The night wind was soft, carrying the faint scent of flowers and dew. In the Savannah Courtyard, where the moonlight poured through the open ceiling and danced on the faint green glow, Wei Ji sat cross-legged at the center of it all. His body was still covered with faint cuts and bruises, but the living plants that surrounded him pulsed with slow, steady life.

Thick vines curled around his arms and shoulders, their leaves releasing tiny shimmering spores that floated in the air before melting into his wounds.

The light was gentle, but it hummed with a deep vitality that made the air feel almost alive.

Lu Shaohua sat quietly before him, her eyes wide as she watched the scene unfold. She didn't speak at first. The glow of the plants reflected on her face, making her dark eyes gleam faintly like wet jade. She leaned a little forward, her fingers clasped on her lap.

"Young master Han Ji," she finally said, her voice low but curious. "Can I learn that?"

Wei Ji's eyes opened slowly. His pupils glimmered faintly under the green light, and his breathing was calm, almost meditative. "Learn this?" he asked.

She nodded earnestly. "That healing spell. The way the plants listen to your voice, the way they respond to your will. I want to learn it. I could use it to heal my friends back in the Shen Flame Kingdom."

Her tone carried genuine hope.

Wei Ji tilted his head slightly. "Your friends?"

Lu Shaohua's lips curved into a soft smile, and she nodded again. "Yes. The… ugh… you know, those who I care about… the creatures." She looked up at the swaying vines, her eyes reflecting their soft light. "Sometimes they get hurt because of me. Sometimes I can't protect them. But if I learn this… maybe I can."

Wei Ji was silent. His gaze drifted over her, watching the way her hair shifted slightly as the night breeze passed. Her sincerity was so clear that it made him hesitate.

"And there's someone else," she said softly, her tone lowering almost into a whisper. "Furer. My Black War Chariot Wolf. He was injured and he said you beat him up. I tried using all the herbs I knew, but nothing worked. If I could learn this spell, maybe I could heal him too."

Wei Ji's lips pressed into a faint line. Furer. That name… it stirred a faint memory in him. He didn't speak for a while. He's guilty. He did beat that crap out.

"Please," she said again, bowing slightly, her long hair falling forward. "Teach me, young master Han Ji."

Wei Ji let out a long breath through his nose. He looked away, staring at the green spores that were still drifting in the air. His thoughts flickered rapidly behind his calm eyes. She's the future Celestial Demon Empress. He knew it. She didn't yet. If he gave her even a taste of what she could truly command…

He paused, then gave a slow nod. "Fine," he said softly. "But only a simple version. Not this one."

Her head lifted. "Really?"

"Yes."

A faint spark of excitement shone in her eyes. "Thank you!"

Wei Ji extended his hand and the plants responded instantly, curling around his fingers like obedient pets. "Watch carefully," he said. "This is the foundation. You must understand how to connect your spiritual energy with nature's essence."

Lu Shaohua nodded. Her eyes followed every movement, focused and serious.

He began explaining, his voice patient but firm. "First, you must calm your breathing. Don't command the plants—ask them. Feel their pulse as an extension of your own. Every leaf, every stem has its own rhythm." He gestured to the vines beside them. "You don't control them. You guide them with your intent."

Lu Shaohua closed her eyes, copying his breathing, her fingers resting gently on the ground. She whispered softly, repeating his words to herself. "Guide them, not command…"

Wei Ji watched quietly, then continued. "Good. Now, channel your spiritual energy slowly through your palms. Imagine it flowing into the soil beneath you. Let it touch the roots."

She did as told, her lips moving silently as she focused. Her face was serious, her brows furrowed slightly. For a moment, nothing happened.

Then—small ripples of light shimmered faintly under her hands.

"Good," Wei Ji murmured. "Now, breathe out. Let it rise."

The ripples trembled, then vanished.

Lu Shaohua frowned, her shoulders slumping. "It disappeared…"

"That's normal," Wei Ji said. "You forced your breath too early. Try again."

She nodded and repeated the steps. Again, the faint light flickered, rose… then vanished.

Again and again she tried.

Each time, something went wrong. Sometimes the light wouldn't appear at all. Sometimes it flared for an instant, then died out. At one point, a tiny bud sprouted from the soil, only to wither in seconds.

Wei Ji crossed his arms, watching with a calm expression at first. But as the attempts went on, his calm turned into quiet surprise.

She was failing.

This woman—whose very soul carried the potential of a Celestial Demon Empress—couldn't even form the simplest healing sprout.

Lu Shaohua exhaled heavily and bit her lip. "I don't understand. I'm following your steps exactly."

Wei Ji rubbed the bridge of his nose, a faint sigh escaping him. "Maybe you're pushing too much spiritual energy. Try less."

She nodded, tried again. Still failed.

"Too little then."

Again, failed.

Wei Ji exhaled deeply and finally said, "Alright, let me guide you."

Lu Shaohua quickly shook her head. "No, young master Han. You don't need to. You're still injured. Please, focus on healing yourself."

He stared at her, expression unreadable. "…Fine," he said.

He tried to stay quiet. Tried to let her keep practicing. But every time she made the same mistake—every time the glow flickered and vanished—his hands twitched in frustration. He muttered under his breath, "Not like that… no, don't hold your breath… she's doing it again…"

Finally, he couldn't take it anymore. "Here," he said firmly, moving closer. "Let me guide you."

Before she could protest, he reached out and gently placed his hand over hers. His palm was warm, his touch steady but not heavy. "Feel this," he said quietly. "Follow the flow."

Lu Shaohua froze, her heart skipping slightly at the sudden contact. She opened her mouth to say something, but the soft hum that spread from his hand silenced her.

The plants around them responded instantly. The vines lifted slightly, the air shimmering faintly as if they had awakened.

Wei Ji spoke softly, almost like a chant. "The energy must spiral from your dantian, move through your veins, and release through your palm. Don't force it—let it breathe through you."

Her breathing steadied as his voice guided her. The faint green light began to swirl again beneath their hands. The soil glowed. A small, delicate sprout pushed through, trembling under the moonlight.

She gasped softly. "It's… it's working."

Wei Ji gave a small nod. "Good. Now keep it stable."

They stayed like that for a while, their hands together, the green glow growing steadier. But soon, the light flickered again. Lu Shaohua's shoulders trembled. Her breathing turned shallow.

Her spiritual energy was running out.

"Enough," Wei Ji said quietly. "You've pushed too much."

But she shook her head stubbornly. "Just… a little more…"

"Lu Shaohua," he said softly, "stop."

Her lips parted to protest, but her vision blurred. The green light faded. She swayed slightly forward.

Wei Ji caught her before she fell. "Foolish girl," he muttered, holding her gently.

Her head rested against his shoulder, her breathing even but faint. He placed two fingers on her wrist and closed his eyes, feeling her pulse. Her spiritual energy was almost dry. "You depleted too much," he whispered.

He laid her down gently on the mat beside him, brushing a few loose strands of hair from her face. She looked peaceful in sleep.

Wei Ji sat quietly beside her, his expression softening. "You always push too far," he murmured.

For a moment, he looked up at the moon, the green spores still drifting lazily around the room. "Did I forget something?" he muttered to himself.

The plants around him rustled faintly. A strange chill touched his spine.

…

Deep underground, the earth trembled.

The massive petals buried beneath the soil began to quiver. A faint light flickered within them. Then, with a sharp tearing sound, a blade sliced through. The petals split apart, sap splattering like green blood.

A man emerged from within, covered in dirt and glowing fragments. His eyes blinked open in confusion. "Where… am I?"

He looked around the darkness, clutching his sword tightly. "Why am I underground?"

His memories were scattered. The last thing he remembered was stepping into a courtyard, speaking to someone… and then nothing.

"I need to get out," he muttered.

He raised his sword, gathered spiritual energy, and slashed upward. "Swoosh!"

The ground cracked open with a deafening sound. Light burst from above.

And then—he shot through the hole, rising like a blade tearing through the earth, into the night sky.

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