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❃𝓨𝓮𝓪𝓱, 𝓼𝓸 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓽𝓱𝓻𝓲𝓵𝓵𝓲𝓷𝓰❃

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The grand hall was a sight to behold, especially in the early morning light. Golden rays filtered through towering arched windows, casting a warm glow across the room. Students filled the hall, the air thick with excitement and tension. Ornate pillars lined the space, the sealings above them.

Akira stood quietly, taking it all in. Around him, groups of students whispered in hushed voices, eyes darting toward the stage where the team announcements for the Celestial Trials would soon begin. Akira's heart thudded a little faster as he glanced around. The energy in the room was contagious, and despite his calm exterior, a flicker of nervousness stirred within him.

He knew that, realistically, he wouldn't be chosen as a captain. His team was too small and didn't hold enough sway. But he couldn't shake the hope that, by some miracle, Sanji would be chosen as one of the captains. Sanji was good enough and he has many disciples to make the cut. And if family loyalty held any weight in these selections, perhaps Sanji should choose him for his team.

"Why'd they have to drag us out of bed for this?" Huan's voice broke through Akira's thoughts. He was standing nearby, arms crossed, a faint scowl on his face. "They could've just sent a notification. Simple. Done."

Akira looked at him softly. "Not everyone has a phone, Huan. Especially not those from very traditional clans."

Huan's frown deeped lower, "So? Their tech partners still do."

A new voice chimed in. "Wait, seriously?" Adi, standing close enough to overhear, gaped in disbelief. "No phones? Like... at all?"

Akira nodded, the hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "Some families and sects stick so closely to tradition that students aren't allowed to have phones. For them, modern tech is a distraction. And if they do have one, they can only use it when they're off clan premises."

Adi shook his head, clearly baffled. "I can't imagine. No phones? No social media? I'd be lost."

"Trust me, it's a relief my family isn't that strict." Akira's voice softened as he spoke, a trace of nostalgia in his tone. He couldn't help but think back to his teenage years. The memories of hiding in his room to read unholy amounts of yaoi smut, or even just listening to music flooded his mind. Life would have felt stifling without those small escapes.

The murmuring around them quieted as a holographic display appeared at the front of the hall. A bright, floating chart lit up, listing the top ten ranks based on performance, discipline, and merit. Akira's eyes scanned the chart, zeroing in on the top three names.

The first name on the list was the Chauhan Sect from India, with its captain, Chauhan Maurya.

Next came the Chen Clan from China, led by Chen Zixin. Akira glanced at Huan, noticing the tension in his face as he looked at the name.

The third was the Zhao Clan from China, led by Zhao Zhan.

Akira's shoulders slumped a little. He knew the chances of Sanji's name appearing had been slim, but seeing the top captains finalized sealed the reality. It was now up to Chauhan Maurya, Chen Zixin, and Zhao Zhan to decide the composition of each main team. They would pick from the remaining teams, selecting those they deemed worthy to join their ranks.

He let out a quiet sigh, bracing himself for what lay ahead.

A robotic voice cut through the chatter in the grand hall. "Each group will have twenty to twenty-five cultural students."

The screen lit up with the details for Group 1: led by Chauhan Maurya, with the Hūyán Clan and Sayavong Sect joining them. Akira pursed his lips, not surprised that the Hūyán Clan had been chosen-likely because they needed a host clan to stay with while in China for the Trials. A practical choice.

Then Group 2 flashed up: led by Chen Xian. And alongside them... Akira froze. Ashikaga Clan? He could hardly believe his ears and eyes. Chen Zixin, out of everyone, had picked Sanji? The thought alone was enough to make Akira tense up.

Beside him, Huan let out a low scoff. "Wait-the Kim Clan? As in the ex-imperial family of North Korea?" Huan raised an eyebrow, in distaste and amusement in his voice. "Honestly... it suits them."

Akira nodded, though his own worry for Sanji only deepened. The Kim Clan wasn't exactly known for being easygoing. Why they were still not extinct was anyone's guess, but that would be a mystery for another time. At least the Altankhuyag Sect were decent, in an otherwise questionanble group. He still felt terrible for the Ashikaga and Althankhuyag disciples and more so their tech partners.

Finally, Group 3 came up: led by Zhao Zhan, with the Múróng Sect, Jeo Sect, and... the Fujisawa Clan. Akira blinked, surprised. He made it! Well they made it, but let's be real he did most of the work. But they did it! It felt surreal, like some strange twist of fate. Whatever luck he'd had going into this, it was clearly working for him today.

But as he glanced at Huan, Akira noticed his shoulders slumping. Huan looked sad, disappointed even, and Akira instantly knew why. Huan was about to go home, and home was a journey to memory lane.

Adi, meanwhile, was grinning ear to ear, clearly oblivious. He threw an arm around Huan. "Why the gloomy face, man? We're in the Celestial Trials!"

Huan mustered a small, forced smile. "Yeah... just need some breakfast, I guess." He slipped out of Adi's grip and started toward the cafeteria, looking deflated and worn down, like this wasn't the victory it should have been.

Akira watched Huan walk off, the slump in his shoulders telling him everything he needed to know. Without a second thought, he turned to the others and muttered, "I'll catch up with you guys later. Just gonna check on him."

Leaving the grand hall behind, he followed Huan down the corridor, keeping a little distance so as not to intrude. As they approached the cafeteria, he noticed Huan's phone buzzing. Huan answered almost immediately, and Akira could hear snippets of the conversation drifting back.

"Gege! Just saw you got into one of the Celestial Trials teams!" came a lively voice from the other end, unmistakably Huan's younger brother, Nian.

Huan's face broke into a soft smile. "Yeah, by some luck..." he replied, his voice lighter than it had been all morning.

"Don't let those guys push you around, alright? You're way tougher than them!" Nian's voice had a defiant edge to it, almost daring anyone to try messing with his older brother.

My sisters would never, they insulat me instead.

Huan chuckled, shaking his head. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one dealing with them. You staying out of trouble?"

A snort of laughter came through the phone. "Define 'trouble.' The old man keeps saying I need to 'find my balance' and 'think before I act,' but where's the fun in that?"

Huan sighed, though there was an unmistakable warmth in his voice. "Yeah, well, don't do anything too reckless. I'll call you again when I can."

Nian softened. "Promise?"

Huan's tone was barely a murmur. "Promise. Just take care, alright?"

"Always do," Nian shot back, though Akira could hear the affection in his words. "Good luck, Gege."

With a small smile, Huan whispered, "Bye," and ended the call just as he entered the cafeteria. He scanned the room for a seat, but Akira stepped forward before he could choose a spot alone.

"Hey," Akira said, walking up to him. "Everything good with your brother?"

Huan's face briefly tensed, but then he gave a small nod. "Yeah, just him checking in." He paused, considering for a moment before continuing. "He's... always been a bit of a hothead. Gets into trouble every chance he gets. But he's my little brother so..." He trailed off, exasperation and fondness in his voice.

Akira nodded. "Sounds like he's lucky to have you looking out for him."

Huan's gaze dropped to the floor. "It's nice, I guess, though I don't always feel like I am a good enough older brother. " He fell silent.

Akira let the moment linger, knowing it wasn't something he could fix, but hoping that being there was enough. "If you need someone to talk to, I am here for you." he offered quietly.

Huan looked up, a faint, almost grateful smile crossing his face. "Thanks, Akira. That... means a lot."

Akira gave a small nod, and as they found seats together, he hoped that maybe, just maybe, Huan felt a little less alone.

_●°•°•°●_

"I can't fucking believe this is happening!" Sanji groaned, burying his face into Marcus's shoulder in despair.

Marcus rolled his eyes but patted Sanji's back as Tayla gave him a sympathetic pat on the arm. "Hey, maybe it won't be that bad?" she offered, her tone light.

Sanji's head whipped up, his glare sharp enough to cut through steel. "Easy for you to say," he shot back. "You get to go with the Zhao Clan. Led by the RighteousJade himself! And me? I'm stuck with an off-brand Elsa from Temu!"

Tayla snickered at him, but Jimin tried to console him. "Hey, at least you've got your disciples around. That's something, right?"

Sanji sniffled, rubbing at his eyes. "It's them I'm worried about! We're getting tossed in with a pack of psychos." He straightened slightly, trying to muster some courage. "At least we're not kids anymore, so maybe Chen Zheng won't be interested..."

Huan's face darkened at the mention of the name, his jaw clenched as if the very sound of it burned his tongue. Akira noticed, leaning over to murmur softly in Huan's ear, "It's alright. He's not here."

Huan nodded, but his expression remained tense. Jake, catching the exchange, raised a brow and broke the silence with a half-smile. "So, uh... who's this Chen Zheng guy? Sounds like the Diddy of the cultivation world."

Jiamei chuckled, a smirk pulling at her lips. "Honestly? Might just be his reincarnation,"

"That is a horrifying revelation." Akira's gaze shifted from Huan's tense profile to the others, trying to keep things calm. He said, cutting in quickly. "Let's, uh, talk about something else?"

After breakfast, everyone started scattering to their classes, and Akira was about to go as well when Zhan spotted him and immediately hauled him off towards History of Cultural Arts. Right behind them, Jeo Yuna strolled along, and, Múróng Ruòxīn followed too.

Ruòxīn was hard to miss. He had pale, jade-like skin and dark, fox-like eyes that always carried a hint of a smirk. His long hair was loose, draping over his shoulders in a way that somehow never looked messy, and Akira could only wonder how the guy kept it tamed. Not only that, Ruòxīn was handsome in an almost delicate way but just tall enough to give off that air of elegance. Zhan was definitely good-looking, but Ruòxīn was beautiful. Akira found himself comparing Ruòxīn's sly expression to Huan's soft gaze. Huan's fox-like eyes were larger, and his features had a gentler charm, but both of them seemed to have this ability to draw people in, just in different ways.

As they took their seats, Ruòxīn wasted no time stirring up drama. Flicking open his fan with a flourish, he gave Akira a sly look. "So," he said, his voice dripping with mock sympathy, "how's your cousin dealing with his... unfortunate situation?"

Akira shrugged, leaning back in his seat. "He'll handle it," he replied nonchalantly, though he was already tuning Ruòxīn out.

At that moment, he felt a light tap on his shoulder. Glancing back, he saw Huan standing there, looking a bit sheepish.

"Hey," Huan murmured, "got the notes from last class? We kind of... forgot to take them."

"Yeah, no problem," Akira said, quickly pulling up the notes and sending them over to Huan's tablet. Huan shot him a grateful nod, and Akira gave a quick, reassuring smile.

Ruòxīn immediately zeroed in on Huan, eyeing him up and down before pointing his closed fan at him with a flirtatious smirk. "And what's your name, love?"

Huan blinked, looking caught off guard. "Jia Huan," he replied, a bit cautiously.

Ruòxīn's smirk widened as he raised his eyebrows. "What a lovely name," he purred, "for an even lovelier face." He tossed Huan a wink.

Huan visibly tensed, his lips thinning. "Um... thanks?" he muttered, clearly unsure how to respond.

Beside him, Eddie let out a sigh. "Why do I never get compliments like that from hot people?"

Jake, sitting a row back, scoffed and gave Eddie a nudge. "Look at him," he said, gesturing toward Huan. "And now look at you. You see the difference?"

Eddie shot him a glare. "As if you're a model yourself, dude."

Jake gasped dramatically, running a hand through his blond hair. "Excuse me! I'll have you know I'm one of a kind," he said.

Akira had to bite back a laugh. Sometimes, Huan's friends could be ridiculous, but they had a way of keeping things light. And as Akira thought about it—Jake and Eddie would be left behind. Almost everyone else had a spot in one of the groups. Marcus would be with Sanji, Tayla with Jiamei, Ella with Jimin, Adi with Genya, and of course, Huan with him. So Jake and Eddie would be left behind.

Aww...I am gonna miss them

The professor started the lecture, but Akira's gaze drifted across the room to where Sanji was sitting slumped between the Chen cousins and Kim Seung-ho, looking thoroughly miserable. At least Altankhuyag Ganbaatar was sitting beside him, trying to cheer him up.

Classes went on and soon enough the last professor's lecture ended, but Akira barely had a moment's pause before Zhan and Yuna were back to discussing their plan for the Celestial Trials. Akira could only half-focus as they continued in the hall, covering everything from formation tactics to individual roles. He almost wished they'd save it for lunch so he could actually listen in properly.

Finally, when they sat down at a quiet corner table in the cafeteria, the four of them spread out their devices and began talking in earnest.

Zhan leaned forward, setting his tablet down with a thoughtful expression. "Okay, let's go over the layout of Wulingyuan one more time," he said. "We'll be working in forest terrain, lots of cliffs and steep drop-offs. Yin creatures there are known to lurk in shadows and attack without warning. We'll need to be especially careful on the cliff edges."

Yuna nodded, crossing her arms as she considered. "That terrain gives us good vantage points if we stay high," she said. "My team can set up long-range support from safe distances. As long as we've got coverage from above, we'll have your backs from any surprise attacks."

Ruòxīn fanned himself lazily. "Long-range, short-range... does everything have to sound so technical, Yuna? Where's the poetry in battle strategy?" His gaze shifted over to Akira. "Tell me, fearless front-liner, what's your big plan if things go sideways?"

Akira gave him a sideways look. "I'd probably just plow through them," he said. "But if it helps, my team and I are trained for close combat. We'll be on the front line, taking on the bulk of the fight, so the rest of you can focus on hitting the big targets."

"Right," Zhan interjected, casting Ruòxīn a look as if to keep him focused. "Akira and his disciple will cover the frontline, and my group will be positioned mid-range to support them. It means I'll need you and your people on defense, Ruòxīn."

Ruòxīn sighed dramatically, fluttering his fan with a flourish. "Defense, again? Zhan, you act like I'm some delicate flower who can't handle the front lines."

Why is he like this, he got the easy job

"I trust you to do what you're best at," Zhan replied calmly. "You'd be wasted in offense. Besides, you're our only line of defense. Don't get too bored."

Ruòxīn sighed, flipping his fan shut with a dramatic flourish. "Yes, yes I'll cover the defense. No need to worry, Zhan. My team might not swing swords up close, but we're the reason you can."  He shot Akira a teasing look. "You're in good hands."

"Appreciated," Akira said. "I've got one disciple, Kaiko, who's better at backline defense, so she will fall in with Ruòxīn. She's reliable and stays focused, so that should cover any gaps."

Yuna chimed in, leaning over the table with a sharp look. "Don't forget about our tech partners. They'll be at the main base, watching our feeds. If they see something we don't, they'll alert us over the monitors."

Akira nodded. "Our androids can help with that, I know Katsu's set to track our positions and keep an eye on the whole field. Even if I can't use a Shiji, they will keep my tech partner updated so will the other androids so it's not much to worry about."

"Good," Zhan agreed, his calm, serious tone keeping everyone on track. "Remember, Yin creatures will be drawn to the Shiji signals, so our androids might be our best way of spotting them early. And everyone should stay vigilant-these creatures won't be like the simulations."

"Simulations are all patterns and code," Ruòxīn said, a sly grin playing on his lips. "But real creatures? Real terrain? Now that's where things get interesting."

Yeah so not very thrilling

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I never planned on including the Kim Clan...like I thought about it as an intrusive through...but like never thought I would actually input it... but then, while writing this chapter. I came across a video that I took as a spiritual sign, that...yes I should include it. Here is the YouTube video->

https://youtu.be/Cv3nEnKeFJY

I think my fav comment there was someone saying this is how you use AI the correct way. Lol.

For you people who don't know->

Altankhuyag- is a Sir name from Mongolia

Sayavong- is a Sir name from Laos

Also don't worry, they have their own place in the Plot. You all will just have to wait and see ;>