Birthday Banquet

Sui Ming walked alone through the empty streets.

The full moon shimmered with boundless radiance, and the streetlights on either side had long since gone dark.

His golden eyes glinted in the night, sharp and radiant—as if the sun still hung in the sky.

Three months had passed since his arrival in Filarga.

Looking back on it all…

He could only say—it had been surreal.

Suddenly, a chilling gust swept by.

A chain, glowing entirely blue, lashed out toward Sui Ming.

He narrowly dodged, evading by a hair’s breadth.

“You’ve got to be kidding me! There’s a limit to abusing authority, you know!”

“Redesigning an entire street into your personal domain—what the hell is that about?!”

“Sui Ming, you taught me this yourself—‘All’s fair in war.’”

The girl’s lighthearted laughter echoed from every direction.

“That’s not strategy! That’s a flagrant abuse of power! This is illegal—illegal!”

“Like I care!”

“I’m your master! If I don’t keep you in check, who will?”

At that, the girl’s voice fell silent.

Then, a petulant tone broke the pause.

“You dare bring that up again?!”

Suddenly, the number of descending chains multiplied wildly.

The clouds above turned a deep blue, streaked with glowing light.

“Wait, wait! All I did was ask you to roleplay a little, explore species diversity, and empathize with the hardships of the lower classes—what’s the big deal?”

“Do you even hear yourself?! Huh?!”

“Are you referring to the day I had to play your personal maid, get alchemically transformed into a cat, and be humiliated by everyone, all while also serving as your exclusive food delivery girl?”

“Ah… well…”

“Just go die already, Sui Ming!”

The girl leapt down from the sky, surrounded by a dazzling light bright enough to pierce the gloom, striking with overwhelming force.

“Let me see… this should be [Residual Light], right? Hmph, still not quite there yet.”

In the end, Bai Luoxia once again collapsed to the ground in disarray.

Sui Ming sat leisurely on a nearby stone, casually sipping a soda.

“You lost again,” he said coolly.

“Sigh… fine. What is it this time? Maid cosplay? Delivery girl again? Just skip the cat thing, please.”

“How could you think of me in such a depraved light, my dearest Luoxia? I’m a gentleman, through and through.”

“You believe that? Because I sure don’t.”

“Come with me somewhere. Just for an hour. It won’t take long.”

“That place… holds many of my memories…”

Seeing Sui Ming’s uncharacteristically somber expression, Bai Luoxia felt a twinge of guilt.

In the end, she agreed to go with him.

They crossed the mountains outside Mingxi City.

Soon, they reached the tallest peak.

From here, the entire city sprawled below.

Even the towering imperial palace could be seen clearly.

This was the closest place to the moon—

And the nearest one could get to the stars.

“Ha… ha… Sui Ming, where exactly are we going?”

Bai Luoxia panted, struggling to keep up.

“Ha… hold on, we’re almost there.”

As they finally reached the summit, the night sky unveiled itself before them.

A streak of blue light tore across the heavens, leaving a glowing mark like a gash in space.

“Happy Birthday, Luoxia!”

Hister’s voice rang out as he pulled down a makeshift curtain.

Behind it sat a simple wooden table.

Atop the table—

A plain but lovingly made cream cake, decorated with a few glowing blue star-shaped ornaments.

“Sorry, I haven’t had much time lately,” Uncle Ai said with a sheepish grin.

“This might not be some grand banquet, but… it’s a little something from Sui Ming and me.”

“Ugh… This cursed emperor gig. Anyone who wants it can have it. I’ve got paperwork piling to the sky.”

The girl turned to glance at the blond youth standing with his hands behind his head.

He smiled faintly.

“Actually, it was Sui Ming’s idea,” Hister added.

“I just found the place.”

Without realizing it, the girl’s tears had begun to fall.

Crystal drops like winter rain fell freely onto the grass atop the mountain.

“H-Hey! No crying! This is supposed to be a happy occasion!”

Hister rushed forward to comfort her.

“Th-Thank you… both of you… I…”

After her parents perished in the Abyss, every noble turned their back on her.

After all, who would care about a powerless girl, even if she was royal by blood?

It wasn’t until Hister stepped in—restoring order and rooting out the usurpers—that things started to change, if only slightly.

Still, that hadn’t stopped the isolation.

Until one day, Sui Ming said:

[If anyone bullies you, call me. Screw pride. Let me show them—no one gets to hurt you while I’m still breathing.]

[What I said—you can believe for life.]

Sui Ming’s presence was like the sun itself.

His warmth touched everyone without discrimination.

But no one could truly get close.

Those who did—

Would be burned.

Sensing something, Sui Ming suddenly pointed skyward.

“Look, a shooting star.”

“Quick, make a wish, Luoxia.”

The girl wiped her tears, clasped her hands.

I wish… this life could stay just like this.

But…
Could such a wish really come true?

Inside the imperial palace,

Flames devoured everything.

Unrelenting. Merciless.

Exquisite murals crumbled into ash.

Golden patterns melted in the blaze, leaving behind only flickering remnants.

Splurt!

The sound of a blade piercing flesh.

Beneath the throne, a golden figure plunged a weapon deep into the chest of a middle-aged man.

Hister’s face twisted in a crazed grin.

Even with a gaping hole in his chest—carved open by Sui Ming—he showed no fear.

“This world… has no path left, Sui Ming!”

“Hahahahaha! The end of fate—is ruin! That’s the ultimate truth!”

“You’ve gone mad, Hister.”

“If this world never knew light—

Then let me become the blazing sun that ends this frozen night!

Let me rewrite this fate that should never have stagnated!”

Hister’s eyes wavered.

Then, he gave a bitter smile.

“So that’s it… I’ve been such a fool…

Everything I chased…

It already existed, didn’t it?”

“Well… so be it.

Thank you, Sui Ming.

At least… I found my answer in the end.”

“Sui Ming! What… what have you done?!”

The girl burst through the doors, trembling as she confronted the boy.

“Let me explain it to her. You don’t have to—”

“Heh… You finally showed up.

I thought you were just going to say goodbye to your ‘uncle’ and leave.

Seems like… there’s still a shred of compassion in you.”

His words slithered like venom, sinking deep into Bai Luoxia’s heart.

She couldn’t stop shaking.

“That’s right.

I killed him.

I set the palace ablaze.

What, don’t believe me?

Didn’t you always say you’d believe everything I said?”

“No… no, that’s impossible…”

“Face it, Bai Luoxia.

I’ve never been a good person.

I told you that from the start.

As for the past? Hah…

That was just acting.”

“Honestly, I don’t even know why I bothered to care for you.

Now I regret every second.

You’re a real pain, you know?”

“Can’t you just—get out of my sight?”

“Sui Ming… I’m going to kill you!”

“Our grudge—won’t end until one of us is dead!”