Ruoxue looked at Yanwei in surprise as he blinked a few times before coming to his senses, taking a deep breath before speaking.
"Oh.. I see... Well, let's go I suppose."
There was a weight in his tone, something unsaid, something still lingering from the memories he'd just relived.
Yanwei noticed the contemplative frown on Ruoxue's face but simply shrugged, unaware of the horrors his friend had been forced to confront in the midst of his cultivation.
"Alright. Lord Yuxan will be choosing his opponents one by one," Yanwei said as they walked. "So be prepared, alright? Any one of us could be the first."
Ruoxue said nothing, deep in his thoughts as they both walked in silence. They left the training room and Yanwei started to lead him towards the middle of the Demonic Sect's base. A large arena now constructed seemingly out of nowhere, like it had risen out of the very stone of the ground itself.
Yanwei led him into one of the waiting chambers, where Jinshen and Jinhai sat quietly on a bench. They were no longer in their usual training clothes, now donning the robes of true Demonic Sect members.
Jinshen was sitting quietly, staring out the long tunnel that led to the inside of the arena. His body draped in a black combat hanfu that shimmered faintly with golden flame patterns, a short cloak billowing behind him like a shadow given purpose.
Jinhai was sharpening a pair of toothed red daggers with a stone, he was wearing layered robes muted in their deep reds and trimmed in worn gold, an almost military coat draped over one shoulder, the symbol of a golden dragon rising was embroidered on the back his black robe.
They both greeted Ruoxue with a small yet friendly nod, but their eyes showed one thing, they thirsted for victory despite knowing Mo Yuxan was leagues above them in strength and experience.
Yanwei silently went to change, his usual grin no where to be seen, now replaced by an expression hardened with focus and determination that matched the others.
Ruoxue stood still, gazing at the determined faces surrounding him. He took a slow, shaky breath, the emotions in his chest still tangled and raw. Finally, he broke the silence, turning to Jinshen. He spoke in a rather soft voice that had an undertone of curiosity.
"Why is everyone so.. Focused? they're going to lose, no matter what trick or tactic they use Even if we fought Lord Yuxan all at once we would lose..."
Jinshen frowned, annoyed but calm. He took a deep breath before replying. His voice filled with a fire that refused to flicker out and submit no matter what.
"Because we have honor Ruoxue." Jinshen paused for a moment before adding. "Stand tall for once, Ruoxue. If you're going down, go down fighting. That's what it means to be a warrior, a good warrior will die trying. Its basic logic, unless we know what's the peak, how can we climb it?"
Ruoxue just sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair before nodding slowly in understanding.
"I see.." He mumbled under his breath as he took in the words, they hit him a bit harder then he had expected.
Suddenly, while he was deep in thought Jinhai threw something at his face breaking through his train of thoughts as he scrambled to catch it.
"Here, we had a robe made for you." Jinhai said in a matter of fact tone while still sharpening the daggers in his hand.
Ruoxue looked at Jinhai with eyes that were a bit widened before he silently nodded and looked down at the robe.
"Thank you.." He mumbled under his breath in a gesture of gratefulness.
The robe was a long white robe that had a faint blue tint, resembling flowing water, its shoulders were streaked with fine gold and edged in subtle black, it was a simple gesture but it felt amazing to Ruoxue.
The door to the changing room opened as Yanwei walked out, wearing his new uniform. It was long, tailored coat of crimson-shadowed black, the character '侯' stitched in golden embroidery across his chest where his heart was, the golden threads reflecting the light that came from the arena.
Before anyone could comment on Yanwei's new attire a booming voice belonging to The Grand Marshall came through the tunnels, echoing through the arena.
"Well hello everyone. I'll make it simple and quick." He said in a calm voice, one that despite its loud volume was still soft. "The rules are that.. Yo Muxan decides the rules of every fight. If he says you're going to play tag, you're going to play tag. If he says you're going to exchange punches until either one of you passes out, you're going to do it. Understand."
There was a loud, everyone shouted 'Yes My Lord' as loud as they could in the waiting chamber, the tunnels themselves shaking from their voice.
The Grand Marshall continued, his voice a bit more approving now.
"Good, now, Yo Muxan has chosen his first opponent from the male disciples." He paused, letting the suspense built.
Every second felt like an hour, the male disciples' hearts were beating so hard that they thought it might explode or pop out of their chest.
"YanweiZuanshi."
Everyone's eyes widened, most in relief but some in worry as everyone stared at Yanwei who was standing with a stoic and focused expression, his hands clenched into fists as he immediately put his sword on his waist. Walking towards the arena through the tunnels.
Jinshen and Jinhai watched with their usual indifferent expression meanwhile Ruoxue looked at Yanwei's back with worry
"Don't you fail this trial ya damn idiot..." Ruoxue muttered under his breath before he went into the changing room, albeit with the weight of a hundred thoughts pulling at his steps
As Ruoxue stepped into the changing room, the sound of footsteps echoed faintly through the tunnels, slow, deliberate. The air felt heavier, like the very stone of the arena itself was holding its breath. Then, Mo Yuxan entered the arena.
He looked almost like a mirror of the Grand Marshal—tall and slim, his long white hair tied loosely behind him, with a few strands falling over his shoulder. His robes were a flowing storm of black and silver, with accents of pale gold that shimmered like dying embers. His eyes, one blue like the sky and the other a glowing white, were cold and unreadable. They scanned the arena with the same distant calm as his father, as if the world around him was already ash and he simply walked through it. But there was just one thing—a small, colorful bracelet around his right wrist, given to him by his daughter. It made him seem... just a bit more human.
His gaze finally settled on Yanwei, who stood tall and straight, meeting his eyes without flinching—a feat not many could pull off in front of Yuxan.
"You seem confident," Yuxan said. "It's a confidence that's been built up, not something you were born with. So, the Trial of Blood for you will be this—every ten strikes you land on me, I'll return one. The more you hit, the better your odds of passing. Simple enough right? I'll make it a bit more easy for you, I can't use my Qi too. "