Chapter 5: The Phoenix Mark

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Chapter 5: The Phoenix Mark

Morning sun was sifting through the silk drapes of Xiaoxiao's quarters as she sat lost in thought. She had already returned to the Feng residence, but the events of yesterday were still fresh in her mind. Most of all, the stirring of the mysterious inner space had sharpened her instincts even more. They said this power was no accident and must somehow be connected to her past life—one where she had deliberately chosen not to depend on it.

But now, reborn and with far more at stake, she was ready to embrace it.

She rolled up her sleeve; a feathery, phoenix-like marking showed near her wrist, close to the warmth of her skin. The mark throbbed as she focused, stirring some ancient power deep within. A quiet warmth spread through her veins, reached out to the dimension available to her at whim: an immense inner space, hidden from the world. With deeper attention, Xiaoxiao felt something she hadn't felt before: in the very center of her space, there was a deep, shimmering pool of water. The water had a strong aura, very calm and radiant energy flowing from it; it felt both foreign and familiar.

Memories came flooding back to the few instances in her past life when she had seen what the water could do: heal wounds in an instant, give her strength far beyond what was normal for her, and, in rare instances, bring back someone who had just died. She hardly tested its power then, believing her skill alone was enough. But this time, she felt the water would be necessary for what was coming.

She let her hand drop into the water, an ethereal action that sent an immediate pulse of strength coursing through her frame, heightening her senses and making her feel lighter and more agile. As if the water had infused her very soul, it amplified her physical power beyond that of a mortal human. Her eyesight sharpened, and her muscles felt stronger, but there was something more—a calm assurance, as if she could face any foe and prevail.

But Xiaoxiao knew that she had to be careful; such powers, if revealed, would draw too much attention. As far as she knew, nobody else had anything similar to this. It was a secret she had kept even from her family. The water was not a panacea, but it was a last resort—a resource to help her survive and protect those dear to her.

Withdrawing her hand from the water, Xiaoxiao let her inner space recede, even though it still felt the vigor she had left there. The faint light of the mark on her wrist was shadowed but did not wholly disappear. Now it was just a quiet reminder that inside her lay an arsenal—one that could alter the very balance of fate. This time, Xiaoxiao was determined not to just survive; she would thrive, using every tool she had been given.

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