Rebirth

Qingqing and Linlin immediately flew to his shoulders, their tiny hands patting his face. "Big Brother Yun! You scared us!"

Linlin sniffled. "Don't do that again!"

Yun Lintian chuckled, ruffling their hair. "Sorry."

Hei Xuan cleared his throat. "As touching as this is..." He gestured weakly to his own withered form. "A little help?"

Yun Lintian nodded. With a wave of his hand, strands of darkness wove around Hei Xuan, stabilizing his fading vitality. It wasn't a full restoration—the former God of Darkness would never regain his power—but it eased the strain of mortality.

"Much better," Hei Xuan sighed. Then his expression turned serious. "Now. About that crown."

Yun Lintian touched the hovering artifact gently. "My father made it."

"Your father?" Hei Xuan's brow furrowed.

"Yes. He's the God of Element." Yun Lintian's voice softened. "He sacrificed himself to forge it. A final gift... to ensure I could walk this path."