The Secret Garden. Night.
"You woke me up from my sleep just for this?" Gù Míng asked, starting to walk away.
"Are you angry?" Han Yuan asked, his voice low and coaxing.
"No."
"Were you worried about me?"
"Yes."
"Don't be angry at me, okay... I just wanted to give you a surprise."
Gù Míng did not respond.
Suddenly, Han Yuan pulled Gù Míng down. He pinned him to the grass, hovering over him, looking deep into his eyes.
"If you don't stop being angry at me..." Han Yuan whispered, sliding his fingers through Gù Míng's right hand, the silver ring glinting in the starlight. "I will stick to you like this until you forgive me."
Gù Míng was stunned. His heart hammered in his chest. He pushed Han Yuan away and looked to the side, his ears burning.
Above them, the stars shone bright. A meteor shower streaked across the purple sky.
There was a moment of perfect quietness. They lay side by side in the field of flowers.
Xiangling, the little rabbit, looked up at the starry night, wondering if one day she would return to be one with the stars.
A breeze picked up. It lifted a single leaf from the garden.
The leaf floated up, brushing against Han Yuan's floating gray robes, and drifted higher into the sky. It flew over the mountains, over the dark plains, and down into the bustling, panicked streets of Yōu Míng City.
It landed, finally, under a heavy boot.
Yōu Míng City Streets.
Líng Fēng, the God of War, crushed the leaf into the dirt. He stood in the center of the street, surrounded by his pristine white-armored soldiers.
People were running in panic. Another war?
"Welcome to the Dark Realm," a voice echoed through the streets.
Líng Fēng scoffed. "Hmm. I see you are still using those lame tricks. Come out and face me like a man!"
WOOSH!
Yè Liú's white fan flew out with full strength aimed at Líng Fēng's left side.
Líng Fēng blocked it with his signature Finger Claw technique. Clang!
The fan spun back to its master.
Soldiers from the Dark Realm emerged from the shadows, surrounding the invaders.
Yè Liú floated down, fanning himself lazily. "Little Tiger, do you think the Dark Realm is some place you can just come and go as you please?"
"We know you took the Sword of Light. Hand it over!" Líng Fēng demanded.
The Four Elders arrived at the scene, their auras flaring.
"Líng Fēng!" the Cat Lord hissed. "The Light Realm has been bullying our Dark Realm for years! Do you really think today you will leave alive?"
"The Four Elders of the Dark Realm!" Líng Fēng laughed. "What a grand welcome, that you had to meet me in person."
"It is going to be even grander," a voice descended from above. "Because I am also here."
Han Yuan floated down, his black robes billowing. He was alone; Gù Míng and Xiangling had already been sent back to the palace.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," the Dark Realm subjects chorused.
"Your Majesty!" Líng Fēng sneered. "Han Yuan. You were locked up since birth in the Cold Palace. It has been less than a year since you got out, and you are already the ruler of the Dark Realm?"
"Yes. Lucky, am I not?" Han Yuan asked, smiling pleasantly.
"Even if you are the inheritor of the power of the Orb, do you really think there's nothing we can do about you?"
"You!" Yè Liú stepped forward, ready to fight.
Han Yuan raised a hand, signaling him to stop. He looked at the army of Light Realm soldiers.
"You've brought too many friends," Han Yuan said softly.
He didn't move. He just let out a breath of intention.
In seconds, every single Light Realm soldier collapsed, life extinguished. Only Líng Fēng was left standing.
"Now that it is just you and me," Han Yuan said, suddenly standing directly behind Líng Fēng. "What were you saying? Something about doing something to me...? What was it?"
Líng Fēng spun around, enraged and horrified. His people were wiped out in an instant, and he couldn't do a thing.
Han Yuan walked away from him, casting a small, chilling gaze at the Elders that made them shake.
"Yè Liú."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Yè Liú took out a gold-embossed scroll and tossed it to Líng Fēng.
"The Light Realm is invited to my Succession Ceremony," Han Yuan announced. "We will also have a special Mystery Game played."
The Elders looked surprised. They knew nothing about this.
Líng Fēng scoffed, throwing the scroll down. "The Light Realm has no interest in your matters. All we want is the Sword of Light!"
"Oh? The Sword of Light? There is no Sword of Light here," Han Yuan said.
"Why should I believe you?"
"I have no reason to lie. Even if I had it, with your strength, do you really think you can take it?"
Han Yuan released his pressure. The sheer weight of it brought the God of War to his knees. Cracks formed in the obsidian street under Líng Fēng's legs.
"The price of the Mystery Game..." Han Yuan said, holding out his right hand.
A glowing light appeared, manifesting into an ancient scroll made of starlight.
"...is the Stars Map of the Realms."
Everyone gasped. Even Yè Liú's fan stopped moving.
"Better than your Sword of Light, right?" Han Yuan said, putting the scroll away.
He started walking away, then stopped. He looked at his subjects.
"Oh, right. If you want to play around with him, you can. Just make sure he is able to deliver the message."
He walked away, leaving the God of War to the mercy of the Dark Realm.
The Heavenly Palace.
THUD.
Líng Fēng fell in front of the main gate, a bruised, semi-naked mess.
"General! General!" The guards rushed to carry him in.
Inside the infirmary, Líng Fēng was surrounded by people staring and whispering.
He woke up with a start, sitting up straight, sweating profusely.
"Give me back my pants!" he screamed.
The crowd fell silent, shocked that the dignified General would say such a thing.
The crowd parted. King Gù Tiānhé walked in with his attendants.
"Greetings, Your Majesty," Líng Fēng rasped, attempting to get out of bed, but his injuries were too severe.
"No need for formalities," the King said coldly.
"Who did this to you? And why did you come back alone?"
"Han Yuan! It was Han Yuan!" Líng Fēng cried out, tears of humiliation in his eyes. "He... he killed everyone."
The room gasped.
"What!" The King shouted angrily. "If it wasn't because I had to avoid war with the Dark Realm when he was born, I would have killed him then! We will avenge our people!"
The people cheered for vengeance.
"There is something else," Líng Fēng said, his trembling hand pulling a crumpled invitation card from under his pillow. "Han Yuan is inviting us to his Throne Succession Ceremony. There will be a Mystery Game."
He hesitated.
"The prize will be..."
"What?"
"It will be the Stars Map of the Realms."
The King froze. The anger on his face vanished, replaced by a greedy intensity.
"Did I hear that right? Did you just say the Stars Map of the Realms?"
"Yes. I saw it with my own eyes. He was holding it."
"Good. Good!" The King paced, a manic smile appearing. "Finally, it appeared. No matter what his motives are, we will attend."
"But... Your Majesty," Líng Fēng whispered. "Our men..."
"Forget about them!" The King snapped. "From now on, focus on strengthening our power. Find more people to join our army and train them. We need that map."
The King walked away, his mind already plotting.
With a disheartened heart, Líng Fēng bowed his head. "Farewell, Your Majesty."