The night wind howled through the training grounds as the 7th Prince and Xian Ren clashed swords under the pale moonlight. Their blades met with a sharp clang, sparks flying between them. Unlike before, the 7th Prince was no longer just reacting—he was thinking, adapting.
Xian Ren smirked. "Good. You're learning."
The 7th Prince grinned, his chest heaving. "I have a good teacher."
With a swift motion, Xian Ren knocked his sword away and pointed his own at the boy's throat. "Flattery won't save you."
The 7th Prince groaned, rubbing his wrist. "How do you always know what I'm going to do?"
Xian Ren sheathed his sword and sat on a nearby rock. "Because I was once like you. Hot-blooded. Determined. Desperate to prove myself." He sighed. "But strength alone won't get you anywhere. You need to understand the people around you, the politics of the court, and—most importantly—who you can trust."
The 7th Prince sat beside him. "And I can trust you?"
Xian Ren smirked. "You're my little brother, aren't you?"
A rare warmth spread through the 7th Prince's chest. Among the chaos of the palace, where every sibling saw him as a threat or a tool, Xian Ren was the only one who treated him as family.
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A Brotherhood Tested
The next morning, the palace was in an uproar.
The 3rd Prince, arrogant and ambitious, had challenged Xian Ren to a public duel. The court gathered in the training grounds, eager to witness the spectacle. The emperor himself watched from his golden throne.
The 7th Prince stood at the edge of the crowd, fists clenched as his brother took his stance. He could see it—Xian Ren wasn't fighting to win. He was fighting to survive.
The 3rd Prince smirked. "Older brother, you've been getting too close to the 7th Prince lately. Are you forgetting your place?"
Xian Ren said nothing, his grip tightening on his sword.
The duel began.
The 3rd Prince attacked like a storm, his blade moving with relentless speed. Xian Ren parried, dodged, and countered, but the 7th Prince could see it—his brother was holding back.
"Why?"
Then, it hit him. Xian Ren wasn't just fighting for himself—he was protecting him.
If Xian Ren won too decisively, the 3rd Prince would see the 7th Prince as an even greater threat. But if he lost… he would be humiliated before the court.
The 7th Prince could not stand it.
His hand moved instinctively, reaching for a stone on the ground. He calculated the angle, the timing—then he threw it.
The stone struck the 3rd Prince's wrist at the exact moment he swung. His blade faltered.
Xian Ren saw his opening. With a single precise strike, he disarmed his brother and sent him crashing to the ground.
Silence.
The emperor stood from his throne. "The duel is over."
The 3rd Prince's face burned with fury, but he could say nothing.
As the crowd dispersed, Xian Ren turned to the 7th Prince, his eyes sharp.
"You interfered."
The 7th Prince lowered his gaze. "I couldn't let you lose."
Xian Ren exhaled, then placed a hand on his brother's head. "Fool. Next time, don't get caught."
The 7th Prince looked up, surprised—then grinned.
That night, as they sat on the balcony overlooking the city, Xian Ren spoke in a quiet voice.
"The court is dangerous, little brother. If we don't stand together, we'll be swallowed whole."
The 7th Prince nodded.
From that day forward, their bond was no longer just one of blood—but of survival.
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