Heaven Dou Royal Academy, training grounds.
"Xiao Hai."
In the middle of the training field, Yang Yunhai, who was currently binding his teammates with vines, suddenly heard someone calling him. He immediately stopped, turning toward the voice. It was Qin Ming, standing outside the field, gesturing at him. Beside him stood a tutor from the Academy who had earlier left to look for Qin Ming.
In truth, Yang Yunhai had already noticed them long before. His senses were always sharp during training.
"Looks like that tutor came for you, probably summoned by the board." Dugu Yan, who was nearby, spoke with a nod.
As another control-type Soul Master on the team, she and Ye Lingling were positioned closest to Yang Yunhai.
"I'll head over. Sister Yan, you all keep practicing." Yang Yunhai nodded, withdrew his Martial Soul, and jogged toward them.
Soon, he reached them.
"Student Yang, the board has summoned you. His Highness the Crown Prince and Sect Master Ning have arrived." The tutor said respectfully.
Seems the people investigating me have returned. Yang Yunhai instantly guessed, giving a small nod before replying politely, "Alright, I'll go at once. Thank you for leading the way, Teacher."
Then he turned to Qin Ming, "Teacher Qin Ming, I'll be going for a bit."
"Go ahead." Qin Ming smiled and nodded.
Not long after, Yang Yunhai stepped into the board's office.
"Greetings, Your Highness. Greetings, Sect Master Ning." He bowed politely.
After a round of courtesies, he sat down on the sofa.
Qian Renxue leaned forward slightly, her expression serious as she got straight to the point. "Brother Yang, forgive Qinghe for asking so directly, but have you ever learned anything about your origins? For example, your parents' names or where they are now?"
"Your Highness jests. I've been an orphan since childhood." Yang Yunhai shook his head, speaking calmly.
"Besides, that child already died on the roadside outside Nuoding City long ago, didn't he?"
He didn't want to acknowledge them, nor let innocent people become involved. Cutting off the matter entirely was the best choice, preventing others from treating it as his weakness.
Silence fell across the room, even for Qian Renxue and Ning Fengzhi.
Yang Yunhai's words made his stance very clear. He would not recognize his so-called biological parents.
It was reasonable. The place where his parents abandoned him had already been investigated. It was a patch of wilderness, overgrown with weeds and close to the forest. Wild dogs, cats, and venomous snakes were common there. If Changgong Tai had been even a little later, Yang Yunhai might have been torn apart by beasts.
So when Yang Yunhai said that child already died back then, it was no exaggeration. His parents' act of abandonment was no different than murder—perhaps even crueler.
"It was my discourtesy. I ask Brother Yang to forgive me." Qian Renxue inclined her head slightly with an apologetic look.
This youth is decisive and unflinching. A man worth cultivating, she noted inwardly.
"No harm done. The past is the past. A man must always look forward." Yang Yunhai waved his hand dismissively.
Qian Renxue smiled faintly. "Brother Yang speaks true."
"One more thing," she continued, her tone deliberate. "I've recently learned that Spirit Hall seems to have gotten word of the changes in you. They will likely seek you out soon."
"No matter. Sooner or later, I'll have to meet them. Early or late makes no difference." Yang Yunhai's reply was calm. "I was born alone. I cultivate not just because I refuse to fall behind and wish to walk further on the Soul Master path. More importantly, I want freedom. To do what I want, go where I wish, and see the famous rivers and mountains of the continent."
"That way, I won't have lived in vain."
"So, as for joining any faction, at least for now, I have no interest whatsoever."
If not for Changgong Tai's family, this youth would never have joined Spirit Hall at all. Qian Renxue could sense the sincerity in his words. His bitter childhood had left him wary of people, distrustful of ties—except for Changgong Tai's family, and the landscapes of the world. For Yang Yunhai, freedom itself was the only truth.
Her lips curved into a gentle smile. His refusal to join Spirit Hall pleased her more than anything. And his dream of freedom—perhaps she understood it better than most.
"Brother Yang is truly unrestrained."
Good acting, Qian Renxue. Yang Yunhai cupped his hands. "Forgive me if I seemed frivolous."
"Not at all. Such words of character are admirable." Qian Renxue's expression softened, as though to say she understood him.
"Indeed, Nephew Yang is a man of true temperament." Ning Fengzhi joined in with a smile.
Then came a round of small talk—asking whether he was satisfied with the Academy's life, how he got along with teammates, and so forth.
Finally, Qian Renxue rose with a smile. "It grows late. Qinghe won't delay Brother Yang's training further."
After another exchange of courtesies, she and Ning Fengzhi departed.
Yang Yunhai bade farewell to the three board members and returned to the training field, resuming the daily routine.
—
Two days later, dusk.
Rumble…! Thunder roared through the valley as cold rain began to fall.
"I thought this month was going to pass without rain."
Yang Yunhai opened his eyes from meditation on the bed of Blue Silver Grass, glancing at the sky as raindrops splattered down. He couldn't help but mutter.
Since arriving in Heaven Dou City, not a single drop of rain had fallen, making him wonder if the weather itself had abandoned March.
He knew Heaven Dou was in the north and had fewer rainy days than Nuoding, but for an entire March without rain? Absurd.
Shaking his head, he rose without hesitation and ran toward an open clearing.
Not far away, Zhu Zhuqing had just descended from the cliff wall. Seeing him run away from the cabin instead of seeking shelter, confusion flickered in her eyes.
To head into the rain instead of out of it—strange indeed.
Before she could ask, Yang Yunhai had already sat cross-legged.
Crack!
A bolt of lightning as thick as an arm struck him directly in the back.
"Yunhai!" Zhu Zhuqing's face drained of color, her chest tightening sharply. She gasped, rushing forward.
"Zhuqing, don't come!" Yang Yunhai shouted back. "I'm cultivating—don't worry!"
He hadn't told her before. Not the board, not even her: that he could draw lightning into himself to temper body and soul.
It seems, he thought, that he holds a bigger place in her heart than he realized.
"Cultivating…?" Zhu Zhuqing froze, clutching her hand to her chest, still pale with worry.
"The rain will grow heavier. Go inside. Don't worry about me." Yang Yunhai called, lightning flashing again across his body.
Zhu Zhuqing bit her lip. In the end, she trusted him. She turned and ran back, standing beneath the eaves, watching silently.
Another bolt split the sky. Lightning wrapped his frame, sparking over his skin.
Yang Yunhai sat unmoving, brows tightly furrowed.
Again and again the bolts fell. His skin flushed red, veins bulging at his temples.
"So this is what Yunhai has endured all these years…?" Watching him, Zhu Zhuqing finally understood. His courage and determination to grow strong ran deeper than she had ever imagined.
To face Heaven's thunder head-on… how much resolve did that take?
I'm still not trying hard enough. She clenched her jaw, her eyes burning with newfound determination.
These days, she had followed his example, working as hard as she could. Side by side, she found hope again. Watching him grow stronger while she grew alongside him gave her days meaning, and life itself felt full of possibility.
One day, she would be strong enough to seize her fate with her own hands.
Her eyes glowed as she looked at the figure bathed in lightning.
She wanted it. Deep down, she admitted it—she wanted to keep walking beside him. To struggle, to grow, to support each other, always.
I must work harder. She pressed her lips together, gaze unyielding.
Crack!
Another bolt hammered down. Then—
Cough! Yang Yunhai's body shook. He clutched his chest, coughing softly.
"Yunhai!" Zhu Zhuqing's fear broke loose. She dashed from the cabin into the downpour, racing through the mud to his side.
"Are you alright?" She crouched, steadying his shoulder.
"I'm fine." Yang Yunhai shook his head, then turned to look at her face. A faint smile spread across his lips. "Suddenly, I feel it was worth it."
Her cheeks flushed red, and she lowered her gaze, hiding her expression.
"The rain's getting heavier. Let's head back before you catch cold." She said softly, eyes shifting aside.
There's something there. His heart leapt—this shy, tender look was the first time he had ever seen such an expression on her face.
He found courage. His hand slid to hers, grasping it firmly. "Zhuqing."
Her body trembled, breath quickening.
"W-what are you doing?" Her heart pounded. She froze, unable to move, head bowed even lower.
Yang Yunhai said nothing, only tightening his embrace.
Zhu Zhuqing resisted weakly, pressing a hand against his chest. "Yunhai… don't…"
But he did not let go.
Her resistance faded. Slowly, she wrapped her arms around his waist, resting her head on his shoulder. She said nothing more.
Memories welled within her—of fear, despair, her sister's hidden kindness, and the man beside her who had shown her another path. Since following him, she had felt a light she thought lost forever.
Now, in this storm, she realized she did not want to lose it.
Her arms tightened.
The rain poured harder, soaking them through. Black and blue hair mingled, their heartbeats steady in the silence between thunderclaps.
"Yunhai, we should go inside." At last she whispered, gently patting his shoulder.
"Mm." He smiled faintly, loosening his hold. Rainwater streamed down his face, but his eyes were clear.
"But I'll carry you back." He bent slightly, slipping an arm beneath her legs.
"Mm." She gave no resistance, arms circling his neck.
Splash, splash—his steps were swift, scattering water as he carried her toward the cabin.
—
A few days later, the rain ceased. March had passed; April began.
That morning, after training, Qin Ming gathered the team under the pavilion.
"Everyone has been working hard. The results are good, and the team has reached the level of coordination I'd hoped for. So in a few days, I plan to take you all to the Heaven Dou City Great Spirit Arena. We'll test ourselves in actual combat, patching weaknesses and honing teamwork."
"Once we've adjusted, I'll take you across the empire, challenging elite teams in every major Spirit Arena."
"There are several reasons. First, to adapt you early to competition rhythm. Second, to refine your teamwork against a variety of opponents. And third, to temper each of your individual abilities, and further deepen our strategies."
"What do you all think?"
"I agree." As captain, Yu Tianheng spoke first. "We've trained long enough—it's time we see the results."
So soon we'll be clashing with the Shrek team? Yang Yunhai thought, nodding in agreement.
The others all voiced support as well.
"Then it's settled." Qin Ming smiled. "That's it for today's training. You're all dismissed."
"Yes, Teacher Qin Ming." Everyone replied.
Yang Yunhai and Zhu Zhuqing kept straight faces, nodded along, then quietly left together for their cabin.
(End of Chapter)
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