The door creaked open, its ancient wood groaning softly on iron hinges. A breeze slipped in before Jian Wu, rustling the scrolls on a nearby shelf. The warm scent of spiced tea still lingered in the air.
She paused at the threshold, her eyes catching the sight of Mike hunched over the table. A lantern above flickered, casting dancing shadows across his face as he wolfed down the last of the rice dumplings.
"Where have you been all this time?" Her voice, sharp at first, faltered under the weight of relief. She stepped inside, boots clicking softly against the polished stone floor. "Did you get lost out there or something?"
Mike looked up, crumbs clinging to the corner of his mouth. "I was… meditating," he said, wiping his hands on his robe. "That's all."
She walked toward him, gaze softening. "Are you okay?"
Mike nodded. "I'm fine."
Jian Dao, seated nearby with his hands folded over his tea cup, leaned forward. The golden embroidery on his long robe shimmered under the lantern's glow.
"Alright, Mike. Now tell me—what's your current rank?"
Mike rested his bowl aside, the sound of ceramic gently touching the table's carved surface. "Fan Zhe—10. Peak level. But... I'm stuck."
Jian Dao gave a slow, understanding nod, his gaze drifting momentarily to the bamboo plant swaying by the window. "That's perfectly normal. Breakthroughs come like the wind — unpredictable but certain."
Mike straightened. "I promise to show better results next time, Master."
Jian Dao smiled, rising from his seat with a rustle of fabric. He turned toward his daughter and reached into his sleeve, producing a small vial. The sunlight filtering through the window caught the golden liquid inside, making it shimmer like honeyed fire.
"This," he said, placing it gently in her palm, "is Beast Saliva. Not extremely rare — but valuable for your growth."
"Thanks, Dad." Jian Wu held the vial carefully, her fingers trembling slightly in the quiet excitement.
Mike leaned in, curious. "What's your rank now, Wu?"
She tucked the vial away, shrugging. "Dou Zhe—10."
Mike gave a lopsided smile. "That's pretty good."
He turned back to Jian Dao. "Master… can I participate in the Pill Competition?"
The older man chuckled, his beard shifting as he smiled. "Next year, Mike. Before that, we're going to the Mill Tower."
Jian Wu's expression turned wistful. The lanternlight flickered in her eyes. "If I had a flame, I'd compete too... but I don't."
Jian Dao's tone shifted — lower, more serious. Outside, wind chimes tinkled from the porch as the breeze picked up.
"Flames are vital for cultivators — especially alchemists. But they're rare and dangerous. Some flames bond. Others burn. And not everyone is lucky enough to even find one. Maybe 60 or 70 percent of cultivators ever hold a flame. Fewer master it."
He yawned, stretching his arms above his head. "Anyway... I'm off to rest."
The door to his room slid closed behind him with a soft click.
Jian Wu turned to Mike, a smirk on her lips. "Wanna go for a walk?"
Mike leaned back, then stood slowly. "No walk. But… I do want to spend time with you."
They stepped out into the evening light. The academy's stone paths curved gently between trimmed hedges and koi ponds. Red lanterns swayed gently from hooks on blackwood posts, their light casting soft glows on the cobbled ground.
They wandered through the Inner Academy, past gardens where violet-petaled flowers danced with butterflies. A cat napped lazily on a stone bench, tail twitching. They stopped at a food stall with red-clay tiles on its roof, and shared skewers glazed in honey-soy sauce, laughing between bites.
Later, they reached a secluded cave behind a grove of pine trees, where moss crawled along rocks and the air smelled of earth and rain.
Jian Wu crouched at the entrance. "This seems like a good place."
She sat, legs folded over a cushion of dry leaves, and held up the vial. With a steady breath, she uncorked it. The golden liquid shimmered in the sunlight, then disappeared down her throat.
Almost instantly, her breathing hitched. Sweat beaded along her brow. The wind stirred uneasily.
Mike stepped closer, his hands tense at his side — but she lifted a finger, signaling him to stay back.
A faint hum filled the cave. Particles of energy — like dust glowing in twilight — gathered around her. The leaves around her feet trembled. The stone beneath her pulsed.
Then — with a final breath — the energy around her cracked. A soft light burst out, and her aura expanded like a blooming flower.
Jian Wu opened her eyes. They glowed faintly. "Dou Kuang—1," she whispered.
Mike grinned. "That's amazing, Wu. You did it."
They stayed at the cave entrance for a long time, leaning against warm rocks, their silhouettes outlined by the setting sun. Words flowed easily between them — old memories, quiet regrets, and laughter echoing faintly into the trees.
---
Next Day – Market Square, Inner Academy
Sunlight dappled through paper lanterns strung between buildings. Merchants shouted over steaming stalls. Swords and talismans hung neatly in rows from polished wood carts.
In the middle of the square, a small crowd had formed.
Feng Jian stood tall, arms crossed, his crimson robe swaying slightly as wind danced through the square. Before him, a boy cowered under the sneers of the Wolfgang gang.
"You bullies," Feng Jian said, voice low and steady. "Is this how you prove strength — by crushing those below you?"
One thug laughed, the metal studs in his shoulder armor catching the light. "Ouch. He scared me, boss."
Another leaned forward, mocking, "Look at this guy trying to fly without wings."
Feng Jian's eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
From the back of the group, Jin Hao stepped out, his black cloak trailing behind like smoke. "Step aside," he said. "He's not your brother. Or do you want to join him on the ground?"
Feng Jian grinned, slow and confident. "I, Feng Jian, stand for those who can't."
Jin Hao's fist clenched. "Then I'll break that pride."
---
Meanwhile – Jian Dao's Residence
Mike stood quietly, watching Jian Dao as the old master walked in circles, fingers behind his back. The scrolls on the shelf fluttered with the breeze.
"I've been thinking," Jian Dao said, stopping. "Before the competition… we must visit the Mill Tower."
Mike tilted his head. "What's that?"
Jian Dao's eyes grew distant. "A sealed place. Deep within the academy. Few even know it exists. A void — a vacuum — where power fades. I've been there… once. It holds secrets."
The wooden floor creaked as he stepped closer. "It's dangerous. But full of possibilities."
Mike's breath quickened. "Then I want to go."
Jian Dao nodded slowly, his gaze firm.
A knock echoed from the main door.
They both turned.