Jing-Yi's fingers tightened around the porcelain teacup until faint cracks appeared along its delicate surface.
"If what you are saying about Bai-Xue is true," she said slowly, her voice dropping into something colder than winter frost, "then it means her wings have already begun to grow."
She lifted her gaze—sharp, calculating.
"And before those wings grow large enough to carry her beyond our control... we must clip them."
The moment those words fell, a dark smile curved upon Jing-Yi's lips—one filled with venom and long-buried ambition.
Across from her, Ning Ya-Ting and Hai-Rang exchanged a silent glance.
For the first time in years, the balance inside Ning Mansion had shifted.
And they had felt it.
The wind that once bent to Jing-Yi's will... was no longer obedient.
Moonlight filtered softly through the carved lattice windows of Bai-Xue's chamber. Silver light spilled across silk curtains and brushed against her calm, unreadable face.
She lay resting upon her couch, but her mind was far from peaceful.
Salang Blossom Valley...
A faint warmth touched her eyes.
How long has it been since I last went there?
She closed her eyes slowly.
I miss my brother... and Rinvi.
Her fingers tightened slightly over the edge of the blanket.
I wonder how much she has improved by now... Has her cultivation stabilized? Or is she still as reckless as before?
For a brief moment, the cold composure on her face softened into something almost human.
Almost gentle.
Then her gaze shifted toward Jan-Mei, who stood quietly nearby.
"Jan-Mei," Bai-Xue called softly.
Jan-Mei stepped forward immediately. "Yes, My Lady?"
"There is someone I need you to meet."
Her tone was calm—but beneath it lingered something meaningful.
Something secret.
"Come with me."
Jan-Mei did not question her. She never had.
The two slipped out of the chamber quietly.
Instead of taking the main path, Bai-Xue led her toward the narrow passage hidden behind her courtyard—an old stone path overgrown with creeping vines and pale night flowers.
The night was deep and heavy.
Crickets whispered in the grass.
The moon hung high like a silent witness.
Jan-Mei's heart beat faster as they walked.
"My Lady... where are we going?"
Bai-Xue did not answer immediately.
A faint smile touched her lips, mysterious and distant.
"To a place," she said quietly, "that belongs to me."
And under the vast silver sky, the two figures disappeared into the shadows—
Under the silent veil of midnight, Bai-Xue and Jan-Mei stood before the entrance of Salang Blossom Valley.
Both were cloaked in black, their figures nearly swallowed by the night. The valley gates loomed ahead—ancient stone pillars entwined with pale blossoms that shimmered faintly under the moonlight. A soft wind carried the fragrance of petals and distant water streams.
Jan-Mei pulled her cloak tighter around herself. Even she, who had followed her mistress since childhood, could feel that tonight was different.
Bai-Xue stepped forward.
She slowly closed her eyes.
And then—
She focused.
The air around her shifted.
A faint ripple of energy spread outward like waves across a still lake. Silver light began to gather at the crown of her head, flowing down strand by strand until her once-dark hair transformed into luminous silver—long, radiant, shimmering like threads spun from moonlight itself.
Jan-Mei's breath caught in her throat.
"My Lady..."
When Bai-Xue opened her eyes again, they were no longer the same.
One eye had turned the deep, endless blue of the ocean—calm yet unfathomable.
The other burned a vivid crimson—like fresh blood beneath a full moon.
Heterochromatic. Ethereal. Terrifyingly beautiful.
Jan-Mei had always known her master was considered one of the most beautiful young ladies in the country. The court poets had praised her features even at the age of thirteen.
But this—
This was no longer mortal beauty.
Standing beneath the moonlight with silver hair cascading down her back, Bai-Xue looked less like a young girl... and more like a mysterious deity descended into the human realm.
A silver spirit.
A goddess of some forgotten legend.
Though she was only thirteen years old, there was something in her presence—an ancient stillness, a quiet authority—that could make anyone lose themselves within a single glance.
Jan-Mei felt her heart tremble.
Can such a person truly exist in this world? she wondered.
The wind lifted Bai-Xue's silver strands, and for a fleeting moment, she looked almost untouchable—like a dream that would vanish at dawn.
But then—
Bai-Xue calmly reached into her sleeve and drew out a delicate white mask.
Without hesitation, she placed it over her face.
The mask was smooth and flawless, covering her features while leaving only her mismatched eyes visible through narrow openings.
In an instant, the overwhelming beauty was hidden.
What remained was something far more dangerous.
Mystery.
Power.
Secrecy.
Her voice, when she spoke, was calm and distant.
Bai-Xue stepped forward.
The guards stationed at the entrance of Salang Blossom Valley caught sight of her silver hair and masked face—and immediately dropped to one knee.
"Welcome, Master."
Their voices echoed in perfect unison beneath the moonlit sky.
Bai-Xue gave a slight nod, her cloak swaying behind her as she walked past them. Jan-Mei followed, though there was visible hesitation in her steps. This was the first time she had entered the valley in such a manner—not as a servant sneaking in quietly, but as someone walking behind its true master.
The moment Jan-Mei crossed the threshold—
A fragrance embraced her.
Peach blossoms.
Cherry blossoms.
Soft. Sweet. Eternal.
Her eyes widened.
Salang Blossom Valley was unlike any place in the empire. No matter the season—whether winter frost covered the capital or summer storms raged beyond the mountains—within this valley, peach and sakura blossoms bloomed endlessly.
Petals drifted gently through the air like falling snow.
Ancient legends claimed that in forgotten times, the Goddess of Flowers once resided here. It was said she blessed the valley before vanishing from the mortal realm, leaving behind a land where spring would never fade.
That was why the place was still considered sacred.
Under the silver glow of night, the blossoms looked even more breathtaking—each petal shimmering faintly, as though touched by divine light.
Jan-Mei felt her heart tremble.
In her entire life, she had never seen a place this beautiful.
She followed Bai-Xue deeper into the valley until they stopped before a magnificent mansion nestled among the trees.
It was ancient—its architecture refined and dignified, carved pillars etched with intricate patterns of dragons and blooming flowers. Though time had weathered its outer walls, its presence radiated authority.
It was the kind of place commoners would not even dare to glance at directly.
And yet—
This was Bai-Xue's domain.
Bai-Xue's gaze shifted.
Not far from the courtyard steps, Shin-Lu was seated upon a flat stone, sharpening his sword against a whetstone. Sparks occasionally flickered in the darkness.
His body—now fully grown and well-built—was drenched in sweat. His training robes clung to his muscular frame, revealing the strength forged through relentless practice. It was obvious he had just finished intense cultivation.
Nearby, beside a small moonlit pond, Rinvi sat cross-legged, eyes closed in deep meditation. Spiritual energy seemed to swirl faintly around her, rippling the surface of the water.
But before Bai-Xue could speak—
Rinvi's eyes snapped open.
She felt it.
That presence.
Shin-Lu paused as well, lifting his head sharply.
The moment their eyes fell upon the silver-haired figure standing beneath the blossoms—
His sword clattered to the ground.
"Xue'er!"
Shin-Lu didn't hesitate.
He ran forward, long strides closing the distance within seconds, and pulled Bai-Xue into a tight embrace.
"You finally remembered your big brother?" he complained dramatically, though his voice trembled with relief. "Do you know how many days it's been? I thought you had forgotten me completely!"
For a moment, the cold, distant aura around Bai-Xue softened.
Rinvi hurried over as well, her usually calm expression breaking into visible joy. She wrapped her arms around Bai-Xue from the side.
"Master... I missed you so much."
Jan-Mei stood a few steps away, watching silently.
This was a side of Bai-Xue she rarely saw.
Not the calculating princess.
Not the reborn soul carrying secrets of death and betrayal.
But a younger sister.
A master cherished by her disciples.
A girl who, despite everything, still had a place she belonged.
For a brief moment beneath the endless blossoms—
The weight in Bai-Xue's heart lightened.
And though the world beyond this valley was filled with schemes and blood—
Here—
She was home.
Bai-Xue smiled.
Not the calm, distant smile she wore within the Ning Mansion—
But a genuine one.
Bright. Warm. Alive.
"I missed you both as well," she said softly, her voice filled with rare sincerity. "I wanted to come sooner... truly I did. But..."
Her words trailed off.
Because suddenly—
A voice echoed inside her soul.
"Master... may I come out now? Hiding inside your spiritual sea all day is exhausting."
It sounded dramatic. Slightly aggrieved. Very loud.
Before Bai-Xue could respond, another voice followed—cooler, softer, yet laced with quiet dignity.
"Ordinarily, I would never agree with that foolish creature... but this time, he is correct. It has been too long. May I also step out?"
Shin-Lu blinked.
Rinvi straightened instinctively.
They recognized those voices.
Bai-Xue's lips curved faintly. She gave a small nod.
"You may."
The air changed.
The spiritual energy in the valley surged violently—
And then—
With a thunderous cry that split the night sky—
A massive bird burst forth from behind Bai-Xue in a blaze of blazing crimson light.
Its wings were enormous—feathers shimmering like molten gold and living flame. Each movement radiated scorching heat and ancient majesty. When it spread its wings—
A violent gust of wind swept through the valley.
Petals exploded into the air.
Cherry blossoms and peach flowers swirled wildly, engulfing everyone standing there.
Shin-Lu and Rinvi were instantly buried beneath a storm of petals, as though snow had collapsed upon them.
"FRINZE!" Shin-Lu shouted from somewhere under the floral avalanche.
The magnificent phoenix tilted its fiery head proudly.
Indeed—
It was none other than Frinze.
His golden-red eyes gleamed mischievously as he gave another sharp cry, clearly pleased with his dramatic entrance.
Petals continued to rain down.
Rinvi struggled free first, brushing blossoms from her hair with visible exasperation.
Shin-Lu emerged next, coughing slightly as he shook flowers from his robes.
"You wild beast!" he snapped.
Before Frinze could retort—
A calm, slightly irritated voice drifted from behind Bai-Xue.
"You will never change, will you? Always making such a vulgar entrance and disturbing everyone."
The tone was cold.
Elegant.
Unamused.
A small ripple formed in the air.
And from behind Bai-Xue, a tiny black figure floated forward gracefully.
A rabbit.
Small. Dark as midnight. Its fur shimmered faintly under the moonlight, and its large eyes glowed an ethereal shade of violet—deep and mysterious, like twin fragments of the dark moon itself.
It hovered effortlessly in midair before Bai-Xue.
Frinze snorted flames lightly from his beak.
"Oh, spare me, Dark Moon. If I don't stretch my wings, they'll stiffen. Not everyone enjoys hiding like a timid shadow."
The black rabbit's violet eyes narrowed.
"At least I do not behave like an unrefined mountain beast."
Shin-Lu stared.
Rinvi stared.
Jan-Mei—
Jan-Mei could no longer process what she was seeing.
A legendary phoenix blazing like a god of fire.
And a floating black rabbit radiating cold, ancient power.
Her legs nearly gave out.
"M-Master..." she whispered faintly.
Bai-Xue stepped forward slightly, her silver hair shimmering under the moonlight.
"This is Frinze," she said calmly, gesturing toward the enormous phoenix still scattering embers into the air.
"And this... is Dark Moon."
The rabbit inclined her small head gracefully.
"Greetings."
Despite her tiny form, her presence felt vast. Ancient. Terrifyingly composed.
Frinze puffed his chest proudly.
"Finally, fresh air!" he declared. "Master, you truly neglect us. If I stay cooped up in your soul any longer, I might forget how magnificent I am."
Dark Moon sighed softly.
"Unfortunately, that would be a blessing for the world."