Chapter 2.10 Raven the Phoenix
"Dad, pleaseeeeee, stop it now!!"
The sudden cry froze everyone in place.
"Dad?!!!" The Guardians and disciples shouted in unison, their faces filled with shock. Even Silver's eyes widened—he hadn't expected her to say that.
"Daughter?"
The man in black blinked, his expression shifting from disbelief to joy.
Raven descended gracefully, landing with poise. She crossed her arms, her foot tapping against the ground as she clicked her tongue.
"Tsk."
Her eyes held nothing but disappointment as she looked at him.
"My precious little bedbug baby daughter—you're alive! And you remember me!"
The man's once grim and terrifying aura melted away in an instant. His solemn, demonic expression transformed into that of a doting father, his handsome face now radiating warmth and tenderness.
The speed of his change was so absurd it could have set a world record—one moment a demon bent on destroying the world, the next a harmless, almost comical, loving parent.
The speed at which he changed faces was surely a world record!
"Of course, I remember. The spell that my mother used to seal my memories has already been broken!"
-Flashback to the time before Raven arrived-
HOLY LAND
After Silver left Raven in the Holy Lands, the still waters of the lake began to churn.
Bubbles rose to the surface as the water split into two halves—one black, one white. Slowly, a sword emerged from the depths, its blade painted in stark halves of light and shadow. At the center of its hilt gleamed a symbol of perfect balance: the yin and yang.
"What's that? Is that mine?" Raven whispered, her eyes wide with awe and wonder.
"My child, come and claim the sword. Wield it."
The voices of both male and female echoed across the Holy Land, resonating like the harmony of two souls.
"But remember this—once you take hold of the sword, you will be bound to it until your spirit is torn apart and vanishes. To be the Master of the Yin and Yang Sword is to carry both great responsibility and great danger. For everything in this world exists in balance. Darkness and light cannot be separated—they exist together, they shape this world together."
The voice faded into solemn silence.
Raven's eyes burned with determination. "This sword—I will have it!"
Step by step, she advanced toward the weapon, her gaze locked on it, unwavering, resolute.
"Yin and Yang is the sword of destruction and creation. If one wields it to protect, it will shine with the might of light, guarding this world so that peace may reign."
The voice echoed as Raven stepped closer, her eyes fixed on the weapon.
"But if one chooses destruction, the sword will blaze with the light of darkness, reducing all that exists to ashes. Death will rule, and the world will drown in eternal suffering."
Raven stopped before the blade, her reflection split across its black and white surface. She gripped the hilt with both hands, her heart steady, her resolve unshaken.
"What do you choose, child?"
The voice no longer came from the Holy Land, but from the sword itself. Its glow pulsed—half black, half white—like a heartbeat waiting for her answer.
Raven smirked.
"Of course, I'll choose both. Whether it's the sword of creation or destruction, it doesn't matter. As long as it helps me achieve my goals and protect the one most important to me, I'll take it—good or evil makes no difference!"
With a sharp pull, she drew the sword from the water.
A blinding light engulfed her, wrapping her in brilliance. Slowly, the radiance twisted into the perfect balance of black and white, forming the symbol of yin and yang.
Thus was born the YinYang Sword—the blade of Creation and Destruction. A weapon with the power to protect life... or to end it.
"A good choice..." the voice praised softly before fading into silence.
As Raven underwent the blessing—what could only be called a contract—the seal within her mind began to crack. The seal her parents had placed when she was still a child shattered, and the memories long hidden began to glow and resurface.
Xuanmi was never truly the daughter of the current head of the Phoenix Clan. She was the child of the Guardian Phoenix herself.
When she was young, a great calamity descended upon their world. Her mother, the Guardian Phoenix, along with the other Guardians, sacrificed their lives to save it. Left behind, Xuanmi was entrusted to the second wife of the clan head. Out of grief for her own lost daughter, the woman adopted Xuanmi, raising her as a replacement.
But Raven remembered now.
Before her mother left, she had sealed away her daughter's memories, entrusting the key to her father. Only he could unseal them when the time was right.
Her mother had known she would not survive once she stepped out of that house, and so she left Raven with both protection and a promise.
In the past, Xuanmi's father had been trapped and gravely injured by the Demonic Sect. Forced into years of recuperation, he dreamed of the day he could reunite with his wife and daughter. But when he finally emerged, the reunion he longed for had already turned into a funeral. Both his beloved wife and child were gone.
Blinded by rage and grief, he became nothing more than cannon fodder in the story's flow. Recklessly, he stormed the Guardians Tower, demanding the world's end. But in the end, he was struck down—defeated by the so‑called male lead, protected by the armor of fate itself.
-Flashback Ends-
"My daughter... my darling daughter!"
The man's voice cracked as tears welled in his sapphire eyes.
"Your father is so happy to know you are alive! I thought I would be left all alone when you and your mother left me, but now—now that I see you alive and well—I am overjoyed!"
He stumbled forward, arms outstretched, trying to embrace her. But Raven stepped aside, her expression cold. The man fell to the ground, his desperate gesture collapsing into humiliation.
"Thunder God Yang Jin of the Heavens Realm."
Raven's voice cut like a blade as her sharp gaze bore into him.
"Care to explain what just happened now?"
Yang Jin slowly pushed himself up from the ground, his once‑dignified figure now trembling under the weight of her question.
"Uhmm... you see, IwasblindedwithrageandbecauseofitIwantedtodestroytheworldIcantliveknowingthatyouandmywifediedithurtssomuch!"
Yang Jin blurted out his words in one breath, words tumbling over each other without pause.
"Slowly..." Raven said flatly.
Yang Jin took a deep breath.
"I was blinded with rage... and because of it, I wanted to destroy the world. I can't live knowing that you and my wife died. It hurts too much!"
His voice cracked with guilt as he looked at Raven.
"I can't live without you two in my life."
"Oh, Father..."
Raven's expression softened.
"I know how you feel. I won't chastise you. If I were in your shoes, maybe I'd also go mad if the person most important to me disappeared and I was powerless to save him. Don't worry, Father—I understand you."
She gently helped him up, her eyes kind. But then her tone hardened, her gaze sharp.
"However—you could have killed Silver with that last attack of yours! If I hadn't arrived in time, even if you are my father, I would have fought you to the death!" She roared, grabbing his ear and pinching it high.
"Ow, ow, ow! My darling daughter, I'm sorry! Father is sorry!"
Yang Jin yelped pitifully, squirming under her grip. In that moment, he looked less like the terrifying man who had threatened the world and more like a scolded child.
Truly, she was her mother's daughter.
The crowd stood frozen, dumbfounded.
Just moments ago, they had been staring death in the face, and now before them was a bizarre reunion between father and daughter. None of them could make sense of it.
"If she's his daughter—the daughter of the enemy who injured Guardian Gold—then doesn't that make her a traitor?!"
Yuka accused Raved, her voice cutting through the silence. She jabbed her finger at Raven, her tone dripping with accusation.
"Maybe she even helped him kidnap Guardian Gold! She's a traitor!"
Her words struck the Guardians like a splash of cold water.
Doubt and fear surged in their hearts. If Yuka was right, then the two of them were only acting—pretending to fight, pretending to reconcile—just to lower their guard before striking them down.
Sweat beaded on their brows as they tightened their grips on their weapons, their eyes wary.
Raven, however, only arched a brow at Yuka's slander. Her expression didn't waver, not even for a second.
"That's funny."
Raven smiled coolly, her voice laced with mockery.
"If I wanted you all dead, I wouldn't have bothered saving you with that last attack. I would've just let you die. Truthfully, your lives mean nothing to me. The only one I care about is Silver's safety. The rest of you? Who cares?"
Her words cut like a blade, leaving the crowd shaken, unsure whether to feel relieved... or even more afraid.
But what Raven said made sense, and the Guardians began to waver, doubt creeping into their hearts.
"If that's not true, then what is?"
Yuka pressed, her voice rising with self‑righteousness.
"We all saw him try to kill us, and now you're defending him! If you're not a traitor, then prove it—hand him over to us! Do that, and we'll believe you!" She lifted her chin high, as if victory was already hers.
The others stayed silent, their eyes shifting between the two women. None dared interfere—they wanted to see what Raven would choose.
"Hahahahaha!!"
Raven suddenly burst out laughing, her voice echoing through the chamber.
Yuka's face flushed crimson, her anger and embarrassment boiling over.
"What's so funny?!" She snapped.
Raven's laughter died down into a smirk, her eyes gleaming with mockery.
"Haha! I didn't know you were such a comedian. You want me to hand my father over to you on a silver platter? Do you take me for a fool?"
Raven tilted her head, amusement dancing in her eyes. She shook her head slowly, almost pityingly, as if Yuka had lost a few screws.
"If you want him, then capture him yourself, if you can."
Her words dripped with mockery, the challenge hanging heavy in the air. The crowd stiffened, waiting to see if Yuka would rise to it or back down
"Ha! That only proves you're a traitor!"
Yuka snapped, her smug smile widening.
"You refuse to hand him over because you're his ally! You don't deserve to be Guardian I's disciple—shame on you!"
"Oh? Then please, enlighten me."
Raven smiles mockingly.
"Who's worthier than me? You? Don't make me laugh."
"You!"
Yuka pointed at Raven, her voice cracking with rage.
"If not for you, I would have become Guardian I's disciple! You stole what was mine! I was supposed to be his disciple, not you!" Her eyes were wild, her rationality long gone.
Raven didn't bother arguing further. Instead, she turned her gaze toward Silver, her voice calm but cutting.
"Silver, tell us, between the two of us, who is truly worthy to be your disciple?"
The air grew heavy.
All eyes shifted to Silver, the weight of the moment pressing down on him. The crowd leaned forward, eager, anxious, desperate to hear his choice.
"Of course, who else would be more worthy other than..."
Silver's gaze locked firmly with Raven's.
"...you."
"I knew you would choose me."
Raven's lips curved into a victorious smile, her eyes softening at Silver while the corner of her gaze mocked Yuka.
"What?!" Yuka's voice cracked in disbelief, her face twisting with shock.
Silver ignored her, his tone steady as he addressed the others.
"Everyone, I don't believe my Cici is a traitor. Yes, her father attacked us, but she had no knowledge of it. For that reason, I am against punishing her."
Silver tightened his grip on Raven's hand, his conviction clear.
The Guardians exchanged uneasy glances.
"But... what about Gold?" Jade's voice trembled, her worry breaking through.
Dark stepped forward, his eyes narrowing dangerously at Yang Jin.
"Where is my Master?" His voice was low, threatening, each word laced with fury.
The air grew heavy again, the fragile peace shattered. All eyes turned to Yang Jin, waiting for his answer.
"I already told you all, I don't know. He ran off the very moment he saw me and even injured himself in the process. Honestly, that Guardian is an idiot!"
Yang Jin shrugs nonchalantly, though his eyes never left Silver. The way he glared at the young man holding his daughter's hand was so sharp that if looks could kill, Silver would have been reduced to minced meat on the spot.
"Then... where did he go?"
The Guardians exchanged uneasy glances, uncertainty thick in the air.
Before anyone could answer, the doors burst open.
"Everyone, I'm here! I came to help yo—wait... is it all over?"
A blond man stumbled in, his expression blank with confusion.
"Gold!!" The Guardians cried out in relief, their voices echoing with joy.
"Master!" Dark's tone, however, was anything but joyful. His voice was low, dark, and dangerous.
"Oh hey, Dark, you're h—"
Gold didn't even finish his words before Dark's shadow enveloped him. In the blink of an eye, Gold was snatched away, their figures vanishing into the distance like smoke carried by the wind.
The hall fell into stunned silence.
The Guardians stood frozen, their relief instantly replaced by confusion.
"What just happened?" A stunned Luka asked.
caw caw caw —a dumb bird flapped overhead, breaking the silence for only a moment before Yuka's furious voice snapped everyone back to reality.
"You! You are not worthy of becoming his disciple—I am! I am more worthy than you!" Yuka screamed, her face twisted with rage.
Raven tilted her head, her smirk widening.
"You're really funny. You, worthy of my Silver? Are you so disillusioned that you can't even tell the difference between dreams and reality? Let me make this clear—I, Raven, am the only one worthy of Silver! No one else, and no one ever will be worthy of him than I am in his entire life. So, you'd better get your head out of the clouds before I help you. I know waking up from your illusions hurts, but trust me—it won't hurt nearly as much as my beatings."
Her eyes gleamed as she leaned in slightly.
"And one more thing... that ability you're so proud of? It's nothing but a stolen trick."
"Y-You wouldn't dare..." Yuka's voice trembled, her bravado crumbling as fear crept into her eyes.
"Why wouldn't I dare?" Raven shot back, her tone sharp as steel.
The spectators on the sidelines exchanged uneasy glances. They didn't understand what the two were talking about for a moment, but Yuka's pale face and trembling body told them enough—whatever Raven had just revealed, it was serious.
"Yuka, my dear little Yuka. Why are you trembling? Are you so afraid of letting them see your true colors? Tsk, tsk, tsk... What's there to be ashamed of? I always thought you were shameless."
"Not as shameless as you!" Yuka snapped back, her face flushed with anger.
"Well, thank you for the compliment."
Raven smiled sweetly.
If someone compliments you, it's only polite to say thank you.
"Daughter."
Yang Jin's voice rumbled as he raised his hand, a flame flickering to life in his palm. His eyes narrowed at Yuka.
"Is this girl serious trouble? Do you want me to kill her for you?"
Raven shook her head, calm and confident.
"Don't worry, Father. I can deal with her myself. Just watch from the sidelines."
Yang Jin's flame dimmed, though his glare lingered on Yuka, who stiffened under the weight of both father and daughter's presence.
"Alright then, but if you change your mind, just tell me."
Yang Jin extinguished the flame in his palm, though his glare lingered on Yuka before flicking back to Silver, who was still holding his daughter's hand.
"Now... where was I? Ah, yes."
Raven's lips curled into a devilish smile.
"Your little secret—the one you don't want anyone to know. It's your Heart Jade, isn't it?"
"Don't you dare!" Yuka hissed, her voice trembling with fury and fear.
"I dare."
Raven's eyes gleamed as she stepped forward.
"That Heart Jade of yours was never yours to begin with. You stole it from me! It was mine, and I'm taking it back. I told you before, when we met again, I would reclaim what was mine. And that Heart Jade is... mine."
The crowd gasped sharply, the sound echoing like a wave. Their faces twisted in disbelief. This revelation was beyond outrageous. To steal someone's Heart Jade—such a thing was unthinkable, unforgivable.
Whispers rippled through the Guardians. She's insane... but could it be true?
Retribution, it seemed, had finally come for Yuka.
"What?! This wretch stole your Heart Jade? Don't hold me back—I'll kill her right here and now!"
Yang Jin's fury erupted like a raging storm, his divine aura crackling with wrath. How dare a mere human harm his daughter—the daughter of the Thunder God!
"You dare hurt my Cici?!"
Silver's voice thundered as his own power surged.
"I'll burn you into ashes until nothing remains of your filthy existence!" His hands glowed, a spell already forming.
"Wait—!"
Raven tried to cut in.
But it was too late.
"Hell..."
"Heaven's Punishment..."
"DESTROYER!! / HOLY BANE!!"
Two devastating spells roared through the air, colliding into Yuka with unstoppable force. The blast hurled her soul straight into the deepest pits of the tenth level of hell—never to reincarnate again.
Raven slapped her forehead with a groan. She hadn't even finished speaking with Yuka, and these two idiotic men had already blasted her away.
"Oooooffffff!!"
Raven sighed, dragging her hand down her face.
It's really frustrating having two overprotective men in your life... but, well, she couldn't deny she was loving it.