Location: Qin Family Council Chamber – Two Days Later
The scent of sandalwood filled the air as incense burned in the corners of the chamber. Senior elders of the Qin Family sat in a wide circle, discussing recent events: marriage alliances, sect invitations, and breakthroughs among their disciples.
But Elder Qin Yao, old, sharp-eyed, and deeply resentful of Qin Huaian's rising status, had other plans.
He stood slowly, clearing his throat.
"Honored elders," he said, his voice deceptively calm, "I bring forth a concern. The boy Huaian—adopted though he may be—has stirred the balance of our family."
Murmurs echoed.
"Is this about the Song girl?" asked one elder.
Qin Yao nodded gravely. "That girl is not only from the Song Family… she is a Soul-Bound partner to Huaian. You all know what that means."
Fengyuan's eyes darkened. "Careful with your words."
But Yao pressed on.
"It means chaos. It means heaven-defying power. We are not the Void Sect. We are a righteous family. What if the heavens see their bond as a threat? What if we all suffer divine backlash?"
He paused dramatically.
"For the good of the family, we must test Huaian. Truly test him. And if he cannot withstand it… then fate has made the decision for us."
🔪 The Bloodroot Trial
That evening, Huaian was summoned formally to the Council Chamber. Qin Fengyuan met him before he entered.
"You don't have to accept this," Fengyuan said firmly. "This is political poison."
But Huaian shook his head.
"If I keep hiding, they'll always treat me like a shadow."
He stepped into the chamber, where dozens of elders sat in silence.
Elder Yao rose and pointed toward a glowing scroll on the wall behind him.
"We offer you a chance to prove your worth: the Bloodroot Trial."
A test from an old Qin family tradition—now outlawed for its cruelty. It required the participant to enter the Bloodroot Forest, a cursed spiritual zone that drained spiritual energy and twisted one's mind with illusions of pain and regret.
"Pass the trial," Yao said coldly, "and you'll have our full acceptance. Fail… and the heavens have chosen."
Fengyuan slammed his cane into the floor.
"This is a death sentence!"
But Huaian stepped forward. "I accept."
🌑 That Night
In her courtyard, Qin Xiaoxiao stared at the sky in silence.
"He's going into the Bloodroot Trial," she said aloud, her voice shaking.
Her personal guard tried to calm her, but she shoved past them and stormed into the family archives. She studied maps, spirit records, old accounts—anything about the Bloodroot Forest.
"If he doesn't come back… I'll burn that forest down myself."
Meanwhile, in a moonlit courtyard far to the north, Song Yueru paused mid-cultivation. Her fingers trembled.
Her soul thread throbbed.
She felt Huaian's heartbeat spike, then slow. A message, unspoken, passed through their bond:
"Don't worry. I'll survive."
She closed her eyes and whispered back:
"If you die, I'll come find you—even in the afterlife."
⚔️ The Trial Begins
At dawn, under the watch of five elders and two talisman scribes, Huaian was led to the edge of the Bloodroot Forest. A black wind blew from within, and twisted red vines pulsed along the trees like veins.
Fengyuan placed a pendant in his hand—an old keepsake from the Order of the Hollow Star.
"This forest was once a battlefield," he said softly. "Void energy lingers beneath its roots. That may help you… or make things worse."
Huaian stepped forward, his voice steady.
"Let the heavens watch, then. But I walk this road not to prove myself to them… only to myself."
And with that, he disappeared into the forest.