Verdant Cloud Sect – Grand Training Arena
The morning after the Great Wine Cellar Fire Incident, the entire sect was in chaos.
Disciples whispered as they passed the charred remains of what was once the sect's prized "Thousand-Year-Old Divine Wine Collection."
"I heard Luo Feng did it!"
"No way—that trash? He couldn't even light a candle!"
"Then why is the Fox Spirit laughing on the roof?"
Indeed, perched atop a half-burned pillar, the mischievous Fox Spirit giggled, her tails swishing as she watched the fallout.
And in the center of it all—covered in soot, reeking of alcohol, and holding an empty wine gourd—stood Luo Feng, trying (and failing) to look innocent.
Enter the Ice Queen
A sudden chill swept through the air.
The murmurs died instantly. Disciples stiffened, their breath frosting in the sudden cold.
Luo Feng turned slowly.
There, standing at the edge of the training grounds, was Sword Saint Li Qing.
Her icy blue robes fluttered despite the lack of wind. Her gaze was sharp enough to pierce stone, and the sword at her waist—Frostbane—hummed with restrained power.
She didn't speak.
She didn't need to.
The sheer pressure of her presence made the disciples kneel instinctively—all except Luo Feng, who was too busy trying not to hiccup.
Li Qing's eyes locked onto Luo Feng.
"You."
Luo Feng blinked. "Me?"
"Was it you?"
"Was what me?"
"The fire."
Luo Feng opened his mouth—then his System pinged.
[New Mission Alert!]
Objective: Blame the Fox Spirit.
Reward: 20 Void Energy (Wind God)
Failure Penalty: Li Qing freezes you into a human popsicle.
Luo Feng hesitated.
On one hand, betraying the Fox Spirit felt wrong.
On the other hand, being turned into an ice sculpture sounded very wrong.
He sighed.
"It was the Fox Spirit!" he declared, pointing dramatically at the grinning vixen.
Fox Spirit: "Wha—HEY!"
Li Qing's gaze didn't waver. "You expect me to believe a spirit did this… while you just watched?"
Luo Feng coughed. "I, uh… tried to stop her?"
[MISSION COMPLETE!]
[REWARD: 20 VOID ENERGY (WIND GOD) – DEPOSITED!]
A gust of wind swirled around Luo Feng, making his robes flutter dramatically—just as Li Qing's patience snapped.
The Cold Truth
Li Qing took a single step forward—and the ground froze beneath her feet.
"Your power," she said, voice low. "It's unnatural."
Luo Feng swallowed. "I don't know what you—"
"First, flames. Now, wind." Her eyes narrowed. "You've been hiding something."
Luo Feng's System dinged again.
[New Mission: "Tell Her the Truth (Or Lie Better)"]
Difficulty: Hard
Reward: 50 Void Energy (Frost God)
Luo Feng opened his mouth—
Fox Spirit (suddenly between them): "Ohhh, he's totally hiding something! Like how he thinks you're pretty—"
Luo Feng: "SHUT UP—"
Li Qing's sword was at his throat in an instant.
"Enough games," she hissed. "Who are you?"
Cliffhanger:
Before Luo Feng could answer—a shadow fell over them.
The disciples screamed.
Luo Feng looked up.
Death Queen (smiling from atop a floating skull): "There you are, fiancé."
Li Qing's grip on her sword tightened.
Luo Feng: "…I'm so dead."
[To Be Continued!]