He never told me that..." Gao's voice trembled with the weight of unspoken sorrow. The secret, a tragedy that Lingqi had carried alone, now lay bare between them. Gao understood the burden of such silence, yet a part of him yearned for Lingqi to have shared it, to have divided the pain.

Chen's voice, usually bright and hopeful, was now laden with grief. "Wow, that's intense."

Li Bie, ever the thoughtful one, cupped his chin. "It's understandable why he wouldn't want us to know. He didn't want our pity."

"Yes," Yuyan's voice was a whisper, a cautionary note in the heavy air. "So please, keep this between us."

They nodded, a solemn pact of secrecy formed in unison.

"But still, something doesn't add up," Li Bie continued, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "What's the connection between his village being attacked and him being able to cultivate without completing the rituals?"

Yuyan's eyes darkened with thought. "It could be tied to the way his parents died."

Chen leaned in, curiosity piqued. "How did his parents die?"

"He never said. And I would never ask him that," Yuyan replied, her voice firm yet tinged with an unspoken question. "But, I do wonder."

"So do I," Gao admitted. "If his parents died violently, it's no wonder he struggles with his emotions."

Li Bie’s voice cut through the tension. "He not only used Shui without training, but he dropped the temperature with his Prana. Master Zhang has never told us that was possible."

"Maybe he thinks we're not ready yet," Gao suggested.

Chen’s eyes widened with a hint of desperation. "You know, this might sound crazy, but maybe he's not even human."

Li Bie sighed, shaking his head. "Chen..."

"What?" Chen snapped back. "You can't deny that Lingqi's progress isn't natural."

Yuyan rolled her eyes, a gesture of dismissal. "Moving on. My point is, Lingqi's methods are different from ours. At this rate, we’ll never catch up."

"So you're saying we should start cultivating in secret? That goes against Master Zhang's wishes," Li Bie pointed out, his arms crossing in defiance.

Yuyan's eyes sparked with determination. "Master Zhang is a great teacher, but maybe he's wrong this time. Lingqi has shown us that the old ways aren't the only ways. Maybe there's a faster way, a better way."

Li Bie’s gaze softened - Lingqi was proof enough of her words. Still, he was hesitant to cultivate on his own, to betray the teachings of his master who sought his well being.

"I know Master Zhang cares for us, but aren't you frustrated? Don't you want to reach your potential?" Yuyan pressed.

"Of course," Li Bie answered. "But..."

"Then why hesitate?" Yuyan leaned in, her words like a blade cutting through uncertainty.

"Because I trust Master Zhang. He's trying to protect us," Li Bie reasoned, though his conviction seemed less certain, his voice wavered.

"Maybe so, but we've seen what Lingqi can do. He’s shown us a different path, and I want to be better," Yuyan's desire was palpable, a flame that could not be quenched. "And I think you all want that too."

"I'm not disagreeing," Li Bie said, conflicted. "Lingqi is gifted. I'm just concerned about what Master Zhang might think."

Gao broke the tension with a suggestion. "I think my grandmother could help."

Li Bie looked at him skeptically. "Your grandmother?"

"Yes, she's wise and skilled in cultivation. She can help us," Gao explained, hope rising in his voice.

Li Bie's tone turned accusatory. "Are you suggesting we learn from her instead of Master Zhang?"

Gao shook his head. "No, I’m suggesting we use her knowledge to supplement our training. It’s not about choosing one over the other; it's about gaining as much knowledge as possible. If we want to be the best, we should learn everything we can."

Chen nodded in agreement. "I can't argue with that."

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"Me neither," Yuyan said.

Li Bie ran a hand through his auburn hair, his eyes closed in thought. Their arguments were a sound one, but the straight-laced senior never imagined that there would be a day where he would be convinced to sneak behind his master’s back.

"I suppose you're right," Li Bie relented. "If nothing else, it wouldn't hurt to learn from your grandmother."

Gao smiled, a plan forming in his mind. "I'll send her a letter. But we must keep this among ourselves."

Chen's curiosity flared again. "Why not tell Lingqi?"

Gao’s expression softened with concern. "I can't imagine him sneaking around or being dishonest. He's too pure."

Li Bie's eyes narrowed. "So we're keeping this from him, even though we're supposed to be his friends?"

"We are his friends," Gao said firmly. "But we also have to look out for ourselves. This is a learning experience. Once we're stronger, we can protect Lingqi, even from himself."

Li Bie gave a slow nod, seeing no fault in his reasoning. "Alright then, let’s keep this amongst ourselves.”

"Sounds reasonable to me," Chen said, nodding.

"Then it's settled," Yuyan declared, a smile of satisfaction on her lips as she leaned back against her cot.

"But speaking of Lingqi, what's taking him so long? It doesn’t take that long to find a scroll, does it?" Li Bie wondered aloud.

Yuyan’s smile turned mischievous. She reached under her pillow and pulled out a scroll tied with a red thread—the same scroll she had sent Lingqi to find.

"What is that?" Li Bie asked, eyeing the object.

"This is the book I asked Lingqi to fetch," Yuyan said with a sly grin.

"And why would you send him on a fool’s errand?" Li Bie raised an eyebrow.

"Because," Yuyan began, "he's cute when he's eager, and I wanted a moment alone with you all."

"But he could have walked in at any moment and heard us," Gao protested.

"Trust me, I know him. He's turning that library upside down to find this book, and it’s going to take him a while," Yuyan giggled.

Li Bie couldn’t help but smirk. "That’s a dirty trick, Yuyan."

"Maybe, but I'm not above playing dirty from time to time," Yuyan replied, and the rest of the group laughed.

"So, if we're doing this, we're really doing this," Gao declared. "I'll write my grandmother a letter and have Yi Ming send it to her. Then she can teach us."

"Sounds like a plan," Chen nodded.

"Remember, we’re doing this not only for ourselves but for Lingqi," Li Bie said. "The better we are, the better we can support him."

"Absolutely," Gao agreed. "Lingqi is our friend. It's our duty to help each other."

"Yes," Yuyan said, her voice filled with resolve. "We can't help him as we are now. Especially if he loses control again."

A heavy silence fell over the room. No one had considered the possibility of Lingqi losing control a second time. If he did, he would put everyone at risk, including himself.

"It's our responsibility as his friends to protect him. He may be gifted, but he's still our friend, still a child," Gao said, his voice echoing in the quiet room.

Chen observed the group, his tone lightening the mood. "Wow, you three really like that kid, huh?"

Gao elbowed him in the stomach once more, causing Chen to cough. "Alright, alright. I get it."

"We should probably get out of here," Li Bie suggested. "Who knows when Lingqi might be back."

"You're right. I'll pretend I've been asleep this entire time," Yuyan yawned, feigning exhaustion.

"So, does this mean we don't have to be your servants?" Chen asked, hopeful.

"Oh no, you're not getting off that easy," Yuyan smirked devilishly. "I may be healed, but you still need to serve your sentence."

Chen rolled his eyes. "Why do I get my hopes up?"

----------------------------------------

Lingqi rummaged through the library, frustration mounting with each passing moment. The scroll he sought, one he was sure had been there before, was nowhere to be found. He had searched the entire room, his efforts fruitless.

"Where did it go?" Lingqi muttered. "I swear it was here."

The library door creaked open, and Lingqi nearly jumped out of his skin. He expected Master Zhang or Elder Zhu, but instead, a shadowy figure entered, moving like a wraith.

"Hello?" Lingqi called out, but his voice echoed back, unanswered.

A shiver ran down his spine. The familiar chill of unease crept over him. The light seemed to fade, swallowed by an encroaching darkness.

"Who's there?" He moved to light a fire lamp, the flame casting an orange glow that revealed a hooded figure cloaked in green.

Lingqi swallowed hard, stepping back.

"It is as he said," the figure spoke, her voice raspy like sandpaper scraped against stone. "The Prana I sense in you is vast, young one. Your time here is wasted."

"W-who are you? How did you get here?" Lingqi stuttered, retreating.

"Your teacher is a fool," she said plainly. "You and your friends need not suffer the rituals. You are proof of that. The answers you seek are before you. You are blessed with talent, cursed with ignorance. It is time you learn the truth."

"The truth?" Lingqi repeated, confusion mounting. "Who are you?"

"Your master fears your power. He keeps you blind to control you, a pawn for the Sovereignty," she rasped, her tone devoid of malice but chilling nonetheless.

Lingqi held the lamp higher, but the light did not penetrate her robes. She was like a shadow incarnate, an abyss.

"Do not heed your master. Open yourself to your Prana. Your parents died, yet you live because of them. They gave you Prana, making you stronger than any cultivator here."

How did she know about his parents? His master? Was she spying on the academy? How?

"Why shouldn't I listen to my master? He's been kind to me," Lingqi defended. "He took me in when I had no one."

"Words to ease your doubts, yet they do little," she observed.

"Who are you and why are you here?" Lingqi pressed, desperation in his voice.

"My name is irrelevant," she replied. "I have always been here. I have simply allowed you to see."

"I don't understand!" Lingqi shouted, exasperated, fists balled into hot knuckles.

"In time, you will seek me. It is inevitable," she stated. "When you do, you will be ready to confront the lies of the Jade Sovereignty."

Lingqi began to protest, but she vanished, a phantom disappearing into the shadows. Sunlight streamed through the windows once more, and he was alone in the morning glow.

"Who was she? What did she want? Was I hallucinating?" Lingqi muttered, his voice the only sound.

His nerves were frayed, his mind exhausted. He knew he had to inform Master Zhang of his encounter. The safety of his friends depended on it.

Blowing out the fire lamp, he placed it on a nearby table and rushed out of the library, his heart pounding with uncertainty and fear.