoke first one day, her voice soft:
"Shuye… are you scared of entering the realm?"
Shuye hesitated. "Yes."
"Me too," Spirit Fairy whispered. "But what worries me most is Little Fire. He always throws himself into danger."
Shuye nodded slowly. "He does. And he never asks for help."
Their eyes met.
"We must protect him together," Shuye finally said.
Spirit Fairy smiled, relieved.
"Then… let's support him together."
Thus, the two girls—once rivals—became allies.
Even friends.
They began walking the sect together, talking about cultivation, techniques, and occasionally, teasing each other about their thoughts regarding Little Fire.
Though neither admitted anything… both hearts were changing.
---
Near the end of the week, Fire Hornet brought them to the ancient Gate of the Flame Planet. It was massive—towering over the mountain like a burning giant. Ancient runes pulsed with fiery light, each symbol older than the sect itself.
The earth shook faintly.
The sky felt heavier.
Even Little Fire's heart froze for a moment.
"This is it," Fire Hornet said.
He explained what awaited them:
"The sky burns eternally."
"The ground is volcanic stone."
"Ancient flame beasts roam freely."
"Treasure ruins from flame gods lie hidden."
"And cultivators from other sects—and perhaps even the Upper Realm—will enter."
Shuye's breath tightened.
Spirit Fairy's expression hardened.
Little Fire's eyes sharpened with resolve.
Fire Hornet turned to Shuye specifically.
"Your body is weaker. If you can't handle the temperature inside, you must not go deeper. The realm will eject everyone when time ends—but if your wind aura collapses before that… it could destroy your core."
Shuye lowered her eyes.
Little Fire clenched his fists.
Spirit Fairy held her arm gently.
They all understood the risk.
---
The night before their journey, the sky above the sect glowed with a fiery-orange hue. The air was warm, peaceful, and strangely soft. On a quiet hill above the training grounds, the three of them sat together.
Little Fire sat in the middle.
Spirit Fairy on his right.
Shuye on his left.
Not a word was spoken for a long time.
Soft wind brushed against them. Tiny fireflies glowed in the warm breeze.
Finally, Spirit Fairy placed her hand over his.
"Promise me… you won't throw yourself into danger alone."
Then Shuye placed her hand on top of theirs.
"And promise me… you won't leave us behind."
Little Fire stared at their hands—small, warm, gentle—covering his.
His heart felt strangely full.
He was not used to being protected.
But he whispered, voice deep and soft:
"I promise."
Time passed quietly. The warmth of their hands lingered. The wind cooled. The sky darkened.
Eventually, both Shuye and Spirit Fairy leaned on him—accidentally or not, he didn't know—and slowly fell asleep.
Spirit Fairy's head rested lightly on his right shoulder.
Shuye's head gently leaned on his left.
Little Fire froze.
His face stiffened.
His arms hovered awkwardly in the air.
"What… what am I supposed to do…?" he muttered to himself.
He couldn't move.
He couldn't wake them.
He couldn't escape.
So he just sat there like a statue, both girls asleep on him, while the night deepened around them.
---
Far below their hill, the Gate of the Flame Planet pulsed with ancient light. Runes ignited one by one, glowing brighter and brighter.
Wind stirred.
Flames danced.
The air cracked with spiritual pressure.
The giant gate began to open…
its fiery brilliance spreading across the entire sect.
And thus, their journey into the burning world was about to begin.
----Waiting---