After a long and exhausting journey, that day marked the first time they enjoyed a bit of comfort within the walls of Qinglong Academy.
In the grand dining hall built from old stone and timber, long tables were lined up, filled with bowls of rice, hot soup, steamed meat, and fresh vegetables. Students from various villages sat together—most of them strangers to each other—but the atmosphere gradually softened as the aroma of food filled the air.
Li Yuan, Mu Yi, and Fan Tu ate quietly, observing their surroundings. Fan Tu looked excited as he enjoyed the roasted chicken, while Mu Yi began chatting with children from other villages.
"Turns out the food here isn't what I expected," said a boy named Bei Zhang from Hujin Village.
"I thought we'd be eating watery porridge every day, but there's meat!"
Some students laughed. The mood began to lighten.
Even those who had been awkward at first now started introducing themselves. They were all young individuals chosen through selection—handpicked from across the many villages. And this was the beginning of a new life for them.
However, in the corner of the room, Li Yuan remained calm. He ate slowly, but his sharp eyes scanned every corner. He never allowed his mind to be lulled by comfort. He knew… peace like this was only temporary.
After the meal, a grown man in a black uniform stood at the front of the dining hall. His voice was deep and firm:
"Children. Begin to prepare yourselves. Starting tomorrow morning, all students will gather in the Sky Hall. The academy's rules and your training schedule will be announced."
At once, the room fell silent.
Some children sipped water nervously; others exchanged anxious glances. The earlier cheerfulness swiftly gave way to curiosity—and concern.
"What are they going to do to us?" Mu Yi whispered.
"Maybe the initial training," Fan Tu replied.
Li Yuan simply said quietly, "Tomorrow we'll find out just how 'special' this place really is."
That night, the students slept on hard wooden beds, but many struggled to close their eyes—dreams of power, hopes of changing their fate… and fear of what awaited them… all spun in their minds.