Chapter 24: Poisoned Shadows, Flaming Words
The courtyard was too quiet.
Mei Xiao peeked around, nibbling on a plum she had "borrowed" from the medicinal orchard. "If I've already eaten it, technically, it's no longer stealing."
"If you've stolen again from the spiritual grove," came a familiar icy voice behind her, "I won't waste medicine saving your stomach."
She turned. Of course. Murong Jing He.
"Relax, oh mighty leader," she said, flashing a grin. "I'll cure myself with chamomile tea and shame."
He didn't smile. He rarely did. Instead, he simply raised an eyebrow and motioned for her to follow him.
"What happened?" she asked, sensing the tension in the air.
"A servant was found unconscious. A foreign seal appeared on his chest."
When they entered the room, the air was heavy—unnaturally so. Cold clung to the walls like a whisper of death.
"This is dark energy," Mei Xiao murmured. "Very, very not friendly."
Jing He gave a tight nod. "Obsidian Sect. Likely a planted spy."
Mei knelt beside the unconscious man. The seal on his chest pulsed faintly, like a dead heart refusing to stop. Strange markings twisted around its edge like worms.
"Ew. It's like a cursed tattoo from a cult."
"It can only be removed by a pure flame," said Elder Yu, stepping into the room. "And that fire cannot be conjured by mortal means."
Jing He turned to Mei. His eyes locked onto hers.
"Oh no. Don't you dare look at me like that. I can barely light candles without setting my sleeves on fire!"
"But your flame… it's not mortal," Elder Yu added gently. "It's part of the Phoenix's Fragment."
Trembling slightly, Mei stepped closer. She raised her palm above the seal, her breath shallow. Fire. Courage. Pain. Love. Passion. She focused on everything inside her that didn't make sense.
A silver-white flame ignited from her hand.
A scream tore through the air—not from the servant, but from the seal. It writhed, hissed, burned—and then vanished.
The man gasped and opened his eyes.
"You did it," Jing He said quietly, awe slipping into his voice.
"Oh my god," Mei whispered, staring at her palm. "I'm a human blowtorch."
Later, back in her room, Mei Xiao sat cross-legged on the bed, staring at her hand where the flame had appeared.
"Let's review," she muttered. "I'm a magical puzzle piece. Married to a walking enigma. Being hunted by a cult. Apparently channeling ancient divine fire."
She paused.
"Honestly, I've had worse Mondays."