The immortal Lin Fang was highly revered.
Every Thursday, she would summon her sons to her palace for discussion.
But today was different. This morning, the high immortal Lin Fang drank poison and died.
It was exceedingly rare for an immortal to die from poison.
But this particular poison was no ordinary one—it was the Hellish Dragon Poison, brewed from the flames of hellfire itself.
Only a high immortal possessed the skill to craft such a deadly concoction, and the necessary ingredients could only be found in the treacherous realm of the Underworld.
No one ventured there lightly. The inhabitants were far from friendly, and while there wasn't an official war between their realms, tensions simmered dangerously close to boiling over.
Lin Wei was certain of one thing: he wasn't ready for a war.
He sighed, his thoughts wandering as he strolled through the mortal realm.
War was chaos, responsibility, and endless strife—none of which appealed to him. All Lin Wei wanted was to relax, enjoy the serenity of the day, and listen to the songs of birds.
Immortals from the east, west, north, and south now poured into her palace. Lin Wei hadn't seen so many immortals gathered in one place for quite some time, which meant his brothers would arrive soon as well.
It had been a while since he'd seen his brothers. As children, they had been inseparable, often engaged in mischievous deeds. Perhaps they would share wine again and break bread together.
The thought was a rare bright spot in the otherwise grim atmosphere. It stood in sharp contrast to the dry, oppressive air of the rice fields and the sickening stench of blood that lingered around him.
He was sure they would use the shorter route, to the realm he wasn't in the mood for the tense atmosphere yet.
So, He, however, was traveling through the Path of Rice Valley, where the once-thriving village of Mist Shade lay in ruins.
The village was reduced to ashes, a grim testament to his mother's wrath. As Lin Wei journeyed through the remnants, the still-burning fire spoke of the two days that had passed since the destruction.
It was her doing—demon arrows summoned to obliterate the village.
From afar, in the rice fields, a royal carriage caught his attention. He was aware of the tragedy surrounding Princess Xu Lianhua's murder and the kingdom's frantic search for her daughter, Zhang Mei.
Amidst the golden stalks of rice, he spotted her. Covered in soot and grime, she lay fast asleep, her troubled chi emanating faintly.
Immortals were forbidden from meddling in mortal affairs, so Lin Wei kept his distance, watching her from the edge of the field.
"I found the princess!" A soldier's triumphant cry shattered the quiet, as one of them scooped up the sleeping girl. Their flags waved high as the party prepared to depart.
The story of Princess Xu Lianhua was well-known among mortals. She had fled the palace years ago, fearing for her life, and sought refuge in the arms of a humble rice farmer. For years, they had searched for her in vain.
Her failure to ascend as an immortal, after attempting to cheat the gods, had sealed her fate with heavy punishment. And now, as cruel as the fates were, Mei would take her place.
Lin Wei sighed, trailing the royal carriage from a safe distance.
Fate.
Even immortals weren't immune to it. Perhaps that was why he found himself so fascinated, following her all the way to the towering gates of Celestial Jade City (Tiān Yù Chéng).
The bustling capital, with its jade palaces and vibrant marketplaces, stood in stark contrast to the quiet ruin of Mist Shade.
Mortal life was a chaotic blend of beauty and cruelty. In the city, the rich exploited the poor, and the poor clawed for scraps from one another.
Beautifully dressed women laughed in the bright afternoon, their voices filled with excitement as they hailed the princess's arrival.
The truth of the scandal was hidden from them.
To the people, Princess Xu Lianhua was gravely ill and unfit for marriage. In her stead, Princess Mei—rumored to be the daughter of the first concubine, Yi—would wed the grand prince of the western kingdom.
Lin Wei lingered, listening as the gossip spread like wildfire. The princess, still unconscious, was carried from the carriage, wrapped like a corpse, and placed in her quarters.
He remained until the servants began undressing her, at which point he respectfully turned his gaze. Only after they had cleaned and dressed her did he resume his silent watch from the palace roof.
The king and queen soon arrived, their regal composure masking an unmistakable desperation.
The physician hurried into the chamber, bowing low before the monarchs.
"Long live His Majesty!"
"You are late, Zhao Jun."
The old man trembled as he prostrated himself. "I deserve to die, Your Majesty."
The king scoffed. "Check her," he ordered, his voice cold.
The physician rose shakily, examining the unconscious princess.
"Well?" the king demanded, impatience lacing his words.
The physician hesitated before replying, "It seems the princess is in a vegetative state. Even if she awakens, she may not regain use of her limbs."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
"And who can cure such an illness?" the king asked, his voice dangerously quiet.
"There is a renowned physician... but he resides in another kingdom. It may take three months for him to arrive."
"An enemy kingdom?" the king growled.
The physician fell to his knees, trembling. "It is, Your Majesty."
The king turned away in fury, storming out of the princess's palace with the queen following in silence.
Zhao Jun remained kneeling, his fate all but sealed.
Lin Wei shook his head as he observed. "Mortals are truly fascinating," he mused, noticing the darkening skies.
Panic struck him as he realized the time. "Oh no, I'm late for the meeting!"
With a leap, he vaulted to the roof of another building and soared toward the realm of immortals.