The heavy silence inside the chamber was broken when the door creaked open. Xu Aing stepped inside, his calm aura wrapping the room. Xu Bing followed closely behind, his brows knitted in concern.
"You've been asleep for two whole days," Xu Bing said quickly, his tone half-scolding.
Shen Min's eyes widened. "Two days? That can't be… Yesterday the demons attacked us—I fought them, I saved Xu Lang!" Her voice trembled as she recalled every detail, the blood, the flashing blades, the shadow of death.
But Xu Bing only stared at her with unsettling intensity. He reached forward, placing his palm against her forehead. "You must have a fever. Or perhaps you struck your head. Nothing of what you're saying happened." His lips curved in a mocking smirk. "If you keep talking like this, Shen Min, everyone will start thinking you've lost your mind."
A short laugh escaped him, one that stung her ears.
Before she could protest, a cold, familiar presence filled the room. Xu Lang walked in silently, his sharp gaze fixed on her. Shen Min's breath hitched. She rushed forward, clutching his hand desperately. "Xu Lang… you're alive! I thought—" She caught herself, cheeks flushing as she stumbled over her words. "I mean… I wasn't sure you would survive."
Xu Lang's dark eyes narrowed. "What nonsense are you speaking now?"
Confusion struck her like lightning. Shen Min bit her lip hard. "Don't you remember? The demons attacked. I fought beside you. I saved you. Xu Lang, tell them—it was real!"
But Xu Lang only tilted his head, his voice dripping with ice. "Stop imagining things. For the last two days, you've been unconscious. Nothing more." Then, without warning, his hand shot out, gripping her throat with dangerous force. "Or perhaps you just enjoy weaving tales, hm?"
Her heart pounded, but she managed to gasp, "If it's not true, then explain—your wound! The injury on your hand—" She grabbed his wrist and turned it over. But the skin was smooth, flawless. Not even a scar remained.
Xu Lang leaned close, his lips brushing her ear as he whispered, "Maybe you've fallen in love with me. That would explain why you keep trying to find reasons to touch me." His smirk deepened as if he could hear her racing heartbeat pounding louder than thunder.
Shen Min jerked back, trembling. "Why… why doesn't anyone remember?"
First Prince Xu Aing finally spoke, his calm tone laced with pity. "Because nothing happened, Shen Min. If we don't remember, then there is nothing to remember."
Before her frustration could boil over, Xu Bing suddenly clapped his hands together. "Ah! I almost forgot! The Blooming Festival is coming!"
Shen Min blinked. "Festival? What festival?"
Xu Bing's face lit up. "The Blooming Festival is celebrated every year. For seven nights, we release Blooming Firelights into the sky. It's said that if two people release them together, the heavens approve their bond, washing away all calamities from their path."
Shen Min's eyes sparkled. "That sounds beautiful! I've never celebrated such a festival before. Tell me, Xu Bing, will you help me? What should I wear? How do I prepare?"
Xu Bing chuckled at her sudden burst of excitement. "Of course, there are rules. Seven conditions, to be precise. Only then can you take part."
"Seven conditions?!" Shen Min groaned dramatically. "I can barely manage one! Third Prince Xu Bing, you expect me to follow seven?"
Laughing, he waved her concerns away. "They aren't difficult. You simply wear a different color each day. And the partner you choose—whoever you light the Firelights with—you must release them together for all seven nights."
Her eyes widened with relief. "That's all? That's so easy! I'll gladly do it!"
Xu Bing leaned forward mischievously. "Then… who have you chosen as your partner?"
Without hesitation, Shen Min clasped his hand. "You, of course! You'll be my partner!"
Xu Bing immediately pulled his hand free, flustered. "N-No! Not me. I already promised to attend with Ven." His face reddened, and before she could tease him further, he bolted out of the room.
Shen Min burst into laughter at his retreat. Spinning around, she turned to Xu Aing with pleading eyes. "Then… will you join me, First Prince?"
Xu Aing's smile was gentle as he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I cannot release Firelights with you."
Her face fell. "Oh…"
"But," he added softly, "I can still walk beside you during the festival."
At those words, her sorrow melted into pure joy, her heart leaping. She nodded eagerly, her smile radiant.
Across the room, Xu Lang's eyes burned with suppressed rage. He turned sharply, storming out, his chest tightening with a pain he could neither name nor endure.
---
**Meanwhile, in the Demon Clan…**
Du Feng staggered into his chambers, his body trembling violently. Blood spilled from his lips, staining the floor. "I… I could have taken it… why didn't I?"
The Black Snake slithered inside, bowing low. "Master, what happened? Did you not claim the blood you needed?"
But Du Feng's eyes turned pitch black, his powers spiraling out of control. Energy lashed wildly, shaking the entire demon palace. With a roar, he seized the Black Snake by the throat, lifting him with inhuman strength.
"Master—!" the servant choked, struggling as Du Feng's fury crushed him.
Only at the last second did Du Feng force his magic inward, sealing the raging energy inside his body. His knees buckled, and he collapsed, coughing blood. With great effort, he pushed himself upright, gripping his sword for balance.
"Bring Vengi to me," he commanded through gritted teeth.
The Black Snake bowed and rushed out. When he found Vengi, he could only gesture frantically, for she could not hear his words. Desperate, he carved letters into the ground with his magic:
**The Demon Master needs you. Now.**
Vengi's eyes widened. Without hesitation, she followed him at once.
---
**Far away, atop a mountain of the Immortal Clan…**
Xu Lang stood alone, his aura tearing the earth apart. Rocks rumbled, the mountain itself trembling under the surge of his power.
He raised a golden hairpin and drove it into his own skin, blood gushing as he traced a deadly spell. A second strike. Then a third. Black energy erupted from his body, swirling violently before funneling into the pin. His screams echoed as he sealed the darkness within, blood seeping from his nose, his eyes, his very pores.
The hairpin glowed with golden light, devouring the cursed energy. With shaking hands, he fixed it into his hair. His breaths came ragged, but his resolve was unshaken.
A voice haunted his mind—a blurred face, whispering:
"No matter what you do, Xu Lang… you cannot change fate."
His eyes snapped open, blazing crimson with defiance. "Then I will break fate itself. Even if it costs me everything."
Images flashed before him—how he had erased the memories of Xu Aing, Xu Bing, even the Death Demons. Only Shen Min had slipped through his grasp, saved by the interference of Master Han Jio and the other elders.
Xu Lang's lips curled into a smirk. His hand tightened around his sword. "No one will uncover my secret. No one will stop me. Xi Xiao… I will change our destiny."
He slashed the blade through the air, unleashing a surge of power.
The ancient seal shattered.
And the world trembled....