Chapter 7: trust or "?"?
A storm still raged within Xiao Feng. As he gripped the dagger, Zhang Tao's smiling face flickered in his mind then came the echoes of his clan's laughter in the caves, Feng Xiu's joyous wind qi, the soft chime of Wang Shu's jade talismans... One by one, these memories danced before his eyes. "I can bring them back," the Sovereign of Time had said. That promise stirred both hope and doubt in his heart. The dagger had given him the power to stand against the Immortals but maybe, just maybe, it could also end his solitude.
"This dagger means everything to me," Xiao Feng said, voice trembling with conviction. "But the ones I love... they are my true strength." He turned to the Sovereign, gauging the stillness and depth in those golden eyes. "If you break your word, I'll find you. And I'll end you with this very blade," he warned, the words hanging in the air like a drawn bow. The Sovereign merely smiled, as if the threat pleased him. "A promise is a promise," he said, extending his hand. "Give me the dagger, Xiao Feng. And everything will begin anew."
Xiao Feng hesitated. His fingers clutched the dagger's cold steel the symbol of his vengeance, his strength. But then he remembered Zhang Tao's eyes those deep, tender eyes full of love. "For you," he whispered, closing his own. And he handed the blade to the Sovereign of Time.
The moment it left his hand, the crystal temple burst into radiant light. The hourglass flared, its sands rushing upward in a wild, unnatural storm. The world blurred. A strange weight pulled at his limbs. As his eyes began to close, he heard the Sovereign's final words:
"When you open your eyes, it will all be as it once was."
Xiao Feng awoke to a soft ache in his chest. He looked around he was in the familiar caves of the Dragon's Breath Valley. Sunlight spilled through the entrance, gilding the stones with golden light. Nearby, his clan bustled with life: Feng Xiu played with swirling leaves, her wind qi dancing in the air. Wang Shu polished jade talismans with care. Old Shen sat in a corner, scribbling notes on a worn scroll. Everything was alive. Everyone was here.
"Daydreaming again, Xiao Feng?" came a voice, gentle and familiar. He turned and there was Zhang Tao, smiling at him, eyes sparkling with affection. A basket of herbs rested in his hands, his face untouched by war or sorrow. Xiao Feng's breath caught in his throat.
"Zhang Tao…" he whispered, his voice shaking. He stood quickly and wrapped his arms around him, tears spilling freely. "I… I can see you again."
Zhang Tao laughed, startled. "Of course you can. What are you talking about? Did last night's watch tire you out that much?" he teased, touching Xiao Feng's forehead with mock concern. Xiao Feng chuckled, warmth blooming in his chest. Everything was as it used to be his clan, his love, the peace... The betrayal of Zhao Hu, the threat of the Immortals, the dagger's cursed weight—they felt like nothing but a fading dream.
He spent the day among his people. He trained wind qi with Feng Xiu, received a new talisman from Wang Shu, and listened to Old Shen's thoughtful advice. Zhang Tao was at his side throughout they walked the valley, laughed, held each other. In those moments, Xiao Feng felt an odd sensation deep inside, like something had been left behind. But for now, he didn't care. Everything was perfect.
That night, he lay down on his bed in the cave. Zhang Tao sat beside him, softly humming a lullaby. As Xiao Feng's eyes grew heavy, he reached for his lover's hand. "I'll never lose you again," he whispered. Zhang Tao smiled, replying, "Nor I, you."
And with that, Xiao Feng drifted into peaceful sleep.
But at that very moment, in the real world, Xiao Feng's eyes snapped open.
He was not in the Dragon's Breath Valley. He was still in the crystal temple beneath the Moonlight Mirage. The dagger was gone. The Sovereign of Time stood before him, those golden eyes still watching.
Xiao Feng sat up, stunned. "What… what happened?" he asked, panic rising in his voice.
"You gave me the dagger," the Sovereign replied, his voice calm and steady. "And as I promised, I gave you a moment a dream spent with those you love. But to truly change time… even I cannot do that."
Xiao Feng's face paled. His heart shattered anew.
Everything Zhang Tao's smile, his clan's laughter had only been a dream.
And now, he was awake.
Xiao Feng's eyes blazed with fury. As he stared into the calm face of the Sovereign of Time, the storm of betrayal and frustration swelling within him surged to its breaking point.
"Give me back the dagger!" he roared, his voice crashing through the crystal temple like thunder. His fists clenched at his sides, and he stepped forward, defiance etched into every line of his body. "You lied to me! You said you'd bring everything back but it was just a dream!"
For a moment, the Sovereign said nothing. His golden eyes deepened, as though they were peering straight into Xiao Feng's soul.
"I gave you a moment," he replied at last, his voice calm but laced with a quiet sorrow. "I cannot rewrite reality, but I offered you a farewell l a chance to see them once more."
He lifted the dagger slightly in his hand. Its blue light shimmered, reflecting off the crystal walls in cold, radiant waves.
"This dagger is mine now," he said, the finality in his tone sharp as a blade.
Xiao Feng's patience snapped.
"No it's mine!" he shouted, lunging forward.
But before he could take another step, a shadow materialized beside the Sovereign swift and silent. It was Xiaoya, the Sovereign's loyal guardian. Her long black hair flowed like ink in water, and her piercing eyes glinted with predatory intent.
In her hand, she held a slender, curved blade that shimmered with danger. She moved like lightning.
Xiao Feng tried to summon his shadow qi but the dagger's energy no longer flowed through him. He was powerless. Exposed.
The strike came fast and brutal. The hilt of Xiaoya's blade slammed into the side of his head.
The world spun. The radiant lights of the crystal temple fractured in his vision, shimmering like broken stars.
Xiao Feng collapsed to his knees, the strength draining from him.
"No…" he whispered, his voice a thread of despair fading into the echoing silence.