"Don't you dare help him, Hàoyǔ! You're already a brat—don't become a super brat!"
Xuānluò roared at his younger son, but Hàoyǔ only rolled his eyes and stuck out his tongue in mockery. Mischief came naturally to him; resisting his father was his favorite sport. Whatever was forbidden, he made sure to do the opposite—always.
As his parents lunged to catch him, Hàoyǔ leapt away. He had wings, yet sometimes chose not to use them when fighting, as though testing what it felt like to be wingless like his older brother. To him, even falling was another game—just to see where he'd land.
Mù Yēn's crown clattered against the floor. The gesture was sharp, heavy with emotion, but Hàoyǔ nearly burst into laughter at the sight. His lips twitched with a suppressed giggle, jade-bright eyes sparkling with curiosity. To him, it looked ridiculous—like some spoiled princess throwing a tantrum.
Mù Yēn's cheeks flushed. He could feel what his brother was thinking.
"Don't smile like an idiot, Hào! Just give it to me!" he snapped, voice unsteady with embarrassment—and weakening further without his wings.
Perched atop a bookshelf, Hàoyǔ dangled the guqin with deliberate slowness. Before tossing it down, he smirked and teased,
"Brother Yēn, the way you threw that crown… honestly, you remind me of a fairytale princess. So dramatic! Why not toss off your robe while you're at it~?"
"Ha…Hàoyǔ!" Mù Yēn's veins pulsed in anger. His glare was dark with both fury and shame. "Could you for once be serious!? Hand me the guqin! And I'm not shameless like you to throw off my robe!"
His hand strained against Xuānluò's grip, holding back the knife aimed toward him.
Hàoyǔ only chuckled before finally flinging the guqin toward his brother.
"Hàoyǔ, you'll die in my hands after I'm done with your brother!" Xuānluò barked furiously, but Hàoyǔ ignored him—grinning wide, still enjoying the chaos.
"Xuān! Don't let him catch it—he's planning something we don't know!" Shěnhuī cried out. Her golden eyes burned with worry and anger.
"Stop shouting, Shěn! You're eating away at my head too!" Xuānluò snapped back. His blade arced toward the falling guqin, ready to shatter it—
—but Mù Yēn leapt first, catching it just in time. His palm was cut by the motion, blood smearing across the strings, but he had no time to flinch.
Shěnhuī's wings flared furiously as she shouted at her husband, unable to control Hàoyǔ's reckless interference. "Xuān! Do something, or he'll really run from the kingdom! I can feel it—he's serious this time!"
Frustrated, Xuānluò dropped his dagger, blood dripping onto the floor. Grabbing a sword from Mù Yēn's wall display, he stepped forward. Both sons froze for a moment. Even Hàoyǔ's grin faltered—when their father was this angry, even he grew cautious.
"I warned you, Mù Yēn. You wouldn't listen. I only wanted to restore your wings with my own spiritual energy. Now—you leave me no choice. I'll force it."
Mù Yēn swallowed hard. His father's voice was heavy, cold—his dark mode.
His fingers flew across the guqin strings. Two sharp notes rang out, shattering glass across the chamber. The sounds were not meant to wound—only to distract. As shards scattered, his parents and Hàoyǔ dodged aside.
Using the moment, Mù Yēn bolted toward Yàn Yàn, the great bird already restless with anticipation. He seized the grass-woven harness, swung onto its back, and clutched the guqin tight. Yàn Yàn's wings unfurled, beating fiercely to carry its master away.
Hàoyǔ's grin returned. He darted after his brother, wings shimmering almost invisible with speed.
"GUARDS! After them—NOW!" Shěnhuī's voice thundered so loud the guards outside instantly heard and launched into pursuit with their fighter birds.
Xuānluò winced, ears ringing. Slamming his sword to the floor, he snarled at his wife:
"If you scream one more time, I'll kill myself before Mù Yēn does!"
Above, arrows whistled. Mù Yēn's heart pounded like a caged bird's wings—thrilled, terrified, uncertain. His reddish-brown hair whipped back as he risked glances behind. Freedom. Danger. His last days, maybe—but at least lived alive.
"WOOHOO! Look at you now, Brother! A real hero of your own story!" Hàoyǔ whooped, weaving through arrows with impossible speed. "Feel it all! I don't know how long I can keep them off you—it's me against Mom, Dad, and the whole force!"
"I…just catch me if I fall," Mù Yēn gasped. His arms bled, his voice faltered. "I don't know if I can keep going…"
They dipped into the forest, shadows hiding them. Hàoyǔ swept back with one hand raised; roots erupted from the ground, ensnaring the pursuing guards. Their cries faded behind.
Flying beside Mù Yēn once more, Hàoyǔ asked, calm but teasing, "So? Where are we going?"
"I…I think… Hónglián Tān." Mù Yēn's eyes fixed ahead, voice low.
Hàoyǔ smirked knowingly. His older brother looked away, cheeks burning under the weight of that mischievous gaze.
"You'll really go there? Planning to bond with a special-grade yokai bird to carry you further?" Hàoyǔ's tone was playful, almost mocking.
"Y-Yes! What's wrong with that? Why are you making that face!?"
With theatrical flair, Hàoyǔ clutched his chest, the other hand pressed to his forehead. He let himself drop a few feet, pretending faintness while laughter threatened to spill.
Mù Yēn followed anxiously, Yàn Yàn beating its wings harder. "H-Hey! What sin did I commit just by saying that?! Or are you just being too annoying!?"
Recovering mid-air, Hàoyǔ wiped fake tears of laughter. "You really don't know, Brother? Impossible! You're ten years older than me!"
"I—Don't—Know!" Mù Yēn snapped, patience wearing thin. "So stop laughing and explain! What's cooking in your head!?"
Hàoyǔ's grin turned razor-sharp. "Those yokai will demand a price you can't even imagine. Trust me—you'll beg to run back to Mom and Dad rather than pay it."
His laughter tore through the sky, echoing over the furious beat of wings as if daring the world itself to stop them. Clouds ripped past, lightning flashing in the distance, painting their faces wild and defiant.
And still, they flew—faster, higher, the world falling away beneath them, chasing a destiny that promised to devour them alive....