Long ago, immortals in their divine-human guise feasted among the heavens in the Celestial Realm. It was a place where divine beings transcended mortal boundaries, where power was absolute, and rulers held sway over their clans. On a fateful banquet day, the realm quaked as the Phoenix Empress, Zhen Hua, unleashed her fury. The Empress, usually an elegant and unrivaled beauty, hovered above the gathering with her crimson wings spread wide. Her wings of flame, intense and untamed, erupted as she lashed out at the Dragon of Air, Long Fei.
The sky darkened with sulfur as Long Fei stood unwavering in his human guise at the edge of the divine platform. His long ebony hair billowed as his spear gleamed in the last rays of sunlight. Known for his unmatched splendor and mastery over air elementals, he summoned the winds to shield himself, but her flames tore through his defenses, unraveling his power. He had faced her countless times, and yet this was different. Never had she overpowered him before. Her obsession was a constant, unchanging force. He had no interest in indulging her infatuation. His brother harbored romantic intentions for her for millennia.
Her flames scorched his flesh and seeped into his bones. His limbs stiffened. Vision blurred. Fingers twitched. The very element he once commanded—air, the breath of life—slipped from his grasp. His lungs, once able to call upon storms, could barely draw a breeze. Why… couldn't he breathe?
Zhen Hua's voice thundered across the battlefield, commanding all to hear. "Whoever can defeat Long Fei, I will accept their hand in marriage."
Her decree ignited the heavens. Immortals surged forward, drawn by the promise of power, status, and her favor.
Attacks rained down on him. Despite the poison corrupting his body, his instincts remained sharp. His spear cut through the onslaught, but every strike drained him further. Blood spilled from his mouth as he struggled to take a breath, his body fighting the poison's deadly grip. The immortals saw their chance. One advanced, weapon raised to finish him off.
Before the blow could land, a sudden blaze of fire shot across the battlefield, igniting the attacker. Long Yan, the Dragon of Fire, appeared in a flash of searing light, his fiery aura overwhelming. His striking form, now in his divine-human guise, radiated power. His eyes burned like molten gold, and his hair trailed behind him like flames, leaving immortals breathless in his wake. "Elder brother, need a hand?"
Relief surged through Long Fei as his gaze locked on his younger brother. Long Yan stood before him, smiling, not the smirk of an opportunist, nor the cold grin of a rival, but the warm smile of a brother. He reached out, but Long Yan's hand pressed firmly against his back. Fire seared through his meridians—the channels in his body through which his energy, his Qi, flowed. Qi was life itself—what powered his existence—but now it turned against him. His limbs convulsed as his energy was corrupted by a hidden force, locking his body in place. A chilling numbness crept from his spine, sealing his limbs. His vision swam. He tried to move but to no avail. His breath came in ragged bursts as he realized too late, a pang twisted in his heart; his only blood brother had blocked his meridians.
"Give up already. Zhen Hua is mine now."
The words shattered him. Was all this about staying by her side? He had always kept his distance from her. Not out of contempt, but to allow his younger brother to pursue happiness unimpeded. The only one who had fought beside him through every battle and hardship, had just condemned him. The poison clawed deeper, leaving his body trembling and unresponsive.
The Dragon of Fire's voice cut through the dying embers of battle as he turned to Zhen Hua, the fierce and most captivating beauty born from fire. "Your Majesty, your wish is my command."
Above them, the Phoenix Empress, her crimson robes fluttered as she descended. No immortal could ignore her. The smoke rippled with her presence, her robes trailing fire as she stepped toward them. He 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 she 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?"
Her fury swelled as she desperately searched for a reaction. For millennia, she had sought his love, his acknowledgment. But he didn't even flinch. To the Phoenix Empress, his calm indifference cut deeper than any dagger. No anger. No sorrow. No regret. Only calm disinterest. Had all her efforts been so beneath him? The millennia of pursuit meant nothing? His aloofness seared more than any flame. She had chased him through realms, through lifetimes, and this was his response: nothing.
He impassively looked at her, let out a soft breath, and said, "Take care of my brother for me."
What?! Her blood boiled 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 seethed with frustration.
His gaze slightly softened, never leaving her eyes. "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. She wanted him to fight, to oppose her—anything but this calm, unbothered acceptance. The indifference she had always loathed twisted in her gut. Those detestable 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, how many realms she conquered, his response was always the same: disinterest. He was a mirror reflecting her failures, his indifference a constant reminder that no matter what she achieved, he was the only one she could never impress.
Her hands trembled as she spoke through clenched teeth. "You think you can walk away from me forever?"
Her voice cracked, her fury building to an unbearable crescendo. "I'll make you regret this. I'll make you feel what I've felt."
Her tears evaporated as her palm struck with a fury that could shake the heavens. The force of her strike launched him off the edge; he vanished into the abyss below.
Long Yan watched Long Fei plummet, the wind tousling his hair. One final, unspoken wish from his brother. His smirk faltered, a flicker of doubt in his eyes. Was all this really worth it? Regret rose in his chest, but he quickly snuffed it out. His passion for Zhen Hua had already consumed him.
The Phoenix Empress relinquished her rage. The flames that devoured everything died. For the first time in millennia, her crimson fire felt cold.