Parting Sorrows, Willow-Breaking Weeping Sunset!

Inside the classroom of Class One, sunlight filtered through the tall glazed windows, casting a glow over the neat rows of desks. The air was thick with the restless energy of the approaching holiday.

Xiao Yan, Xiao Xiao, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng remained seated in the back row of the classroom.

At the podium, homeroom teacher Mu Jin and Wang Yan stood side by side, conducting the final class meeting before the end of the school year.

Wang Yan wore a brand-new gray robe today. He pushed up the black-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, his face wearing his signature gentle smile.

"Everyone has worked very hard this year." Wang Yan's gaze swept over every young face in the room, his voice warm and clear. "I can say that you are the most outstanding class I have ever led. On behalf of myself and Teacher Mu Jin, I thank you for your efforts. Your hard work will bring a shared glory to our Class One."

These words stirred the blood of many freshmen; several boys who usually trained the hardest straightened their backs, their faces filled with pride.

However, no sooner had Wang Yan finished playing the "good cop" than Mu Jin, standing beside him, stepped forward and tapped her teaching pointer against the desk, producing a sharp, crisp sound.

The classroom fell silent instantly.

Mu Jin had set aside her usual intellectual and gentle demeanor, her eyes scanning the room with a sharp, piercing intensity.

"Don't get too happy yet. The holiday isn't for you to go home and sleep in." Mu Jin slapped a set of assessment files onto the desk. "In the first week of the new semester, the academy will conduct an advancement assessment. The first requirement is that your soul power must break through to level twenty. If you don't meet this standard, you can pack your bags and withdraw."

"Beyond the hard requirement of your level, the second assessment is combat. Everyone must enter the Beast Fighting Zone and face a soul beast in single combat. The minimum age requirement is the century level. The academy teachers will grade you based on your combat proficiency, soul skill coordination, and on-the-spot reactions during the battle."

Mu Jin pressed her hands against the edge of the podium, her gaze heavy with pressure. "Don't think about slacking off. The bottom ten percent in the final rankings will also be eliminated."

After laying out these brutal elimination mechanisms, Mu Jin stepped back half a pace. Wang Yan stepped forward once more, smiling as he delivered the final summary.

"Alright, just keep those requirements in mind. Finally, I wish you all a wonderful holiday. Go home and spend some quality time with your families."

Hearing this blessing from Wang Yan, the freshmen looked at each other, all wearing the same bitter smiles.

With the sword of advancement hanging over their heads, this holiday was destined to be many times more grueling than attending classes at the academy. How could it possibly be described as "wonderful"?

The final bell finally rang.

As Mu Jin announced the dismissal, the tense atmosphere in the classroom finally eased.

The freshmen walked out of the classroom in small groups, discussing their various plans for the holiday.

The four of them—Xiao Yan, Xiao Xiao, Ning Tian, and Wu Feng—avoided the crowded flow of people and made their way, with practiced ease, to the small grove by Sea God Lake.

Nearly a year of spending every day together, combined with their unwavering daily sparring and the special training in the Dream Arena, had forged a deep bond between the four that far exceeded that of ordinary classmates.

They sat down at the large stone table by the lake.

Wu Feng pulled out a stone stool, deliberately choosing to sit between Ning Tian and Xiao Yan.

She crossed her arms over her chest, her chin tilted slightly upward, guarding Ning Tian behind her like a loyal protector.

Yet, Wu Feng failed to notice that Ning Tian, whom she was shielding, was resting her chin on one hand, her gaze drifting past Wu Feng's shoulder to quietly watch Xiao Yan's fingers as he adjusted the tea set.

The ripples in those golden-blue eyes had long since crossed the boundaries of ordinary friendship.

"Finally, the holiday is here. I won't have to be dragged into dreams to get beaten up for a month," Wu Feng said, stretching her arms and breaking the silence.

Ning Tian poured her a cup of tea, then turned to look at Xiao Yan and Xiao Xiao. "What are your plans for the holiday? Are you heading straight home?"

Xiao Xiao picked up her teacup and took a sip, nodding repeatedly. "Yeah, yeah! My old man wrote to me a few days ago, urging me to come back so he can test my current combat ability. I'm going to go back and give him a real surprise!"

In truth, it was only a one-month separation; they would see each other again as soon as the new semester began.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng also had their own sect affairs and cultivation schedules to attend to, and they were just about to exchange a few simple farewells.

Xiao Yan looked at the three of them, feeling as though something was missing.

He flipped his wrists, and with the interweaving of moon-white and purple-gold light, the ancient and weathered Fuxi Zither landed steadily in the center of the stone table.

Pressing his ten fingers onto the strings, Xiao Yan lowered his eyelids and plucked them sharply.

An ancient melody titled Willow-Breaking Weeping Sunset began to resonate leisurely by the shores of Sea God Lake.

The zither music started slow and low, like a cool breeze sweeping across the lake at dusk in late autumn, carrying an irresistible sense of desolation and loneliness.

The notes vibrated through the air, magnifying the sorrow of parting and the reluctance to leave, piercing straight into the depths of the listeners' hearts and stirring their deepest attachments and regrets.

Even if they knew rationally that it was only a brief separation, under the influence of such soul-piercing music, their emotions were beyond their control.

Xiao Xiao was the first to succumb.

She was still holding her teacup when her eyes suddenly turned red and her nose began to sting. Large, heavy teardrops fell into her tea, and she began to sob.

Ning Tian had been maintaining the poise of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect's young mistress, but by the second half of the melody, her vision had blurred.

She turned away silently, pulled a silk handkerchief from her sleeve, and carefully pressed it against the corners of her eyes, trying to hide her loss of composure.

Even Wu Feng, who usually had a fiery temper and would rather bleed than cry, felt a tightness in her chest.

She sniffled hard and wiped her eyes roughly with her hands, leaving the corners of her eyes bright red.

The song ended.

Only the rustling of the wind through the leaves and the intermittent sobs of the girls remained by the lake.

Xiao Yan pressed his hands against the strings, looked up at the three girls with red, teary eyes, and a triumphant smile tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Realizing they had been forcibly led by the rhythm of the music, the three of them immediately reacted, instantly forming a united front.

"Brother! You're so annoying!" Xiao Xiao slammed her teacup onto the table, lunged forward, and grabbed Xiao Yan's sleeve, shaking it vigorously.

"It's only a one-month break, yet you acted like it was a life-or-death parting and tricked me into shedding tears!"

Wu Feng widened her eyes and joined the accusation: "You were definitely doing it on purpose! Look at how you upset Sister Tian!"

Ning Tian put away her silk handkerchief; although her eyes were still slightly red, her tone had already returned to its usual steady composure.

She looked at Xiao Yan and sighed helplessly.

"Brother Yan, that melody was too heartbreaking. We can't just let today's incident slide; you must play another piece to compensate us."

Faced with the joint protest of the three, Xiao Yan set aside his playful mood and placed his hands back onto the strings.

"Fine, I'll play a different one for you."

His fingering shifted, and the sound of the zither changed abruptly.

Gone was the bleak, low-pitched tone from before, replaced by a rapid, powerful, and uplifting rhythm.

As soon as this Riding the Wind and Breaking the Waves began to play, it surged like a great river rushing into the sea, carrying a magnificent momentum.

Every note felt like a beat of a war drum, filled with the spirited, fearless vigor of young men and women.

The sorrow and melancholy that had lingered in everyone's hearts were instantly washed away by this impassioned melody.

As the music climbed to its climax, the emotions of the three were completely ignited.

Xiao Xiao let go of his sleeve, her eyes bright; Wu Feng clenched her fists, her knuckles popping; Ning Tian straightened her back, her golden-blue eyes filled with expectations for the future.

The music ceased, and the song ended.

The gloom of parting was swept away.

As the sun set, the area outside the massive East Gate of Shrek Academy was filled with various luxurious carriages.

The freshmen on break were boarding their vehicles one after another to return home.

Xiao Yan and Xiao Xiao climbed into their carriage, where Uncle Fu was waiting with a smile, ready for the order to depart.

Not far away, the exclusive carriage of the Nine Treasures Glazed Sect was also prepared.

Ning Tian and Wu Feng walked over and waved goodbye to the two of them.

Xiao Xiao leaned out of the carriage window, waving her small hand vigorously, "Sister Ning Tian, Wu Feng, don't slack off during the break!"

The brief farewell came to an end.

Uncle Fu flicked the reins, and the two tall horses stretched out their long legs. The wheels rolled over the bluestone road, making a rhythmic rumbling sound.

The carriage gradually accelerated, heading into the broad official road against the glow of the setting sun, speeding toward the direction of home.