The next morning began with dread.
A dread so deep, Tian Shen woke up an hour before dawn just to worry in advance.
He sat on his dorm bed, staring at the ceiling, questioning all his life decisions.
Beside him, Drowsy snored softly, little divine sparkles coming out of her beak.
On the other bunk, Feng Yin cultivated like the cultivation goddess she was—calm, serene, and blessedly unaware of the doom that awaited him.
Tian Shen whispered into the darkness.
"Maybe she'll forget."
Drowsy opened one eye.
"She won't, will she?"
"Chirp~"
"Yeah. Figured."
He dressed like a man condemned, making sure his robes were tightly fastened.
If Elder Su was going to beat him up, he'd at least like to remain dignified.
…
He arrived at the sect's secluded training field on the eastern ridge—a place used for 'personal' instruction.
Which, in Tian Shen's mind, translated to 'where you can scream and no one will hear.'
