The moment he stepped down from the carriage, Xichen took a slow breath as his calm gaze surveyed the surroundings. The winds of the Blue Wind Empire were gentle compared to the scorching heat of the Divine Phoenix City, and the sky above was veiled with scattered clouds, as if bearing witness to the beginning of a new chapter in his journey.
Hundreds of people were lined up in the outer palace plaza, their faces reflecting both tension and curiosity. Their visit was not merely unexpected; it carried immense pressure—after all, Xichen was no ordinary guest, but a divine prince of the Phoenix lineage, bearing sacred blood and a history that preceded their lifetimes by generations.
"Welcome, Your Highness Xichen!" the Crown Prince said with a formal bow, his voice steady yet clearly filled with respect. He wore dignified, luxurious robes that marked his status as an imperial prince.
Standing with him were not only the Crown Prince, but also the second and third princes, along with their followers. Although their welcome was polite and conducted according to royal etiquette, the greed and ambition in the eyes of the three were neither hidden nor unfamiliar to Xichen. He had seen the same look in the eyes of his own royal brothers. However, unlike his brothers—who had dismissed him as nothing more than the talentless thirteenth son—these men were thinking of using him, or rather, positioning him as a prince of the strongest empire in order to secure the throne.
Xichen cast them a brief glance, noting the tension in their eyes and the way they avoided meeting his gaze directly. It was nothing unusual. His aura was oppressive, and the mere ripple of his spiritual energy was enough to instill fear in those around him.
"This prince is most pleased that the three princes have come personally to greet him," Xichen said with a faint smile, displaying the refined courtesy befitting a prince. "Thank you for this wonderful welcome. I originally intended to make a brief stop in the imperial capital of the Blue Wind Empire before continuing my unimportant journey. However, along the way I heard that His Majesty the Emperor's health has not been good, and thus I came to inquire after him, accompanied by my personal physician."
Upon hearing Xichen's words, the expressions of the three princes changed. The cause of the Emperor's condition lay with them, and none of them wished to see him in good health. They longed for his death so they could seize the throne, and to achieve that, they had even cooperated with major sects in their struggle for succession.
Xichen's words were not merely polite pleasantries… they were a sword wrapped in silk, concealing a veiled threat and a clear message: I know, and I am watching.
It was not difficult for Xichen to read the faint shock that flashed through their eyes, nor the quick glances they exchanged during that brief moment of silence. That alone was enough to confirm his suspicions.
"Of course, of course!" the Crown Prince replied after a moment's hesitation, quickly regaining his smile. "His Majesty the Emperor will be overjoyed to see Your Highness… your visit is an honor beyond measure."
"It is only a temporary visit, there is no need for such exaggeration," Xichen said calmly as he raised his hand slightly, gesturing to a servant behind him. "Bring the physician."
An old man stepped forward, with a long beard and sharp eyes that carried an unusual calm. He wore simple gray robes, devoid of symbols or renown. No one knew who he was, yet the faint aura leaking from him was enough to make the slumbering inner dragon within one of the guards tremble.
(He is no ordinary physician…) the third prince thought as he stared at the old man.
"His name is Elder Mo. He owes me an old debt," Xichen said evenly. "He has agreed to examine His Majesty's condition. It will not take long."
The second prince swallowed with difficulty, while the Crown Prince forced his smile to widen.
"Your Highness is far too generous… we shall take you to him at once."
As they made their way toward the Emperor's private imperial wing, Xichen noticed the unusually large number of guards deployed around the inner palace—far more than necessary.
(They are afraid even of one another…) he murmured inwardly, his hands clasped behind his back, his composure unshaken.
The entourage entered a long hall whose walls were engraved with bamboo groves and blue dragons. At its far end stood a massive bed draped in translucent curtains, behind which lay the frail body of a man, a weak life aura emanating from him as though it might be extinguished at any moment.
Elder Mo approached slowly, then sat beside the bed and placed his hand on the Emperor's wrist, which was shrouded in a pale gray aura.
Several moments of absolute silence passed… then Elder Mo spoke:
"Your Highness, this is not a simple illness. It is a parasite known as the Soul Devouring Life Binding Parasite. It is an extremely dangerous parasite that binds itself to the host and devours his vitality until death. The parasite will then die with the host, dissolving into blood, and will never be discovered."
"To cure this parasite, one requires a Burning Soul Flower and exceptional medical expertise to remove it."
The words fell like daggers in the hall.
The three princes froze in place. Xichen glanced at them from the corner of his eye but paid them little heed, turning his gaze back to Elder Mo.
"Elder Mo, can you treat His Majesty the Emperor? I possess several Burning Soul Flowers," Xichen said as he took one out from his storage ring. Though it was exceedingly rare within the Blue Wind Empire, to him it was nothing more than a modest treasure.
"This old one will do his utmost to treat His Majesty the Emperor and hopes to meet Your Highness's expectations," Elder Mo replied respectfully as he accepted the Burning Soul Flower from Xichen's hand, then looked toward the three princes. "I ask that everyone except His Highness leave the hall, as I must focus on treating His Majesty."
It was clear that Elder Mo was dismissing the three princes. Xichen did not concern himself with it; he took a seat nearby as his attendant served him a cup of tea.
The three princes left the hall, struggling to maintain their composure, yet their eyes were filled with resentment and hatred—not only toward Elder Mo, but toward Xichen more than anyone else.
They felt their authority shaking beneath their feet, as though an unwanted visitor had begun pulling the ground out from under them… without even drawing a sword.
Yet no matter how unwilling they were, there was nothing they could do. Xichen was a prince of the Divine Phoenix Empire, the strongest of the seven empires on the continent, and the Blue Wind Empire—far from being the strongest among them—could not afford to provoke such an existence.
Thus, all they could do was grit their teeth in unwilling silence, powerless to act.
Inside the hall, silence reigned. Only the Emperor's ragged breathing and the faint sounds of Elder Mo's tools could be heard as he wasted no time and began the treatment. A gentle, warm energy spread through the air, intertwining with a strange, blazing crimson energy emanating from the Burning Soul Flower.
_
What are your thoughts so far?