"I don't intend to change the Spirit Master's world in any particular way. It's just that these things might make these students better, and that makes them worth exploring."
"I also believe that we will all become better."
Saying this, Xin looked at Bibi Dong and added another sentence.
Although what had happened in Heart of Fire Pavilion was an accident, Xin felt that since it had already occurred, perhaps it was destined in some way. It would be better to let nature take its course. Slowly, he was also letting go of his previous prejudices against Bibi Dong.
"Good… good."
Bibi Dong felt the sincerity and youthful innocence in Xin's eyes, and her exquisitely beautiful face could not help but flush slightly. It was unlikely any woman could remain unmoved by Teacher Xin's words.
At that moment, something warm stirred in her heart—soft, unfamiliar, yet deeply comforting.
She even had an impulse she could not fully explain.
To step closer.
To stay there a little longer.
To forget everything else.
A faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips as she quickly suppressed that thought.
Still…
Her fingers unconsciously tightened slightly at her sleeve.
If she stayed any longer, she feared she would truly lose control of herself.
…
As night fell, a cool breeze swept through the cherry blossom forest surrounding Heart of Fire Pavilion at Heart of Fire Academy.
Moonlight poured down like silver water, covering the entire academy in a serene glow.
Bibi Dong sat quietly by the window inside the pavilion, gently grooming herself in front of a mirror.
Her reflection looked calm, composed, and elegant as always.
Yet her eyes carried a trace of hesitation that had not been there before.
Outside the window stretched the vast cherry blossom forest, petals drifting slowly through the night air like falling snow.
In the distance, faint training sounds echoed from the academy grounds.
Occasionally, there were exaggerated wolf-like howls: "Awoo~ Awoo~"
Strangely, instead of breaking the serenity, it added a touch of liveliness to the quiet night.
Over a month had passed.
During this time, Bibi Dong had lived in Heart of Fire Pavilion, experiencing a kind of peace she had not felt in decades.
It was calm.
Stable.
Almost… warm.
Xin had treated her with unexpected care.
He had personally prepared medicinal formulas to nourish her bones and stabilize her Spirit foundation.
In just one month, the side effects from the removal of her torso bone had significantly eased.
Even more surprisingly, he had provided her with a new torso bone.
Although it was not a hundred-thousand-year Spirit Bone, it was still a fifty-thousand-year-grade treasure—an item that would make countless Spirit Masters go mad with greed.
Along with it came a bottle of bone-nourishing liquid capable of accelerating Spirit Bone fusion and evolution.
She had heard of another case.
Ning Rongrong's original Spirit Bone had only been around two thousand years in age.
Yet, because it matched her perfectly, Xin had allowed her to absorb it and refine it using similar medicinal support.
Over time, it had evolved into a ten-thousand-year Spirit Bone, and now its power had even reached the level of thirty thousand years.
Such a method of accelerating Spirit Bone growth was practically unheard of in the Spirit Master world.
It was nothing short of miraculous.
And she had received similar care.
Bibi Dong's hand moved unconsciously to her lower abdomen for a brief moment.
Her expression softened slightly, as if she herself did not fully understand the feeling.
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
She turned away from the mirror and placed a neatly written letter on the inkstone.
Then she walked to the window and looked once more toward Xin's residence in the distance.
The lights were still on.
He was probably still working.
Still thinking about those disciples.
Still thinking about this academy.
Bibi Dong remained silent for a long time.
Finally, she exhaled softly.
She stood up, pushed open the window behind her, and descended from the pavilion with light, careful steps.
Using the cherry blossom teacher's token, she moved through the academy without alerting any students. Within minutes, she had reached the outer boundary.
She paused at the edge of the academy grounds.
Her fingers lightly touched the small, inconspicuous area of her lower abdomen again.
Then she turned her head.
Behind her, Heart of Fire Academy stood beneath the moonlight like a quiet dream.
Beautiful.
Peaceful.
Unreal.
For a brief moment, she did not move.
Then she murmured softly to herself,
"Teacher Xin, although I haven't been at the academy for long, I can feel your affection for this academy and its students."
Her voice was calm, but carried a faint reluctance.
"I don't want to make things difficult for you. We are leaving."
A pause.
Her gaze lowered slightly.
The wind lifted a few strands of her hair.
"I hope you can focus on teaching, fulfill your ideals and research. I… we will always wait for you."