Min-Sheng's expression stiffened.
"W–What are you talking about...?" he said in disbelief.
Cai-Hang grabbed his sleeve urgently.
"Brother, this is not the time!" she cried.
"Please—let's go find Bai-Xue first!"
The Crown Prince nodded grimly.
"Search everywhere," he ordered.
"Every corridor. Every hidden chamber. Do not miss a single place."
Immediately, soldiers and disciples scattered throughout the academy, shouting Bai-Xue's name as they searched desperately.
Meanwhile—
A group of newly admitted students were huddled together inside a sealed chamber. They were trembling, some crying quietly, others clutching each other in terror.
"I want to go home..." a young girl sobbed.
Suddenly—
BOOOOM—!
The wall exploded inward.
Stone fragments flew everywhere.
The door shattered.
Dust filled the air.
From the smoke emerged massive beasts, their eyes glowing with madness, saliva dripping from their fangs.
"AAAAHHHH—!"
The students screamed in horror, backing into the corner.
"There's nowhere to run!"
"We're going to die!"
At that exact moment—
Bai-Xue heard it.
The screams.
Sharp, desperate cries echoing faintly through the spiritual currents.
She halted abruptly.
The purple flame floated ahead of her, pulsing quietly, as if mocking her hesitation.
She glanced back toward the academy, her brows furrowing.
"...This will take time," she murmured.
"And until I end this, the academy will continue to bleed."
Her jaw tightened.
"And if the White Mask doesn't appear now..."
"People will start asking questions."
She closed her eyes.
Her aura shifted.
Divine Vision — Awaken.
The world unfolded before her.
The academy appeared within her sight—every courtyard, every hall, every battlefield.
She saw disciples fighting desperately.
She saw teachers shielding students with their bodies.
She saw fear... bravery... and despair.
Then—
Her gaze stopped.
A group of students, surrounded by massive beasts.
Their lives flickered like dying flames.
Bai-Xue opened her eyes sharply.
"Fri-Ze," she said calmly.
FWOOOOOSH—!
A blazing phoenix of crimson fire burst into existence, spreading its wings across the forest sky.
"Go to the academy," Bai-Xue ordered.
"Protect the trapped people. Make sure no one dies."
Her eyes hardened.
"And drive the beasts back into the forest."
Fri-Ze bowed its fiery head.
"Understood, Master."
In a flash of flames, the phoenix vanished toward the academy.
Bai-Xue turned back to the forest.
And ran.
The deeper she went, the darker the forest became.
The purple flame burned brighter, leading her forward like a will-o'-wisp.
Suddenly—
THUD.
A heavy body hit the ground behind her.
Bai-Xue spun around.
Her eyes widened slightly.
A massive blue two-headed reptile lay motionless on the ground, its neck sliced cleanly.
Dead.
"...What?" she whispered.
Slowly, she raised her gaze.
Someone stood ahead.
Tall. Calm. Dangerous.
Xing Jiang-Lin.
He stared at her, shock written plainly across his usually cold face.
Xing Jiang-Lin had left the hall the moment the beasts attacked.
"This disturbance..." he muttered.
"...is no coincidence."
Following the strange spiritual fluctuations, he headed toward the forest.
That was when he saw her.
A girl running toward the danger.
"Foolish," he thought.
"She must be fleeing in panic."
He followed.
Then—
A blue two-headed reptile silently crept up behind her, ready to strike.
Xing Jiang-Lin's eyes darkened.
SHING—!
His sword flashed.
The beast was slaughtered in a single strike.
The sound echoed.
The girl turned.
Black hair like flowing night.
Eyes deep as a starless sky.
Beauty so overwhelming it seemed unreal.
She stood there like a goddess born from death and flowers, both lethal and breathtaking.
For a moment—
Xing Jiang-Lin forgot the world.
"...I finally found you," he murmured unconsciously.
Oh no.
WHY is he here?!
Her heart pounded.
Did he recognize me?
Does he know? No—no—calm down.
Act normal.
You don't know him.
You've never met him.
Yes. Act dumb.
She took a breath and spoke coldly.
"Who are you?"
"What do you want?"
Xing Jiang-Lin broke his silence.
"You don't know me?" he asked slowly.
"Do you not remember saving me in the forest?"
Bai-Xue's nerves screamed.
"...What?" she said sharply.
"Forest? Saving you?"
She shook her head firmly.
"No. I don't know what you're talking about."
Xing Jiang-Lin stepped closer, his gaze unwavering.
"You saved me," he said.
"You applied herbs to my wounds. That's why I survived."
Bai-Xue panicked internally.
Herbs?! Injuries?!
She waved her hands quickly.
"N-No! That's impossible!"
"I don't know anything about herbs or medicine!"
Her voice rose.
"I've never been to any forest—especially not the Nine Vault Forest!"
"How could I save you?"
She forced a laugh.
"You must be mistaken."
Xing Jiang-Lin suddenly stopped walking.
His eyes narrowed.
"...Interesting."
He looked at her intently.
"But I never said where we met."
The air froze.
Bai-Xue's heart skipped a beat.
Screams echoed across the academy grounds.
Dozens of young students were trapped in an open courtyard, surrounded by ferocious beasts. Some clutched broken weapons, some shielded others with their bodies, while a few had already collapsed in fear.
"D–Don't come closer!"
"Help! Someone help us!"
"I don't want to die—!"
The beasts roared, inching closer, their eyes filled with madness.
On the other side of the academy, Crown Prince and Third Prince Min-Sheng heard those desperate cries. Their expressions changed instantly.
"That direction—!" Min-Sheng shouted.
They tried to rush forward—
But dozens of beasts suddenly charged them from all sides.
"Damn it!" the Crown Prince cursed, slashing one down.
"There are too many!"
They were completely pinned down.
Just as the beasts raised their claws toward the trapped children—
BOOOOOM—!
A wall of blazing fire erupted in front of them.
The beasts screeched and halted instinctively.
Then—
KRRRRR—ROOOAAAR—!
A thunderous cry shook the sky.
A massive phoenix, its wings burning like molten gold and crimson flames, descended from above.
The children froze in shock.
"W–What is that...?"
"A spirit beast...?"
The surrounding beasts roared in fury and lunged toward the phoenix all at once.
The phoenix spread its wings wide.
FWOOOOSH—!
A rain of fire fell from the sky.
Some beasts were burned alive in seconds.
Some were badly injured and fled in terror.
Others collapsed, howling in pain.
The phoenix hovered for a moment, then glanced down at the trembling children.
They instinctively shrank back, fear still gripping them.
The phoenix let out a low cry—then turned away and soared toward another battlefield.
All across the academy, people saw the phoenix.
"It's here..."
"The White Mask!"
"Master White Mask has arrived!"
Relief spread like wildfire.
The masters, princes, and disciples all fought harder, their morale surging.
"We'll survive!"
"The academy is saved!"
From deep within the forest, Bai-Xue heard the phoenix's roar.
She stopped and turned.
Through the gaps between the trees, she saw the phoenix blazing across the sky, raining fire upon the beasts.
"...Good," she murmured.
"Fri-Ze has begun."
Her gaze hardened.
"Soon the beasts will be driven back toward the forest."
She clenched her fist.
"Before that happens, I must find the real cause."
Then—
She glanced sideways at Xing Jiang-Lin.
But first... how do I get rid of this man?
She snorted lightly and said with irritation,
"What nonsense are you talking about? You must be hearing things because your ears are ringing."
"Hmph."
Xing Jiang-Lin stared at her silently for a moment, then asked calmly,
"Then tell me—what are you doing alone in such a dark forest?"
Bai-Xue paused for a heartbeat, then answered casually,
"Oh, that? I saw someone enter the forest, so I followed him."
"...Someone?" Xing Jiang-Lin frowned.
"Who?"
"How would I know?" she replied impatiently.
"If I knew who he was, why would I chase him?"
She waved her hand.
"I suspected he might be behind the academy attack. That's all."
Xing Jiang-Lin studied her carefully.
"...Which direction did he go?"
"That way," Bai-Xue pointed vaguely ahead.
"There."
Then she suddenly turned back sharply.
"And wait—why are you coming with me?"
"I don't trust you at all!"
She crossed her arms.
"Who knows who you are, or why you keep following me? You even talk like a madman..."
(Please just leave...) she thought desperately.
Xing Jiang-Lin sighed lightly.
"If I truly meant you harm," he said calmly,
"I would have done so already."
He took a step closer.
"You say you don't know me. I don't know why you're lying—but I know you are the one who saved me."
"It would be better if you simply admitted it."
Bai-Xue scoffed.
"Think whatever you want."
"Believe whatever fantasy you like."
She turned away angrily.
"I'm leaving."
She stomped forward.
Behind her, Xing Jiang-Lin smiled faintly—and followed.
"We're heading deeper into the forest," he said casually.
"It's dangerous."
"I know," Bai-Xue replied without turning back.
"And if you're scared, you can go back."
"I was speaking for you," he said coolly.
"Not myself."
She stopped suddenly and turned.
"If you're following me just to bother me," she snapped,
"you'd better leave right now."
Xing Jiang-Lin narrowed his eyes.
"In a forest this deep," he said quietly,
"you carry no weapon."
"If something happens—who will save you?"
He stepped closer, leaning down slightly and whispering near her ear,
"...Or are you hiding something?"
Bai-Xue's eyes widened.
She shoved him back sharply.
"You're standing way too close!"
Her voice hardened.
"And just because you think I'm hiding something doesn't make it true."
She brushed past him.
"Are you done talking? Because I'm leaving."
"...Tsk."
She walked ahead again.
After a short distance—
The wind changed.
The air grew heavy.
Both of them slowed instinctively.
"...Something's wrong," Xing Jiang-Lin muttered.
Before Bai-Xue could reply, he moved in front of her protectively.
"Stay behind me," he said.
"I feel it too," Bai-Xue admitted quietly.
"But I can't understand what it is."
Then—
RUMBLE—!
The ground shook violently.
"What—?!" Bai-Xue exclaimed.
The earth split apart with a deafening roar.
The land beneath their feet twisted, glowing with strange light—
like a portal opening to another world.
Before either of them could react—
The ground collapsed.
Both of them fell—
Straight into the unknown.