Chapter 28: A Moment Beneath the Stars
The stars were brighter than Mei Xiao had ever seen in her life—like silver dust spilled across a velvet sky. She leaned against the wooden railing outside her room, arms folded, trying to ignore how alive the Phoenix shard in her palm felt.
The village was too quiet.
Even the wind carried tension.
"You should be asleep."
She jumped, turning to find Murong Jing He standing behind her—again—like some ghost with perfect hair and terrible manners.
"Seriously, do you float instead of walking?"
"I don't make noise unless I choose to," he said, stepping beside her. "A useful trait when people try to stab you for your throne."
"Dark."
He didn't smile, but she saw the slight twitch of amusement at the corner of his lips.
They stood in silence for a moment. The air between them hummed—not just with power, but something unspoken.
"You're scared," he said quietly.
"Of course I'm scared. Random girl from the 21st century ends up in a magical past with creepy sigils and murderhorses. Who wouldn't be scared?"
"Yet you don't run."
She glanced at him. "And you don't let people in. Yet here you are."
That silenced him.
Then she added, "I'm starting to think you married me for a reason. A reason you're not sharing."
His gaze sharpened. "What makes you think that?"
"Instinct," she said. "And the fact that you look at me like I'm both a threat and a puzzle you can't solve."
He stepped closer, shadows dancing across his jawline. "You are a puzzle. One I need to understand before it's too late."
"To save me?"
"To save everyone."
The shard in her hand pulsed again.
Before either could speak, the distant bell tower rang twice—an emergency signal.
Jing He stiffened. "Trouble."
From across the village, shouts erupted. Flames burst in the sky—bright, greenish. Spirit fire.
"Stay here," he ordered.
"Like hell," Mei snapped, gripping the shard. "I'm part of this now."
He stared at her. For once, no sarcasm. No coldness. Just quiet respect.
"…Fine," he said. "But stay behind me."
"Ugh. You sound like an overprotective anime protagonist."
"I don't know what that is," he said, turning toward the chaos, "but I assume it's someone competent."
They ran toward the town square, wind rushing past them, energy coiling in the air like a coming storm.
And somewhere in the darkness… something watched.
The seal was cracking.
And the Phoenix would soon rise.