The Sunrise Academy wasn't the largest or the most extravagant institution, but it stood unrivalled as the top academy in the entire Eastern Continent. There were plenty of other academies scattered across the land, yet none could come close to Sunrise Academy, when it came to producing geniuses.
Most said it was all because of the principal, a mysterious man who had come from the Central Continent with his wife to spread the Dao and seek enlightenment.
At Sunrise, students still stuck in the Qi Refining Realm were considered bottom-tier, if they hadn't reached Foundation Establishment by the age of sixteen. Those who managed to reach Peak Foundation Establishment by sixteen were seen as true prodigies.
They were eligible to participate in disciple recruitment organized by the major sects of the Central Continent, unless they already held a recommendation letter.
Gu Ming and Xu Mei were both Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators, and on top of that, they had recommendation letters thanks to their powerful backgrounds. That was one of the reasons they looked down on Su Wen so much.
But it hadn't always been that way.
Two years ago, when Su Wen first met Xu Mei and Gu Ming, things had been completely different. In his eyes, Xu Mei had been a bright, cheerful girl, though her confidence often crumbled whenever people criticized her violin performances.
One afternoon, after yet another harsh comment from a senior master, she sat alone on the academy steps, quietly crying with her violin case clutched tightly to her chest.
That was the moment Su Wen found her and chose to sit beside her, offering comfort when no one else would.
Su Wen had always believed that hard work mattered more than talent. Talent could give someone a head start, but true growth came from the effort one was willing to put in. He encouraged Xu Mei to practice harder, to feel every note, and to transform her music from mere sound into something that was truly hers.
He would sit nearby while she played for hours, enduring sudden pitch changes that made him wince or snapping strings that startled him in the middle of his studies. Yet he never complained… not once.
He simply stayed by her side, supporting her in the quiet, steady way he always did.
Over the next two years, all that effort began to bear fruit. Xu Mei not only grew in confidence but also became one of the finest violinists in the academy.
Her music, graceful yet powerful, filled the halls with warmth and light. Before long, she had become a star… the bright, shining face of Sunrise Academy, naturally drawing the attention of everyone around her.
She wasn't just talented in violin; she was a prodigy with the cultivation as well. A beautiful fairy seemingly blessed by the heavens, the living embodiment of brilliance and hard work. She was destined to soar above the rest, like a phoenix rising through the clouds.
Gu Ming, like Xu Mei, first met Su Wen two years ago during Poetry classes. Unlike many others, Gu Ming was practical and more interested in outdoor activities; poetry and the violin were never his true passions. He initially approached Su Wen simply to gain some scholarly achievements.
Su Wen, taking the request in stride, patiently explained the concepts clearly and concisely. Through these sessions, the two grew close, forming a bond much like that of brothers. They began sharing drinks and practicing not just poetry, but also martial arts. Gu Ming favoured the spear, while Su Wen wielded the sword.
They regularly sparred, pointing out each other's flaws and refining their techniques together.
Gu Ming's innate talent in cultivation proved formidable. A few months ago, he achieved a breakthrough, reaching the Peak Foundation Establishment realm. Furthermore, he managed to comprehend the Second Grade Spear Intent, a feat that firmly established him as the top genius in the academy.
Gu Ming, now one of the academy's rising stars, had become an unofficial senior brother to many of the younger talents. Despite his growing reputation, for Su Wen, he was still the same as ever: a straightforward brute with very little brain power, a brother, but absolutely terrible with anything that required thinking.
Gu Ming, being the son of the City Lord, and Xu Mei, the daughter of the richest merchant in Sunrise City, didn't need to achieve anything at the academy to secure their futures. Even if they were complete wastrels, both could easily obtain recommendation letters to the Holy Lands in the Central Continent. Their backgrounds alone guaranteed it.
Su Wen had introduced the two of them to each other, since they were his closest companions among the academy students.
At first, when Su Wen introduced Gu Ming and Xu Mei to each other, things seemed harmless enough. They exchanged polite greetings, made small talk, and appeared to get along well. Seeing that two of his closest companions could become friends, Su Wen felt relieved.
But as weeks passed, something subtle began to shift.
Gu Ming and Xu Mei began spending more time together… studying in the same rooms, training in the same courtyards, and even walking side by side to lunch. While they remained polite and composed when interacting with Su Wen individually, their personalities shifted noticeably when they were together.
Although Su Wen had noticed their changes, he chose not to speak of it. He saw the shift in their eyes, the faint condescension whenever they looked at him, the way they stood farther from him during gatherings, whispering to each other while pretending he wasn't there.
At academy events, they would deliberately bring up topics like political alliances, noble banquets, and the newest luxury treasures in the city. They spoke loudly enough for Su Wen to hear, their voices tinged with mockery, as if to remind him he was nothing, but a country bumpkin compared to them.
Gu Ming, the City Lord's son, became increasingly outspoken, letting his casual arrogance slip through with ease. Xu Mei, once a gentle and insecure girl whom Su Wen had patiently supported, began mirroring him. Her rising fame as the academy's violin genius, paired with Gu Ming's constant flattery, made her pride swell.
The girl who once cried quietly on the academy steps now carried herself like someone above everyone else, including Su Wen.
Su Wen desperately hoped he was simply overthinking things. After all, they were his closest companions; they wouldn't truly betray him. That fragile hope was utterly shattered, when he received the final stab in the heart this very morning.