Chapter 2 Parents

**Chapter 2: Bonds of Blood**

Feng Ruoyan could scarcely believe it. Her parents were alive, standing before her in the warm morning light. The gentle rustling of leaves, the faint aroma of medicinal herbs from her mother's robes, and the steady, reassuring presence of her father all felt like a dream she never wanted to wake from.

Lan Yue cupped her daughter's face, her expression filled with worry. "Ruoyan, what happened? Why are you crying?"

Feng Zhiwei, always the more reserved one, studied her intently, his sharp eyes scanning for any sign of injury. "Did someone hurt you?"

Ruoyan shook her head, a fresh wave of emotions surging through her. "No… I just—" Her voice caught. "I missed you."

Lan Yue's warm laughter was like a balm to her soul. "Silly child, we're always here."

Her father, however, remained quiet, watching her with eyes that saw more than they should. A former warrior, now an elder of the sect, he had survived countless battles. He knew when something was amiss. But for now, he let it go.

Ruoyan spent the day memorizing every detail of them. The way her mother hummed while crushing herbs, the scent of sandalwood that always clung to her father's robes, and the way they looked at her—with pride, love, and a quiet sadness she hadn't noticed before.

As evening fell, she sat with them in the courtyard, watching the lanterns flicker in the breeze. It was then that her father spoke, his voice thoughtful. "Ruoyan, you've always been a bright child. Have you ever wondered why you inherited the purest fire spiritual root?"

She tensed slightly. In her past life, she had accepted it as natural talent. But now, she knew better—nothing in the cultivation world came without a price.

Her mother sighed, glancing at her father before speaking. "There's something we never told you."

Ruoyan's heart pounded. "What is it?"

Feng Zhiwei's expression darkened. "Your bloodline is not ordinary. You are not just a Feng by name. Our ancestors were once part of an ancient, forgotten sect that wielded divine flames."

Lan Yue continued, her voice softer. "But that power is a double-edged sword. It makes you stronger than others… but it also makes you a target."

Ruoyan's breath hitched. She had always known she possessed an extraordinary fire spiritual root. In her past life, she had been lauded as a rare genius, her flames purer than even those of the sect's elders. Yet, she had never questioned why she alone had such unparalleled affinity. Now, she understood—her spiritual root was not just powerful, but unique. A legacy of divine fire, a gift and a curse.

Her mother placed a gentle hand over her own. "Your flames are unlike any other. They do not simply burn—they purify, cleanse, and destroy at will. That is why so many feared us."

Feng Zhiwei's expression was grim. "And why they sought to eradicate our lineage."

Memories from her past life crashed into her mind—whispers of treason, accusations that led to her parents' deaths.

"Is this why…?" Her voice trembled. "Is this why you were accused of treason?"

Her father's jaw clenched. "We were framed."

Her mother gripped her hand. "And if history is repeating itself, we must be careful."

---

Suddenly, a buried memory surfaced, vivid and horrifying.

She stood in the sect's grand hall, her parents kneeling before the elders, their hands bound in golden spiritual chains. The air was thick with accusations, whispered venomously by those who had orchestrated this betrayal.

"Elder Feng and Alchemist Lan conspired with the demon clans!" one of the elders declared. "The evidence is irrefutable!"

Ruoyan, still young and naive in that life, had rushed forward. "Lies! My parents are loyal to the sect! They would never—"

A slap silenced her. The Sect Master's cold eyes bore into her. "The judgment has been made."

She had screamed, fought, begged. But her cries fell on deaf ears. Before her eyes, her father was struck down first, his body collapsing in a pool of crimson. Her mother's agonized scream was the last thing she heard before darkness swallowed her.

---

Ruoyan exhaled slowly, her resolve hardening. This time, she wouldn't be a helpless child watching her parents die. This time, she would uncover the truth before it was too late.

She met their eyes, determination blazing within her. "I won't let them take you from me again."

Her parents, startled by the fierce conviction in her voice, shared a glance. They didn't know the extent of what she had seen, what she had lived through.

But they would soon. And this time, the flames of destiny would burn in her favor.