The following evening, the Seventh Dormitory transformed into a sacred sanctuary for the memory of Tang Yan. Shadows danced along the walls as flickering candlelight illuminated the faces of the gathered students, each lost in their own recollections of a friend now gone. Wang Sheng stood at the forefront, his voice trembling with emotion as he recounted the moment Tang Yan had deflected a noble's vicious strike with his shimmering trident. "He always said we're stronger than we think," he choked out, his eyes glistening with unshed tears.
Xiao Chen's gaze fell upon the intricate soul power array before them, the runes pulsating softly with a ghostly glow. "He spent an entire night carving this," he murmured, tracing the raw lines with his fingertip. "It's rough around the edges, but it gave us a boost when we needed it most. He truly cared." The weight of his words hung in the air, and the others nodded solemnly, reminiscence etched on their faces.
Xiao Wu sat cross-legged, her usual spark of playfulness extinguished. The loss of Tang Yan had ripped open the deep-seated wound of her mother's departure, a memory that haunted her. In her mind's eye, she was a small, helpless child, watching in despair as her mother fell from grace. Suddenly, she broke the silence, her voice slicing through the room's heaviness. "He's not gone," she declared, fiercely defiant, causing the others to freeze in surprise.
Although they knew it wasn't possible, the group of kids in depression found a glimmer of hope. One of the roommates in the dormitory, Lei Wei, suggested that their parents might be afraid of being persecuted by the nobles, which is why they kept Brother Yan hidden. Lei Wei was one of the children whose parents worked under a noble, and he had firsthand experience with bullying.
Wang Sheng shared stories of his family's struggles under the oppressive burden of noble taxes. Since his family's main source of income came from hunting in the wild, their earnings were minimal and heavily dependent on the weather and the injuries they sustained. The nobility not only increased their taxes but also shamelessly bought their meat and products at significantly reduced prices simply because they were nobles.
Xiao Chen, who claimed to have a beautiful sister named Xiao Yun—known for her sweet voice and frail figure—talked about how his sister endured relentless bullying at another academy. The once pale girl, who was at least considered average in beauty, was now covered in hidden bruises and terrified of returning to school. Xiao Xenyu even bragged that his sister's innate soul power was at level 4.
Together, their shared anguish began to weave an unbreakable thread of hope.
"What do you mean?" Li Mei asked, a flicker of hope illuminating her features.
"He's too stubborn to die," Xiao Wu exclaimed, grasping desperately at a glimmer of optimism. "Maybe he's just hiding from those nobles. What if his parents took him away? They're powerful, right? They'd want to keep him safe." Her words, while laced with desperation, seemed to resonate deeply among the group.
"Maybe he's waiting for us to catch up," Wang Sheng suggested, his voice gaining strength, a newfound determination igniting in his heart. "We can't let him down."
The dormitory was filled with a palpable sense of hope as the inmates absorbed the recent news. Though they knew deep down that their struggle might be futile, the prospect of their efforts bearing fruit ignited a flicker of optimism within them. If they succeeded, not only would they honour Tang Yan, but their own futures would gleam with promise. With this inspiring thought echoing in their minds, each resident began to settle into a state of meditation, following the basic route that Tang Yan had thoughtfully modified just for them.
As they entered their meditative states, the atmosphere transformed into something almost magical. Imagine the serene scene: a group of young individuals, their faces calm and focused, surrounded by a soft glow emanating from tiny bugs and fireflies that danced through the air, twinkling like scattered stars. The hazy moonlight filtered through the windows, casting gentle shadows and illuminating their determined silhouettes, creating an enchanting tapestry of light and hope.
In a quiet corner of the room, Tang San observed this beautiful tableau, a subtle smile gracing his lips. He whispered to himself, "Maybe this is what my brother meant." A deep understanding settled within him; even in the face of death, the legacy one leaves behind can inspire others to rise, to follow the path carved for them, and to honour the memories of those who came before.
Outside the dormitory, Grandmaster listened intently, a swell of admiration swelling within him as he absorbed Xiao Wu's courageous defiance. It reminded him of a time in his youth, before Spirit Hall had crushed his dreams into dust. Her fierce spirit rekindled his own resolve—he would guide these children, helping them transform their grief into untapped strength. I'm their teacher, he thought, but their fearlessness teaches me courage.
Standing tall, Xiao Wu proclaimed, "We'll get stronger—for Tang Yan. We'll make those nobles pay!" The fire in her words ignited a fervour among the students, their eyes ablaze with determination. From the shadows, Tang San watched, feeling a swell of pride mixed with unease. The lie was weaving a tapestry of conviction too expertly. "Quest: Turn their tears into rebellion! Reward: +10 Charisma," the Meme System taunted in the depths of his mind. Tang San sighed, wondering how Tang Yan had navigated the chaos of its absurdity.