Thirteenth Chapter : The Weight of Legend and Bonds Unbroken

The grand hall was silent as General Li Ancheng entered, the echo of her footsteps the only sound. The emperor sat upon the throne, his face impassive yet his eyes sharp, while the Crown Prince Zhao Yang stood beside him, his expression unreadable. All eyes in the court turned to her, the whispers of her encounter with the legendary Phoenix already spreading through the capital.

Ancheng bowed deeply before the emperor, her posture perfect. "Your Majesty," she began, her voice steady, "I have returned from Mount Mystic and come to report the details of my mission."

The emperor nodded gravely, his voice deep and authoritative. "General Ancheng, I understand you encountered something... extraordinary. Speak of it."

Ancheng straightened and looked ahead, her gaze unwavering. "Indeed, Your Majesty. I met the Phoenix, a creature of legend. It spoke of a storm—unseen but soon to arrive."

A ripple of shock spread through the courtiers, but no one dared speak out of turn. The emperor's brow furrowed, the weight of her words clearly affecting him. "The Phoenix," he repeated, "such a creature has not been seen in centuries. You are fortunate to return safely from such an encounter."

Ancheng bowed again. "I have returned unharmed, Your Majesty."

The emperor exchanged a glance with the crown prince, whose expression remained impassive, though a flicker of emotion crossed his eyes. "This is a matter of grave importance," the emperor said. "We must prepare. General Ancheng, your bravery will not be forgotten."

The court murmured in agreement, astonished by the magnitude of what Ancheng had achieved. To meet the Phoenix was no ordinary feat; it was the stuff of legends.

With a formal nod, the emperor dismissed the court, and as the officials began to file out, Ancheng kept her head high, maintaining the proper decorum.

As they left the hall and the heavy doors closed behind them, the formality of the court began to melt away. Crown Prince Zhao Yang, walking beside her, glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.

"Ancheng," he said quietly, his voice softening now that they were away from the watchful eyes of the court, "were you truly unharmed? The Phoenix is no ordinary creature."

She smiled faintly, her shoulders relaxing slightly. "I am fine, Yang. There is nothing to worry about."

But he didn't seem convinced. His hand briefly brushed against hers, a fleeting gesture of concern that would have been unthinkable in the formal setting of the court. "You don't have to hide anything from me."

Ancheng's heart warmed at the tenderness in his voice. She had grown used to his concern over the years, but in moments like this, it still caught her off guard. "Truly, I'm fine," she assured him, meeting his gaze.

Zhao Yang's expression softened further, and for a moment, it was just the two of them—crown prince and general titles stripped away, leaving only their shared history and deep connection.

Later that evening, Ancheng returned to the Li Mansion, where her father, General Li Tianming, and her brother, Li Ming, waited for her in the courtyard. The familiar sight of her home filled her with a sense of peace she hadn't realized she'd missed.

Her father, ever the stoic general, allowed a rare smile to break through as she approached. "Ancheng," he said, his voice rough but warm, "you've been gone for far too long."

Without hesitation, he pulled her into a tight embrace. Though he was not one to express affection easily, the strength of his hug spoke volumes. "I feared for you," he muttered quietly, "but I am proud of you, my daughter."

When they parted, her brother Li Ming was next, his usual playful demeanor intact. "You couldn't have just gone on a normal mission, could you?" he teased, pulling her into a quick hug. "You had to meet a mythical bird and make the rest of us look bad."

Ancheng laughed, the tension of the past few days easing in the presence of her family. "I missed you both."

As they settled in for dinner, Madam Chen, the matriarch of the household, entered the dining hall, her presence warm and commanding. She set the table with practiced grace, ensuring that everything was just so, a soft smile on her face as she glanced at Ancheng.

"I heard the tale of your legendary encounter, Ancheng," she said, her voice filled with pride. "The Phoenix! What an extraordinary feat!"

Ancheng felt a flush of warmth at her mother's praise. "It was a challenging journey, but one that I could not have done without my training."

Madam Chen nodded, her eyes sparkling. "And I'm sure you thought of your sister Anning while you were there. She would have loved to witness such a sight."

At the mention of Anning, the atmosphere shifted slightly, a collective acknowledgment of her absence hanging in the air. Li Ming chimed in, "I wish she were here. We could use her sharp tongue to lighten the mood."

Ancheng smiled softly, feeling a pang of longing for her twin. "She's with Master Chen, honing her skills. I trust she's doing well, but I miss her."

Madam Chen nodded, placing a hand on Ancheng's shoulder. "She is proud of you, just as we are. But it is also important to remember those who are not here with us."

As they continued their meal, the conversation naturally flowed, covering everything from the challenges of the capital to the latest village gossip. Yet, the underlying concern for Anning's absence was palpable, threading its way through the familial warmth.

After dinner, Ancheng found herself back in the courtyard, the moon high in the sky as she practiced her whip techniques. The weapon was like an extension of her own body, each flick of her wrist precise and powerful. Lightning crackled through the air with every crack of the whip, a display of her formidable skills.

But as she moved through her forms, her mind wandered, the weight of the Phoenix's words lingering. She couldn't shake the feeling that something was coming—something darker and more dangerous than they had ever faced before.

The next morning, Ancheng and Zhao Yang met at the palace training grounds. He was waiting for her when she arrived, his posture relaxed as he leaned casually against a nearby post.

"You seem lost in thought," he said, his voice teasing but gentle. "Care to share?"

Ancheng shook her head, gripping her whip. "Just thinking."

Zhao Yang smirked, taking up his sword. "Well, let's see if I can help you focus on something else." He moved into a fighting stance, his eyes gleaming with mischief. "Let's spar."

The match started light-hearted, with Zhao Yang deliberately missing his strikes, dodging around her with an easy grace. His playfulness was clear, each move designed to coax a smile from her.

"You're distracted," he teased, dodging a strike from her whip with a smirk. "Maybe I'm finally getting the upper hand."

Ancheng rolled her eyes but couldn't help the small smile tugging at her lips. "Maybe you're just not trying hard enough."

"Oh, I'm trying," he said, stepping close enough to disarm her with a quick flick of his wrist. Before she could react, he grabbed her hand, pulling her closer. His expression turned serious for a brief moment. "You don't have to carry everything alone, you know."

For a heartbeat, Ancheng's breath caught in her throat, the tension between them thick in the air. But she quickly slipped from his grip, her smile returning as she picked up her whip. "Let's see if you can keep up," she said, her voice light.

Far from the capital, Anning worked quietly in her master's laboratory, her hands steady as she crushed herbs and prepared poisons. But her mind wasn't fully on her work—it drifted constantly to Zhao Ning, her childhood companion whose feelings were tangled and complex.

She remembered the way they used to tease each other as children, their sharp tongues always at odds. But despite their bickering, there had always been an unspoken connection between them.

In the southern region, Zhao Ning sat outside a small village house, watching the sun set over the horizon. His thoughts, too, drifted to Anning, his mind filled with memories of their past. He missed the way she would challenge him, never backing down from a fight. He missed her sharp wit, the way she could make him laugh even in the most dire situations.

They were far apart, but their thoughts were with each other, the distance only making their bond stronger.