(A memory from the past)
Stone tiles echoed faintly beneath their footsteps as morning light spilled across the academy paths.
Lu Piao leaned closer to Nie Li, lowering his voice with barely concealed excitement.
"Hey, Nie Li—have you heard? Xiao Ning'er has returned to school. She's been arranged into our Bronze Class."
Nie Li's steps slowed slightly.
"…Xiao Ning'er?" he repeated.
"She left school after reaching One-Star Bronze Rank," Nie Li said quietly.
"She was seriously ill. After being sick for two years, her cultivation deteriorated. It's said she was plagued by sickness and pain even afterward."
He frowned.
"I didn't think she'd be able to train herself up again."
Lu Piao nodded, admiration clear in his tone.
"Yeah. What a determined girl."
Then, as if recalling something unpleasant, he added,
"You know she was engaged to Shen Fei of the Sacred Family long ago. The Winged Dragon Family has always wanted to curry favor with them."
Nie Li stopped.
His expression darkened instantly.
"…Shen Fei?"
"That playboy?!"
Lu Piao smirked, clearly enjoying the reaction.
"Oh—and Du Zhe has already entered the Silver Class."
He paused, then lowered his voice further, as if saying the next name too loudly might draw attention.
"And have you heard?"
"The so-called Prince of the City has already broken through to Black Gold Rank."
Nie Li's eyes narrowed.
"…What?"
Lu Piao glanced around instinctively before answering.
"Karma Uzumaki."
The name carried weight.
Even on the open academy path, Lu Piao felt his spine straighten slightly after saying it—like invoking someone who stood far above their level.
Nie Li's pupils contracted.
"Karma… has already reached Black Gold Rank?"
Lu Piao nodded.
"On the verge of breaking through again, too. People say even elders are keeping an eye on him now."
Nie Li exhaled slowly.
Black Gold Rank.
At their age, that wasn't talent—that was abnormal.
Lu Piao clapped him lightly on the shoulder.
"So yeah. You'd better spend more time thinking about how to get stronger."
Nie Li shot him a sharp look and pointed back without hesitation.
"And you're in the same class as me."
Lu Piao burst out laughing.
(Back to the present)
The forest lay silent beneath the night sky.
Leaves rustled softly as soul energy pulsed in a steady rhythm ahead.
Nie Li crouched behind a thick tree trunk, eyes narrowed as he watched the faint blue glow in the clearing.
Still cultivating her soul energy at this time…
She really is hardworking.
Behind him, Karma leaned lazily against another tree, arms folded—yet his gaze was sharp.
"She's still cultivating," he murmured. "Even now."
Nie Li's expression darkened.
That also means her illness is about to flare up again.
In this life, since I already know what will happen, there's no way I'm going to ignore it.
If she keeps cultivating like this, she'll be taking her own life for granted.
Nie Li stepped forward.
Crack.
The sound of a twig snapping echoed through the forest.
The soul energy wavered.
In the clearing, Xiao Ning'er's eyes flew open.
Her hand shot out—
Steel flashed.
"WHO!?"
She spun around, dagger raised, eyes sharp and alert.
Nie Li raised both hands calmly.
"Wait—don't attack."
Xiao Ning'er froze.
Her gaze flicked from Nie Li—then widened as it landed on the figure beside him.
"K-Karma…?"
Karma lifted both hands exaggeratedly, smiling.
"Easy, easy. No assassins. Just poor timing."
She hesitated, then lowered the blade slightly—still cautious.
"You're… Nie Li from our class," she said slowly.
"What are you doing here… in the middle of the night?"
Nie Li scratched his cheek awkwardly.
"Well… what are you doing here in the middle of the night?"
"I'm cultivating my soul energy."
Karma tilted his head.
"At this hour? You're really trying to scare future healers, you know."
Nie Li added lightly,
"I was just taking a walk."
Xiao Ning'er narrowed her eyes.
"Stop lying."
Nie Li stiffened.
She continued calmly,
"Don't think I don't know that you've all been hunting Horned Sheep these past few days."
Nie Li sighed.
"…So you already know."
Then why did you still ask?
At that moment, a familiar voice chimed in—
"Women…" Karma muttered thoughtfully, rubbing his chin.
"Why are they always the scariest when they're calm?"
Nie li gave him a look.
Xiao Ning'er turned away slightly.
"I'm going to continue cultivating."
Nie Li looked her over, then said,
"We'll be on our way too."
Her voice sharpened.
"You're still here?"
"When night falls," Nie Li said calmly from behind her,
"don't both of your feet feel as if they're being burned by fire?"
Xiao Ning'er stiffened.
She turned, eyes widening slightly.
"…You—how do you know?"
Nie Li stepped closer, gaze steady.
"And at the same time," he continued,
"your body feels unbearably cold. Every midnight, it's like hail is crashing into your bones."
Her fingers curled.
"…Yes."
Karma blinked, glancing between them.
"Wow," he muttered. "That's… disturbingly specific."
Nie Li replied evenly,
"It's because she trains at night. Cold qi enters the body during nocturnal cultivation."
Karma frowned.
"…That's bad, isn't it."
"Yes," Nie Li answered immediately.
Xiao Ning'er's breathing grew uneven.
"So I was right," Nie Li said softly.
"This is Arctic Disease."
Her shoulders trembled.
"If you continue like this," Nie Li went on,
"breaking into Bronze Rank will cause severe backlash. In mild cases, cultivation collapses. In serious ones…"
He paused.
"…Death by explosion."
Silence fell.
Xiao Ning'er clenched her fists, turning away.
"I finally…" her voice shook.
"I finally reached this point."
She spun around, eyes filled with desperation.
"Because I didn't want to be married to Shen Fei!"
"I trained day and night just to control my own life!"
Tears streamed down her face.
"And now you're telling me everything I did will kill me?!"
Nie Li stepped forward—then stopped.
Because Xiao Ning'er wasn't looking at him.
She was looking at Karma.
"…You're always with Nie Li," she said quietly.
"You must know… there has to be a way, right?"
Karma froze.
"…Uh."
For once, he had no joke ready.
"There is a way," Nie Li said firmly.
Hope flickered in her eyes.
"The illness can be treated," Nie Li continued.
"It's called Arctic Disease. Records exist in the Holy Orchid Institute's library."
Karma let out a quiet breath.
"Oh. Good. I was about to panic."
Nie Li glanced at him.
"You already did."
Karma coughed.
"…Fair."
Nie Li continued, his tone serious again.
"You'll need the Daoyin Technique to massage the affected areas. Medicine made from Golden Stripe Grass mixed with Imperial Sky Grass—taken daily for about a month."
Xiao Ning'er stared in disbelief.
"And most importantly," Nie Li added,
"you must stop cultivating your soul force at night."
"…Daoyin Technique?" she whispered.
Nie Li nodded.
"Let me see your cultivation technique."
She hesitated, then slowly pulled a scroll from her sleeve.
Before Nie Li could reach for it—
Karma stepped forward.
"I'll hold it," he said casually. "You explain."
Nie Li paused… then nodded.
Xiao Ning'er handed the scroll to Karma.
Their fingers brushed.
Just barely.
Xiao Ning'er froze.
Her breath caught, heat rushing to her face as a faint blush spread across her cheeks. She pulled her hand back almost instantly, lowering her gaze as her heart began to race.
Karma didn't notice a thing.
"Got it," he said cheerfully, unrolling the scroll.
"…Wow. This thing looks ancient."
Nie Li noticed everything.
That hesitation.
That blush.
That reaction.
…So it's him.
"This cultivation technique damages the meridians over time," Nie Li said calmly.
"That's why your Arctic Disease keeps worsening."
"This technique… was passed down through my family," Xiao Ning'er said.
"I know," Nie Li replied gently.
"But it's flawed."
He pointed.
"Change this section—from Psychic Mind to Heavenly Psychic."
Her eyes widened.
"This technique is ranked sixth in my family. How can it be altered so easily?"
Karma scratched his head.
"Old doesn't automatically mean good."
"Exactly," Nie Li said without hesitation.
Karma blinked.
"…Hey. You agreed way too fast."
Nie Li smiled faintly.
"Because you're right."
He studied the scroll again.
"Hm… adjusting this circulation point and stabilizing the flow here should be enough."
He straightened—and noticed Xiao Ning'er staring at him.
"…Why are you looking at me like that?" Nie Li asked.
She snapped out of it.
"Ah—! Nie Li, could you repeat that again? I'll write it down properly this time."
Nie Li sighed.
"So you weren't actually listening at all, huh."
Karma laughed.
"Hey, cut her some slack. Anyone would space out listening to meridians like it's casual conversation."
Xiao Ning'er lowered her head slightly, embarrassed—but the tension in her shoulders had eased.
The night felt… lighter than before.