The morning sun streamed through the windows of Mo Xie's small room as she sat on her bed, clutching her knees to her chest.
Today was the day she had been anticipating for weeks... the day she would receive her first spirit ring.
'Brother Yan said he'd come… but will he really?' she wondered, her lips pressing into a thin line.
Mo Xie shook her head, trying to banish the thought. 'No, he's not like that. He's not the kind of person who says things lightly. He'll come.'
But the doubt crept back in, gnawing at the edges of her confidence.
She let out a small groan and rolled onto her bed, clutching her pillow as if it could shield her from her own thoughts.
She squeezed her eyes shut. "He said he'd come. He will," she whispered to herself.
But what if he forgot? What if something more important came up? What if-
Her thoughts sent her into a flurry of excitement, and soon she was bouncing lightly on her bed, unable to keep still.
Her enthusiasm wasn't lost on her mother, who eventually peeked into the room. "Xie'er, you are again jumping in your room?"
Mo Xie froze mid-bounce, looking like a deer caught in headlights. "N-Np, Mother!" she stammered, her cheeks burning with embarrassment.
Her mother gave her a knowing look, stepping into the room. "You've been acting like this all morning."
Mo Xie nodded quickly. "It's my first spirit ring, after all. And…" she hesitated, her voice dropping to a shy whisper, "Brother Yan said he'd come."
Her mother raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile playing on her lips. "Ah, that boy you were speaking about... so that's why you're so restless. You're looking forward to seeing him, aren't you?"
Mo Xie's face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Mother!" she protested, burying her face in her hands.
Her mother chuckled softly "Alright, alright. I'll stop teasing you. Go get ready. You don't want to be late, do you?"
...
Xuan yan was walking through the academy halls...
He had informed the academy of his decision to join the spirit ring hunt, and as expected, no one dared to object.
His presence was more than welcome, especially considering his reputation.
Two carriages were stationed near the gates, and the group of students and staff was already gathering.
There were six senior students, Mo Xie, and the Dean himself, who had decided to accompany them as a precaution given Xuan Yan's involvement.
Xuan Yan's eyes scanned the group until they landed on Mo Xie, who was standing slightly apart from the others, her hands nervously fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve.
A faint smile graced his lips as he made his way toward them.
"Good morning, everyone,"
The group turned toward him and everyone greeted him back with smiles.
Mo Xie, who had been lost in thought, froze when she heard his voice.
She slowly turned to see him standing beside the group, the morning sun casting a golden glow around his figure.
Looking at him, her heart skipped a beat. 'He came. He really came.'
"Good morning, Xie'." Xuan Yan said, his gaze softening as it met hers.
Her cheeks flushed, and she quickly lowered her gaze. "Good morning, Brother Yan,"
The Dean stepped forward, exchanging pleasantries with Xuan Yan before motioning for the group to board the carriages.
To Mo Xie's surprise and secret delight, Xuan Yan chose to sit beside her.
As the carriages began their journey to the Star Dou Forest, Xuan Yan struck up a casual conversation with Mo Xie, asking her about her recent training and how she was feeling about the day ahead.
Despite her initial shyness, Mo Xie found herself relaxing in his presence.
His gentle teasing and occasional jokes brought a smile to her face, and she even laughed a few times, much to Xuan Yan's satisfaction.
...
After several hours, the carriages finally came to a stop at the edge of the Star Dou Forest.
The group got down, stretching their legs and taking in the sight of the sprawling forest before them.
Mo Xie stepped down from the carriage carefully, her small hand resting in Xuan Yan's as he helped her.
She looked up at the towering trees with wide eyes...
Xuan Yan chuckled softly. "Impressive, isn't it?"
Mo Xie nodded, unable to tear her gaze away. "It's… amazing."
The group began their trek into the forest...
They encountered a variety of spirit beasts along the way, some harmless and others that required careful avoidance.
...
By midday, the group stopped near a large tree to rest and eat lunch.
The peace of the afternoon was abruptly shattered when a Hurricane Wolf burst into their path, its eyes gleaming with aggression.
*swoosh* The beast lunged at the students with deadly speed with its claws extended.
*flick* Before anyone could react, Xuan Yan was already in motion.
In one fluid movement, he drew his Enma and unleashed a powerful slash of purple energy.
*sleesh* The wolf was cut cleanly in two before its attack could land and fell onto the floor with a loud *thud*.
The group stared in stunned silence, struggling to process what had just happened.
To them, it had all been a blur of motion.
Only the Dean, a Soul Sage, had seen the precision of Xuan Yan's strike.
He blinked his eyes in surprise. 'Killing a thousand year old beast like that, Impressive indeed.'
Mo Xie stood there frozen like a log as she didn't even know what just happened.
Looking at the purple-hilted sword on his hand, she was taken aback 'he didn't even use his martial spirit.. he did it with a sword?'
With a nod, the Dean spoke "Let's continue..."
Mo Xie moved close to Xuan Yan as they continued their walk. "Brother Yan, you are really strong..."
Xuan Yan just showed a smile, brushing it off...
...
The day was drawing to a close, and the group stood near a clearing in the Star Dou Forest.
They are exhausted but satisfied.
All the senior students had successfully obtained their spirit rings, each one tailored to their needs.
However, there was still one person left—Mo Xie.
She stood quietly beside Xuan Yan, her hands clenched into small fists as she watched the others.
The pressure of being the last one was beginning to weigh on her.
Xuan Yan, noticed the tension in her expression and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze.
"Don't worry, Xie.," he said softly.
"The right spirit beast for you will appear. We just have to be patient."
His words calmed her, and she nodded, forcing a small smile. "Thank you, Brother Yan."
The group had just begun discussing their next course of action when a faint glow appeared in the sky.
Huh? Everyone looked up to see an emerald swan gliding gracefully above them, its shimmering feathers reflecting the fading evening sunlight.
The students gasped in awe at the sight.
Even the Dean's expression softened with admiration.
The emerald swan was a rare and magnificent creature, known for its unparalleled healing abilities.
Its age, based on its size and aura, was approximately 450 years... perfectly suitable for a first spirit ring.
Mo Xie's eyes widened as she stared at the swan.
She felt a strange connection to it, as if its energy resonated with her own.
Turning to Xuan Yan, she said, "Brother Yan, I feel like this spirit beast is perfect for me."
Xuan Yan looked at the swan and muttered "You're right, it suits you well."
Before they could discuss further, the Dean stepped forward, his spirit power flaring as he prepared to attack. "Then let's bring it down,"
"Stop!" Xuan Yan's voice raised as he saw the Dean about to go up.
The Dean turned to him, his brows furrowing. "Why are you stopping me, Young Master Yan? This is an ideal opportunity."
Xuan Yan shook his head, "The emerald swan is an extremely rare healing spirit beast. Attacking it recklessly would be a mistake. Not only would it disrupt the balance of this region, but such a creature deserves respect. There's another way to approach this."
The Dean hesitated, weighing Xuan Yan's words.
After a moment of thought, the older man relented with a nod. "Alright, we'll do it your way."
Mo Xie's eyes squinted 'I see, seems like I cannot get it...'
But before anyone could make their next move, the ground beneath them began to tremble violently.
Trees swayed, and small rocks tumbled as the earth shook with increasing intensity.
"What's happening?" one of the senior students shouted, his voice tinged with panic.
[Ding!]
[New mission]
-----------------------------------------------
I hope you guys liked this chapter!