Lu Yuan's body blazed like the heart of a black inferno. His chest heaved, sweat streaming down his scorched skin as he drove his longsword point-first into the stone street. His knuckles bled from clutching the hilt too tightly, as though he weren't fighting Shi Nian's nightmare anymore, but something inside himself.
The flames raged so hot that even standing ten steps away, Xue Ke felt her skin burning. She dared not touch him.
"Lu Yuan!" she called desperately. "Wake up!"
But his eyes were blank, stare lost in the abyss. The minutes dragged. Ten. Fifteen. Half an hour.
Then, slowly, the raging tide subsided. The black flames shrunk away, embers twitching and cracking into silence. His breath steadied… slightly.
"Lu Yuan, are you okay?"
Xue Ke crept forward carefully, her strides as light as stepping on glass. She reached out a trembling, delicate hand toward his shoulder.
But the instant she touched him—snap! A hand shot up, gripping her wrist like steel.
"Ah—Lu Yuan, you're hurting me!"
She froze. His pupils had turned a soulless black. Just looking into them felt like falling, like her soul was being dragged into an endless abyss.
Then, finally, the darkness flickered. "...Little beauty?"
Recognition returned, shrouded in exhaustion, but his mood was still unstable. He released her wrist slowly.
Xue Ke's eyes shimmered faintly at that fragile moment of humanity. She wanted to help him, but his molten aura scared her. "Let's… let's go back first."
She turned, but paused suddenly. Her cheeks burned hotter than the flames had.
"Lu Yuan… y-your clothes…!"
He blinked, glanced down—indeed, the flames had incinerated every scrap. Nothing but skin beneath the moonlight.
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh. That explains the breeze."
"Wah!" Face burning scarlet, Xue Ke spun around, hands covering her eyes, afraid to peek.
Yuexuan.
"Yuehua Aunt, open the door!"
Xue Ke's panicked knocks rang through the elegant courtyard. She had no one else she could rely on here in Tiandou City.
The door creaked open.
Tang Yuehua appeared clad in pink silk nightwear, hair tumbling loose, three thousand strands cascading like a waterfall. The thin fabric slipped along her delicate shoulders, collarbone pale like carved jade.
"Lu Yuan?" She gasped when she saw him half-limp on Xue Ke's arm, still breathing heavily, aura faintly smoldering.
Xue Ke nearly burst into tears. "I don't know what happened! It just… it just started! He was on fire—terrifying flames all over his body!"
She didn't see Shi Nian's illusion or the battle. Only Lu Yuan, ablaze like a devil.
Tang Yuehua pressed her lips tightly. With steady grace, she helped them inside. She knelt by Lu Yuan's side, closing her eyes. Her spirit power flared faintly, a circle of soft nobility radiating outward.
Ring of Nobility.
It wasn't an attack, nor defense. It was her special realm. Her very talent—an aura of serenity, refinement, and composure.
Soft waves spread, like spring winds dissolving snow. The wrathful black mist swirling around Lu Yuan trembled—then melted away, vanishing into nothing.
Minutes crawled. Finally, Lu Yuan's body stilled. His gaze cleared—the abyss retreating from his eyes. Calm.
He gasped, suddenly realizing. That's why Yuexuan always made me feel at peace… It's not coincidence. It's her. Tang Yuehua's Realm.
He stared at her with sudden clarity, admiration flickering.
Tang Yuehua herself now understood his odd reaction at their first meeting. Her realm had faintly influenced him even then.
"You can rest here tonight," she said gently. "Until your emotions are settled."
"Alright! Done!" Lu Yuan exclaimed quickly, almost cheerfully. "Big sis, you stay in this bedroom with me tonight!" He started arranging the bed in excitement.
Tang Yuehua's lips twitched. She turned gracefully and walked away. "I will sleep in the second bedroom. Rest well."
Lu Yuan sighed dramatically. "Really boring." His eyes drifted teasingly toward Xue Ke.
But before he could speak, Xue Ke bolted straight after Tang Yuehua, practically sprinting. "I-I'll sleep there too!"
Lu Yuan scratched his chin and chuckled.
Late into the night.
Lying awake with wine jar in hand, he thought back to Shi Nian's nightmare. The great furnace. The swordsmith casting his blade. And that sword—identical to the one resting in his hand now. Why had that figure leapt into the flames at the end?
He stretched for his sword. Under moonlight, the gloomy golden glow along its edge was sharper, deeper, hypnotic—like staring into the abyss itself.
"When Chen Xin awakened my Martial Soul years back… was that the same madness as today?" His eyes narrowed. "Damn that old Shi Nian… what did he wake in me?"
He drank deeply.
Dawn came.
"The bells and jade aren't worth a damn… I only wish never to awake from this drunken dream," he muttered, flask tipping against his lips as light streamed through the shutters.
"Drinking all night?"
A calm, elegant voice. Tang Yuehua stood in silver court attire, hair coiled neatly, the glow of nobility like morning mist.
Lu Yuan spun to her, grin bright. "Big sis, you're awake."
"You chanting poetry outside my door… who could possibly sleep?"
"Then don't sleep alone. Follow me. I'll love you properly," Lu Yuan blurted boldly, eyes heated.
Tang Yuehua froze, stunned at the sudden confession. For years, she had resigned herself to solitude, believing no man would ever truly reach her. And suddenly—this reckless youth's declaration cracked through her walls.
Her cheeks warmed faintly, but she composed quickly. "Don't say such ridiculous things!"
At that exact moment, Xue Ke burst in, face lit with concern. "Lu Yuan, are you alright now?"
"Nothing wrong at all," he smirked, taking another swig. Then, reaching out, he ruffled her hair. "Little beauty, come to me every time you want to drink. And big sis Yuehua—your bed's soft, your pajamas lovely. I'll come by again."
Both women flushed red for different reasons.
And then, like always, Lu Yuan swaggered out the door with laughter trailing behind him.
Meanwhile…
Tiandou City's academies buzzed with fresh gossip. A small, nearly forgotten school had suddenly raised its banner anew. Its name: Shrek Academy.
Flender stood proudly at the gates beneath the new plaque, satisfaction swelling in his chest. They would not forget the humiliation from Tiandou Royal Academy.
"Shrek Academy…"
Lu Yuan arrived, letter in hand. Zhu Zhuqing had sent word she was here now. He entered, took one step, then another… and was lost within minutes.
"Damn shabby place. No guides. No signage. What kind of academy can't even put a map at the entrance?"
And then…
Splash.
A faint burst of water echoed. Drawn to the sound, he followed. After a hundred meters, he stepped out of the trees—
—and froze.
A crystal-clear lake gleamed under morning sun. And in it—one woman, hair like cascading silk, face stunning, curves proud. Bathing.
His eyes widened.
Before he could appreciate further, she noticed him. Alert eyes locked instantly.
"Who's there?!"
Her slender hand snapped, water splashing as her body surged upward from the lake. A thin robe wrapped hastily around her, flames already blazing across her fists.
"Bastard! Dare peep on me, Liu Erlong? I'll cook you alive!"
She leapt like a cannonball, fiery aura crashing forward.
Lu Yuan's heart skipped, though his lips curled cheekily. "Wait—what? Peeping? You bathe in open air, big sis! How's that peeping? I was walking upright!"
Regardless, he raised his sword. Five rings lit.
Boom!
Steel met fire, sparks cascading violently as his sword clashed against her flaming punch.
Her pupils narrowed instantly at the sight of his rings.
"The road is far…" Her lips parted, breath catching in realization.
Lu Yuan grinned slyly. "Big sis—you also a fan of mine?"
His eyes traced her proud figure, wicked smirk tugging his lips. "Not bad. Really not bad!"
Liu Erlong's face flushed bright crimson—though not from shame. From fury.
"You dare talk to me like that? I'll peel your skin!"
--
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