The Heavenly Academy stood proudly atop Cloud Peak, like a radiant jewel adorning the neck of the sky, its spires piercing the clouds and shimmering under the early morning light. From afar, it resembled a mythical fortress, its golden aura humming with an ethereal energy that spoke of centuries of sacred knowledge and unbroken traditions. As one approached, the massive gates revealed intricate carvings that seemed almost alive—depicting legendary battles, heroic deeds, and ancient myths that had shaped the kingdom's very soul. The air was thick with reverence and anticipation, as if every breeze whispered secrets of the past to those willing to listen.
Inside, the marble corridors stretched endlessly, the stone floors smooth and cool underfoot. Strange, glowing plants lined the hallways in vibrant, pulsating hues, their light subtly shifting as though breathing in tune with the footsteps of the academy's denizens. All paths led toward the Grand Hall of Instruction, a place that shifted form according to the trials within—sometimes a battleground where strength was tested, sometimes a sanctuary where wisdom and cultivation intertwined. The Academy was more than a place of learning; it was hallowed ground, a convergence of dreams and discipline, where warriors honed their bodies, sages sharpened their minds, and the pure-hearted sought enlightenment beneath a sky that belonged to all.
On her very first morning at the academy, Huo Feng's steps faltered only briefly before she encountered him—the handsome troublemaker, Suo. He approached with the ease of someone who had known her for a lifetime, draping an arm casually over her shoulder and whispering conspiratorially. There was a spark in his eyes, a playful mischief that drew her in, and in his hand rested a jar filled with a vibrant, refreshing spirit drink. Before they entered the lecture hall, he grinned, his voice teasing and warm.
"I'm counting on you, Disaster," he said, eyes twinkling.
Huo Feng, ever cheerful and ever reckless, accepted the unspoken challenge with delight. She placed the jar carefully upon the instructor's polished desk, then took a seat beside Suo—though not without playful complaints, as he had insisted on proximity.
When Master Li entered the hall, his gaze instantly fell upon the jar. With a faint, knowing smile, he opened it, inhaling the aroma as though savoring a rare delicacy. "Excellent. Now I can work in peace," he murmured, the words carrying a casual authority that only he could project.
Master Li was known throughout the kingdom as a man untouched by worry, seemingly immune to duty, and blissfully indifferent to convention. Sometimes foolish, at times even more so, yet his wisdom hid beneath the playful facade.
The moment he took a sip of the drink, his tongue twisted dramatically, and he let out a howl—not of anger, but of pure theatrical flair. He gestured broadly, voice thick with exaggerated difficulty, demanding to know the culprit, fully expecting no one to confess.
As always, Huo Feng raised her hand. She had been strictly instructed by the Furnace Elder never to speak without permission, and yet her boldness defied convention with innocent charm.
Master Li, clearly amused, inclined his head. "Very well… tell me who did this, and I promise no one shall lay a finger on you—because you revealed the truth."
With a serene confidence that belied her youth, she answered, "It was me, Instructor."
Master Li blinked, genuinely taken aback, his sea-like eyes studying her as though seeing her for the first time. "No… do not sacrifice yourself to protect someone else."
Huo Feng tilted her head, her expression calm and unwavering. "I'm not," she replied simply, yet the firmness of her tone carried more weight than words.
He leaned forward slightly, as though shielding her from her own innocence. "Why would you do this? You seem kind. I doubt you would act alone."
Her hands shot up, pointing decisively at Suo. "He told me to," she declared.
Her eyes—brilliant, clear as twin pools reflecting an unyielding truth—were terrifying in their honesty. They stripped away pretenses, leaving one's soul exposed, trembling beneath her gaze. These were eyes tempered in the Furnace's Mirror of Truth, unyielding and incisive.
Suo froze, ensnared by their piercing clarity. His own gaze locked onto hers, and without hesitation, he confessed: "I told her to. So blame me instead."
Instructor Li chuckled, the sound echoing gently through the hall. "I didn't expect the new generation to be so naïve. You cannot even conceal your schemes properly."
Suo smirked, undeterred. "No one can hide from those eyes once they begin to plead."
Master Li's laughter rang out, warm and light. "Not just naïve—but utterly shameless as well. Or perhaps… merely honest. No matter. You two may continue your little romance while cleaning the entire academy."
Suo's fist shot into the air in victory. "Easy," he said, proud of the apparent simplicity.
Huo Feng shook her head, pointing at him like a scolding elder might a mischievous child. "You can't even clean the stable you live in. How is this easy?"
Laughter erupted from the gathered students and instructors alike, filling the vast marble halls with lighthearted warmth. Yet Suo remained shameless, merely tugging her by the shoulder, leading her toward the exit under Instructor Li's amused gaze… and Wu Xin's stormy, furious one.
Chores were divided: the sprawling gardens fell to Huo Feng, while Suo insisted on cleaning the classrooms alongside his loyal friend, Zhang Lin. He entrusted her with the care of the spirit plants—pruning sacred trees and watering the glowing flowers—because he truly believed the tasks suited her. As always, she flitted among the blossoms like a small, bothersome bee, convinced that her presence was a gift, a blessing upon each plant.
Climbing to the top of the tallest tree, she gazed over the radiant academy with eyes that sparkled like morning dew. For the first time in weeks, she felt… alive. She threw her head back and laughed, a sound as clear and bright as sunlight:
"HUUUOOO FOOOONG!"
Her laughter rang across the garden, across the academy, across the kingdom itself—pure, unrestrained joy.
But it halted abruptly when her name was echoed back in a voice deeper, colder, sharper than she expected.
"Huo Feng. Come down."
Her heart stuttered. She looked down, spotting Instructor Wu Xin standing below, eyes like storm-forged steel. A shiver ran through her spine, and she slipped, the sharp pain in her back nothing compared to the ache that stabbed at her heart when she met his gaze.
Before she could respond, something inside her snapped. Her breath hitched, confusion twisting her features. Terror surfaced in her eyes, raw and unfiltered, drowning all light.
Buried memories clawed their way to the surface—too vivid, too cruel. Silenced screams, shadows of forgotten dreams, and the pain she had thought long buried now surged like molten fire. She shoved him away and tried to flee, yet her legs betrayed her. Wu Xin stepped forward, confusion written across his sharp features. Was it fear? Or something deeper, something he had not yet seen?
She crawled backward like a wounded creature, scars torn open once more—scars she believed time had sealed. But she had been wrong. Utterly, foolishly wrong. For the wound of betrayal never truly heals, and a heart once abandoned never forgets.
From a distance, Suo sensed the tremor in her aura. Without hesitation, he dashed to her side. "Are you alright?" he asked, concern etched into every line of his handsome face.
He took her trembling hands, helping her to her feet, but her knees wobbled, refusing to hold. Without warning, he scooped her up, shielding her from the world, and shot Wu Xin a glare that burned with unspoken questions: "What did you do to her?"
Back in her room, she requested him to leave—just to breathe, just to gather the fractured pieces of her soul. And the moment the door closed…
The gates of hellish memory burst open, tearing through the fragile calm she had tried to clutch.