Lixuan was sitting in his room. Soft morning sunlight streamed in through the window. He ran his fingers along the edge of his sword, lost in thought. Just then, a knock sounded at the door.
"Come in."
Zhichen opened the door and stepped inside. His expression was as calm as ever, but his footsteps seemed unusually heavy that morning.
Lixuan looked up at him. "What's wrong? You look as though something is troubling you."
Zhichen closed the door and walked over to stand before him. "My elder brother told me something."
"What?"
Zhichen took a deep breath. "He said that yesterday morning, at the training grounds, Lichen was holding my sword. Yuehan."
Lixuan's eyebrows rose. "What? Your sword? Yuehan?"
Zhichen nodded. "Yes. The one with the blue blade and the symbol of the moon and waves. My brother saw it with his own eyes."
Lixuan remained silent for a moment before placing his own sword down. "But Yuehan is with you. You showed it to Xiangu just last night."
"That's precisely what I cannot understand. My brother said Lichen was holding the very same sword. Its blade was glowing with the same blue light as mine."
Lixuan studied Zhichen's eyes. He knew Zhichen never lied. And if he was this troubled, then the matter was undoubtedly serious.
"Let's go," Lixuan said. "We'll see for ourselves."
Lichen was alone at the training grounds. A blindfold covered her eyes, and she held an ordinary sword—the one she had picked up from a corner of the training area. She swung it through the air, her movements slow but steady. With every strike, her grip grew firmer.
Her breathing was quick, and a faint sheen of sweat covered her forehead. Yet she did not stop. She had learned not to give up.
From a distance, Lixuan and Zhichen watched her.
"Can she see?" Lixuan asked quietly.
"No. She's sensing her surroundings," Zhichen replied.
Suddenly, Lichen stopped swinging her sword. She raised her face slightly, as though she had sensed someone's arrival.
"Master? Your Highness?"
The two approached her.
"Lichen, we need to ask you something," Lixuan said.
She lowered her sword. "Yes, Master?"
Zhichen spoke gently. "Yesterday morning, you were holding a sword with a blue blade. Where did you get it?"
Lichen fell silent for a few moments. Her lips moved slightly, as though she were searching for the right words.
"I don't know. I was simply looking for a sword, and I found one. But... it was strange. It felt as though it recognised me. As though it belonged to me."
Lixuan glanced at Zhichen. His eyes remained fixed on Lichen.
"Where is that sword now?" Lixuan asked.
Lichen extended her hand. The ordinary sword she had picked up for practice rested in her grip.
"Here it is. I returned yesterday's sword to its place. I picked this one up today."
The moment she finished speaking, something unexpected happened.
A faint blue light swept across the blade of the ordinary sword. At first, it was dim, but then it grew brighter. The colour of the metal gradually began to change. A symbol emerged on its hilt—a crescent moon with a wave beneath it.
The very same symbol.
Lixuan's eyes widened. "Zhichen... this..."
Zhichen drew his own sword from its sheath. Its blade was glowing with the same blue light, bearing the same symbol. He held it out before him.
And there, in Lichen's hands, was the very same sword.
Yuehan.
Two swords. Identical in every way. Existing at the same time.
For the first time, Zhichen's face turned completely pale. He looked at the sword in Lichen's hands, then at his own.
"How... how is this possible?"
Lixuan stood frozen as well, his eyes fixed on the sword in Lichen's hands.
Lichen could not understand what was happening. Behind her blindfold, everything remained dark, but she could sense that something was different. The sword's hilt had grown warm in her grip, and its blade seemed to be communicating something to her.
"Master... what's wrong? Your Highness?"
Neither Lixuan nor Zhichen answered.
They simply stared at the swords.
The sword that no longer belonged to Zhichen alone.
The sword that now belonged to Lichen as well.
Lixuan and Zhichen decided it would be better to leave the training grounds without saying anything further. The sight of that sword in Lichen's hands—the same blue blade, the same symbol—had filled their minds with countless questions. They headed straight back to their room without stopping or looking back.
As soon as the door closed behind them, Lixuan took a deep breath and turned towards Zhichen.
"How is this possible? How could your sword—Yuehan—appear in her hands when it is already with you?"
Zhichen drew his sword from its sheath. Its blade was still glowing with blue light. He held it before him and stared at it, as though trying to reassure himself that it was truly there.
"That's what I cannot understand."
Lixuan pushed his hair back and began pacing across the room.
"That sword... it belongs to you. Only you. So how could she possibly hold the very same sword?"
Zhichen slowly returned his sword to its sheath and looked at Lixuan.
"Your power is in it too."
Lixuan stopped walking. He turned towards Zhichen.
"What do you mean?"
Zhichen replied in a calm voice, "It was never only my sword. I saw your black light within its blade as well. And that sword... it recognises you too."
Lixuan remained silent for a moment. He lowered his head slightly, as though recalling something.
Then he spoke quietly.
"I don't know her, Zhichen. Nor do I know who she really is. I simply found her in the forest. A lost, blind girl. That's all."
Zhichen looked into his eyes.
"Yes. In the forest near Shenmei. I was passing along that route when she suddenly appeared before me. She was running, frightened. There was no one with her."
Zhichen remained thoughtful for a few moments.
Then Lixuan stepped closer and caught his wrist.
"Tomorrow, we'll visit that village. The one Rongwei went to. Lichen's village. The place she came from."
Zhichen looked up. There was determination in Lixuan's eyes.
"We'll go to the place where her story began. The forest, the village, the house. Perhaps we'll find something there that explains all of this."
Zhichen gave a slight nod. "All right."
Lixuan was still holding his wrist, as though assuring him that he would not rest until they uncovered this mystery. Then he slowly let go.
"But Lichen must not find out. We'll leave tomorrow without telling her. We won't tell Rongwei or Fengli either. Not yet."
Zhichen replied, "Hmm."
Lixuan glanced at him. "That 'hmm' of yours..."
A faint smile appeared on Zhichen's lips. "You like it."
Lixuan said nothing. He simply turned his face away, though a slight smile had appeared on his own lips as well.
### Qingyu Clan
It was night. Darkness had settled heavily over the Qingyu Clan's palace. The flames of the torches cast flickering shadows across the walls. Outside, the wind blew fiercely, as though something momentous was about to happen that night.
Mo Yan was alone in his secret chamber. The door was locked from within, and no one was permitted to enter.
At the centre of the chamber stood a massive stone altar. Black lamps burned upon it, their flames glowing blue and violet—as though they were fuelled by something far beyond ordinary fire.
Mo Yan extended his hands. Resting in them were all three fragments of Yin Mo Ji, now united into a single, complete stone.
The stone pulsed against his palm like a living heart. Black light rose from within it, spreading throughout the chamber.
He placed it upon the altar and closed his eyes. His breathing slowed as he began chanting in an ancient language, his voice barely audible. It sounded as though he were calling out to someone.
The black light continued to rise from the stone. A circular current of wind formed around the altar. The walls began to tremble, and the flames of every torch bent in the same direction.
And then...
The stone slowly began to rise from the altar, floating in midair. Its light gradually changed—from black to red, then from red to blue.
It was as though something within it was awakening. Something that had remained asleep for centuries.
Mo Yan opened his eyes. They were red. His breathing had quickened, and the same cold smile rested upon his lips.
"Yes... come forth..."
The stone began to change its shape. It was no longer a stone. It was transforming into something else—something deeper, longer, and far more terrifying.
Mo Yan extended his hand.
"Come... into my hands."
Black light flooded the entire chamber. A few moments later, the mysterious object rested in Mo Yan's hand. No one could have identified what it was. Its radiance was so intense that Mo Yan's face was reflected in its glow.
He raised it before his eyes, his red gaze fixed upon it.
"Now... no one in this world can stop me."
Then he burst into loud laughter.
His laughter echoed throughout the palace. Even the soldiers standing guard outside trembled for a moment. They had no idea what had happened inside the chamber, but they knew one thing: Mo Yan's laughter never brought good news.
And inside that secret chamber, the object in Mo Yan's hands was now throbbing.
As though it, too, had awakened from a long sleep, only to find itself consumed by a thirst.
A thirst for blood.
A thirst for destruction.
### Shenmei Clan
It was night. The palace was quiet, and everyone had retired to their rooms. But Lixuan and Zhichen were still wide awake.
The two stood near the palace's rear gate. A cold breeze swept past them. The moon was only half full, but its light was enough to illuminate the path ahead.
Lixuan fastened his sword to his waist.
"Qingshui Village. That's where we must begin."
Zhichen nodded. "Rongwei told us that something about that village seemed strange. Everything he had heard about Lichen began there."
"Yes. Bao Lin and Mei Lian. Their home. Perhaps we'll find something there that explains why Yuehan appears in your hands and hers."
Zhichen looked at Lixuan.
"And what if we find nothing?"
Lixuan smiled faintly.
"Then we'll go further. Into the forest. To the place where I found Lichen. Perhaps something will come to light once we reach that spot."
The two opened the small palace gate and stepped outside.
The road was silent. Leaves rustled in the wind, and moonlight stretched across the path.
Lixuan glanced back towards the palace. For a brief moment, he thought of Lichen. She must be asleep in her room, her eyes still covered by the blindfold.
"What are you thinking about?" Zhichen asked.
Lixuan let out a quiet breath.
"That I'm leaving her behind alone."
"She isn't alone. Rongwei and Xiangu are there."
"I know. But still..."
They began walking.
The night was long, and so was the road ahead. Yet one question continued to occupy their minds.
Who was Lichen? And what connection did she have to their two powers?
Qingshui Village awaited them.
And perhaps, hidden there, was a truth that could change everything.
The first rays of dawn slowly emerged from behind the mountains. The sky took on a faint golden hue. The cold breeze still lingered, but the signs of morning had begun to spread everywhere.
Lixuan and Zhichen had travelled throughout the night without stopping. Now, Qingshui Village lay before them.
It was a small village, with narrow dirt paths, mud houses, and fields stretching into the distance. As morning arrived, the villagers had already begun their daily chores. Some were going to fetch water, others were heading towards the fields, while a few carried firewood for their cooking stoves.
Lixuan adjusted his mask and stepped through the village entrance, with Zhichen walking beside him.
As soon as they entered, several villagers turned to look at them. But this time, their expressions held no surprise—only recognition.
They knew Zhichen. He was the Prince of Shenmei, and the villagers belonged to his clan.
An elderly man sitting near the entrance immediately rose to his feet upon seeing him. He bowed respectfully.
"Prince Zhichen? What brings you here?"
Zhichen inclined his head.
"Yes. We need some information."
The old man said, "You must be tired. Please, sit down and have some water first."
Zhichen gave a slight shake of his head.
"We need to visit Bao Lin and Mei Lian first. Do they live here?"
The old man nodded.
"Yes, Your Highness. They both live here, at the far end of the village. They have a small house there."
Zhichen glanced at Lixuan, who gave a slight nod.
After thanking the old man, the two headed towards the house.
The path was quiet. Villagers watched them from a distance. Some joined their hands in greeting, while others simply stood in silence.
As they approached the far end of the village, an unusual scent began to fill the air. It was old, damp, and mixed with something else—something familiar to Lixuan.
"This scent..." Lixuan murmured. "It resembles the temple."
Zhichen nodded. "Hmm."
And then, the house appeared before them.
It was small, with mud walls and an old wooden door. A few utensils lay scattered in the courtyard. Outside stood a cooking stove, from which a thin stream of smoke was rising.
Someone was home.
Lixuan looked at Zhichen.
"Shall we?"
Zhichen nodded.
The two slowly approached the house.
They walked towards it carefully. The house was small but well-kept. A few utensils lay in the courtyard, and the thin smoke rising from the stove suggested that someone was home—or had only just left.
Lixuan knocked on the door.
Knock... Knock... Knock...
There was no response.
He knocked again, this time a little harder.
Knock... Knock... Knock...
Still, no one answered. There were no approaching footsteps, nor even the faintest sound of a voice. The house remained completely silent.
Lixuan looked at Zhichen.
"It seems no one's home."
Just then, a man's voice came from behind them.
"They'll return tonight."
Both turned around.
A middle-aged man stood there. He held an old walking stick in one hand. His clothes were simple, and his face looked tired, but there was an unusual alertness in his eyes.
"Who?" Lixuan asked.
The man gestured towards the house.
"Bao Lin and Mei Lian. They're not home right now. They've gone to sell firewood. They collect it from the forest, sell it, and return at night."
Zhichen studied the man carefully.
"Who are you?"
The man bowed his head slightly.
"I'm their neighbour. My name is Tanji. You're Prince Zhichen of Shenmei, aren't you?"
Zhichen nodded. "Yes."
Tanji glanced towards the house before speaking quietly.
"If you wish to meet them, you'll have to wait until nightfall. They rarely stay in the village during the day."
Lixuan looked at Zhichen, who gave a slight nod.
"Very well. We'll wait until tonight," Zhichen said.
Tanji gestured towards his own house.
"You can rest at my place until then. They'll be back by evening."
The two followed Tanji towards his home.
They would have to wait until night.
And perhaps, with nightfall, a few answers would finally emerge.
Tanji's house was nearby. It was a small dwelling with mud walls and an old cot in the courtyard. He asked them to sit down and went inside to fetch some water.
"There isn't much here in this village," he said as he handed them the water. "But you can rest here until evening."
Lixuan picked up the cup but did not drink. His gaze remained fixed on Tanji.
"You haven't told us anything about Bao Lin and Mei Lian."
Tanji sat down on a stone in front of them.
"What would you like to know, Your Highness?"
Zhichen answered, "A girl. She was blind and wore a bracelet. She used to live with them."
Tanji's expression changed. He rested his walking stick against the ground.
"Lichen."
At the sound of her name, Lixuan glanced at Zhichen.
Tanji continued, "She lived here from childhood. She stayed with those two, but she wasn't their daughter."
"Whose daughter was she, then?" Lixuan asked.
Tanji shrugged.
"No one knows. All we know is that they found her in the forest one night, many years ago. They had gone out to sell firewood, and when they returned, they brought the little girl home with them."
Zhichen asked quietly, "Is there anything else?"
Tanji shook his head.
"That's all. They never told anyone much about it. The villagers used to say that the child had been found deep inside the forest. And that's it. After that, she began living here. Poor thing was blind."
Lixuan looked at Zhichen. The same questions filled both their minds.
Where in the forest? How had it happened? And who was the girl they had found there so unexpectedly?
"We'll speak to Bao Lin and Mei Lian once they return tonight," Lixuan said.
Tanji looked at them both before speaking in a low voice.
"If you want to talk to them, you'd better be careful. They're not the sort of people who reveal things easily."
Lixuan said nothing. He simply began waiting for nightfall—and for the forest where Lichen had been found.
Perhaps that was where everything had begun.
Night had fallen.
The half-moon hung in the sky, its pale light slowly spreading across the village. Tanji had arranged a place for them in his courtyard. There was an old cot and a worn blanket. The village was quiet, with only the occasional bark of a dog breaking the silence somewhere in the distance.
Zhichen sat leaning against the wall, his eyes open. He was looking out into the night, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Lixuan sat beside him. The exhaustion was clearly visible in his eyes. He had been talking to Zhichen for some time, but gradually his eyelids began to grow heavy.
Without thinking or saying a word, he rested his head on Zhichen's shoulder.
Zhichen froze for a moment. He even held his breath.
Lixuan's head rested against his shoulder, his breathing slow and peaceful.
He had fallen asleep.
Zhichen did not move his shoulder. He simply remained where he was, sitting perfectly still. The night breeze drifted gently around them, and the moonlight fell softly upon them both.
No one knew how much time passed.
Then, suddenly, Lixuan opened his eyes. A trace of sleep still clouded his gaze. And in that moment, he realised that he had fallen asleep with his head resting on Zhichen's shoulder.
He immediately sat upright. His breathing quickened slightly as he turned his neck and blinked, trying to compose himself.
"Did I... fall asleep?"
Zhichen looked at him. His eyes were calm, but a faint smile rested on his lips.
"Yes."
Lixuan turned his face away.
"On your shoulder?"
"Yes."
A slight warmth crept up to Lixuan's ears.
"Why didn't you wake me?"
Zhichen replied softly, "You needed the rest."
Lixuan said nothing. He simply adjusted his mask, as though trying to hide his embarrassment. Then he pretended to clear his throat.
"How... how long was I asleep?"
"I don't know. I wasn't keeping track of time."
Lixuan glanced at Zhichen. He was still looking at him with the same calm expression, as though he were in no hurry at all—as though he wanted this moment to last a little longer.
"Be careful," Lixuan said quietly. "Next time I fall asleep like that, wake me up."
Zhichen nodded.
"We'll see."
Lixuan frowned.
"We'll see? What does that mean?"
Zhichen simply smiled faintly.
"It means I'll do as you said."
Lixuan stared at him for a few moments before muttering, "Honestly, you..."
Then the two fell silent once more in the stillness of the night.
But the silence between them no longer felt quite the same.
The night had grown deeper. The moon had climbed higher into the sky, and silence stretched across the village. Only the occasional gust of wind stirred the leaves of the trees.
Then, from a distance, came the sound of footsteps. Slow and weary. Along with them came the faint rustling of bundles of firewood.
Tanji heard them too. He stood up and walked towards the entrance. Peering outside, he said, "They're back."
Lixuan and Zhichen also rose to their feet.
A few moments later, two figures emerged before them.
Bao Lin and Mei Lian.
Both carried heavy bundles of firewood on their shoulders. Their steps were weary, and their clothes were damp. Gathering wood in the forest throughout the day, selling it, and returning at night was their daily routine.
The moment they noticed the two strangers standing in the courtyard, they stopped.
Bao Lin dropped his bundle onto the ground. His eyes were stern, and exhaustion and irritation were clearly visible on his face.
"Who are you?"
Zhichen stepped forward.
I am Prince Zhichen of Shenmei. And this is my companion."
At the mention of his name, Mei Lian's expression changed slightly. Bao Lin's eyebrows drew together.
"The Prince of Shenmei? Here, at this hour?"
Lixuan spoke.
"We have a few questions to ask. About a girl. Lichen."
The moment they heard her name, the colour drained from both their faces.
Mei Lian looked at Bao Lin. His eyes trembled for an instant, but he quickly composed himself.
"Lichen?" Bao Lin said in a rough voice. "She ran away from here many years ago. How would we know where she is now?"
Zhichen replied calmly, "She is safe. We only want to know about her. You found her in the forest. How did that happen?"
Mei Lian immediately answered, "We don't know. We were simply returning from the forest one night when we found that child there. We brought her home. That's all."
Lixuan studied them carefully. Their eyes betrayed them. Their hands were trembling slightly.
"You're lying," he said quietly. "If you simply found her by chance, why are you so frightened?"
Bao Lin snapped angrily, "Frightened? Why would we be frightened? You two are standing outside our home in the middle of the night, questioning us. We should be the ones afraid of you!"
Zhichen took a step forward
We only want to know the truth. About Lichen, and the forest where you found her."
Mei Lian spoke softly.
"What we've told you is the truth. There was a strange light in the forest that night. When we reached the place, the child was lying there. That's all. Nothing more."
Lixuan glanced at Zhichen. Both knew these people were hiding something. But pressing them further at this hour would serve no purpose.
"Very well," Lixuan said. "We'll go to the forest tomorrow morning. You two will take us to the place where you found her."
Bao Lin's expression hardened further.
"We don't have time for that."
"Then we'll find it ourselves," Zhichen replied. "But if you agree to accompany us, we'll reward you suitably."
Mei Lian's eyes lit up.
"How much?"
Bao Lin shot her a sharp look.
"Quiet."
Lixuan smiled.
"Whatever you ask. Just take us to that place."
Bao Lin remained silent for a few moments. Then he finally spoke.
"Tomorrow morning. Meet us at the edge of the forest. We'll take you from there."
Lixuan nodded.
"All right. Tomorrow morning."
The two turned towards Tanji's courtyard.
Just then, Mei Lian's quiet voice came from behind them.
"Your Highness... is that girl really all right?"
Zhichen stopped and looked back.
There was something in Mei Lian's eyes that had not been there before. Perhaps concern. Or perhaps fear.
"She's fine," Zhichen replied. "Completely fine."
Mei Lian said nothing. She simply lowered her head and went inside. Bao Lin followed her.
Lixuan and Zhichen remained standing in the silence of the night.
They would go to the forest tomorrow morning. And perhaps, once they reached it, they would finally discover what they had been searching for.
The two stood outside in the stillness of the night. Moonlight continued to fall upon them, and a gentle breeze drifted through the courtyard. The door to Bao Lin and Mei Lian's house had closed, but faint sounds could still be heard from within.
Zhichen spoke quietly.
"They're hiding a great deal from us."
Lixuan replied without looking at him, "I know."
His gaze remained fixed on the forest, where they would go the following morning. That dark, dense forest—and the truth hidden within it.
He spoke slowly.
"Lichen's life is so mysterious. Even after spending all this time with her, I still know almost nothing about her."
Zhichen looked at him.
"You never asked."
Lixuan smiled faintly.
"What was I supposed to ask? She doesn't even know who she is herself. Her eyes are covered, but her silence is deeper than the darkness behind them. When I found her in the forest, she was simply running. No questions. No complaints."
"And now, that sword..." Zhichen said quietly.
Lixuan finally turned towards him.
"Yes. And now, that sword. Your sword."
Silence settled between them for a few moments.
Then Lixuan spoke again.
But perhaps we'll find out everything tomorrow morning. And if those two have hidden something from us... they won't escape the consequences."
His voice was calm, but there was a firmness beneath that calmness—the kind that surfaced only when he was determined to uncover the truth.
Zhichen nodded.
"Tomorrow morning. The forest. The place where she was found."
Lixuan took a deep breath.
"Yes. That place. Where perhaps everything began."
Both looked towards the forest once more.
The darkness was deep. But somewhere beyond it, a truth remained hidden.
And perhaps, along with that truth, something else awaited them.