Yanmei and Xuanyan walked in silence for a while after leaving the hall. The long refinement duel had drained most of their mental strength, and neither of them felt like speaking at first. The corridor remained quiet except for the soft echo of their footsteps.
After walking some distance, Yanmei finally slowed her steps and turned toward him. Her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she had been thinking about something ever since they left the hall.
"Junior brother," Yanmei said, "how did your refinement fail? I watched your entire process carefully. I didn't see you make any mistake, especially at the final moment."
She continued walking beside him as she spoke. "I know the last step is the most delicate part. Even the smallest fluctuation in the flame can ruin everything. But still… we both failed almost at the same moment." She shook her head slightly. "It feels strange."
