The grand banquet in the Kingdom of Dongying was a spectacle of shimmering silks and clinking jades. Torches blazed, casting long, dancing shadows across the courtyard as Su Ning, his face etched with the weariness of recent trials, led Xiao Hong towards the palace. It had been a month since they'd returned, the arid plains of the drought-stricken lands greening once more, thanks to Su Ning's efforts.
As they navigated through the nobles and officials, a man in embroidered robes and thick fur, intercepted them, addressing Xiao Hong. "Who might you be?" The question, simple as it was, struck Xiao Hong like a physical blow. A tremor ran through her. She wasn't sure who she was anymore, the memories jumbling like shattered glass.
Before her stammered reply could form, Su Ning stepped forward, his voice firm and possessive. "She is my woman." The simple declaration, a shield against the prying eyes, settled around Xiao Hong like a comforting blanket.
The banquet, meant to celebrate Su Ning's achievements, was soon overshadowed by another development. General Zhao, a figure of regal bearing with his royal lineage, announced that, along with the immortal Lan Hua, they had discovered one of Zhang Li's hidden lairs and captured his associate, Yueqing. He was now imprisoned in the kingdom's dungeons, bait to lure Zhang Li out of the shadows. A hush fell over the court, the weight of the looming conflict heavy in the air.
A sharp glance passed between Su Ning and Lan Hua – a cousin, a rival in the practice of the arcane arts since childhood. Their relationship had been strained for years, a constant push and pull of ambition and perceived slight, both desperate to claim the legacy of their cultivating ancestor. Zhao, with his royal blood, watched the silent exchange with a knowing gaze.
The celebration commenced, the music and laughter a thin veil over the undercurrent of tension. The Emperor, his eyes sharp and intelligent, raised a goblet towards Su Ning. "You have served our kingdom well, Su Ning. But even the most valiant heroes must know their limits." His words, seemingly innocuous, held a veiled warning, a subtle acknowledgement of Su Ning's past ties to Yinou, the person he knew Zhang Li was keen on using. The Emperor was advising him to cease his interference, or risk unleashing more destruction.
Meanwhile, in the spiritual gardens of Dongying, Susu and Li Yang found themselves alone. "I prefer the view from up here," Susu said, perched on a high wall, her gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
Nearby, Bai Lin, a young man enamoured with the aloof Lan Hua, tried to gain her attention with a silly jest. Lan Hua, being taller than him, turned her cold gaze towards him. "Away you three-inch fool!" she snapped, a cutting remark that only seemed to fuel Bai Lin's infatuation.
"You've been quiet," Su Ning said, his voice soft but observant, his gaze on the darkening sky. "Do you want to go home?"
Xiao Hong's sharp eyes met his, and before he could even prepare for the bite of her response, it came."You're just making an excuse," she snapped, her voice biting through the air. "It's you who wants to go home."
Su Ning smiled faintly at the accusation. It was the kind of defense she always used when she didn't want to show vulnerability. The kind of defense that never seemed to reach the core of her. It wounded him, but only a little. He knew the truth behind her words."...Alright," she added after a beat, the sharpness in her voice softening just enough to show she was almost willing to let the moment go.
Without another word, he offered his hand — an invitation to leave the crowd, to step away from the noise that had surrounded them all evening. They both turned and walked away, the path leading them into the rocky wilderness beyond the city walls. The scent of spices mixed with dust on the evening wind, carrying the distant hum of life in the city, but now it was just the two of them, side by side.
It was in the quiet moments that Xiao Hong's mood became impossible to ignore. She was already distant, locked inside herself, though she hadn't verbalized why. Su Ning could only guess — the thoughts clouding her mind, the weight of their unspoken pasts hanging between them.
Suddenly, Xiao Hong stumbled, her foot catching on an unseen stone hidden in the darkness of the path. Her body lurched forward, and the sharp gasp that tore from her lips sent a spike of panic through Su Ning's chest. Pain shot up her leg as she collapsed toward the ground.
Su Ning's instincts kicked in without a second thought. His arm shot out, catching her mid-fall before she could crash to the earth.
"You're hurt," he murmured urgently, eyes scanning her.
"It's nothing," Xiao Hong gritted out through clenched teeth, trying to push away the pain, to push him away. "I'm fine."
Ignoring her protests, Su Ning gently swept her up into his arms. She immediately tried to protest, her words tumbling out in a flurry of irritation."You—!" she spluttered, struggling weakly against him. "Put me down!"
But he didn't listen. He couldn't. Instead, he carried her the short distance to a fallen log, where he knelt and carefully set her down. His gaze was tender but filled with the weight of something unspoken.
"Let me help," he said quietly, before she could protest again.
Without waiting for permission, Su Ning placed his palm over her injured ankle. The warmth of his hand and the steady pulse of his spiritual energy began to seep into her, and a quiet, almost unnoticeable hum vibrated through the air. He massaged her ankle slowly, his focus intense as he tried to ease the pain. His touch was gentle, calculated — but somehow, it didn't sit right with Xiao Hong. The sensation of his power — his concern — felt foreign to her.
"I don't like this," she muttered, her voice strained. Her foot jerked away from his touch slightly, trying to distance herself from the healing and from the feeling of helplessness.
His fingers stilled.Her words hit him harder than a physical blow. His heart clenched. A quiet pain flickered across his features, and before she could say more, his hands dropped to his lap. The brief moment of contact had been more intimate than he'd intended, but her rejection — even the smallest rejection — cut deeper than he cared to admit.
"...I'm sorry," Su Ning said, his voice cracking, barely above a whisper. There was a tremor in his tone, a depth to the apology that left Xiao Hong speechless. She finally dared to glance up, and what she saw made her breath catch.
His head was bowed, the shadows from the moonlight cutting across his features in sharp lines. The unmistakable glint of tears hung in his eyes, pooling in the corners, though he fought to keep them in check.
Her chest twisted in unexpected sorrow. The vulnerability in his expression, the rawness of his emotions, pulled at something deep inside her. But pride kept her from responding. The wall she had built around her heart flared up, unyielding. She turned her gaze away, unwilling to let him see the conflict that surged through her.
As the night continued, Susu joined Li Yang for went for a late-night sightseeing. The moon cast long shadows across the gardens as they sat in comfortable silence. Then, Li Yang, emboldened by drink, blurted out, "You're my soulmate."
Susu was taken aback, her heart lurching in her chest. She recovered quickly, composure restored. "You're drunk," she said gently. "Let me take you back."
Li Yang refused, insisting on staying to admire the view. With a sigh of exasperation, Susu used a swift kick to the pressure point behind his ear, knocking her unconscious.
When Li Yang stirred awake, she found a cold cloth on her forehead. "Is this cloth too hot or cold?" Susu asked.
"It's perfect," she mumbled, her head still swimming.
Later that night, as Susu yawned, Li Yang made space on the bed. "Come rest," she said.
"I'm not sleeping here with you," Susu protested, her eyes wide. "You snore when you're congested."
That night, as they slept in Dongying, Xiao Hong was plagued by fragmented dreams. Vague faces, cries of pain, and the chilling image of a burning palace danced at the edge of her awareness, leaving her restless and distressed. She felt responsible for the suffering she witnessed in her dreams, even though she did not know these souls.
The sun was already high the next morning on their journey as they returned to their camp. As they rode, Su Ning noticed Xiao Hong hyperventilating in her sleep. He woke her gently. "You were hyperventilating in your sleep."
She jolted awake, gasping."You're lying," Xiao Hong spat, instinctively brushing him off.
But Su Ning wasn't deterred."Your forehead and neck are sweating," he said calmly, his gaze unwavering. "I just want to make sure you're alright."
The tension between them was almost unbearable now, words unsaid hanging thick in the air like a suffocating fog. To break the silence, Su Ning began to tell a story, a story that seemed to flow from him as if he had known it his whole life. It was of an immortal named Lin Jian and his beloved Yinou. He told the tale as though it were nothing more than a distraction, but Xiao Hong felt the weight of it.
She didn't recognize the story for what it truly was — their own past lives, their shared history. But something in her chest tightened at the words, though she could not say why. She listened in silence, her expression unreadable, though her mind wrestled with the truths she refused to face.
That night, after returning to camp, Su Ning watched over her as she slept, his touch tender as he tucked the blanket around her form. He lingered for a moment, his fingers brushing against her cheek, and then turned away. His heart was heavy, too full of things left unsaid.
The next morning, the tension still crackled between them, thick and almost suffocating. It couldn't be avoided any longer.
It exploded without warning.
A sparring match, a casual exchange of blows at first, quickly spiraled out of control. The match was not just physical — it was an exchange of every repressed feeling, every unspoken frustration. Xiao Hong fought with wild, furious energy, each strike more reckless than the last, her anger building into something unstoppable. Su Ning, on the other hand, blocked and dodged, but his movements were stiff, weighed down by something deeper.
"Fight me!" she yelled, her voice tinged with a fury that matched the fire in her eyes. "What's wrong, Su Ning? Afraid to break your precious Yinou?"
The words hit him like a strike to the chest. His expression faltered, the battle inside him raw and visible. He couldn't keep up the distance between them anymore."Yes," he said, his voice rough, almost broken."I care if you're Yinou."
Xiao Hong froze in place, the words hanging between them like a heavy shackle. The truth — the truth that he had been carrying, that he couldn't bury anymore.
Su Ning's arms trembled as he trapped her mid-strike, spinning her so that her back was pressed against his chest. Her body froze against his, but he held her there, unwilling to let go. His breath was uneven against her ear, his voice cracking under the weight of his confession.
"Because if you are... maybe I can finally make things right." He pulled her closer, desperation coating his every word."But if you're not—" His hands shook slightly as he whispered the next part, voice trembling."—then it means I'm falling for you all over again. Not her. You."
The words seemed to scorch the air between them, hot and sharp. The confession broke something inside Xiao Hong — something she hadn't realized was fragile until now.
Her breath hitched, and she shoved away from him at last, her chest heaving with the effort."I don't need your redemption," she spat, voice cold and brittle. "Not for me. Not for her."
Su Ning didn't argue. He simply stood there, watching her, eyes filled with something that might have been regret, or perhaps resignation.He looked at her — really looked at her — for the first time, and his voice came out soft, almost a whisper."I know."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away, his figure swallowed by the growing light of the dawn.
Leaving Xiao Hong standing in the cold, alone, her sword trembling at her side, heart heavy with things left unspoken.