Chapter 141: Flames of Affection, Blades of Ambition
Location: Imperial Capital – The Obsidian Pavilion, Three Days After the Soul Forest Revelation
For three days, the Empire held its breath.
The rumors had spread like wildfire — Hei Long had found his daughter. Or, at least, the path to her.
The sealed phoenix flame, Hei Long’s lost child from another lifetime, rested in the heart of the Soul Forest. And soon, she would awaken.
But until then...
The battlefield moved from forests and flames...
...to hearts and ambitions.
Because with the phoenix child poised to choose the rightful Empress...
The harem could no longer afford to wait.
The Stage Is Set
Hei Long had cleared the entire eastern wing of the palace complex.
One hall for each contender.
Each woman given space, freedom, and servants of her choosing. A symbolic gesture of equality.
But everyone knew.
It wasn’t a gesture.
It was a provocation.
And the fuse had already been lit.
Mu Yexin’s Chamber – The Illusory Dream Garden
Mu Yexin lounged among dream-silk curtains and floating petals, wearing nothing but a translucent robe of illusion-woven fabric that shimmered between reality and fantasy.
Dozens of faceless servants poured spirit wine and whispered reports into her ear.
"She hasn’t made a move yet," one said.
"Yiran’s meditating again. Publicly," another added.
"She’s playing saint," Yexin muttered, lips curling.
"And Qingxue?"
"She refuses all audiences. But she’s meeting Hei Long alone tonight."
Yexin’s pupils narrowed.
"Oh, sweet frost princess. Always the coldest knife..."
She stood up, letting her robe fall — vanishing before it even touched the floor.
"It’s time I reminded him who made him feel again."
That Night – Hei Long’s Private Study
Hei Long sat alone at his table, candlelight flickering across maps and soul charts. His hand rested on the crystal from the Soul Forest.
He didn’t look up when the door opened.
"I told the guards no visitors," he said.
"They didn’t see me," Mu Yexin replied, stepping from the shadows.
She wore black and gold — not as a noble, but as a dream. Her robes clung to her like a whisper. Her hair was down.
"Didn’t you once say," she murmured, walking slowly toward him, "that only I could walk through your mind without losing myself?"
He looked up.
For just a moment... his eyes softened.
"I remember."
"Then remember this too."
She leaned down, lips inches from his.
"I’m not here to seduce you. I’m here to remind you. I was the first woman you ever truly dreamed of."
Her fingers touched the back of his neck.
"And dreams don’t just fade, Hei Long."
Moments Later – Outside the Study
Zhao Yuran stood just outside the door, hand clenched around a talisman.
She had heard enough.
She walked away — fast.
But not toward her own chambers.
Zhao Yuran – The Alchemist’s Gambit
Her chamber was now a laboratory — walls lined with potion flasks, soul diagrams, and half-scorched love letters from a time when Hei Long had still called her "Yura."
She threw open a case.
Inside: a vial of Soul-Thread Wine — a spiritual brew that could amplify emotions, suppress memories, or... with the right blend... bind hearts.
She whispered:
"If illusions are allowed..."
She poured the wine.
"...then so are potions."
And as she stirred, she began composing her next invitation:
"To my beloved Hei Long,One last dinner, as we used to e alone. No masks. No illusions.Let me remind you what it meant to be loved before the throne."
– Yuran
Elsewhere – Yan Yiren’s Temple of Flame
Yiren didn’t move.
Didn’t scheme.
Didn’t send letters.
She meditated beneath a brazier of ever-burning fire, body motionless, soul radiating an almost divine serenity.
But inside her head?
War.
She knew the others were already playing their games. Seduction. Illusion. Potions.
She didn’t care.
Because she wasn’t going to win Hei Long’s heart with tactics.
She was going to remind him of the pain.Of their bond.Of their loss.Of the child he sealed away.
"You gave me death," she whispered into the fire."Now give me the reason to live again."
"Choose me. Not because I’m beautiful. Not because I’m first.But because I’m the only one who knows what you destroyed to become a god."
Meanwhile – Qingxue
She didn’t wait.
She stood before Hei Long’s door that night.
Not in a dress.
Not in armor.
But in a robe of moon-silver silk, her blade sheathed but close.
Hei Long opened the door.
Saw her.
Said nothing.
She stepped inside.
Closed the door behind her.
"I’m not here to prove anything," she said.
"Then why?"
"I want you to look me in the eye," she said, stepping close, "and tell me you don’t want this."
"This?"
She pressed her palm to his chest.
His heartbeat jumped.
"I want the truth," she whispered.
"Do you still think of me? Do you wonder what would’ve happened if you chose me first? If the daughter in the forest... was mine?"
He said nothing.
Then his hand rose — and covered hers.
"I always wonder," he said.
She didn’t kiss him.
She didn’t cry.
She just nodded.
And said, "Then give me a chance to prove I still deserve your future."
The Next Morning – Chaos Ignites
All four received the same letter, at the same time.
From Hei Long.
Delivered personally by his black-winged messengers.
"The phoenix child will awaken in three days.Before she chooses, you must each do one thing.
Show her — and me — what you believe makes you worthy of the bond."
No bloodshed.No sabotage.No illusions.
Just truth."
Mu Yexin’s Response
A stage of illusions — but no actors.Just memories.She invited Hei Long to walk through them.Each step showed a moment: the first time she made him laugh, the first night he called her by name, the day he almost kissed her and didn’t.
At the end?
A mirror.
But it showed his reflection in her eyes.
And he stood there, silent, watching.
Zhao Yuran’s Response
She invited him to her lab.
No dress.
No wine.
Just a flame — a copy of the Soul Forest shard.
And beside it, her own sealed heart.
"I distilled everything," she said. "Every moment I fell in love with you. Every time I tried to forget you. It’s all here."
She handed him the vial.
"I can drink it. And I’ll forget."
"...Or you can drink it. And you’ll understand what it means to still love me after death, betrayal, and time."
Hei Long didn’t drink.
Not yet.
But he didn’t let go of the vial either.
Yan Yiren’s Response
She took him to the ruins of the battlefield where they lost their child.
The exact spot.
The same charred earth.
"I don’t want you to love me because of the past," she said.
"I want you to look at everything we lost... and ask yourself if you want to lose it again."
Hei Long knelt beside her.
Touched the dirt.
Closed his eyes.
And whispered: "She would’ve had your fire."
Yiren took his hand.
"She will again."
Qingxue’s Response
She did not speak.
She simply stood on the dueling platform, sword sheathed, hair down, no armor.
She bowed.
And said:
"I won’t offer you dreams. Or guilt. Or memory."
"Just this blade."
"And a future where I guard your daughter like she was mine."
"Where I stand beside you — not in your shadow, but as your sword."
"Not your Empress.Your partner."
Hei Long said nothing.
But he nodded once.
And Qingxue smiled.
Three days had passed since Hei Long delivered his decree.
And now, beneath a sky swirling with phoenix fire and twilight stars, the doors of the Temple of Celestial Accord opened for only the second time in recorded history.
The child — the sealed daughter of Hei Long and Yan Yiren, born in a forgotten lifetime and hidden away by ancient spells — had awakened.
Not as a girl.
But as something more.
A Judge.
And she would see each of them.
Not as women.
But as would-be mothers.
Her Name Was Revealed
She called herself:
Mingyan Zhu — combining her father’s mortal name with the surname of Yiren’s mother.
A name not given.
Chosen.
She stood barefoot in ceremonial robes of flame-thread silk, hair the color of moonlight shot through with gold. Her eyes — dual-toned — one black, one red — seemed to shift with every emotion.
The phoenix mark glowed faintly at her brow.
And when she spoke, even the walls listened.
"Bring them to me," she said."One at a time. And no lies."
First to Arrive – Mu Yexin
The illusionist entered without a veil.
No smoke. No glamor. No seduction.
Just a deep violet robe and a single silver hairpin — the one Hei Long had given her before the Fall of Mirror Gate.
She bowed deeply.
Mingyan Zhu stared at her, unreadable.
Then asked one question:
"What would you teach me?"
Mu Yexin hesitated.
Then smiled.
"I’d teach you the art of self-deception," she said. "Because everyone lies. The trick is learning which lies to believe... and when to burn them down."
Zhu blinked.
"And if I saw through your illusions?"
"I’d be proud," Yexin said. "You’d be safer than I ever was."
Zhu was silent for a long time.
Then nodded once.
"You may go."
Yexin left without turning back.
Her hands trembled the moment the door shut behind her.
Second to Enter – Zhao Yuran
The alchemist walked with measured grace, her hair tied back, her eyes lined in soft gold. She wore a green dress embroidered with vines and phoenix feathers — her own design.
She bowed, lower than Yexin had.
Mingyan Zhu watched her for several seconds, then said:
"What would you do... if I hated you?"
Yuran flinched.
Then took a breath.
"Love you anyway," she said.
"Even if I made you suffer?"
"I’ve already suffered," she said, softly. "But I never stopped loving your father. I wouldn’t stop for you."
Zhu tilted her head.
"Even if I tried to take him from you?"
Yuran smiled faintly.
"I’d thank you," she whispered.
Zhu’s eyes widened.
"For reminding me how fierce love can be."
The flame mark on Zhu’s brow flickered.
"You may go."
Third to Enter – Qingxue
She wore white.
No ornament. No makeup. No blade.
Her hair was loose, and her robes plain.
She bowed low. Not as a subject. As a soldier.
Zhu studied her in silence.
Then asked:
"Would you kill for me?"
"Yes."
"Even my father?"
"...Yes."
Zhu’s brow twitched.
"Why?"
Qingxue’s voice didn’t waver.
"Because if you ever became someone your father couldn’t protect... I would become someone who could."
Silence.
Zhu stepped closer.
"Do you want to replace my mother?"
"No."
"Then what do you want?"
"To guard your back," Qingxue said, "while you burn down the world."
Zhu stared.
Then smiled — for the first time.
"You may go."
Final to Enter – Yan Yiren
The doors shut behind her with a sound like thunder.
Yiren wore red.
The exact same shade as her robes from the day Hei Long sealed their child away.
Her hair was bound in a phoenix crown.
But her eyes — they were tired.
Still, she bowed deeper than all the others.
And said:
"Mingyan Zhu. My daughter."
Zhu didn’t respond immediately.
Then:
"You let him seal me."
Yiren’s breath hitched.
"I didn’t know. He stole my memories."
"But you didn’t stop him."
"I couldn’t."
"Would you stop him now?"
Yiren’s eyes glowed.
"I’d break the world."
Zhu stepped closer.
"You’re not perfect."
"No."
"You weren’t strong enough."
"I know."
"Why do you want to be my mother again?"
Yiren raised her head.
Tears burned behind her eyes.
"Because I want to show you I’m better now."
Zhu looked at her for a long time.
Then whispered:
"You may go."
Later That Night – Hei Long’s Private Garden
He stood alone.
Staring at the koi pond.
When she entered.
Zhu. Mingyan Zhu.
Her feet made no sound.
But he turned before she reached him.
"Did they behave?"
"They tried."
He nodded.
She stepped up beside him.
Looked into the water.
"Do you love them all?" she asked.
"Yes."
"But not equally."
"No."
"Will you choose one?"
"I already did," he said.
Zhu turned.
And for the first time, Hei Long saw fear in her eyes.
"Will you choose her again?"
Hei Long was silent.
Then said:
"Only if you let me."
She reached into her sleeve.
And drew a feather — her own phoenix flame.
"Then take it," she said, offering it to him. "And give it to the one I should call mother."
He took it.
His hand closed around it.
And the garden flared with fire.