Chapter 545: Chapter 545: The Burning Dynasty (8)

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Inside a peaceful and beautiful palace courtyard, Zi Yuanling sat in a daze.

Sunlight filtered gently through the swaying leaves of the trees, casting soft patterns across the white stone path and the quiet pond nearby.

The air was filled with the faint fragrance of blooming flowers, and the distant sound of flowing water added to the tranquil atmosphere.

Everything around her was calm, elegant, and almost dreamlike.

Yet her gaze remained distant and unfocused, as if her mind had drifted far away from the present moment.

Then—

"Mother! Mother!"

A clear, cute young girl’s voice suddenly called out from nearby.

Zi Yuanling’s body stiffened slightly.

And in the next instant, the dazed look in her eyes faded.

Clarity returned to her gaze as she slowly turned her head toward the source of the voice.

There...

Standing just a short distance away was a young girl with bright, lively eyes the color of warm crimson.

Her long black hair was tied into twin buns on either side of her head, adorned with intricate red ornaments and soft tassels that swayed gently with her movement.

A delicate red flame-shaped mark rested between her brows, and a faint, innocent smile curved across her lips as she looked up at Zi Yuanling.

In her small hands, she carefully held a glowing red lotus formed of pure flame.

Soft tongues of fire rose from its center, yet they did not burn her at all.

The gentle light of the flame lotus reflected in her eyes, giving her entire figure a warm and pure radiance.

"...Ziyan."

Zi Yuanling’s voice came out softly.

The young Fen Ziyan’s smile brightened at once.

She lifted the glowing flame lotus a little higher with both hands, proudly showcasing it as if presenting a precious treasure.

The soft red fire danced gently above her palms, casting a warm light across her cheerful face.

"Mother, look!" she said with clear excitement. "I’ve mastered it... the Heaven-Burning Lotus! Hehe~ I’m the best, aren’t I~"

Zi Yuanling’s gaze fell upon the glowing flame lotus resting in her daughter’s small hands.

For a brief moment, a complex emotion flickered through her eyes... something quiet and difficult to name, hidden beneath the surface of her calm expression.

The soft crimson light of the lotus reflected faintly against her face as she stared at it in silence.

But then, the complexity faded.

And a gentle smile curved across her lips.

She reached out and softly patted the top of Fen Ziyan’s head, her touch light and affectionate.

"Well done," she praised quietly. "You’ve worked hard."

After a short pause, Zi Yuanling’s gentle smile took on a faintly teasing tone as she looked at the small flame lotus still resting in her daughter’s hands.

"...Though, this doesn’t look nearly as majestic as the Heaven-Burning technique describes."

Her eyes curved slightly with quiet amusement as she continued to stroke Fen Ziyan’s hair.

Fen Ziyan immediately puffed up her cheeks in a cute pout.

"Mother!" she rebuked, her small voice filled with playful protest.

"Everything has to start with the first step! If I can’t even form the Heaven-Burning Lotus properly, how am I supposed to learn the real Heaven-Burning technique later?"

She lifted the glowing flame lotus a little higher again, as if to emphasize her point, her crimson eyes shining with stubborn determination.

Then her expression brightened even more as she looked up at Zi Yuanling with excitement.

"Mother, should I activate it now?"

Zi Yuanling paused slightly.

Her gaze lingered on the small flame lotus for a brief moment before she slowly shook her head.

Rising to her feet with graceful composure, she smoothed out the folds of her robes.

Fen Ziyan tilted her head in confusion, still holding the glowing lotus carefully in both hands.

Seeing her daughter’s puzzled look, Zi Yuanling’s expression softened into a gentle smile.

"Let us take a walk instead," she said quietly. "I don’t think I have spent much time with you lately."

Even though a trace of confusion still lingered on her face, Fen Ziyan’s expression quickly brightened into a happy smile.

She carefully closed her small hands, and the glowing Heaven-Burning Lotus gradually faded away into soft wisps of crimson light before disappearing completely.

Then, without hesitation, she reached out and took her mother’s hand.

Her small fingers wrapped around Zi Yuanling’s with natural closeness.

The two of them began walking slowly along the quiet stone path of the courtyard.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves above, scattering gentle patches of gold across the ground.

A light breeze carried the faint fragrance of flowers as they passed by the clear pond, where the surface of the water reflected the soft blue of the sky and the swaying branches overhead.

Occasionally, a few petals drifted down and floated across the water, creating small ripples that spread outward in silence.

Fen Ziyan swung their joined hands lightly as they walked, her earlier excitement settling into a quieter, contented mood.

From time to time, she would look up at her mother and talk about small, ordinary things... what she had practiced that morning, a funny mistake one of the young attendants had made, or how the birds near the eastern corridor had started nesting again.

Zi Yuanling listened to everything quietly.

She did not speak much, but her pace remained unhurried, matching her daughter’s smaller steps.

Every so often, her gaze would lower to the small hand holding hers, and a faint, complicated gentleness would pass through her eyes before fading once more into a calm smile.

For a while, there was no training.

No technique.

No heavy expectations.

Just a mother and daughter walking quietly through a peaceful palace courtyard, under the soft afternoon light.

Before long, the stone path opened up, and a clear lake came into view.

The water stretched out calmly beneath the sky, its surface shimmering under the sunlight.

Soft ripples spread across it whenever a breeze passed by, and a few spirit lotuses floated near the shallows, their petals pale and elegant.

The moment Fen Ziyan saw it, her eyes lit up.

"Mother!"

Without waiting for a response, she pulled Zi Yuanling’s hand and hurried closer to the water’s edge.

Her earlier calmness disappeared in an instant, replaced by pure childlike excitement.

She leaned forward slightly and peeked at her own reflection on the clear surface, then laughed softly when a small fish darted past beneath the water.

Zi Yuanling allowed herself to be pulled along.

For a while, they simply stayed by the lakeside.

Fen Ziyan crouched down and began playfully scooping the water with her hands, sending small splashes into the air.

A few droplets landed on her sleeves and cheeks, but she only laughed harder.

At one point, she tried to catch the tiny silver fish swimming near the edge, only to startle them away and nearly lose her balance.

Zi Yuanling reached out and steadied her with one hand.

"Be careful," she said gently.

"I am being careful!" Fen Ziyan replied quickly, though the bright smile on her face made the protest unconvincing.

After a moment, Zi Yuanling also lowered herself slightly beside her daughter.

When Fen Ziyan playfully splashed a little water in her direction, she did not scold her.

Instead, she flicked a light droplet back, drawing another burst of delighted laughter from the girl.

The clear lake reflected the two of them... one small and lively, the other quiet and elegant as their soft laughter drifted across the water.

For a brief stretch of time, the heavy weight that usually lingered behind Zi Yuanling’s eyes seemed to fade, replaced by something lighter and warmer.

They stayed there like that for a long while, simply enjoying the quiet fun by the lake.

Time seemed to pass unnoticed.

By the time the light in the sky began to change, the earlier playful energy had softened into a calm stillness.

The two of them were now sitting side by side at the edge of the lake, their shoes set neatly behind them as they dipped their bare legs into the cool water.

Gentle ripples spread outward from where their feet moved beneath the surface.

Before them, the sun was slowly sinking toward the horizon.

The once-bright daylight had turned warmer, painting the sky in soft shades of gold, orange, and faint crimson.

Fen Ziyan leaned slightly against her mother’s side, swinging her legs lightly through the water as she watched the changing sky with quiet fascination.

Zi Yuanling remained still beside her, gaze resting on the distant glow of the sunset.

Neither of them spoke for a time.

There was only the soft sound of water, the evening breeze, and the fading light of the day.

After a while, Fen Ziyan’s soft voice rose beside her.

"...Mother."

She kept her gaze on the glowing surface of the lake as she continued quietly,

"I had so much fun today... and these past few days too."

Zi Yuanling nodded gently.

Her eyes remained on the setting sun, the warm light reflecting faintly in her calm expression.

A short silence followed.

Then, Fen Ziyan’s voice came again... softer this time, almost dazed, as if she were speaking more to herself than to anyone else.

"...Everything is so good... that it almost feels unreal."

"..."

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