The venom fog curled around Jiao Shui's ankles like a living creature, cold, damp, and strangely… familiar. Her spirits huddled tightly to her shoulders, unusually silent. Even the leaves seemed to hold their breath as she stepped deeper into the forbidden Third Peak.
Song Lingfang watched her from outside the fog, fists clenched so tightly the veins rose like ink strokes beneath his skin. Prince Yang waited beside him with the expression of someone enjoying a fine evening performance.
When Jiao Shui moved out of their sight, Lingfang murmured, "If she's in danger—"
Prince Yang cut him off. "She's always in danger. It's practically her natural habitat."
Lingfang gave him a murderous look.
Yang smirked. "Relax. If she dies, she dies interestingly."
Inside the fog, the shadows shifted.
The world dimmed.
Her vision blurred.
The venom fog wasn't just poison—it was a hallucinogenic spiritual mist. It made your memories breathe again, made your fears bloom like bruises.
Her spirits tugged at her sleeves frantically.
"Center yourself, Jiao! Don't let the fog pull you under!"
She inhaled, steadying her pulse.
Then—
A deep, earth-trembling growl.
The ground quivered beneath her feet.
A massive silhouette emerged from the gloom, fur glowing in streaks of molten gold. The beast stepped forward, towering, regal, its amber eyes fixed directly on her.
Its breath was hot enough to ripple the fog around them.
Her heart dropped into her stomach.
The Golden Devourer.
A legendary guardian beast.
A creature known for tearing intruders apart without hesitation.
Its eyes widened.
Its ears twitched.
It leaned down—so close she could feel the heat from its nostrils.
Then it rumbled something only she could hear:
"You again."
Jiao Shui froze.
Her spirits screamed internally.
The beast's voice throbbed in her bones, ancient and angry.
"Reincarnated pest."
"E–excuse me?" she stammered. "Pest?!"
The Golden Devourer circled her like a storm given fur and teeth.
"Last time, you disturbed my cave. You stole my lotus honey. You stepped on my tail."
"I apologized for that!" Jiao protested. "You tried to eat me!"
"You stepped on my tail."
One spirit whispered, To be fair… you did.
The other spirit added, And you took a jar of honey…
"I WAS DYING!" Jiao snapped. "IN MY PAST LIFE!"
The beast huffed, fog swirling from its nostrils."Be that as it may… you have returned."
Jiao lifted her chin."I don't want to fight. I only need the Blossom of Dawn."
The Golden Devourer's gaze sharpened.
"Ah. The flower you planted before you died. You left it in my care."
She blinked."…I did what?"
Her spirits gasped."Jiao… you forgot?"
Apparently, yes.
The beast's massive head lowered until its nose nearly touched her forehead.
"If you want it, you must prove your heart again. As you did once before."
Jiao swallowed. "And how exactly did I do that?"
The beast's teeth gleamed.
"You sang."
Her entire soul left her body.
"S–sang?"
"Yes. A ritual melody. One wrong note and I would have eaten you. You were terrible at it."
Jiao felt her dignity collapse like wet rice paper."Do we have to repeat that part?"
"Absolutely."
She closed her eyes in despair.
Somewhere outside the fog, Song Lingfang felt a strange dread bloom in his chest.
Prince Yang snickered to himself."Ah. She must be suffering."
Back inside, Jiao Shui lifted her chin in sheer resigned agony.
If singing to a murderous divine monster was the price for survival… then fine.
She inhaled.
Opened her mouth.
And—
A sound like a dying goose escaped her.
The Golden Devourer recoiled violently.
Her spirits covered their ears.
The fog quivered.
The beast growled, "YOU'RE WORSE THAN LAST TIME."
Her voice cracked. "I HAVEN'T PRACTICED!"
The Golden Devourer roared, shaking the mountain.
Her spirits panicked.
Jiao tried again—
And the beast's eyes widened in ancient terror.
"STOP! STOP! I'll give you the flower!"
Jiao blinked."…That easy?"
"Yes! Anything but singing! The cave is yours! TAKE IT AND GO!"
The mountain trembled as the beast bolted away at supernatural speed.
Jiao stood there, stunned.
Her spirits hovered silently.
One finally whispered:
"…Jiao, you weaponized your voice."
She folded her arms. "I am a versatile woman."
Then the ground rumbled.
And from the deepest part of the cave, something bright began to glow.
The Blossom of Dawn.
The flower she once planted.The flower tied to her reincarnation.The flower every royal wanted—but none understood.
She took a step toward it—
And the fog swirled like a curtain preparing to rise.
"Found you," Prince Yang murmured.