WITH THE DESTRUCTION of the silver bangle came the distant cry of a phoenix. Tongues of flame sprouted behind Madam Wang in the shape of gleaming plumage; a red glow flooded the hall and flames scorched the sky. That ferocious spiritual flow was like an eruption of molten rock, threatening to swallow everything in its path.
Madam Wang stood within the conflagration, raising her slender hands. A handful of writhing flames appeared in her palm, crackling and hissing as they hovered in midair.
"What's going on?! I thought she was spiritually weak!"
"Didn't Xue Zhengyong marry a woman who couldn't learn magic… Wh-what happened?!"
Xue Meng gasped. "Mom?"
Jiang Xi took a step forward. "Chuqing!" he snapped. "Stop this right now! Why would you go so far because of what's happened today?"
It'd been many years since anyone had called Madam Wang by her childhood name. Something indescribable flashed in those eyes dyed red by the reflection of the flames, but it was swiftly swallowed up. Her eyes found Jiang Xi in the crowd. "Jiang-zhangmen, if I didn't go this far, would you leave us be?"
Only silence answered her.
"Would you spare Sisheng Peak? Would you spare Xue Meng?"
Jiang Xi clenched his jaw. "Just stop. We can still talk things out."
Madam Wang shook her head. "You've already cut out my heart, I already lie dead on the floor of Loyalty Hall. I won't let you destroy me a third time."
"Chuqing!"
"Jiang-zhangmen, this ends here."
A phoenix's shrill cry echoed overhead as Madam Wang's clothes began to billow and flare, and her irises brightened to a scarlet red. One sharp-eyed observer noticed the orange glow beginning to shine through the fabric at her waist. "What's that?!" she cried in fear.
Jiang Xi swore under his breath and turned to the crowd. "Go back down the mountain!"
"But this isn't over; Xue Meng is still…"
"Stay then, if you want to die!" roared Jiang Xi. "That's Phoenix's Inferno of Guyueye! Do you treasure your life?!"
Nearly everyone went white. It was widely known that high-level female disciples of Guyueye had a phoenix tattooed on their waists so they could ignite Phoenix's Inferno in times of danger, but none had ever seen the cursed flame.
The price the technique exacted was too high. In the best case, the user would lose their cultivation, in the worst case, their life. The cultivators poured out of Loyalty Hall like kicked dogs, pushing and shoving as they fled the mountain on their swords. The thick tension filling the space drained away, leaving the hall nearly empty.
Aside from Sisheng Peak's people, only Jiang Xi remained. The ribbons in his hair whipped in the wind as he turned back to look at Madam Wang. "Your core can't take it." He narrowed his brown eyes in something like bewilderment—or perhaps rage, or grief. "Igniting Phoenix's Inferno with your volatile core? You might have protected your son today, but what about in the future?"
"If I didn't ignite Phoenix's Inferno, I wouldn't even be able to protect my son today." The flames roared higher and higher around Madam Wang; this cursed flame was one that could never be doused once summoned; it could only burn itself out.
She walked up the jade steps, standing where Xue Zhengyong had grinned and laughed a thousand times. Her scarlet eyes swept over the amassed disciples and elders of Sisheng Peak.
"My sect siblings." She bowed. "Zhengyong and I both believed that what Ran-er said before he left was true. The pressure from the sects today and the dealings of Tianyin Pavilion are suspect indeed. I trust, after witnessing this, you all have some idea of what is true and what is false."
The members of the sect all looked with deep concern at this woman who'd always been as fragile as a stalk of grass. Embers sparked and flashed over her clothes, an interplay of light and shadow.
"Sisheng Peak has stood for over twenty years. We have never harmed innocents or committed misdeeds. Despite the slander and false testimony against us, our consciences are clean. But I fear I am too weak to reveal the truth or bring justice to our sect. After this farewell, I have three requests I would make of you. I hope you will honor them on account of our long years together."
The disciples all bowed their heads. "As the madam says," they said through their tears.
Xue Meng mumbled, "Mom…"
"Once ignited, Phoenix's Inferno will burn for three days. No others will be able to approach. My first request is for you all to stay alive. Leave Sisheng Peak and keep yourself safe."
"How…"
The Tanlang Elder shook his head. "Better to die with the sect than flee like dogs."
Madam Wang smiled. "This isn't fleeing. Our great predecessor Nangong Changying of Rufeng Sect once said something I hold dear."
She looked out over the disciples and elders, just as she had so many times in the past. Those scarlet eyes suddenly appeared as gentle as flowing water, ripples gleaming over their surface. "Nangong Changying once said that it doesn't matter whether or not the edifices of Rufeng Sect stand. As long as there are those in the world who live by its precepts—as a gentleman of Rufeng Sect, one mustn't indulge in greed, resentment, deception, slaughter, obscenity, plunder, or conquest—the sect has not fallen." Madam Wang paused. "I'll echo his wisdom today. These are the same words I wish to say to you."
"Madam…"
"Leave, and when the truth comes out and everything is resolved—you may return here, if you still wish to."
No one in the hall could say a thing. Only the youngest disciples continued to cry, their tears soaking their sleeves. Madam Wang continued, "As for the second: I ask that you please not make trouble for Ran-er or Yuheng. I believe they had reasons for their actions, and I believe Ran-er did not lie."
With the elders taking the lead, the disciples bowed their heads and repeated. "Those of Sisheng Peak swear not to harm Mo-gongzi or the Yuheng Elder."
"As for my third request." Madam Wang sighed. "I'm afraid the Space-Time Gate of Life and Death will, as Ran-er said, open very soon. At that time…"
She paused, as if unsure whether what she asked was right or wrong, but eventually pressed ahead. "I ask that you please protect the people of the cultivation realm."
The Tanlang Elder's temper, always quick, flared at this. "What have those faithless beasts done to deserve our protection?"
"Madam, you weren't here—you didn't see how foul they were!"
"The cultivation realm is full of all sorts of people—vicious and cruel alike. Kindness is never guaranteed to be repaid," Madam Wang murmured. "But when Zhengyong founded the sect, he didn't do it for gratitude or praise, but on account of his own convictions."
The scarlet in her eyes was growing more vivid now, and the phoenix tattoo at her waist shone brighter. Madam Wang stood amidst the scorching flames. "The world is vast, and the hope of fairness is a hollow one. Even so, doing what's right, upholding our ideals, is the least we can do." She closed her eyes and sighed. "If Sisheng Peak were to turn its back on those in need—just because of a few traitors, just because of the injustice we've suffered—becoming a second Rufeng Sect…that would be Zhengyong's deepest regret. We cannot change those who embrace evil, nor can we see into the hearts of others to know their intent. But we can prevent cruelty and hatred from changing who we are."
Madam Wang smiled faintly. "It is my hope that your hearts will never waver."
With that, the blaze roared up to the skies. The seal containing the Phoenix's Inferno shattered completely, and terrifying power poured from Madam Wang's slight frame.
In the blink of an eye, a wave of heat and light smashed out of Loyalty Hall like a tidal wave washing over the grounds. Clear Sky Hall, Dancing Sword Platform, Mengpo Hall, Naihe Bridge…the two peaks, the lake and the river, Frostsky Hall, the Red Lotus Pavilion… All were engulfed by the spiritual flames.
This conflagration could sense its master's intent. It swallowed the plants of Sisheng Peak without harming them, and though tongues of flame licked around the disciples and elders standing in the hall, the divine fire left them untouched.
"Go," said Madam Wang.
No one moved.
She sighed and urged them again. "Go. Why are you still standing here? Don't tarry."
Only after her repeated entreaties did the disciples and elders lower their heads and stream toward the doors. Loyalty Hall slowly cleared, leaving only Xue Meng and Jiang Xi.
Jiang Xi cast her one last glance before turning to leave.
"Wait, please." Madam Wang called out, stopping him in his tracks.
"…More final matters to attend to?"
In the firelight, the expression on Madam Wang's face appeared surreal. It flickered in light and then shadow, in coolness then warmth. She hesitated for a long time, as if tormented by what lay deep in her heart. Finally, she closed her eyes and made her decision. "Shidi," she murmured. "Come here. I have something to say to you."
Xue Meng and Jiang Xi were both stunned. Xue Meng couldn't think of a single thing Madam Wang could have to tell Jiang Xi now of all times, and it was clear Jiang Xi felt the same. He narrowed his eyes, watching her without moving. He and Madam Wang were sect siblings, but they'd parted ways and had now gone many years without meeting in private. Her husband Xue Zhengyong was dead at her feet, and Jiang Xi had come here today to dismantle Sisheng Peak—
of course he was wary. "If you have anything to say, you can say it from there. There's nothing between us that can't be aired in front of others."
Realizing she wouldn't convince him, Madam Wang turned to Xue Meng. "Meng-er, go down the mountain. I need to speak to Jiang-zhangmen alone."
"Mom…?"
"Go. It has nothing to do with you."
Xue Meng's face was caked with blood; his tear tracks stood out stark against the filth. He scrubbed pitifully at his eyes, choking as he said, "I don't want to go. Both of you are here—I'm not going anywhere! I want to stay with you!"
Madam Wang sighed. "If you won't go, wait for me at Frostsky Hall. Once I'm done speaking with Jiang-zhangmen, I'll bring your dad over."
She was already in bad shape; blood seeped from the corners of her mouth. She frowned and coughed, voice soft. "Be good, Meng-er."
Xue Meng shook his head over and over, wiping at his cheeks, but even he knew that having ignited Phoenix's Inferno, his mother hadn't long to live. How could he disobey her and ruin what little time she had left? He went.
Only this pair of sect siblings from Guyueye remained in the vastness of Loyalty Hall. The instant Xue Meng disappeared through the doors, the last bit of strength keeping Madam Wang upright went with him. She collapsed onto the ornate seat in exhaustion, unable to maintain her earlier composure. She stared at the low table in front of her for a very long time, tears streaming down her pale and perfect cheeks. Then she began to cough, violent paroxysms that had blood pouring from her mouth.
Jiang Xi stayed where he was. Seeing Madam Wang choking on her own blood, he seemed to think of going up to her, but he never did. "There's no one else here," he said. "What do you want to say?"
Madam Wang, still coughing, couldn't reply.
Jiang Xi frowned, expression darkening. "Your spiritual core grew unmanageable after the cultivation incident you had back then. Further study was beyond you—yet you've now ignited Phoenix's Inferno? It will kill you."
Madam Wang drew in a shuddering breath, her lashes wet. She stared at the table, eyes unfocused. "Yes, I know."
The ocean of fire had engulfed them but didn't burn them. A scarlet sea billowed between her and Jiang Xi.
"Then what more do you wish to say?"
Madam Wang was silent.
"If there's nothing, I'll take my leave."
Jiang Xi waited another beat, but at the sight of her with her head down, unmoving, he lost his patience. He turned once more to leave, but again her soft voice stopped him. "Shidi."
The flames danced toward the sky like great plumes of red dust.
"Do you look down on Meng-er that much?"
Her nonsensical question immediately gave Jiang Xi a feeling of unease. "What?"
"You two fought the very first time you met at Rufeng Sect. If I hadn't come along, you might've come to blows." Madam Wang sighed. "Shidi, he has a hot temper, but please… He's much like you were in your youth. Don't argue with him."
Puzzled, Jiang Xi glanced back at her. "What do you mean?"
Madam Wang didn't respond. Her silence loomed over them like storm clouds, as if the skies would darken and the downpour would come at any moment.
In that awful stillness, Jiang Xi's mind flew back to certain events of his youth. His heart pounded, but his expression remained cold, his fingers clenching into fists as he awaited Madam Wang's answer.
"Xue Meng…" Madam Wang's sigh was light, but it came like the sharp crack of lightning in the sky, like thunder through the heavens. "You and Xue Meng are very alike. Do you understand, Shidi?"
Though he'd already had some suspicion, hearing the words aloud made Jiang Xi's head ring. His mind went blank. Who were alike? He and Xue Meng? That junior who was rude and irritable every time he saw him, the one he scorned to his very bones? The idea was absurd…
The hall was quiet. Jiang Xi thought over the meaning of her words, those forgotten truths parting layer by layer like the cracking of dark ice. His expression remained unchanged, but his blood froze over. He felt himself begin to tremble, yet the very thought was ludicrous.
He whirled and stared into Madam Wang's eyes. Perhaps he'd misheard—but he knew it wasn't so. Those words were quiet, but each had been clear as water, rushing toward him through the blaze like an inescapable tide.
"Jiang Yechen." Madam Wang looked up, her lashes sodden with tears and her dark eyes fixed on his. "Xue Meng is your son."