Chapter 3: Whispers in the Shadows
The banquet had ended, but the night was far from silent.
A World Watching
In the halls of the Immortal Realm, whispers had already begun—
Of the outcast who dared to bleed for a girl of noble birth.
Of the boy with no Qi who had shattered a blood-drawing barrier meant to kill.
"He is not what he seems," an elder murmured, voice low as the flicker of a dying flame.
"There is power in him… though none can see it yet."
Yet above all, there was one echo that grew louder with every breath—
The ancient prophecy that hung over every gathering like a blade:
"When the child of two worlds awakens, the realms will tremble… and the gates of chaos will break free."
The Twin Phoenixes' Departure
At dawn, the Twin Phoenixes—Chu Lanyue and her sister—stood at the gates of their ancestral home.
Their white and red robes shimmered in the pale morning light, like flame and ice.
Her sister's laughter was soft and bright.
"We will return stronger, Lanyue. The Phoenix Nest awaits us."
But Chu Lanyue said nothing.
Her gaze turned once more to Fen Hao—
A glance that lingered, a question that glowed like an ember in the cold air.
For in her mind, the prophecy's words whispered like a ghost:
"Two flames bound by space… twin phoenixes born of fire and frost…"
A Farewell That Could Not Be Spoken
Fen Hao approached her as the gates creaked open.
His breath was a pale mist in the cold dawn, his heartbeat loud in his ears.
"Lanyue," he said, his voice quiet but steady,
"before you go… I needed to see you."
For a breath, the world seemed to still—
The cold wind tugged at her hair, the morning sun turning her into something unearthly.
She looked at him, lips parting—
But before either of them could speak, a mocking voice cut through the hush.
The Rival's Mockery
Li Tianyuan stepped forward, his expression calm and amused, like a serpent watching its prey.
"How touching," he drawled, his eyes flicking over Fen Hao like a blade.
"Did you truly think she would choose an outcast over me?"
The words fell into the cold air like stones dropped into a still pond.
Fen Hao's breath caught, but he met the other boy's gaze—
A flicker of defiance burning in the calm of his eyes.
"Lanyue," he said again, voice low and sure,
"tell me it isn't true."
The Father's Answer
Before she could speak, Chu Lanyue's father stepped from the shadows, his robes whispering against the stone.
His eyes were hard, his voice cold as winter's breath.
"So what if it is true?" he said softly, each word a blade.
"What claim do you have on her, boy with no Qi?"
The hush deepened—
Even the snow-laden pines seemed to still, waiting.
A Glimpse of Power
For a moment, Fen Hao's fists tightened at his sides—
A memory of the blood barrier shattering around him, of her eyes meeting his, unwavering even in pain.
"I have nothing," he said quietly,
"but I will find the strength to stand beside her."
The words fell soft but sure, like the first snowflake that foretells a blizzard.
A hush fell across the courtyard—
Even those who had laughed felt the weight of his vow.
A Silent Promise
Chu Lanyue looked at Fen Hao, her lips parting—
But the words that burned in her chest stayed unspoken.
She turned away, her sister at her side, and the gates closed behind her—
The echoes of the prophecy ringing in her heart like the toll of a distant bell.
The Shadow in the Dark
As the morning light turned the halls to gold, another figure watched from the shadows—
The Black Society leader, his cloak a river of midnight.
His voice was soft as he turned to his followers, his smile faint and dangerous.
"The boy has already broken one of my barriers," he murmured, amusement flickering in his eyes.
"He is not to be underestimated."
A follower bowed low, breathless.
"Shall we bring him to you, master?"
The leader's eyes glimmered, dark as a winter night.
"No," he said softly, his voice a blade wrapped in velvet.
"I will go to meet him myself."
Iron Sovereign's Chambers – The Prophecy Heard
Far above the mortal halls, in the highest tower of the Immortal King's palace, Iron Sovereign sat in silence.
His robes shimmered like starlight, his gaze distant, ancient.
Before him knelt the Star Reader—a blindfolded figure, his voice a whisper that carried through the marble chamber.
"When the child of two worlds awakens, the realms will tremble…
and the gates of chaos will break free."
The words hung in the air, heavy as a prophecy spoken in blood.
Iron Sovereign's brow furrowed, his mind turning.
He knew of the Twin Phoenixes—the twin sisters of the Chu Clan, born of fire and frost.
"Two flames bound by space…" he murmured.
"The Phoenix twins. That much is clear."
But the third name—the warrior shrouded in uncertainty, the child of two worlds—
His gaze grew distant, his voice soft as he repeated the prophecy's final words.
"But who is the boy…?"
End of Chapter 3