The night had fallen, and everyone returned to the accademy exhausted. After a long day of searching and clearing the mountain paths, most disciples gathered in the canteen to eat and rest.
Li Wei also sat with his group, the same group that had topped in the last tournament. The air buzzed with light chatter and clinking utensils. Everyone was too tired to argue or boast tonight.
As Li Wei picked up his chopsticks, his gaze drifted across the hall—and froze.
Not far away, Fu Yang sat alone at a corner table, calmly eating a plate of steak with rice. His posture was relaxed, his expression indifferent.
A surge of anger and humiliation rose in Li Wei's chest. The memory flashed in his mind—the moment Fu Yang had beaten him effortlessly and, worse, kicked him in the most humiliating way possible.
For a brief second, the pain returned as if it were real. Instinctively, Li Wei's hand went down to his waist, clutching between his legs in discomfort.
A few disciples at his table blinked in surprise. Some of the girls frowned and turned away in disgust. Here chen hua was also present.
Li Wei's face turned beet red. He quickly straightened his posture, trying to act normal, but the damage was already done.
One of his friends leaned closer, frowning.
"Li Wei, are you okay? Why are you looking at that coward?"
Li Wei forced a laugh, shaking his head.
"Nothing… I just remembered something."
The friend smirked knowingly.
"Was it related to—"
Li Wei's glare shut him up instantly. The group went silent after that, pretending to focus on their food.
Just then, the doors of the canteen opened, and a wave of whispers rippled through the hall.
Cin Yan entered! with her group following behind.
"Huh?" Li Wei muttered, eyes widening. Even his friends were caught off guard.
Forgetting everything else, Li Wei stood up abruptly and walked toward her.
"Ah… hello, Miss Yan. We meet again."
Cin Yan paused, then gave a polite nod.
"Oh, hello. We meet again."
The canteen had fallen quiet after Cin Yan's arrival. Her group moved through the hall with the calm authority of those who didn't need to prove their strength.
Even among cultivators, their presence felt sharp, as if the cold wind from the northern slopes had followed them inside.
"Miss Yan, may I ask what brings you here at this hour?" Le Wei asked while following her.
Cin Yan's eyes swept across the canteen before settling on him. Her tone was light, almost indifferent, but her words carried purpose.
"We came for information," she said. "Our group is leaving tomorrow morning, but before that, we needed to confirm a few things regarding the Nian Mountain."
Li Wei's heart stirred. He quickly nodded, stepping closer.
"Ah, then you've come to the right person. I already know everything."
"Everything?" Cin Yan raised an eyebrow, faint amusement in her expression.
"Yes," Li Wei said eagerly, his voice growing louder so the others nearby could hear. "Our group was one of the first to reach the site.
We dug arround the cave but the snow was just too much, i believe it will take 2 days more to remove the snow from the cave.
As he spoke, his tone swelled with pride, as if he had done something of great merit. The disciples seated around them watched in silence — some with admiration, others with envy.
Cin Yan listened without interrupting, her eyes steady and unreadable. When Li Wei finished, she gave a small nod.
"Good. That confirms the report we received."
Then she turned to sha tian.
"Sha Tian," she said quietly.
The man stepped forward, his voice carrying easily across the canteen.
"Attention, disciples!"
The room hushed at once. Chopsticks froze mid-air. Even the clatter of utensils seemed to vanish.
"If any of you possess information," Sha Tian announced, "that may lead to the recovery of the missing object from Nian Mountain,— and if that information proves correct — you will be given the opportunity to join the our group as an external member."
A spark ran through the hall.
At once, the tiredness from before disappeared. The disciples, who moments ago could barely lift their heads, now looked alive with excitement. Joining the group of inner deciples or even sitting beside this beauty was a dream that many of them secretly held but never dared to hope for.
Whispers broke out everywhere.
"Did he just say we can join their division?"
"As external members? That's still incredible!"
"I heard the members get triple the resources of a normal inner disciple!"
Li Wei smiled faintly, pretending to be calm, but his eyes gleamed. He had already given the main report — his chance to make an impression was perfect.
Several disciples rushed forward, bowing deeply before Cin Yan and Sha Tian. One of them stammered,
"I—I think the missing object might be hidden inside the cave itself. I will dig it out —"
But Li Wei cut in smoothly, folding his arms.
" What, remember who you are talking to, and also do you think i didn't said it earlier"
The disciple's face fell, and he backed away awkwardly.
Others came forward, offering bits of speculation, rumors, and wild guesses. One claimed to have seen lights deep within the forest the night before; another insisted he heard the howl of a spirit beast guarding something. But none of it held any weight.
Cin Yan listened for a time, but her expression did not change. Eventually, she raised a hand, and the murmuring stopped.
"Enough," she said softly. "It seems we'll find no new information here, but tomorrow night we will come here again for the information."
Her voice wasn't loud, yet it carried clearly across the canteen. A faint sigh of disappointment rippled through the crowd, but tomorrow they had another chance to prove them.
Sha Tian stepped back beside her, nodding once.
"Understood. We'll depart at first light."
Cin Yan inclined her head to Li Wei. "Thank you for the report. It seems you were indeed thorough."
Li Wei bowed, nearly tripping over himself in eagerness. "It was nothing, Miss Yan. I only did my duty."
She gave him a polite nod and turned away. Her group began moving toward the exit — graceful, silent, the air around them cooling with every step.
Li Wei followed a few paces behind, smiling as though he belonged among them. The sight made several disciples snicker quietly, whispering behind their hands. He ignored them, his gaze fixed on Cin Yan's back, pride swelling inside him.
To be seen walking beside her — that alone felt like an achievement.
But Cin Yan did not turn again, nor speak another word to him. The moment they passed through the canteen doors, her attention had already shifted elsewhere.
When the sound of their footsteps faded, the hall slowly came back to life. Conversations returned, laughter resumed, but now it was mixed with envy and restless energy.
At the corner table, Fu Yang had already finished his meal long before the commotion began. He sat quietly, watching the scene unfold with the same calm detachment he always carried.
He placed his chopsticks down, wiped his hands, and stood.
While others were whispering about glory, Fu Yang left the canteen without a word. The cold night air greeted him outside, brushing against his face. The moon hung low above the mountain peaks, veiled in thin clouds that glowed faintly silver.
He walked along the quiet path back to his room .
The snow glimmering faintly under the moonlight. His steps made no sound on the frozen ground.
Inside his room, the small oil lamp flickered weakly, casting long shadows on the walls. Fu Yang sat by the table, pulling a small bundle from beneath his robe.
It was a knife.
Simple, old, and worn — the kind sold cheaply in the village markets at the mountain's base. The blade was dull, the handle wrapped with rough black cloth.
He turned it over in his hands, examining the edge in silence.
He could not use the blades he had forged
— not yet. If anyone saw them, questions would be raised.
So, for now, this knife would serve as his only defense.
He reached for a sharpening stone from his drawer and began to grind the blade slowly. The rhythmic sound of steel against stone filled the small chamber — a soft, whispering noise that blended with the faint howl of the wind outside.
Each stroke was steady, precise.
The dull knife gradually began to shine faintly under the candle light.
Outside, the wind blew stronger, rattling the wooden shutters. Somewhere in the distance, a bell chimed faintly, marking the hour before midnight.
Fu Yang set the knife down on the table, its edge gleaming softly. And he himself layed on his to rest.
---
The next morning, the mountain was wrapped in a thin veil of mist, the air sharp and cold. Fu Yang stood at the edge of the gathering field, his black robe fluttering faintly in the wind. His eyes moved toward the group of disciples assembled ahead—some chatting in small clusters, others adjusting their weapons and bags, preparing for the expedition into the Beast Forest.
He had made up his mind the night before.
"I'll just wander around," he had thought. "If they've really taken this matter seriously, then I'll go with another plan."
Because if the investigation went too far—if the elders and disciples were truly determined—then even hiding the three frogs underground wouldn't save them. They'd dig up half the mountain if they had to.
So, he had decided on an easier path.
"Let them suspect another faction," he had muttered to himself with a faint smirk. "Yes… if a frog is found in one of the factions, hehe…"
Soon after, the three figures of authority appeared—Head Master Xiang, with his long white beard and stern eyes; Master Shen, calm but sharp as always; and Master Wan, whose face was half-covered by the hood of his dark robe.
"All ready?" Head Master Xiang's deep voice rolled across the field.
"Yes, Master!" the disciples replied in unison.
Without wasting time, the group began their march toward the Beast Forest.
The outer disciples followed behind the inner disciples, some trying their best to keep close, hoping to be noticed—or perhaps to build connections that might benefit them later. Among them was Li Wei, walking just a little faster to draw closer to Cin Yan's group.
Cin Yan, dressed in her silver-lined robe, looked radiant even under the dull forest light. A faint fragrance trailed her as she walked, her calm presence drawing attention wherever she went. Li Wei, of course, couldn't resist.
"Hehe, Senior Sister Cin Yan, did you hear what happened at the west courtyard yesterday?" Li Wei asked with an exaggerated grin.
Cin Yan looked at him, puzzled but smiling. "No, what happened?"
"They say a disciple tried to tame a wild snow beast using just a piece of bread!" Li Wei said dramatically, waving his hands.
Cin Yan covered her mouth, laughing softly. "He really tried that?"
"Haha, he did! The beast chased him halfway across the courtyard!" Li Wei replied, scratching his head shyly, pleased with himself for making her laugh.
Shi Tian and Sha Tian, walking a little behind them, exchanged a look. Sha Tian's face was neutral, but Shi Tian's forehead twitched, a faint vein bulging as his jaw clenched.
"Tch…" he muttered under his breath, "that guy again…"
He wanted to glare, to say something—but he held himself back. He had worked too hard to maintain his calm, confident image in front of Cin Yan. Losing it now over a few words would ruin everything. So, he simply forced a smile and looked away, pretending not to care.
Their laughter carried softly through the trees, mingling with the crunch of snow and the rustle of cloaks.
Meanwhile, far behind the group, Fu Yang walked silently beside Master Wan. The two made an odd pair—one an old, wise cultivator with calm eyes, the other a young boy whose gaze seemed far older than his years.
Master Wan glanced sideways at him. Fu Yang's steps were steady, his expression quiet and unreadable. Unlike the other children, he neither joked nor tried to make friends. He just walked, hands behind his back, as if the journey was merely a duty to be endured.
Master Wan sighed inwardly. He wanted Fu Yang to open up, to be like the others—to laugh, to have companions, to live like a boy his age should. But he said nothing. The silence between them stretched on, broken only by the crunch of snow beneath their boots.
Finally, Master Wan said softly, "You don't talk much, do you, Fu Yang?"
Fu Yang looked up, his eyes calm. "Talking doesn't help much, Master."
Master Wan smiled faintly. "Sometimes it does. Sometimes it keeps the heart from freezing over."
Fu Yang didn't reply. His gaze wandered toward the faint outlines of the trees ahead—the shadowy border of the Beast Forest. The air there felt different, colder, heavier. Even the birds had gone silent.
As the group crossed into the forest, every disciple instinctively became alert. The laughter faded. Their steps slowed. The deeper they went, the more oppressive the air became. The faint scent of wet moss and animal musk drifted through the fog.
Branches creaked. Somewhere distant, a low growl echoed.
Head Master Xiang raised his hand, signaling for silence.
"From here on," he said, his voice low but firm, "stay in your groups. No wandering off. This forest is not kind to the careless."
Fu Yang's eyes glimmered faintly in the shadows.
"Not kind to the careless, huh?" he thought. "Then let's see who's truly careful today."
And their expedition into the Beast Forest began.