CHAPTER 4

A Terrifying Nightmare

The night in Arbiter Hall was unnervingly silent. Moonlight streamed through the tall windows, painting the room in silver and shadow. Xiao Lanhua—Orchid, as most of the fairies called her—collapsed onto her bed after the day’s exhausting events. Her eyelids were heavy, her body trembling from the chaos in Haishi City, the fire, the evil spirits, and the Demon Lord’s terrifying presence.

Finally, sleep claimed her.

But it was not peace that awaited her.

In her dream, she was bound, limbs stiff and immobile. Panic surged through her chest as unseen chains dragged her outside, and beside her, another figure struggled—Dongfang Qingcang. Even in chains, his aura was terrifying, the weight of centuries of power pressing down upon her senses.

A golden light sliced through the darkness, and a figure descended with majesty that demanded obedience. Chang Heng, the God of War, his armor gleaming like sunlight on steel, raised his sword high. His voice, cold and commanding, cut through her fear.

“Dongfang Qingcang, sinful immortal! You have escaped your punishment, and now I will end you.”

Orchid’s heart thudded violently. She tried to move, to scream, to do anything—but the chains held her fast. She watched helplessly as Chang Heng’s blade descended in a flash of brilliance, slicing toward the Demon Lord.

“NO!” Her voice tore from her throat, but it was swallowed by the dream.

And then—she jolted awake, gasping, sweat soaking her hair. Her heart raced, and for a long moment, she could not tell dream from reality.

“…It was just a dream…” she whispered, trembling.

Far away, in the shadows of his own hidden chamber, Dongfang Qingcang awoke with a start as well. Crimson eyes flared, the first spark of fear he had felt in centuries. The dream had touched him too—his mind, normally an unshakable fortress, had been rattled.

Morning came slowly. Orchid lay in bed, exhaustion pressing on her limbs. A soft knock echoed through the room, followed by a low, commanding voice.

“Orchid. It is time to begin.”

She groaned, pulling the blanket over her head. “I’m not getting up. Count your own flowers if you’re bored.” She muttered it casually, thinking nothing of the offhand remark.

And yet… the Xilan Holy Seal on Dongfang Qingcang’s forehead flared to life. Without warning, he was gone from her room, appearing in her greenhouse, standing before the sea of flowers. His hands moved automatically, counting each bloom with meticulous precision.

“One… two… three…” His growl was quiet but raw, filled with frustration. “…Why am I doing this? I didn’t order this…”

Orchid peeked out of her room later, eyes wide. “So… a casual comment counts as an order with the Heart Curse, huh?” she murmured, a small, bemused smile on her lips.

Confusion and fury twisted through him. Dongfang Qingcang summoned Shangque and demanded the Book of Xilan, the ancient scroll containing the clan’s lore and the full explanation of the Heart Curse. Together, they poured over its brittle pages, and the truth struck him like a blade.

The Heart Curse:

Their lives, joys, sorrows, pain, and death were intertwined.

He would feel everything she felt—every wound, every emotion, every suffering.

She would not feel his.

If she died, he would die.

A grim silence fell over him. For the first time, he felt his immortal pride buckle beneath something small, fragile, and human.

“So… she is my greatest weakness,” he muttered, the words rough and almost inaudible, yet heavy with a rare vulnerability.

Breakfast was an awkward affair. Orchid laughed quietly at his flower-counting debacle, her bright energy cutting through his brooding. Yet the Destiny Book remained unfinished. He reminded her sharply that it must be repaired. She waved him off, insisting she needed to eat first.

During the meal, a playful curiosity overtook her. “What is your name?” she asked innocently.

He began to answer, but she sneezed just as he spoke, mishearing it. “Dongfang Qiang?” she repeated cheerfully, and from that moment on, she began calling him Da Qiang.

The name, so casual and lighthearted, caused a barely suppressed flicker of outrage in him. Every time she said it, a tight coil of irritation pressed against his chest, and yet… he did nothing, letting it pass, though inwardly he bristled.

Later, Orchid tried to fill the quiet hours with stories. She recounted her version of ancient history to the flower spirits, embellishing and misremembering. In her tale, Chidi Woman had fought Dongfang Qingcang and won heroically, and the Demon Lord had been somewhat cute, almost comical.

“That did NOT happen!” Dongfang Qingcang snapped, his tone cutting through the room like a blade. He corrected her sharply, explaining that Chidi Woman had sacrificed herself, not defeated him. His voice carried both authority and exasperation.

Orchid flushed, dodging questions about the torn portrait and missing pages from her old books, cheeks burning as she fumbled through excuses.

The day passed with more chaos than calm. Festival preparations for the immortal victory over the Moon Clan had begun, and Orchid eagerly shaped pastries into miniature Moon Emperors. Dongfang Qingcang attempted to help but ended up smashing a bowl in frustration, his composure fraying in ways that both terrified and intrigued her.

“Look! This is the Moon Emperor’s face!” Orchid chirped, poking the pastry with a tiny wooden sword.

“Stop corrupting history,” he said flatly, his crimson eyes gleaming with irritation, though she caught a subtle twitch in his jaw that betrayed more than mere annoyance.

Evening brought exhaustion and failure. Orchid collapsed over the Destiny Book, her magical energy drained. A subordinate whispered to Dongfang Qingcang that her cultivation was depleted, and recovery might take years.

Frustration flared within him, and he ordered Shangque to fetch a Heart-Hidden Hairpin, a rare artifact that could aid in lifting the curse. He would not leave her fate to chance.

Meanwhile, Chang Heng worked diligently on a rare Immortal Pill, recalling her past kindness and the promise she had made to help others. Memories of her courage and warmth mingled with the faint hope that she could be restored, even as danger pressed close.

The next morning, Orchid awoke, expecting the room to be empty. Relief and happiness surged through her as she searched the hall, thinking he had left voluntarily. She smiled, laughing softly to herself, oblivious that Dongfang Qingcang was nearby, watching, planning.

He did not leave. Not yet. He would wait, protect, and strategize. For the first time in centuries, he was tethered—not by chains, not by duty, but by the fragile heartbeat of a tiny, stubborn fairy named Orchid.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***