Year of the Rising Horizon, 99,995th year
By decree of the Sect Council, no whispers were to escape the walls of Tianlong Sect.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6FjIF0zfh
The creature sealed beneath the port was not a Celestial Dragon, the elders declared — only a “Water Spirit gone astray.”15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqA4J1SIvq
Every student, every attendant, every guard who’d been there knew the truth.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2PlvZDsDO
Yet silence was law — and fear was obedience.
The Painting Class
The following morning, the students were gathered once more in the Hall of Reverent Arts, the faint smell of ink and powdered jade drifting through the air.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPdyvANQAu
Today’s lesson was different — a reflection class. They were told to study the old works of the former sect disciples, paintings that carried memories of generations past.
On the far wall hung a scroll older than any of them — a painting of a woman holding her son, her eyes filled with longing.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOyeNJQP225
Behind them, almost hidden in mist and brushstrokes, a man carried a small girl away, walking into a storm of blue clouds.
The class grew quiet.
Sheng Linyue, who had been half-pretending to pay attention, stopped.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNyz00qpmX
Her fingers brushed the painting’s lower corner where a name had once been signed — barely visible now.
“This…” she whispered, “was painted by Long Wei’s son.”
The teacher nodded gravely.
“A boy who lost his father and sister in one night. And his mother… lost her love and her child.”
The silence deepened.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlyCz2qIPY
Even the brush-holders and ink pots seemed still.
Xing Rongyue lowered her head, her heart still heavy from the dragon’s cry the day before.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihAZQuAjfB
Feng Zihan clenched his jaw, pretending not to care but unable to look away.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVnVe7rF7n
The art spoke of loss, of time, of blood and sorrow — and every one of them felt it.
The Secret Meeting
That night, under the pale silver of moonlight, several figures gathered near the Lotus Courtyard.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPHesDZoVW
Linyue, Rongyue, Zihan, Lianhua, Wenxi, Liangfeng, and after some persuasion, even Liuyue joined them.
A single lantern flickered between them.
Linyue was the first to speak.
“That dragon… that child… was tortured for ninety-nine thousand years. I can’t sleep thinking about it.”
Rongyue nodded softly.
“None of us can. Someone did this brutally.”
Feng Zihan scoffed.
“You really think a few kids can uncover something the Elders hide? We’d be expelled before we find a clue.”
Linyue, defiant as ever, leaned forward.
“When Wenxi and Liangfeng mentioned the Heiwu Sect, remember? They said Long Jianxu might’ve founded it. What if… that sect is the one behind the dragon’s torment?”
Liuyue’s eyes sharpened instantly.
“Linyue. Don’t say such things without proof. Reckless words can kill more than people — they can destroy clans.”
She crossed her arms.
“I was only thinking aloud. You don’t need to scold me like my father.”
Zihan chuckled, teasing,
“Bingyan Zun, must you freeze every sentence she says? Let her breathe.”
Liuyue ignored him, gaze fixed on the moon’s reflection in the pond.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutx3kAEHPp
He didn’t say it, but the thought of that dragon — of the suffering she endured — burned colder than any ice.
Their quiet rebellion didn’t last long.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHh7WNJ69E
Two days later, Xing Lianchen and Tianlong Yuhuan summoned them all.
Lianchen’s tone was firm yet kind.
“Children. This is not your burden to carry. What happened in the sea concerns forces beyond your understanding.”
Yuhuan added,
“Your hearts are kind — that’s why the world still has hope. But leave the darkness to us. Live your youth before it’s taken from you.”
There was nothing to say.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDBWCxMsoD
Even Linyue, usually brimming with arguments, stayed silent.
The Lantern Festival
At the end of the month came the Lantern Ceremony, marking the end of their stay at Tianlong Sect.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ne6tdtgUC
Every student crafted and painted a lantern by hand — symbols of their learning, of discipline, of light after shadow.
Linyue’s lantern was shaped like twin swords — one red, one blue — crossing in harmony.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XCMCJ9jt9
She smiled as she brought it to Liuyue.
“Here, help me light it,” she said, her eyes bright.
Liuyue hesitated for a moment, then held his qi steady, lighting both wicks at once.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQy6r2NaxP
For the first time since they met, his expression softened completely.
The twin lights reflected in her eyes like twin stars.
Rongyue, watching from behind, giggled and teased:
“How sweet — the Yue-Yue siblings and the Yue-Yue couple! The heavens must have planned it!”
Both froze.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJigkhxgvl
Then — as if in unspoken agreement — neither denied it.
Feng Zihan groaned, Liangfeng rolled his eyes, and Wenxi smiled quietly.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdC714V0cGE
The lanterns rose one by one, drifting over the lake — little flames carrying laughter and sorrow into the night sky.
As the last light faded, Linyue turned back toward Liuyue.
“Someday,” she whispered, “I’ll find the truth about that dragon. I’ll free her soul.”
Liuyue looked at her, the faintest warmth in his eyes.
“Then I’ll make sure you live long enough to do it.”
Their words vanished into the wind, carried away by a thousand glowing lanterns.15Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3SrslJU8s
Above them, the stars flickered faintly — as if remembering the cry of the dragon beneath the waves.
and then Add to home screen.