Ahead stretched the ochre plains that led to the southern border, where mountains burned with eternal flame.
Tian adjusted the white band on his wrist—his master's cloth, now fraying from war and travel. At his side, the white tiger cub yawned and nestled deeper into his cloak. The road to Yeonhwado, seat of the Crimson Flame Sect, awaited.
"We send them now," Tian said.
Two cloaked figures knelt before him—the Ghost Veil's scouts.
"Blend in," Tian instructed. "Find out the sect's state, its loyalties, their mood toward outsiders. Especially the Matriarch."
The elder scout nodded. "We'll have eyes in every hall by the time you arrive."
"And ears," the younger one added, vanishing into the wind.
Tian's gaze lingered on the horizon. "Let's move."
They passed through villages choked with ash, where scorched banners of long-fallen clans still fluttered above cracked gates. Red soil turned to blackstone roads, winding ever southward toward the city of flame.
The journey was quiet until dusk of the third day. The campfire flickered beneath a crimson sky.
Yeon Soheon sat across from Tian, sharpening her blade by instinct more than need. Her eyes watched the flames. "So this is where your mother lives?"
Tian nodded. "If she still lives."
"She does," Ok Seryeon said. "You'll see. Fire this strong doesn't die easy."
Seo Junrok leaned back with a smirk. "What if she's taller than you? Will you bow?"
Yu Gwanjeong added, "What if she doesn't believe you're her son?"
"I won't try to convince her," Tian said quietly. "The ring will."
He opened his palm—the Holy Flame Ring glimmered faintly.
The flames swayed, as if bowing.
Yeonhwado towered over a scorched valley, ringed in obsidian walls and split by rivers of lava diverted through ancient aqueducts. Crimson banners flapped on high terraces, and phoenix motifs crowned every archway.
The moment they entered, they drew stares. Foreign blades, ancient symbols, and that presence—Tian's presence—stirred the city's pulse.
While the group paused at a bustling tea bazaar, Yeon Soheon lingered near a cart of spicy silks. A young man stepped forward, smiling with lazy confidence.
He wore red silk with phoenix embroidery and two gilded rings. His nose was slightly hooked, his hair oiled and tied high.
"You have the eyes of a dancer," he said, "but you dress like a butcher. Strange."
Soheon blinked. "Excuse me?"
"I could make you a fine lady of Yeonhwado. A mistress of my court. My name is Juhwal, son of Councilor Daejin. Do you know it?"
Tian's voice cut through the market like a blade. "I do."
Juhwal turned as Tian stepped forward, his red eye burning.
"And I'm Tian."
"The Tian?" Juhwal scoffed. "What are you, her dog?"
Tian's hand moved before he thought. Silent Mourning left its sheath in a blur. Juhwal barely blocked the strike with a flicker of flame qi—but Tian pressed forward, each blow louder, hotter. Not killing strikes. Testing. Proving.
"You smell like smoke," Tian said coldly, "but your fire's hollow."
Juhwal's final defense shattered. He staggered, eyes wide.
"You dare—?!"
Tian stepped back, sword sheathed. "If you touch her again, I'll break more than your pride."
Crimson-armored guards rushed in. But their captain, recognizing the ring Tian now wore on his finger, bowed low.
"My apologies, young master," he said, voice shaking. "By law, you must come before the Matriarch."
The Hall of Burning Thrones stretched long and high, built atop molten stone. Pillars of obsidian etched with phoenix flame spiraled upward.
On a dais stood Leihong, Matriarch of the Crimson Flame Sect. Her black hair was streaked with crimson threads, her face carved by sorrow and strength.
When her gaze fell upon Tian, her breath caught. And then—the ring. It glowed with fierce white fire.
She staggered.
"No… It cannot be…"
Tian stepped forward. "You sent him to Wuheng. You feared he'd be hunted. You wore flame-red robes the day you let go."
Leihong dropped to her knees, tears streaming down her face. "Tian… My son… My child…"
He knelt before her.
"You live," she whispered, brushing his cheek. "You lived."
"And so did you."
Behind her, a small girl peeked out from her robes. Barefoot, hair tied in a wild bun, eyes like smoldering coals.
She looked at Tian with wonder. "Are you really my big brother?"
Tian smiled gently. "I think I am."
She darted forward and hugged his leg, mum
Certainly. Here's the revised chapter of Legacy of the Heavenly Origin with the following changes:
All section titles and numbering have been removed for seamless cinematic flow.
Tian does not know Leihong is his mother until the Holy Flame Ring glows—so all early references to her being his mother have been removed or shifted to the moment of revelation.
Everything else requested remains: the journey, scouts being sent, confrontation with noble Juhwal, deeper dream scene, meeting his little sister, expanded dialogue with Leihong after the reveal, and closing moments with Tian's companions.
The wind carried a faint scent of smoke as the group stood at the edge of the Beast Sect's lands. Ahead stretched the ochre plains that led to the southern border, where mountains burned with eternal flame.
Tian adjusted the white band on his wrist—his master's cloth, now fraying from war and travel. At his side, the white tiger cub yawned and nestled deeper into his cloak. The road to Yeonhwado, the Crimson Flame Sect's seat, awaited.
"We send them now," Tian said.
Two cloaked figures knelt before him—the Ghost Veil's scouts.
"Blend in," he instructed. "Learn the mood of the sect. Its loyalties. The nature of their Matriarch. Especially the Matriarch."
The elder scout nodded. "We'll have eyes in every hall by the time you arrive."
"And ears," the younger one added before vanishing into the wind.
Tian's gaze lingered on the horizon. "Let's move."
They passed through villages choked with ash, where scorched banners of long-fallen clans still fluttered above cracked gates. Red soil turned to blackstone roads, winding ever southward. At night, the group camped beneath ember-streaked skies, the flames of their campfire mirroring the glow in the distance.
On the third night, Yeon Soheon sat across from Tian, sharpening her blade with rhythmic ease.
"So this is where the Crimson Flame burns," she said, watching the firelight dance in Tian's eyes. "What are you hoping to find?"
Tian didn't answer immediately. "Maybe… not what I'm hoping. Just what I need."
Seo Junrok chuckled softly. "If she throws a sword at your head, just dodge. Don't make it dramatic."
Yu Gwanjeong added, "Maybe she'll ask you for a duel."
"I won't draw unless I must," Tian replied, but his tone held no certainty.
The city of Yeonhwado towered over a scorched valley, ringed in obsidian walls and split by glowing channels of lava. Crimson banners fluttered above watchtowers, and phoenix motifs crowned every archway.
Their presence did not go unnoticed. Eyes followed them as they passed through the outer quarters—warriors, merchants, courtesans, all pausing to watch the white-robed strangers led by a boy with two different eyes and a white tiger cub nestled in his cloak.
While the group paused at a bustling tea bazaar, Yeon Soheon lingered near a merchant's stand lined with flame-colored silks. A young man stepped toward her, smiling with lazy confidence. He wore red silk robes embroidered with gold phoenixes and two gilded rings on his fingers.
"You have the eyes of a dancer," he said, "but you dress like a butcher."
Soheon blinked. "Excuse me?"
"You could be a fine lady here. A mistress in my father's manor. I'm Juhwal. Son of Councilor Daejin."
She turned slightly, unimpressed. "Should I kneel?"
Juhwal smirked. "Just bow. You'd look lovely doing it."
Before she could reply, Tian's voice cut through the crowd.
"She bows to no one."
Juhwal turned to find Tian standing behind him. His red eye gleamed like a dying star.
"And you are?" Juhwal asked, voice tightening.
"The one you're about to regret meeting."
Juhwal scoffed. "Are you her keeper?"
Tian stepped forward. "No. Just someone who doesn't like the way you speak to her."
Silent Mourning left its sheath with a hiss. Juhwal's expression shifted instantly—he stepped back, summoning a ribbon of flame to defend, but Tian's blade sliced through it with surgical precision.
The exchange was swift—blows traded in flickers of fire and steel. Tian pressed in hard, his strikes not meant to kill, but to humiliate. Each movement carried precision, grace, and something darker. Jealousy.
"You're weak," Tian muttered, knocking Juhwal's sword from his hand. "Flames without soul."
Juhwal hit the ground hard, gasping. Guards began to swarm in, but halted mid-step when the light of a ring flared on Tian's finger—the Holy Flame Ring.
The captain of the guard blinked. "That ring…"
He dropped to one knee.
"All of you—bow!" the captain shouted. "He bears the ring of the Founder! Escort him to the Matriarch immediately!"
They were brought through flame-lit corridors and up obsidian steps until they stood before a towering woman seated upon a throne carved from cooled magma. Her robes shimmered with fire patterns, her hair woven with red and gold threads. Her gaze was sharp, but tired.
The moment her eyes met Tian's, nothing happened. Not until the ring on his finger began to glow.
Bright. Blinding.
The flame of recognition bloomed in her face.
She stood.
"No…"
Her voice broke as she stepped forward. "That ring… only one man wore it last. He gave it to our son."
Tian froze. "What did you say?"
"My name is Leihong," she said. "And I am your mother."
The chamber went still. The others watched, stunned. Even the tiger cub quieted.
Tian looked at the ring—then her.
"You abandoned me."
Leihong's voice cracked. "I sent you away. To save you. The Murim Alliance hunted your father's blood. They would have found you."
He didn't move. "You let my master raise me alone."
"Because he could keep you hidden. Because I knew if I stayed near, they would come. Your father wanted you safe."
Tian stepped forward at last. "Where is he?"
"I don't know," she said. "His body was never found. Only his sword. I kept it sealed."
A small hand tugged at Tian's sleeve. He looked down.
A barefoot girl with wild black hair and golden eyes stared up at him.
"You're my big brother?" she asked shyly.
"I… think I am," he said.
She hugged his waist. "You smell like snow and fire."
He knelt and embraced her.
"And you smell like mischief."
That night, Tian sat with Leihong in her private garden.
"He was a prince, wasn't he?" Tian asked.
She nodded. "From the Dragonheart Kingdom. He fled when they declared him a traitor—for loving me."
"He left me a burden."
"No," she said gently. "He left you a legacy. You've walked through blood and ice and shadow. And yet… your fire remains."
"I don't know what I'm supposed to be."
"You don't have to know. Just be."
That night, Tian dreamed.
He stood in a burning palace. The founder of the Crimson Flame Sect sat on a throne of molten stone, a great phoenix perched behind him. Beside the flames, the Azure Dragon watched with glowing eyes.
"You carry three flames," the founder said. "One of heaven, one of dragon, one of phoenix. They will pull at you. Choose."
"Choose what?" Tian asked.
"Who you were born as… or who the world needs."
The flames engulfed him. He screamed—but rose from them, eyes ablaze.
He awoke before dawn, drenched in sweat.
Guided by instinct, he descended into a sealed cave. The seal broke before his steps.
Inside, a great beast's skeleton lay—part phoenix, part something older. And beside it, a single glowing egg.
He touched it.
The egg cracked.
A small phoenix chick emerged, golden flames licking its feathers. It chirped, then landed on his shoulder, nestling against his neck.
Later, during the feast, Leihong raised her cup.
"Tonight, we reclaim our blood," she said. "And bind it to our future."
Tian stood.
"The Crimson Flame will burn beside Longdian. We will forge something better—together."
One by one, his companions joined him. Soheon stepped beside him.
"That noble—Juhwal—he barely said anything."
"I know."
"Then why did you draw?"
Tian hesitated. "Because… I didn't want him near you."
Soheon blinked.
Then smiled. "Good."
Later that night, under the stars, Tian and his companions stood on a balcony, firelight behind them, the heavens above.
Junrok grinned. "A mother. A sister. A flaming bird. What's next, a kingdom?"
Yu Gwanjeong muttered, "He's probably got one already."
Ok Seryeon nudged Tian. "Well?"
He looked out at the distant horizon.
"I found something I didn't know I lost."
Soheon stepped closer. "What will you do with it?"
He turned to her, smiling softly.
"Set the world alight."