The power was no longer just a weapon or a curse — it was a part of him longing to be remembered.
Cheonsa's eyes glinted coldly in the shadows, a knowing smile playing on her lips as she watched Chen's aura surge skyward.
"It's only the beginning... Let's see how far the prince will fall... or rise."
Meanwhile, under the silver glow of the full moon, Yunxi's fingers hovered just above the worn piano keys. But the melody she longed to play was shattered — her vision blurred as her gaze caught something impossible.
A swirling blackish aura, drifting upward from the distant Moonlight Pavilion, trailing like smoke toward the moon itself.
Heart pounding, she rose and stepped into the night, compelled by an invisible thread pulling her forward.
Her breath caught as she whispered,
"What is that...?"
Without hesitation, Yunxi began to follow the dark trail, unaware that each step was drawing her deeper into Chen's tangled fate — and closer to the truth that would change both their worlds forever.
Yunxi's steps quickened as the blackish aura led her through winding corridors and forgotten halls within the palace—places whispered about but rarely seen.
Suddenly, she glimpsed a shadowed figure—chained and slumped in the dim recess of a hidden, unrestricted hall. His form was blurry, like a fading memory just out of reach. Her heart skipped.
Before she could move closer, a chilling breeze swept past her, and from the shadows emerged Cheonsa, her delicate fan flicking open with a whisper of magic.
With a graceful sweep, Cheonsa's fan released a shimmering veil of mist that blurred Yunxi's vision even more, wrapping her senses in a fog.
Cheonsa's voice was soft but sharp,
"Curiosity is a dangerous thing, Yunxi. Not everything hidden is meant to be found."
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Chen stood silent beneath the moonlight, unaware that Cheonsa was already weaving her magic to draw him closer — closer to secrets he had long buried, and to the destiny that awaited.
Cheonsa's eyes gleamed with a strange mixture of sorrow and resolve as she faced Yunxi.
"He is my brother. The three of us have endured hardships no one could imagine."
Her delicate fan waved gracefully, releasing a hypnotic shimmer that clouded Yunxi's mind and dulled her will. Yunxi's steps slowed, her breath shallow — mesmerized, unable to resist.
Cheonsa's voice turned commanding,
"Go to him. Give him a single drop of your blood. Only then will his power truly awaken."
Yunxi's hand trembled as she reached out, the pull of the magic overriding every thought, every fear.
In the moonlit shadows, Chen remained unaware that fate was being sealed by a single drop — a bond that could either break the chains of his past or shackle him forever.
Yunxi's steps were slow but steady as she approached Chen, the cold blade glinting faintly under the moonlight. Chen's eyes snapped open, sharp and fierce.
"Don't come near!" he shouted, voice low but laced with warning.
But Yunxi didn't stop. With trembling hands, she pressed the knife gently against his throat—careful not to draw blood.
"Are you mad?" Chen growled, his breath ragged.
Then, without hesitation, Yunxi sliced her palm. Crimson droplets blossomed onto the blade, glistening like rubies.
She held her bleeding hand up, letting the scent of her blood fill the air.
Chen's expression faltered. The intoxicating smell stirred something deep inside him—a wild, uncontrollable surge of power that made his vision blur and mind reel.
He staggered back, eyes glowing with fierce blue and red hues, caught between fury and an ancient, desperate longing.
Without warning, Chen lunged forward with lightning speed. His teeth sank into Yunxi's neck, sharp and fierce, drawing a thin line of blood. The sudden pain and shock overwhelmed her, and she collapsed into unconsciousness.
As the blood bonded between them, Chen's wild, uncontrollable aura calmed. His fierce eyes softened, returning to their usual cold, guarded state.
Before he could react further, Xiuming appeared out of the shadows, his expression tense but steady.
At the same moment, Cheonsa's presence vanished like mist—her plans set in motion but her next move hidden.
Xiuming's footsteps echoed softly as he entered the moonlight pavilion, only to stop dead in his tracks. His eyes widened in shock at the sight before him—Yunxi lying unconscious on the floor, her pale skin marked by a streak of blood on her neck. Chen stood nearby, his usual cold composure flickering with something unreadable.
"What is going on here?" Xiuming's voice was low but filled with urgency and disbelief. "How did she get here… and why is she covered in blood?" His gaze sharpened as it landed on Chen. "And you—what did you do to her?"
Chen's jaw tightened, his fists curling into tight balls at his sides. His dark eyes met Xiuming's without hesitation.
"She came here on her own. It was her choice—she wanted to do this." His voice was calm, but carried a weight that silenced the room.
Xiuming's breath hitched, disbelief warring with concern. "You expect me to believe that? You, of all people, letting someone—especially her—come this close?"
Chen's expression hardened, a flicker of something vulnerable flashing through his steely gaze. "There's more at stake than you understand."
For a long moment, the two men stood locked in tense silence, the only sound the soft rustling of the night breeze outside.
Xiuming's eyes narrowed suspiciously as he took a cautious step closer. His voice dropped to a harsh whisper, laced with tension.
"Does she… know your secret? Or something no one else in this place should know?"
Chen's gaze darkened, his jaw tightening as he stared into the distance, recalling all that had been hidden for so long.
"She knows more than she should. That's why she's here. And why I can't let her go."
Xiuming swallowed hard, the weight of the situation sinking in. "This isn't just about her then. It's about what she carries—the truth you've been hiding."
Chen's eyes flickered with a rare softness, but his voice was steady.
"Yes. And now that blood binds us both."
Xiuming's voice trembled as he knelt beside Yunxi, gently checking her pulse.
"How did you become normal just now? Is she... dead?" His eyes darted to Chen, worry etched deep into his features.
"Don't hurt her, Chen. We need her alive—she might hold the answers we've been searching for."
Chen's expression softened for a moment, the cold assassin's mask slipping just enough to reveal a flicker of concern.
"She's not dead," he said quietly. "But she's weak. The bite wasn't meant to kill—it was to awaken something inside her... something important."
Xiuming looked up, confusion mixed with urgency.
"Awaken? What are you talking about?"
Chen's gaze hardened again, but there was no denying the weight behind his words.
"This is just the beginning. If she survives, everything will change."
Xiuming nodded slowly, carefully supporting Yunxi's limp body.
"Then we better act fast. Let's get her somewhere safe, and find out what this really means."
The moon hung low, casting a ghostly glow over the silent room. Yunxi lay on the bed, her skin pale, her breath shallow. A white cloth was tied around her bleeding hand. Her lips trembled even in unconsciousness, as if whispering secrets from another world.
Chen sat by her side, his brows furrowed. For the first time in years, something stirred in his chest—confusion… guilt… fear?
He clenched his fists.
"Why did you help me?"
"You didn't know me. You saw the monster inside me… and still… Why?"
His voice cracked like a whisper carried by wind.
Just then, Xiuming entered with bandages and hot tea. He paused, observing the usually emotionless prince sitting like a shattered statue.
"Chen… do you remember the old story?"
"What story?"
"The one about the Spirit Prince. Cursed by blood. Chained by rage. Only one with a tear-marked soul could break the sea Chen looked at him, eyes narrowing.
"You don't mean—"
Xiuming nodded slowly, glancing at Yunxi.
"She fits the prophecy. She didn't fear you. She gave herself up… willingly. Maybe she's more than just a girl from another world."
Silence fell. The only sound was the rustling of leaves outside the window.
Chen turned back to Yunxi. A drop of blood still dried near her collarbone where he had bitten. The memory made his hands tremble.
"If she is that girl…" he whispered, "...then I will never let anyone hurt her."
And for the first time, Prince Chen—a man born of shadow and bound by chains—felt afraid. Not of enemies. But of losing her.
Chen stood quietly near Yunxi's bedside, watching the gentle rise and fall of her chest. Her face was peaceful now, unlike the storm she had walked into because of him.
Xiuming leaned against the window, arms crossed.
"She's brave," he said softly. "Most people run at the sight of you."
Chen didn't reply.
"Still... you should be you, Chen. Don't start acting strange around her. She might notice something's wrong."
Chen's eyes narrowed.
"I don't act. I protect."
"Good," Xiuming said, his voice calm. "Then protect her in your own way. But... we keep watch. There's something different about her."
Chen's gaze lingered on Yunxi.
"Different doesn't mean dangerous."
"No," Xiuming agreed. "But it means answers. And we need answers."
He stepped back toward the door.
"Don't overthink it. Just be the cold-hearted prince she believes you are... for now."
Chen gave a small nod. Then Xiuming added, more to himself than anyone:
"Let's see how long you can keep your heart locked away."
Yunxi Awakens
The scent of herbs and faint sandalwood lingered in the air.
Yunxi's lashes fluttered. Her body felt heavy, her head aching dully as if she had been drifting in a dream far too long. Slowly, she opened her eyes.
"Miss!" a soft voice cried out.
Rou Rou leaned over, her eyes teary with relief.
"You're awake! Thank the heavens. You scared me!"
Yunxi's gaze wandered around the unfamiliar room—ornate wooden beams, silk drapes, and the soft glow of afternoon sunlight peeking through lattice windows. Her breath caught.
This wasn't her room. And she remembered...
The moon. A strange hall. Chains. Him.
Her hand instinctively went to her neck. Bandaged.
"Rou Rou..." she whispered, her throat dry, "Where... am I?"
Rou Rou gently helped her sit up with pillows.
"You're in the East Palace's guest wing. You collapsed in the forest. They found you unconscious."
"They...?" Yunxi's voice trembled. "Who?"
Rou Rou hesitated, then lowered her eyes.
"The second prince's guards brought you back. But… no one explained clearly. Just that you needed rest."
Yunxi's thoughts raced.
No sign of Cheonsa. No sign of Chen.
Had it all been a dream?
She clutched her blanket, her eyes growing distant.
"Was I alone when they found me?"
Rou Rou bit her lip, as if uncertain whether to say more.
"I heard someone say... His Highness was there. Prince Chen."
Yunxi's heart skipped.
Then it wasn't a dream...
She leaned back, confusion swimming in her chest.
"Rou Rou... what happened to me?"
Rou Rou gently placed a cool cloth on her forehead.
"Whatever it was, you're safe now, miss. That's all that matters."
But to Yunxi, it didn't feel like the end. It felt like the beginning.
The Unmarked Hall
Despite Rou Rou's protests, Yunxi stepped out of the guest room as soon as the dizziness wore off. Wrapped in a pale cloak, she moved quietly through the palace halls, her footsteps light but urgent.
Something tugged at her—like a thread leading her forward.
She remembered it clearly:
The moonlight, the aura in the sky, the chains, the darkness that felt ancient.
She didn't know who he was.
She didn't even know if it had been real.
But she had to see it for herself. Yunxi passed through the quiet eastern corridor, pretending to belong. The guards barely spared her a glance. After all, she wore the guest seal, and she moved like someone who knew where she was going.
Her heart pounded as she reached the edge of the palace gardens.
Behind a curtain of vines and old stonework was a narrow, unused path—one she hadn't known existed until the vision, or dream, or memory.
She followed it.
It led her deeper—toward a forgotten part of the palace.
And there, she found it.
A massive hall, darkened by time, surrounded by mist.
Unmarked. Silent.