Jiang Feng had faced assassins in the dead of night. He had survived betrayals, bloodshed, and the massacre of his sect. But none of that had prepared him for this moment.
He stared at Li Xue, waiting for her to say she was joking. But she just sipped her tea, her expression calm, her eyes filled with quiet amusement.
The mercenaries stiffened at her words. The leader, the scarred man, took a step back as if he had just heard something sacred.
"You admit it?" he asked, his voice a mix of awe and fear. "You are the celestial maiden?"
Li Xue placed her cup down with a soft clink. "Isn't that what you were hoping to hear?"
The mercenaries exchanged uneasy glances. One of the younger ones, a man with an old sword strapped to his back, whispered, "Brother Liu, this… this isn't what we expected."
Jiang Feng finally found his voice. He leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "What exactly do you mean by 'celestial maiden'?"
The leader, Brother Liu, hesitated, then sighed. "Perhaps it is better if I explain from the beginning."
He lowered his voice.
"North of here, deep in the mountains, there is a temple known as the Temple of the Jade Lotus. It is ancient—so old that even the oldest texts barely mention its origins. For centuries, it has been said that a woman with a jade lotus birthmark would appear in times of great turmoil, a sign that the heavens had sent a divine messenger to guide the world."
Jiang Feng barely kept his expression neutral. He didn't believe in fairy tales. And yet, he couldn't ignore the fact that Li Xue did have that mark—the same mark these people were searching for.
Brother Liu continued, "Many doubt the legend. But the Temple of the Jade Lotus still exists. The monks there have waited for generations, believing that one day, the maiden would return." His eyes flickered toward Li Xue. "And now, the rumors say that she has appeared."
Jiang Feng exhaled, rubbing his temple. "So let me get this straight. You believe that Li Xue is a divine being sent by the heavens?"
Brother Liu hesitated, then nodded. "Yes."
Jiang Feng's eye twitched. Absolutely ridiculous.
Li Xue, meanwhile, simply tilted her head, her gaze unreadable. "And what will you do now that you've found me?"
Brother Liu straightened. "We were hired to locate the celestial maiden. But we were given two conflicting orders."
Jiang Feng's hand inched toward his sword. "Explain."
Brother Liu's face darkened. "One faction—the monks of the temple—wish to bring the maiden back safely. To them, she is sacred." He hesitated before adding, "But others… others see her as a threat."
Jiang Feng already knew the answer, but he asked anyway. "The Iron Thorn Society?"
Brother Liu nodded grimly. "We've heard whispers. They fear what the maiden represents. They believe that if she truly possesses divine power, she could disrupt the balance of the world. And so… they want her eliminated."
Li Xue exhaled softly. "How troublesome."
Jiang Feng frowned. "You don't seem surprised."
She gave him a knowing smile. "I've been hunted my entire life. Now I finally know why."
Brother Liu looked at them both. "We do not serve the Iron Thorn Society. Nor do we serve the monks. We are mercenaries, nothing more." He hesitated. "But after meeting you… I believe that some forces in this world are beyond our understanding."
His gaze met Li Xue's. "I will not harm you."
Jiang Feng studied the man's expression. He was wary, but he was telling the truth.
Li Xue, however, simply smiled. "Wise choice."
Brother Liu swallowed. "I suggest you leave this village soon. If we found you, others will too."
Jiang Feng nodded. "We were planning to."
Brother Liu hesitated, then said, "If you seek answers, go to the Temple of the Jade Lotus. The monks may have knowledge that even you are unaware of."
Li Xue's eyes flickered with something unreadable. "Perhaps."
With that, Brother Liu and his men left, their figures disappearing into the mist outside.
Silence settled over the tea house.
Jiang Feng finally exhaled, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don't know whether to be impressed or horrified."
Li Xue took another sip of tea. "You're not convinced?"
Jiang Feng snorted. "That you're a goddess? Not even a little."
She chuckled. "Then why are you still here?"
He paused. That was a good question.
He had started this journey because she was his only lead on the massacre of his sect. But now, there was something more. A tangled web of conspiracies, legends, and forces moving in the shadows.
And at the center of it all—Li Xue.
He exhaled. "Because leaving you alone would be more dangerous than staying."
She smirked. "A wise choice, husband."
Jiang Feng shot her a look. "You're enjoying this too much."
"Perhaps." She set down her cup. "But you heard what they said. If I truly am connected to this legend, then the answers I seek may be at the Temple of the Jade Lotus."
Jiang Feng leaned back. "So that's our next destination?"
Li Xue studied him. "You don't have to come."
Jiang Feng met her gaze. Then, with a smirk, he said, "You still owe me for saving your life. I'm not letting you run off without repaying that debt."
Li Xue chuckled. "Ah, so now I'm in your debt? How dangerous."
Jiang Feng shook his head, standing. "Come on, celestial maiden. We have a long road ahead."
Li Xue rose gracefully. "Try to keep up, husband."
Jiang Feng sighed. This woman was going to be the death of him.
And yet, for some reason, he couldn't help but follow.