Chapter 38

Xiang's powers were spiraling out of control. Flames erupted from her hands without warning, spreading chaos in the room. The walls turned black from the searing heat, furniture ignited, and smoke billowed as everything began to burn. She stumbled backward, her breathing heavy, and an unrecognizable glow filled her once-kind eyes. Slowly, she rose to her feet, her movements deliberate yet unsettling, as if something far greater than herself had taken hold.

The villagers and attendants in the hall began to scatter, their fear growing with each passing second. Wherever she walked, her uncontrollable powers consumed the world around her. Trees and plants outside the room caught fire, and the once-green scenery turned to ash. People shrieked, trying desperately to extinguish the flames, but to no avail. Then, as if the fire inside her wasn't enough, another force emerged.

The still pond outside rippled unnaturally, and water surged toward the building as if drawn by some magnetic force within Xiang. Streams of water burst from the pond and crashed through the area, drenching everything in their path. People slipped and fell as the water overtook them. Shouts of panic filled the air. "What is she? A demon?" someone whispered, trembling.

The sight was otherworldly. The sheer power within her was unstoppable, a chaotic balance of destruction and creation. The villagers feared for their lives, terrified of what might happen if all her power were unleashed. In the midst of this turmoil, Wen Shia stepped forward.

While others ran, he approached her calmly, his eyes filled with something deeper than fear—an understanding. Without a word, he reached for her hand. The moment their hands touched, an invisible wave of calm seemed to envelop them both. The fire dimmed, the water halted, and the air grew still. Everyone stared in disbelief as the chaos around them subsided.

Wen Shia's expression remained neutral, as though this wasn't a moment of miraculous intervention, but something he had expected all along. He knelt beside her trembling form and whispered softly, "Rest now." Before anyone could react, he touched a pressure point at the base of her neck, rendering her unconscious. The glowing energy surrounding her dissipated, and silence fell over the place, broken only by the sound of heavy breathing.

As the room settled, murmurs began. "She's dangerous," one elder said. "If this girl loses control again, she could burn the entire village to the ground!" Another voice chimed in, "We must keep her captive for the safety of everyone."

Wen Shia remained silent, his gaze lingering on Xiang as she lay on the ground, her face peaceful in unconsciousness. Though the others spoke of imprisoning her, he knew there was more to her story than anyone could understand.

Xiang's Dream

Xiang found herself in an endless void of darkness. The air was cold, and an eerie silence enveloped her. As she walked through this formless space, a scene slowly emerged—a memory from long ago.

She saw a little girl sitting by the roadside, her face thin and her eyes filled with despair. The child begged passersby for food, but everyone ignored her, their faces cold and indifferent. The little girl's stomach growled, and she clutched it in pain, her tiny frame trembling.

Then, out of the crowd, a man emerged. He knelt before the girl and handed her a small bundle of food wrapped in cloth. "Here," he said gently, his voice warm and kind. Inside the bundle were sweet cakes and fruits. Tears streamed down the girl's face as she ate, her gratitude overflowing.

The scene shifted. Now, Xiang saw herself as a grown woman, standing in a sunlit meadow. She was chasing someone—a man. He was tall, with broad shoulders and an air of quiet confidence. His features were strikingly handsome, his sharp jawline framed by perfectly symmetrical features. His deep-set eyes and straight nose gave him an almost ethereal quality, as if he belonged to another realm.

Xiang's heart raced as she followed him. He wore white silk robes, intricately embroidered with delicate floral patterns. The embroidery shimmered in the sunlight, each stitch a masterpiece. The more she tried to catch up to him, the more he seemed to slip away, ignoring her entirely. She called out, but her voice didn't reach him.

Suddenly, the dream took a dark turn. She was in a pitch-black room, surrounded by nothingness. Bright streaks of electricity crackled and surged around her, lighting up the darkness in terrifying flashes. She felt a crushing weight on her chest, and fear gripped her.

She woke with a gasp.

Reality Returns

Xiang shot up from where she lay, her breathing rapid and her body trembling. Soldiers and attendants surrounded her, their faces a mix of fear and concern. Wen Shia instinctively moved closer to her, his expression unreadable.

Before he could reach her, a prince stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her protectively. "What happened to you?" he asked, his voice filled with worry. But Xiang wasn't listening. Her eyes scanned the room frantically, searching for someone. Finally, her gaze landed on Wen Shia.

The prince noticed her lingering stare and narrowed his eyes. "Why are you looking at him like that? Did this boy do something to you?"

Xiang quickly shook her head, her voice soft yet firm. "No… nothing like that. I must have been mistaken." But deep down, she couldn't ignore the pull she felt toward Wen Shia, a connection that defied explanation.

The room grew quiet once again, but in that silence, questions lingered. Who was Xiang, truly? And why did her powers seem to respond only to Wen Shia?