That night, Huo Feng did not sleep. She turned restlessly in her bed as though the pillow burned with a fire even the frost of her fingers could not soothe. Her breaths grew uneven whenever she thought of him.

  She was afraid for him… and afraid of him.

  Afraid for her master, Li that he might slowly fade, that he might lose his life a second time because of her. And afraid of him, of his recklessness, of the possibility that he might ignite a needless war, a war that would wound only the innocent simply because she had become the center of a struggle between two hearts.

  Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the expression on his face when he told her, “I want you for myself.” She saw the darkness in his eyes when he heard her decision… a darkness she could not name.

  Was it anger? Was it heartbreak? Or something deeper?

  She turned again, covering her face with her arms, then suddenly sat upright as though she had sunk into a heavy dream.

  At last, the night receded… and morning was born.

  She hurried out of her chambers, determined to find the Elder, to check on his condition after what had happened, and to ask for his guidance. She searched the corridors, the garden, the lake’s edge… but he was nowhere to be found.

  Before she could call for the servants, Wu xin appeared before her. He looked different, firmer than usual. His features were calm, too calm, as though something heavy lay beneath his skin.

  She asked anxiously, “Where is the Elder?”

  “He is resting in Mount Kunlun,” he replied coolly, his tone short and clipped.

  He stepped away… then suddenly turned back to face her directly.

  “I hope you made your position clear… regarding Li. So there will be no misunderstanding about your connection to him.”

  He exhaled sharply when she did not respond and moved away again. He stood for a few moments, then returned once more, anger now surfacing in his voice.

  “Did you?”

  She remained silent.

  He fell silent as well but his silence felt like something suffocating, ready to explode. Through clenched teeth, he said, “I also hope… you get rid of it soon.”

  She frowned in visible confusion, her brows lifting. When he realized she did not understand, he stepped closer and tapped her forehead with his fingers.

  “I mean… that snake.”

  Then he left.

  At that moment, the Serpent Queen whispered inside her, her voice low yet filled with mockery.

  “How I despise him… that arrogant man. Did you truly choose him over my brother?”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  Huo Feng pressed her lips together.

  “I truly love Li… but not the way I feel about Wu xin. It’s… something different.”

  “Then,” the serpent replied sternly, “you must find a solution.”

  “And what solution is that?”

  “First… you must fulfill your promise to me. You will marry soon, and I… do not wish to live with the two of you.”

  Huo Feng sighed softly.

  “Very well… to Yue, then.”

  She arrived at the Hui Lin Tree. The tree swayed gently as though welcoming her. Its leaves shimmered softly, as if humming a light melody of their own.

  Yue appeared before her, her features blooming like a spring flower.

  “Huo Feng! I missed you.”

  The tree vibrated faintly around them, and even nature itself seemed pleased by her arrival.

  But the serpent’s voice cut through the moment.

  “That’s enough idle chatter.”

  Yue immediately snapped back, “Silence, you vile thing!”

  Huo Feng’s eyes widened in shock.

  “Yue… you can hear her?”

  Both answered at the same time.

  “Of course.”

  More confused than ever, Huo Feng extended her hand, opening her palm to release the serpent but Yue quickly grabbed her wrist.

  “Do you trust this… lizard?”

  “I am not a lizard, you half-wit!” the serpent shouted.

  Half?

  The word echoed in Huo Feng’s mind, but she ignored it.

  “I will keep my promise,” she said calmly. “But on one condition. I want your oath that you will not harm the people of this kingdom… or anyone here.”

  “I promise,” said the serpent.

  “No,” Yue interrupted sharply. “Swear that you will harm no being, no entity here. And swear… that you will protect her.”

  The serpent laughed slyly.

  “You’ve matured, half. You’re no longer foolish. you’re just as cunning as I am. Fine. I swear.”

  At that moment, the serpent slipped from Huo Feng’s palm and coiled around the trunk of the Hui Lin Tree. She wrapped herself slowly around it, as though the tree’s roots and the ancient queen were embracing once more.

  Light began to glow around the trunk, forming a faint golden halo reminiscent of ancient rituals.

  “Yue… do you know this queen?” Huo Feng asked quietly.

  Yue shook her head. “Mmm… I don’t remember.”

  “She is… Master Li’s sister.”

  Sadness clouded Huo Feng’s eyes.

  “Master Li does not deserve such a fate.”

  “What do you mean?” Yue asked gently.

  “He loved me. So he chose, willingly, to follow me like a shadow.”

  “Perhaps,” the serpent interjected, “you can help him overcome this humiliation.”

  She looked at them with gleaming eyes.

  “A drop of your blood… and a drop of hers. With a spell from me, he will forget his feelings toward you—whether hatred or love. He will become a blank page.”

  She continued,

  “Your blood carries life. Hers carries forgetfulness. Thus… your forgetfulness will live within his heart and soul. Even his memories with you… will wither.”

  Huo Feng’s voice trembled, as though her heart had cracked.

  “Will he… forget me?”

  Yue and the serpent answered together, with equal certainty.

  “No. He will forget only his feelings. But you… he will never forget.”

  Suddenly, the three of them locked eyes.

  For a fleeting moment, Yue’s eyes and the serpent’s were reflections of the same mirror.

  Then all three turned at once toward a shadow behind a translucent veil—like a magical barrier concealing what lay beyond.

  Yue’s voice rang out sharply.

  “Come out.”

  Mei stepped from behind the thin curtain, her steps uncertain as though she were walking along the edge of blades.

  Every step was a war within her;

  Should she declare war? Or retreat?

  Too many now stood protecting Huo Feng: Wu xin, Li, Yue, the serpent, the Furnace Elder…

  It could not be a direct war.

  It would have to be… a cold one. A cunning one.

  She stopped before them, forcing a smile.

  “I came to congratulate Yue on her success. And since you’re here, Huo Feng… I also wanted to express my regret that you did not pass the trial.”

  Yue and the serpent cut her off in unison.

  “Hypocrite. If you were truly sorry, you would congratulate her on her marriage.”

  Mei lifted her gaze angrily... And suddenly—without warning—her eyes filled with tears that did not fall. Then she turned and fled.

  The two stared after her in confusion before exchanging a glance with Huo Feng.

  Were her tears real? Or an act? Jealousy? Fear?

  Without another word, they proceeded with what they had come to do.

  The three of them began preparing the Pill of Forgetting.

  A pill that would change Li’s fate… and perhaps everyone’s.

  Even yours.