Caelan smirked.
For one suspended moment, they looked oddly like brothers. Then Caelan flicked his wrist, opened a shimmering water gate, and stepped through. The surface rippled once and then stilled.
Lysandra stretched. “Welp. Hope he doesn’t die.”
Poppy swung to her. “He won’t.”
“Oh, I know. I just like the drama.”
Minghua perked up. “I do too!”
Mingxi grabbed Poppy’s hand. “Let’s go inside before they infect you.”
Chapter 83
After breakfast, Xu Yunlian gently ushered Poppy out to see the grounds. Mingxi insisted on coming, despite three healers scolding him for moving too much.
The realm was breathtaking. Foxfire blossoms floated through the air like drifting stars. Wooden bridges arched over streams that reflected colors not found in the mortal world—pearl, opal, dreamlight gold. Young fox cubs darted between trees, shifting between forms mid-step just to show off. Poppy slowed her pace, drinking in everything.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
Xu Yunlian smiled. “Huoyáo Jìng reveals itself differently to each visitor. It shows you what you need.”
Poppy glanced at Mingxi, who immediately looked away as if offended by emotion. She hid a smile. They passed through a row of carved stone fox statues—nine in total—each representing a Guardian ancestor. The eighth had a crack through its base. Mingxi touched the stone lightly as they passed.
Poppy tilted her head. “Is that—?”
He answered quietly, “Our ancestors protect us. But this one… cracked the day the entity first brushed Huoyáo Jìng.”
Poppy swallowed. “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be.” He took her hand again. “You didn’t bring it here.”
His eyes flicked away, and she squeezed his fingers.
“It came for me,” she whispered.
Mingxi’s shoulders tightened. “Yes. And it will likely come again.”
Xu Yunlian looked between them with a mother’s knowing softness. “That is why your integration ceremony must happen soon.”
Poppy almost tripped. “Integration?”
“Oh, darling, not the wedding,” Xu Yunlian said soothingly. “Minghua uses the wrong word for everything.”
“Hey!” Minghua shouted from across the courtyard, somehow hearing it.
Xu Yunlian continued calmly, “Integration simply means you are formally welcomed into the clan, blessed, and permitted full protection under Huoyáo Jìng’s ancestral wards.”
“Oh.” Poppy exhaled. “That’s… that’s lovely.”
“And,” Xu Yunlian added, “we can’t delay. Your qi is still fragile. The ceremony will stabilize it.”
Poppy blinked. “Oh.”
Mingxi’s grip on her hand tightened for a fraction of a second.
“You don’t have to worry,” he murmured. “It’s painless. Mostly.”
