Chapter Seven
1076 Words
Dong…
Dong…
Dong…
Three deep bell chimes echoed across the Jade Palace.
It was still dark.
The moon had not yet disappeared.
The sun had not yet risen.
Most immortals were still cultivating within their chambers.
Only one miserable soul stumbled through the palace courtyard, wrapped in a thick white cloak.
Bai Lingxi.
Her eyes were barely open.
She yawned for what felt like the hundredth time.
“… Who trains at this hour?”
She muttered under her breath.
“Demons?”
“No…”
“Even demons sleep.”
A young celestial maid walking beside her quickly whispered,
“Miss Bai!”
“Please lower your voice!”
“If Lord Xuanyuan hears—”
“He’ll hear what?”
A cold voice drifted from above.
Lingxi froze.
Slowly…
Very slowly…
She looked up.
Mo Xuanyuan stood atop a towering jade pavilion overlooking the entire courtyard.
He wore black training robes today.
Unlike the ceremonial robes of the Heavenly Hall, these were lighter and simpler, tied with a dark jade sash around his waist.
His long black hair was gathered into a high ponytail secured with a carved jade clasp.
A black sword rested at his side.
No ornament.
No unnecessary decoration.
Only quiet authority.
Even without armor…
He looked every bit the God of War.
Lingxi forced an awkward smile.
“… Good morning.”
“It is.”
“You are late.”
She frowned.
“I came as soon as they woke me.”
“The lesson began five minutes ago.”
“It isn’t even sunrise!”
“The enemy does not wait for sunrise.”
“… You’re impossible.”
“I’ve been called worse.”
With one graceful step, he descended from the pavilion.
He landed without making the slightest sound.
Even the morning mist seemed to part for him.
He stopped before her.
His jade-colored eyes swept over her.
“You are overdressed.”
Lingxi looked at her cloak.
“It’s cold.”
“You are cultivating.”
“I don’t have cultivation anymore.”
“…”
“…”
The surrounding attendants silently lowered their heads.
Another argument.
Before breakfast.
Mo Xuanyuan spoke first.
“Remove it.”
“No.”
“It restricts movement.”
“It keeps me warm.”
“It is heavy.”
“It is comfortable.”
Their eyes locked.
Neither was willing to surrender.
Finally…
Mo Xuanyuan sighed.
It was so soft that no one would have noticed.
Except the old steward standing nearby.
His Majesty… sighed?
The steward rubbed his eyes.
Had he imagined it?
…
“Follow me.”
Mo Xuanyuan turned and began walking.
Lingxi folded her arms.
“I’m already following.”
“Then stop complaining.”
“I’m not complaining.”
“You have not stopped.”
“I’ve only spoken twice.”
“You’ve spoken nineteen times.”
She blinked.
“You counted?”
“…”
He kept walking.
She smiled to herself.
Got him.
…
Half an hour later…
Lingxi wished she had never smiled.
She stared upward.
Above her rose an endless staircase.
White jade steps disappeared into the clouds.
She couldn’t even see where they ended.
“How many steps?”
A nearby general answered proudly.
“Three thousand.”
She laughed.
“No.”
He nodded.
“Yes.”
She looked at Mo Xuanyuan.
“You expect me to climb that?”
“Yes.”
“Without spiritual energy?”
“Yes.”
She pointed at herself.
“The mortal?”
“Yes.”
“The one who nearly died yesterday?”
“Yes.”
“The disciple you called a burden?”
“Yes.”
Lingxi took a deep breath.
“… I dislike you more every minute.”
He answered without hesitation.
“Climb.”
…
The first hundred steps…
Were manageable.
The next two hundred…
Her legs began shaking.
By the five hundredth…
Sweat soaked her robes.
Her breathing became ragged.
Every immortal who passed looked at her curiously.
Some pitied her.
Others laughed quietly.
“She’s already exhausted.”
“Mortals truly are fragile.”
“His Majesty is too harsh.”
Lingxi heard every word.
She gritted her teeth.
Don’t stop.
Don’t let them laugh.
Keep climbing.
Step.
After step.
After step.
By the one-thousandth stair…
She collapsed.
Her knees struck the jade.
Her palms bled against the rough edges.
She gasped desperately for air.
“I…”
“I can’t…”
Mo Xuanyuan stood several steps above her.
Perfectly composed.
Not even slightly out of breath.
“Stand.”
“I…”
“…can’t.”
“You can.”
“I said…”
“…I can’t!”
Her voice echoed across the mountain.
Tears welled in her eyes.
She hated crying.
She hated appearing weak.
Most of all…
She hated that he was watching.
“I lost everything.”
“My cultivation.”
“My future.”
“My home.”
“My dignity.”
“And now…”
She looked up at him through tear-filled eyes.
“You expect me to become immortal by climbing stairs?”
The mountain became silent.
Even the birds stopped singing.
Mo Xuanyuan slowly walked back down until he stood before her.
For a long moment…
Neither spoke.
Then…
He knelt.
Every heavenly general’s eyes widened.
The Imperial Jade God of War…
Had knelt?
He reached toward her bleeding hand.
Lingxi instinctively tried to pull away.
His voice remained calm.
“Stay still.”
He gently turned her palm upward.
His fingers barely brushed the cuts.
A faint emerald light glowed.
The wounds disappeared.
Lingxi stared at her healed hand.
“You…”
Before she could finish—
He stood.
His expression returned to its usual cold indifference.
“The pain is gone.”
“The lesson is not.”
He turned away.
“Continue climbing.”
Lingxi stared after him in disbelief.
Her heart was filled with conflicting emotions.
He healed me…
Only to make me keep suffering?
“What kind of person is this?”
She muttered.
Far above them…
Hidden within the branches of an ancient celestial tree…
Lady Mingyuan watched everything.
She smiled sadly.
“You foolish child…”
“He has healed those hands…”
“…more times than you could ever remember.”
A single crimson thread shimmered faintly between the two figures on the staircase.
Neither of them noticed.
But destiny…
Had begun taking its first steps once again.
- Writer
