The Storm Through The Tide

An ancient crystal ball glowed ominously in Zhen Hua's hands, its eerie light illuminating her elegant features with an ethereal sheen. Her long, lacquered nails traced the orb's smooth surface as she channeled her qi into it, commanding it to reveal what had eluded her for so long. The image flickered, a shifting blur until a glorious golden trident appeared—its tip loomed over a small eel.

Zhen Hua paused, then smirked.

There you are.

She had known it. She had felt it in her core, certain that Long Fei had survived. Others doubted. Others whispered that he had perished after he fell from the Celestial Realm, that even an immortal of his caliber could not withstand such an ordeal. But they were all fools.

Long Fei was no ordinary immortal. He was an extraordinary celestial being.

She had spent every waking moment searching for him, scouring realms and bending fate to her will. And now, here he was—reduced to nothing more than a slithering, defenseless creature at the mercy of the sea. Pathetic. Her fingers curled possessively around the crystal, eyes dark with a yearning only he could satisfy: Only Long Fei was worthy of her love.

She exhaled, a slow, longing sigh. Her eyes softened, drinking in his frail form with something akin to endearment.

"Long Yan, I know you're there," said Zhen Hua.

A faint spark of heat shimmered behind her, followed by a puff of thick, crimson smoke. Long Yan stepped forward. He had grown used to being summoned like this, dragged into her presence whenever she desired. He had grown used to being her confidant.

Zhen Hua gestured toward the crystal ball.

"Take a look."

Long Yan hesitated. He had spent weeks convincing himself that it was over—that his brother was gone. The rumors in the Celestial Realm had spoken of Long Fei's demise, and he had accepted it, trying to smother the ember of doubt that gnawed at his heart. But as his gaze fixed on the vision within the crystal ball, he felt a fire inside him blaze violently.

That eel… Long Fei. Even now, he's cultivating. He recognized the subtle aura holding back the trident.

The mighty, untouchable, revered Long Fei— in hiding and reduced to this. The golden trident can only belong to the King of the Merfolk. The only realm that is beyond his reach.

The sight fueled his resentment. He had always lived in his brother's shadow and had always been known as the lesser dragon. He burned with envy every time Long Fei was praised, every time their father spoke of him with pride. But this? Seeing him like this?

He should feel triumphant. Wasn't this what he had wanted—to be stronger than Long Fei? So why… why did this not feel like victory?

"You know what this means," said Zhen Hua.

Long Yan held back his frustration, clenching his fists.

"You failed. The wedding's off," said Zhen Hua.

A roaring fire ignited in Long Yan's heart. His body tensed, jaw clenched. He had done everything for her. He had followed her every command, even laced his brother's wine so that he would not notice the poison. He had betrayed his brother—for her.

And still, she only spoke of Long Fei.

He wanted to lash out. He wanted to scream - Look at Long Fei, he's a wretched eel now. Why him? Why am I never enough? But he dared not. He knew she wouldn't answer.

He stared at the crystal, watching Long Fei—small, weak, struggling against the ocean's pull. He's so weak now. Helpless. Vulnerable.

A dreadful realization struck Long Yan then.

As long as Long Fei was alive, Zhen Hua would never truly see him.

His fists clenched so tightly that his nails drew blood from his palms. Even like this, Long Fei still has everything. Zhen Hua's attention is still obsessed, her every thought—is always about Long Fei. And as long as his brother continued to breathe, nothing would change.

The embers of his resentment flared into an inferno.

If Long Fei dies, he will finally be free.

He will finally be seen.

An insidious resolve simmered.

There's only one thing to do.

He must kill his brother.