At last, the long-awaited day had come. The academy's courtyard awakened like a living tapestry, every corner a riot of color and sound. Banners of crimson, gold, and sapphire fluttered in the gentle morning breeze, catching the sunlight and scattering it in radiant prisms across the cobblestones. Blooms of every hue — deep vermilion peonies, pale lilac orchids, and golden chrysanthemums — nodded in the wind, releasing delicate fragrances that mingled with the earthy scent of the garden. Honored guests streamed in from every corner, their laughter spilling over like warm honey, mingling with the soft rustle of silk robes and the clatter of silverware. The courtyard overflowed with a symphony of voices, colors, and motion.
Long tables, adorned with rich fabrics embroidered in intricate patterns, stretched along both sides of the courtyard. Platters gleamed with delicacies — crystal bowls of shimmering jellies, trays of golden dumplings glistening with oil, pastries layered with honey and nuts, and fragrant teas steaming gently from ornate cups. The invitees settled eagerly, their eyes sparkling with anticipation for the grand Feast of Talents — second only to the Festival of Spring in fame, and now alive with expectation.
The students moved among the guests like rivers of silk and grace, each step measured, each gesture precise. Tea poured with delicate arcs, sweets offered with a bow, fingers brushing lightly across porcelain and silver. One by one, the students revealed their talents: calligraphy flowed like water, brushstrokes alive with passion; martial demonstrations rippled with raw energy; and music lifted the heart, notes weaving through the air like silver threads. Each performance drew gasps, smiles, and murmurs of admiration, every face in the courtyard a mirror of wonder.
And though Huo Feng's tea came last in the order, its fragrance alone commanded attention. Steam rose like a mist of sunlight, carrying whispers of jasmine and mountain herbs, of warmth and calm, settling softly over the guests. One sip — and silence fell. Eyes widened, breaths halted mid-motion. The taste was unlike any other, gentle yet profound, each swallow a caress to the soul, like sunlight seeping through the clouds into the very marrow of one's being. Hearts stirred, memories awoke, and for a moment, even time seemed to pause.
Then came the moment everyone had been waiting for — her performance.
The lights dimmed gradually, shadows pooling in the corners of the courtyard. Darkness blanketed the space, smooth and thick as velvet, swallowing the edges of reality. And from that void, a single flame ignited.
Suo appeared at the center, eyes closed, his form wrapped in a soft blaze that shimmered like molten gold. Every hair of his head glinted in the firelight, threads of burning copper swaying with the breeze. His sword, planted firmly in the ground, hummed faintly, glowing like molten glass as if it held a heartbeat of its own.
To one side, Master Li's hands hovered above a stringed instrument, the wood polished to a gleaming deep brown. With a gentle touch, he coaxed a melody into the air — so tender that even the cobblestones seemed to breathe with it, vibrating with warmth, each note a pulse that caressed the skin and stirred the heart. Slowly, impossibly, his body lifted from the ground, circling around Suo in a celestial orbit — the Earth revolving around its Sun.
Master Li's emerald eyes shone with a purity that pierced every soul in the audience, reflecting longing, life, and love. The courtyard itself seemed to lean forward, listening, enraptured. The Earth, captivated by the Sun, drew ever closer, pulled by the gravity of fire and light. Suo opened his eyes at last, and a surge of golden heat rolled outward, brushing the guests' cheeks, warming the cobblestones, stirring the banners into a gentle dance.
Then, from the shadow of the night sky above, the Moon emerged.
Huo Feng appeared — radiant, her white hair flowing like threads of silver caught in a celestial breeze, her gown shimmering with the soft glow of distant stars. Every step she took sent ripples through the air, faintly brushing the warmth of Suo's fire and the song of Master Li's strings. She looked upon the Earth, and a flicker of jealousy stirred within her, delicate and sharp — for the Earth's gaze was fixed upon the Sun.
She began to dance. Each movement whispered emotion and challenge, arcs of silver light cutting the air, her sword tracing glowing curves with every spin. She circled Sun and Earth alike, a storm of grace and defiance, seeking acknowledgment, longing to be seen. Her feet brushed the ground in barely audible taps, each step releasing a faint pulse of moonlight that mingled with the Sun's warmth.
Yet the Earth did not turn from the Sun.
Her dance accelerated, a whirl of silver against gold, light against fire, motion against stability. The Moon's gaze hardened, meeting the Sun's with a defiance that could cleave the wind. And when she positioned herself between them, shadows coiled and expanded — an eclipse born of elegance and tension. The courtyard fell silent. Even the breeze stilled, caught in the magic of the moment.
Her voice rang soft but clear, vibrating with ethereal resonance:"I am your Moon — your reflection, your calm. I light your nights and soothe your storms. Embrace me, and I shall never harm you."
The Sun flared. Its flame surged, fierce yet weighted with sorrow. With a swift, elegant sweep of his sword, Suo pushed the Moon aside — not with hatred, but with inevitability, the pull of destiny. The Moon faded like mist dispersing at dawn, her glow dimmed but persistent, threads of silver lingering in the air.
The crowd inhaled as one, sensing the tension crackle like static.
"I am power," Suo declared, his voice burning through the stillness. "I am life. I will burn for you — even to my dying breath."
Swords clashed, fire met moonlight, passion met serenity. The duel was both battle and ballet, each movement echoing in the chest of every spectator. The Earth, the Moon, the Sun — their fates entangled in rhythm and flame.
Finally, Master Li's melody shifted, softened into a sorrowful aria, reflecting the ache of the heavens themselves. The duel stilled. Sun and Moon lowered their swords, eyes meeting not in rivalry but in understanding.
Suo, the Sun, spoke gently:"Then let me burn for you, too. Do not envy — for I will wait for you, even in my daylight."
Huo Feng — the Moon — spun once more, her gown trailing silver light across the ground, and whispered, trembling with emotion:"And I shall shine by your love, my Sun. From this day forth, our fates will share the same sky."
The performance ended. A wave of sound erupted, thunderous applause and gasps of awe, tears glimmering in more than a few eyes. No one had ever witnessed a dance so full of fire, grace, and soul.
As the music faded and moonlight returned to spill across the courtyard, Master Li rose, his robes catching the faint starlight from Huo Feng's gown.
"Silence, please."
The crowd obeyed instantly, hushed beneath the weight of his authority and pride. His voice carried warmth that reached even the farthest corners of the hall:"Every one of you has worked with heart and skill. For that, you have my gratitude. But I believe tonight's choice is clear — none can deny it."
A smile touched his lips as he turned toward her."The winner of this year's Talent Feast — for her extraordinary tea, and her unforgettable dance — is my dear student… Huo Feng."
The courtyard erupted once more, applause and cheers spilling over in waves, echoing against stone and sky alike. All but one pair of hands.
Mei rose, fury twisting her features, her voice slicing through the noise:"This is unfair! How could that fool win? I'm sure she cheated — she must have used magic in her tea!"
Master Li frowned, poised to respond, but Huo Feng raised her hand gently, serene in the swirl of emotions."You think enchanted tea won their hearts?" she asked, calm and teasing.
"Of course!" Mei snapped, voice tight with indignation. "Without a doubt."
Huo Feng's lips curved into a serene, knowing smile."But tell me then — he didn't drink my tea. Yet even he chose me. What do you make of that?"
She pointed toward Wu Xin, her tone playful, half scolding, half grateful. Mei faltered, confusion flickering in her eyes.
Wu Xin's gaze softened, unreadable yet warm. "Indeed, I didn't drink it. The tea wasn't meant for me. But now — after seeing her dance, and naming her the finest among you — I shall drink it, and celebrate her victory tonight."
He lifted the cup, steam curling upward like a delicate blessing. The audience cheered once more, laughter mingling with the soft glow of moonlight, petals stirred by the gentle night wind. And there, beneath the banners of spring, the Sun and Moon shone side by side, their dance now immortalized — a legend etched into the hearts of all who had witnessed it.