Days passed quietly in the Heavenly Academy — until the day before the written exam.
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the classroom, scattering golden slivers of light across the polished wooden floor. Dust motes danced lazily in the beams, moving like tiny, unseen spirits. A sense of calm lingered in the air, yet beneath it, tension coiled tightly in the hearts of every student, anticipation sharpening the edges of their nerves.
That morning, Teacher Li entered the classroom with a firm, measured step. His presence alone seemed to drain the room of chatter and mischief. Every eye snapped to him. The sharp gleam in his eyes cut through the soft morning light, and even the tiniest sound—the shuffle of a foot, the faint scratch of a pen—was swallowed by the weight of his authority.
He sat down straight-backed and announced,
"Tomorrow is the challenge. It will be a written test — one hundred questions — prepared by me and Master Wu Xin."
The words hung in the air like a bell tolling, sending a ripple of anxiety and curiosity through the classroom. He briefly explained how exams were conducted at the Heavenly Academy, his voice steady but carrying an undercurrent of severity that made even the boldest students shift in their seats. Then, without another word, he left the room in a hurry, his cloak brushing the floor like a dark river.
Huo Feng tilted her head, confusion clouding her usually serene face. A small frown tugged at her lips, and her brows knitted together.
"What does he even mean by 'exam questions'? And why does he look so serious?"
Without realizing it, her thoughts slipped into words:
"I have to find out what that means… now."
That single sentence caught the attention of Suo, the mischievous troublemaker who sat behind her. His lips curled into a knowing smirk. He immediately assumed she intended to steal the test questions, and before she could protest, he grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the classroom.
"W–what are you doing?" she whispered, startled, her voice a fragile thread in the otherwise quiet corridor.
"Quiet," he ordered, pressing a finger to his lips. His breath brushed against her ear, warm and conspiratorial. Leaning close, he whispered,
"Don't you want to know the questions before everyone else? Don't you want to pass? Then follow my lead and stay quiet."
He crept toward the door of Master Wu Xin's office, dragging her along like a shadow tethered to light. Huo Feng followed instinctively, copying every movement he made—crouching, leaning, holding her breath—without even knowing why. It was a strange, thrilling dance of secrecy that made her pulse race and cheeks warm.
After a few moments, she whispered, frustration tinging her words,
"What are we doing? Why are we just standing here? Is this… a training exercise before the test?"
A calm voice suddenly spoke from beside them, smooth as flowing water,
"No, idiot. He is teaching you how to eavesdrop. It's a valuable skill — you should practice it more."
They froze. Teacher Li crouched beside them, mirroring their movements, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. His eyes twinkled with amusement and challenge, like a cat watching young mice learn their first lessons in stealth.
Huo Feng turned to him, innocent curiosity softening her face.
"Teacher… are you training with us too? Do you also want to become a spy?"
Suo's heart nearly stopped. He leapt upright, hands flailing nervously.
"N-no! We weren't spying on you, Teacher! Definitely not!"
Huo Feng nodded proudly, a small beam of pride lighting her expression.
"Right! We're not spying. We just wanted to know the test questions before everyone else."
Teacher Li burst into laughter—a deep, resonant sound that seemed to fill every corner of the hall, vibrating in the polished wood beneath their feet. Huo Feng shivered involuntarily, the warmth of amusement threading through her chest like sunlight through frost.
Without thinking, she blurted out, her voice soft and unguarded,
"Your laugh is so nice, Teacher…"
Just then, the office door swung open with a decisive creak. Master Wu Xin stood there, the very air around him chilling. His cold eyes fixed directly on Huo Feng's face, so sharp it felt as though they could pierce the skin, the soul, the very air she breathed.
Was it anger at her audacity… or was there something else? Jealousy? Bewilderment? She could not tell. He said nothing, merely stepped forward, brushing past them with an unyielding force, leaving a trail of silent fury behind him, radiating like heat from an unseen fire.
The next morning, the long-awaited exam began.
Rows of students sat at their assigned desks, each meticulously spaced under the high, sunlit windows. The murmuring of nerves—shuffling papers, twitching fingers, suppressed breaths—created a rhythm like the low hum of a storm building in the distance. Assistant Li moved down the rows, distributing the test papers with steady hands, while Master Wu Xin loomed silently behind, his gaze slicing through the students like an invisible blade, especially focusing on Huo Feng. Her calm composure was a stark contrast to the jittering, anxious faces around her, a serene island in a sea of restless currents.
"Begin," Teacher Li commanded.
The room fell into profound silence. Pens scratched against paper. Pages turned with soft rustles. The tension was almost tactile, settling like a heavy fog in the room.
Everyone began writing—except Huo Feng. She stared at her paper, expression serene but blank, as if the questions had not yet reached her mind. She glanced at the others, utterly lost in the strange stillness of her thoughts.
Suo noticed her blank stare and smirked, an echo of mischief from the day before. Wanting to tease her for yesterday's embarrassment, he called out loud enough for the entire room to hear:
"Are you going to start, or are you just here to watch us work?"
Huo Feng didn't flinch. Not a muscle moved, not a blink skipped.
"Mind your own business. I haven't started yet… but I'll finish before you do," she said quietly, her voice calm and composed, carrying the strange weight of absolute certainty.
Her confidence made him grit his teeth.
"Where does all that confidence come from, huh?" he muttered under his breath.
Mei Ling, never one to miss an opportunity to insult, added with mockery dripping like venom,
"Even if you finish first, you'll never beat me. You'll always be second best."
Huo Feng sighed softly, her chest rising in a serene rhythm, and replied with a smile that held quiet strength,
"Actually… I'm already done, loser."
Mei Ling sprang to her feet in disbelief. Her eyes widened, drawing the attention of both teachers.
"How could she finish so fast?" she muttered, fuming. "Is she really that smart… or did she cheat somehow?"
She snatched Huo Feng's paper and froze. The page was completely blank—immaculate, untouched, pure.
"W–what is this?" Mei Ling stammered, rage flaring in her face.
Teacher Li took the paper, glanced at it, and laughed—a warm, genuine sound that seemed to ripple through the room.
"Completely blank — pure and spotless… just like her soul."
Mei Ling's anger twisted further.
"Are you mocking us, Huo Feng? You lied! You said you finished, and your paper's empty!"
Huo Feng tilted her head, innocence radiating from her expression.
"But I did finish."
Mei Ling's eyes bulged.
"Are you blind? The paper is blank! Where are your answers?!"
Huo Feng smiled gently, soft as moonlight.
"In my head, of course."
Teacher Li chuckled, leaning slightly against his desk.
"Then why didn't you write them down?"
"Because… I don't know how to write," she said simply, the words falling like a leaf drifting from a tree.
The room went utterly silent. Mei Ling blinked, rendered speechless for the first time, before shouting:
"What? Are you joking again?"
"No," Huo Feng replied softly. "I really don't know how."
Teacher Li quickly intervened before chaos could erupt.
"It's fine. We'll find a solution later. For now, tell us your answers verbally."
Mei Ling slammed her desk, frustration manifesting in a loud, jarring sound.
"No! It's a written test! She can't do that!"
Master Wu Xin, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. His voice was calm, measured, but carried the gravity of authority.
"We'll deduct a few points for it. That should be fair."
He glanced at the rest of the class. Approval flickered in hesitant nods, and then he turned back to Huo Feng.
"Alright. Tell us your answers — out loud."
She blinked, tilting her head slightly.
"My answers to what?"
Mei Ling scoffed, sharp and loud.
"To the test questions, obviously! Are you stupid?"
Huo Feng turned to Suo, who was staring in disbelief at the unfolding scene.
"Can you help me?" she asked sweetly, the innocence in her tone almost tangible.
He frowned, confused.
"Help you? With what?"
She leaned closer, whispering—her voice soft but echoing like a ripple in still water:
"I… can't read, either."
Teacher Li doubled over in laughter, nearly toppling from his chair, the sound filling every corner of the classroom with warmth. Mei Ling looked ready to explode with rage.
Master Wu Xin's reaction, however, was far stranger. He walked up to Huo Feng, grabbed her by the collar, and dragged her toward his office, his expression unreadable. Even he could not tell if he was angry, exasperated, or secretly enchanted by her ridiculous, unassuming innocence.