"You're right," Princess Shan admitted with a weary sigh, closing her eyes as if the weight of her confession bore down on her. "I didn't lie, but I didn't tell you the whole truth either. I wanted to wait until you were stronger before sharing everything."
Xuefeng remained silent, his sharp gaze urging her to continue. She sniffled, her composure cracking under the weight of her words. "The prince is real. I chose White Lotus Academy to escape him. At first, I thought hiding there would be enough to deter him, but I underestimated his obsession. When he found out where I was, he sent me a letter." Her voice wavered, tears glistening in her eyes. "He said I couldn't escape him. He plans to compete in the Azure Dragon Tournament and use the Golden Wish to force me into marriage."
Her tears finally spilled over, tracing silent paths down her cheeks. Xuefeng's chest tightened at the sight. He released the Spirit Shackles, letting her wrists drop free. She sat up, wiping her tears with the back of her sleeve, and shot him a look that was equal parts reproachful and vulnerable.
"Okay, don't be mad," Xuefeng said softly, crouching to her level. His voice was gentle, but there was steel beneath the calm. "Calm down and explain—what exactly is this Golden Wish?"
Without waiting for a reply, he scooped her up and sat her on his lap, wrapping his arms around her trembling frame. She didn't resist; instead, she rested her head on his shoulder, finding solace in his warmth.
You're too soft, Ling's voice echoed in his mind, tinged with disapproval. A crying opponent could bring you to your knees in battle. Harden up, will you?
Yeah, yeah, he shot back. Next time, I'll be stone-hearted. Definitely.
Princess Shan inhaled deeply, composing herself, and began. "The Golden Wish is the reward for placing in the top three of the Azure Dragon Tournament. It's held once every ten years in the Empire Capital, and the winners can wish for almost anything. The only restrictions are wishes that destabilize the Empire—like destroying a sect or massacring a family."
She tilted her head slightly, her hair brushing against his neck. "Most winners use it to claim positions of power or force marriage alliances. That's why this prince plans to compete. He wants to use the Golden Wish to make me his."
Xuefeng frowned. "So even the academy can't protect you from this?"
Princess Shan shook her head. "The White Lotus Academy is powerful, but it's still just a minor force compared to the Azure Dragon Emperor. The tournament's rules were designed to be absolute. And because the Golden Wish is so rare—only granted every ten years—no one dares to question the system."
Her body trembled as she continued. "There was once a girl who refused to marry the winner. They gave her an ultimatum: accept the marriage or die. She had no choice."
The weight of her words pressed heavily on Xuefeng, but he kept his tone even. "How sure are you that this prince will win? There are millions of cultivators in the Empire. Surely there's someone stronger."
"He's not invincible," she admitted, her voice laced with disgust. "But the rules limit participants to those under 30. By the time the tournament starts, he'll still qualify—and he's likely to reach the Spirit Overlord stage before then. He's a battle maniac, and his chances of making it to the top three are very high."
"How long until this tournament begins?" Xuefeng asked.
"Sixteen months," she said, her voice softening. "I didn't want to leave my fate in his hands, so I started looking for someone strong enough to help me. I almost gave up until I saw you awaken Black talent. At first, I only wanted to charm you into protecting me. But then you gave me that necklace, and…" Her voice faltered as she opened his robe to reveal the shining golden crystal. "I even gave you my grandmother's necklace. I wouldn't have done that if I didn't care."
Xuefeng stared at her, his expression unreadable. "Wouldn't it have been better to tell me all of this earlier?" he asked, exasperation creeping into his tone.
"I didn't want to scare you away," she admitted, her eyes shimmering with vulnerability. "The only way to protect me is to either win the tournament yourself or become powerful enough that not even the Azure Dragon Emperor would dare challenge you. I thought… if I told you, you'd leave."
Xuefeng gently shifted her off his lap and stood, pacing the room. His mind was a storm of emotions—anger, pity, frustration, and something else he couldn't quite place. Ling, what do you think? he asked inwardly, seeking guidance.
Ling's response was measured. The tournament is an opportunity. There will undoubtedly be other Fate Fragment holders there. Even if you don't win, the connections and battles will shape you. And besides… She paused, her tone lightening. With my help, we could dominate this region well before the tournament. Don't underestimate what I can do.
Xuefeng hesitated for a moment, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. But ultimately, he trusted her words—and Ling's confidence. If he could already wield abilities like talent-raising and rapid regeneration, there was no telling what greater powers awaited him.
"Alright," he said, helping Princess Shan to her feet. His voice carried a quiet resolve. "I'll help you deal with this prince. Nothing's really changed—only the scale of the problem."
Princess Shan's face lit up, a radiant mix of relief and excitement. Without hesitation, she threw herself into his arms, squeezing him tightly. "Thank you," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion.
Xuefeng sighed, wrapping his arms around her in return. "Just don't hide something like this from me again," he chided gently. "I would have understood if you'd told me sooner."
She tilted her head to look up at him, her lips curving into a pout. "If you'd just waited a little longer, I would have told you everything! You didn't have to pin me to the ground and make me cry first," she said, her small fist landing lightly against his chest in mock indignation.
He laughed, a genuine sound that broke the tension lingering between them. "Oh, so now it's all my fault?" he teased, arching a brow.
"Of course it is!" she declared with exaggerated righteousness, her usual confidence blooming back to life.
Xuefeng shook his head, smiling at her antics. "Are you really leaving in two days?" he asked, steering the conversation back to a more serious note. He couldn't ignore the slight pang of regret at the thought.
"Actually," Princess Shan said, straightening up, "I only planned to stay a couple more days to figure out how to tell you the truth. Now that you know everything, I can head back sooner. I'll visit you before I leave to join the academy."
"So soon?" he asked, surprised. Despite the chaos she brought into his life, her presence was becoming something he wouldn't mind keeping a little longer.
She nodded, her expression softening. "I've already stayed longer than I intended. I want to spend some time with my mother before I leave her."
"I get it," Xuefeng said, his voice tinged with understanding. In her shoes, he'd do the same.
Princess Shan smiled warmly at his response and leaned in for a quick kiss. "Alright then," she said, stepping back. "I'll take a bath, change my clothes, and meet you outside."
As she left, her silhouette disappearing through the doorway, Xuefeng exhaled deeply, running a hand through his hair. "This is getting way too complicated," he muttered to himself. "At least Wuying doesn't want me to defeat anyone."
The sound of Wuying's voice cut through his musings, sharp and unmistakable. "What about me?" she asked, standing suddenly in the doorway, her arms crossed as she eyed him suspiciously.
Xuefeng startled, turning to face her. "Ah, it's nothing," he said quickly, offering a sheepish grin. "How did your meeting go?" He seized the opportunity to change the subject, recalling she'd mentioned meeting with Shadow Guard members earlier.
Wuying's expression softened slightly, though a glimmer of curiosity lingered in her gaze. "It went well," she said, stepping fully into the room. Her tone shifted, turning brisk and businesslike. "In fact, I've got some good news. We're canceling today's training."
Xuefeng blinked in surprise. "Canceling? Why?"
"Because you'll need your strength," she replied matter-of-factly. "We've got a mission tomorrow. Something that'll actually put all this training to use."