Chapter 5 — The Peacock's Vow

Although Yu Canh Xuan’s expression remained frozen in its characteristic frost, his presence brought me an inexplicable sense of serenity. He swept me up into his arms and rose into the sky, casting a cold, piercing glare down at Jiang Kuo. The aura surrounding him was so grim and oppressive it felt suffocating.

"Dragon King, you have crossed the line," Yu Canh Xuan declared, his voice like grinding ice.

Seeing the flicker of murderous intent in his eyes, I knew precisely what he was feeling. It was the same look he had worn when he killed me in our past life. Jiang Kuo, however, only watched him hold me, a dark, malevolent glint dancing in his eyes.

"Keep a close watch on your Queen. Who knows? Perhaps in the future, she shall become mine," Jiang Kuo retorted, his lips curling into a smile that carried a weight of hidden meaning. With that, he turned and vanished into the depths.

I felt Yu Canh Xuan’s brow furrow in anger as the essence of his power began to coalesce in his hands, a sign that he intended to hunt Jiang Kuo down. I reached out and gently pressed my hand against his, shaking my head in silence. Only when he saw my plea did the bloodlust in his eyes gradually recede.

The ocean was Jiang Kuo’s domain. Even if we launched an attack now, it would be nearly impossible for us to escape the abyss alive. Yu Canh Xuan clutched me tightly to his chest, preparing to return home, but just then, Bai Yin drifted toward us.

"Sister, are you leaving already?"

Seeing how tenderly Yu Canh Xuan cradled me, a flash of envy crossed Bai Yin’s face. She seemed unable to comprehend that he could be so protective and affectionate toward me.

"Yes," I replied with a nod. "Take care of yourself."

Bai Yin’s voice took on a sharp, sour edge. "You two are certainly close, aren’t you?"

At that moment, Jiang Kuo reappeared as if summoned by a shadow. With a surge of raw power, he yanked Bai Yin back into his arms. "Yin, we are leaving."

His tone was brimming with displeasure. Bai Yin trembled slightly, bowing her head in obedient submission as she followed him back to the banquet. It was clear she lived in terror of him. To him, we were nothing more than trinkets—possessions to be displayed, never treated as equals.

Upon returning to the Peacock Kingdom, Yu Canh Xuan finally set me down. As we walked inside, our closeness causing the handmaidens at the door to exchange knowing, shy smiles, I noticed the tips of Yu Canh Xuan’s ears turning a vibrant shade of red. Touched by his unexpected shyness, I felt my heart melt and boldly took his hand as we entered our quarters.

"My Lady, promise me you will never leave the sky alone again," he murmured. I nodded in agreement. Jiang Kuo was a man of obsessive tendencies; if he truly set his mind to something, I would have no way to defend myself.

Yet, a thought gnawed at me: if I had been reborn, could Jiang Kuo have been reborn as well? And if he had, then surely Yu Canh Xuan might also remember our past. If he remembered the woman I was in my former life, he certainly wouldn't view me as a virtuous person. Why, then, was he treating me with such warmth?

I knew well why Jiang Kuo wanted me back. My constitution was uniquely fertile, capable of bearing many offspring. If he realized that Bai Yin could only bear one child at a time, he would undoubtedly strip her of her status and pursue me with renewed ferocity. I had hoped Bai Yin’s novelty would last, but alas, her second child was also a single birth. Jiang Kuo’s interest had waned, and she was rapidly becoming a forgotten toy. She wrote to me, begging for help, but I simply burned the letters. I was no saint; I would not save her a second time, especially when approaching the sea would surely lead to my own imprisonment.

Because my silence remained absolute, Jiang Kuo sent a formal declaration of war to the sky. He demanded my surrender or the total destruction of our realm. When Yu Canh Xuan read the scroll, his rage was palpable. He looked to his commanders and spoke with cold resolve: "Tell the soldiers. Prepare for war."

The clash between the sky and the sea was now inevitable. Guilt weighed heavy on my heart, for in both this life and the last, the devastation was caused by me. War was synonymous with death, and the other tribes under the peacock’s protection began to protest, suggesting they surrender me to appease the Dragon King and spare the sky from ruin. But Yu Canh Xuan refused, standing firm in his vow to protect me at all costs. The other tribes eventually acquiesced, yet they sent only the sick and the elderly to the front lines. It was clear this battle would end in tragedy.

I could not deny that I had grown to love him. Even if he did not return my feelings, the thought of him being wounded—or worse, dying—was unbearable. The day he departed for the front, my tears flowed unbidden. He pulled me close, brushing the moisture from my cheeks, and kissed my forehead with lingering reluctance.

"Wait for my return."

I clutched his hand, my voice choked with sobs. "May I go with you?"

"No," he whispered. "You must stay safe."