BOUND BY FIRE

CHAPTER SIX: When The Heavens Descended

Chapter Six: When the Heavens Descended

The heavens opened.

Golden light poured through the clouds, brighter than lightning and colder than moonlight.

Lin Yue stood frozen on the mountain path.

Above her, hundreds of figures descended from the sky.

Immortals.

Their silver armor gleamed beneath the storm, and their weapons carried enough spiritual power to make the earth tremble.

The Celestial Army had arrived.

Lin Yue's breathing became shallow.

"How many are there?"

Feng Yan stood before her.

"Too many."

That answer frightened her more than anything else.

"You said you could protect me."

"I said I would try."

"That's not comforting."

"It wasn't meant to be."

Lin Yue stared at him.

"Do you ever say anything comforting?"

"Once."

"When?"

"I don't remember."

Despite everything, Lin Yue almost laughed.

Then a thunderous voice came from the heavens.

"Feng Yan!"

The sound shook the entire mountain.

Feng Yan raised his head.

An immortal dressed in golden armor descended from the clouds. Unlike the others, he carried no weapon.

He didn't need one.

The spiritual pressure surrounding him was terrifying.

Lin Yue instinctively stepped backward.

Feng Yan's voice became cold.

"General Zhao."

The general's gaze moved toward Lin Yue.

"Hand over the mortal."

"No."

"She carries the phoenix blood."

"She is under my protection."

General Zhao's eyes narrowed.

"You know the law."

"Yes."

"Then you know what happens when an immortal protects a forbidden being."

Feng Yan's hand tightened around his sword.

"Try me."

Lin Yue's eyes widened.

"Feng Yan."

He didn't look at her.

General Zhao raised his hand.

The army behind him lifted their weapons.

Lin Yue's heart pounded.

"Wait!"

Every eye turned toward her.

Feng Yan immediately looked back.

"What are you doing?"

Lin Yue swallowed.

She didn't know.

She only knew that if they attacked, people would die.

"Why do you want me?"

General Zhao stared at her.

"You carry the blood of the immortal phoenix."

"That's what everyone keeps saying."

"Because it is true."

"Then why don't you take me?"

Feng Yan turned sharply.

"Lin Yue."

She ignored him.

General Zhao looked amused.

"You surrender willingly?"

"I didn't say that."

His smile disappeared.

"Then what do you want?"

"The truth."

Silence.

Lin Yue looked up at the heavenly army.

"Everyone keeps saying I'm dangerous. Fine. Tell me why."

General Zhao's expression changed.

"The phoenix has been reborn."

Lin Yue's hand moved to her stomach.

"What does that mean?"

"Long ago, the immortal phoenix was destroyed."

A murmur passed through the army.

"The phoenix was believed to have been gone forever. But its soul has returned."

Lin Yue stared at him.

"Inside my child?"

"Yes."

She felt dizzy.

"But why me?"

General Zhao's eyes became cold.

"Because the demon chose you."

Lin Yue froze.

Feng Yan immediately turned around.

"What did you say?"

General Zhao smiled.

"The demon's power entered her body. That power awakened the phoenix soul."

Lin Yue looked at Feng Yan.

"You knew?"

"I suspected."

"You knew!"

"I didn't know the whole truth."

"You knew enough!"

Her voice echoed across the mountain.

Feng Yan said nothing.

Lin Yue's eyes filled with anger.

"All this time, you knew the demon's power inside me might be connected to the phoenix, and you never told me?"

"I was trying to protect you."

"By lying?"

"By keeping you alive!"

His voice finally rose.

Lin Yue went silent.

Feng Yan's expression softened.

"If I told you everything before you were ready, you would have been terrified."

"I am terrified now."

"I know."

For a moment, they stared at each other.

Then General Zhao interrupted.

"Enough."

Feng Yan turned.

"You have no right to interfere."

"I have every right."

General Zhao lifted his hand.

"The Celestial Court has decided. The mortal will be taken to Heaven."

Lin Yue's stomach tightened.

"What happens to me there?"

General Zhao didn't answer immediately.

That silence told her enough.

Lin Yue stepped backward.

"No."

Feng Yan moved in front of her.

"She's not going."

General Zhao sighed.

"You leave me no choice."

He raised his hand.

The army attacked.

Hundreds of golden arrows shot through the sky.

Feng Yan swung his sword.

A massive barrier appeared.

The arrows struck it.

One after another.

The mountain shook.

Lin Yue fell to her knees.

"Feng Yan!"

"Stay down!"

The barrier began to c***k.

Feng Yan's face became pale.

Lin Yue looked at him.

He was struggling.

He couldn't hold them forever.

She grabbed the Sword of Yun from the ground.

The moment her fingers touched the hilt, the sword burst into flames.

Feng Yan turned.

"Lin Yue, don't!"

"I have to help!"

"You don't know how to use it!"

"Then teach me!"

"There isn't time!"

The barrier shattered.

A wave of spiritual energy rushed toward them.

Feng Yan grabbed Lin Yue and pulled her aside.

The attack struck the ground.

The mountain split.

Lin Yue screamed.

Feng Yan caught her before she fell over the edge.

For a moment, they hung above the broken cliff.

Lin Yue looked down.

Then up at him.

"Feng Yan."

"Don't look down."

"I already did."

"Then don't do it again."

"You really need better advice."

His grip tightened.

"I am trying to save your life."

"And I'm trying not to die!"

He pulled her up.

The moment they reached safety, another attack came.

Feng Yan raised his sword.

The impact forced him backward.

Blood appeared at the corner of his mouth.

Lin Yue stared.

"Feng Yan!"

He wiped the blood away.

"I'm fine."

"You are definitely not fine."

"Arguing with me won't help."

"Then stop getting injured!"

He almost smiled.

Then the Sword of Yun in Lin Yue's hand began to shake.

She looked down.

Golden flames spread across the blade.

A strange voice whispered in her mind.

Fire remembers.

Lin Yue's eyes widened.

"What is happening?"

Feng Yan stared at the sword.

"Drop it."

"What?"

"Lin Yue, drop the sword!"

She tried.

But her fingers wouldn't open.

The flames climbed up her arm.

She screamed.

Feng Yan rushed toward her.

Before he could reach her, the ground beneath Lin Yue exploded with golden light.

The entire battlefield fell silent.

The heavenly army stopped.

General Zhao stared.

"No."

Feng Yan looked at Lin Yue.

Her eyes were glowing gold.

"Lin Yue?"

She couldn't hear him.

Inside her mind, she saw fire.

Endless fire.

And within the flames stood a massive golden bird.

Its wings stretched across the heavens.

Its eyes opened.

Lin Yue heard a voice.

You are the vessel.

She shook her head.

"No."

You are the bridge.

"No!"

You are the beginning.

Lin Yue screamed.

The flames erupted from her body.

Feng Yan was thrown backward.

The Celestial Army was forced to retreat.

General Zhao raised his arm to shield himself.

"Impossible."

Lin Yue floated above the ground.

Her hair moved in the wind.

Golden flames surrounded her.

The Sword of Yun disappeared from her hand.

Then reappeared.

This time, the blade was completely covered in fire.

Feng Yan struggled to stand.

"Lin Yue!"

Her eyes turned toward him.

For one terrifying moment, he didn't recognize her.

"Feng Yan?"

Her voice sounded distant.

He stepped forward.

"Yes."

"What is happening to me?"

"I don't know."

The flames around her grew stronger.

General Zhao shouted.

"Kill her!"

The heavenly soldiers raised their weapons.

Feng Yan's expression changed.

"Don't!"

But they attacked.

Lin Yue looked toward the army.

Something inside her awakened.

She raised her hand.

A wall of golden fire erupted across the mountain.

The soldiers were thrown backward.

No one was seriously injured, but the force was enough to send them flying.

Lin Yue stared at her own hand.

"What did I do?"

Feng Yan walked toward her slowly.

"Lin Yue."

She looked at him.

"I didn't mean to."

"I know."

"I didn't want to hurt them."

"I know."

Her eyes filled with tears.

"I'm scared."

Feng Yan stopped in front of her.

For the first time, he didn't tell her to be strong.

He didn't tell her to run.

He simply said,

"Then be scared."

Lin Yue stared at him.

"I'll protect you while you are."

The flames around her began to fade.

Her feet touched the ground.

Then her knees gave way.

Feng Yan caught her.

She leaned against him, exhausted.

The heavenly army had gone silent.

General Zhao looked at her with something Lin Yue had never seen in his eyes before.

Fear.

"The phoenix has awakened."

Feng Yan looked up.

"Not completely."

General Zhao shook his head.

"That doesn't matter."

He turned toward the sky.

"Report to the Celestial Court."

The soldiers began retreating.

Lin Yue lifted her head.

"They're leaving?"

Feng Yan watched them disappear into the clouds.

"No."

His voice was grim.

"They're preparing for war."

Lin Yue's heart sank.

"Because of me?"

"Because of the phoenix."

She looked down at her stomach.

"What happens now?"

Feng Yan didn't answer.

The mountain suddenly trembled.

A dark cloud appeared in the distance.

Not from the heavens.

From the forest.

Feng Yan's expression changed.

Lin Yue noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

"Something is coming."

The darkness spread across the mountains.

Feng Yan pulled her behind him.

"Stay close."

A low laugh echoed through the trees.

Lin Yue froze.

She knew that voice.

The demon.

The same presence that had haunted her dreams.

The same darkness that had taken everything from her.

Feng Yan drew his sword.

"Show yourself."

The darkness moved.

A figure stepped from the shadows.

His eyes glowed red.

He smiled at Lin Yue.

"Finally."

Lin Yue's blood ran cold.

The demon looked at her stomach.

"The phoenix has awakened."

Feng Yan stepped forward.

"You won't touch her."

The demon laughed.

"Feng Yan."

His gaze shifted to the immortal.

"You still don't understand."

"Understand what?"

The demon's smile widened.

"The child was never the true threat."

Lin Yue felt her heart stop.

The demon pointed at her.

"She is."

Silence filled the mountain.

Lin Yue stared at him.

"Me?"

The demon's eyes gleamed.

"The phoenix is only sleeping inside the child."

He smiled.

"But the power of the demon..."

His gaze fell upon Lin Yue.

"...is already awake inside you."

Lin Yue stepped backward.

Feng Yan immediately reached for her.

But before he could touch her, a black mark appeared across Lin Yue's palm.

She screamed.

Dark energy spread through her veins.

The demon laughed.

And somewhere deep inside Lin Yue's soul, something answered.

Something ancient.

Something hungry.

Something that had been waiting for her to awaken.

The war between Heaven and the mortal world had begun.

But Lin Yue was beginning to realize that she might not be the person everyone needed to protect.

She might be the reason they all needed protection from.