That morning, the academy was alive with the quiet hum of anticipation. Sunlight spilled through the tall lattice windows, casting latticed patterns of gold across the polished wooden floors. Students shuffled in, their whispers and footsteps blending with the faint scent of incense lingering in the air, the smell of parchment and chalk mixing with the crisp morning breeze that drifted through the open doors. At Master Li's request, everyone had gathered early. His tone had been unusually firm — each word carried weight, each glance a command. Attendance was mandatory, and the air seemed to quiver with the gravity of expectation.
Perhaps it was because this was the last day before the end of the first term, or perhaps he simply wished to ensure that every student was fully prepared for tomorrow — the long-awaited Feast of Talents, a day of presentation, pride, and subtle rivalry. The hall seemed to hold its breath as he questioned them one by one about their progress. The rhythm of his voice, steady yet piercing, carried across the room like a blade of sunlight. Every answer was measured, and reassurance flowed freely — everyone's, except for Suo's.
The silence stretched, thick and heavy, until it became almost tangible, like a mist settling between the desks. Then, as though breaking the tension with a flare of audacity, the classroom door burst open. Sunlight danced in the sudden movement, catching on Suo's eyes, which glimmered with mischief, sharp and untamed.
"Stand up, girl!" he called, his voice cutting through the room like a spark igniting dry tinder.
Huo Feng startled, her heart leaping in her chest, but obedience won over surprise. She rose immediately, her hands still clutching a few books she had been arranging, their edges rough against her palms. The soft rustle of pages filled the brief silence as she obeyed.
"Drop what you're holding," he ordered, firm and unwavering, his eyes blazing with the thrill of mischief. "And follow me."
Without hesitation, Huo Feng released the books. They fell to the ground with a muted thud, a delicate percussion echoing through the room as if marking the beginning of some secret adventure. She moved toward him, drawn by an invisible tether, her steps light yet determined, a flutter of excitement in her chest. Suo grasped her hand — right there, in the open, under Master Li's gaze, which had sharpened, eyes simmering with a red flush of irritation and unspoken jealousy. The air itself seemed to shiver with the intensity of the moment.
Then, without another word, they vanished into the sky.
Above, clouds parted to reveal a tapestry of endless blue, the sun casting brilliant shafts of light that danced upon their faces. Wind rushed past them, tangling Huo Feng's hair in playful wisps, tugging at the hem of her robe, brushing cool against her flushed skin. They soared beyond the clouds, down toward the earth — a secret place known only to them, where Suo promised she would learn, understand, and perhaps glimpse the beauty she sought.
A "brilliant idea," as Suo thought. He carried her straight to the House of Human Blossoms, a forbidden realm that shimmered with an otherworldly aura, its gilded gates gleaming like molten sunlight. No student was ever allowed entry — and yet here she was, led by him, her pulse a mix of fear and exhilaration, her chest swelling with anticipation.
Inside, the hall was alive with music, each note a ripple of color in the air, weaving around dozens of enchanting women who moved like living petals in a soft breeze. Their bodies were fluid, each gesture a harmony of grace and power, each sway hypnotic. The polished marble floor reflected their silhouettes, blending with the delicate glow of lanterns, casting elongated, golden shadows that danced along the walls.
Huo Feng's heart trembled with awe, every nerve tingling, every breath caught in wonder. She drifted among the dancers like a ghost of moonlight — unseen, yet wholly present, her eyes drinking in every curve, every arc of movement, every whisper of silk brushing skin.
Then, as if fate itself had pulled her gaze, she stopped. Her eyes locked on one dancer — a vision of ethereal elegance. Her every motion was deliberate, delicate, noble; each step seemed to paint the air with invisible ink, each turn a brushstroke on the canvas of the hall. Huo Feng's pulse quickened. She approached, her movements careful, almost reverent, until her spirit brushed against the dancer's. For a fleeting heartbeat, their souls intertwined, and in that instant, Huo Feng felt the secret rhythm, the hidden fire of the Dance of Grace. When she stepped back, she had copied the gift, her body humming with newly acquired mastery.
The maiden paused, unaware yet inexplicably moved by the ghostly presence. Huo Feng whispered, soft as the flutter of wings:"I know you can't see me, but your heart will hear me. Accept this thread as my thanks. From now on, no enemy shall harm you — so long as you keep it, and never let it break."
Her words lingered, delicate as a sigh, before she turned, searching for Suo. Unsurprisingly, he was far too occupied admiring each dancer that passed, his eyes tracing every swirl of silk, every shimmer of movement.
Huo Feng's patience snapped like a finely tuned string. She reached up, grabbed him by the ear, and dragged him out. He didn't resist — if anything, a smile danced across his lips, amused by her fiery indignation.
"What is it?" he teased, voice low, playful. "Did you blush at their beauty… or burn with jealousy?"
"They were beautiful — dazzling to behold. Why should I be shy? And why would I be jealous, when I've just learned the Dance of Moon and Flame from the finest of them all?" Huo Feng replied, her tone sweet yet proud, innocence lacing each word.
Suo blinked, bewildered, the corners of his mouth twitching. "You learned it? You barely even saw it!"
A confident smile curved Huo Feng's lips, the corners of her eyes sparkling. "Have you forgotten? When it comes to learning… I'm the best there is."
He frowned, tugging lightly at her collar, the silk of her robe slipping between his fingers. "Tomorrow, when they all laugh, don't blame me for not warning you."
She pouted, clutching the edge of his robe, eyes wide in mock plea. "If you help me one more time, I'll pass tomorrow's test with ease. Come on — dance the Sun and Moon with me!"
Suo laughed, bright and full of spark, a sound that made the sunlight seem warmer. "I know it well — without boasting! But what about you, little moon?"
"Don't be fooled by my innocent face," she said, pulling him along playfully. "In mere moments, I mastered her daring dance. I'm just missing one thing — the sun to my moon."
"And what about the music?" he asked, curiosity sharpening his tone. "Who'll play the earth between you two? Do you have someone in mind willing to join your act?"
Huo Feng smiled, that dangerous, sweet smile that always carried a hint of mischief. "Of course I do! My dear, kind Master Li. He could never refuse me… like you, oh captivated one."
Suo stopped dead in his tracks, staring at her in disbelief. "So… you know how I feel, and you've just revealed my secret?"
She shrugged lightly, unbothered. "Matters of the heart don't concern me right now. What matters is passing that exam!"
Before he could respond, she sprang upward, rising toward the Celestial Kingdom. The wind whipped through her hair, the clouds parting to reveal a kaleidoscope of color. She carried with her not just ambition and dreams, but a spark of warmth — subtle, unclaimed, and infinitely tempting, a glow she pretended not to understand.