"Are you okay?" Shi Lieya asked, her voice soft with concern.
"Oh, don't worry. Let's go buy the clothes," Xiao Yan replied, forcing a smile.
"Alright!"
The stall was nearby, but as soon as they were about to approach the merchant, Shi Lieya suddenly gasped and fainted, her body falling limp.
"Hey! Are you okay?" Jinyao cried out, catching her before she hit the ground.
"Quickly, let's take her back to the room!" Xiao Yan suggested, his face pale with worry.
Once they were back in the hotel, they called for a doctor. After a brief examination, the doctor sighed. "Well, this young miss is not sick, but her internal fire spirit is acting up, causing her to lose consciousness from the heat."
"Then what should we do?" Xiao Yan asked.
"You should contact her family members immediately," the doctor advised.
"Well, the thing is... she is the princess of the Beiheng Empire," Jinyao revealed.
"What? The Beiheng Imperial Princess from Henglu City?" the doctor stammered, his face turning white with panic. "I... I cannot be involved in this!"
The doctor, terrified of the Shi Imperial Family's reputation, gathered his things and fled the room in a hurry.
"What should we do now?" Xiao Yan asked, looking at Lieya's flushed face.
[Master, you can suppress her rampant fire powers with your ice.]
"Really?"
[Yep. Do it now, and it will stabilize her for the next year.]
(Let me try.) Xiao Yan unbound the silk from his eyes and prepared himself.
"Wow... your Codex Eyes look really beautiful," Jinyao whispered, seeing them clearly for the first time.
"No comment," Xiao Yan replied, focusing.
He helped Lieya sit up and placed his cold palms against her back. "I'm still not fully familiar with my cold ice powers. I hope I don't lose control."
"You've got this, Xiao Yan!" Jinyao cheered.
The icy power surged from his hands, running through Shi Lieya's veins like a frozen river. Slowly, it calmed the raging fire within her. Lieya's eyes fluttered open, seeing Jinyao and Xiao Yan hovering over her.
"Guys... what just happened?"
"Are you okay? You fainted, but Brother Yan saved you," Jinyao explained.
"You're calling him 'Brother Yan' now? He's my Brother Yan, not yours!" Lieya snapped, her energy returning instantly.
"Guys, calm down! I just saved you, Shi Lieya. You need to rest," Xiao Yan interrupted.
"I didn't think you were an ice user. You are truly talented," Jinyao said, ignoring Lieya's glare.
"Well, I'm going outside for a second to get something to eat. You two behave yourselves—and don't forget to eat," Xiao Yan instructed.
"Are you worried about me, Brother Yan? I'm so touched!" Jinyao said with a romantic sigh.
Xiao Yan quickly left the room before they could start another argument. He headed to a nearby restaurant, but as he sat down, a large, boisterous man approached his table.
"Well, little boy, what are you doing here alone? Where is your father? Did he abandon you?" the man mocked.
As soon as the man mentioned his father, a cold rage grew in Xiao Yan's heart. Arcane blue bolts of lightning began to dance across his knuckles, and the air smelled of ozone as his killing intent flooded the restaurant.
"What did you say?" Xiao Yan's voice was like a low growl of thunder.
"I just said your father—"
The man never finished his sentence. A blinding lightning shock blasted him backward, slamming him into a wall.
"You dare touch our big brother?!" the man's friends roared, drawing their weapons.
The restaurant turned into a fighting arena instantly. There were too many of them for Xiao Yan to handle in his current state, and just as he was about to be surrounded, the system reacted. Using the Azure Ring, it teleported him instantly to the Azure Palace.
"System! Let me back there! I'll kill them!" Xiao Yan cried out, his eyes glowing with fury.
[Are you out of your mind? You wanted to stay and deal with a dozen thugs who outnumbered you?]
"I don't care! They have no right to mention my father!"
[You should learn to control your temper, Master. Rage without strength is just suicide.]
"Welcome back to the Azure Palace. What are your orders?" the palace messenger asked.
Xiao Yan, with a fire burning in his soul, stood up. "I will take down the first level of this palace. Right now."
With his mighty will, he started the trial. He pushed himself like a madman, the image of his father's death and his sisters' faces fueling every step. If only I was strong enough, I could have saved him!
He pushed through the hardship, his body feeling like it was breaking down, but his spirit was unbreakable. With a final burst of effort, he completed the first level.
"Congratulations. You have completed the first level. Your reward is a Breakthrough Pill," the messenger announced.
Xiao Yan sat down at the door leading to the second level, regulating the energy of his Codex through his blood.
[Wow, Master. You broke through to the 7th Stage of Balance. You are much stronger now.]
He drew the Sky Ruler Mjolnir and slashed the air; the weapon hummed, having upgraded to a Mid-Divine Grade weapon. His anger finally cooled, replaced by the lingering sadness for his family.
In the middle of a dense forest, far from the city, three figures were moving quickly. It was Xiao Yan's sisters and his brother.
"Brother Yanfeng, do you think if we follow this path, we will really reach the Hollow Gate?" Lingyan asked.
"Yes, we will. It is our only option, little sister," Yanfeng replied firmly.
"If only Brother Xiao Yan were here... I don't even know if he is still alive. But our destination is the Academy. Nothing else matters until we get there."
As they spoke, a pair of glowing eyes watched them from the shadows. Lingyan, the youngest, turned around and saw a massive beast lunging from the brush.
She screamed, "AHHHHHHHH!"
TO BE CONTINUED!!!