In the Celestial Realm, the sky raged with violent energy. Deep rumblings echoed through the celestial expanse as jagged arcs of lightning split the heavens. Beneath the storm-wracked sky, chains wrapped tightly around a figure, their edges glowing with ethereal power. Long Yan, once a revered immortal, was bound to a celestial pillar, stripped of his mighty fiery powers.
His body trembled from the intense punishment that coursed through him. Each strike peeled away layers of his existence, leaching his immortal energy. The thunder was not only a punishment—it was a reminder to all that defied the Celestial Law by purposely not consuming the Amnesia Elixir.
The round-faced Celestial Emperor, dressed in golden silk robes, raised his hand, and the thunderstrikes ceased. He stepped up to Long Yan and whispered in his ear, "It pains me to do this to you. Given your past merits, I reduced your punishment to stripping you of your title as Dragon of Fire. If you had abided by Celestial Law, you would have had everything you desired. Fate had written that you were to rule a kingdom of Ice, with Zhen Hua's reincarnation as your Empress. You were not destined for an early demise, but to help your kingdom prosper. Instead, you've caused suffering to many mortals. Tell me truthfully—did she drink the Amnesia Elixir?"
Long Yan's eyes burned with fury. His pride had led to this ruin, but the Celestial Emperor's revelation about Fate struck deeper than any thunder. The Heavens had taken his power, stripped him of everything he had fought for, and now he would be left to rot in this agonizing state. His demotion meant that she would not bother to even spare a glance at him. He was utterly useless now. He clenched his jaw and nodded.
"I saw the Phoenix Empress drink the Amnesia Elixir; the portal keeper verified it," he said. His head slumped forward as he gritted his teeth.
The Celestial Emperor's eyes widened, and his nostrils flared. He flicked his long sleeves back and turned away with a huff. He shook his head as he raised his hand again.
From above, the thunder raged on, and Long Yan's punishment continued, a spectacle of divine retribution that echoed across the realms. He could feel his immortality slipping away. He had to persevere. He had to find a way to warn Zhen Hua.
***
In the Mortal Realm, at the Imperial Palace, the cool evening was heavy with rain. Zhen Hua had been watching the sky for some time, her expression hardened as the storm above deepened, flashing intensely. She recognized the color of the thunderstrikes that had torn the sky. Those thunderstrikes were of divine retribution.
The news had reached her already—Long Fei had personally handed Long Yan's head to the Emperor. The storm above roared with relentless divine thunder, signaling Long Yan's discovery in the Celestial Realm. It was a stark reminder of how fragile power could be, and how quickly it could be ripped away. The thought of the Celestial Realm discovering her defiance sent a shiver down her spine, though she quickly suppressed it. She had broken the same law by not consuming the Amnesia Elixir. Was the storm a harbinger of her fate?
Her gaze shifted, a dark glimmer flashing across her features. Long Fei's deliberate departure from the palace was to distance himself from her. He retreated to the safety of his camp, surrounded by soldiers and the discipline of battle.
She knew it was no coincidence that he had left when he did, as if he were running away from her. Perhaps his feelings were too heavy to bear, disguised by his duty to the Emperor.
Zhen Hua could not allow that fracture to remain. She would not let Long Fei slip through her fingers after finally finding him. She needed him by her side. Desperation tugged at her, and for the first time in a long while, her composure wavered.
She had to change her strategy. With Long Yan out of the picture, she was alone in this fight. But she would find a way.
With a sharp exhale, she turned away from the storm, her eyes resolute. The storm had its role to play, but she had hers too. Long Fei would return to her side. She would make sure of it.
The lull in the night rain was broken by a sudden flutter of wings. A messenger pigeon, its wings beating the air with urgency, swooped down and landed beside her.
Her hand reached for the small scroll tied to the bird's leg. The pigeon, recognizing its task, perched and waited patiently for the Empress to untie the message.
Her fingers moved swiftly, the paper unraveling. Her eyes skimmed the note: "His Highness has arrived back to camp with two new warriors, one white-haired and the other masked."
Fury surged within her. She silenced the pigeon with two fingers, then burned the note.
Long Fei had two new warriors. One was white-haired. Did he think she was a fool? Obviously, he brought the mermaid back to military camp with him. But the masked one could only be his wretched guardian, Ling Yue. That crazy blue demon would be stronger than her mortal reincarnation in this realm. That must be why the Dragon of Air severely injured her, to give his guardian a chance here. He planned that far?! She clenched her fist, her lacquered nails drawing blood from her palm.
Zhen Hua's heart raced with determination. She could not wait any longer. She would force him to return to the palace, to her domain. If fate had cursed her romance, she would curse his. That sea-witch does not get to wrap Long Fei around her little finger.
An insidious plan began to form, and a sinister smile curved on her lips. Nothing would stand in her way, even if it meant losing her mortal life.