The Faces of This Chapter:
Yena: Divine; Heir of Fenixia | Protagonist, calm observer, powerful yet reserved.
Miao Miao: Yena's best friend| a flower spirit | Mischievous, sharp-witted, curious.
Jin Yue: Heir of Huliya | Knowledgeable, loyal, and well-mannered.
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Yena turned just in time to spot a snake coiled and ready to strike Jin Yue. Without hesitation, she hurled the dagger in her hand. It cut through the air, brushing past Jin Yue's ear so closely that his hair fluttered. The blade embedded itself into the snake, pinning it to a tree.
Jin Yue froze, blinking in disbelief. Slowly, he turned to see the snake's lifeless body and the knife buried deep into the bark. He stepped back, releasing a shaky breath.
Yena hurried over. "Are you okay? Where is your mind at?"
Jin Yue, still reeling, muttered, "Sorry... I was distracted."
"Distracted?" Yena's brows furrowed. "So distracted you didn't notice a venomous snake about to bite you?"
"That was incredible," he said suddenly.
Yena blinked. "What?"
"I mean it," Jin Yue clarified, eyes on her. "You were amazing. Seriously, I'm impressed."
"Tch... And I'm depressed," she replied dryly, kneeling down to gather the twigs he had collected earlier.
Jin Yue chuckled and bent to help. "You were so fast—for a second I thought you were going to hit me. But your aim was perfect. Looks like someone's been training hard."
She stood and handed the firewood bundle back to him. Brushing off her hands, she said, "And it looks like someone's been getting a little too relaxed to train at all."
"You know I'm not like that. I was just—" he stopped mid-sentence as Yena picked up the flower bouquet he had made earlier.
"…Is this what had you so distracted?"
Jin Yue looked away, rubbing the back of his neck. "I wasn't... I mean—"
"Who would've thought someone like you would be so into flower arranging?" she teased, lifting the bouquet with a sly smile.
"I wasn't!" he said quickly.
"Yeah, yeah. I can see that," she said, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
He hesitated. "So… what are you going to do with that?" he asked, nodding toward the bouquet in her hand.
"It is beautiful," she said thoughtfully, "but we can't take it back with us... I mean, Miao Miao is kind of sensitive when it comes to flowers and plants. I can't let you two fight over it."
"Why? Every girl likes flowers, don't they?"
"It depends on the person," she replied. "She doesn't hate flower-picking entirely, but some flowers are... special. She'd know. I'm not sure if these are among them."
Jin Yue stared blankly at her, confused.
She shook her head. "Forget it. You wouldn't understand."
"I think I won't," he admitted, then hesitated before adding,"So you're not keeping them? It's okay—as long as you liked them. I made them for fun. Now that you've picked them up, it's your choice."
Yena looked down at the bouquet one last time, her fingers brushing the petals. "... I think it's best to let them return to nature."
She walked to the tree, gripped the hilt of the dagger, and pulled it out in one swift motion—freeing the snake beneath.
"You go ahead," she said quietly. "I'll bury it."
Jin Yue gave a small nod and turned to leave.
Alone, Yena dug a shallow hole and gently placed the snake inside. Kneeling, she whispered a short prayer, her voice low and sincere:
"The life I've taken… I had no right. May you find eternal rest. And if reborn, may your next life be longer, untouched by sorrow, and filled with peace, dear one."
Unwrapping the bouquet, she laid the blossoms over the snake's body, then covered the grave with earth. A few petals remained in her hand; she scattered them gently over the soil. With that, she picked up the fruit basket and made her way back to camp.
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Scene: At the camp
Miao Miao looked up as Yena approached. "Are you okay?"
Yena nodded. "Mm-hmm. I'm fine. You should ask him," she said, jerking her chin toward Jin Yue.
Miao Miao tilted her head. "He seems fine." Then, flashing a mischievous grin, she added, "But I have no idea how he plans to qualify for the tournament with zero survival skills."
Jin Yue let out a long breath. "I told you—I was just distracted for a moment. I'm not usually like that."
Miao Miao scoffed. "Excuses, excuses."
He opened his mouth to argue, but changed the topic instead."Wasn't the dagger you used earlier… Miao Miao's spirit weapon?" he asked, turning to Yena.
Yena stiffened, her expression faltering. She had completely forgotten.
Jin Yue went on, "That's impressive. You know it's nearly impossible to wield someone else's spirit weapon unless the bond between them is incredibly strong."
Before the silence could stretch, Miao Miao chimed in with a teasing smile, hoping to steer the conversation away. "What, you think we're just friends for the title? Our bond runs way deeper than that."
"I know," Jin Yue replied softly.
Yena smiled faintly. "It's been like that since childhood. Miao Miao and I have always been close. That's why I can use it."
She added thoughtfully, "Though… I have heard that spirit weapon resonance is more common between lovers."
"True lovers, I would say," Jin Yue agreed. "It doesn't happen with just anyone—it takes pure love, unwavering dedication, and a truly strong bond for a spirit weapon to respond like that. That says a lot about your friendship—it's strong and pure."
Yena nodded. "Hmm. It is."
Though both girls were lying about the dagger belonging to Miao Miao, one thing was undeniably true: they had grown up together, and their friendship—built on trust—was unshakable.
Yena tilted her head. "Then back when we first met… when you let me train with your spirit weapon—that's why I couldn't hit the target, right?"
Jin Yue rubbed the back of his neck, sheepish. "I just wanted you to experience what it's like to train with a spirit weapon. You didn't have one back then, and… you looked really disappointed about it. I wasn't trying to deceive you—I honestly didn't realize your knowledge about spirit weapons was that limited."
He paused, then added with a quiet chuckle, "When you kept trying so hard to command mine, I started feeling guilty. That's why I eventually stepped in to guide you."
He glanced at her, his expression softening. "But even then… I was amazed when you landed a perfect strike with my weapon. That wasn't something I expected at all."
Miao Miao blinked. "Wait, how is that even possible? You just said it takes deep dedication to another person… but that was your first meeting. Unless—"
She narrowed her eyes at Jin Yue, who was already watching her, clearly bracing for the rest.
"You fell in love at first sight."
"Miao Miao!" Yena hissed, her voice sharp but quiet.
"Relax," Miao Miao said breezily, waving her off like it was no big deal. Then she turned to Jin Yue with a glint in her eye. "Come now, confess. Is it true?"
"I… I don't know!" he stammered. "But seriously, it wasn't like that. I was just as surprised as you!"
Then, trying to recover, he smirked slightly and said, "Are you writing a romance novel or something?"
Miao Miao grinned. "Hey, no need to get defensive. I'm just investigating."
Yena let out a sigh, her voice thoughtful. "Maybe there are things we don't understand yet. This world is full of surprises… and exceptions."
"Exactly," Jin Yue agreed. "Unlike someone whose mind is always full of drama and explosions."
Miao Miao narrowed her eyes. Jin Yue mirrored her glare without hesitation, while Yena shook her head, caught somewhere between amusement and exasperation as the two resumed their unspoken battle of expressions.
The next morning dawned bright and beautiful. After a simple breakfast of fruit and water, they resumed their journey through the forest. The day passed in relative silence—just the sound of footsteps over fallen leaves and birds calling from the treetops. That night, they built a small fire and took turns keeping watch.
The following day, the forest slowly began to thin. Dense trees gave way to patches of grass and clearer skies. By late afternoon, they stepped onto a narrow, weathered path—old, uneven, but unmistakably man-made.
Miao Miao threw her arms up dramatically. "Finally, finally… I can see the sun completely again!"
Jin Yue chuckled, watching her spin around in delight.
Yena took in the view ahead. "How much farther until we reach your master's sect?"
He raised an eyebrow, teasing. "Getting tired already?"
Yena answered plainly, her gaze still on the path ahead. "Just making sure we don't lose daylight."
Jin Yue nodded. "We'll make it to Tianlong's edge by night," he said with a faint smile. "Once we're out of the forest, we'll find a place to rest—then head to the sect tomorrow."
Yena nodded, and the trio pressed on.
By nightfall, the wilderness gave way to the outskirts of Tianlong. The worn road led into a small town—lively, but modest. Street vendors called out to passersby. Children ran between carts. Lanterns hung from wooden posts, swaying in the evening breeze.
Miao Miao's brows furrowed slightly. "There are more people than I expected. I thought Tianlong would be nearly abandoned after the royal family fell."
Jin Yue shrugged, hands tucked into his sleeves. "The fall of the royal family? That happened thousands of years ago."
He sighed. "Sure, a lot of people left back then—but not everyone. And now that Tianlong's under Shexing's rule, it's barely maintained—just enough to keep things running.Most people left for other provinces to settle in."
Miao Miao eyed him, unconvinced. "And the sects? Are you sure your master is running one here?"
He smiled confidently. "There are still a few sects around, but most are bound by Shexing's rules and can't join the Sect Tournament."
He paused before adding, "But don't worry, my master's sect is an exception. It's completely independent."
Yena glanced at him. "Independent? That's rare. How did that happen?"
Jin Yue scratched the back of his neck, a little hesitant. "Uh... actually, it's backed by the royal palace of Huliya. That's why it can operate freely."
Yena's tone turned skeptical. "Huliya interfered in Shexing's territory, and Shexing allowed it?"
Jin Yue chuckled awkwardly. "Well… Huliya's influence is strong. Shexing can't exactly challenge it without a solid reason."
"Hm." Yena nodded slowly, her expression unreadable. "You seem to know a lot about inter-provincial affairs."
Miao Miao tilted her head, clearly intrigued. "You're surprisingly resourceful."
Yena smiled faintly, agreeing with a subtle nod.
Jin Yue cleared his throat and gestured toward the street ahead. "Well then—shall we find a place to rest, ladies?"
Without protest, they followed him down the quiet road. Eventually, they stopped at a modest inn, nestled between a blacksmith's forge and a weathered teahouse.
It wasn't fancy, but it was clean, warm, and quiet—more than enough to ease the weariness of the day.
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