Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 134: Navigating the Maze of Confusion and emotion

Chapter 134: Navigating the Maze of Confusion and emotion

"Entrant 1872: Pass!"

"Entrant 198: Pass!"

"Entrant 1789: Eliminated!"

"Entrant 007: Pass!"

"Entrant 245: Eliminated"

As the sun starts to reach the zenith in the sky the voice announcing the numbers of participants in this trial sounded more and more.

"Entrant number?" Mo Tianze asked confused they have been too busy trying to ’survive’ so far to pay attention in announcement.

"It’s in your badge" Feng Jiao Xue stopped for a bit and looked back at Mo Tianze pointing at the Bronze shield shaped badge on his chest ’1997’.

It was handed to them when they registered.

"Oh." Mo Tianze glanced down at it and blinked. "I... completely forgot this thing was even here."

He scratched his cheek, looking a little sheepish

The Bronze shield meaning that Mo Tianze is entering the special sector while the special sector. Its where those with special bloodline ability enter. Feng Jiao Xue on the other hand have a wand, meaning she is entering for the mage section of the academy.

The Academy have exactly three sections or divisions. Magic, where all the magicians enter would study all aspects that concerns magic. From spell casting, formation weaving, summoning, potions and such. The cultivators would enter the Cultivator division where all cultivators would learn martial arts, battle styles and be given resources for cultivating qi.

Then the special division. It is where those that have special bloodlines gather. From what Feng Jiao Xue gathered it is those with special abilities and Mo Tianze can fall in that category with his illusion ability and other abilities he have as a fox beast kin. Aside from the special abilities, what makes the "Special" sector unqiue is that those from the cultivator and magic division can enter too.

It encompases potion and pill alchemy. weaponsmiths, array mastery, talisman making and other vocations Feng Jiao Xue haven’t fully read on. even forbidden arts if you’re lucky and unhinged

The voice continued to echo above the rustling leaves, magical and metallic in its tone.

"Entrant 182: Pass!"

"Entrant 1231: Pass!"

"Entrant 1779: Eliminated!"

"Xiao Xue, why can’t I be on the same sector as you?" Mo Tianze asked again for the upteenth time this days making Feng Jiao Xue sigh.

"Because you need to be a mage to enter" Feng Jiao Xue flicked his forehead before stopping as she tried to listen in on footsteps thinking that she heared some before continuing on. Trying to navigate the maze or at least find clues that should point to the right way. It couldn’t all just be based on luck.

"Plus your more suited in the special division" Feng Jiao Xue continued talking when she was certain that they aren’t being hunted or lead to an ambush.

Mo Tianze tilted his head, fluffy white ears catching the light like snow-dusted silk.

"It’s where those with special bloodlines go," she continued, eyes flicking to his golden gaze. "Abilities that don’t fall neatly into the mage or cultivator category—like yours."

His tail swayed nervously. "You mean... my abilities as a hybrid? That’s not really special, is it?"

"It is" she said quietly. "You’re more special than you think."

He looked away, fur bristling slightly, unsure what to say.

Feng Jiao Xue didn’t push further. She looked up, noting how the sky was already darkening. The thick canopy above filtered the last rays of orange light into delicate strands. The maze had gone quiet now, the loud rustlings and shrieks of beasts fading into the more patient, lurking stillness of the night.

She slowed her steps. "Let’s stop here."

They had arrived at a small clearing nestled between tangled roots and smooth, ancient stones. The grass was short and springy beneath their boots, the moonlight gently slanting through the branches. Fireflies hovered in the distance, casting a soft golden glow over the edges of the clearing.

Feng Jiao Xue activated a simple fire spell. A contained flame bloomed to life in a firepit outlined with carved stones. Its warmth pushed back the creeping chill of evening.

Mo Tianze lowered himself onto the grass slowly, still unused to sitting without glancing around anxiously. He tilted his face to the flame, soaking in its heat.

"Isn’t it dangerous to stop here?" he asked.

"We need to rest, this is already a safe enough place we can only guard on one side while the maze have the other three corners covered"

"Why can’t we just rest inside the space?" Mo Tianze asked thinking that that is a more suitable place to rest. They don’t need to be worried about being attacked at night at all and Feng Jiao Xue can sleep more peacefully there.

Feng Jiao Xue sat down across from him, her posture relaxed. "The badges have a tracking spell woven into them. I tried removing mine earlier to enter my space ring, but it resisted, burned a little, actually. I’d rather not test that again."

Mo Tianze’s fur puffed up slightly at the thought. "So... they’re watching us?"

"Not directly," she assured him. "The tracking is likely used to prevent cheating or for rescuing anyone prematurely. As long as we don’t try anything suspicious, we’re fine. Besides," she added with a a slight concerned tone. "I’d rather not test what would happen if we did enter the space. We might end up directly eliminated if we dissapear from their radar or they would have someone search for us"

He looked away, pretending to focus on adjusting the straps of his satchel. "Still... I don’t like being watched."

Feng Jiao Xue smiled gently but said nothing.

From her spatial ring, she summoned dried meat, a few spirit-nut cakes, and a small bundle of berries in waxed paper. The scents of savory herbs and sweet fruit wafted up as she laid them between them.

Mo Tianze’s eyes widened, his nose twitching at the scent.

"...You brought snacks?" he asked, half in awe.

"I always prepare for long journeys" she replied coolly, but there was a glint in her eye. "Besides, I know someone gets grumpy when he’s hungry."

"I do not" he muttered, ears flattening in protest but he still reached for one of the spirit cakes, biting down with an audible crunch. The taste melted into honeyed warmth, and a small pleased sound escaped him before he could stop it.

Feng Jiao Xue chuckled softly. Mo Tianze have come a long way from his innitial timidness and Feng Jiao Xue can’t help but look at him fondly. It always made her feel... something in her heart whenever Mo Tianze shows development in his character no longer as a slave but as an individual with thoughts of his own and indipendence.

Someday... he might even leave his side and a selfish part of her fears for that day, wanting Mo Tianze to stay by her side, tying him to her but a larger part of her... wished to see him truly free.

... even if it meant leaving her...

Mo Tianze glanced at her and found her watching him with a look that was both amused and oddly fond. His cheeks heated instantly. "W-what?"he asked not noticing the strange, dark thoughts deeply burried within her.

Feng Jiao Xue wonders what he would feel if he knows about that rotten piece of her.

"You’re just easy to read," she said teased instead, reaching over to flick one of his ears lightly. "Like an open scroll." she muses hiding the conflicted sadness deep within her heart. Its best not to dwell on that selfish wish of hers.

His tail curled tightly around his legs. "You can’t just touch someone’s ears..."

"Why not? They’re cute."

He froze, blinking rapidly as if he wasn’t sure he heard right. His golden eyes went rounder, pink blossoming across his pale cheeks and the bridge of his nose.

"Y-you think I’m cute?"

She smirked and leaned back, resting her weight on her palms. "Of course. The cutest, most adorable fox ever~"

He opened and closed his mouth, utterly lost for words. His tail betrayed him by swishing nervously, ears twitching as he tried to focus on anything else. The fire. The sky. The grass.

"...You’re teasing me," he said at last, voice barely above a whisper.

"Maybe," she admitted, her voice softening. "Maybe I just like seeing you blush."

Silence wrapped around them like a blanket. The flames cracked and popped between them, casting golden shadows across their faces.

Eventually, Mo Tianze curled on his side near the fire, still too flustered to look at her, his tail tucked close like a security blanket. Feng Jiao Xue stood, adjusted a barrier talisman around the clearing for protection, and then laid her own cloak out beside him. She didn’t speak, didn’t press.

But as she lay down, her arm brushed against his and his hand subcinsciously reaching for hers, She didn’t move it away.

And after a while, as the moon hung high and the stars whispered above, he hesitantly, gently, shifted closer until his tail wrapped around them both.

And Feng Jiao Xue smiled into the darkness.