A Star Reborn: The Queen’s Return

Preceptor Xia’s voice was light as a breeze. “Hand the Eight Characters over.”

The abbot quickly handed the slip of paper over. He had wanted to ask Preceptor Xia if he needed to take a look at her photo, but decided it was excessive — Preceptor Xia had already discreetly caught a glimpse of her in person, why would he need her photo now?

He watched Preceptor Xia unfold the slip of paper with a movement he admired.

Preceptor Xia made his calculations and deductions with his fingers before calmly saying, “You may leave.”

The abbot dared not question his words as he politely took his leave.

He carefully closed the door from the outside.

Preceptor Xia left the slip of paper by the side, got a paper and pen, and wrote another set of Eight Characters. Taking her looks into consideration, he plotted a method of calculation.

Many moments passed.

He stopped writing suddenly, and on his face was happiness coupled with some grief. Quietly, he mumbled to himself. “Little Sister… do you know why our father has given you a ‘Ling’ in your name? You’ve finally returned.”

“Ling” referred to a type of silk, one that symbolized life after death and longing.

The people of the Xia family had very special destinies, and there was a price to pay for all their understanding of the universe and its existence. Every few hundred years, there would be a “Phoenix” in the family, one with the life of a widow, a miserable destiny that only “nirvana” could possibly break.

However, “nirvana” had only existed in the sayings.

Nobody in the history of this family’s existence had successfully attained nirvana, they usually died a tragic death, and all news about them ceased to exist.

Back then, his younger sister had been found to be a “Phoenix,” and their father had abandoned her after much turmoil to avoid having her curse the family. Since then, they had never heard about her, but their father said that she would return someday to reunite with them if they were fated. Despite his words, their father never believed in that little glimmer of hope.

Today, she had finally returned.

If this was her second life, did that mean that she had attained nirvana?

Preceptor Xia revealed a comforting smile as he closed his eyes. When he re-opened them, the smile had vanished, and it was worry that took over his expression. He lit a candle and placed the slip of paper containing Xia Ling’s Eight Characters, as well as the other slip of calculations, on the flame, allowing it to devour them whole.

He opened the door and asked for the abbot to enter, giving him a few instructions.

Li Lei waited for a long while in the room before the abbot returned and told him the higher priest wanted to meet him.

Li Lei had expected to see an old man with a head of white hair and was surprised to see that the person standing before him was a young man with a clean look. That man’s eyes were expressionless.

He looked toward Li Lei. “What’s your relationship with this girl?”

Li Lei replied, “She’s my woman.”

“Do you want to save her?”

Li Lei looked up, slightly confused. “What do you mean by that?”

Preceptor Xia said, “She indeed has the life of a widow. Not only will she bring you bad luck, but she will also be a curse to herself as well. Hence, her life is full of uncertainty, and nobody knows how long she can live. Tomorrow could be her last day… Don’t look at me so angrily, I’m not cursing her. I just need to ask you, if it takes a lot of sacrifice from you to guarantee her safety, would you be willing?”

“I’m willing.” Li Lei did not hesitate for a moment.

“Young Master Lei!” The abbot could not bear it. He had been on close terms with Old Master Li for years and could not bear to see Li Lei make such a huge sacrifice. He knew very well what sort of sacrifice Preceptor Xia was referring to.

Preceptor Xia ignored the abbot and asked Li Lei, “I’ll use your life to safeguard her safety. You may die, are you still willing?” The misfortune that befalls these “Phoenixes” did not necessarily cease once they attained nirvana. Xia Ling appeared to be one who would encounter countless trials and tribulations, and being her brother, he could not help but worry about her survival. It was best if somebody was willing to sacrifice for her.

“I’m willing.” Li Lei looked Preceptor Xia straight in the eye. “Tell me what I have to do.”

“Tomorrow, you’ll kowtow as you make your way up from the foot of the mountain.” Preceptor Xia instructed. “When you reach here, I’ll have to extract your blood, and your loss of blood could cost you your life. If you’re lucky enough to survive it, then you’ll bring home the amulet that I’ll make with your blood. You’ll hand it to her, and that amulet will protect her.”

Li Lei agreed immediately and then looked at Preceptor Xia once again. “If I die, please make the amulet anyway and hand it to her.”

“If you die, the amulet will be rendered useless.” Preceptor Xia smiled coldly.

“Why?” Li Lei brows were knitted.

“If you die…” Preceptor Xia sized him up. “It’ll mean that you’re not worthy enough to stay by her and protect her, that you’re simply not the chosen one to be in her life. This girl’s destiny is too unique, not everybody has the what it takes to get involved in it.”

The Phoenix would only perch on a Chinese parasol tree.

She would rather die than rest on any other species.

Preceptor Xia did not know if this man would be her Chinese parasol tree. Precisely because Xia Ling was his biological sister, one that was so close to him, was so difficult for him to make an accurate deduction of the situation.

Li Lei was silent and took a while before steadying his voice. “I will survive.”

The night had come and gone.

Xia Ling woke up in the morning and changed up, but Li Lei was nowhere to be seen. She asked the chauffeur who drove them to the temple, “Where’s Boss?”

The chauffeur told her, “Boss has something to settle. Please wait a moment, we’ll return to the city when he’s done.”

Xia Ling did not probe further, she simply did not want to get involved in Li Lei’s affairs. All that mattered to her was when she could return to the city and get on with her work.

She waited from dawn until dusk in the guest room and was getting impatient.

Guessing that they were not leaving that night, she went back to sleep and did nothing for the next three days.

On the fourth day, Li Lei appeared.

It was still a handsome face and charismatic look that would attract any girl. “Let’s go back to the city.” He seemed to be in a good mood as he smiled at her. “Right, I got you an amulet. This is for you.”

On his palm was a little wooden amulet, maroon in color and nothing too special or fancy. It looked common, almost like a generic souvenir anybody else could get.

Xia Ling could not be bothered to reject it and casually took it and placed it in her pocket.

The chauffeur could not bear to see the way she acted. Miss Ye did not know how much went behind the making of this amulet, but he was clear of it. Young Master Lei had kowtowed from the foot of the mountain all the way up, until his forehead bled and his hands were abraised, just for this one amulet. He did not want her to worry and decided to recuperate until the wound was less conspicuous before coming back for her.

As for her?

She actually had no regard for this amulet that cost him so much pain and effort?

“Miss Ye, I think you’d better wear it around your neck.” The chauffeur could not keep it in. “This amulet is Young Master’s…”