Night had turned.
Moonlight sank westward.
In the side courtyard,
Spear shadows clashed with sword light.
Energy rippled past bamboo eaves.
Xuānyuán Dié's violet robe trembled faintly,
Her gaze sharp as a blade.
Xiǎo Chén knelt on one knee,
Arms numb beyond feeling.
He looked up,
And heard her voice—
Low and cold—
"Your footwork is scattered.
When withdrawing the spear,
Stabilize your rear foot first."
He gritted his teeth,
Shifted his weight,
His breath steadied.
As he raised the spear again,
A flash of green light swept from her sleeve,
Forcing him to change form mid-motion.
"When the mind is chaotic,
The form collapses.
When the form collapses,
The spear breaks."
"If you want this move to hold its dominance—
Cut off those stray thoughts."
Her voice was cold,
But beneath it—
A blade teaching through its edge.
Xiǎo Chén groaned,
Sweat trailing down his brow,
Falling to the ground along the arc of her sword.
"…Again."
Xuānyuán Dié stepped forward,
Her sleeve hiding a blade,
Her voice as cold as steel.
—
In this relentless training—
Where sword light shattered him,
And spear form rose again—
Xiǎo Chén's spiritual breath
Was being forced into deeper grooves.
He didn't notice—
But his qi sea was quietly refining itself,
Layer by layer,
Silent and steady.
—
When dawn neared,
She finally sheathed her sword,
Her silhouette sinking into fallen leaves.
With one final strike,
She pushed Xiǎo Chén back.
Her violet robe trembled.
She sheathed her spear.
Her voice was cold—
Like wind that hadn't yet left the night—
"That's enough.
Come again after class tomorrow."
As she put away her blade,
Her gaze swept over Xiǎo Chén.
Noted the faint surge in his qi sea.
Only then
Did the frost in her eyes
Ease—just slightly.
Xuānyuán Dié
let out a cold snort.
Her violet robe swept with the wind.
As she turned,
Her voice dropped—
Half to herself,
Half to the night—
"…Not a wasted night, I suppose."
Xiǎo Chén heard it.
His body went slack,
Like the bones had been pulled from him.
The breath he'd been holding finally released.
He collapsed with a thud,
Flat on the ground.
The Dragon Soul Spear slipped from his grip,
Rolling to the edge of the grass.
He gasped for air,
Watching her walk away.
His throat tightened.
He cursed inwardly—
That killing goddess…
She trains like she's out for blood.
Moonlight caught the sweat on his face.
The calluses on his knuckles were rubbed raw.
Faint blood marks lined his wrists and palms.
He looked at the fading moonlight,
Tried to smile—
But his lips twitched.
He gave up,
Sprawled across the courtyard's large stone,
Limbs spread wide,
Breathing like a bellows.
"Huuh… finally…
I can lie down…"
Before the words finished,
Fatigue swallowed him whole.
His fingers brushed the cold iron of his spear.
His mind emptied.
The next breath turned into a snore.
He slept like a wild wolf cub
After a brawl—
Limbs askew,
Sweat drying in the last cool breeze
Among scattered bamboo leaves.
—
Morning light crept through the window slats.
Scrolls lay open on the desk,
Unclosed.
Xuán Chén held the spine of a book,
Tapping the last grains of talisman sand.
His gaze drifted to the empty seat beside him.
His voice dropped—
"…Still not back."
Two soft knocks sounded at the door.
Then half a smiling face peeked in—
Shī Tóngbǎi held a bundle of freshly copied bamboo scrolls.
He didn't step past the threshold,
Just bowed and chuckled—
"Senior brothers, long night, huh…
I've got something fresh here."
Xuán Chén looked up,
Ignored the scrolls.
Asked calmly—
"Where is he?"
Shī Tóngbǎi blinked,
Then grinned sheepishly—
"Xiǎo Chén hasn't returned yet…"
"Xuānyuán dragged him off for training last night.
He's probably still passed out in the side courtyard."
Shī Tóngbǎi
placed the scrolls at the edge of the desk,
Hands hovering above them,
Voice lowered as he leaned in—
"These hold the supply records from Silver Mirror…
And the tail ends of Cáo Jiànyú's crew.
I've dug up most of it."
Xuán Chén glanced once,
Tapped the spine lightly—
"…Anything else?"
Shī Tóngbǎi's eyes flicked,
A sly smile tugging at his lips—
"I've traced two threads from White Profound too…"
"Someone's trying to test us—soft targets, maybe."
"Silver Mirror's watching close."
Xuán Chén's voice was steady—
"Keep track of it all."
Shī Tóngbǎi nodded,
Backing toward the door,
Murmuring—
"Don't worry, senior brother.
I'll keep those teeth straight—
Anyone tries to bite,
I'll crack their jaws first."
—
The lamplight flickered.
A soft knock at the door—knock knock—
Then a voice, low and formal—
"Senior Xuán,
I have urgent matters to discuss…"
Xuán Chén didn't answer.
Talisman sand clicked between his fingers,
But his mind had already reached outward.
Outside the door—
Two presences.
One bright, one shadowed.
The steward's voice was polite,
But behind him,
A near-motionless aura lay coiled like a hidden serpent,
Tucked in the doorframe's shadow.
Xuán Chén turned the talisman sand,
Spoke calmly—
"Enter."
The door creaked open.
The Silver Mirror steward stepped in carefully.
Before he could speak,
Xuán Chén cut him off—
"The one behind you—
If you've come together,
Why hide?"
The steward froze,
Mouth slightly open,
Silent.
A breath later,
The shadow stepped forward.
Moonlight slanted through the eaves,
Revealing a face—
Sharp, cold, and striking.
Sītú Jìng,
Head of Silver Mirror.
His gaze settled on Xuán Chén,
A faint curve at his lips—
"Just as they say—
Your mind, Xuán Chén,
Sharper than it looks.
Xuán Chén
remained seated,
Talisman sand scattering into faint light.
A cold thought stirred—
"…Silver Mirror's fangs,
Delivered to my door."
His gaze lowered,
A faint chill tugging at his lips—
"Since Sītú Jìng has come in person,
If it's just to play coy,
That's beneath your station."
"Why not speak plainly—
What guidance do you bring today?"
Sītú Jìng replied politely—
"To avoid disturbing your studies,
I'll keep it brief."
"Have you and Xiǎo Chén considered joining Silver Mirror?"
Xuán Chén kept his tone courteous,
But the edge was clear—
"We've only just entered the academy.
Still standing in sunlight,
Direction unclear."
"So no—
We haven't thought about it."
Sītú Jìng caught the jab—
A reference to his earlier hidden presence.
His face darkened—
"Xuán Chén,
You two entered with all eyes on you.
Surely you've had invitations—
Fellow cultivators seeking alliance?"
Xuán Chén answered coolly—
"Indeed,
We were invited to join White Profound Society."
"But I believe you've heard—
It didn't end well."
"No need to ask what you already know."
Sītú Jìng's expression shifted—
"Precisely why I'm here."
"To see if you need assistance."
"White Profound holds considerable sway in the academy.
Without backing,
You may face… complications."
Xuán Chén looked up,
Eyes clear and cold—
"Then tell me,
What do you think we lack?"
Sītú Jìng raised a hand,
Signaling the steward to step back.
His gaze returned to Xuán Chén,
Voice polite—
But laced with pressure—
"Silver Mirror never forces anyone."
"If we truly wish to recruit,
We don't rely on empty words."
He stood calmly inside the doorway,
Fingers tapping behind his sleeve.
His voice was gentle,
But each phrase pressed forward—
"As long as our intentions align,
No matter what others do—
Silver Mirror will shield you."
"Bái Shī, that beast—
Can bite fools,
But he won't shake Silver Mirror's spine."
Xuán Chén lowered his gaze,
The chill at his lips deepened—
"Bái Shī is no concern of mine."
"Silver Mirror's rules…
Even less so."
Sītú Jìng's brow lifted slightly.
A flicker of admiration passed through his eyes.
Then he smiled,
Voice like wind brushing trees—
Soft, but edged—
"A fine 'no concern'…"
"If you truly stand firm,
Silver Mirror will respect that."
"But to stand firm—
One must have something to stand behind."
Xuán Chén
smiled faintly,
His tone shifted—
Eyes calm as a mirror,
But his words quietly blocked the advance—
"Appreciate your kindness, Commander Sītú Jìng."
"But Xiǎo Chén and I have our own path.
We're not yet at the point of leaning on others."
A flicker passed through Sītú Jìng's eyes.
His smile thinned.
Then he spoke softly—
"Everyone has their own ambitions.
I understand."
"But since you've stepped into Ao Tiān,
You should know—
Inside and out,
Survival isn't built on strength alone."
"Intelligence, resources, hierarchy…
These are Silver Mirror's domain."
Xuán Chén raised a brow.
His voice hovered between cool and colder,
With a hint of frost—
"Your advice is noted."
"But I've always held one principle—
Information and resources
Only feel secure when held in my own hands."
Sītú Jìng chuckled,
His gaze tapping like the back of a blade against the chest—
"If your backing is empty,
White Profound may test you again."
"When that happens,
Don't say Silver Mirror didn't warn you."
Xuán Chén's gaze didn't shift.
Talisman sand fell silently to the desk's edge.
His voice pressed against the room's warmth—
"Tests are for those who need testing."
"Xiǎo Chén and I
Don't like being shown the way."
The two stared each other down.
The corridor lights flickered.
Sītú Jìng raised a finger,
Tapped his brow,
Half-smiling—
"Well said, Xuán Chén…"
"If that's your stance,
Silver Mirror won't stand idle
If you're ever cornered."
"If the day comes you reconsider—
There's still a place for you beneath our banner."
Xuán Chén's tone remained flat—
"If that day comes…
We'll talk then."
They held each other's gaze.
Then Sītú Jìng smiled again,
Voice slow and steady—
"If you change your mind,
Silver Mirror's doors are always open."
With that,
He swept his gaze across the room—
Casual, but precise.
Then turned and left.
As he did,
His fingertip brushed the edge of Xuán Chén's scroll—
A flicker in his eyes,
No trace left behind.
Xuán Chén lowered his gaze,
Flicked his talisman sand,
A cold curve rising in his thoughts—
"…That little trick—
You think I didn't notice?"
He didn't expose it.
Just tapped the desk's corner with his fingertip—
"Let it be…
Might come in handy one day.
Could bite him back."
The door closed without a sound.
Only flickering lamplight remained in the corridor.
Xuán Chén's talisman sand stirred in his sleeve.
His finger touched the desk again—
Still sensing the faint trace left behind.
He looked up
And saw half a head peeking through the doorway.
Shī Tóngbǎi wore a grin laced with caution,
Voice tentative—
"…Senior brother,
That Leader Sītú Jìng didn't leave any traps, did he?"
Xuán Chén's voice dropped,
Steady and calm,
With a hint of warning—
"Left a tail.
But nothing troublesome."
"If Silver Mirror or White Profound stir again in the next few days—
Watch closely."
"No need to speak up.
Let me hold it first."
Shī Tóngbǎi straightened,
His tone low and serious—
"Understood.
Don't worry, senior brother."
"I'll keep those threads under my eye.
If anything slips—
I'll block it first.
Not a word will leak outside."
Xuán Chén glanced at him.
Talisman sand drifted slowly to the desk's edge.
His expression didn't change,
But a faint smile tugged at his lips—
"…Xiǎo Chén should be back by now."
"Go find him.
Don't let him pass out in the courtyard again,
Getting chilled by the wind."
Shī Tóngbǎi chuckled,
Nodded quickly,
Then backed out of the doorway—
Throwing a cheeky "don't worry" hand sign as he left.