Han Jian had spent the night practicing in secret, feeling the rush of Soul Flame Art pulse beneath his fingertips. The body was awkward and small, but the power—the raw, familiar force—was his. He grinned, imagining the look on Zhen Luo's face the next time they met. Oh, it would be priceless.
The palace gardens were bustling that morning. Servants hurried past, flowers swayed in the gentle breeze, and the scent of incense drifted lazily from the halls. Han Jian moved like a shadow, easily slipping between the guards, unnoticed. This nobody boy had never felt so alive.
"Today is the day," he muttered, adjusting the sleeves of his plain clothes. "Let's see how much trouble I can make."
He hadn't expected the first encounter to be so… irritatingly delightful. Zhen Luo, of course, was perched on a stone bench, pretending to read a scroll but actually glaring at passing officials with thinly veiled contempt. Han Jian grinned and sauntered closer.
"Good morning, Your Highness," he said cheerfully, tilting his head. "Careful, or I might trip over your royal feet by accident."
Zhen Luo looked up, expression darkening. "Careful? You're deliberately annoying me."
"Annoying?" Han Jian's grin widened. "I prefer the term… charmingly mischievous."
The crown prince blinked once, and something unreadable flickered in his eyes. Han Jian caught it and felt a thrill run through him. This was going to be fun.
Meanwhile, across the garden, two other figures were quietly observing the scene. Bai Zehan leaned casually against a stone pillar, smirking as he nudged Luo Xian. "Looks like another interesting show in the palace today," he whispered.
Luo Xian adjusted his robes nervously. "Isn't that the crown prince again? He doesn't seem… approachable."
"Exactly why it's fun," Bai Zehan said, eyes sparkling. "Besides, I think that boy—what's his name? Han Jian—might give him a run for his money."
Luo Xian frowned slightly. "Be careful. Mischief in the palace rarely goes unnoticed."
Bai Zehan laughed, brushing off the warning. "Relax. Watching chaos unfold is my favorite pastime."
Back with Han Jian and Zhen Luo, the tension thickened. Han Jian's hands twitched subtly, and a faint heat shimmered around his palms—the first real spark of Soul Flame Art since rebirth. Zhen Luo noticed, naturally, but instead of reacting immediately, he raised a brow.
"You're hiding something," Zhen Luo said, his voice low and dangerous.
Han Jian's grin widened. "And you're too curious for your own good, Your Highness."
"Curiosity can get you killed," Zhen Luo replied, though the hint of a smirk betrayed his amusement.
Han Jian chuckled, the sound echoing lightly through the gardens. "Good. Then we're evenly matched."
Before Zhen Luo could respond, a servant ran past, tripping on a loose stone. Han Jian seized the opportunity and flicked a small burst of Soul Flame to send the servant stumbling safely into a hedge—harmlessly, of course, but dramatically.
Zhen Luo's eyes widened. "What did you just do?"
"Saved a life," Han Jian said innocently. "You should be grateful."
The crown prince pinched the bridge of his nose, muttering something about chaos incarnate, while secretly feeling a spark of excitement he would never admit.
As the sun climbed higher, the garden became a stage of subtle power plays. Han Jian tested his abilities in small ways—moving objects, sensing guards' positions, and teasing Zhen Luo at every opportunity. The crown prince, despite himself, found the boy's antics strangely engaging.
Meanwhile, Bai Zehan and Luo Xian quietly joined the scene under the guise of morning exercises. Bai Zehan winked at Han Jian. "Looks like someone's enjoying themselves."
Luo Xian whispered, "Don't cause too much trouble… yet."
Han Jian grinned, the corners of his eyes glinting dangerously. "Oh, don't worry. This is just the beginning."
Zhen Luo, watching Han Jian move with a mischievous glint in his eyes, realized that today would be the start of something… unpredictable. And chaotic. And somehow, ridiculously entertaining.
The palace had barely begun to witness the sparks of mischief, romance, and revenge that were about to ignite.
Somewhere in the shadows, Feng Huai quietly muttered to himself, suppressing a sigh. "This is going to be… a long day."
Chapter 2