Location: Qin Family Main Hall – One Week Later
The towering wooden doors of the Qin Family Main Hall creaked open as a formal entourage entered—five men in silver-blue robes, each bearing the crest of a plum blossom beneath a crescent moon.
They belonged to the Song Family, one of the Five Great Houses, famed for their beauty, cultivation elegance, and political cunning.
At their center stood a calm, composed elder—Song Yueheng, the Grand Elder of the main Song bloodline. His every movement radiated poise and danger, like a blade hidden inside silk.
In his hand, he held a gold-lettered scroll, bound in phoenix ribbon—clearly a formal request.
Qin elders exchanged confused glances.
Why would a powerful noble house visit the Qin Family… and why now?
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📜 The Proposal
In front of all present elders, Song Yueheng bowed politely and declared:
> "We, the Song Family, offer a marriage proposal for our youngest direct-blood daughter, Song Yueru, to the son of your household—Qin Huaian."
Gasps echoed in the room.
"Qin Huaian?" Elder Qin Yao choked. "He's not even a cultivator!"
But Fengyuan, seated silently at the highest seat, narrowed his eyes.
> "Song Yueru… she's the one born under a dual-element constellation. Spirit Ice and Lunar Thread, yes?"
Yueheng nodded.
"She has seen visions. Of a shadow touching the moon, and flame without heat. She awakened with a pull—toward someone walking a forbidden path. Our matriarch believes this fated."
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🕯️ Fengyuan's Private Warning
That evening, after the entourage left the scroll and a storage ring filled with rare gifts, Qin Fengyuan summoned Huaian in private.
"The Song family never acts without reason," Fengyuan warned. "They are not like us. They saw your existence through a spiritual omen—and that girl… she may be more than she seems."
Huaian stood quietly, the sealed scroll unopened in his hands.
"…You want me to refuse?"
"No," Fengyuan said carefully. "I want you to accept. But walk this road with eyes wide open. This may be fate—or a trap."
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🌸 Song Yueru – The Hidden Ice Moon
At that same moment in the far reaches of the Song Family estate, a young girl sat in lotus position beneath a waterfall of spiritual ice.
Song Yueru, only nine years old, was considered the coldest prodigy in a century. Born with Spirit Ice Veins and Moon-Soul Physique, her cultivation progressed swiftly—but her emotions remained locked away.
Until recently.
In her visions, she saw a boy without light or shadow, yet holding fire that burned not the body—but the sky. Each dream ended the same way—his hand outstretched to her under a shattered moon.
She opened her eyes.
"I will marry him," she said quietly to her maid. "Because destiny has already chosen him."
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🖤 Xiaoxiao's Quiet Jealousy
Meanwhile, back at the Qin Estate, Qin Xiaoxiao stood outside the main hall as whispers spread like wildfire.
"They're saying Song Yueru's going to marry Huaian."
"She's a spirit-blooded prodigy."
"Why him? Isn't he just… a weak boy?"
Xiaoxiao bit her lip.
She didn't understand the fire burning in her chest—but she didn't like it. That night, when she found Huaian under the plum tree, she sat beside him silently.
"You met her?" she asked.
He shook his head. "Not yet. They're arranging a formal meeting in a month."
"…You're going to say yes?"
He turned to look at her, and after a long pause, he said:
> "I don't know if this is love. But if marrying her opens a path to power… I'll walk it. For now."
She didn't speak.
But as she stood to leave, she whispered under her breath:
> "Then I'll become strong too. Strong enough… to be by your side, whether or not you choose me."