Chapter 4: Two Birds, One Flame

Chapter Four: Two Birds, One Flame

The palace grounds were usually a place of peace, but with the Sovereign King back, peace had packed its bags and relocated to another realm.

Sixuan stood on the marble pathway, arms crossed, eyes narrowed. She had just returned from morning duties when she heard the news that Yingyuan had gone off gallivanting without teling a soul.

Very mature.

"Maybe I should chain him to a tree," she muttered.

“You’d need a divine chain for that. I chew through regular ones,” came Yingyuan’s voice as he casually strolled into view, smirking like a cat who just dodged death and wants a reward for it.

“Did you fly through demon territory again?” she asked flatly.

“No. I sprinted through it. Much faster.”

She sighed so deeply that the flowers around her drooped. “One of these days, I'll feed you to beasts.”

“I’m counting on it.”

They didn’t notice the silent watcher perched high on a distant floating rock—one of the Heavenly King’s shadows.

Sent to observe Sixuan. What the King didn’t expect was to find Yingyuan glued to her side like some magical fungus.

When the reports came back, the Heavenly King was not amused.

---

The Heavenly Realm rarely saw anger. Beings here were created with spiritual purity. But lately, the Heavenly King had been... different. Short-tempered. Restless.

He slammed his cup onto the armrest of his throne, the clink echoing like thunder.

“They are always together,” the shadow said, bowing.

The King’s eyes narrowed. “Yingyuan has duties. He was not asked to return to the realm to flirt.”

---

Sixuan got the summons alone. A simple message from Aoxuan, the Demon Leader.

"I dreamed of your death last night. Over and over. You were beautiful in stillness—want me to make it real?"

She was prepared.

What she didn’t expect was Yingyuan showing up beside her in full black robes, spinning a small flame on his fingertip.

“I’m coming.”

“You weren’t invited.”

“Neither was I to your life, and yet here I am.”

She didn’t answer. Not immediately. Her eyes flicked to the scorched ridge behind him—the one that hadn’t been burning five minutes ago.

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“You lit up a mountain just to make an entrance?”

He smiled. “Had to get your attention somehow.”

She exhaled slowly, jaw clenched. “You…”

“Later,” he said, already walking past her. “You can scold me after we survive this.”

And oh, she would.

---

The Demon Battlefield was a wasteland of scorched rock and hovering black mist. Sixuan stepped forward, calm and regal. Yingyuan followed lazily like they were out for a walk.

Aoxuan stood waiting with a smug look.

“I called for the lady, not her lapdog,” he sneered.

Yingyuan tilted his head. “Oh, I’m no dog. I’m more of a flaming mystery with rage issues. Try me.”

Aoxuan raised a brow. “Interesting. Two birds with one stone, then.”

He clapped once. The air trembled. Shadows rose from the ground.

“Stay behind me,” Yingyuan said to Sixuan.

She snorted. “You’re cute when you pretend I’m fragile.”

Aoxuan launched first. He flew toward Yingyuan with claws out. Yingyuan spun back, dodged, and slammed both palms into the ground—magic rings burst from the soil, and fire erupted upward.

Aoxuan flipped midair and landed behind him, slashing downward. Yingyuan caught the strike with one hand, and his eyes flared red for just a second—too quick for anyone to catch.

Sixuan summoned her own magic circle, her fingers weaving through the air rapidly in a sharp clockwise pattern.

Blue light sparked as ice blades rained from above. Aoxuan ducked, rolled, and hurled a demonic whip toward her. She twisted sideways, caught the whip mid-air, and yanked, pulling Aoxuan off balance.

Yingyuan appeared beside him, fist glowing.

“Summoning Sixuan? Bold of you. Stupid, but bold." He quipped, slamming his fist into Aoxuan’s side.

The demon lunged with a roar, claws stretched toward Yingyuan’s chest.

Instead of dodging, Yingyuan charged straight in.

He dropped his sword mid-run, shoved both hands forward, and slammed them into the demon’s chest. A blast of fire erupted point-blank—violent, unstable, and way too strong for close-range use.

The explosion knocked them both off their feet. The ground shook.

Dust clouded the air. For a moment, it was silent.

The demon groaned and stumbled to its feet, smoke rising from its back. He hissed, glaring at Yingyuan.

“This isn’t over,” He spat, before vanishing into the shadows.

Yingyuan pushed himself up, his arm badly burned, blood running down the side of his face. He watched the spot where the demon disappeared.

“They always say that,” he muttered, brushing off his robes. “And then it’s over.”

---

Back in the realm, Sixuan turned sharply, eyes blazing. “What exactly was that stunt supposed to prove?”

"What stunt?"

You could’ve died. AGAIN. Do you have a death wish?”

“Not really. I just have bad hobbies.”

“You’re not a baby immortal anymore. You’re the Sovereign King.”

He gave a dramatic gasp. “Oh no. Responsibility.”

She scowled. He smiled.

"You're cute when you pretend I'm fragile." He smirked

"Touché"

"No, but seriously, I'm the Sovereign King of the Heavenly Realm. Do you really think that little demon would kill me?"

"Aoxuan is anything but little. He's the Demon leader." She corrected him with a glare

"Doesn't matter. We're okay. "

They sat together on the floating veranda of the Moon Garden where gravity hums like a lullaby and lanterns drift midair

“Yingyuan,” he said suddenly.

“Huh?”

“My name. I wanted you to know it.”

She blinked. “Yingyuan... That’s actually a really pretty name.”

He turned his face away, but the stupid grin was there.

She realised she had never thought about his name, she didn’t live with the spiritual beings so she'd never heard people mention his name.

Before now, she had not interacted with anyone who wasn't a Protector.

Everyone called him Sovereign King so she didn't know.

Maybe she was warming up to him. Maybe, maybe not.

---

The Heavenly King was no longer smiling.

“You are not here to indulge in fantasy,” he told Yingyuan coldly. “You are here to protect our realm. Your duty is to abstain from distractions. From... love.”

"And you're telling me this because.....?"

"Yingyuan! You dare to question me?"

"No. Yingyuan wouldnt dare"

"Then focus on your duties and don't get distracted"

Yingyuan bowed slightly. “I understand. I will not get distracted.”

Then he stepped out of the palace—and spotted Sixuan lugging a crate of ancient artefacts across the courtyard.

He grinned.

“Maybe just... a tiny distraction.”

---

“Is that artefact going to sprout legs and kill us?” he asked, walking over.

Sixuan didn’t look up. “No. This one just screams if you drop it.”

“Perfect. I love loud, cursed objects.”

“You should marry one.”

“I’m already emotionally unavailable, thank you.”

She smirked. “You’re emotionally delusional, is what you are.”

“Coming from you? That’s practically a compliment.”

“Help me carry it, sarcasm king.”

He took the crate. “Only because I’m scared of what happens if it screams. Also, I enjoy your grumpy gratitude.”

She rolled her eyes. “Grumpy? Me?”

“Sixuan, you once stabbed a teacup for looking at you wrong.”

“Don’t bring that up. It was a cursed teacup.”

“And yet... you still stabbed it.”

---

A soft rumble echoed across the garden.

All turned to see a little boy rubbing his belly.

“I’m hungry...” he whined.

Grandpa waved a scroll at them. “Alright, break time! Go eat before you faint and mess up my garden again.”

Yao sipped her tea and nibbled on a cookie in the corner, humming softly. But her thoughts were far from peaceful.

Her mind was stuck on the image of Sixuan and Yingyuan, bickering like children and fighting like legends.

She smiled faintly.

What a pair.

---

"Secretly, no one knew Yingyuan’s true origin. His blood carried both phoenix and demon lineage, passed down from ancient ancestors of the beast realm. He used only pure magic, carefully hiding the wild power beneath it. Only the Heavenly King knew. And that truth could one day burn everything down." Grandpa whispered dramatically

"Uhn? People would be mad if they found out he was a demon, wouldn't they Grandpa?" A kid asked softly, almost like he was scared.

"Maybe," Grandpa shrugged

Yao clutched her sleeve, her eyebrows pulling together. Her lips hung open as her eyes stung unexpectedly. Tears? Why? She didn’t know. She blinked them back and looked up, trying to follow the rest of Grandpa’s words.