On the cold stone steps of Shadow Mountain, Zhou Yuechan stumbled forward, her once-proud figure reduced to a filthy mess. Her luxurious robes were tattered, her hair disheveled and stained with sweat and dust. Her hands trembled as she scrubbed the floor with a broken broom, knuckles scraped and bleeding.
The mountain's wind whipped through the air, but there was no sympathy in its chill—only judgment.
"Hurry up, dog!" one of the shadow guards barked, cracking his whip.
**SNAP!**
The lash tore through the air and struck her back. Zhou Yuechan gasped, stumbling to her knees.
"P-please... let me rest... just for a moment," she begged, her voice hoarse.
The guard sneered. "Did your slaves ever get rest when you whipped them until their skin peeled? Keep working."
From the peak balcony, Xuan Long stood silently, arms crossed, watching her from a distance. His face remained cold. When she caught sight of him, she glared with fury.
"YOU BASTARD! I am the daughter of the Zhou family! How dare you humiliate me like this?!"
Xuan Long turned without a word and walked back inside.
---
In a quiet chamber, where the scent of incense gently lingered and sunlight streamed through a carved jade window, Xiou Xue sat silently on a cushion.
Her eyes were wide, nervous, but determined.
Xuan Long knelt beside her and gently lifted her chin.
"Xue'er, do you still want to cultivate? I found a rare spiritual root, but implanting it... it will hurt. A lot."
Xiou Xue clenched her fists and nodded. "Yes, brother. I want to be strong... like you. Even if it hurts, I won't give up."
Xuan Long looked at her deeply, then turned to Hei Mo. "Let's begin."
The bed was prepared. She lay down quietly, her small hands gripping the sheets tightly.
As Xuan Long placed the glowing crystal—the Phoenix Flame Root—on her chest, it sank slowly into her body. A searing light began to spread through her meridians.
"AAAHHHH! BROTHER! IT HURTS!" Xiou Xue screamed, arching her back in pain.
Xuan Long immediately placed his palm on her stomach, activating his Life Essence Healing Art.
"Should I stop?" he asked, voice gentle but urgent.
She shook her head desperately through tears. "N-no! I can... handle it!"
Veins exploded along her arms. Blood trickled from her nose. Every second her body resisted, but Xuan Long didn't stop healing her.
Yue Mei clutched at Yue Li's arm, her own face streaked with tears. "Big Sister... is she going to die?! She's hurting so much!"
Yue Li wrapped her arms around Yue Mei tightly, her face pale. "She'll make it... she has to. She's strong."
Even the usually stoic shadow guards looked on with furrowed brows. Implanting spiritual roots had only a 20% success rate. And she was still a child.
One hour passed.
Xiou Xue's screams stopped. Her body relaxed.
Her breathing slowed.
Xuan Long leaned closer, placing his ear over her chest.
Still alive.
Then, her eyes fluttered open. "Brother...? Can I... cultivate now?"
Tears welled in Xuan Long's eyes as he gently kissed her forehead. "Not only can you cultivate, Xue'er... you now possess a Phoenix Physique. You're one of the rarest geniuses in the world."
Her lips curled into a smile through her exhaustion. "Then... when I grow up... I'll protect you, Brother."
Xuan Long chuckled and gently ruffled her hair. "I'll be counting on you, my little princess."
"Does it still hurt?" he asked, concerned.
"A little bit... in my tummy."
Xuan Long touched her abdomen, channeled healing energy again. "Rest for now. Don't cultivate yet. Let your body adapt to the roots."
Yue Mei ran over and threw her arms around Xiou Xue. "Sister! Don't scare me like that! I thought... I thought..."
Xiou Xue smiled weakly and stroked her cheek. "Sorry... I made you cry."
Yue Mei pouted. "Hmph! Next time I'll be stronger and protect you."
"Then let's grow stronger together," Xiou Xue whispered.
Both girls curled up beside each other on the bed. Within moments, they were asleep, arms wrapped tightly around each other.
Xuan Long stood by and watched them silently, his heart full.
"This... this is my weakness," he murmured. "These girls... they are my world."
---
Outside, Zhou Yuechan witnessed everything from her cleaning corner. Her eyes were bloodshot, filled with rage.
"YOU... YOU USED MY ROOTS ON THAT BITCH?!"
Her scream pierced the air.
Xuan Long's eyes darkened. "Guard. Break her arm."
**CRACK!**
She collapsed to the ground, unconscious from pain. Her noble pride lay shattered like her bone.
---
Later that night, Yue Mei stirred in her sleep.
She looked at Xiou Xue, eyes still wet with tears.
"Sister... it's not because of me you got hurt, right...?"
Xiou Xue murmured, half-awake, "No... I wanted to do this... to grow strong... to protect you."
Yue Mei wiped her tears and whispered, "Then let's get strong together. Always."
She gently pulled the blanket over them and fell asleep again, arms wrapped around her sister.
At the doorway, Yue Li stood in silence, watching the two sleeping girls.
Xuan Long appeared beside her.
She turned away quickly, her cheeks flushed.
He noticed. "Yue Li...?"
"Nothing," she mumbled, staring at the wall.
He smiled. "You're a good big sister to them."
She nodded but didn't look at him. "I... just don't want to see them cry. That's all."
But inside, her heart stirred. Seeing Xuan Long's tenderness toward the girls, the way he bore their pain as if it were his own—her chest tightened.
Was this... the start of something?
She didn't know.
But she knew she was blushing.
---
The night on Shadow Mountain deepened.
Stars scattered the sky like glittering gems.
Inside the quiet room, the Phoenix and her little fox lay sleeping in peace.
While the fallen jewel of the Zhou family lay broken in the cold dirt, her pride trampled, her spirit shattered.
And Xuan Long? He sat by the window, watching the moon.
Preparing for the storm he knew would come.