After being thrown out from the Door of Mystery, Little Fire and the Spirit Fairy stood quietly in front of the crumbled gateway. The air still shimmered faintly with the divine remnants of the heavenly trial. The cave was quiet now, with nothing more to offer.
"We should rest here for the night," Little Fire said after a while.
Spirit Fairy gave a small nod, still looking shaken. The memory of her mother's fading warmth lingered in her chest, while the image of Little Fire sacrificing himself in the trial etched itself into her soul.
Little Fire gathered some dry wood and lit a campfire using a small flame from his finger. The fire crackled and danced, casting warm light over the rough walls of the cave. They both sat down close to it, the warmth chasing away the cold silence.
As night deepened, the flickering flame began to shrink and sputter. Eventually, it died out completely, leaving them in a vast, echoing darkness.
Spirit Fairy's heart started racing. She wasn't scared of the dark itself—she had spent many nights in darkness—but the cave… it was different.
It was the whispers in the silence.
The small echo of droplets falling from the ceiling.
And worst of all, the creatures.
She had heard stories—vile, cruel little beasts that lived in the dark. Mice, twisted by demonic qi, who crept and skittered under cover of night. They loved the smell of life, the warmth of skin, and they feasted on those who slept unguarded.
She gripped her knees tightly. Her senses were heightened inside the cave. Every sound felt louder, every silence heavier. A droplet fell from above, landing with a plop near her foot.
She flinched hard.
Then she scooted closer—inch by inch—until she was pressed right next to Little Fire, who was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, dozing lightly.
Suddenly, he opened one eye and looked at her. "Afraid of the dark?" he asked with a teasing grin.
She gave him a glare. "No."
"Then why are you sticking to me like a firefly to a flame?" he teased again.
She crossed her arms. "It's just... This place is creepy. There might be something hiding."
"Oh? Like a big-eared demon mouse?" he chuckled.
She turned pale. "Stop it!"
"Well, if you're scared, you can lie down next to me. I don't bite," he said with a wink.
Spirit Fairy blushed. "How can a man and a woman sleep together like that?" she huffed.
Plop. Another drop of water echoed, this time behind her.
She jumped slightly and then nodded, half out of fear, half from embarrassment.
"Fine. Just for tonight."
They lay down beside each other, with a respectable gap at first. Little Fire closed his eyes again and drifted into sleep quickly, his body relaxing.
But Spirit Fairy couldn't sleep. Her eyes scanned the darkness. Her thoughts raced.
Then she looked at Little Fire. His face was calm, his breaths even. He looked peaceful, and for some reason, that peace settled her heart.
Quietly, she scooted closer again. Just a bit more. Then, with slow movements, she gently leaned against him and wrapped her arms around his side.
"Just for warmth," she whispered to herself.
Little Fire stirred slightly. His arm instinctively wrapped around her as if to protect her in his sleep.
Spirit Fairy blinked.
A wave of peace settled in her chest. Her heartbeat slowed. Her fears vanished.
"I guess it's not so scary… with you here," she murmured and slowly drifted into sleep in his arms.
---
Morning arrived silently. A faint glow from the cave's deeper passages touched the stone walls. The fire had long since died, but the warmth between them remained.
Little Fire slowly opened his eyes.
He tried to move his arm… but it was pinned.
Spirit Fairy was still asleep, her head resting on his arm, soft breaths brushing against his skin. Her long hair lay across his chest like silken threads, and her expression was calm, almost childlike.
He smiled, a rare and genuine one.
With his free hand, he gently brushed aside a few strands of hair from her face.
She stirred.
Then she blinked awake—and froze.
A deep blush spread across her cheeks.
Before she could say anything, Little Fire grinned. "Good morning. How was the pillow?"
"Y-You…!" she sat up quickly and turned away. "That was just because the cave was scary!"
"I never said it wasn't," he teased.
She huffed and refused to look at him. "Just absorb the lotus energy. You've delayed long enough. If you don't start now, it might drift away."
"Yeah… you're right."
Little Fire sat cross-legged and took out the lotus crystal he'd obtained from earlier. The energy within was pure, but extremely wild. As he began absorbing it, the surrounding air turned hot and violent.
His body shook. Flames burst from his back and shoulders, dancing wildly around him.
He gritted his teeth.
The energy was resisting. It wasn't like any normal qi. It felt alive—like a beast trying to tear him apart.
Spirit Fairy stepped back as the temperature surged. Even the walls began to glow red with heat.
Little Fire's veins turned golden under his skin as he pushed himself to control the rampaging flame.
But his body couldn't contain it.
Boom! A burst of flame erupted around him, nearly pushing her back.
"Little Fire!" she called out.
He groaned. The pain was unbearable. His skin cracked faintly. His muscles strained. The qi refused to settle.
"I… can't hold it much longer…!" he gasped.
Spirit Fairy's heart pounded. She had seen cultivators lose themselves to violent qi before—burnt to ashes by their own breakthroughs.
"I won't let you die!" she said, kneeling beside him and placing her hands on his back.
Her gentle water qi wrapped around him, soothing, cooling, like a gentle breeze on a stormy fire.
"Focus," she said. "Don't force it. Let it guide you."
Little Fire's breathing slowed. He centered himself. The violent flame inside him began to dim, just slightly.
He could feel the barrier within him loosening.
The split within his soul… was starting to merge.
A surge of clarity struck him. The fire wasn't only violent—it was proud. It would not submit to one who feared it.
So he embraced it.
His spirit roared, and the fire surged through his meridians like a dragon.
Then—
BOOM! A vortex of fire erupted around him, forming a flaming cocoon that consumed the entire chamber.
The cave shook. Cracks formed in the walls.
Spirit Fairy shielded her eyes from the intense light.
When the flame finally settled, Little Fire sat quietly in the middle, flames dancing gently around him.
His aura had changed.
He had entered the Split Soul Realm.
His eyes opened—sharper, deeper, burning with power.
"I did it," he whispered.
He turned to Spirit Fairy.
"Thanks… I couldn't have done it without you."
She smiled, brushing her hair behind her ear. "Next time, don't make me so worried."
He laughed. "No promises."
They stood together, side by side, inside the heart of the deep cave—stronger, closer, and with new flames burning between them.
---[To Be Continued]--