The Reign of the False Immortal

The Celestial Haven was quiet, the stillness of the night broken only by the occasional rustle of wind through the ethereal gardens. Li Jue and Li Feng sat in their private chamber, its walls adorned with treasures they had claimed on their path to power. A low table between them bore a pot of moonfire tea, its fragrant steam curling lazily into the air.

Li Feng reached for her cup, her delicate fingers brushing against the polished jade. She took a sip, her gaze fixed on Li Jue.

"You were quiet during the feast earlier," she began, breaking the silence. "What's on your mind?"

Li Jue leaned back, a small smile playing on his lips. "Just thinking. About us. About everything we've accomplished."

She arched a brow, setting her cup down. "And?"

"And," he continued, his tone contemplative, "it amazes me how far we've come. From the days when we were just two individuals chasing our own ambitions aimlessly to this... a union that terrifies even the heavens."

Li Feng laughed softly, her voice melodic. "You sound sentimental, Jue'er. Should I be worried?"

"Not sentimental," he corrected, leaning forward. "Reflective. There's a difference."

She smirked, leaning her chin on her hand. "Alright, my reflective husband. Share your thoughts with me. I want to hear them."

He hesitated for a moment, then spoke. "Do you ever think about how different our lives would have been if we had chosen the conventional path?"

"You mean if we had allowed ourselves to be bound by the expectations of the sects?" she asked, her tone sharp. "If we had settled for mediocrity, following rules set by others instead of carving our own way?"

"Exactly," he said, nodding.

She shook her head. "No. I don't think about it because it was never an option for me. I've always known I was meant for more, just as you have. Why entertain thoughts of a life that would have never satisfied us?"

He smiled, reaching across the table to take her hand. "That's what I love about you, Feng'er. Your clarity. Your conviction. You never let doubt cloud your path."

She squeezed his hand, her expression softening. "And you remind me why I fight. Why I chase immortality. It's not just for the power or the freedom—it's for us. For the eternity we'll have together."

Li Jue leaned closer, his voice dropping to an intimate murmur. "Do you think they'll ever understand? Those who look at us and see only ambition and strength? Do you think they'll ever grasp the depth of what we share?"

She smiled, her eyes sparkling. "It doesn't matter if they understand. What matters is that we do. Let them fear us, envy us, hate us. Their opinions are as fleeting as their mortal lives."

He chuckled, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "You always know how to put things into perspective."

"It's my job as your wife," she teased, leaning into his touch.

---

The conversation shifted as the night deepened, their voices low but filled with energy.

"Do you ever regret it?" he asked suddenly.

She frowned. "Regret what?"

"Deciding not to have children," he clarified, his gaze steady. "Choosing to focus on each other and our path instead of leaving a legacy in the traditional sense."

She studied him for a moment before answering. "No. I don't regret it. I've thought about it, of course, but every time, I come to the same conclusion. A child would be a distraction a third wheel. They would tie us to mortality, force us to split our focus. And for what? A legacy we don't need?"

He nodded slowly. "I feel the same. But it's a decision that few would understand. They'd call us selfish, unnatural."

"Let them," she said firmly. "They've called us worse. We've already defied every expectation placed on us. Why stop now?"

He smiled, his admiration for her shining through. "You're incredible, Feng'er. Do you know that?"

She tilted her head, her lips curving into a playful smile. "Of course I do. And so are you. Together, we're unstoppable."

He laughed, the sound rich and genuine. "How did I ever manage without you?"

"You didn't," she replied cheekily. "You were lost until I found you."

He shook his head, still smiling. "I won't argue with that."

---

The tea pot had long since grown cold, but neither of them noticed. They were too caught up in each other, in the rhythm of their conversation.

"Do you think we'll ever reach the peak of immortality?" she asked after a pause.

"Yes," he said without hesitation. "But it won't be handed to us. We'll have to take it, just like everything else."

She nodded, her expression determined. "Good. I wouldn't want it any other way. Power earned is far more satisfying than power given."

"Spoken like a true sect master," he teased.

"And you, my False Immortal," she shot back, "are no less deserving of your title."

They shared a laugh, the sound echoing softly in the chamber.

---

As the first light of dawn began to creep over the horizon, Li Jue stood and offered her his hand.

"Come," he said. "Let's watch the sunrise together."

She took his hand, letting him pull her to her feet. They moved to the balcony, the cool morning air brushing against their skin.

The sky was a canvas of gold and crimson, the sun rising with a majesty that seemed to mirror their own.

"This," she said, leaning into him, "is why I fight. For moments like this. For the eternity we'll have to share them."

He wrapped an arm around her, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "And we'll protect it with everything we have. Let the heavens rage. Let the world try to tear us apart. Nothing will break us."

"Nothing," she agreed, her voice a whisper.

As the sun rose, bathing them in its light, they stood together, a symbol of unity and defiance, their love as unyielding as the dawn itself.