Ten minutes later, the awakeners returned to their spots around the bonfire. Sitting in the center, Baili Yi held himself with a serene composure like a preaching sage despite his gloomy gaze.0

It was time for another round of questions and answers. The first to speak up was Ting Ting, who had been keeping quiet. She spoke in a low voice, “Mr. Baili, I want to ask what you and your mentor went through. How did you fail?”0

That dredged up some heavy memories, it seemed. Baili Yi stayed silent for a moment. Then he picked up a piece of firewood and tossed it into the bonfire, sending embers flying. “It’s too long a story to tell. I’ll give you a summary.”0

“In my mentor’s round,...0