Kai woke beneath a plum tree, its fragile white blossoms drifting slowly and gracefully through the biting cold air of the Silver Forest. The petals fluttered down like soft snowflakes, swirling in lazy eddies around him, settling on the frost-covered ground. The faint, sweet fragrance of the plum flowers filled his lungs with every shallow breath, a delicate reminder of hope blossoming in the midst of the bleak and unforgiving desolation that was Frost Ridge. The world around him lay silent, coated in frost, a frozen stillness that seemed to press down on his very soul.
His body ached with exhaustion, every muscle stiff and every meridian stretched painfully from the brutal battle with Lu. The lingering sting of wounds and fatigue pulled at him, but even deeper than the physical pain was the weight of the memories flooding his mind. He could still see the black flames licking the air, hear the roar of the sword as it sliced through the cold atmosphere, feel the surge of divine power racing through his veins. Somehow, he had survived that impossible fight, but the precious heavenly artifact — the ultimate prize — was lost to him forever, and now he was utterly alone.
Beside him, almost hidden beneath a soft carpet of plum petals, lay a sealed envelope. The seal shimmered faintly, the paper pristine despite the surrounding frost. On its surface, an inscription in delicate calligraphy read: "Open after arrival." Kai's fingers trembled as he reached for it, but the moment he touched the seal, a protective formation flared to life with a cold blue glow, forcing him to quickly withdraw and tuck the envelope safely into the ring on his finger. Without a doubt, this was So Yun's work — her careful, protective magic ensuring only he could access it.
Kai's heart tightened painfully at the thought of leaving So Yun and Aina behind in this relentless chase. He clenched his jaw as a storm of guilt and worry swept through him, the ache of separation stabbing deeper than any wound. But the words Belozar had spoken echoed like thunder in his mind, sharp and unforgiving: the Shen Clan would never stop hunting him. There was no sanctuary, no safe place left for him.
He forced himself to rise, every movement heavy with fatigue but his senses razor-sharp, scanning the forest with keen alertness. Not far away stood the portal arch, a towering structure entwined with icy vines that pulsed faintly with otherworldly energy. The frost clung to its surface like crystalline lace, shimmering under the pale light like something alive. Lin Shi's voice echoed in his memory — she had created this portal to save a lost civilization, entrusting him with the jade tablet that served as the teleportation key, as well as a pendant meant to summon Fen, the majestic bird.
Kai's lips pressed into a thin line as he recalled how he had accidentally shattered the pendant during the journey, and yet Xu Xe had not appeared to confront him — at least, not yet.
Methodically, almost robotically, Kai began unloading the bags filled with eternal ice, their spiritual energy glittering like countless frozen stars trapped inside. The jade tablet glowed softly, lifting into the center of the portal arch where several slots opened up to receive the ice. Despite his mechanical motions, a thick fog of doubt hung over him, heavy and unrelenting. Would Fen come? Would the portal actually work? The question gnawed at him as he placed the final bag onto the arch.
Suddenly, a surge of familiar Qi rippled through the air — the ancient, stagnant water energy, old but free of demonic taint. Xu Xe.
The massive dragon loomed before him, its majestic white scales gleaming like polished jade, radiating an aura both terrifying and regal. The jade tablet crumbled instantly into dust, and the portal's shimmering light flickered and died. Kai's chest tightened as a sinking feeling spread through him, but he had anticipated this moment. Slowly, he turned to face the dragon's crimson eyes glowing with cold fury.
"What now, traitor?" Xu Xe sneered, his form shifting fluidly into that of a white-haired man, clutching the shattered remains of the pendant in his hand.
Kai met his gaze steadily, voice calm but firm. "You were watching. Waiting for me to fall into despair."
Xu Xe let out a bitter laugh, filled with anguish and scorn. "I wanted you to feel the agony I suffered when my dreams shattered. You met her. Tell me — where did you get this pendant?"
Kai's expression hardened. "I saw Lin Shi. She told me to tell you to wait. When this world heals, you will be reunited."
Xu Xe roared in frustration, his aura shaking the frost-laden trees around them. "This world will never heal! I destroyed it with my own hands! I doomed Lin Shi to suffer for millennia!"
Kai stood his ground, unflinching. "She said you are doing well. Your efforts are not in vain. And she urged you to stop hiding from the Fort, to set aside your pride."
The storm of emotions in Xu Xe's eyes flickered, conflicting feelings battling behind his glare. "She's always been an idealist," he muttered bitterly.
Kai pressed further. "She reminded you of your dream — the Empire of Fen, whose descendants still survive in the Fort."
"You!" Xu Xe snarled, venom dripping from his words.
Kai lowered himself onto the cold stone at the arch's center, calm and resolute. "I also know you owe me. You destroyed my Book of Ashes."
Xu Xe snorted dismissively. "That worthless scrap would have destroyed your meridians. You should be grateful."
Kai smirked. "Perhaps. But it was mine. And a dragon like Xu Xe wouldn't steal without compensation, would he?"
Xu Xe's eyes narrowed dangerously. "What do you want, mortal?"
Kai's voice softened with a strange mixture of weariness and hope. "I want to see Fen. After all we've been through, we owe each other at least that much — a proper goodbye."
The dragon hesitated, then nodded reluctantly. "Five minutes."
In a flash of shimmering Qi, Fen appeared. Her white feathers were ruffled and messy, and her wide eyes shone with fear and relief. She darted straight into Kai's arms, chirping anxiously as if words could barely keep up with her frantic thoughts.
"Kai! I'm so glad you're alive! That old man… he's gone mad! I tried to warn you!"
Kai held her tightly, feeling the fragile warmth of her tiny body against his own. "He got to you, didn't he?"
Fen nodded, her voice muffled against his chest. "Ugh…"
Xu Xe scoffed coldly. "What is your game, boy?"
Kai glanced at the glowing interface of his system. "Stopping you from making the same mistake again." He looked up at the dragon and added quietly, "Activate teleportation?" Without waiting, he selected Yes.
Suddenly, the world dissolved into a blinding surge of light. Kai and Fen were hurtled through the endless void, leaving behind the Phoenix Sect, Xu Xe's loneliness, and the icy chill of Frost Ridge.
They soared toward a new world — a place where sunlight would warm their skin, where old enemies could no longer follow, where the unknown awaited. A new beginning filled with fragile hope and endless possibility.