His voice shook with a fury so raw the foxfire lanterns flared white hot.
Mingzhao nodded once. “Then we must act quickly.” He looked at every elder in the hall. “Protect the mother. Protect the child. And find out what the fragment wants, before it calls again.”
The room vibrated with urgency.
Poppy reached for Mingxi’s hand. “We’ll face it together,” she whispered.
He dropped to his knees before her, pressing his forehead to her stomach like a man in prayer. “You are not alone,” he murmured. “Neither of you ever will be.”
He needed her to know he’d never leave her, or their baby.
Somewhere deep beneath Huoyáo Jìng…the fragment pulsed once. Calling. Calling again. Calling louder.
Council Hall emptied in organized chaos. Warriors sprinted for the outer shrine. Healers raced for warding scrolls. The elders snapped orders with the sharpness of steel.
Only Mingxi didn’t move.
He was still kneeling at Poppy’s feet, forehead pressed gently to her abdomen, breathing. The entire world had narrowed to the space beneath his hands.
Poppy stroked his hair. “Mingxi… we have to let them help.”
“I know,” he whispered.
He didn’t move.
“Mingxi?”
He exhaled once—pained, reluctant—and then rose shakily, still holding one of her hands, fearing she might vanish.
Xu Yunlian stepped forward with a trembling smile. “Come,” she said softly. “Let me properly examine her.”
Mingxi tensed. “You may examine her qi,” he said carefully. “Not her body. Not directly. And I will be standing right here.”
Yunlian nodded. “I would expect nothing less.”
They guided Poppy to a cushion in a quieter side chamber. The walls shimmered faintly with foxfire light, protective sigils etched across the stone. Yunlian knelt opposite Poppy, and Mingxi clasped his hand in hers.
“Relax your breath,” Yunlian murmured.
Poppy inhaled slowly. Exhaled.
Yunlian placed two fingers lightly on Poppy’s wrist. Warmth flowed out of her in a soft golden wave. Then, her eyes widened.
“Oh…” she whispered. “Oh, this is… beautiful.”
Poppy blinked. “Is that good?”
Mingxi leaned forward sharply. “What do you sense?”
Xu Yunlian took a steady, reverent breath. “Two signatures,” she murmured. “Woven together. Yours and the baby’s.”
Poppy swallowed. “You can already sense the baby?”
“Yes.” Xu Yunlian’s voice was thick with emotion. “But there is more.”
Mingxi froze. “More?”
Yunlian nodded, her gaze drifting upward. “There is moonwell qi wrapped around both mother and child. Protective. Resonant. Like silver threads curled around a new spark.”
