Long ago, in a world where celestial beings feasted among the clouds, Fate's hand trembled, and a single stitch slipped from her grand tapestry—sending ripples of discord across the realms.
The wrath of the Phoenix Empress, Zhen Hua, raged through the heavens, her crimson flames lashing toward Long Fei like divine judgment.
The skies darkened, and the air thickened with sulfur. Backed against the edge of the Celestial Realm, Long Fei raised his spear, its blade gleaming with ethereal light. He called upon the wind, commanding it to redirect the flames, but the fire clung to him, unraveling his qi.
How could this be? He had sparred with her countless times—never once had she managed to land a blow.
The flames seared his skin, their heat sinking deep into his bones. His breath faltered, the air no longer bending to his will. With a wave of his hand, he tried to snuff out the flames, but his limbs felt heavy, his chest tight. I am the Dragon of Air and Wind. Why can't I breathe?
The realization hit him like a thunderclap. The very element he commanded—the wind, the breath of life—was slipping through his grasp. His lungs - once filled with the force of a thousand storms - could barely summon a breeze.
Then came the voice.
"Whoever can defeat Long Fei, I will accept their hand in marriage."
Zhen Hua's voice thundered across the battlefield, her decree igniting the heavens. The moment her words left her lips, the Celestial Realm rippled with restless energy. Immortals surged forward, drawn by the promise of power, status, and her favor.
Attacks rained down on Long Fei, relentless and unyielding. Yet even as his body faltered, his instincts remained sharp. His spear cut through the onslaught, a silver dance of wind and death. One by one, they fell. But the poison coursing through his veins sank deeper, gnawing at his strength.
Why? His mind reeled. We grew up together. This sudden attack—this...this is beyond her usual temper.
His thoughts shattered as a voice cut through the chaos.
"Older brother, need a hand?"
Long Fei's gaze snapped toward the familiar voice.
Long Yan stood before him, smiling—not the smirk of an opportunist, not the cold grin of a rival, but the smile of a brother. The same easy, familiar smile Long Fei had seen countless times before.
Relief flooded through him.
"Thank you, brother."
He reached out, steadying himself against Long Yan's shoulder—then his body seized. A chilling numbness crept from his spine, locking his limbs in place. His vision swam. He tried to move, but his body refused to obey.
Long Yan's hand rested lightly on his back.
A sharp pressure sank into his acupoints.
Long Fei's breath caught in his throat as realization sank in—too late.
Long Yan stepped back, his touch lingering like the ghost of a blade. His voice was soft, almost pitying.
"Give up already," he murmured."Zhen Hua is finally mine."
Long Fei's world shattered.
His brother.
The one who had fought beside him, stood by him through trials of life and death—now stood against him.
His heart pounded against his ribs, a drum of betrayal. His brother's words echoed like a bitter jest. Was this what it had all been about?
The poison clawed deeper. His body trembled, weak and unresponsive.
Long Yan turned to Zhen Hua, his voice ringing with finality.
"Your Majesty, your wish is my command."
Above them, Zhen Hua descended. The air rippled with her presence, her robes trailing fire as she stepped toward Long Fei.
Long Yan knelt before her.
"In exchange for your hand in marriage, I offer you my brother."
A hush fell over the battlefield. The embers of battle hung thick in the air as Zhen Hua stepped forward. Her fiery eyes gleamed triumphantly as she leaned close, her breath warm against Long Fei's ear.
"How does it feel to know I'll marry your brother?"
Long Fei met her gaze, his expression unperturbed as if her words meant nothing to him. And there it was again. That infuriating indifference. No anger. No regret. No sorrow.
He looked at her, his lips curving into a faint, almost resigned smile, and his voice, calm yet heavy with meaning, cut through the air.
"Take care of my brother for me."
Zhen Hua froze, the weight of his words hitting harder than any of her flames. What?
Her heart pounded as she struggled to comprehend his reaction. He wasn't angry. He wasn't trying to stop her. He was...giving them his blessing?
"You…" Her voice trembled, seething with frustration.
Long Fei's gaze softened slightly, his eyes never leaving hers."He's my brother. If he's with you, I know he'll be happy."
His words were as sharp as daggers, their simplicity more cutting than any rejection.
Zhen Hua's chest tightened, and there was fury swelling within her. She wanted him to fight, to oppose her—anything but this calm, unbothered acceptance. The very indifference she had always loathed now twisted deep in her gut.
His words etched in her mind. If he's with you, I know he'll be happy. How dare he speak of her like this? As if she were some passing trinket he'd offer to his brother.
And in that moment, something snapped inside her.
It had always been this way. No matter how high she ascended. No matter how many realms she conquered or stars she rewrote, Long Fei remained untouchable, indifferent to her existence.
Her rage flared. Her chest tightened with a fury that burned deeper than any fire.
"If I can't have you, then nobody will."
Her palm struck with a fury that could shake the heavens.
The force of it hurled Long Fei off the edge of the Celestial Realm, his form vanishing into the abyss below.
Long Yan watched in silence as his brother fell. His smirk faltered—just for a breath, a flicker of hesitation—before he turned away.
Zhen Hua stood frozen, her heartbeat deafening in her ears.
The flames around her dimmed. The sky, once ablaze with her wrath, turned to smoldering embers.
And for the first time, she felt the cold.