Chapter 20 – The Cost of Power

The night was still, save for the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze. Feng Qin stood silently by the edge of the forest, her gaze cast far into the distance. The previous night's events weighed heavily on her, but she refused to let the momentary weakness show. The wound at her side had closed already, her Phoenix bloodline swiftly mending the injury, but the emotional toll remained.

Xiao Xuan stood a little farther off, his back to her, staring into the darkened horizon. His thoughts churned—he couldn't shake the image of the assassins, the power they wielded, and how helpless he had felt to truly help Feng Qin in the battle. Sure, he had been there in the shadows, but he hadn't fully revealed his strength. Not only because he didn't want to expose his immortality, but because deep down, he feared what it might mean.

Feng Qin's voice cut through his thoughts. "You look troubled."

Xiao Xuan turned to face her, his brow furrowed. "How are you so calm after last night?" His tone held a quiet awe as he spoke. "Those people—they were after your bloodline, your power. Don't you fear what might happen next?"

Feng Qin gave a faint smile, though it was laced with an edge of bitterness. "Fear is a luxury I cannot afford." She stepped toward him, her movement fluid and graceful despite the lingering fatigue from the battle. "If I were to fear, I would have been lost a long time ago. The cultivation world doesn't care for weakness." Her gaze sharpened, hardening like a blade forged in fire. "It only cares for power."

Xiao Xuan was silent for a long moment. Power—that word had echoed in his thoughts ever since the attack. It had become apparent that immortality, the gift he had been granted, was not a shield against the cruelty of the world. If anything, it felt like a curse that kept him at a distance from others. He wasn't like those assassins—he didn't want to wield power just to subjugate others. He didn't want to be that person, but what if his immortality led him down that very path?

"Do you ever wonder," Xiao Xuan said quietly, almost to himself, "if immortality is worth it? If the price of living forever means you're always alone, always burdened by the weight of your strength?"

Feng Qin's expression softened. She had been watching him carefully, her sharp eyes now more understanding. "I've lived for a long time, Xiao Xuan. And in all that time, I've learned one thing—immortality doesn't make you invincible. It makes you a target. Everyone wants something from you, whether it's your power, your knowledge, or your very bloodline."

She paused, letting the words settle between them. Xiao Xuan could hear the weight of her experience in those words. He had only recently discovered the true cost of immortality—he hadn't known what it felt like to be hunted for something as fundamental as his very existence.

Feng Qin continued, her voice growing softer. "The world won't care that you've lived for centuries. It only cares if you can defend what's yours, and if you have the strength to survive its cruelty. Power isn't enough. To thrive in this world, you need something more."

Xiao Xuan met her gaze. "What is it that you need, then?" he asked, the question slipping out before he could stop himself. There was something in her eyes now—something vulnerable that he had never noticed before.

Feng Qin looked away, her gaze distant. "I need a family. One that will stand by me, one that will be strong enough to survive the darkness of this world." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "It's not enough to be strong. You need someone to stand with you, to share the weight, or you'll collapse under it."

Xiao Xuan's chest tightened. He had been so focused on survival and immortality, thinking those things would be enough. But Feng Qin's words made him realize that he had overlooked the most important part of all—connection.

"I understand," he said, more to himself than to her. "That's what I've been missing, isn't it?" His voice was low. "I've been focused on my immortality, on power, because that's all I thought I needed. But immortality... it doesn't matter if you don't have someone to share it with."

Feng Qin gave him a steady look. "Exactly. Without trust, without loyalty, without love, power becomes meaningless. It becomes a weapon you wield against the world, instead of a shield to protect the ones you care about."

Xiao Xuan felt the weight of her words like a revelation. He had spent so much time alone, trying to figure out how to live with his immortality, but now he saw clearly that immortality without purpose, without connection, was a curse. His goal had always been to build something lasting, but until now, he had only focused on the wrong part—the power needed to protect something. He had never thought about the relationships that could truly make him whole.

"Family," he said slowly, the word tasting different now. "I've never had one before."

Feng Qin's eyes softened at the raw honesty in his voice. "And that's why you're still searching. But building a family isn't about strength alone. It's about finding those who will stand by you, no matter what. And trusting them enough to stand by them in return."

Xiao Xuan met her eyes. "I want to build that family. One that will endure. One that doesn't just survive but lives with purpose. But I can't do it alone."

Feng Qin's lips curved into a faint smile. "No, you can't. And neither can I. But we'll do it together, Xiao Xuan. We'll find the strength to survive this world and the people who want to break us."

As the night stretched on, Xiao Xuan's heart grew lighter, though the road ahead was uncertain. The brutality of the cultivation world was undeniable. It was a world where strength often overshadowed everything else. But Feng Qin had shown him that there was more to life than just surviving. To truly thrive, they needed each other. They needed a family built not just on power but on trust, loyalty, and affection.

It was a dangerous world out there, but with her by his side, Xiao Xuan was ready to face it. He wasn't just going to fight for power anymore. He was going to fight for something worth living for—a family, one that would never be broken.