The infirmary smelled like herbs and disinfectant.
Lin Yan lay on the bed, eyes closed, breathing shallow.
On the outside, he looked weak.
On the inside—
🔥
Flames moved through his veins like obedient servants.
Hide your power, the Phoenix had warned.
Lin Yan obeyed.
He slowed his breathing. Suppressed the heat. The embers beneath his skin faded.
Right on time.
The door creaked open.
Three outer disciples walked in.
At the front was Zhao Feng.
Lin Yan recognized him immediately.
An inner disciple candidate.A genius.And the same person who had once "accidentally" broken Lin Yan's arm during a training session.
Zhao Feng sneered.
"So you're awake," he said. "Tsk. I heard you fell into the forbidden abyss."
Lin Yan didn't answer.
Zhao Feng stepped closer, eyes cold.
"You're lucky," he continued. "Most trash doesn't survive."
Lin Yan opened his eyes.
They were calm.
Too calm.
Zhao Feng frowned.
"Still pretending?" He chuckled. "Let me remind you of your place."
He raised his hand.
SLAP.
Lin Yan's head snapped to the side.
The two disciples behind Zhao Feng laughed.
"That's right."
"Servants shouldn't look at us like equals."
Lin Yan tasted blood.
His fingers twitched.
Endure, he told himself.
The Phoenix's voice echoed faintly in his mind.
"Pain tempers the flame."
Zhao Feng leaned in. "Listen carefully. If you tell anyone about what happened on the mountain… you'll disappear."
He turned to leave.
That was when Lin Yan spoke.
"Senior Brother."
Zhao Feng stopped.
Lin Yan slowly sat up.
"I fell from the mountain," he said quietly. "And survived."
Zhao Feng laughed. "So?"
Lin Yan met his eyes.
"If I fall again," he continued, "will I still be trash?"
The room went silent.
Zhao Feng's smile vanished.
"What did you say?"
Lin Yan didn't repeat himself.
Zhao Feng's expression darkened.
"You're asking to die."
He stepped forward, spiritual qi surging.
A servant killing a disciple would be unforgivable.
But a disciple killing a servant?
An accident.
Zhao Feng struck.
A palm filled with qi slammed into Lin Yan's chest.
CRACK.
Ribs shattered.
Lin Yan flew off the bed and smashed into the wall.
Pain exploded.
Organs ruptured.
His vision went black.
The disciples froze.
"…Did you kill him?" one whispered.
Zhao Feng scoffed. "Relax. Servants are fragile."
Lin Yan lay still.
Not breathing.
Dead.
🔥
Fire ignited.
The phoenix mark burned.
Bones repaired themselves.
Organs reformed.
Heat flooded every cell.
Lin Yan's eyes snapped open.
He inhaled sharply.
Power surged.
But this time—
He held it in.
He collapsed, coughing, blood spilling from his mouth.
"Ah—he's alive!"
"Tch, unlucky."
Zhao Feng frowned, unease flickering in his eyes.
"Take him away," he said coldly. "If he causes trouble again, finish it."
They left.
Silence returned.
Lin Yan lay on the floor, shaking.
Not from fear.
From excitement.
So this is it, he thought.
Death.
And rebirth.
He could feel it.
His body was stronger.
Denser.
The Phoenix's voice whispered.
"Ember Body—refined."
A faint heat danced across Lin Yan's skin.
He smiled.
Very slowly.
Zhao Feng, he thought.Next time… I won't endure.