The summit ended. The five clans, after three days of competitions and rituals of gratitude, began to disperse. The vast square of Celestial Harmony Terrace slowly emptied, banners rolling down, incense dying out.
Among the dispersing crowd, Long Jianxu caught sight of Huo Yulian holding hands with a ragged boy beside Xing Lianchen. His gaze narrowed—the beggar boy, the one who had been beaten and mocked, was leaving with a Xing elder.
At the lakeside, before departure, Huo Yulian hugged him tightly.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDcf0mBEv6
"Ah Zhen… I’ll see you again, no matter where you go."31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8V3tKRz72C
Hanxu, for the first time, smiled weakly. “Lanhao...”
And then, the carriages rolled. Hanxu vanished into the retinue of Tianlong Sect.
But not far away, another drama unfolded.
Long Tianyao called out sharply,31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL02RBsMtx1
"LANHAO—!"
Yulian’s body stiffened, his smile freezing. His soul seemed to leave his body as he turned slowly. Tianyao stepped forward, his twin brother Long Jianxu—courtesy name Longyu—looming just behind him.
"ZHAOYANG—!" Yulian shot back, screaming his courtesy name with mock defiance.
Long Jianxu frowned. “Lanhao, who was that boy? Why was he with you?”
Yulian replied with a bright grin, “That was Hanzhen. My best friend.”
Long Tianyao narrowed his eyes. “If he is your friend… then what about us?”
Yulian chuckled mischievously, “Zhaoyang, you are my enemy.”
That was enough. The twins and Yulian began bickering like wild cubs, pushing and pulling at each other’s sleeves.
Then Feng Jinluo arrived, folding his arms.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRLX2Qktom
"Yaa… stop this nonsense!"
Zhaoyang smirked. “Oh, Luo’er… how are you? Hah, such a pretty girl’s name… first Golden Phoenix’s name… and yet you’re a boy.”
Jinluo’s eyes blazed. “Did you ever say something to your mother and come here? If yes—then today would be your last day in the martial world!”
Yulian burst out laughing. “Ohhh, Bingyu, you are truly the Ice Phoenix!”
Longyu added smugly, “Yes, the Ice Princess!”
Jinluo charged forward, and the three began rolling around, their fight devolving into childish squabbles rather than true combat.
Bingyan Zun’s Reflection
From a distance, Bingyan Zun — Xing Liuyue, stood silently. His gaze lingered on the children as they played, their laughter echoing through the fading summit. Their innocence stood in sharp contrast to the endless schemes and rivalries of their elders.
He whispered a short poem:
"Blades clash above, yet hearts below are unscarred.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrvYYYKWDG
Children fight with laughter, while fathers fight with swords.31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4qq92KI3d
In their untainted play, I see the truest peace—31Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc2FW8Sm9G
Innocence unbroken, the song of tomorrow’s dawn."
His elder brother, Xing Yichen, the next patriarch, and his elder sister Xing Rongyue approached from behind.
Rongyue teased softly, “Liuyue, you gaze at them with such warmth. Why don’t you marry and have children of your own?”
Yichen added with a laugh, “Yes, little brother. Even Bingyan Zun must one day hold a child in his arms.”
Liuyue turned his head slightly, his eyes unreadable. “Children remind me that not all swords are meant to kill. Some swords are meant to protect laughter.”
The crowd nearby murmured praises of his words. Yet, before they could press further, Liuyue turned and walked away, vanishing from the terrace like a cold breeze.
As the summit dispersed, Xing Zhenyu, the patriarch, noticed his youngest son standing alone, apart from the world. Liuyue never bowed to expectations. He never obeyed as others wished.
"He will only walk his own path," Zhenyu thought, both proud and troubled.
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.