The new Zi Qian

As the morning sun painted the sky with varying shades of orange, Xue Zi Qian awoke in his academy dorm room. His fever had subsided, thanks to the care provided by his roommate, Shen Xiao Yang, who was currently absent, presumably starting his daily routine.

Stretching, Zi Qian found himself in deep contemplation, the previous night's strange dream and the various incidents that had transpired since he left YunXiao. The series of events troubled him deeply. "Ever since I left YunXiao, many unusual things have happened," he mused, "First, the kidnapping, then the mysterious savior, and now, that strange dream." For a moment, he pondered his own lack of preparation for the day, unsure of what lay ahead.

Frustration and curiosity gnawed at him. He couldn't ignore these strange occurrences any longer. His resolution began to take shape. "There's something fishy going on, and I can't just stay here." Just as he contemplated his next steps, a knock on the door interrupted his thoughts. Wei Yang's voice came from the other side, informing him of a special training session ordered by the Sect Leader for him and the two mistresses. Zi Qian sighed in disbelief.

"Alright," Zi Qian replied, "I'll be ready in a few minutes."

He proceeded to the bathroom, which was a serene and elegant space. The large bath was already filled with hot water, infused with rose petals, giving the water a soothing and pleasant smell. As he undressed, Zi Qian couldn't help but smile at the prospect of a relaxing bath. The warm water embraced him, and he closed his eyes, savoring the moment. It was in this tranquil setting that a daring idea began to take root. "What if I escape from here?" he thought. "Yes, that could be a brilliant plan. I'll make my way to another city and start anew, away from all these mysteries." Scratching his head thoughtfully, he pondered the logistics. "But how will I do this?" he mused quietly to himself. "Perhaps at night, under the cover of darkness when everyone is asleep. Yes, that's a brilliant idea! I must be quite the genius." His face wore a triumphant grin as he envisioned his plan to escape. "Once I escape, I can go anywhere I want," he thought. He considered the freedom of wandering through new cities, exploring unknown territories, and experiencing adventures beyond the Lingtian Academy.

As Zi Qian emerged from his bath, he wore a rare and genuine expression of enthusiasm. Dressed in simple training attire, he eagerly headed to the training grounds where Wei Yang, Xiao Rui, and Li Ying Ying were already waiting. " Wei Yang, I'm here, let's get started!" Zi Qian declared with a rare, genuine smile, determined to make the most of the training. Li Ying Ying, who had been sipping her drink, was taken aback by this newfound enthusiasm. She couldn't help but comment in her typically sarcastic tone, "Oh my, what a sudden transformation. The person who never gave two hoots about cultivation is now eager for training. Quite impressive, Zi Qian." Li Ying Ying's distinctive laughter, which was both melodramatic and loud, was something to behold. People often found her laughter so jarring that they would jokingly advise, "Close your ears before she starts laughing." Even Xiao Rui couldn't bear the noise and covered her ears in response. Zi Qian couldn't resist teasing, "Aunt Ying Ying, your laughter alone is enough to terrify your enemies!" Li Ying Ying was visibly irked by his comment, and she promptly stood up, unsheathed her sword, and shot Zi Qian an icy glare. Tensions were on the rise, but Wei Yang intervened, maintaining his usual calm tone, "Young miss and young master, let's keep our composure. We're here for training, not conflict." Li Ying Ying was still visibly irritated and moved to a corner, where she began practicing graceful sword techniques. She muttered under her breath, "This brat needs to learn when to keep quiet." Xiao Rui retreated to her corner to practice with her magical whip. With graceful fluidity, she executed a mesmerizing whip movement with her whip which was named Fei Li Bian.

Meanwhile Zi Qian stood there amused because he never used a sword. In fact he hated using sword because he was uninterested in cultivation but eventually became a good martial artist due to the pressure of his father. "Time to learn something new," Wei Yang suggested as he handed a sword to Zi Qian, but Zi Qian was resistant. "I don't like swords, Wei Yang. Isn't there another option?" he protested. Wei Yang thought for a moment and then retrieved a golden folding hand fan from his pouch, presenting it to Zi Qian. "With your control over divine energy, you can turn any object into a weapon. Try this fan, and you can name it 'Qing Feng'." As Zi Qian glanced at the golden folding hand fan Wei Yang had given him, he marveled at its intricate design. The fan was made of a fine silk fabric that was not only visually appealing but also incredibly durable. The edges of the fan were delicately shaped, enhancing its functionality as a weapon. Xue Zi Qian was not just enthusiastic about training; he had an ulterior motive in mind. "I'm escaping from here today, why not just act to convince them that I'm trying hard," he thought, wearing a devilish smile on his face. Li Ying Ying, with her keen instincts, sensed something amiss and commented, "Wei Yang, keep an eye on this brat! I think something is wrong with him." Wei Yang acknowledged her concern with a nod, aware that Xue Zi Qian's sudden change in attitude was unusual.

After four hours of strenuous training, all of them were exhausted but satisfied with their progress. To reward their efforts, Wei Yang treated them to a meal at an inn. Surprisingly, Shen Xiao Yang and Xiao Bai joined them at the restaurant, sitting at the same table. "I didn't expect to see you here, Young Master Xue," Shen Xiao Yang remarked, focusing his attention solely on Xue Zi Qian. Wei Yang, on the other hand, gave Shen Xiao Yang a piercing glare, sensing something amiss. As for Xiao Rui and Xiao Bai, they were engaged in a lighthearted yet competitive tussle over the last dumpling, each trying to snatch it with their chopsticks, causing laughter and joy to fill the air. Xue Zi Qian's voice cut through the tension at the table. "Young man and young lady, it's not worth fighting over a leftover dumpling." With a smile, he took the dumpling and divided it into two equal parts, offering one piece to each of them. Xiao Rui and Xiao Bai, who had been caught up in their chopstick struggle, looked at Zi Qian, then at each other, and finally smiled. They accepted the dumplings graciously, and the atmosphere at the table lightened as they all enjoyed their meal together. In the midst of their interactions, there was another pair of eyes discreetly watching Xue Zi Qian's every move. Unbeknownst to Zi Qian, these observant eyes belonged to none other than Shen Xiao Yang. Each time their gazes met, Xiao Yang swiftly averted his eyes.