Several days had passed, and she was still drowning in a sorrow that wouldn't let her sleep.
The Elder of the Heavenly Furnace stood at her door, speaking softly as if his words were meant to stitch up her cracked soul.
He urged her to let go—
To bury the past before it devoured what was left of her.
And so, she chose surrender.
Not because she was healed… but because his words felt like a permission to breathe again.
She began preparing herself to return to who she used to be—
Honest. Pure. Unafraid.
Or at least, that's what she tried to believe.
She was the first to arrive, so she settled in the front seat, quietly waiting for the others to come—especially her friend Suo, who had grieved for her sorrow and vanished with her absence.
One by one, the disciples filed in, casting lingering looks at the girl who had allegedly broken after receiving a pathetic punishment.
That wasn't the truth.
But Mei Ling had already spread the rumor, delighted by Hou Feng's disappearance… whose reason only she truly knew.
When Master Li entered alongside Master Wu Xin, they found her sitting there like a statue.
She didn't lift her gaze.
She had decided to resist—
To resist the poison of those memories.
But her heart… betrayed her in the simplest moment.
With a daring, sharp motion, she lifted her eyes—
And stabbed Wu Xin with a cold, killing glare.
He didn't understand why, but her stare made his breath hitch.
Slowly… her breathing became uneven.
Each second she held her eyes on him, something inside her started to unravel.
Unable to endure it any longer, Huo Feng stood abruptly, ready to leave.
Master Li noticed the shift in her aura and spoke jokingly:
"No need to stand just to greet me, lazy girl.
Or… are you here to apologize for escaping punishment, little slacker?"
She glanced at him—cold as winter frost—
Then turned her back and walked away, as if his words were nothing but noise.
At that moment, the rest of the disciples stood as well, following her movement instinctively to greet their teachers.
She blinked in confusion, thinking with surprising innocence:
"...Are they all trying to leave too?"
Before she could step further, Suo appeared at the doorway.
He rushed toward her, grabbed her hand, and with his free hand pushed her head down in a bow along with his own as he said:
"We truly wish to apologize for our behavior last time. Please… forgive us."
He wasn't apologizing to the teachers—
He was trying to save her from the shame of walking out in front of everyone.
Inside, his thoughts were clear:
Forgive… and stand straight again. You can't afford to fall today. Not today… not before the trial begins.
She stared at him, puzzled.
"Why did you make me bow with you? Why should I obey?"
He smiled faintly.
"Because I'm older than you… and I'm trying to protect you."
Her brows furrowed.
"And since when does protection mean crushing my hand? Let go. And spare my head."
He released her quickly—
Not because of her glare…
But because of the sharp look Master Li was giving him.
Master Li straightened his posture, his tone turning firm as his gaze swept over them all.
"Today marks your first true trial, elite disciples."
He gestured with his hand, and his assistants stepped forward, distributing crystal orbs to each student—Each one shimmered brilliantly… as though a miniature sun had been sealed within.
Hou Feng's eyes widened with a small spark of awe.Noticing that spark—Master Li smiled.
"In your hands lies daylight.Extinguish its light…And you shall pass."
Yes—Mastery over Night and Day.That was their first trial.Their first step toward either ascension… or elimination.
Everyone began chanting their personalized incantations, eager to succeed on the first attempt.
As expected, Mei Ling completed it before anyone else.
Naturally—She had been Wu Xin's prized disciple since childhood.And just as naturally—She was as diligent in her training as she was skilled in provoking Hou Feng.
With her orb darkened, Mei Ling turned, lips curling with mockery as she watched Hou Feng struggle, her movements shaky and unsure.
One by one, almost all the disciples managed to pass.
All… except for our girl—HuoFeng.
She placed both her palms firmly against the orb, whispering to it like a desperate plea.
"Please… just this once… be on my side."
And slowly—The light began to fade.
Her chest lifted with hope.
But that hope was short-lived.
Because right then—She saw something inside the orb.
A figure.A figure she knew all too well—One whose departure had shattered her.
Her blood froze.
Inside that tiny false sun, she watched a masked man approach her father…Lean close to his ear…Whisper something—And then extinguish his soul.
In that moment, she heard it—That choked sob.That broken cry from Jin Hai…
Calling her name—Over and over—
A cry no one else heard.
No one… except her.
Her heart ruptured.
And she screamed.
A scream that shattered day itself.
The sun within every orb died.The entire realm was swallowed by night.
Many disciples stumbled in shock.They didn't understand what had happened—Not until Wu Xin's voice echoed, trembling as it tore through the darkness—
"Hou… Feng!"
Light returned.
But the darkness inside her did not.
It clung to her…Drowning her once more in poisoned memories—Reopening wounds that had never truly healed.