The Illegitimate Prince & the Phoenix

The streets of the capital were alive with noise. Merchants called out their prices, the scent of roasted meat filled the air, and crowds pushed past each other in a rush to reach their destinations.

Li Xueyan kept her hood low, blending into the sea of people. She had made it to the capital, but her real task was just beginning.

She had to find Feng Zhiwei.

The forgotten prince.

The strongest martial artist in the world.

And the only person who might help her take revenge.

Hei Yue trotted beside her, his silver fur barely visible in the dim evening light. His ears flicked as he listened to the sounds around them.

"The city stinks," he muttered.

Xueyan smirked. "It's full of people. What did you expect?"

The wolf huffed. "Too many. Too loud. Too many eyes watching."

She didn't respond. He was right. Even though the city seemed normal, she could feel the weight of hidden gazes on her. Spies? Thieves? Or something worse?

She didn't know. But she would be careful.

For now, she needed information.

And there was one place where people talked the most—the tavern.

---

The Drunken Sparrow Tavern

The Drunken Sparrow was loud and busy, filled with the scent of cheap wine and fried food. People laughed, argued, and gambled, their voices mixing into a chaotic hum.

Xueyan stepped inside and took a seat in the corner, her back to the wall. She ordered a small drink—not to drink, but to listen.

Taverns were where people spoke freely, where secrets spilled like ale on the floor.

And she needed secrets.

A group of men at the next table were already deep in conversation.

"Did you hear? Another noble was assassinated last night."

"Who did it?"

"The Black Sun Hall, most likely. Their assassins are getting bolder."

Xueyan frowned. The Black Sun Hall again. The same sect that had helped her uncle betray her family.

Her grip on the cup tightened.

The second man lowered his voice. "Forget that. Have you heard the rumors about the prince?"

Xueyan's ears sharpened.

"Which prince?"

"Feng Zhiwei."

Her heart beat faster.

The man leaned forward. "They say he fought an entire gang of bandits last week and took them all down alone."

His friend snorted. "Ridiculous. If he's so strong, why is he hiding?"

The first man shrugged. "Who knows? But there's one thing for sure—if you want to find him, you start in the slums."

Xueyan's fingers tapped against the table.

The slums.

If that was where the prince hid, then that was where she would go.

---

The Slums of the Capital

The slums were different from the rest of the city. The streets were narrower, the houses older. The people were thin, their faces hardened by struggle.

This was where the forgotten lived.

Xueyan moved carefully, her steps light. She didn't belong here, and people could tell.

She passed a group of children playing in the dirt, an old woman selling herbs, and a group of men whispering in the shadows.

Hei Yue stayed close. His presence kept trouble away—for now.

Then she saw it.

A fight.

A circle of men surrounded a single figure. He stood in the center, calm, his hands behind his back. His clothes were plain, his face half-hidden by the shadows.

But even from a distance, Xueyan knew.

It was him.

Feng Zhiwei.

The illegitimate prince.

The men attacked.

Xueyan's breath caught as she watched. The prince didn't move at first, letting them come.

Then, in a blur of motion—he struck.

One man went down with a single punch. Another fell before he could even raise his sword. The last tried to run, but the prince was faster. He disappeared and reappeared behind the man, knocking him out with a single blow.

It was over in seconds.

The prince sighed, dusting off his sleeves.

"Too slow," he muttered.

Xueyan's fingers tightened around her cloak.

She had finally found him.

Now, she just had to make him listen.

---

A Dangerous Meeting

As the crowd broke apart, Xueyan stepped forward.

Feng Zhiwei's sharp gaze landed on her instantly. His eyes were dark, unreadable. He knew she was watching.

She stopped a few steps away.

"I've been looking for you," she said.

His expression didn't change. "Many people look for me. Most regret it."

Xueyan smirked. "I don't regret things easily."

He studied her for a moment, then tilted his head. "Who sent you?"

"No one."

He raised an eyebrow. "Then what do you want?"

Xueyan took a slow breath. "I need your help."

For the first time, the prince looked amused. "Do you?"

She met his gaze without flinching. "I know who you really are. I know your strength."

His amusement faded. "And?"

Her voice was steady. "And I want you to help me destroy the Li family."

The silence between them was heavy.

Then—he laughed.

A deep, quiet chuckle. "You're bold, I'll give you that."

She crossed her arms. "Does that mean you'll help?"

His laughter faded. He took a step closer, looking her up and down. "You want revenge. That much is clear. But why should I care?"

Xueyan exhaled.

She had expected this.

"Because I know what it's like to be betrayed," she said softly. "To be cast aside. To have your name dragged through the mud. I know what it's like to want justice."

For a moment, Feng Zhiwei didn't speak.

Then, something shifted in his expression.

He turned away. "Come back tomorrow."

Xueyan frowned. "Why?"

He glanced at her over his shoulder.

"If you want my help, prove you deserve it."

And then, just like that—he was gone.

Xueyan let out a breath.

Tomorrow, she would prove herself.

And if she succeeded, the strongest man in the world would stand by her side.

Her revenge had truly begun.