Three days had passed since the Redmist incident, but peace was just a decorative lie in Brightmoon Sect.
The skies cracked open at dawn—not from a storm, but from a blazing white streak that split the heavens like a blade drawn through silk. Every disciple felt it in their core: a foreign presence descending.
Yue Lan gripped her blade. "Another celestial gate?"
Yura sniffed the air, fangs slightly out. "No… something ancient. Floral. Cold fire."
Then the sect bell rang again—three chimes. The signal for a High-Status Guest Arrival.
---
Meanwhile, in the Elder's Hall…
Elder Mushi's beard was already bristling when he read the visitor's name.
"Silver Flame Sect… Serenya?"
Lianhua's eyes narrowed. "She's from the inner mountain territories. Their sect rarely leaves their border. This isn't a courtesy call."
Another elder whispered, "They say she mastered emotionless flame arts. That she can freeze someone's heart mid-sentence."
Mushi sighed. "Prepare tea. And an emergency frost barrier."
---
Arin, of course, had no idea.
He was arguing with his system again.
"I said no. I'm not doing that quest."
[Main Quest: Offer the Debug Dice to a girl you've never met before.]
[Reward: System Trust +5]
[Risk: Her wrath.]
Arin pointed a stick at the screen. "That's not a quest! That's a prank!"
[New Objective Added: Do it dramatically.]
He groaned. "Why do I feel like I'm going to get stabbed?"
Jun Bai walked by eating a peach. "Because you usually deserve it."
Yura appeared behind him, snatching the peach out of Jun Bai's hand mid-bite. "You're both about to deserve it."
---
The courtyard was already lined with disciples.
The air shimmered with strange heat as the Silver Flame Sect carriage descended from the sky. It wasn't drawn by spirit beasts—it floated on mirrored lotus petals, each glowing with icy silver-blue qi.
The carriage opened, revealing a figure dressed in white and pale indigo robes, hair like woven moonlight, and eyes that shimmered between empathy and something unreadable.
Serenya.
Her steps were light, but the very stones underfoot frostbit slightly as she passed.
Disciples gasped.
"Who is she?"
"She doesn't walk… she glides!"
"I feel like apologizing and I didn't even do anything."
Arin's first reaction was not spiritual awe.
It was: "Damn. Her intro has better CGI than mine."
Yue Lan elbowed him.
Serenya stopped before the elders and performed a graceful, curt bow.
"I greet the Brightmoon Sect," she said softly. Her voice carried power, like a lullaby dipped in steel. "I come on behalf of the Silver Flame Sect, seeking to join the Celestial Concord in preparation for the rising corruption. Our leaders believe… the Trash User has triggered it."
Arin blinked. "Wait—ME?!"
The crowd murmured. Jun Bai whispered, "This is gonna be fun."
Serenya turned to Arin. Her eyes scanned him like a scholar judging a question on a final exam.
"You… you are the anomaly," she said, voice calm. "Your system doesn't belong. It stinks of broken code."
Arin's mouth opened. Then closed. Then opened again.
"I showered! My code is only mildly broken!"
She walked up to him and stopped inches from his face.
"You will come with me," Serenya said. "To purify the source of corruption that follows you."
Arin was about to protest when his system dinged.
[Quest Accepted: Accompany Serenya to the Verdant Icelands]
[Reward: ??]
[Penalty for Refusal: Instantly Uncool.]
He looked up at her. "Do you always give orders like this?"
Serenya answered, "I do not give orders. I declare necessary truths."
Yura was scowling already.
Yue Lan narrowed her eyes. "This one's trouble."
Jun Bai leaned in and whispered, "Can we keep her?"
Arin sighed.
"Here we go again…"