Ning Yu was a shadow of his former self, his expression was dark, there were rings underneath his eyes, his breath was slow and rigid, nobody really paid attention to his fights after the spectacle between his older brother and Xiu Shihong. Still, he had won each of his battles quite quickly, not many people had caught on on that, but he had never used his phoenix power.

Still, he had displayed nothing worthy of mention and by now everyone was clear that the final would be between Xiu Shihong and his little sister. In fact! The fight he was about to have was meet with some gloating, many people that disliked him knew of the engagement he had with Xiu Shihong and how she simply strong-armed herself out of it.

It was quite embarrassing for Ning Yu, at-least that was the opinion of most of the male heirs around. Ning Yu himself? He... He did not care, he felt oddly numb in mind and body both. Still... he was not afraid at all... which was weird, he knew something was wrong, he knew that that weirdo had done something to him.

But if it helped him beat her? Who cared!

Who cared... about anything but that...

He shook his head and made his way to the Arena, his brows wrinkled with dark bags under his eyes... he was not the handsome prince anymore.

...

Xiu Shihong, on the other hand, was fairly relaxed she was enjoying some tea Li Zhi had made for her, both of them had observed Ning Yue's fight's up until this point and both of them was clear that something was wrong, albeit neither was clear what it exactly was, however..Xiu Shihong was confident. Ning Yu was not a concern she had...

...

She stood in the Arena her black her flowing gently in the wind, she wore simple armor with a Haori over it leaving her left shoulder free, while she looked feminine, she had the image of a hero with this look, and she was currently looking down at Ning Yue.

How did that happen? She had unleashed her full domain the second the fight began, forcing the man to his knees as he struggled to stand up. Slowly she stretched her right hand out, flames sparking out of her palm before in a flash of fire a spear appeared. Slowly Demonic Armor was forming around her, her pupils turned to slits and the red in her eyes started to glow as she spun the spear around.

"Mh, the Emperor is not here... did not even attend to watch your fight... you have fallen quite deeply hu?" Her voice carried deep hate and mocking with it. Carefully she placed the tip of the spear under Ning Yu's chin propping it up slowly as she stared down. Their eyes meeting. "I don't know what you did to gain more power, Ning Yue, but I will tell you that no matter what you do, you will always be beneath me. Because I am above dirty cheaters." She smiled.

...

9 or so years ago.

Ning Yu was moving proudly through the gardens of the palace, apparently, his future wife was the jewel of the desert tribes! Xiu Shihong! He felt very good about this! They had come in quite the show of power and given him many presents. However.. the girl never once talked, which made him a little uncomfortable, but.. his mind was quickly pulled off by all the things he got and all the well wishes from the old men.

But he grew weary of such things and retreated to let the adults be adults and talk all day. He marched straight to his favorite place in the palace, a small secluded pond with a gazebo. The pond had the most beautiful lotuses in his opinion! But much to his surprise and anger there was already someone here! Worse it was a female! His father had told him this was a place for just males, yet still, she was here!

Quietly he approached.. looking closer he stopped himself from calling out. It was Xiu Shihong. currently leaning over the water to watch the Lotuses, she had a smile on her face. To be honest.. she looked much cuter this way, at least that's how Ning Yu thought... he carefully made his way over.. somehow his usual swagger was not here...

"This is my place.." He started, no greeting whatsoever. "But since you are my wife, you will get it just like everything else! Because I'm the next Emperor, you know? Dad already said so to me.!" He pushed out his chest and stood on his tiptoes to appear larger and more imposing.

Xiu Shihong turned around, the smile was still on her face as she looked at him, she chuckled, and Ning Yu felt his ears burn slightly as he deflated and made his way over to her. Xiu Shihong smiled up to him sitting there. "Mh...I will look forward to having this place." She smiled again before picking up a lotus and blowing it against Ning Yu, before laughing.

...

A few years later.

They meet again.

Ning Yu felt.. quite elated, they had not seen each other often since then, just about 1 or 2 times. but he felt his heart pump quickly. He would bet that he was actually taller than her by now! His elders were constantly praising everything around him, his growth his martial arts, his qi. He was the next Emperor after all! And he felt quite good with praise!

Still... in the back of his head, she had always remained, that cute and small girl, with a pretty smile. This time he was visiting her, or rather he was part of a group that went to the Xiu Clan's city. It was an enormous city, on the back of some creature he did not know.. it was almost as big as the Capital city! But the air here was different and the people seemed different too.

Still, he did look forward to seeing her. But.. the first thing he saw was the elders scolding her, telling her to be more lady-like, apparently, she had just beaten down some of the male youths, in fact she had beaten every single one! ...Even his own teacher was scoffing. "She is a female, being strong is fine.. but she should hold back, those are young men, being defeated like this.. will be bad for them in the future."

He tilted his head to the side. Strong girls were good, but they should be mindful around males? Mh.. Well, he rather liked how all the females were swooning over him all the time, and he could not imagine actually fighting a girl at full strength, it just seemed wrong... He slowly nodded to himself.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

...

"Ning Yu... you have only yourself and your upbringing to blame." Xiu Shihong's smile became wider. "I'm not a weak little girl, and you should've never treated me like one..." The edge of the spear was gently cutting into his skin, leaving a narrow cut behind.

Ning Yu did not understand, he gave up so much for this power. So how was it that he was still here on his knees! Still here not able to do anything.. to just watch as he was humiliated by a girl. That is not how the world worked! He was supposed to be Emperor, and she was supposed to be his wife! That was how his father and her father had said! How dare her .. to go against the worlds of her betters! He did not quite understand this situation. How was it that a girl was so much stronger than him! Those small hands! Those slender arms... how could they exert so much force!

He spat out a mouthful of blood... before glaring upwards. "I am no cheater, and I am no one to go back on my promises, unlike you, Shihong. I'm...Ning Yue, prince of the Empire! Under staggering pain he pushed himself to his feet, black smoke shooting out around him. "I .. will not tolerate a female speaking to me this way! And I will not tolerate someone that is at best one of my concubines to cut me! I am.. .a man, I am .. a prince, I am of .. superior blood... I am a Genius..."

He had heard all of these things so often.. he was firmly believing them. Opposing them as it was currently just flipped his whole world view over! He was able to wave the fight in the sect off as him being exhausted after fighting... but here... he could not, and he firmly held on to his belives.

"I am your better, and your husband.. to your.. knees, women!" He growled loudly. Ning Yu was a product of his elders, his wrapped mindset was broken, but his cultivated ego could not take it. Xiu Shihong let out a sigh. "You... are indeed a sad creature."

And then Ning Yu exploded in black energy, the right half of his body distorted and bulging as if something was moving under his skin. His handsome face was distorted into a demon-like visage! His right arm quickly grew 5 times in size!

Upon the emperor's seat sat the old man. Watching. His eyes narrowing while his brows were furrowed. "Who in this backwater land practices demon sect arts, they should not even be here...how is this possible, that young man seemed quite promising... but I fear he is not for this world for long."

He worked through his beard slowly while watching.

"I will show you.. lowly.. concubine.. what I.. am!" His voice was distorted, mania was visible in his eyes as he reached forward... with.. unbelievable speed! Xiu Shihong was just barely able to avoid it... is what she thought but his fingers brushed her side leaving deep cuts behind! His Hand crashed into the barrier and shattered it in an instant!

The wind howled, flowing so strong that parts of the arena crumbled, fortunately there was not that much interest in this fight so not many people were here, after all, it was clear Xiu Shihong would win... so why watch her beat up the two Ning. If they were unlucky that might just invoke the wrath of the emperor!

Even the Elders were not in full attendance... a bad situation for them, because them not being here to reinforce the barrier would ... end up in a lot of frustration for them... as the Arena simply exploded as Ning Yu and Xiu Shihong clashed, he had reached out with his fist again and Xiu Shihong had blocked with her spear. Shockingly Xiu Shihong was actually on the defensive!

"Ning Yu... !" Her eyes were wide, he had not lost his mind to rage at all! No, he was fueling all of this even further with burning his own life-essence! His life would reduce by a year for each breath of time he did! In the one normal eye, he still possed a deep-rooted hatred could be seen. But Xiu Shihong did not let herself be pushed back anymore... her eyes flaring up in crimson flames.

"You hate me? Do you despise me? You wish me gone? Great, we feel similar about each other! Isn't that what you always wanted? Ning Yu, isn't it funny!" A laugh left her helmet and she spat out blood! The current power boost Ning Yu had gotten made him similar to a late-stage core-formation! A Strong one at that!

She jumped back letting his fist crash into the ground - creating a wide crater. Quickly she whirled her spear in front of her, making it appear like a fiery red disk. "Spear-art, Thousand, stingers!" The spear suddenly disappeared in a fiery outburst and around her in the air manifested hundreds of identical spears.

It was no wonder Ning Yu wanted this weapon! It was unique in the Empire! And even the Old Man looked down in shock. "To have archived such a deep bond with Spirit Treasure. It might even have its own spiritual awareness, very good!" He was maybe for the first time actually praising someone with his whole heart, this Shihong girl had not played all her cards in the fight with the first Prince at all! In fact! She had only used brute force! Right now she was displaying a level of skill that made him excited. "She might.. be a good fit for the Sword Legion! If I bring her back I will certainly earn quite well!"

Ning Yu was being showered by one spear after another, it was painful, each one seemed to be just as strong as the one Xiu Shihong always used to beat him down. That weapon.. that was was supposed to be his, that woman that was supposed to be his, the position that was supposed to be his! Everyone said so, so why... why was it not! His frustration increased and with it he released a howl powerfull enough to shatter most of the flying spears.

However, it was not powerful enough to affect Xiu Shihong, she stretched her hand out and the real weapon appeared. It was only as strong as it's owner was skillful, it was a weapon that only accepted the best. And it had chosen Xiu Shihong long ago. She glanced down at the weapon. "Together we will smash this Empire to pieces.." She smiled before putting both hands on the spear and going into a thrusting position.

Ning Yu was charging at her, his power pillowing up seemingly raising without end... he was like a raging storm charging her... while Xiu Shihong seemed small in front of him. Her red eyes were glowing, the Oni-Armor around her disappeared and she seemed all-around helpless. She concentrated everything she had on the tip of her spear. Did she need to do that to win? No, she could've won in a more safe way. But she wanted a head-on confrontation, she wanted to beat him down.

"Isn't it funny? If you had not taken what was precious to me, I would've never trained as hard as I did, you did this to yourself.." All of her power, grief, and hate were concentrated in this very simple thrusting motion. Everything seemed to have come to a halt for a moment, everything was still.. Ning Yu stood there, his eyes wide.. his breath stopped... he slowly looked down.

Space had shattered when Xiu Shihong thrusted her spear forwards, cracks appeared everywhere, but that was not the only thing. A tree trunk sized hole could be seen in Ning Yu's torso, he was currently staring at it unwillingly, the dark energy around him still raising. He attempted to take another step forward, but Xiu Shihong twirled around the spear dancing in her hand before she started a dance of staps with the tip and jabs with the end. Bang...Bang ... Bang, a time that seemed to only have been one breath of time had passed, everything .. was so fast, the only one that could see everything was the Old Man.

Surely hundreds of combined attacks combined into what seemed to be a beautiful dance of death. She destroyed any semblance of retaliation, cut even the dark energy lashing out at her with smooth motions. This just showed to him and the few core-elders that were here, just how much above this girl was above everyone.

With one slash she backed off the spear disappearing in her hand as she turned around, as she walked away she waved not even looking back as she stepped out of the ruins that were the Arena before. "Better luck next time, Yu.". Ning Yu was not able to comprehend what happened he stood there, motionless his eyes following the back of the female... "Shi..hong.." He whispered her name before his body turned into dust...

Prince Ning Yu, died.