The night sky stretched wide over the Holy Beast Academy, cloaked in shadows and gently illuminated by the silver crescent of a half-moon. Stars glittered like scattered gemstones above, while the academy below lay mostly asleep. The towering spires stood silent, and only the occasional flicker of magical lanterns lit the quiet paths.
Lan Zhen stood frozen on the balcony, mouth parted in stunned disbelief as the red-eyed woman floated before him like a phantom of the night.
"Lan Zhen," she said again, her voice laced with a strange, commanding energy. "Follow me."
Before he could protest or ask even a single question, Long Yi extended her hand and seized his wrist. The world around Zhen vanished in an instant.
"W-WAIT—!!"
Wind howled in his ears. The academy disappeared in a blur beneath them as they shot into the sky. Zhen's body felt weightless, yet heavy with panic. His eyes teared up from the sheer force of the flight. The scenery streaked by so fast it turned into abstract colors — blues, blacks, and flashes of golden light.
"WHERE ARE YOU TAKING ME, MISS?! I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU PROPERLY!!" he screamed, his voice nearly swallowed by the roaring wind.
Long Yi gave no reply. Her expression was unreadable.
Zhen gasped for breath, unable to speak anymore. The speed was overwhelming, like being tossed through a storm. Every part of his body screamed in discomfort. His heart raced as though trying to outrun death itself.
After what felt like forever, they finally descended — not gently, but at an almost abrupt pace. They arrived at a vast, open field bathed in silvery moonlight. The grass rippled under the breeze, stretching out into the shadows.
Without warning, Long Yi released him mid-air.
THUD.
Zhen crashed down like a sack of bricks. He groaned, rolling onto his back and gasping for air.
"Cough—! Hah—hah— I— I'm alive?!" he wheezed. "Why does everything hurt...?"
Long Yi stood nearby, arms folded, a ghost of amusement tugging at her lips. "Still alive after that fast transportation. Impressive."
Zhen looked up, eyes wide. "Alive?! I almost DIED! What was that?! Why did you drag me here in the dead of night?!"
Long Yi's gaze turned sharp. "Listen closely, little kiddo. I'll only say this once: run this entire field. Two rounds. No stopping."
Zhen blinked. He turned to look at the field.
It was enormous. The size of ten regular fields.
His eyes filled with despair. "Th-this... this is a battlefield, not a training ground..."
Long Yi's tone grew darker. "If you dare stop during the two rounds, I'll injure you badly and make you run four rounds. Understood?"
Zhen dropped to his knees, hands clasped together dramatically. "Miss! If I offended you before, I'm really sorry! Please, don't punish me like this! I'm only seven years old — I'll turn eight next month!"
She sighed. "If you don't start in five seconds, I will hit you."
"YES MA'AM! I'M RUNNING!" Zhen shouted and immediately bolted forward.
His legs moved on instinct, his mind too terrified to hesitate. The cold night air rushed into his lungs. His arms flailed with effort, and his feet slapped against the soft ground. Every step felt like dragging a boulder.
Halfway through the first round, he was already panting, his cheeks flushed. But when he dared to slow, he felt it — the piercing gaze of Long Yi like a predator locking onto prey.
That alone sent shivers down his spine.
He pushed harder. "Don't stop... must not stop..." he muttered, staggering forward.
When he finally completed the second round, he collapsed face-first into the grass. His limbs trembled, and he could barely raise his head.
Long Yi approached and handed him a flask.
"Drink," she said simply.
Zhen clutched the flask with trembling hands and gulped the water down like it was sacred elixir. "Th-thank you…"
She looked down at him, unflinching. "From now on, you'll come here every night to run two rounds. Got it?"
Zhen froze mid-sip and suddenly spat the water. "EVERY NIGHT?!"
"Yes," she replied.
She continued, "Also, I am not 'miss.' I am Long Yi. Rank 72 Holy Lord. My bond is a dragon with a pure dark attribute — I call it the Demon Dragon."
Zhen's jaw dropped. "Holy Lord?! Rank above 70?! That's amazing!"
Long Yi nodded. "I sought you out because your dragon bond also possesses a pure dark attribute. Like mine."
Zhen sat upright, stunned. "My dragon bond... has pure dark attribute?"
"Yes."
He stared at her, astonished. She just looked at me and figured out my bond's nature... he thought. She must be someone truly powerful. If I learn and train from her, maybe I'll grow into someone who can protect others...
With a deep breath, Zhen rose to his feet and knelt before her.
"Miss Long Yi— no, Teacher Long Yi, please accept me as your student."
Long Yi's eyes widened slightly. She stepped forward and lifted him by the shoulders.
"There's no need to kneel," she said softly. "Kowtowing is reserved for kings and parents. A simple bow is enough."
Zhen stood firm, eyes shining with sincerity. "Once a teacher, always a teacher. You saved me, taught me, and will guide me. You deserve my kowtow."
Long Yi looked at him with a rare softness. Such a kind-hearted child in a ruthless world... I cannot let him walk down the wrong path.
She nodded. "Alright, Lan Zhen. From now on, you are my disciple."
She added, "And you must meet me here every night for training. Understand?"
Zhen saluted proudly. "Yes, Teacher!"
Long Yi gave a faint smile and took his hand once again. This time, their flight was calm. They soared slowly across the star-filled sky. Below, Star City gleamed like a dream — rivers of golden lights, elegant rooftops, and the shimmer of magical veins running through the buildings.
Zhen marveled at the beauty. "So pretty..."
Long Yi glanced at him. "This is the world you must protect someday."
She descended gracefully and dropped Zhen back onto his balcony.
He turned to her with a sleepy grin. "Bye, Teacher."
She nodded and vanished into a spiral of dark mist.
Zhen climbed into bed, the warmth of his blankets welcome after the cold air outside. As his eyelids closed, he smiled faintly.
He thought "I've taken my first step toward something bigger. My real training starts now."