The courtyard of Baoli Zong buzzed with energy as disciples gathered, anticipation rippling through the air. The masters of the four clans—Bai, Mo, Feng, and Qin—took their seats, their presence commanding silence.
A robed announcer stepped forward, his voice carrying clearly across the grounds.
"Today begins your trial. One hundred restless spirits have been released into the forest. Your task is simple—hunt them, capture them, and bring them back. You will do so not alone, but in pairs. Remember: power without teamwork is nothing. The trial begins now."
A murmur spread through the students. Eyes darted, choices were made in an instant.
Feng Yangguang twisted in his seat toward his older sister. "Sister Ling, let's—"
But before he could finish, Qin Yijun was already standing at Lingxi's side, offering a polite bow.
"I'll pair with Lady Feng Lingxi."
Yangguang's jaw dropped. "Eh?!" He slumped back, muttering curses under his breath.
On the other side, Ye Dushen rose, his gaze naturally seeking Mei'yin. But before he could even take a step toward her, a hand shot out—Mo Yuming's hand.
"I'll take Dushen." She grinned wide, practically dragging him to her side.
Dushen stiffened, irritation flashing across his features. "I wasn't—"
"No protests," Yuming cut him off with a mischievous wink. "You'll thank me later."
Meanwhile, Qin Yuxi's choice was quiet but deliberate. He stepped forward, his cold eyes softening only when they landed on Mei'yin.
"A'yin," he said simply.
She blinked in surprise, then nodded, warmth rising to her cheeks. Across the rows, Bai Linyan's composure cracked for just a moment, her hand tightening into a fist.
Linyan said stiffly, turning to her brother. Bai Chengxing only smirked, clearly enjoying the tension.
Lastly, Yangguang huffed, crossing his arms. "Tch. Guess that leaves me." He glanced around, then pointed at a figure nearby. "Wu Ziyi! You're with me."
Wu Ziyi raised a brow, unimpressed, but gave a small nod.
The pairs were set.
The announcer's voice boomed once more:
"Enter the forest. Begin your hunt. Let us see not just your strength—but your trust."
The gates of Baoli Zong creaked open, revealing the shadowed forest beyond. A hundred spirits stirred within, their faint cries echoing like a challenge.
One by one, the pairs stepped forward, vanishing into the trees.
The trial had begun.
-----
The moment the forest swallowed them, the air grew colder. Mist curled low to the ground, and faint flickers of light drifted between the trees — restless spirits searching for hosts.
Mei'yin steadied her breath, hands clasped around her weapon. Her heartbeat, however, was far less disciplined. Beside her walked Qin Yuxi, his expression unreadable, his every step silent and measured.
"You don't need to follow me so closely," Mei'yin said softly, though she didn't quite move away.
"I'm not following," Yuxi replied, eyes scanning the shadows.
Mei'yin blinked, thrown off guard.
His gaze finally shifted toward her — calm, yet burning with a quiet intensity.
She opened her mouth to respond, but a piercing wail cut through the trees, she noticed it before it came out. A spirit shot from the darkness, its body a twisting haze of black and blue.
Yuxi to step in, his blade cutting the air with precision. Together, their movements flowed as though rehearsed, his guarding, weaving a rhythm that made the spirit falter.
Yuxi sheathed his blade, his eyes fixed on her, unblinking. "Are you okay?"
"yes," cheeks flushed.
For a moment, silence lingered between them, broken only by the whisper of the wind. Yuxi's lips twitched — almost a smile, though it never fully formed.
"Left! Left, you fool, it's right there!"
"I am going left!" Dushen snapped, tumbling over a root as the spirit zipped past them. "And stop pulling me like a horse!"
Mo Yuming burst out laughing, clutching his sleeve anyway. "If I let go, you'd already be eaten by the mist! You're too slow!"
"I'm not slow—" He swung his sword furiously, slicing through nothing but air. The spirit slipped right past him, mocking in its shrill cry.
"Ha!" Yuming darted forward, slapping a talisman against the ground. The trap ignited, snaring the spirit just as it lunged. "See? That's how it's done."
Dushen scowled, brushing dirt off his robes. "You're insufferable."
"Insufferably brilliant, you mean," she corrected, winking. "Admit it, you'd have been lost without me."
He opened his mouth to argue — then shut it again, groaning. "Why did I let you drag me into this?"
"Because you need me," Yuming teased, her grin mischievous.
Dushen froze, ears turning red. "Wha—?! Don't spout nonsense! Liar!"
But Yuming only laughed, darting after the next flicker of light, leaving him no choice but to chase her deeper into the mist.
The mist curled heavier where the Bai siblings moved, the faint glow of spirits flickering at a distance. Bai Chengxing adjusted the grip on his weapon, his sharp eyes narrowing.
"You know," Chengxing began, voice calm yet laced with a hint of criticism, "that Mei'yin girl is at a disadvantage here. No spiritual power like her siblings. She shouldn't even be competing — she'll drag her partner down."
Linyan slowed her steps, her lashes lowering as if weighing his words. For a moment, silence stretched between them, broken only by the rustle of leaves.
Finally, she turned her gaze toward her brother, her tone soft but firm. "You're wrong."
Chengxing raised a brow. "Wrong? Facts are facts, Linyan. Power decides who thrives and who falls."
"But she is different," Linyan said, her voice steady, almost reverent. "She doesn't fight like us. She doesn't rely on sheer power. Mei'yin finds another way… always. That's why people follow her — not because she's the strongest, but because she doesn't give up, even when she's the weakest."
Chengxing chuckled dryly, shaking his head. "You're letting sentiment cloud your judgment. Admiration doesn't win battles."
Linyan's lips curved faintly, almost a secret smile. "No, but spirit does. And Mei'yin has more of that than most of us combined."
As if on cue, a faint cry of a sealed spirit echoed from deep within the woods — Mei'yin and Yuxi's doing. Linyan's eyes flickered toward the sound, a strange warmth in them.
"See?" she murmured. "She proves it herself."
Chengxing said nothing, though his frown betrayed unease. "No wonder why Yuxi chose her over you."
Bai Linyan frowned.
Qin Yijun stretched his arms lazily, grinning as if this was a festival game rather than a serious trial.
"Lingxi, lighten up," he teased, stepping ahead with a spring in his stride. "It's just catching little lights. You don't need to glare at the trees like they owe you money."
Feng Lingxi's lips pressed into a thin line, her eyes sharp and unwavering. "This is not a game. If we treat it lightly, we'll be the ones humiliated before the masters."
Yijun chuckled, bending to pluck a glowing leaf that fluttered past. He twirled it between his fingers before flicking it away. "Humiliated? No, no. You've got me as your partner. And I happen to be the most talented, charming, and clever student in Baoli Zong."
Lingxi shot him a sidelong glare, her voice dry as ice. "The only thing you're talented at is boasting."
"Wrong," Yijun said, leaning closer with a mischievous smile. "I'm also very good at making you frown. Look, you're doing it again."
Her brow creased deeper, but her ears betrayed the faintest flush. She turned away, quickening her pace. "If you spent half the energy you waste on nonsense into focus, perhaps we could actually catch something."
Yijun's laugh rang bright in the mist, unbothered by her scolding. "Oh, I'll focus. But only after I've had my fun. Besides…" —his gaze softened for a fleeting moment as he watched her— "you're even more interesting when you're annoyed."
Lingxi's steps faltered for a second, though she quickly masked it with an impatient sigh. "Hopeless," she muttered, but her heartbeat betrayed her calm.
The two moved deeper into the forest, his playfulness and her seriousness clashing — yet somehow balancing, like fire and steel.
A pale spirit darted through the air like a streak of lightning, weaving between the trees. Lingxi's eyes narrowed, already moving her hand to form a seal—
But before she could release it, a burst of energy whizzed past her shoulder.
BOOM!
The spirit exploded into shimmering dust, scattering like fireflies.
Lingxi froze, startled, then turned sharply. Qin Yijun stood there with a cocky grin, blowing across his palm as though he'd just fired a bow.
"See?" he said lightly. "Charming and useful."
Her eyes widened slightly before narrowing again. "That was reckless. You could've hit me."
Yijun stepped closer, hands raised in mock surrender, his grin widening. "Relax, Lady Lingxi. I'd never miss. Not when you're standing right there. My aim's too good for that."
Another spirit zoomed from the bushes, hissing like wind through reeds. Lingxi instinctively moved to strike—
—but Yijun was faster. He spun on his heel, launching a controlled blast that caught the spirit mid-air.
BOOM! Another burst of glowing fragments rained around them.
Lingxi stared at him, momentarily speechless. She'd never seen him so precise, so quick.
Yijun tilted his head, his eyes glinting mischievously. "You keep glaring like that, Lingxi, but admit it—" he leaned a little closer, voice dropping into a teasing whisper " You're impressed."
Lingxi's composure cracked for half a second, her lips parting before she quickly turned away, folding her arms. "You're insufferable."
Yijun chuckled, walking ahead with the easy bounce in his step. "Maybe. But at least I'm an insufferable genius."
Lingxi followed, her frown firmly in place—yet her thoughts betrayed her, replaying the sight of his swift blasts and the confidence in his eyes.
For the first time, she wasn't entirely sure if Qin Yijun was all talk after all.
The forest pulsed faintly with spiritual energy, shadows flickering as the glowing orbs of the released spirits darted in and out of view. Yuxi moved with the sharp precision of a seasoned cultivator, sword in hand, but his strikes found only empty air.
Mei'yin, trailing just behind him, tilted her head. Her brows furrowed slightly as she scanned the dense trees. There—just the faintest shimmer in the brush. Her instincts pricked like a hawk sensing prey.
"Yuxi," she whispered, tugging at his sleeve, "to your left. Behind that oak."
He didn't question her. With a swift pivot, his blade sliced through the shadows. HSSSS! The spirit screeched as the strike landed true, scattering into fine dust.
Yuxi glanced at her, surprise flickering in his usually stoic eyes. Mei'yin gave a small, almost shy smile.
Another shimmer flicked past the corner of her vision. Without hesitation, she pointed. "Above you—high branch!"
Yuxi launched upward, his sword flashing. The spirit shattered, raining sparks down like tiny stars. He landed with effortless grace, eyes locking on hers again.
Yuxi said quietly, his voice lower now, " You're… indispensable."
Mei'yin blinked, her heart skipping. She looked away quickly, hiding the warmth rising in her chest. "Don't say things like that… you'll make me feel useful."
Yuxi allowed the faintest curve at the corner of his lips—an almost-smile. "That's because you are."
For a moment, they stood there in the hush of the forest, the glow of fading spirits reflecting in their eyes.
The forest rang with bursts of power, glowing trails of spirits darting from tree to tree.
Feng Mei'yin & Qin Yuxi
Mei'yin crouched low, eyes narrowing. "There!" she called, pointing into a thicket. Yuxi dashed in, sword flashing in precise arcs. With her sharp senses guiding him, spirit after spirit fell, their scattered glow marking their teamwork.
Mo Yuming & Ye Dushen
Yuming lunged at a darting spirit, twirling her whip with a wild grin. "Got you!" The spirit shrieked, exploding into sparks. Beside her, Dushen's movements were clean and efficient, his strikes silent but devastating. Every time she looked over, he was already done with another spirit—calm, unshaken.
"Show off," she muttered, though the corner of her lips quirked.
Qin Yijun & Feng Lingxi
Yijun hurled a blast of flame, missing narrowly. "Tch! It's fast!"
"Because you're reckless," Lingxi scolded, her eyes sharp. With a flick of her hand, a cold wind swept through, driving the spirit out of hiding. Yijun followed up with a perfect strike, grinning smugly.
"You loosen it, I finish it. That's teamwork, Lingxi."
She rolled her eyes but the faintest blush crept onto her cheeks.
Feng Yangguang & Wu Ziyi
Yangguang laughed as he leapt branch to branch, chasing spirits like a mischievous fox. "Ziyi, faster! Faster! Or they'll laugh at us!"
"Don't order me around!" Wu Ziyi snapped, firing a sharp strike that blasted two spirits at once. Yangguang landed beside her with a boyish grin. "See? You're better when I push you."
Her glare could have burned a hole through him.
Bai Linyan & Bai Chengxing
Chengxing smirked as he struck down another spirit. "See how easily they fall to us? Unlike Mei'yin—she'd be dead weight without help."
Linyan's eyes stayed forward, her voice cool. "She lacks power, yes. But she sees things others don't. That makes her… different."
Chengxing scoffed, unimpressed. "You always defend the weak."
"And you always underestimate them," Linyan replied sharply.
---
Nightfall — Yuming & Dushen
By night, the hunt slowed. Campfires dotted the clearing as pairs settled to rest. Sparks crackled as Mo Yuming crouched over a fire, skewering wild meat she had caught earlier. The savory scent filled the air.
Across from her, Ye Dushen sat quietly, his posture straight, his expression unreadable. He kept his gaze on the fire, clearly intent on avoiding conversation.
Yuming broke the silence first.
"Tell me something," she said casually, though her eyes flicked to him with an edge. "Why are you always hovering near Mei'yin? Everywhere she goes, there you are. What makes her so special to you?"
Dushen didn't answer right away. His gaze softened slightly, his features easing as if the firelight itself had disarmed him.
"She's…" he began slowly, as though choosing every word with care. "Mei'yin is lighthearted, yet thoughtful. Even when she's at a disadvantage, she never lets it break her spirit. She has this way of smiling—like the world hasn't weighed her down."
He paused, lowering his eyes to the flames. "People like that… are rare."
For once, Yuming had no quick retort. Her usual smirk faltered, replaced by a flicker of something quieter, heavier. She turned her eyes back to the roasting meat, pretending to busy herself with it.
"Tch… you sound like a poet," she muttered under her breath, but the sharpness was gone.
Dushen didn't reply, only allowed the silence to return, but this time it wasn't as heavy. The fire cracked, the forest hummed, and for a fleeting moment, their walls were lower than before.
The forest was quiet save for the chirping of crickets and the soft crackle of dying embers. Mei'yin stirred, her eyes fluttering open. A faint sound—almost like a pained whimper—brushed against her senses.
Her brows furrowed. Carefully, she shifted, making sure not to wake Qin Yuxi who lay beside her, his face finally free of its cold mask in sleep. She rose silently, following the faint noise deeper into the trees.
There, beneath a low branch, she found it—a black bird with feathers glinting faintly like ink, its eyes glowing red in the shadows. One wing hung awkwardly, streaked with blood.
Mei'yin crouched, her heart aching. "You poor thing…" she whispered. Slowly, she reached out, but the bird only trembled weakly, too hurt to resist.
When she turned back, her breath caught.
Yuxi was standing behind her, sword at his side, eyes sharp with worry.
"Why did you leave without a word?" His voice was low, tight.
"I didn't want to wake you," Mei'yin said quickly, showing him the bird in her arms. "It's wounded. I want to heal it, but I have no medicine here."
Yuxi's gaze softened, but only slightly. "Then what do you plan to do?"
Mei'yin's eyes lit up suddenly. "Your erhu."
He stiffened, taken aback. "What?"
"The Qin clan's melody," she explained, her voice urgent but warm. "It can soothe wounds. Heal. Please, Yuxi—play for it."
A shadow crossed his face. For a long moment, he said nothing, only staring at her as though her request had dragged him somewhere far away. Finally, he shook his head faintly.
"I haven't played in years," he murmured, his tone heavy. "I stopped… ." His jaw tightened, the words like iron. "I swore I'd only play again for someone I truly love."
The confession hung in the silence, thick and raw.
Mei'yin's lips parted, her chest tightening at the weight of his words. She whispered, almost breathless, "And now?"
Yuxi held her gaze. In the firelit darkness, his eyes burned—not cold, but alive, as though something long buried had been set free.
Without another word, he lifted his hand. In a shimmer of light, a lacquered erhu appeared, black wood veined with silver. He set it against his shoulder, bow trembling for the briefest moment—then he began to play.
The melody flowed soft at first, then rich and resonant, carrying through the forest like moonlight on water. Mei'yin's breath hitched, her eyes stinging. The wounded bird stirred, its wings twitching as faint silver light wrapped around it, mending the torn feathers.
And Mei'yin knew in her heart—this song was not only for the bird. It was for her.
When she turned back, Yuxi was already looking at her — not with hesitation this time, but with a quiet certainty. Their faces drew closer until their lips met in a soft, tentative kiss, one that spoke of unspoken promises and fragile beginnings.
The melody did not stop. Instead, it deepened, resonating with the forest itself. Leaves shivered though there was no wind, and faint glimmers of light flickered among the shadows. Somewhere in the distance, the Bai siblings looked up, puzzled.
Bai Linyan furrowed her brows. "You hear that?"
Chengxing nodded, gripping his weapon. "A melody… it feels like it's pulling at the spirits. He played again."
Elsewhere, by the fire, Dushen's eyes lifted sharply. His hand stilled over the blade he had been polishing. Mo Yuming paused in her doing, her gaze narrowing as if she recognized the tune. She smiled knowing it was Yuxi.
And in another part of the forest, Qin Yijun tilted his head with a smirk. "So, little Yuxi finally decided to play again…"
Feng Lingxi's expression stayed unreadable, though her hands tightened around her blade.
The melody spread and lingered, awakening something in each listener. None could ignore it.