The next morning, a black sedan pulled up outside Yichen’s house—sent by Zixuan.

Yichen and the other two got in.

Shiyue slid into the backseat first. Yichen naturally followed, settling beside her. He’d expected Zixuan to take the front, but she slipped into the back too. The moment she sat down, she nudged Yichen toward the middle. It wasn’t overly cramped, but Yichen thought, *Why not just sit up front?* Wedged between them, he could only grip the front seat’s headrest for balance, feeling unsteady.

Zixuan turned to the suited driver. “Let’s go.” The car rolled forward.

“Sister, where are we headed?”

“Baiyunhai Airport.”

Baiyunhai was a top-ten national airport on the outskirts of Heavenly Bay City.

“Huh? Are we flying? Where’s this school?”

“Ever heard of Halcyon Island?”

Yichen shook his head.

“It’s an island in the middle of the Pacific,” Shiyue answered suddenly. Zixuan nodded.

“Yes. Halcyon Island hosts Halsien Academy—a school that trains Soul Force Wielders. That’s where you’re going.”

“The Pacific, huh…” Yichen murmured, a touch wistful.

“Halcyon Island? *Really?*” Shiyue gasped.

“What’s wrong?” Yichen frowned at her.

“Halcyon’s a remote speck in the Pacific! Why would a school be there?”

Zixuan shot Shiyue a challenging smirk. “Didn’t I warn you? Once you go, you might never come back. Scared? Want to bail?”

Shiyue bit her pearly teeth. “Impossible.”

Just then, the car swerved sharply. Yichen lurched sideways, his shoulder pressing hard against Shiyue’s, tilting her body.

“Sorry,” he stammered. A faint blush colored Shiyue’s cheeks.

“It’s fine.”

Yichen noticed Zixuan’s smile had vanished, replaced by a flicker of frustration.

The car swerved again. With nothing to brace against in the middle seat, Yichen started toppling toward Shiyue—until Zixuan’s hand clamped down on his arm, yanking him upright.

Shiyue’s gaze snapped to Yichen, then to Zixuan’s grip. Their eyes locked. Yichen felt sparks crackle in the air.

For two seconds, neither looked away. Then both turned sharply toward their windows, silent.

Yichen forced a bitter smile. *This is torture.*

***

Thirty minutes later, they reached Baiyunhai Airport. Off-season meant thin crowds.

Zixuan led them straight to the VIP channel. Beyond it waited a sleek blue-and-white jet—like the private planes Yichen had seen on TV.

“Sister!”

An ecstatic voice rang out as they neared the aircraft. Claire, clad in a black gothic dress, leaped from the cabin and threw herself into Zixuan’s arms.

“You’re finally here! I’ve done everything you asked—I notified Halsien Academy!”

“Good work, Claire.” Zixuan’s gentle smile softened as she stroked Claire’s hair. Claire nuzzled against her, blissful.

They looked like loving sisters—a scene radiating warmth. Yet Yichen felt a pang of jealousy.

Inside the jet, Yichen and Shiyue took the rear seats while Zixuan and Claire settled up front. After takeoff, Claire swung her legs, humming happily.

“Sister! After this, we’ll go on missions together again, right?”

“Once this is done, yes.”

“Then afternoon tea in the courtyard! I haven’t had tea with you in ages! The Empress sent new black tea…”

“I’d love to try it.”

“Sister,” Yichen called from behind, “what’s this courtyard?”

Before Zixuan could answer, Claire chirped, “It’s *our* home!”

“Home?” Yichen stared at Zixuan.

“We’re both members of the Order of the Holy Temple,” Zixuan explained quickly. “That’s our headquarters.”

“Is your Order powerful?”

“Of course!” Claire puffed out her chest. “Ours is the strongest organization on Earth!”

“Sure, sure,” Yichen humored her. “What exactly do you *do*?”

Claire blinked, confused. Even Zixuan hesitated—so alike in that moment, they could’ve been sisters.

Finally, Zixuan said, “We represent the Soul Force Administration in dealings with nations. We demonstrate strength when needed. And we handle rebels or Monsters beyond local bureaus’ reach.”

Yichen still found it hard to believe.

The jet pierced through clouds. Windows flashed white, then cleared to endless blue.

Zixuan stood and slipped into the rear cabin.

“Hey,” Claire spun around, voice sharp. “Don’t cause trouble at school and embarrass Sister.”

Yichen bristled at her tone—at how she clung to Zixuan like she owned her.

“I won’t. But why do you keep bothering my sister?”

“Hmph! I don’t need your permission to be with Sister! She adores me! I help her—I’m not a burden like you!”

Yichen glared, speechless.

Shiyue, gazing out the window, turned to Claire. “Claire Alshavien. What’s your relationship with Miss Zixuan?”

“W-Why should I tell you?”

“You’re Sixth Seat of the Order. She’s Eighth. Colleagues, right?”

“We’re *not* just colleagues!” Claire snapped, cheeks flushed, eyes blazing.

Shiyue remained calm. “But that’s all I see.”

“Sister is *mine*!”

“Do you love Miss Zixuan?”

Claire’s face burned crimson. “I love Sister more than anything!”

“But Miss Zixuan loves Yichen.”

“Shiyue, stop,” Yichen cut in, seeing Claire’s furious snarl.

Claire bared her teeth at Shiyue. “I could kill you right now!”

Shiyue stayed silent, lips curling in a silent challenge: *Try it.*

“The moment Sister doesn’t need you,” Claire hissed, “I’ll make you vanish from this world. Hmph!” She spun back to her seat, fuming.

A door near the cockpit opened. A waitress in a red uniform—black bob, Yichen’s age—wheeled a drink cart over, smiling sweetly.

“Beverages?”

“Orange juice,” Claire ordered flatly.

The waitress poured a cup and handed it over. “And for you two?”

“What’ll you have, Shiyue?”

“Same as you.”

Yichen winced. “Two orange juices, please.”

After they took the cups, the waitress departed.

“Didn’t expect drinks on a small jet,” Yichen mused.

“Amateur,” Claire scoffed. “This is basic.”

Yichen forced a chuckle. “Heh… guess so.”

He caught Shiyue’s willow-like brows furrowing slightly—clearly displeased.

The rear cabin door opened. Zixuan emerged, now in a crisp white uniform blending military sharpness with high fashion, accentuating her poised silhouette.

Yichen’s eyes widened. “Sister… what’s that outfit?”

“My work and combat gear. Unsuitable?”

He kept staring. A faint blush rose on Zixuan’s cheeks.

“No—it suits you. Perfectly.”

“Thank you.” She ducked her head, flustered. Yichen’s heart raced.

“Sister, will you be working soon?”

“I’ll attend the Martial Arts Festival finals as a guest. You’ll join me, then handle enrollment.”

“Got it. Shiyue too?”

“Yes. Just follow my lead.”

Claire twisted around again. “Don’t embarrass Sister!”

“Understood,” Yichen muttered, nerves tightening.

Hours passed. Claire monopolized Zixuan’s attention. Shiyue watched the clouds. Yichen dozed off.

***

“Yichen. Wake up. We’re almost there.”

Shiyue’s voice pulled him from sleep. He blinked awake.

“We’re landing soon.”

He checked the cabin clock: 4:00 PM. They’d taken off near 11:00 AM—five hours airborne.

“Look outside,” Shiyue urged.

Yichen peered through the window. Azure sky. Then he looked down—and his breath caught.

Below lay a massive island. Golden beaches ringed emerald forests. At its heart, a sapphire lake spanned a third of the land—a luminous jewel adrift in turquoise waters.

As the jet descended, a cluster of blue-and-white structures emerged from the forest. Spherical buildings rose on elegantly curved pillars, like stepping into a sci-fi dreamscape.

Zixuan’s voice cut through his awe:

“Yichen. That’s Halsien Academy.”