Dawn broke gently over Dustwind Hidden Valley.
But there was nothing gentle about the atmosphere.
Disciples gathered again before Miyu's Trial Tower, shaking like laundry in a storm.
Floor 1 attacked their shame.
Floor 2 attacked their posture.
Floor 3…?
Solene's eyes glowed softly.
"Today, we purify emotional clutter."
Half the disciples fainted instantly.
Auntie Bao clapped once.
"Those who fainted first will enter first!"
Groans filled the valley.
Miyu floated forward with her pillow, expression unreadable and ancient.
"...Begin."
The tower hummed like a therapist clearing her throat.
---
⭐ 1. Floor 3 Activates — The Chamber of Emotional Clutter
The door opened, releasing a soft, warm light.
Inside, a circular chamber flickered with floating memory fragments —
arguments, regrets, petty jealousies, embarrassing moments,
and the random thoughts people pretend they don't think.
Glowing text formed above the entrance:
[CLEAN YOUR HEART OR BE OVERTAKEN BY YOUR OWN DRAMA]
Jin Haru whispered:
"No… no… no… emotional reflection is worse than death."
Lin Ruyin clutched her chest.
"I'd rather fight demons again—!!"
Aurelius saluted somberly.
"It is time to eliminate emotional waste."
---
⭐ 2. The First Participant — The Drama Hoarder
A disciple named Mian, who was notorious for overthinking,
was dragged inside as tribute.
The chamber sealed behind her with a sympathetic *ding*.
Inside, illusions formed instantly:
Her parents scolding her.
Her rival surpassing her.
A friend ignoring her last message.
A childhood embarrassment she thought no one remembered.
A mistake she made last week that she kept replaying at 3 a.m.
Mian screamed:
"WHY IS IT SHOWING ALL MY WORST MOMENTS?!!"
The chamber whispered:
"You stored too much emotional dust."
The illusions multiplied.
Every single insecurity she had been trying to suppress appeared at once.
She fell to her knees.
"I HATE THIS TOWEEERRR—!!"
Outside, the disciples nodded in deep empathy.
Jin Haru: "I'd rather mop a dragon."
Lin Ruyin: "I'd rather FIX a dragon."
Auntie Bao: "I'd rather cook a dragon."
Solene: "There will be a dragon floor later."
Everyone: "WHAT?!"
---
⭐ 3. The Trial of Acceptance
Back inside, Mian tried to fight the illusions.
She punched her embarrassing memories.
She karate-chopped her insecurities.
She suplexed her childhood fears.
But every time she struck one, another appeared.
Mian collapsed, exhausted.
"Why… why won't they go away?!"
A soft voice echoed —
Miyu's voice, projected by the tower.
"…You cannot fight dust.
You clean it."
Mian froze.
Her illusions paused.
She took a breath.
Then another.
The memories still surrounded her —
but they no longer attacked.
She touched one gently.
"I accept… that I made mistakes."
The illusion dissolved.
She touched another.
"I accept… that I'm insecure sometimes."
Another dissolved.
One by one, she cleaned her emotional clutter.
The chamber chimed.
*EMOTIONAL CLARITY ACHIEVED*
The door opened.
Mian stepped out… calm.
Balanced.
Peaceful.
Like she had slept for a thousand years.
Auntie Bao wiped a proud tear.
"She is finally emotionally tidy."
---
⭐ 4. The Second Participant — The Repressed Explosion
Next, a stoic disciple named Rokan entered.
He never showed emotion.
Never complained.
Never expressed joy or frustration.
The moment the chamber activated…
He exploded into a screaming waterfall of emotion.
"AAAAHHHHH I'M TIRED—
I'M OVERWORKED—
I HATE POSTURE TRAINING—
I HAVEN'T RESTED IN TWO YEARS—
I'M SCARED OF MOPS—
I'M SCARED OF ANTS—
I'M SCARED OF SILENCE—
I'M SCARED OF MY OWN SHADOW—
I'M SCARED OF MY OWN FEELINGS—"
The entire sect stared.
Elder Orchid gently patted his back through the door.
"It's okay, child. Let it out."
Rokan sobbed:
"I WAS TRYING TO BE COOL—!!"
Aurelius whispered:
"I understand this pain."
Miyu blinked.
"...Too much emotional dust."
He emerged a new man.
He even smiled.
The sect gasped.
Several disciples fainted from shock.
---
⭐ 5. The Third Participant — A Complete Mess
Tien was shoved in next.
He lasted three seconds.
THREE.
Inside they heard:
"NONONONONONON—THIS IS TOO MUCH—WHY IS MY CRUSH HERE—WHY IS MY CHILDHOOD CRUSH HERE—WHY ARE THERE THREE VERSIONS OF MY CRUSH—STOP—STOP—STO—"
Then the chamber ejected him violently like bad laundry.
He rolled across the ground.
Miyu: "...He will need multiple sessions."
Auntie Bao: "I'll prepare tea."
Solene: "And a therapist."
Tien: "NOOOOOOOO—!!"
---
⭐ 6. Miyu's Unexpected Entry
Suddenly the chamber pulsed and the runes turned gold.
Solene's eyes widened.
"Master… the tower requests *you* to enter."
The disciples froze.
Aurelius dropped his sword.
Auntie Bao gasped.
"Master Miyu? Emotional clutter? Impossible!"
Miyu floated forward, pillow in hand.
"I have none."
The tower glowed.
The door opened.
Miyu stepped inside.
Everyone held their breath.
The room filled with light.
Then…
A single illusion appeared.
A memory.
Tiny Miyu… sweeping alone in an empty celestial hall.
Silence.
Isolation.
Quiet duty.
No praise.
No warmth.
Just endless, lonely cleaning.
The sect watching through the crystal fell silent.
Auntie Bao's hands shook.
Lin Ruyin whispered:
"…Master Miyu… was lonely?"
The illusion Miyu kept sweeping, tiny shoulders trembling.
The real Miyu watched quietly.
Expression calm.
She hugged her pillow gently.
"…That was me."
The child illusion faded.
The chamber chimed.
*EMOTIONAL CLUTTER: CLEANED*
Miyu stepped out.
Her face unchanged.
But everyone saw it.
A tiny softness.
A spark of warmth.
A subtle vulnerability no one expected.
Aurelius knelt.
"Master… we will never let you be alone again."
The entire sect bowed deeply.
Miyu blinked.
"...Okay."
---
⭐ ENDING — A New Resolve Forms
As the sun set, Floor 3 dimmed.
Floor 4 lit up with a chilling glow.
Solene turned to the disciples.
"Tomorrow… is the Floor of Physical Filth."
Everyone screamed.
Miyu hugged her pillow.
"…Tomorrow."