A large, spacious garden spread beneath the soft morning light, dew still shimmering like stars on blades of spirit grass. To the side, an elegant bamboo grove stood tall and dignified, their emerald stalks swaying gently in the breeze. The shadows they cast danced lightly across the stone paths, weaving serenity into every inch of the air.
Nearby, Yu Qingci sat gracefully on a round stone bench carved with lotus petals. Her robes, pale lavender today, fluttered softly around her. In her arms sat a young boy, his cheeks pink with youth and curiosity — Li Xuan.
He didn't feel any discomfort or babble as he usually did.
Instead, his eyes were fixed on the sky, wide and shimmering like polished jade. Again and again, he turned his head, staring toward the distant tree where the Three-Eyed Fire Blazing Falcon perched — regal and still, its third eye pulsing faintly with a crimson glow.
Xuan's small hands clutched at his mother's sleeves. His voice, barely a whisper, broke the silence.
"Mother… is he watching me?"
Yu Qingci looked toward the falcon, then down at the boy in her arms.
"Yes," she said with a gentle smile. "He sees you."
"But… he's so big…" Xuan's voice trembled slightly. "What if he flies away?"
Yu Qingci pressed her forehead lightly to his. Her tone turned soft and sure, like a melody only a child could fully understand.
"He won't. He's yours now. Just like I'm your mother now."
Li Xuan blinked, his lower lip quivering. Then he nodded very slowly… and turned back toward the falcon.
Yu Qingci turned to her son, her eyes gleaming with warmth.
"Xuan'er, do you want to control it?" she asked, brushing his cheek. "If you bond with it… it can even carry you through the skies."
The child's eyes widened with disbelief.
"Really, Mother? I can fly?"
She nodded with a soft smile.
"Why not? I'll teach you how. All you need is courage… and trust."
Li Xuan looked up at the majestic falcon and hesitated.
"But Mother… it's so big. It's even bigger than me. How can I tame something like that?"
Yu Qingci chuckled gently and leaned closer.
"Let me ask you something, little one… Do you know what bond means?"
He blinked.
"Um… like you and Father?"
Her cheeks turned slightly pink remembering Li Chen's playful teasing and his... sturdy, but she composed herself quickly, affection in her voice.
"Well, kind of," she said, brushing his hair softly.
"A bond is when two souls trust each other so deeply… they don't need words to understand."
She pinched his nose lightly and smiled.
"Just like I always know how much you love to roam around and fly in the skies."
Li Xuan giggled, then looked back toward the falcon with a bit more confidence.
Yu Qingci's voice softened further.
"Now, place your hand on its head. Don't think too hard. Just feel… listen for its heartbeat."
He nodded solemnly, taking a deep breath.
The falcon, sensing the moment, let out a low, melodic cry and descended gracefully. Its fiery wings slowed as it landed softly before the boy, its third eye dimmed to a warm glow.
Li Xuan's hand trembled slightly as he reached forward.
"Don't be afraid," Yu Qingci whispered behind him. "It knows. It remembers. It's waiting for you."
As his small palm touched the falcon's feathered head, a sudden wave of warmth rippled through the air. Light flickered faintly around them, and the falcon's feathers shimmered gold and red.
For a moment, time stood still.
Then—a pulse. A thrum. A deep, soul-bound heartbeat.
Li Xuan gasped. The falcon let out a low, echoing hum in response. A glow emerged between boy and beast, binding them together with threads of invisible light.
Yu Qingci's eyes widened slightly.
"Such a strong resonance… so pure…"
The Three-Eyed Fire Blazing Falcon bowed its head lower, acknowledging its master.
A soul-bond had formed.
After the soul-bond was established, the Three-Eyed Fire Blazing Falcon sat beside Li Xuan like a proud guardian. Its third eye pulsed faintly in tune with the child's aura.
Yu Qingci sat cross-legged before him, guiding patiently.
"Xuan'er, from now on, you two are connected. The falcon will feel your emotions—and you'll sense its intentions too."
She tapped her fingers against her temple.
"To fly, you don't just command. You must synchronize. Think what you want… and it will respond."
Li Xuan nodded enthusiastically, his little fingers rubbing the falcon's warm feathers.
"Okay! But how do I know if it's hungry or sleepy?"
Yu Qingci smiled. "That's a good question. If it flaps its wings slowly but keeps looking at you—it's tired. If it taps its beak on the ground—it's hungry."
"What if it just stares at me?" he asked.
She chuckled. "That means it's curious—or maybe it wants to play."
He pouted slightly. "What if it doesn't listen to me?"
She leaned forward and gently cupped his cheeks.
"Then you remind it… that you're its master. But also its friend. Mutual respect, remember?"
"Yes, Mother Qingci!" he chirped, his eyes lighting up.
Yu Qingci ruffled his hair and smiled proudly. "Now go. Let's see how well you remember."
The falcon spread its wings. With a burst of firewind and a delighted laugh, Li Xuan lifted into the sky, held securely by the falcon's fiery energy.
---
High above the bamboo grove, Li Xuan soared with wide eyes and a breathless grin. The wind rushed past him as he dipped and glided.
Soon, in the distance, he spotted Su Lingxue nestled in Li Chen's embrace beneath a flowering tree.
But he failed to notice from above that the two of them were engaged in something far more intimate.
Li Chen and Su Lingxue were so deeply immersed in their love that they forgot to use their divine senses to scan their surroundings. Su Lingxue's hands were beneath Li Chen's clothes, gently stroking his slumbering dragon as she kissed his lips with fiery passion. She was about to go further, but at that moment—
Li Xuan who were flying towards them, waved his small hand energetically.
"Mother! Look at me! I'm flying!"
Lingxue opened her eyes in surprise, blinking up at the sky.
"Wh—! he's actually flying?"
She sat up quickly hiding her embarrassment, her face paled. She clenched her soft fists and glared at him as if she were ready to eat him alive. "This little rascal…He's done for sure this time…"
Unaware of her worry, Li Xuan sneezed mid-flight—twice.
"Ah… I think someone's talking about me…"
He sniffled and tugged on the falcon's feathers. "Quick! I need to land! Now!"
The falcon let out a short cry and descended steadily toward the courtyard.
Lingxue stared as he came down in a spiral.
"Would he be alright?" she muttered.
Li Chen wrapped an arm around her, pulling her gently back to his chest.
"He's our son, Lingxue. No matter what… we'll protect him. Even if it costs our lives."
She looked at him, heart swelling at those words.
"Fool…" she whispered, then rested her head on his shoulder. "I know…"
The two stayed like that, wrapped in soft silence, as their son landed safely nearby, cheeks flushed and voice proud.
---------------------
At a private inn
The private inn stood secluded atop a misty hillside, far from the city's noise. Inside, a large room was adorned with minimalist elegance—bamboo flooring, muted silk curtains, and a single lantern casting warm light. In the corner, a small, exotic carnivorous plant released a faintly toxic, floral-sweet scent.
Bai Ling sat calmly, sipping tea, when black-clad figures emerged from the shadows.
"Reporting, my lady. We've found their hiding place."