Chapter 12: Heart’s Intent

When—an ability barrier outside the hall. Clever work, strong energy—not human ability users.
“Jade Dust.” Yi Ke low.
“Jade Dust may not come herself.” Bai Yanci explained. “Moon palace excels at barriers. Scale like this—pre-load art on a tool, agents set it.”
Yang Yufei still speaking—silver bracelet circulating ability, weighting every word.
“Creators must be brave—and bravery requires sacrifice.” Clear voice through speakers, every corner. “What do you think true sacrifice is?”
Brief silence in the hall.
Then a woman in red stood, feverish shout: “Die for art!”
Like a fuse—others rose—same cry—until everyone stood—voices merging—neater, madder. The crowd wrapped in wrong emotion—mad light in eyes.
Yang Yufei’s faithful believers now.
Not an opening—a staged show.
Yang Yufei smiled satisfied—admiring a masterpiece.
Everyone controlled—no more mask. She flipped the podium, smashed the mic!
“Look at you—no different from dogs. You looked down on me—treated me like a dog.” Arms wide, laughing on stage. “Your turn to taste it.”
She took a dagger, scanned the crowd, smiled at a well-dressed man: “Director Zhang—you first, for art.”
“Miss Yang—my honor.”
Zhang took the blade respectful—raised it to his own throat!
Yi Ke blinked between them—hand chop knocked Zhang out—snatched the dagger—faced Yang Yufei.
“Well well—Team Leader Yi. Long time.” Yang Yufei more amused. “SI sent you to my show.”
“You’re going to kill them all?”
“Not all—but this man must die. Others I take back—torture slow—obedient ones get mercy.”
Eyes ice: “Years he insulted and framed me. After fame he stole my work—used my family’s lives—how can I not hate? Why can’t I kill him?”
Hate. Kill him.
Only four words in her head—wouldn’t leave.
I hate. I’ll kill him.
Dazed—she lifted the dagger toward Zhang’s throat!
“Ke-ke—don’t let Yang Yufei steer your mood—that’s not your real thought!” Bai Yanci urgent.
Familiar voice—mind clearer—threw the blade down: “What… happened to me?”
“You broke my hold!” Yang Yufei startled—then proud again.
“Orphan-crawling thing—think anyone sees you?” Cold laugh. “Pitiful. Yi Ke—don’t you know what you are?”
Shock and rage: “What did you say?”
Yang Yufei said Wangshu Orphanage—the memory she wouldn’t touch—the shadow she’d run from for years.
The name familiar—fake smile overlapping someone in memory.
“You’re… Vice-Director Yang!”
In limited memory Vice-Director Yang was gentlest—often sad-faced.
Loved art—taught children to paint patiently. Yi Ke first held a brush because of her.
“Oh—you remember?” Fake smile, words knives. “Know why Mu Wenxin took you? Why she hides? Think how much she really cares? Wake up—you’re a monster!”
“Shut up!”
“Child who can’t hear truth—go study. Don’t meddle in adult business.” Yang Yufei unleashed ability. “Pity you know my secret—I can’t leave you alive.”
Controlled crowd closed in—her and Bai Yanci center.
Ordinary people—force through with ability—disaster.
Yang Yufei knew it—smug: “Team Leader Yi—why not move? Or… afraid?”
Step by step—some with weapons. Wait—die anyway.
Eyes closed. Deep breath. Ability out—Bai Yanci gripped her hand—cold strong power poured in together.
Silent merge—a solid barrier.
She summoned spiritual flame—made manifest—lit the whole hall!
“You!” Yang Yufei shocked. “What power is that!”
Where flame light touched—eyes cleared—control broke—people fell.
Yang Yufei could steer will—but unafraid—pulled a jade-pendant tool from her chest.
“Lord Jade Dust ordered—success only.” Gripped tight, channeled power. “I’d rather die than fall into your hands!”
“Spirit Tide jade—careful!”
Before finish—a wave hit—barrier shattered in front of her.
Yi Ke slammed the wall—pain blackened vision—clutched her chest.
Teeth tight—eyes open—searching for Bai Yanci.
Bai Yanci… where was Bai Yanci?
“Don’t worry—I’m fine.” Familiar voice at her ear, soft. “Only let Yang Yufei run.”
She stood with effort. Looked around.
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Everyone weak-breathing—flame light dimmed too. Spirit Tide jade power—even she as ability user could barely take it—what of ordinary people?
Instinct—if she spent her own flame power, maybe lives could spark again.
“You okay?” Bai Yanci read her face, knew intent. “Yi Ke—are you insane? One person, then five, now a whole hall—you think you’re a god or savior? This isn’t your mission!”
“Their flames aren’t damaged—I don’t need forbidden art.” Light laugh. “Just effort—that’s SI team leader’s job.”
“Worth it?” Bai Yanci asked the same question again.
“Maybe not.” Head back, self-mock. “Days ago I wondered what fool would die for another willingly—and I really saw it.”
Pause—memory sinking: “Sister—I don’t know my origin. I lived endless pain once. Not pain now—I only want to do what I can so everyone in the world can be happy.”
Bai Yanci paused. At last: “Ke-ke—you have to know—that’s impossible.”
“I know.” Low repeat. “Of course I know.”
Knowing and doing were different. Years had turned empty wish into obsession in the bone.
Not a saint—no strength to love all—but she used others’ happiness to fill the bottomless hollow inside.
When the real thought surfaced she sneered at herself inside.
Disgusting—that’s what she thought.
Bai Yanci was strong—not flame-governing—couldn’t help even if she wanted.
Azure flame lit the hall again.
Flame hot—power spread—linked each person’s flame until resonance.
Too many people—recent forbidden art—strength short—backlash hit hard—blood on her lips.
“Ke-ke!” Bai Yanci rushed—held tight—poured power to heal.
Only a few improved—most still in danger.
Wiped blood—tried again—couldn’t summon flame.
Again—same.
Ironic in this scene.
Tried to push Bai Yanci away—no strength—grief flooded up.
If only she were stronger. Stronger—many times—save more.
Hated her weakness. Hated her uselessness.
She yearned for power—power like Bai Yanci’s. If she had that much.
“I was weak like you once.” Bai Yanci sudden, low. “I’m strong now—can do what I want—decide my own life.”
“Strong enough—and you control your life?”
She looked at Bai Yanci pleading—mind dragged to Wangshu Orphanage—black cage.
Years of loneliness in blood and time.
Hidden in her heart till today—fully awake.
Eyes on Bai Yanci—tears at the corners, soft: “Sister… will you leave me?”
Bai Yanci thought. Took the jade bracelet off her left wrist—held it out: “Moon palace Ice-Clear Jade—highest value thing on me.”
Had been a pair—she gave the better one—bracelet still warm from her skin.
Solemn: “Ke-ke—I chose you. I won’t leave.”
She grabbed Bai Yanci’s collar—cried silent.
“I love the roses you gave me.” Bai Yanci held tighter, soft. “Let others handle here. Ke-ke—let’s go home and see them?”
“Okay.” Soft.
When she’d given roses she’d thought red rose too grand—too public, like a festival everyone knew.
Rose was more like sharing a secret—and meaning: I’ll share a secret with you.
Liking Bai Yanci was a secret too.