Chapter 53: PILLOWS AND SECRETS

Chapter 53 — “PILLOWS, SECRETS, AND THE THING THAT SHOULD NOT BE HERE”

The Dragon Turtle Academy dormitories were nothing like Azure Dragon’s.

They were bigger. Heavier. Built like gyms rather than living spaces.

Each floor was carved directly into the mountain, stone walls reinforced with spirit metal, runic lines etched deep into the structure. Even the doors felt like they could withstand a siege.

“This is a dorm?” Chen Wulian muttered, dragging his luggage in.”This looks like somewhere you imprison demons.”

Long Hao glanced around calmly.

“…You say that like it’s a bad thing.”

Ling Yifan placed his spear neatly against the wall of the boys’ dorm room, scanning the layout automatically—beds aligned, windows narrow, formation-friendly spacing.

“Functional,” he concluded.

Bai Qianlan peeked in from the doorway.

“So this is where you’ll all be sleeping,” she said lightly.

Chen grinned.

“For now.”

Ouyang Xue’er crossed her arms.

“Get used to it. Girls’ dorm is on the opposite wing.”

Chen looked horrified.

“Opposite wing?”

“Yes.”

“Like… separated separated?”

“Yes.”

Chen clutched his chest dramatically.

“This academy is cruel.”

“They hate young love_-.”

Ling Yifan cuts in. “Shut up”

They were supposed to separate immediately.

That was the rule.

But someone—no one ever figured out who—closed the dorm door and said:

“…Five minutes.”

That was all it took.

Five minutes turned into laughter. Soon, Laughter turned into chaos.

Someone threw the first pillow.

No one admitted who.

A soft WHUMP hit Chen square in the face.

He froze.

Slowly lowered the pillow.

“…Who did that.”

Silence.

Then Bai Qianlan burst out laughing.

“I slipped.”

Ouyang Xue’er tilted her head innocently.

“It looked intentional.”

Chen’s grin spread slowly.

“Oh. It’s like that.”

He grabbed a pillow.

The war began.

PILLOW FIGHT

ABSOLUTE MAYHEM

Pillows flew.

Feathers exploded.

Someone screamed.

“OUYANG—STOP AIMING FOR THE FACE!”

“That’s the point!”

Ling Yifan took one hit to the shoulder and stiffened.

“…This is inefficient and unnecessary.”

Another pillow hit his head.

He blinked.

Then—very carefully—picked up a pillow.

“…I see.”

Long Hao watched calmly for exactly three seconds.

Then got hit in the back.

He sighed.

“…Violence it is.”

Bai Qianlan ducked behind Ling Yifan, laughing.

“Boyfriend Spear, protect me!”

Ling Yifan froze.

“…That is not a battlefield term.”

Chen chuckled and launched a pillow like a cannonball.

Meanwhile, Han Duwei is under a mountain of pillows attacked by Zhao Lanyue using her range attacks.

Wang Junxie uses stealth and ambushes Zhao with a ton of pillows.

“Nice one, Brother” said Han Duwei.

“Anytime.” As Wang Junxie was completing his sentence, Jin uses sword aura to flew all pillows on Wang.

“Hehe, HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT ONE?”

“You, too.” said Xuer using frost on Jin Ruolan.

Bai launches one pillow towards Long Hao.

Long Hao deflected it casually.

Ouyang Xue’er smirked.

“So this is what you do instead of cultivating.”

“TEAM BUILDING,” Chen yelled. “VERY IMPORTANT.”

Bai suddenly leaned close to Ouyang and whispered loudly:

“So… Long Hao’s name works surprisingly well when teasing, huh?”

Ouyang Xue’er’s ears turned red instantly.

“WHAT—?!”

Bai grinned mischievously.

“Just saying. You reacted faster than Ling Yifan.”

Ling Yifan paused mid-throw.

“…I did?”

Bai laughed harder.

Then Chen’s laughter slowly faded.

His eyes sharpened.

“…You know what.”

Everyone paused.

“Oh no,” Long Hao muttered.

Chen straightened his posture.

“Pillows,” he said solemnly,”should be used to their full potential.”

Spiritual energy surged.

Earthly runes flickered across his arms.

“EARTHLY BEASTIFICATION: LESSER FORM!”

The floor cracked.

Chen grabbed three pillows.

And threw them.

They didn’t fly.

They launched.

BOOM.BOOM.BOOM.

Three roommates were obliterated into their beds.

Feathers filled the room like snow.

Silence.

Then—

OUYANG XUE’ER LOST IT.

“ARE YOU INSANE?!” she shouted, grabbing Chen by the collar.”YOU USED A COMBAT TECHNIQUE IN A PILLOW FIGHT?!”

Chen blinked.

“…It felt right. Everyone else used techniques too.”

She shook him violently.

“YOU ARE NEVER ALLOWED TO HAVE GOOD IDEAS AGAIN!”

Bai Qianlan collapsed onto a bed laughing.

Ling Yifan covered his face with one hand.

Long Hao turned away, shoulders shaking.

“…I warned him.”

Eventually, sanity returned.

Barely.

The girls stood at the doorway, smoothing their clothes.

Bai turned back.

“…This was fun.”

Ouyang crossed her arms.

“Don’t get comfortable.”

Chen waved.

“COME BACK SOON!”

The door closed.

The girls’ dorm was quieter than the boys’.

That didn’t mean it was calm.

Bai Qianlan lay sprawled on her bed, arms behind her head, staring at the ceiling with a very obvious smile she wasn’t even trying to hide.

Ouyang Xue’er sat at the desk, carefully removing the pins from her hair.

Jin Roulan leaned against her bedframe, arms crossed.

Zhao Lanyue was already curled up, pretending to sleep.

Bai turned her head slightly.

“…So.”

No one responded.

She smiled wider.

“So~”

Ouyang sighed.

“Just say it.”

Bai rolled onto her side, propping her head up with one hand.

“Ouyang,” she said sweetly, “why did you react faster when I said Long Hao’s name than when Chen used a combat technique in a pillow fight?”

Jin snorted.

Ouyang froze.

“…I did not.”

Bai raised an eyebrow.

“You absolutely did.”

Jin added casually,”Your ears turned red.”

Ouyang’s head snapped up.

“THEY DID NOT—”

“They did,” Bai and Jin said together.

Silence.

Ouyang looked away sharply.

“…That means nothing.”

Bai grinned.

“Oh? Then why didn’t you react when I teased Ling Yifan?”

“…Because that one’s obvious,” Jin said dryly.

Bai laughed.

Zhao Lanyue mumbled from her bed, half-asleep,

“…You’re all scary…”

Bai ignored her.

She leaned closer to Ouyang.

“So,” she said softly, “if Long Hao suddenly asked you out—hypothetically—”

“That will not happen.”

“—would you reject him immediately?”

Ouyang paused.

Just for half a second.

Bai’s smile turned sharp.

“…You paused.”

Ouyang stood up abruptly.

“I am going to sleep.”

Jin laughed.

“Adorable.”

Ouyang glared.

“You’re enjoying this too much.”

Jin shrugged.

“Maybe. But at least I’m honest.”

Jin changed to Zhao.

“So, which one do you find attractive ?”

She got flustered. “I don’t like anyone.”

“Not like but attractive.” intervened Ouyang.

“Well, I think Ling Yifan is the most handsome.”

said Zhao hesistatingly.

“Hey, Bai will become scary.”

“Haha, No, He’s the most handsome and he’s mine.”

Bai Blushed.

“Whoa…” Everyone.

Bai sighed happily and rolled back onto her bed.

“…This academy is dangerous.”

“Why?” Zhao mumbled.

“Because,” Bai said softly, smiling to herself,”I think we’re all getting too comfortable.”

BOYS’ DORM — AFTER THE CHAOS

The boys’ dorm smelled faintly of feathers.

And regret.

Chen Wulian lay flat on his bed, arms spread wide.

“…I peaked today.”

Ling Yifan sat upright, spear leaned neatly beside his bed, posture straight even while resting.

Long Hao leaned against the window frame, arms crossed, eyes half-lidded.

Wang Junxie—the scout—sat casually on the edge of his bed, polishing a dagger.

Chen suddenly rolled his head toward Ling Yifan.

“So.”

Ling Yifan didn’t look at him.

“So,” he replied.

Chen grinned.

“How far have you gone?”

Ling Yifan blinked.

“…In training?”

Chen sighed dramatically.

“No, Boyfriend Spear. In love.”

Long Hao glanced over.

Wang Junxie paused mid-polish.

Ling Yifan’s ears turned faintly red.

“…That’s not your business.”

Chen gasped.

“HE BLUSHED.”

Qin Shuo put a hand on Chen’s back.

“C’Mon, Don’t tease him. He must have had many girls before.”

Ling Yifan exhaled slowly.

“…She’s my first.”

Silence.

Then—

“…WHAT?” Chen shouted.

Long Hao turned fully now.

“First?”

Ling Yifan nodded once.

“I’ve never dated before.”

Chen clutched his chest.

“MYSTIC – I MEAN DIVINE TALENT. STILL ZERO EXPERIENCE.”

Long Hao considered it for a moment.

And remembered about all the beautiful women he has been with as the Shadow King, but none in this life.

“…Same.”

Everyone looked at him.

“…You?” Chen asked.

Long Hao shrugged.

Han Duwei chuckled quietly.

And mischieveously.

Chen’s eyes lit up.

“WAIT.”

He pointed at Wang Junxie.

“You. Turtle guy.”

Han raised an eyebrow.

“Yes?”

“How many girlfriends?”

He considered it seriously.

“…Seventeen.”

The room went silent.

“…Seven?” Chen repeated weakly.

“teen..” Han nodded.

“Different cities.”

Long Hao stared.

Ling Yifan frowned.

“…How do you even manage that.”

“Dude, give us some tips.”

asked Wang Junxie.

Han smiled faintly.

“Good timing.”

“You guys really think a God like him will tell us his secrets”

“I only had two.” frowned Qin Shuo.

Chen sat up slowly.

Ling Yifan shook his head.

“…Focus.”

Chen collapsed back onto the bed.

“No. I refuse.”

Long Hao smirked.

“…Sleep.”

Chen sighed dramatically.

“…Tomorrow’s going to be worse.”

But no one disagreed.

Long Hao’s body stiffened.

Inside—

The Eclipse System stirred violently.

[ALERT]

[UNIDENTIFIED SEALED PRESSURE DETECTED][SOURCE: DRAGON TURTLE ACADEMY]

[CLASSIFICATION: UNKNOWN.]

Long Hao frowned.

“…You don’t know?”

[NEGATIVE][DETECTION INTERFERENCE PRESENT.]

That was new.

Dangerous.

At the same time,

There was some

MOVEMENT IN THE NIGHT

Footsteps.

Soft.

Deliberate.

Long Hao’s eyes narrowed.

Chen’s bed was empty.

“…He’s sneaking out.”

Ling Yifan opened his eyes.

“…Chen.”

He stood silently.

He didn’t reply. Yifan Followed.

In the hallway—

Long Hao turned the corner.

Ling Yifan did the same.

They stopped.

Looked at each other.

“…You too?” Ling Yifan asked quietly.

“…You too,” Long Hao replied.

They nodded once.

And followed.

They stopped at the edge of a shadowed courtyard.

Chen stood there.

Across from him—

A woman.

Calm. Confident. Eyes sharp.

The Vermilion Academy captain.

Rong Yue.

Chen spoke quietly.

“…This isn’t about rivalry.”

She smiled faintly.

“Good.”

“So, You’re gonna lose tomorrow.”

Long Hao’s eyes narrowed.

Ling Yifan’s grip tightened.

And above them—

The mountain pressed down.

Sealed.

Watching.

[Chapter ENDS]

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