THE REAL PROTEGE

Ling Li stepped forward with the grace of falling snow, her presence gentle yet unmistakably potent. Her voice, soft as silk, carried the weight of ancient knowledge.

"Just three drops, if it's alright with you." Ling Li said.

Red tilted her head, brows lifting in surprise. "Only three drops? That's easy. Where should I put it? Do you have a container?"

Without a word, Ling Li reached into her space ring — a glimmering band etched with celestial glyphs — and summoned a small glass vial. Its surface shimmered with protective runes, each one pulsing faintly with embedded enchantments. The vial itself was no ordinary vessel; it was forged from starlight-tempered crystal, designed to hold the essence of immortals without corruption.

Red accepted it with curiosity, turning it slowly in her hands. The runes responded to her touch, glowing faintly in hues of gold and violet.

"Honey?" she asked, glancing at her husband with a mixture of amusement and uncertainty. "How do I take the blood from my heart?"

The Azure Dragon chuckled, his voice a low rumble of affection. He stepped closer, brushing a stray lock of hair from her forehead before flicking it playfully.

"I thought you wouldn't ask," he said, his eyes gleaming with mischief and pride.

He placed two fingers gently against her sternum. "Stand still. Relax your breathing."

Red obeyed, her posture straightening, her expression shifting from playful to serene. Her chest rose and fell in slow, deliberate rhythm as she centered herself.

The Azure Dragon took the vial from her hand and hovered his palm over her heart. A soft glow bloomed from his fingertips — an iridescent stream of qi, precise and refined, flowing into her core. The air around them shimmered, thick with spiritual energy. A hush fell over the chamber.

Then, as if summoned by the breath of the cosmos, three perfect drops of blood rose from Red's chest. They hovered in the air — deep crimson, each one glowing faintly with phoenix fire, flickering like miniature suns.

The scent of burning lotus petals filled the room.

With a flick of his wrist, the Azure Dragon guided the drops into the vial. The runes flared briefly, sealing the contents with a protective ward. He handed the vial to Ling Li with reverence.

"Here. It's done."

Red blinked, her eyes momentarily unfocused. A soft sway overtook her stance.

"Oh, I didn't expect it to be that easy…"

Her knees buckled before she could finish the sentence. The Azure Dragon caught her effortlessly, his arms steady and sure, laughter bubbling from his chest.

"And you were still thinking of giving a full cup, when three drops already made you dizzy."

He began to channel qi into her, but Ling Li stepped forward, her expression calm and resolute.

"Allow me," she said.

She raised her hands, hovering them just above Red's back. Her palms glowed with concentrated energy — cool silver light threaded with strands of emerald. A wave of qi flowed into the Phoenix, gentle yet potent, like spring rain nourishing parched earth.

Red's complexion brightened instantly. Her eyes regained their spark, the golden flecks within them dancing anew. Her breath steadied, and her aura flared with renewed vitality.

"Oh! That felt amazing!" she exclaimed, twirling once with the grace of a dancer, her feet barely touching the ground before she landed lightly beside her husband.

The Seven Shahs, seated in a semi-circle of reverent silence, exhaled in quiet awe. Their expressions reflected a mixture of respect, wonder, and the subtle recognition of a bond deepening before their eyes.

Ling Li tucked the vial safely into her space ring, the runes sealing with a final pulse of light.

The gift had been given.

And the bond between immortals had deepened — woven not just through blood, but through trust, reverence, and the quiet magic of shared purpose.

The wind whispered through the towering pines of Mystic Mountain, carrying with it the sweet, intoxicating fragrance of plum blossoms and a flickering essence that seemed to dance like phoenix fire in the air. Ling Li stood at the edge of the jade courtyard, the iridescent vial of phoenix blood safely cradled within the folds of her elegant robes. Behind her, the Shahs formed a solemn semicircle, their presence a steadfast wall of respect and support, like a protective tide ready to shield her from any storm.

With a graceful step back, she lowered herself into a deep bow — exactly forty-five degrees — her spine straight and unwavering, every muscle poised with intention. The Seven Shahs mirrored her, their movements perfectly synchronized, a silent testament to their shared honor and reverence.

"I find it difficult to express my gratitude," Ling Li said, her voice steady yet resonant with raw emotion. "You've bestowed upon me more than just a gift; you've ignited a flame of hope within my heart."

Red, her gaze warm and inviting, reached out to gently lift Ling Li's arm, guiding her out of the bow with an ease that spoke of deep camaraderie.

"We're friends, aren't we?" she said, a radiant smile lighting up her face. "Just promise to visit us often. That would mean the world. And bring your family!"

Ling Li nodded, a playful sigh escaping her as a hint of amusement danced in her eyes.

"I promise I will. But I must warn you, my twins have a knack for bringing delightful chaos wherever they go."

"How could that possibly be a problem?" Red exclaimed, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "Let them come! I envy you for having the joy of multiples while I can only dream of one child at a time — and only once every hundred years!"

The Azure Dragon, a magnificent creature with shimmering emerald scales, tilted his majestic head, a spark of curiosity glinting in his wise, amber eyes.

"What troubles your twins?" he inquired, his voice a deep rumble that resonated through the air.

Ling Li took a deep breath, her heart swelling with both admiration and frustration. With a graceful sweep of her hand, she began to unravel the strange tale of their cultivation — how the mysterious seal of twin guardians had been etched into their very souls, marking them with a profound destiny. As she spoke, her brow furrowed in thought, her gaze flickering between awe and exasperation, as she grappled with the weight of their unique burden.