Mystique Soul: A Cultivator's Flame
Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Chapter 62

Feng Haoyang carried Feng Jiao Xue on top of his shoulder as he grinned. His eyes glowing with pride and a bounce on his every step, jumping to the arena, his unstable Qi buzzing like electricity around him, a crack forming in every his every stride.

"Jiao Xue’er!" Feng Haoyang opened his arms widely and picked Feng Jiao Xue up by the and swang her around before putting her on his shoulder.

Feng Jiao Xue’s eyes widened when she was picked up and then suddenly sitting on his shoulder and upper arm.

"Uncle, put me down!" Feng Jiao Xue shrieked and wiggled her feet to get down but Feng Haoyang just held her firmer to prevent her from falling down.

"Ahaha! This is my niece!" He grinned wildly as he turns on the podium with her on his shoulder. "My niece!" he points at Feng Jiao Xue proudly.

Feng Jiao Xue was hand reached on his nape, fingers threatening to put him to sleep. Her hand lingers as she was paraded before just holding onto his head for support.

Feng Haoyang was none the wiser that he was about to be knocked out moments ago.

"Sister! You did it!" Mo Tianze jumped down as well and run to Feng Jiao Xue tackling her to the ground with a warm embrace, his white fluffy tail swinging behind him, a bright grin on his face and his eyes glittering like that of the sky filled with stars. "Sister was awesome!"

"Thank you, Tianze" Her eyes softens as her lips gently tilted up. She raised her hand and gently pat his fluffy white head.

"Ehem" The announcer cut off. "And this concludes the Feng clan’s, Clan clas! You all saw it for yourselves, let’s all give one last cheer to tha flaming fires of our clan!!!! It was exciting, amazingly blazing and fantasticaly dramatic!"

"Woooo!"

"Feng Jiao Xue! I love you!"

"Feng Lianxiu your still the best in my heart!"

"Goddess, you did your best"

"Jin Ren! Let’s win the next match!"

Various cheers erupted from the crowed, some congratulating Feng Jiao Xue and the wins of those who they have been rooting while others sighed in dismay and still cheered for the lose, encouraging their friends, family, or idols to keep on improving.

Feng Jiao Xue stood in the middle of the platform, sparks of flares sparking the bright sky, red confetties with different shades of red rained over the entire arena.

And, Feng Jiao Xue looked at the smiling faces, cheering crowds and clapping hands above her. The corner of her lips tilting up, Mo Tianze nuzzle in her arms while Huang Jin De sang above them, circling the arena, his brilliant red feathers bright and flamboyant with his song bathing those below him with invigurating energy.

~~~~

The morning after the celebration, the lamps hanging above the courtyard slowly flickered down and died as the sun rose once more to signal the start of a new day.

The mists that covers the grounds lifts up and fade to once again visit the next day.

Clatters of plates, cups, utensils and kitchen materials were haphazardly thrown in the table.

Yin Xiao’s chest rose and fall as he guard’s Feng Jiao Xue’s door.

Last night was a blast. Feng Jiao Xue celebrated with those truly close to her and even some of her opponents came to join the party to when the sun sets and then going more to when it rised once more.

The door chambers creaked open, and she turned to see a tall figure enter, her second uncle, Feng Haotian. His sharp eyes scanned the room, his face an unreadable mask, but there was an unmistakable tension in his posture.

Despite the clear efforts to maintain composure, Feng Jiao Xue could sense the heaviness in the air, the unspoken words that hung between them.

"Uncle Haotian," Feng Jiao Xue greeted with measured politeness, her voice calm but betraying the slight tension she felt.

Huang Jin De, who was perched in the window sill in his bird form, easily mistaken as nothing more than an aesthetic bird due to the almost undiscernable qi coming off him, watched his every action, sharp pupils following her uncle guardedly.

Feng Haotian remained silent for a moment, his gaze flickering to the ground before he stepped forward, pulling something from within his robes.

It was a small, ornate piece of crimson red jade, engraved with the character "Feng," the emblem of their family. The jade was delicate, the surface smooth yet reflecting the soft morning light with a muted glow. He handed it to her with a stiff motion, his eyes avoiding hers.

"This is for you," he said, his voice rough, as though the words themselves were foreign to him, as if it was heavy on his tongue.

Feng Jiao Xue looked at the jade, her brow furrowing in confusion. She knew the significance of the emblem, it was the symbol of the Feng family, an honor given only to those who were truly acknowledged as part of the family, a sign of their legitimacy and standing. It was a gesture of acceptance, though one rarely given lightly, especially in her case.

She remembered that she once had one, given to her from birth but as most of her valuable... the ’Feng Jiao Xue’ before her lost it before fully graspingit’s significance.

She hesitated for a moment, then accepted it with a respectful nod. "Thank you, Uncle Haotian," she said softly, her eyes hiding the biting cold with softed frost meeting his for a brief moment. But there was a weight in his expression that she couldn’t quite place. The silence between them stretched on, awkward and filled with unspoken words.

Feng Haotian shifted uncomfortably, his eyes narrowing as if wrestling with his own thoughts. He clearly wanted to say something, perhaps to explain his gesture, but the words wouldn’t come.

Instead, he cleared his throat and turned toward the window, as though seeking refuge from the unspoken tension.

"You’ve proven yourself," he finally muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, "but don’t think this means you’re free of the challenges that await you. This family... it’s complicated."

’Aren’t you the one who makes it so?’ Feng Jiao Xue thought to herself.

Still, she simply nodded, understanding the subtext of his words, though they did little to alleviate the unease she felt. She knew well that in this family, approval often came with conditions. But for now, she chose not to probe further, sensing the fragile nature of the moment.

Before she could respond, the door to her chamber burst open, and a loud, familiar voice rang through the room, breaking the heavy atmosphere like a clap of thunder.

"Feng Haotian, you bastard!" Feng Haoyang stormed into the room, his face flushed with anger, his fists clenched at his sides. "DON’T EVEN THINK OF BULLYING MY NIECE!!!"

The tension in the room shifted instantly as Feng Haoyang’s boisterous presence filled the space.

He strode forward, his eyes blazing with protective fury, his voice carrying the full weight of a fierce protector.

Feng Jiao Xue’s gaze flickered between her two uncles, the contrast between their personalities striking. Feng Haoyang was the fiery, outspoken figure, while Feng Haotian was colder, more calculating.

Feng Haotian didn’t flinch under his brother’s outburst, though his jaw tightened. He gave a small, barely perceptible sigh before turning to face Feng Haoyang, his eyes betraying the weariness that had settled within him.

"Haoyang," he said with his voice low but firm. "I’m not here to cause trouble. I just wanted to give her something... to acknowledge her place in the family."

The words were simple, but Feng Haoyang was having none of it. "Acknowledge her? She is a FENG! From the day she was concieved, before she was even born and past when she dies, she will still be a Feng! She does not need acknowledgement to claim where she belongs" he spat, his eyes narrowing. "You think giving her some trinket will erase everything you’ve put her through? Don’t think you can make up for years of neglect with a piece of jade!"

Feng Haotian remained silent, his expression unreadable though his fists clenched at his sides in frustration. The room was thick with the weight of their history, the family dynamics that had always been a tangled web of rivalry, regret, and unresolved conflict.

Feng Jiao Xue stepped forward, her voice calm but firm as she placed a hand on her uncle’s arm, trying to quell the rising tension. "Uncle Haoyang, please. Let’s not make a scene."

Feng Haoyang’s eyes softened for a moment as he looked at her, his anger simmering down at the sight of her calm composure. He exhaled sharply and gave a reluctant nod. "Fine," he muttered, turning to Feng Haotian. "But remember this, my niece doesn’t need your approval. She’s earned everything she has on her own."

Feng Haotian’s gaze flickered with something unreadable, a mixture of frustration and begrudging respect. "I know," he said, his voice quieter now, though still laced with tension. "I know."

The air between them remained thick, but at least the shouting had stopped. Feng Jiao Xue, still holding the crimson jade in her hand, looked down at it thoughtfully. The gesture, however reluctant, marked a change in her relationship with the Feng family. But the road ahead was far from simple, and she knew it would take more than a piece of jade to heal the wounds that ran deep within them.

She glanced at her two uncles, the contrasting figures of her family. She could feel the weight of their histories pressing in around them but for now,, she chose to focus on the present.

"Thank you both of you," she said softly, her voice steady. "But let’s not let old grudges come between us. There’s too much at stake."

Feng Haoyang gave a gruff nod, his expression softening at her words. Feng Haotian, on the other hand, said nothing, his gaze lingering on her for a moment before he turned and walked toward the door, leaving the room in a heavy silence.

As the door clicked shut behind him, Feng Jiao Xue couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief. The tension in the air had lifted slightly, but there was still so much left unspoken. Still, she held the crimson jade in her hand, a symbol of both acceptance and the battles yet to come.

This isn’t her beginning but it marks the start of her rise. Feng Jiao Xue looked at the jade in contemplation and conflict. Her plans are in motion. The jade perfectly replicated that of a domino that fell, creating a chain reaction.