Tang Wei stood alone in the quiet solitude of her chambers, the weight of the Beast King's revelations pressing heavily upon her shoulders. Her mind churned with conflicting emotions, torn between the thirst for truth and the sting of betrayal. For years, she had placed unwavering trust in Immortal Lotus, believing her mentor's guidance to be infallible. But now, faced with the knowledge of her mentor's deceit, Tang Wei couldn't help but feel a sense of disillusionment gnawing at her heart.
With a heavy sigh, Tang Wei crossed the room to stand before the ornate mirror that adorned one wall. Gazing at her reflection, she searched for answers in the depths of her own eyes, seeking solace in the familiar contours of her face. Yet, despite her efforts, she found no comfort in the reflection that stared back at her, only the haunting echo of unanswered questions.
How could Immortal Lotus keep such vital truths hidden from her? Such dangers? What other secrets lay buried beneath the surface, waiting to be unearthed? And most importantly, what did her destiny truly entail?
Lost in her thoughts, Tang Wei barely registered the soft knock on her chamber door, followed by the sound of Prince Jin's voice calling out to her. With a weary sigh, she turned away from the mirror, pushing aside her tumultuous thoughts to focus on the task at hand. As she opened the door, Prince Jin greeted her with a warm smile, his eyes filled with concern.
"Tang Wei," he said gently, "I hope I'm not interrupting." Tang Wei shook her head, offering him a faint smile in return. "Not at all," she replied, motioning for him to enter. "What brings you here?" Prince Jin stepped into the room, his expression somber. "I wanted to check on you," he explained, his voice tinged with empathy. "After everything that happened with my father…"
Tang Wei nodded, her thoughts drifting back to their earlier meeting with the Beast King. "It's been… overwhelming," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. "To learn the truth about some secrets Immortal Lotus has been keeping from me, about myself… I don't know what to think." Prince Jin reached out, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.
"I understand," he said softly. "But you're not alone in this, Tang Wei. You're my friend. We'll get through it together." Tang Wei offered him a grateful smile, her heart warmed by his unwavering support. "Thank you, Prince Jin," she said, her voice filled with sincerity. Prince Jin returned her smile, his gaze unwavering. He would always be an ally to Tang Wei and her friends.
As the soft glow of lanterns illuminated the winding pathways of the Yunlong Palace, Tang Wei found herself drawn to the secluded corner of the palace gardens where she had first felt the presence of shadows. The air was heavy with the scent of night-blooming flowers, and the gentle rustle of leaves provided a soothing backdrop to the quiet night.
She found a spot underneath a giant willow tree and sat against its wide trunk. She closed her eyes and meditated in the moonlight, trying to clear her mind of all the happenings of today and just let her energy flow through her jumbled pathways. Inevitably, her eyes drifted towards the stranger she had met what seemed like a lifetime ago. She wondered where he was, what he was doing, and if she would ever see him again.
And then, as if summoned by the whisper of the wind, he appeared before her, his form shrouded in the darkness of the night. Tang Wei's breath caught in her throat at the sight of him, her pulse quickening with a mix of excitement and nervousness. For once, he appeared as clear as day, his appearance just as striking without the shadows blurring his features.
His blue eyes pierced hers, intense, but not at all alarming. "Good evening," he greeted her softly, his voice carrying a hint of warmth and familiarity. Tang Wei returned his greeting with a shy smile, her cheeks flushing with color. "Good evening to you too," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
"I must say, I did not know you knew how to teleport someone. How did you call me here?" Tang Wei looked dumbfounded. Call him here? What did he mean? She was simply meditating on her energies.
For a moment, they stood in silence, the air thick with anticipation. Tang Wei couldn't help but steal glances at the stranger before her, his features illuminated by the soft glow of the lanterns. There was something about him that drew her in, something she couldn't quite put into words.
Finally, gathering her courage, Tang Wei spoke again. "I summoned you? That's impossible." The mysterious stranger arched an eyebrow. "I am just a mere flower spirit. I only just acquired a human form 300 years ago." Prince Chen's eyes alit with curiosity. "Indeed, you did summon me. I was studying in my chambers when I was suddenly pulled through this weird portal and into, um, where are we?" Tang Wei sighed. This was just too much for one day. "We are in the Beast Realm. I am visiting here on business. Well, technically, anyway." Prince Chen tensed. "I really shouldn't be here, you know."
Tang Wei nodded. He was probably right, but she wasn't anywhere near upset about it. With this stranger near, despite the chaos of the day, she had felt very grounded. Deciding to be bold, she stood up and walked closer to the stranger, standing but an arm's length away from him. "Well, you know what, I realized something," she began, her voice wavering slightly. However, she pressed on. "We've met before, haven't we? But we never properly introduced ourselves."
The stranger's eyes softened at her words, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He tried hard to keep his stoic expression. "You're right," he admitted, his voice filled with warmth. "I suppose it's time we rectified that." With a gentle bow, he extended his hand towards Tang Wei. "My name is Li Chen," he introduced himself, his eyes never leaving hers. Tang Wei felt her heart skip a beat at the sound of his name, a sense of recognition washing over her even though she was hearing it for the first time. "Tang Wei," she replied softly, her hand reaching out to meet his in a gentle shake.
As their hands touched, a spark seemed to ignite between them, sending shivers down Tang Wei's spine. Their hands lingered in the brief connection, the air around them seemingly charged with a newfound energy. Tang Wei's heart raced with a mix of excitement and apprehension, unsure of what lay ahead but eager to explore the possibilities. "Li Chen," she repeated softly, savoring the sound of his name on her lips. It felt like a secret shared between them, a bond forged in the quiet moments of the night. "Tang Wei," he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. There was warmth in his gaze that sent a flutter through her chest, a silent promise of adventures yet to come.
For a moment, they simply stood there, lost in each other's eyes, the world around them fading into the background. It was as if time itself had slowed to a crawl, allowing them to savor the sweetness of the moment. But all too soon, reality came crashing back, reminding them of the current predicament they were faced with. With a reluctant sigh, Tang Wei withdrew her hand from Chen's, a pang of regret tugging at her heart. "I should go," she said softly, her voice tinged with sadness. "It's late, and as you said, you're not supposed to be here."
Chen nodded in understanding, his gaze lingering on Tang Wei for a moment longer before reluctantly tearing himself away. "You're right," he agreed, his voice tinged with regret. "But I hope we can meet again soon, Tang Wei." Tang Wei felt her cheeks flush with color at his words, a warmth spreading through her chest at the thought of seeing him again. "I would like that," she replied, her voice filled with sincerity. Chen disappeared in a swirl of shadows, and Tang Wei was once again left alone in the palace grounds.