“Forget it. Focus. Get them out first… and the Goblins too.” My mana drained like winter wind. I pressed my brow, and my last spell drifted out like a pale moth.

“That should be enough… I’m dead tired. I need a real rest, then I’ll head up later.” Fatigue pooled like lead; my breath came in little clouds.

Above the gorge, the vast chasm breathed water from stone lungs. A slow spring swelled toward a lake, a mirror in the making that would take ages.

After the quake, more shudders rolled like tired waves. They rattled the earth, but no greater losses followed, like thunder that chose not to strike.

“See? I told you it wasn’t me! The wall moved on its own! Look—so many people got lost. Isn’t that the wall’s problem?” The flood had spat them from the cave; academy staff and nearby knights hauled them up like fishermen drawing nets. Now, nearly every student stood along the canyon rim.

“Sure, sure…”

“Hey! What’s with that attitude? I’ll say it again: I’m not a walking compass failure!”

“Mm-hmm, young lady, you’re not bad with directions.” The little maid glanced at her handbook, then buttered her up like sun on wet stone at just the right time.

“I never was… hmph.” She tossed her chin like a sparrow on a branch, but joy flickered in Yingxuan’s voice.

“Um, thank you for saving me earlier. My head almost got scorched, the rock that hardened took forever to pry off, I lost a patch of hair, and my face nearly got ruined…”

“Anyway, the doctors helped me pull through. Really—thank you!” Her words tumbled like beads from a broken string, gratitude shining through smoke.

“No need. Just lending a hand…” Praise made Yingxuan float like a paper lantern; she put on her mature mask again, smooth as still water.

“…”

[See? Simps never end well. This was the moment to plant a ‘eff-your-mom’ seed and spit fire. It was just a rock bump, and she almost gave you a lava facial. Pray you never meet her again, stinky woman.]

“Stop… let me be.” My mood sank like dusk. After a god’s snark cut like cold rain, Yanfengle felt himself turn into what he’d always despised—a simp.

Because He wasn’t wrong. A dumb rock could never kill a Tier‑3 me; it was wind against a mountain.

No. I can’t slide into that mud. I’ll find a chance to make her gag on it, to pay the chill back with frost.

Meanwhile, Xuewei was swamped, flames of trouble licking her sleeves: that big lug half-dead, Goblins surging like ants from cracks, villagers and students yanked up in drifts… and more.

“Teacher, please think of something. Tangxue… Tangxue still hasn’t come up. Uu… it’s all my fault. If it wasn’t me…” Snow Orchid pleaded, voice quivering like a reed, to Xuewei, who sat twirling a strand of hair like silk.

“Enough. Don’t say more. I’ll go down myself in a while. If the vanguard didn’t find her, she should still be below… The device I gave her is still pinging with a magic signal. That means Qingsheng Tangxue is fine. Don’t worry.” Her tone was cool as moonlight; reassurance flowed like warm tea.

I need a way to hide that big lug first. If these little brats see him, the hive of trouble will hum again. Xuewei’s thought cut clean as a blade.

“Wait—this is…” She froze a heartbeat, then smoothed her face like calm water. “Snow Orchid, your companion’s been rescued. Go check on her.”

“Teacher… really?”

“Really. Why would I lie to you?”

“Thank you, Teacher!” Snow Orchid burst from the tent like a swallow, hope beating in her chest.

“This girl… she does have some manners.” Watching her go, Ling Xuewei sipped tea like mist and stretched like a lazy cat.

One less thorn. Good. I should push harder, finish clean, and maybe soak in my brother’s villa before we head back. Her thought was a warm bath she could almost smell.

“How is it, Lan’er? What did Teacher Xuewei say?” Qianya waited at the tent flap, eyes bright as rain-washed leaves.

“Qianya, Qianya—Tangxue’s already up. Let’s go meet her!”

“Whew. If she’s fine, that’s good. Then let’s get moving…” Qianya’s words were steady, but her gut felt like a storm brewing over black water.

She’d stayed topside because she hated deep water, but the Blood Elf’s inborn sight prickled crystal-clear: below, a divine remnant was raging, god-scent thick as incense, fighting like lightning trapped in stone.

Qianya hesitated. Should she tell Kerlinveil Xuewei outright? That might drag Tangxue into harm. But if she kept quiet, Qingsheng Tangxue might fall into the storm. Then Snow Orchid had rushed to her in a flutter—so why not let Snow Orchid test Kerlinveil Xuewei’s stance first?

And so, the scene unfolded like a fan opening.

“Tangxue’s already up? Then let’s hurry and find her!”