The cave trembled, dust raining down like powdered bone.Jiao Shui froze. Prince Yang tensed beside her. Her spirits clung to her sleeves like scared puffballs.
From the cracked cave wall, a second creature emerged—sleek, pale, wolf-like, with fur the color of moonlit frost and eyes sharp as carved jade.
Its voice was soft, chilling, and ancient.
"Bride of the Moonbone… you finally return."
Jiao pointed at herself."Bride of the what?!"
Prince Yang's expression shattered into pure, offended disbelief."Bride of WHO?"
Her spirits screamed.
One yelled, "SHE IS NOBODY'S BRIDE!"The other added, "Especially not a mountain wolf with eyeliner!"
The new beast drew closer, sniffing her like she was an old memory.Its cold breath brushed her neck.
"You wore my mark in your previous life."
Jiao's soul left her body.Prince Yang's jaw dropped.
The Golden Devourer groaned."Not you again… Moonbone, she rejected you last life. Move on."
The Moonbone Beast growled."She rejected me because she died. That is not a valid rejection."
Jiao sputtered. "I am rejecting you NOW!"
Its eyes shimmered like moon shards."No. Your reincarnated heart still carries my imprint."
Prince Yang stepped between them, cloak billowing dramatically."Back away from her."
The Moonbone Beast blinked at him.
"This one smells like trouble. Why are you tied to my bride?"
Prince Yang pointed at Jiao."She is NOT your bride!"
"Exactly!" Jiao shouted, waving her hands. "I've never even met you!"
The Moonbone Beast tilted its head."You met me often. In your past life. You wept on my tail. You slept in my den. You promised to consider my proposal."
Jiao's eye twitched."…I WHAT?"
Her spirits gasped.One whispered, "Jiao was wild in her last life…"The other whispered, "…respectfully."
Song Lingfang finally burst into the cave.
"Jiao!" he shouted, running toward her.
He stopped dead when he saw the two divine beasts.
"What—what is going on?!"
Prince Yang gestured at the chaos."She apparently has a line of supernatural suitors from her past life."
Jiao buried her face in her hands."This is not happening."
The Moonbone Beast continued proudly.
"You agreed to become my bride after returning from reincarnation. You said we were fated—"
"I WAS DYING!" Jiao shrieked. "I WAS IN PAIN! I WOULD HAVE AGREED TO MARRY A TURNIP IF IT HELPED!"
Song Lingfang choked.
Prince Yang actually wheezed, bending over with laughter.
The Moonbone Beast blinked, confused."So… the promise was false?"
"Yes!"
"You reject me?"
"YES!"
The beast's ears drooped.Its voice softened, fragile as cracked ice.
"…Again?"
The Golden Devourer sighed."Brother, she doesn't want you."
The Moonbone Beast stared at Jiao with wounded eternity.
She softened. Just slightly."…Look. I'm sorry. Truly. But I'm human. And I'm not marrying a wolf spirit. Or anyone I can accidentally shed on."
Prince Yang muttered, "Especially not someone with better hair than most royals."
Moonbone looked down.
Then—
He began to howl.
Not a terrifying beast howl—No.A heartbreak howl.
A tragic, operatic, full-moon heartbreak wail that echoed across the entire mountain.
Outside, birds fainted.
Trees shed leaves out of secondhand embarrassment.
Song Lingfang rubbed his forehead. "Is he… crying?"
The Golden Devourer nodded."He is very dramatic."
Prince Yang folded his arms."…I respect that."
The Moonbone Beast sniffed, eyes wet."…I shall retreat. My heart is broken. Again."
He slunk back into the cracked wall like a disappointed ex.
Jiao rubbed her temples."…That was… something."
The Golden Devourer snorted."Leave quickly. Before the third one wakes up."
Jiao froze."…THIRD?"
Prince Yang grabbed her hand immediately."We're leaving."
Song Lingfang grabbed her other hand."Yes."
Her spirits screamed, "YES PLEASE."
They dragged her out of the cave like two overprotective husbands in training.
The venom fog began to thin.The mountain wind picked up.
But as they reached the entrance—
A faint whisper drifted through the air:
"Bride… I will return…"
Jiao shrieked."No, you will NOT!"
Prince Yang growled."I will kill him."
Song Lingfang glared."No, I will."
The spirits whispered."…We vote both."
They finally reached clear air, breaths trembling.
Then—
A royal guard rushed to them, panting."Lady Jiao Shui—!"
"Yes?" she croaked.
"The Emperor has summoned you back immediately. The trial results must be presented in the throne hall."
She held up the glowing Blossom of Dawn.
The guard gasped."You passed the trial!"
She nodded.
But her spirits whispered a warning.
"Jiao… the Emperor's aura right now… it's wrong."
She looked toward the palace.
Something waited there.
Something dangerous.
He's waiting for her.
And on his arm…
Sits an unfamiliar woman wearing a cold smile.