Ashes Of The Phoenix: The Crimson Pact

Morning in the Nine Gates Sect dawned slow and pale.

Thin mist rolled along the ground like faded silk, and soft golden light filtered through the curtains of Li Feng's chambers.

He stirred beneath the covers, head pounding faintly. The familiar scent of sandalwood incense filled the room — but something else lingered in the air.

Something unfamiliar.

Warm.

Like someone's presence had stayed too long.

He sat up slowly, one hand against his forehead, his crimson robe loose around his shoulders. His hair, normally tied with exact precision, now fell loosely behind him, slightly tangled.

> "...Strange," he murmured. "Why do I feel like... something happened?"

His lips tingled faintly, a sensation he couldn't place. It was subtle — too subtle to be anything definite, and yet...

He reached for the nearby jug of tea left on the nightstand. Cold. Untouched.

The banquet had been a blur after the fifth cup of wine.

Dancing lights. Laughter. Fire petals floating in his wine. Shen Yun's eyes shining under the lanterns.

"Shen Yun..."

He stood, wrapping the outer layer of his robe over his shoulders and walking to the balcony. The view was quiet — the aftermath of celebration still visible in the courtyards. Fallen ribbons. Empty wine jars. Sleeping disciples sprawled under pavilions.

Li Feng exhaled slowly.

"It was just a party," he told himself.

But even as he tried to reason, something deeper itched beneath the surface.

Meanwhile…

Shen Yun sat beneath the peach tree in the outer courtyard, chewing nervously on a piece of sweet lotus cake.

His face was burning.

"I kissed him," he muttered.

The words felt impossible even now.

He had tossed and turned all night after fleeing Li Feng's room. His heart wouldn't slow down. Every time he closed his eyes, he saw it again — Li Feng's sleeping face. The brush of skin. The warmth.

He hadn't meant to do it.

Well… he had. But not really.

It just happened.

And now?

Now he didn't know what to feel.

"Was it a mistake? Or something I was always meant to do?

"Are you always this deep in thought, or is it just mornings?" came Wei Lan's voice from behind him.

Shen Yun flinched, nearly dropping the cake. "Huh?! What—no, I was just…"

Wei Lan raised an eyebrow, plopping down beside him. "Just what?"

Shen Yun avoided eye contact. "Just thinking."

Wei Lan narrowed his eyes. "You've been weird since last night. You didn't even say goodbye after the banquet."

Shen Yun swallowed. "It was...just I was busy taking li feng to his room that's all nothing much."

Wei Lan was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "Oh..you took Li Feng to his room? Well..strange he doesn't allow anyone to enter his room"

Shen Yun looked at him finally. "Oh..uhm well it's just he was drunk i took him to his room that's all"

Wei Lan blinked. "Hm..i see"

But the air shifted.

They both knew what were they talking about.

Later that day...

Li Feng entered the council chamber to meet with the elders. His usual composed expression was in place, but his mind was... elsewhere.

His scent still lingered in the room when he woke up...

The elders discussed outer sect matters, border patrol rotations, medicinal herb supplies — but Li Feng barely registered them.

He should have been focused.

Instead, his mind kept circling back to Shen Yun.

The brush of fingers.

The scent of warm lotus wine.

A strange feeling in his chest he couldn't name.

He shouldn't be feeling all this not when he had some other secret intentions...

Suddenly, Elder Xun's voice broke through:

"Young Master, the Shadow Serpent Sect has sent a message. Lord Xie Wuchen thanks you for your hospitality."

Li Feng's eyes sharpened. "Did he say anything else?"

"No, but he has requested to send an envoy to present a gift in the coming week."

Li Feng's jaw tensed.

"That man never acts without a purpose."

A flicker of suspicion returned. He had seen Xie Wuchen at the banquet — eyes scanning the crowd. Calm. Calculating.

Had he seen something?

Did he know?

Li Feng's hand tightened around the jade armrest.

Shen Yun can't be seen by him again. Not until he understand what Wuchen is after. Does he always knows about the mark? No it can't happen Li Feng wouldn't let anyone else have that mark..the power..

Only he wants to rule and he will..

That afternoon…

Shen Yun wandered into the inner courtyard gardens. His thoughts were a mess. He needed air. Space. Something to distract from what had happened.

He didn't expect to see Li Feng already standing there, looking over the koi pond.

Shen Yun froze.

Li Feng turned slowly, his expression unreadable.

"Sleep well?" he asked, voice cool.

Shen Yun nodded. "You?"

Li Feng paused. "I think I overestimated my tolerance."

A small silence passed.

"You brought me to my room, didn't you?" Li Feng asked.

Shen Yun stiffened. "..uhm..well..yeah..I did."

"Thank you."

Shen Yun nodded again, a bit too quickly.

Li Feng stepped closer.

"You seem... distracted."

"I'm fine," Shen Yun said, avoiding his gaze.

Another pause.

Then Li Feng spoke, softly:

"Did something happen last night?"

Shen Yun looked up, startled.

Li Feng's eyes bore into his. Calm. But deep. Searching.

Shen Yun's throat tightened.

"W-What are you talking about what could possibly even happen pfft.." he lied with a hint of awkward smile..

Li Feng's lips curved slightly, almost imperceptibly.

"I see."

A long silence.

Then, Li Feng turned away.

"Join me for tea."

Shen Yun blinked. "Now?"

"Yes. I just want to talk i am bored anyways."

A Private Pavilion…

The two sat opposite each other in a quiet pavilion overlooking the lake. Tea steamed gently between them. Lotus-shaped pastries lay untouched on a lacquered tray.

Li Feng poured slowly. Every movement elegant.

"So are you now adapting to Nine Gates Sect?" he asked.

"Hm..oh uhm yeah I am adapting to it now it doesn't feel as cold as it used to be" Shen Yun replied.

Li Feng nodded taking a sip of his tea.

Li Feng nodded, taking a slow sip of his tea, eyes lingering on Shen Yun's face just a second too long.

The younger boy sat stiffly at first, fiddling with the edge of his sleeve, but the tranquil atmosphere and gentle breeze from the lake slowly loosened the knots in his shoulders.

"I've been meaning to ask," Li Feng said after a pause, setting his teacup down, "You mentioned you studied formation arts at your former sect?"

Shen Yun blinked. "Oh. Yes… a bit. My shifu said I had a natural sense for tracing flow lines, but we never got far. Things… didn't last that long."

Li Feng looked down at his cup.

"I'm sorry."

The sincerity in his voice startled Shen Yun. It wasn't just polite courtesy. It was quiet, and real.

"I don't want your pity," Shen Yun muttered.

"I didn't offer it." Li Feng's gaze met his again. "Only respect."

Shen Yun looked away quickly, ears turning pink. "O-Oh…"

A breeze danced between them.

The lake reflected twin moons—one in the sky, and one flickering in the water's surface. Time slowed.

And then, Li Feng spoke again. This time quieter.

"About that night…"

Shen Yun nearly choked on his tea.

"W-What about it?"

Li Feng watched him, calm as ever. "You're sure… nothing happened?"

Shen Yun gave a nervous laugh. "What could've possibly happened? I mean, you were drunk. And I'm not—! I wouldn't—!"

He stopped himself.

Li Feng didn't answer for a long while.

Then, slowly, he leaned back and picked up a lotus pastry.

"Well," he said, voice soft. "You're not the type to lie."

Shen Yun almost dropped his cup.

"But I'm still curious," Li Feng added with a faint smirk, "why your face turns so red whenever I mention it."

Shen Yun gawked. "It's not red—!"

"It is."

Shen Yun glared at him, cheeks on fire.

Li Feng bit into the pastry and looked incredibly pleased with himself.

For the first time… he was teasing.

Elsewhere…

Elder Xun stood before a messenger dressed in silver-gray robes bearing the insignia of the Shadow Serpent Sect.

The man bowed deeply, voice smooth.

"Lord Xie Wuchen sends his greetings, and this gift," the messenger said, lifting a black box carved with obsidian snakes. "He hopes the Nine Gates will accept his token of appreciation for such generous hospitality."

Elder Xun frowned. "What is it?"

"A beast scale," the envoy said. "Recovered from the lower southern ruins. Ancient. Rare."

Elder Xun motioned for a guard to take the box. He would have it examined later.

But deep down… something felt off.

The Shadow Serpent Sect never gifted freely.

Later That Evening…

Shen Yun walked through the outer corridor alone, watching the lanterns flicker to life one by one.

He hadn't been able to stop thinking about the pavilion moment. About how Li Feng teased him. Teased.

Was this… normal?

Did he tease everyone like that?

Did he look at others like he looked at him?

Shen Yun frowned.

Why did it bother him so much?

Suddenly, laughter echoed from one of the side halls.

A group of female disciples were gathered, giggling, whispering — and at the center of them?

Li Feng.

He was standing calmly, allowing one of the girls to adjust the clasp of his robe. Another offered him sweet plum wine.

It was innocent. Formal.

But it still hit Shen Yun like a slap.

Why am I…

He didn't finish the thought.

He turned around abruptly and walked the other way.

Meanwhile…

Li Feng let the wine cup sit in his hand as the girls chatted.

But he wasn't listening.

His eyes flicked up once, casually, just as a familiar blue-robed figure turned down the far corridor and disappeared.

A small crease appeared between his brows.

He handed the untouched wine back and murmured an excuse before walking away.

Courtyard Garden

Shen Yun leaned against the stone railing, arms crossed, staring at the koi pond.

He was scowling without realizing it.

"Why do I care?"

He didn't have the answer.

But the feelings… the fire… it was building.

Behind him, footsteps approached.

He didn't look.

"Jealousy doesn't suit you," Li Feng said simply.

Shen Yun whipped around, startled. "I—! I'm not jealous!"

Li Feng raised a brow. "So it was coincidence, you storming off the moment Meilin offered me wine?"

"I did not storm!"

Li Feng took a slow step closer.

"I suppose not. You merely fled. Gracefully."

"Why do you always have to—!" Shen Yun stopped, fuming. "You're impossible."

Li Feng's expression softened slightly. "You're adorable when you're angry."

Shen Yun gaped. "Wha—?!"

There it was again. That teasing tone. But this time… there was warmth in it.

Real warmth.

Not strategy.

Not calculation.

Shen Yun's anger sputtered into confusion.

Li Feng stepped beside him, gaze fixed on the pond.

"I don't let many people into my room," he said, voice lower now. "But I didn't push you away."

Shen Yun looked at him slowly. "Why are you telling me this?"

Li Feng hesitated.

Then: "Because something's changing. Between us."

Shen Yun's heart skipped.

He wanted to say something — anything — but the words wouldn't come.

So he nodded, barely.

Li Feng looked at him once more, then walked away without saying another word.

That Night…

Back in his chamber, Shen Yun sat cross-legged by the candlelight.

His heart was still beating fast.

He reached for the scroll his shifu left behind.

The same phrase burned into his mind:

"Only when the phoenix trusts… will it show the way."

"Trust," he whispered.

He was beginning to.

And that terrified him more than anything.

End of Chapter 13