(Sunset is bleeding across the sky when Qiu Yan reaches the outer gate of Jade Whisper Sect. The massive jade archway looms overhead, carved with swirling cloud motifs that once seemed majestic. Now they look like mocking faces. Two outer disciples stand guard, spears crossed. They see him and stiffen.)
Guard 1 (eyes widening, voice cracking) "You! You're supposed to be gone! Elder Bi said sunset means gone!"
Guard 2 (already reaching for his alarm talisman) "Get lost, trash! We don't want your stink back here. Huo Lie already spread the word. You're banned for life!"
Qiu Yan stops a few paces away. Hands loose at his sides. The faint orange-red glow under his skin is barely visible in the dying light, but the air around him feels thicker, heavier.
Qiu Yan (calm, almost polite) "I heard the deadline. Sunset. Sun's still up. Technically I'm still allowed to stand here. Right?"
The guards exchange glances. One swallows hard.
Guard 1 (trying to sound tough) "Technically? You think technicalities save trash? Huo Lie said if you showed your face again we'd drag you out by the hair and throw you off the cliff ourselves!"
Qiu Yan (tilting his head slightly) "Huo Lie said that? Interesting. Where is he now? I'd like to thank him personally for the warm welcome."
Guard 2 (snorting) "Thank him? You'd be lucky if he doesn't spit on your corpse. He's in the outer hall right now, bragging about how he finally got the sect rid of its biggest joke. You want to see him? Fine. We'll escort you... straight to the punishment platform!"
They uncross spears. One grabs Qiu Yan's arm roughly. The moment his fingers close around the sleeve, a low vibration hums through the air. The guard jerks back like he touched hot iron.
Guard 1 (shaking his hand) "What the hell was that? Felt like... like something buzzed inside my skull!"
Qiu Yan (smiling thinly) "Must be your conscience. Don't worry. It'll pass."
They shove him forward through the gate. Disciples on the path stop and stare. Whispers spread like fire through dry grass.
Random Disciple (pointing) "Is that... the faded ember? He's back?!"
Another Disciple (laughing nervously) "He must have a death wish. Huo Lie's gonna tear him apart!"
The outer hall is lit with floating lanterns. About thirty disciples mill around. At the center, Huo Lie stands on a low stone platform, arms crossed, telling the story for the third time.
Huo Lie (voice booming, gesturing wildly) "...and then Elder Bi said 'You'd need a face worth defending first!' The look on that trash's face! Priceless! I swear, if he ever shows up again I'll personally—"
He freezes. Everyone turns. Qiu Yan walks in slowly, flanked by the two guards. The hall goes dead silent.
Huo Lie (blinking, then laughing hard) "No way. You actually came back? After all that? You really are stupider than I thought! Guards, throw this garbage out before he ruins the air quality!"
Guard 1 (pushing Qiu Yan forward) "He insisted, Senior Huo. Said he wanted to thank you personally."
Huo Lie (stepping down from the platform, smirking) "Thank me? Oh, this I gotta hear. Go on, faded ember. Thank me. Make it good. Maybe I'll let you leave with all your teeth."
Qiu Yan stops in the middle of the hall. Looks around slowly. Every eye is on him. Some curious. Most mocking.
Qiu Yan (voice steady) "Thank you, Senior Huo. Thank you for every insult. Every laugh. Every time you called me trash in front of the entire sect. It was... educational."
Huo Lie (snorting) "Educational? The only thing you learned is how to be a better doormat. Now get out before I—"
Qiu Yan (cutting in, tone sharpening) "Before you what? Beat me? Humiliate me more? You already did all that. And yet... here I am. Still standing. Still breathing the same air as real cultivators, as you so kindly put it."
Murmurs ripple. Huo Lie's smile falters for a split second.
Huo Lie (recovering, stepping closer) "You're bold for someone who's about to eat dirt. Guards! Hold him down. I'll make sure this lesson sticks!"
The two guards grab Qiu Yan's arms again. This time, the vibration is stronger. Both guards yelp and let go, clutching their heads.
Guard 1 (panicked) "Senior Huo! Something's wrong! My head... voices...!"
Qiu Yan (quietly) "Voices? Funny. I hear voices too now. Want to know what yours is saying?"
He raises one hand. No dramatic flourish. Just a casual lift of fingers.
Qiu Yan "Listen."
A low hum fills the hall. Then Huo Lie's own voice echoes back at him – but twisted, amplified, layered with mockery.
Huo Lie's Echo (his own voice, but dripping sarcasm and pain) "I'm Huo Lie... the great genius... who can't even hit a proper stance without looking like a drunk chicken... pathetic... face lost... sorry sorry sorry..."
The words loop. Louder. Clearer. Every syllable hits Huo Lie like a slap.
Huo Lie (face paling, staggering back) "What... what is this?! Stop it! STOP IT!"
Qiu Yan (smiling wider) "Why stop? This is your echo, Senior. The one you've been building for years. All that arrogance... all that hot air... it has to go somewhere. And right now... it's going right back into your skull."
The disciples back away. Some cover their ears. Others stare in horror.
Su Qinglan (stepping out from the crowd, eyes wide) "Qiu Yan... what did you do?"
Qiu Yan (glancing at her, tone softening just a fraction) "Nothing much. Just... listened. Turns out the world is full of echoes. And some of them are very loud when you know how to turn up the volume."
Huo Lie (dropping to his knees, clutching his head) "Make it stop! Please! I... I'm sorry! Sorry sorry sorry!"
The echo laughs. His own laugh. Mocking him.
Qiu Yan (stepping closer, voice low) "Sorry? That's new. You never said sorry before. Not once. Not when you called me trash. Not when you suggested they throw me off the cliff. Not when you laughed while Elder Bi expelled me. Funny how fast 'sorry' comes when it's your turn to be the joke."
Elder Bi (bursting into the hall, face thunderous) "What is this commotion?! Huo Lie, stand up! And you... you filthy expelled worm! How dare you return?!"
Qiu Yan (turning slowly to face him) "Elder Bi. Perfect timing. I was just about to thank you too."
Elder Bi (snarling) "Thank me? I'll have you executed for trespassing!"
Qiu Yan "Executed? For standing inside the gate before sunset? That's... creative. But before you call the executioners... listen to this."
He snaps his fingers lightly.
Another hum. This time Elder Bi's voice echoes through the hall – cold, cruel, amplified.
Elder Bi's Echo (his own voice, layered with contempt) "You'd need a face worth defending first... vermin... bug... feed your corpse to the beasts... pathetic... worthless... face lost forever..."
Elder Bi staggers. Hands fly to his ears.
Elder Bi (voice cracking) "Impossible! This is sorcery! Demonic art! Guards! Seize him!"
The guards hesitate. They're still rubbing their temples.
Qiu Yan (shrugging) "Sorcery? Demonic? Nah. Just echoes. Your echoes. The ones you left behind every time you opened your mouth to humiliate someone. Turns out they don't disappear. They wait. And now... they're waiting for you."
The hall is dead silent except for the looping echoes. Huo Lie is on all fours, forehead pressed to the stone floor, muttering apologies. Elder Bi's knees buckle. He drops to one knee.
Su Qinglan (stepping forward, voice quiet but firm) "Qiu Yan... enough. They're broken."
Qiu Yan (looking at her, expression softening again) "Broken? They were never whole. Just loud. Now they're quiet. That's all."
He lowers his hand. The echoes fade slowly, leaving only whimpers.
Qiu Yan (addressing the hall) "Anyone else want to add their voice to the chorus? I'm listening."
No one moves.
Qiu Yan (turning back to Elder Bi) "Consider this my formal goodbye. And my formal thank you. Without you... I never would have heard the music."
He walks toward the gate. No one stops him.
Su Qinglan (calling after him, hesitant) "Qiu Yan... wait."
He pauses at the threshold. Doesn't turn.
Qiu Yan "Yes, Senior Sister?"
Su Qinglan "Where are you going?"
Qiu Yan (quiet laugh) "Somewhere the echoes are louder. Somewhere I can collect a few more... before I come back to finish the song."
He steps through the gate. Sunset finally dips below the peaks.
The hall stays silent long after he's gone.
(Inner voice – soft, satisfied) They thought they buried the embarrassment. Instead they gave it a stage. And the show... is just beginning.