"The dean asks that you follow me."
Yu Xiaogang stepped forward, his heart pounding violently in his chest. As Anticipation, Fear and Regret All tangled together.
He had no idea—
That what awaited him was not merely a reunion… but another shock, one far more devastating than he had prepared himself for.
-----
The Blue Tyrant Academy was built deep within a forested area, a little far from the Heaven Dou City. Large trees towered overhead, their canopies interwoven, filtering sunlight into soft emerald beams that fell upon stone paths and wooden structures.
Rather than grand palaces, the academy favored nature-integrated architecture—pavilions half-hidden by foliage, training grounds surrounded by hedges, and courtyards connected by winding paths. The entire place carried a wild yet disciplined aura, much like its name.
Walking ahead, Yin Shu acted as both guide and host.
"This area is used for basic combat training," he explained, gesturing toward a clearing where students were practicing under instructors.
"That direction leads to the soul theory halls. Our academy emphasizes both physical refinement and mental discipline."
Flender nodded occasionally, appearing calm and composed.
Yin Shu glanced back at him and asked politely, "May I ask the purpose of your visit?"
Flender answered smoothly, as if he had rehearsed this long ago.
"We've come to apply for teaching positions," he said.
"These children behind me are my students. Their potential is decent, and I believe I can contribute to your academy's instruction."
Yin Shu's eyebrows lifted slightly in surprise, but he did not doubt Flender's words. After all, Blue Tyrant Academy valued strength and talent over background.
"That explains it," Yin Shu replied. "The dean has been seeking capable instructors recently."
As they spoke, Yu Xiaogang walked silently behind them.
His eyes were fixed not on the scenery—but on the path ahead. Each step felt heavier than the last.
Just as they approached the dean's residence, nestled deep within the gardens and surrounded by blooming flowers of every hue, a sound drifted through the air.
A woman's voice which was soft and clear
'¶ Well ... you only.. need ... the sun when it's burning low,
Only.. miss.. the.. sun when.. it starts.. to ..snow. ¶'
Yet filled with a loneliness so deep it seemed to echo through the forest itself.
The melody was slow and lingering, like autumn leaves falling one by one.
Yu Xiaogang froze and his breathing stalled.
That voice—
His face unconsciously softened, eyes filled with nostalgia and pain. For a moment, he looked as though his legs had forgotten how to move.
Flender stopped and glanced sideways at him.
Yu Xiaogang clenched his fists. He forced himself forward.
In the courtyard, the scene unfolded quietly.
A beautiful woman, seemingly in her thirties, sat beneath a flowering tree. Her figure was tall and well-proportioned, her bearing elegant yet restrained. Her facial features were delicate, refined as if painted by an artist's hand.
She wore simple yet tasteful attire, neither extravagant nor plain.
Her large black eyes, though slightly lifeless, still carried a lingering spark of vitality—like embers that refused to go out.
Resting across her lap was a guqin.
Her fingers moved gently over the strings, producing a melody both graceful and sorrowful.
'¶Only... know... you love ..her when you... let her... go. ¶'
Her voice, gentle and melodious, followed the tune—each note wrapped in longing, solitude, and an unspoken regret that had endured for years.
Tang San narrowed his eyes slightly. The atmosphere in the courtyard grew heavy.
The song continued, unaware—or perhaps fully aware—of the presence that had finally returned after so many years.
And Flender and Yu Xiaogang stood there, rooted to the ground, facing the past they both have had fled from for over a decade.
The moment Liu Erlong's gaze fell upon the two figures entering the courtyard, her fingers froze upon the guqin strings.
The final note trembled… then scattered into silence.
Her eyes widened slightly.
Then—tears welled up uncontrollably.
They slid down her cheeks one after another, blurring her vision as memories long buried surged forth like a broken dam. Fourteen years of waiting, resentment, self-restraint, and silent nights flooded her heart in an instant.
She stood up abruptly.
The chair scraped faintly against the stone floor as she walked toward them, step by step, her posture steady yet trembling inside.
Yu Xiaogang's heart clenched.
He opened his mouth, countless prepared words rushing to his lips—apologies, explanations, hollow justifications—
But before a single word could escape—
Slap!
The sound echoed sharply through the courtyard.
Flender staggered half a step back, stunned.
Everyone froze.
Yu Xiaogang's pupils shrank violently, his mind blank from the sudden reversal.
Liu Erlong stood there, her hand still raised, tears streaming freely as her chest heaved.
"You—" her voice trembled, choked with rage and grief, "—you still dare to appear before me?"
Before anyone could react—
A sharp, youthful voice rang out from behind.
"What are you doing?!"
The tone was fierce, protective, and filled with hostility.
"Are you disturbing my mother?!"
A fourteen-year-old youth rushed forward.
He had a somewhat prominent chin, wide cheekbones, and a slightly aquiline nose. His red hair flared like flames in the sunlight, eyes blazing with vigilance and anger.
"Martial Soul—Flame Owl!"
In an instant, flaming feathers erupted from his body. Massive reddish wings spread open behind him, heat rippling through the air. His feet transformed into sharp talons as his aura surged outward.
With explosive speed, he appeared between Flender and Liu Erlong, wings half-spread, body tensed like a drawn bow—ready to strike at the slightest movement.
"You—!"
Flender stared at the youth in front of him.