In the northern foothills of the Qinling Mountains on the vast lands of Huaxia, an ancient and elegant villa stood quietly, emanating a sense of timeless grace.
In the cold, shadowy basement, Gu Qingli licked her cracked lips, and an iron-tasting, bloody flavor spread across her mouth.
The sound of footsteps gradually drew nearer.
Gu Qingli lifted her eyes, her pitch-black gaze as serene and unperturbed as a still lake. Her small face, streaked with blood, was partially hidden in her disheveled, dark hair, making her resemble a vengeful spirit risen from the earth.
With a thunderous crash, the door was flung open, and a cold, damp wind rushed in, sending a shiver through Gu Qingli's body. Her tattered clothes were barely intact, and the chill pierced her skin like a thousand needles.
Her usually fair and delicate skin now bore no trace of its former beauty, marred by bruises and open wounds, bloodied and raw. The gashes, like grotesque scars, covered her body, leaving no area untouched by the cruelty she had endured.
As the footsteps grew closer, a tall man emerged from the shadows, his presence commanding attention. Dressed in a black suit, his youthful, handsome face twisted into a smile so false it could only be described as the embodiment of hypocrisy.
"Li Mei, it's been ten days already. Are you planning to endure it any longer? Today is New Year's Eve. If you hand over the Phoenix Fire Secret, you can reunite with your mother tonight. Why resist?"
A weak, mocking smile tugged at the corners of Gu Qingli's lips. The man before her was none other than her cousin, Gu Nan, the one who had imprisoned and tortured her.
Behind him, a seductive woman appeared, her eyes filled with disdain as she surveyed the filthy basement. Yet, she still pretended to act concerned.
"Brother, how could you treat Li Mei this way?" she exclaimed, her voice filled with exaggerated shock and sorrow. But despite her show of sympathy, she refused to step into the bloodstained basement, her elegant high heels clicking against the floor.
Gu Qingli watched them as though they were merely actors in a farce. This woman was her cousin, Gu Qingyue, the sister of Gu Nan.
"Li Mei, listen to your older brother. It's just the Phoenix Fire Secret. If you tell me, it's over. We are family, after all. Why make things so difficult for yourself?"
Gu Qingli sneered coldly. How could she ever trust the family that had killed her father and their own grandmother?
The Gu family was an ancient martial arts clan, passed down through the generations in Huaxia. They possessed the supreme Phoenix Fire Secret, a treasure of immeasurable power, containing profound martial arts techniques, alchemy, and the secrets to forging weapons.
For generations, the Phoenix Fire Secret had only been passed down to female heirs.
When Gu Qingli was just ten years old, her grandmother began secretly passing down the Phoenix Fire Secret to her, preparing her to be the next heir.
But Gu Nan, consumed by jealousy over Gu Qingli's selection as the heir, had plotted in the shadows. He had poisoned their grandmother and father, and then imprisoned both Gu Qingli and her mother.
"The Phoenix Fire Secret was destroyed by grandmother long ago. Now, it only exists in my mind. If you want it, I want to see my mother first."
Gu Qingli spoke calmly, but those who looked into her lowered gaze could not see the flicker of eerie emotion that passed through her eyes.
Gu Qingyue's face lit up with a twisted joy, her seductive eyes glinting with malice. She smiled sweetly, but her words carried a thinly veiled threat.
"If I let you see your mother, and you still refuse to hand over the Phoenix Fire Secret, I cannot promise you'll ever see her again."
"Fine."
Gu Qingli agreed without hesitation, yet she knew full well that, regardless of her words, both she and her mother would eventually be cold, lifeless corpses.
Gu Nan and Gu Qingyue's desire for the Phoenix Fire Secret was nothing but a foolish dream.
As night deepened, the darkness of the Qinling Mountains was suddenly pierced by a blinding flash of fire and the deafening sound of an explosion.
The fire illuminated the vast mountain valley, stretching endlessly into the heavens, but beneath that inferno, no one noticed the silhouette of a blazing, fiery phoenix soaring into the sky.
In the end, the brilliant flame faded into a streak of red across the firmament, vanishing in the blink of an eye.
At the very same moment, Gu Qingli and her mother chose to end their suffering, using their remaining energy to self-destruct.
Better to shatter like jade than to remain intact like broken tiles!
In the final moments before her body crumbled, Gu Qingli saw the twisted faces of Gu Nan and Gu Qingyue, terror etched upon them.
Such a sight was nothing short of heartening!
Grandmother, if there is an afterlife, I shall fulfill your wish, perfect the Phoenix Fire Secret, and let the world witness its true might...