The silence that followed his declaration was like a still pond after a stone had been thrown—ripples of emotion, unspoken and raw, stirred beneath the surface.
Qian Yu turned without another word, his back to the battlefield, the echo of his footsteps soft against the dirt. With a gentle pat to Xiao Wu's head, he motioned for her and the rest of the work-study students to follow. Together, they left the scene behind.
Tang San remained where he had fallen, sprawled on the ground, the world blurring at the edges of his vision. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails dug into his palms, nearly breaking skin.
Never before had he felt such bitter humiliation.
Back in the Tang Sect, he had pushed himself beyond his limits—secretly studying the sect's forbidden techniques—not out of greed, but because he had refused to be looked down upon.
Now, in this unfamiliar world, that same fire burned within him, but it was smothered by defeat. He hadn't expected someone like Qian Yu, calm and composed, to crush him so effortlessly.
A mix of pain and determination surged within his chest. As he slowly rose, he felt a sharp stab—something was broken. A rib, perhaps. But he didn't waver. He stood tall, his gaze locked in the direction Qian Yu had gone.
"I will surpass you, Qian Yu," he growled under his breath. "No matter what it takes… I will."
Qian Yu returned to the academy grounds, the scent of spring following them like a gentle breeze. The path they walked was lined with blooming peach trees—an endless canopy of soft pink, petals dancing lazily through the air.
As they passed beneath the flowering boughs, Xiao Wu came to a sudden stop, her wide eyes filled with curiosity and admiration. "Qian Yu-ge," she said, tilting her head in that innocent way that always made her seem more fae than human, "you were amazing back there! You barely moved, and Tang San was already on the ground! What kind of spirit ability did you use?"
Her pink dress fluttered around her like petals in the wind, and she looked up at him with a sparkle in her eyes that made even the peach blossoms seem dull by comparison.
Qian Yu chuckled softly and reached out to ruffle her hair again. With a flick of his other hand, a small vortex of wind began to swirl in his palm.
"This," he explained, "is my second spirit. A hurricane."
"The wind can be shaped into walls to block attacks—or into blades, invisible and silent. When I struck Tang San, the wind moved faster than your eyes could see. That's why it seemed like I did nothing at all."
He lifted his hand and gently waved it through the air.
At that moment, a breeze swept through the peach orchard. It wasn't strong—just enough to stir the branches. And then, as if caught in a magical spell, thousands of petals released from the trees above, drifting down like a cascade of pink butterflies.
Xiao Wu gasped in wonder.
She reached out with both hands, trying to catch the petals, but they danced just out of reach—teasing, flitting away like playful spirits.
Giggling, she twirled among the falling flowers, chasing after the petals with the unrestrained joy of a child. Her laughter echoed through the orchard, bright and contagious.
Qian Yu stood still, watching her. A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips—unbidden and real.
"She really is… something else," he murmured to himself.
It had been a long time—longer than he could even recall—since he'd felt this light. Ten lifetimes, and in each, he had borne sorrow, shouldered war, endured solitude. His heart, once full of color, had faded with time.
But now, in the soft radiance of falling peach blossoms, with Xiao Wu spinning beneath the trees like a living ember of joy, something inside him stirred again.
Maybe it was healing.
Maybe it was hope.
"Qian Yu-ge, it's so beautiful!" Xiao Wu's voice broke through his thoughts.
She came running back, eyes shining, and without hesitation, pressed a quick kiss to his cheek. "I love it! And I love you!"
Qian Yu blinked—caught off guard.
But they weren't alone.
From the hillside above, Tang San watched.
His heart twisted painfully in his chest. Since the moment he'd met Xiao Wu, something about her had drawn him in. It wasn't infatuation. It was… significant. As if her presence in his life mattered more than anything he could explain.
And now, the girl who mattered more than the world was in someone else's arms.
He turned away, hiding behind the trees, not daring to be seen.
The petals continued to fall, and the two remained beneath the peach trees.
"Qian Yu-ge," Xiao Wu said quietly, her tone shifting, "if one day I'm not by your side… would you miss me?"
Qian Yu placed a hand gently atop her head again, his smile patient, warm. "Why would you say that?"
She looked up at him with unwavering eyes. "If that day comes, and the peach blossoms are blooming… promise me you'll remember me."
Without a word, Qian Yu pulled her into his arms, holding her tightly. "I won't let that happen," he said, voice low and resolute. "You'll always be with me. No one—not fate, not time—can take you away."
Xiao Wu looked up, her eyes moist with emotion.
"Then I promise too," she whispered. "I won't ever leave. I'll stay with Qian Yu-ge… forever."
He nodded.
Together, they stood beneath the peach trees, embraced, as the petals continued to drift around them like fragments of a dream.
Behind them, hidden among the trees, Tang San watched with clenched fists and burning eyes. The pain he felt now was no longer dull—it was searing.
The next morning came softly.
Sunlight filtered through the windows, casting warm stripes across the bed. Qian Yu opened his eyes to find Xiao Wu curled up beside him, her breathing slow and peaceful.
He didn't move. Waking her would feel like breaking something fragile.
But soon, she stirred, sitting up with a sleepy yawn, rubbing her eyes.
"Morning, Qian Yu-ge."
"Morning," he said with a smile, brushing her hair gently. "Let's go out today. I'll take you exploring."
The words had barely left his mouth when she lit up.
"Really? Yes, please! Nuo Ding Academy is so boring—I've been dying to see the town!"
Qian Yu chuckled and shook his head. Girls really are all the same… They always light up at the idea of a day out.
But he didn't mind.
Today, he intended to visit the Spirit Hall and officially register as a Spirit Master. He had finally obtained his first spirit ring—it was time.
He wouldn't hide his spirit. He wouldn't pretend to be less than he was. In this world, he had nothing to fear.
And so, with Xiao Wu's hand in his, they made their way into the heart of Nuo Ding City.
Even after all this time—even after lifetimes—the Spirit Hall remained. Once, long ago, he had created the organization, hoping to bring order to the chaotic realm of spirit masters. A place of structure, of unity.
He hadn't imagined that, ten thousand years later, the Spirit Hall would rise to become the most powerful force on the continent.
As they approached the towering building, sunlight glinting off its marble façade, Qian Yu couldn't help but smile.
Some legacies, it seemed, truly did endure.
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