At dawn the next day, Tie Hongchen woke before the first rays of sunlight had pierced through the curtains of their chamber. Her eyes were heavy, for she had not truly rested. The warmth of Tai Jian's embrace still lingered on her skin, yet her heart was burdened by the path she had chosen. Quietly, she rose from the bed, her long hair cascading like a waterfall as she carefully tucked the sheets back over him.
Tai Jian, exhausted from the battle of both body and heart the night before, was still deep in slumber. His chest rose and fell steadily, his face calm for once, free from the coldness and sharpness that he usually carried. In this moment, he looked less like a warrior fated to defy the heavens and more like a mortal man she longed to protect.
Suppressing the tremble in her lips, Tie Hongchen bent forward and pressed a soft kiss on his forehead. A single tear slid down her cheek, falling onto his skin before she quickly wiped it away. She could not wake him—if she did, she would never have the strength to leave.
Xue Kai was already waiting outside with unease written all over his face. "Princess, are you certain of this?" he asked in a low voice, his gaze flicking toward the sleeping quarters.
Tie Hongchen's eyes were resolute, though her heart was shattering within. "Do not question me, General Xue. This is the only way. Select a hundred of the finest elites. We ride immediately."
Though shocked, Xue Kai did not dare defy her order. He bowed deeply. "As you command." Within moments, the sound of armor clashing and disciplined footsteps echoed through the courtyard as the hundred chosen soldiers assembled. Their presence alone exuded unmatched killing intent, the kind only born of countless battles.
Tie Hongchen turned once more toward the chamber doors, her eyes misting as if to carve Tai Jian's sleeping figure into her memory forever. Then, without hesitation, she mounted her horse. The formation shifted, and under the dim glow of dawn, the princess of war departed—leaving behind the man she had only just learned to love.
---
Far above the mortal realm, in the resplendent halls of the Moon Palace, the heavens themselves stirred. The palace shimmered in silver light, adorned with endless starlight that cascaded down like waterfalls. Within its ethereal chambers, two figures sat opposite one another—one draped in robes of crimson, the other in flowing white silk embroidered with patterns of destiny.
The God of Love swirled his jade cup, wine glowing like liquid fire. His handsome face was clouded with sorrow as he spoke. "Fate, you are merciless. They have just bound themselves, and she has only just embraced her feelings for him. Why must you separate them so soon?"
The Goddess of Fate raised her gaze, her beauty serene and timeless. Though countless millennia had passed since she had first ascended, not a trace of age marred her features. Her eyes carried the vastness of the stars, yet beneath them was a sorrow that few could perceive.
"I did not pen their tragedy," she said softly, her voice like a flowing stream. "Their fates remain unwritten. Before his majesty left, he commanded me to leave Tai Jian's book of fate blank. It was his gamble—to test whether true destiny could exist beyond my calculations. Yet even without my interference, their paths diverge. Mortals or gods, they are not meant to remain together."
The God of Love slammed his cup onto the table, wine splashing like blood. "So even without you, destiny toys with them. That old phantom of destiny has yet to return, yet still his shadow binds the six realms! His majesty has been fighting against him for countless years… yet you say he failed?"
The Goddess of Fate's lips curved into a bitter smile. "The God of Destiny seeks dominion over all creation. He abandoned the heavenly realm long ago to chase the comprehension of life and death. If he succeeds, he will obtain Origin Energy born from destruction and rebirth. With it, he can perfect his law of destiny and eclipse us all. To do so, he must devour my seed of law. And if I wish to surpass him, I must claim his. Such is the cruel bond between us—an eternal struggle of life and death."
Her eyes flickered, as though glimpsing scenes beyond the veil of time. "The nine ancient laws—time, space, sword, darkness, light, fate, destiny, life, and death—govern all that exists. The one who masters destiny cannot do so without mastering life and death. And that is why the balance of the heavens trembles. Taiyi's reign is fading, and already the gods sharpen their blades in secret."
The God of Love clenched his fists. "And amidst this storm, Tai Jian is both hope and threat. His Emotionless Sword—so long as his heart remains untouched, his strength will grow without limit. Yet now… he has fallen in love. If he wavers, if his heart binds him, he may fall from the heavens and be no different from a mortal. The gods will not hesitate to exploit this."
The Goddess of Fate sighed, her expression unreadable. "The six realms have grown complacent in their peace. They no longer remember the blood Taiyi shed to safeguard them. When calamity descends, few will survive. Perhaps even Taiyi himself will fall. What a sorrowful end to such an era."
The God of Love fell silent, gazing at her delicate features. His heart, unlike the detached gods who schemed endlessly, had long belonged to her. After a long pause, he spoke in a tone both tender and bold. "Then let me be selfish, Fate. While the heavens crumble and mortals suffer, let me claim one thing for myself."
The Goddess of Fate blinked, startled, as his eyes locked onto hers with fiery intensity.
"You promised me once," he said, his voice low yet filled with yearning. "My palace has stood empty far too long. Let me take you there, let us fulfill that vow. Even if the heavens collapse tomorrow, I will not regret today."
Before she could respond, his figure blurred, vanishing from his seat. In the next instant, he was beside her. The God of Love's arm slipped around her waist, lifting her effortlessly. She gasped, her cheeks tinged with rare shyness as her composure faltered.
"You—" she began, but her protest was cut off as he took two bold steps forward. Space itself warped, and their figures dissolved into the silver starlight. Unlike Taiyi, who could traverse realms with but a thought, the other gods required energy to tear through space. Yet for the God of Love, carrying the woman he had waited for all his life, no obstacle mattered.
The Moon Palace shimmered, silent once more, as though the entire exchange had been nothing more than an illusion. But the ripples left behind in heaven and earth would not vanish so easily.
---
Meanwhile, in the mortal realm, as the first light of day spread across the horizon, Tai Jian stirred in his slumber. His hand instinctively reached for the warmth that should have been beside him—yet found only empty sheets, still faintly fragrant. His eyes snapped open, and for the first time in many years, fear pierced his heart.
"Hongchen…"
The silence of the chamber answered him, and in that silence, the weight of destiny pressed heavier than ever.